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 INTERNET ADDRESS:                          Wednesday, January 19, 2005
      http://www.bls.gov/cpi/
     
                 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  DECEMBER 2004
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased
 0.4 percent in December, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The December
 level of 190.3 (1982-84=100) was 3.3 percent higher than in December 2003.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also decreased 0.4 percent in December, prior to seasonal
 adjustment.  The December level of 186.0 was 3.4 percent higher than in
 December 2003.
      
      The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
 declined 0.4 percent in December on a not seasonally adjusted basis.  The
 December level of 110.7 (December 1999=100) was 2.9 percent higher than in
 December 2003.  Please note that the indexes for the post-2002 period are
 subject to revision.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U decreased 0.1 percent in
 December, following an increase of 0.2 percent in November.  The index for
 food was unchanged in December, with the index for food at home down 0.2
 percent.  Energy costs fell 1.8 percent in December, following a 0.2
 percent increase in November.  A 3.7 percent decline in the index for
 petroleum-based energy more than offset a 0.4 percent increase in the
 index for energy services.  The index for all items less food and energy
 increased 0.2 percent in December, the same as in each of the preceding
 two months.
 

 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                  Un-
                                                          Compound   adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate   12-mos.
      Category                      2004                3-mos. ended   ended
                    June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.   Dec. '04     Dec. '04
 All Items            .3  -.1   .1   .2   .6  .2  -.1     3.0       3.3
  Food and beverages  .2   .2   .1   .0   .5  .2  -.1     2.8       2.6
  Housing             .3   .2   .2   .2   .2  .3   .2     2.5       3.0
  Apparel             .2  -.8  -.2   .0   .2  .1  -.4     -.7       -.2    
  Transportation      .8  -.8  -.3   .2  2.3 -.1  -.9     5.2       6.5
  Medical care        .3   .3   .2   .3   .4  .2   .3     3.8       4.2
  Recreation          .3  -.2  -.2   .2   .1  .1  -.1      .4        .7
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .2  -.1   .1   .4  -.3  .4   .0      .4       1.5
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .1   .3   .2   .3   .2  .1   .5     3.0       2.5
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy            2.6 -1.9  -.3  -.4  4.2  .2 -1.8    10.4      16.6
   Food               .2   .3   .1   .0   .6  .2   .0     3.0       2.7
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .1   .1   .1   .3   .2  .2   .2     2.0       2.2
     
        
      Consumer prices rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of
 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2004.  This followed increases in the
 first three quarters at annual rates of 5.1, 4.8, and 0.6 percent,
 respectively.  For the 12 month period ended in December, the CPI rose 3.3
 percent.  This compares with an increase of 1.9 percent in all of 2003.
 In 2004, the index for energy rose 16.6 percent, its largest annual
 increase since an 18.1 percent rise in 1990, and accounted for about 36
 percent of the overall advance in the CPI-U.  The food index, which rose
 3.6 percent in 2003, increased 2.7 percent in 2004.  The index for food at
 home rose 2.4 percent in 2004, following a 4.5 percent increase in 2003.
 A smaller increase in the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs--up 1.1
 percent in 2004 after increasing 11.5 percent in 2003--was largely
 responsible for the moderation.
      
       Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.0 percent SAAR
 in the fourth quarter, following increases at rates of 2.9, 2.3, and 1.8
 percent in the first three quarters of 2004.  The 2.2 percent advance in
 2004 compares with a 1.1 percent rise in all of 2003.  Five of the seven
 major non-food groups, including the non-energy portions of housing and
 transportation, advanced more in 2004 than in 2003.  In particular, the
 upturn in prices for new and used vehicles and a larger increase in
 shelter costs accounted for almost three-fourths of the acceleration in
 the index for all items less food and energy.  The annual rates for
 selected groups for the last eight years are shown below.
     
 

                             Percentage change 12 months               
                             ended in December                         
                                                                        
                       1997   1998    1999   2000   2001   2002   2003   2004
 All items              1.7    1.6     2.7    3.4    1.6    2.4    1.9    3.3
  Food and beverages    1.6    2.3     2.0    2.8    2.8    1.5    3.5    2.6
  Housing               2.4    2.3     2.2    4.3    2.9    2.4    2.2    3.0 
  Apparel               1.0    -.7     -.5   -1.8   -3.2   -1.8   -2.1    -.2
  Transportation       -1.4   -1.7     5.4    4.1   -3.8    3.8     .3    6.5  
  Medical care          2.8    3.4     3.7    4.2    4.7    5.0    3.7    4.2 
  Recreation            1.5    1.2      .8    1.7    1.5    1.1    1.1     .7
  Education and
   communication        3.0     .7     1.6    1.3    3.2    2.2    1.6    1.5
  Other goods and     
   services             5.2    8.8     5.1    4.2    4.5    3.3    1.5    2.5
                                                                           
 Special indexes
  Energy               -3.4   -8.8    13.4   14.2  -13.0   10.7    6.9   16.6
   Energy commodities  -6.9  -15.1    29.5   15.7  -24.5   23.7    6.9   26.7
   Energy services       .2   -3.3     1.2   12.7   -1.5     .4    6.9    6.8
  All items less energy 2.1    2.4     2.0    2.6    2.8    1.8    1.5    2.2
   Food                 1.5    2.3     1.9    2.8    2.8    1.5    3.6    2.7
  All items less
   food and energy      2.2    2.4     1.9    2.6    2.7    1.9    1.1    2.2


      The food and beverages index registered a 0.1 percent decline in
 December.  The index for food at home declined 0.2 percent, reflecting
 decreases in four of the six major grocery store food groups.  The index
 for fruits and vegetables turned down in December, declining 0.9 percent,
 but advanced 7.9 percent during the last 12 months.  In December, the
 indexes for fresh fruits and for fresh vegetables declined 0.7 and 1.3
 percent, respectively.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, prices for fresh
 fruits and for fresh vegetables each rose 1.4 percent in December.)  The
 index for processed fruits and vegetables declined 0.5 percent in
 December.  Price declines for cereal and bakery products, for dairy
 products, and for other food at home also contributed to the drop in the
 overall food at home index in December.  Partially offsetting these
 declines, the indexes for meats, poultry, fish and eggs and for
 nonalcoholic beverages each increased 0.4 percent in December.   Within
 the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs group, beef prices turned up in
 December but declined 0.9 percent during the last 12 months.  During the
 12 month period ended in December 2003, beef prices had increased 23.5
 percent.  Egg prices turned up sharply in December, but declined 19.9
 percent in 2004 after increasing 30.1 percent in the preceding 12 month
 period.  Prices for pork and for poultry declined in December, but rose
 4.7 and 5.1 percent, respectively, in 2004.  The other two components of
 the food and beverages index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages-
 -increased 0.2 and declined 0.1 percent, respectively, in December and
 rose 3.0 and 2.8 percent in 2004.
      
      The index for housing increased 0.2 percent in December.  Shelter
 costs, which were virtually unchanged in November, increased 0.2 percent
 in December.  Within shelter, the indexes for rent and for owners'
 equivalent rent each rose 0.2 percent and the index for lodging away from
 home rose 0.3 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for
 lodging away from home declined 2.6 percent.)  During the 12 month period
 ended in December, the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent rose
 2.9 and 2.3 percent, respectively.  The index for fuels and utilities
 increased 0.1 percent in December.  Charges for natural gas and for
 electricity increased 1.0 and 0.1 percent, respectively, while the index
 for fuel oil declined 4.8 percent.  During the 12 month period ended in
 December, charges for natural gas and for electricity rose 16.4 and 2.1
 percent, respectively, and fuel oil prices increased 39.5 percent.  The
 index for household furnishings and operations decreased 0.1 percent in
 December, but rose 0.6 percent during the last 12 months, its first annual
 increase since a 0.2 percent rise in December 2001.
      
      The transportation index declined 0.9 percent in December, reflecting
 a 3.7 percent decrease in the index for gasoline.  Gasoline prices fell
 7.1 percent in the six-month period following the peak level reached in
 June 2004, but remained 26.1 percent higher than their level in December
 2003.  The index for new vehicles increased for the third consecutive
 month--up 0.3 percent in December.  (As of December, about 65 percent of
 the new vehicle sample was represented by 2005 models.  The 2005 models
 will continue to be phased in, with appropriate adjustments for quality
 change, over the next several months as they replace old models at
 dealerships.)  New vehicle prices were 0.6 percent higher than in December
 2003, their first annual increase since a 1.8 percent advance in the 12
 months ended in December 1996.  The index for used cars and trucks
 increased 0.4 percent in December, and this index has risen 4.8 percent in
 the last 12 months after declining 11.8 percent in all of 2003.  The index
 for public transportation declined 1.3 percent in December, reflecting a
 2.9 percent drop in airline fares.  These fares fell 1.5 percent in all of
 2004, their fourth consecutive annual decline.
      
      The index for apparel declined 0.4 percent in December.  (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, apparel prices fell 3.4 percent, largely as a result
 of pre-holiday discounting.)   During the 12 month period ended in
 December, apparel prices declined 0.2 percent, their seventh consecutive
 annual decline.
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in December.  The index for
 medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and
 medical supplies--decreased 0.3 percent, reflecting a drop in
 nonprescription drugs.   The index for medical care services rose 0.5
 percent in December.  The indexes for professional services and for
 hospital and related services increased 0.3 and 0.8 percent, respectively.
 In the 12 months ended in December 2004, the index for medical care rose
 4.2 percent after increasing 3.7 percent in 2003.  The acceleration in
 2004 reflects larger increases in the indexes for prescription drugs and
 professional services--up 3.5 and 4.0 percent, respectively--following
 increases of 2.5 and 2.8 percent in 2003.  Charges for hospital and
 related services increased 5.2 percent in the 12 month period ended in
 December 2004 after advancing 6.4 percent in 2003.
      
      The index for recreation declined 0.1 percent in December.  Price
 increases for cable and satellite television and radio service and for
 pets, pet products and services were more than offset by decreases in the
 indexes for toys, for sporting goods, and for photography.  During the 12
 months ended in December, the indexes for cable and for pets increased 4.0
 and 4.3 percent, respectively, while prices for toys, for sporting goods
 and equipment, and for photography all declined.
      
      The index for education and communication was unchanged in December.
 Educational costs increased 0.5 percent, while communication costs
 declined 0.4 percent.  During the 12 months ended in December, educational
 costs rose 6.5 percent, largely as a result of an 8.6 percent rise in the
 index for college tuition and fees.  The index for communication declined
 3.2 percent during the last 12 months, reflecting declines in prices for
 long distance telephone services and for personal computers and peripheral
 equipment--down 7.7 and 14.2 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for other goods and services increased 0.5 percent in
 December, reflecting a 0.6 percent increase in the index for tobacco and
 smoking products.  During the 12 months ended in December, these prices
 increased 3.1 percent after declining 0.4 percent in all of 2003.
      
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers decreased 0.1 percent in December.


 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                      2004                3-mos. ended   ended
                    June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.   Dec. '04     Dec. '04        
 All Items           .3   -.1   .1   .2   .6   .2  -.1      2.8       3.4
  Food and beverages .2    .3   .1   .0   .5   .2   .0      2.8       2.6
  Housing            .4    .3   .2   .1   .2   .3   .1      2.2       3.0
  Apparel            .0   -.7  -.4   .3   .3  -.1  -.3      -.7       -.1
  Transportation     .7   -.9  -.2   .4  2.3  -.2  -.8      5.3       7.1
  Medical care       .3    .3   .2   .4   .3   .3   .4      3.8       4.3
  Recreation         .2   -.3  -.2   .2   .1   .1   .0       .8        .6
  Education and                                                         
    communication    .2   -.1   .0   .4  -.3   .3   .0       .0        .7
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         .1    .4   .2   .3   .1   .1   .5      2.8       2.5
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy           2.7  -2.0  -.5  -.3  4.3   .0 -1.9      9.8      16.9
   Food              .1    .3   .1  -.1   .5   .2  -.1      2.8       2.6
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy .2    .1   .1   .3   .2   .2   .1      1.9       2.1
     

     Consumer Price Index data for January are scheduled for release on
 Wednesday, February 23, 2005, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).


 __________________________________________________________________________________


 Recalculated Seasonally Adjusted Indexes to be Available on February 18, 2005
 
 Each year with the release of the January CPI, seasonal adjustment factors
 are recalculated to reflect price movements from the just-completed
 calendar year.  This routine annual recalculation may result in revisions
 to seasonally adjusted indexes for the previous 5 years.  BLS will make
 available recalculated seasonally adjusted indexes, as well as
 recalculated seasonal adjustment factors, for the period January 2000
 through December 2004, on Friday, February 18, 2005.  This date is two
 working days before the scheduled release of the January 2005 CPI on
 Wednesday, February 23, 2005.
 
 The revised indexes and seasonal factors will be available on the
 internet.  The address is http://www.bls.gov/cpi.  Look under Tables
 Created by BLS and select Revised Seasonally Adjusted Data, 2004.
 
 For further information please contact Dan Chow or Jeff Wilson on (202)
 691-6968.

 _________________________________________________________________________________


 Facilities for Sensory Impaired

      Information from this release will be made available to sensory
 impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200, Federal
 Relay Services:  1-800-877-8339.  For a recorded message of Summary CPI
 data, call (202) 691-5200.
 
 _________________________________________________________________________________


 Brief Explanation of the CPI

      The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in
 prices over time of goods and services purchased by households.  The
 Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups:  (1)
 the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers
 households of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise
 approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All
 Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-
 U), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population and
 include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households, groups
 such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-
 employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not
 in the labor force.
 
      The CPIs are based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels,
 transportation fares, charges for doctors' and dentists' services, drugs,
 and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living.
 Prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about
 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail establishments-
 department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other
 types of stores and service establishments.  All taxes directly associated
 with the purchase and use of items are included in the index.  Prices of
 fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations.
 Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
 the three largest geographic areas and every other month in other areas.
 Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or
 telephone calls of the Bureau's trained representatives.
 
      In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each
 location are averaged together with weights, which represent their
 importance in the spending of the appropriate population group.  Local
 data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average.  For the CPI-U and
 CPI-W separate indexes are also published by size of city, by region of
 the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size
 classes, and for 27 local areas.  Area indexes do not measure differences
 in the level of prices among cities; they only measure the average change
 in prices for each area since the base period.  For the C-CPI-U data are
 issued only at the national level.  It is important to note that the CPI-U
 and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in
 preliminary form and subject to two annual revisions.
 
      The index measures price change from a designed reference date.  For
 the CPI-U and the CPI-W the reference base is 1982-84 equals 100.0. The
 reference base for the C-CPI-U is December 1999 equals 100.
 An increase of 16.5 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown
 as 116.5.  This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:  the
 price of a base period market basket of goods and services in the CPI has
 risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65.
 
      For further details visit the CPI home page on the Internet at
 http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ or contact our CPI Information and Analysis
 Section on (202) 691-7000.

 _______________________________________________________________________________________ 


       Calculating Index Changes
 
            Movements of the indexes from one month to another are
       usually expressed as percent changes rather than changes in index 
       points, because index point changes are affected by the level of 
       the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are 
       not.  The example below illustrates the computation of index point 
       and percent changes.
       
            Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods are expressed 
       as annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula 
       for compound growth rates.  These data indicate what the percent 
       change would be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month 
       period.
       
         
                    Index Point Change
       
       CPI   					115.7
       Less previous index    			111.2
       Equals index point change  		4.5
       
       
                    Percent Change
       
       Index point difference			4.5
       Divided by the previous index		111.2
       Equals					0.040
       Results multiplied by one hundred	0.040 x 100
       Equals percent change			4.0

 __________________________________________________________________________


 Regions Defined
 
 The states in the four regions shown in Tables 3 and 6 are listed below.
 
 The Northeast--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,
 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

 The Midwest--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
 Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

 The South--Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
 Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
 Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of
 Columbia.

 The West--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana,
 Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

 _______________________________________________________________________________________


 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 1999 through 2003 were replaced at the end of 2003.  In January
 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-
 December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for
 dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see
 "Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series," in the
 October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
   
   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.  Note: 47 of
 the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2004.
   
   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, natural gas, motor fuels, and educational books
 and supplies 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 the Nonalcoholic
 beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of labor and
 supply problems for coffee.  The procedure was used to account for unusual
 butter fat supply reductions, decreases in milk supply, and large swings
 in soybean oil inventories affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the
 Water and sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to account
 for a data collection anomaly and dry weather in California.  For Dairy
 products, it mitigated the effects of significant changes in milk
 production levels and higher demand for cheese.  For Electricity, it was
 used to offset an increase in demand due to warmer than expected weather,
 increased rates to conserve supplies, and declining natural gas
 inventories.  For New vehicles, New cars, and New trucks, the procedure
 was used to offset the effects of a model changeover combined with
 financing incentives.
   
        For additional information on seasonal adjustment in the CPI,
 please write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer
 Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Daniel Chow on
 (202) 691-6968 by e-mail at Chow.Daniel@bls.gov.  If you have general
 questions about the CPI, please call our information staff at (202) 691-
 7000.



 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,                      Dec. 2004 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   2003       Nov.      Dec.                                            
                                                              2004      2004     Dec.     Nov.   Sep. to Oct. to Nov. to
                                                                                 2003     2004     Oct.    Nov.    Dec. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................    100.000     191.0     190.3      3.3     -0.4     0.6     0.2    -0.1 
 All items (1967=100).........................          -     572.2     570.1        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................     15.384     188.6     188.9      2.6      0.2     0.5     0.2    -0.1 
   Food.......................................     14.383     188.2     188.5      2.7      0.2     0.6     0.2     0.0 
    Food at home..............................      8.256     188.1     188.5      2.4      0.2     0.8     0.3    -0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products..............      1.202     206.8     206.4      1.7     -0.2     0.4     0.3    -0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........      2.320     182.4     183.1      1.1      0.4    -0.3    -0.5     0.4 
     Dairy and related products...............       .842     180.9     180.1      4.1     -0.4    -0.2    -0.7    -0.4 
     Fruits and vegetables....................      1.221     248.3     250.8      7.9      1.0     6.0     3.3    -0.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................       .905     139.6     140.6      0.9      0.7    -0.3     0.3     0.4 
     Other food at home.......................      1.765     164.4     163.6      0.4     -0.5     0.3    -0.5    -0.5 
      Sugar and sweets........................       .305     163.1     161.3      0.2     -1.1    -0.4     1.2    -1.2 
      Fats and oils...........................       .251     167.8     167.4      6.2     -0.2    -0.8    -0.1     0.1 
      Other foods.............................      1.210     178.9     178.3     -0.7     -0.3     0.7    -1.0    -0.4 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .308     110.5     110.8      0.9      0.3    -0.5     0.5     0.3 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.127     189.6     189.9      3.0      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.2 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .332     126.7     127.0      3.3      0.2     0.7    -0.1     0.4 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................      1.001     194.0     193.9      2.8     -0.1     0.1     0.2    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................     42.089     190.8     190.7      3.0     -0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
   Shelter....................................     32.878     219.9     219.8      2.7      0.0     0.1     0.0     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      6.157     213.2     213.9      2.9      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.954     121.9     118.7      5.1     -2.6     0.2    -0.5     0.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     23.383     226.8     227.2      2.3      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .385     117.7     118.7      3.8      0.8    -0.3     1.2     0.8 
   Fuels and utilities........................      4.741     165.6     165.7      7.9      0.1    -0.2     2.1     0.1 
    Fuels.....................................      3.830     147.8     148.0      8.4      0.1    -0.2     2.5     0.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................       .231     186.6     183.7     34.1     -1.6     8.1     3.5    -3.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.599     152.7     153.0      6.8      0.2    -0.9     2.4     0.4 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .910     126.2     126.3      5.4      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.2 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      4.470     125.8     125.5      0.6     -0.2     1.0    -0.2    -0.1 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .704     127.0     127.0      3.6      0.0     0.1     0.6     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................      3.975     123.0     118.8     -0.2     -3.4     0.2     0.1    -0.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................      1.024     118.9     116.3     -1.4     -2.2    -1.1     0.2     0.6 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................      1.704     116.8     110.0     -0.8     -5.8     1.8    -0.1    -1.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............       .195     120.3     118.6     -0.5     -1.4    -0.8    -0.2     0.9 
   Footwear...................................       .778     121.8     120.3      1.5     -1.2    -1.1     0.2     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................     16.881     167.2     164.8      6.5     -1.4     2.3    -0.1    -0.9 
   Private transportation.....................     15.817     163.6     161.3      7.0     -1.4     2.3    -0.2    -0.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.912      95.2      95.4      1.1      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.1 
     New vehicles.............................      4.817     137.9     138.8      0.6      0.7     0.4     0.7     0.3 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      2.007     136.7     137.3      4.8      0.4     0.2    -0.1     0.4 
    Motor fuel................................      3.249     171.9     161.2     26.1     -6.2     8.6    -1.8    -3.7 
     Gasoline (all types).....................      3.222     171.0     160.4     26.1     -6.2     8.6    -1.8    -3.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .369     109.9     109.9      2.0      0.0     0.2     0.4     0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......      1.349     202.9     203.3      2.7      0.2     0.4     0.6     0.3 
   Public transportation......................      1.064     208.6     205.4     -0.1     -1.5     1.4     2.4    -1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................      6.074     314.1     314.9      4.2      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.3 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.499     271.2     270.8      2.2     -0.1     0.4     0.1    -0.3 
   Medical care services......................      4.575     326.0     327.3      4.9      0.4     0.4     0.3     0.5 
    Professional services.....................      2.749     274.2     274.6      4.0      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.489     425.0     428.0      5.2      0.7     0.4     0.4     0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.872     108.7     108.5      0.7     -0.2     0.1     0.1    -0.1 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.736     104.0     103.9      0.6     -0.1     0.2    -0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.948     112.7     112.6      1.5     -0.1    -0.3     0.4     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.841     148.4     148.5      6.5      0.1     0.4     0.6     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies............       .219     354.4     355.9      3.8      0.4     0.3     1.1     0.8 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.      2.623     428.7     428.9      6.8      0.0     0.4     0.6     0.4 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.107      85.6      85.4     -3.2     -0.2    -0.9     0.1    -0.4 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.925      83.5      83.3     -3.4     -0.2    -0.8     0.1    -0.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.315      94.9      94.8     -2.5     -0.1    -0.7     0.3    -0.1 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................       .610      14.3      14.2     -7.2     -0.7    -1.4    -1.4    -0.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .230      14.2      13.9    -14.2     -2.1    -2.7    -2.7    -2.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................      3.776     307.0     307.8      2.5      0.3     0.2     0.1     0.5 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........       .806     481.7     484.8      3.1      0.6    -0.1    -0.1     0.6 
   Personal care..............................      2.970     183.0     183.3      2.4      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .680     153.8     153.4      0.0     -0.3     0.3    -0.1    -0.3 
    Personal care services (1)................       .650     200.0     201.2      3.6      0.6     0.2     0.3     0.6 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........      1.448     296.9     297.7      3.7      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................     40.117     157.2     155.8      3.6     -0.9     1.3    -0.1    -0.4 
  Food and beverages..........................     15.384     188.6     188.9      2.6      0.2     0.5     0.2    -0.1 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........     24.733     139.4     137.2      4.2     -1.6     1.8    -0.2    -0.7 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........     13.458     162.0     157.4      7.3     -2.8     3.8     0.9    -0.7 
    Apparel...................................      3.975     123.0     118.8     -0.2     -3.4     0.2     0.1    -0.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................      9.483     190.2     185.2     10.4     -2.6     3.8    -0.5    -1.7 
   Durables...................................     11.275     115.3     115.5      0.4      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.2 
 Services.....................................     59.883     224.6     224.6      3.1      0.0     0.1     0.3     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     32.494     229.0     228.9      2.7      0.0     0.1    -0.1     0.3 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .385     117.7     118.7      3.8      0.8    -0.3     1.2     0.8 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.599     152.7     153.0      6.8      0.2    -0.9     2.4     0.4 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .910     126.2     126.3      5.4      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.2 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .704     127.0     127.0      3.6      0.0     0.1     0.6     0.0 
  Transportation services.....................      6.319     222.8     221.8      1.9     -0.4     0.4     0.6    -0.3 
  Medical care services.......................      4.575     326.0     327.3      4.9      0.4     0.4     0.3     0.5 
  Other services..............................     10.896     264.2     264.3      2.7      0.0     0.0     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................     85.617     191.5     190.6      3.4     -0.5     0.6     0.2    -0.1 
 All items less shelter.......................     67.122     181.9     180.9      3.5     -0.5     0.8     0.2    -0.2 
 All items less medical care..................     93.926     184.7     183.9      3.2     -0.4     0.6     0.2    -0.1 
 Commodities less food........................     25.734     141.4     139.3      4.1     -1.5     1.7    -0.1    -0.7 
 Nondurables less food........................     14.459     163.9     159.5      6.9     -2.7     3.6     0.7    -0.7 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............     10.484     189.7     185.1      9.7     -2.4     3.5    -0.5    -1.6 
 Nondurables..................................     28.842     175.6     173.3      4.8     -1.3     2.2     0.5    -0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.389     236.4     236.5      3.5      0.0     0.0     0.9     0.3 
 Services less medical care services..........     55.308     216.1     216.0      2.9      0.0     0.1     0.3     0.3 
 Energy.......................................      7.080     158.6     153.7     16.6     -3.1     4.2     0.2    -1.8 
 All items less energy........................     92.920     196.0     195.8      2.2     -0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
  All items less food and energy..............     78.537     198.1     197.8      2.2     -0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................     22.254     140.6     139.8      0.6     -0.6     0.4     0.1    -0.1 
    Energy commodities........................      3.480     173.6     163.4     26.7     -5.9     8.5    -1.4    -3.7 
   Services less energy services..............     56.283     231.9     231.9      2.8      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .524    $ .525        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00).............................          -    $ .175    $ .175        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - 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--   
                                                 Sep.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec.                                           
                                                 2004    2004    2004    2004                                           
                                                                                Mar.   June   Sep.   Dec.   June   Dec. 
                                                                                2004   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................  189.7   190.9   191.2   191.1    5.1    4.8    0.6    3.0    4.9    1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................  187.5   188.5   188.9   188.8    1.5    4.9    1.3    2.8    3.2    2.0 
   Food.......................................  187.0   188.1   188.4   188.4    1.3    5.1    1.3    3.0    3.2    2.2 
    Food at home..............................  186.6   188.1   188.6   188.3   -0.2    6.7   -0.6    3.7    3.2    1.5 
     Cereals and bakery products..............  206.6   207.4   208.1   207.7    2.2    1.6    1.2    2.1    1.9    1.7 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........  183.4   182.9   181.9   182.6   -3.7    8.5    2.0   -1.7    2.2    0.1 
     Dairy and related products...............  181.6   181.2   180.0   179.2    0.0   47.9  -16.4   -5.2   21.6  -11.0 
     Fruits and vegetables....................  228.9   242.6   250.5   248.3   -2.2   -2.6    2.5   38.5   -2.4   19.1 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................  140.7   140.3   140.7   141.3    0.6   -0.9    2.3    1.7   -0.1    2.0 
     Other food at home.......................  165.1   165.6   164.8   163.9    4.2    1.5   -1.0   -2.9    2.8   -1.9 
      Sugar and sweets........................  163.5   162.8   164.7   162.8    0.7   -0.2    2.0   -1.7    0.2    0.1 
      Fats and oils...........................  170.0   168.6   168.5   168.6   20.3   14.4   -4.6   -3.3   17.3   -3.9 
      Other foods.............................  179.4   180.7   178.9   178.1    2.0   -1.1   -0.7   -2.9    0.4   -1.8 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  110.5   109.9   110.5   110.8    7.1   -2.8   -1.4    1.1    2.0   -0.2 
    Food away from home (1)...................  188.9   189.4   189.6   189.9    3.3    2.6    4.1    2.1    3.0    3.1 
     Other food away from home (2)............  125.5   126.4   126.3   126.8    5.0    3.3    1.0    4.2    4.1    2.6 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................  193.4   193.6   194.0   193.9    4.5    3.4    2.1    1.0    4.0    1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................  190.7   191.1   191.6   191.9    3.5    4.1    2.3    2.5    3.8    2.4 
   Shelter....................................  220.4   220.7   220.8   221.3    3.4    3.2    3.0    1.6    3.3    2.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  212.4   212.8   213.2   213.6    2.3    3.7    2.9    2.3    3.0    2.6 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  128.5   128.7   128.1   128.5    8.1    3.9    9.6    0.0    6.0    4.7 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  226.1   226.5   226.6   227.0    2.5    3.1    2.0    1.6    2.8    1.8 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  116.6   116.3   117.7   118.7    2.8    3.9    1.4    7.4    3.4    4.3 
   Fuels and utilities........................  163.7   163.4   166.8   166.9    5.5   15.0    2.5    8.1   10.2    5.2 
    Fuels.....................................  145.9   145.6   149.2   149.3    5.6   16.7    1.7    9.7   11.0    5.6 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................  169.3   183.0   189.4   182.6   25.6   27.7   48.8   35.3   26.7   41.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  151.7   150.4   154.0   154.6    4.2   16.2   -1.0    7.9   10.0    3.3 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  125.6   126.0   126.2   126.4    6.8    6.7    5.6    2.6    6.8    4.1 
   Household furnishings and operations.......  124.9   126.2   125.9   125.8    1.9    0.0   -1.9    2.9    1.0    0.5 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  126.1   126.2   127.0   127.0    3.3    3.6    4.6    2.9    3.5    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................  120.1   120.3   120.4   119.9    2.0    2.0   -4.2   -0.7    2.0   -2.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................  116.8   115.5   115.7   116.4    0.3    1.4   -5.9   -1.4    0.8   -3.7 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................  112.0   114.0   113.9   111.7    2.5    3.6   -7.5   -1.1    3.0   -4.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............  118.8   117.8   117.6   118.7    3.4   -8.4    3.8   -0.3   -2.7    1.7 
   Footwear...................................  121.2   119.9   120.1   120.8    1.7   -1.7    7.6   -1.3    0.0    3.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................  163.4   167.1   167.0   165.5   14.9   10.9   -3.8    5.2   12.9    0.6 
   Private transportation.....................  159.9   163.6   163.2   161.9   16.3   11.7   -3.4    5.1   14.0    0.7 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   94.4    94.6    95.0    95.1   -0.4   -0.4    2.6    3.0   -0.4    2.8 
     New vehicles.............................  136.0   136.5   137.5   137.9    0.9    0.9   -4.6    5.7    0.9    0.4 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  136.5   136.8   136.7   137.3    0.6   -1.8   19.3    2.4   -0.6   10.5 
    Motor fuel................................  160.9   174.7   171.5   165.2   87.1   51.7  -19.6   11.1   68.5   -5.5 
     Gasoline (all types).....................  160.1   173.8   170.7   164.4   86.6   52.3  -20.0   11.2   68.6   -5.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  109.3   109.5   109.9   109.9    0.4    1.5    4.1    2.2    0.9    3.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......  200.7   201.5   202.7   203.3    0.8    3.3    1.6    5.3    2.0    3.4 
   Public transportation......................  204.3   207.1   212.0   209.3    1.7   -3.4   -8.3   10.2   -0.9    0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................  312.6   313.9   314.6   315.5    5.8    3.8    3.5    3.8    4.8    3.6 
   Medical care commodities...................  270.9   271.9   272.1   271.3    2.9    3.2    2.2    0.6    3.0    1.4 
   Medical care services......................  324.0   325.4   326.4   327.9    6.8    4.1    3.8    4.9    5.4    4.3 
    Professional services.....................  273.6   273.9   274.8   275.5    7.0    2.9    3.4    2.8    4.9    3.1 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  421.2   423.0   424.6   428.0    5.5    5.5    3.0    6.6    5.5    4.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  108.7   108.8   108.9   108.8    2.2    1.1   -0.7    0.4    1.7   -0.2 
   Video and audio (2)........................  104.4   104.6   104.2   104.4    0.4    1.2    0.4    0.0    0.8    0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  112.1   111.8   112.2   112.2    1.8    1.8    1.8    0.4    1.8    1.1 
   Education (2)..............................  145.6   146.2   147.1   147.8    6.5    6.7    6.6    6.2    6.6    6.4 
    Educational books and supplies............  351.1   352.1   356.1   359.1    2.0    4.4   -0.2    9.4    3.2    4.5 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.  420.2   421.9   424.4   426.3    7.0    6.8    7.2    5.9    6.9    6.5 
   Communication (2)..........................   86.4    85.6    85.7    85.4   -2.7   -2.3   -2.7   -4.5   -2.5   -3.6 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   84.1    83.4    83.5    83.3   -2.3   -4.6   -2.8   -3.8   -3.4   -3.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   95.3    94.6    94.9    94.8   -2.0   -3.7   -2.1   -2.1   -2.9   -2.1 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................   14.7    14.5    14.3    14.2   -2.6   -7.7   -5.3  -12.9   -5.2   -9.2 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   15.0    14.6    14.2    13.9   -9.5   -7.4  -12.3  -26.3   -8.5  -19.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................  306.3   306.8   307.2   308.6    2.8    1.3    3.2    3.0    2.1    3.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  482.9   482.3   481.7   484.8    2.7    2.0    5.9    1.6    2.4    3.7 
   Personal care..............................  182.3   182.8   183.2   183.9    2.7    1.3    2.2    3.6    2.0    2.9 
    Personal care products (1)................  153.5   154.0   153.8   153.4    2.9   -1.8   -0.8   -0.3    0.5   -0.5 
    Personal care services (1)................  199.1   199.4   200.0   201.2    3.1    2.3    4.5    4.3    2.7    4.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........  296.2   296.5   297.5   298.9    4.1    3.5    3.6    3.7    3.8    3.6 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................  155.0   157.0   156.9   156.2    7.4    6.4   -2.0    3.1    6.9    0.5 
  Food and beverages..........................  187.5   188.5   188.9   188.8    1.5    4.9    1.3    2.8    3.2    2.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........  136.7   139.1   138.8   137.8   11.0    7.3   -4.0    3.3    9.1   -0.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........  155.2   161.1   162.5   161.4   13.7    8.2   -7.8   17.0   10.9    3.8 
    Apparel...................................  120.1   120.3   120.4   119.9    2.0    2.0   -4.2   -0.7    2.0   -2.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................  184.3   191.3   190.4   187.1   28.9   19.0   -8.4    6.2   23.8   -1.4 
   Durables...................................  114.6   115.0   115.1   115.3    0.7   -1.7    0.3    2.5   -0.5    1.4 
 Services.....................................  224.3   224.5   225.2   225.6    3.5    3.7    2.7    2.3    3.6    2.5 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  229.5   229.8   229.6   230.2    3.6    3.6    2.5    1.2    3.6    1.8 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  116.6   116.3   117.7   118.7    2.8    3.9    1.4    7.4    3.4    4.3 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  151.7   150.4   154.0   154.6    4.2   16.2   -1.0    7.9   10.0    3.3 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  125.6   126.0   126.2   126.4    6.8    6.7    5.6    2.6    6.8    4.1 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  126.1   126.2   127.0   127.0    3.3    3.6    4.6    2.9    3.5    3.7 
  Transportation services.....................  220.8   221.6   222.9   222.3    2.0    1.5    1.3    2.7    1.7    2.0 
  Medical care services.......................  324.0   325.4   326.4   327.9    6.8    4.1    3.8    4.9    5.4    4.3 
  Other services..............................  263.0   262.9   263.9   264.4    2.8    2.5    3.1    2.1    2.7    2.6 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................  190.2   191.4   191.7   191.5    5.5    4.8    0.6    2.8    5.1    1.7 
 All items less shelter.......................  179.9   181.3   181.7   181.4    5.8    5.5   -0.2    3.4    5.7    1.6 
 All items less medical care..................  183.4   184.5   184.8   184.7    4.8    5.0    0.4    2.9    4.9    1.6 
 Commodities less food........................  138.8   141.1   140.9   139.9   10.8    6.8   -3.7    3.2    8.8   -0.3 
 Nondurables less food........................  157.6   163.2   164.4   163.3   12.9    7.8   -7.0   15.3   10.3    3.5 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............  184.2   190.7   189.7   186.6   26.8   17.9   -8.2    5.3   22.3   -1.7 
 Nondurables..................................  171.4   175.1   176.0   175.5    6.9    7.5   -4.3    9.9    7.2    2.6 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  235.0   235.1   237.1   237.7    2.5    4.6    2.6    4.7    3.5    3.6 
 Services less medical care services..........  215.7   216.0   216.7   217.3    2.7    3.8    2.3    3.0    3.2    2.6 
 Energy.......................................  152.4   158.8   159.1   156.2   38.6   33.5   -9.8   10.4   36.0   -0.3 
 All items less energy........................  195.3   195.8   196.1   196.3    2.7    2.7    1.7    2.1    2.7    1.9 
  All items less food and energy..............  197.5   197.9   198.2   198.5    2.9    2.3    1.8    2.0    2.6    1.9 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................  139.4   139.9   140.0   139.9    1.4    0.3   -0.9    1.4    0.9    0.3 
    Energy commodities........................  162.2   176.0   173.5   167.1   82.5   50.2  -16.5   12.6   65.5   -3.0 
   Services less energy services..............  231.7   232.1   232.5   232.9    3.4    3.0    3.0    2.1    3.2    2.5 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 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                                  Dec. 2004 from--      Nov. 2004 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Sep.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.                                           
                                                 (1)   2004   2004   2004   2004   Dec.   Oct.   Nov.   Nov.   Sep.   Oct. 
                                                                                   2003   2004   2004   2003   2004   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average............................   M    189.9  190.9  191.0  190.3    3.3   -0.3   -0.4    3.5    0.6    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban..............................   M    201.2  202.5  202.6  201.9    3.6   -0.3   -0.3    3.8    0.7    0.0 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    203.2  204.5  204.6  204.1    3.6   -0.2   -0.2    3.7    0.7    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    119.2  120.1  120.1  119.2    3.7   -0.7   -0.7    4.2    0.8    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban................................   M    183.6  184.5  184.8  183.8    3.0   -0.4   -0.5    3.3    0.7    0.2 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    185.9  186.8  186.9  185.7    2.7   -0.6   -0.6    3.0    0.5    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    116.8  117.4  117.7  117.3    3.5   -0.1   -0.3    3.6    0.8    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    176.4  177.1  177.7  177.2    3.3    0.1   -0.3    3.7    0.7    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban..................................   M    182.8  183.7  183.7  183.3    3.3   -0.2   -0.2    3.5    0.5    0.0 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    184.0  185.0  185.0  184.9    3.2   -0.1   -0.1    3.3    0.5    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    116.9  117.4  117.4  117.1    3.4   -0.3   -0.3    3.6    0.4    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    181.2  182.8  182.5  181.9    3.9   -0.5   -0.3    4.0    0.7   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban...................................   M    193.8  195.0  195.1  194.2    3.1   -0.4   -0.5    3.5    0.7    0.1 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    196.4  197.5  197.6  196.5    3.1   -0.5   -0.6    3.5    0.6    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    118.4  119.2  119.3  119.0    3.3   -0.2   -0.3    3.8    0.8    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    173.6  174.6  174.6  174.0    3.1   -0.3   -0.3    3.4    0.6    0.0 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    117.4  118.1  118.2  117.7    3.4   -0.3   -0.4    3.8    0.7    0.1 
   D..........................................   M    181.8  182.9  183.0  182.4    3.3   -0.3   -0.3    3.6    0.7    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI...............   M    190.0  190.8  190.7  189.6    2.2   -0.6   -0.6    2.7    0.4   -0.1 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA......   M    194.5  196.3  196.9  195.2    4.4   -0.6   -0.9    5.2    1.2    0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA..............................   M    205.9  207.3  207.2  206.8    3.8   -0.2   -0.2    3.9    0.6    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT..........   1    209.8      -  211.7      -      -      -      -    2.5    0.9      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH..........................   1    183.8      -  183.2      -      -      -      -    3.2   -0.3      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX........................   1    179.7      -  179.9      -      -      -      -    2.3    0.1      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    120.8      -  120.9      -      -      -      -    3.6    0.1      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA..................................   2        -  183.9      -  183.2    2.3   -0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI..................   2        -  187.6      -  185.3    2.2   -1.2      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX...............   2        -  171.8      -  170.0    3.6   -1.0      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL....................   2        -  187.0      -  188.6    3.9    0.9      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD..............................   2        -  200.2      -  197.8    4.7   -1.2      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA...........   2        -  200.3      -  199.5    2.2   -0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA.................   2        -  196.5      -  195.1    2.1   -0.7      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA;
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  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,                      Dec. 2004 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   2003       Nov.      Dec.                                            
                                                              2004      2004     Dec.     Nov.   Sep. to Oct. to Nov. to
                                                                                 2003     2004     Oct.    Nov.    Dec. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................    100.000     186.8     186.0      3.4     -0.4     0.6     0.2    -0.1 
 All items (1967=100).........................          -     556.3     554.2        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................     17.151     188.1     188.4      2.6      0.2     0.5     0.2     0.0 
   Food.......................................     16.061     187.6     187.9      2.6      0.2     0.5     0.2    -0.1 
    Food at home..............................      9.637     187.3     187.6      2.3      0.2     0.8     0.2    -0.1 
     Cereals and bakery products..............      1.364     206.8     206.3      1.7     -0.2     0.3     0.4    -0.4 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........      2.908     182.4     183.2      1.2      0.4    -0.4    -0.6     0.4 
     Dairy and related products...............       .955     180.8     179.9      4.2     -0.5    -0.4    -0.6    -0.5 
     Fruits and vegetables....................      1.344     246.4     248.6      8.2      0.9     6.2     3.5    -0.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................      1.076     138.9     140.0      1.0      0.8    -0.4     0.1     0.7 
     Other food at home.......................      1.991     163.8     163.2      0.4     -0.4     0.2    -0.4    -0.5 
      Sugar and sweets........................       .321     162.1     160.6      0.1     -0.9    -0.4     0.9    -1.2 
      Fats and oils...........................       .303     167.7     167.3      6.1     -0.2    -0.9    -0.1     0.1 
      Other foods.............................      1.366     179.2     178.6     -0.8     -0.3     0.7    -0.9    -0.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .350     111.1     111.3      0.9      0.2    -0.6     0.7     0.2 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.424     189.5     189.7      3.0      0.1     0.3     0.1     0.1 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .252     126.8     127.0      3.2      0.2     0.7     0.0     0.3 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................      1.090     194.2     194.2      2.8      0.0    -0.1     0.2     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................     39.114     186.4     186.4      3.0      0.0     0.2     0.3     0.1 
   Shelter....................................     30.151     213.4     213.5      2.5      0.0     0.2     0.0     0.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.065     212.4     213.0      2.9      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.722     121.8     118.6      4.6     -2.6     0.0    -0.9     0.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.026     205.8     206.1      2.2      0.1     0.2     0.0     0.0 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .337     118.1     118.9      3.9      0.7    -0.3     1.4     0.7 
   Fuels and utilities........................      5.079     164.5     164.7      7.6      0.1    -0.2     2.0     0.1 
    Fuels.....................................      4.146     146.2     146.4      8.1      0.1    -0.5     2.4     0.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................       .216     186.5     183.4     34.7     -1.7     8.3     3.2    -3.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.930     151.7     152.0      6.7      0.2    -1.0     2.3     0.3 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .933     126.4     126.5      5.5      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      3.884     121.5     121.3      0.7     -0.2     0.9    -0.2     0.1 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .318     129.2     129.3      4.4      0.1     0.2     1.0     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................      4.357     122.6     118.6     -0.1     -3.3     0.3    -0.1    -0.3 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................      1.120     118.6     115.7     -1.8     -2.4    -0.9     0.1     0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................      1.727     116.9     110.2     -0.3     -5.7     2.1    -0.3    -1.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............       .250     123.1     121.4      0.0     -1.4    -0.9    -0.1     0.9 
   Footwear...................................      1.011     120.6     119.4      1.4     -1.0    -1.0     0.1     0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................     19.145     165.8     163.4      7.1     -1.4     2.3    -0.2    -0.8 
   Private transportation.....................     18.348     163.2     160.9      7.5     -1.4     2.4    -0.3    -0.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.305      94.0      94.3      1.6      0.3     0.3     0.3     0.1 
     New vehicles.............................      4.864     138.9     139.8      0.4      0.6     0.4     0.7     0.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.487     137.5     138.1      4.9      0.4     0.2    -0.1     0.4 
    Motor fuel................................      3.967     172.3     161.7     26.2     -6.2     8.6    -1.9    -3.5 
     Gasoline (all types).....................      3.936     171.6     160.9     26.1     -6.2     8.6    -1.9    -3.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .456     109.4     109.3      1.9     -0.1     0.2     0.5    -0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......      1.365     204.9     205.3      2.8      0.2     0.4     0.6     0.2 
   Public transportation......................       .797     207.1     204.2      0.3     -1.4     1.3     2.6    -1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................      4.969     313.6     314.4      4.3      0.3     0.3     0.3     0.4 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.142     264.9     264.4      1.9     -0.2     0.3     0.0    -0.3 
   Medical care services......................      3.827     326.3     327.7      5.1      0.4     0.2     0.4     0.5 
    Professional services.....................      2.256     276.9     277.2      4.0      0.1     0.1     0.4     0.1 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.254     421.0     424.2      5.2      0.8     0.4     0.4     0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.697     106.3     106.1      0.6     -0.2     0.1     0.1     0.0 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.928     103.3     103.2      0.7     -0.1     0.4    -0.5     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.645     110.6     110.5      0.7     -0.1    -0.3     0.3     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.299     146.8     147.0      6.2      0.1     0.6     0.5     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies............       .215     356.1     357.6      4.0      0.4     0.4     1.0     0.7 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.      2.084     415.6     415.8      6.4      0.0     0.5     0.5     0.4 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.345      87.2      87.0     -3.0     -0.2    -0.9     0.1    -0.5 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      3.194      85.7      85.5     -3.2     -0.2    -0.8     0.1    -0.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.622      95.1      95.0     -2.5     -0.1    -0.7     0.3    -0.1 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................       .572      14.9      14.8     -6.3     -0.7    -1.3    -0.7    -0.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .205      13.9      13.7    -13.8     -1.4    -3.4    -2.8    -1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................      3.923     314.9     315.9      2.5      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.5 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.248     482.5     485.7      3.0      0.7    -0.2    -0.1     0.7 
   Personal care..............................      2.675     181.7     181.9      2.3      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     154.3     153.8     -0.1     -0.3     0.2     0.0    -0.3 
    Personal care services (1)................       .610     200.6     201.8      3.5      0.6     0.1     0.4     0.6 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........      1.152     297.5     298.4      4.1      0.3     0.1     0.4     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................     44.582     158.1     156.6      3.9     -0.9     1.3    -0.1    -0.4 
  Food and beverages..........................     17.151     188.1     188.4      2.6      0.2     0.5     0.2     0.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........     27.430     141.0     138.8      4.8     -1.6     1.8    -0.3    -0.7 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........     14.671     165.9     160.9      8.0     -3.0     4.2     0.8    -0.6 
    Apparel...................................      4.357     122.6     118.6     -0.1     -3.3     0.3    -0.1    -0.3 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................     10.315     196.5     190.8     11.4     -2.9     4.2    -0.4    -1.9 
   Durables...................................     12.759     114.8     115.1      1.0      0.3     0.4     0.3     0.2 
 Services.....................................     55.418     220.4     220.5      2.9      0.0     0.1     0.3     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.813     205.5     205.6      2.5      0.0     0.1     0.0     0.1 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .337     118.1     118.9      3.9      0.7    -0.3     1.4     0.7 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.930     151.7     152.0      6.7      0.2    -1.0     2.3     0.3 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .933     126.4     126.5      5.5      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .318     129.2     129.3      4.4      0.1     0.2     1.0     0.1 
  Transportation services.....................      6.241     223.4     222.7      2.2     -0.3     0.3     0.5    -0.1 
  Medical care services.......................      3.827     326.3     327.7      5.1      0.4     0.2     0.4     0.5 
  Other services..............................     10.020     256.3     256.5      2.2      0.1     0.0     0.3     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................     83.939     186.4     185.5      3.5     -0.5     0.6     0.1    -0.1 
 All items less shelter.......................     69.849     179.1     178.0      3.7     -0.6     0.8     0.2    -0.2 
 All items less medical care..................     95.031     181.3     180.6      3.4     -0.4     0.7     0.1    -0.1 
 Commodities less food........................     28.520     142.9     140.7      4.6     -1.5     1.7    -0.3    -0.6 
 Nondurables less food........................     15.761     167.6     162.9      7.6     -2.8     4.0     0.7    -0.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............     11.405     195.4     190.3     10.6     -2.6     4.0    -0.6    -1.6 
 Nondurables..................................     31.823     177.5     175.1      5.1     -1.4     2.3     0.5    -0.4 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     25.605     209.8     209.9      3.4      0.0     0.0     0.8     0.3 
 Services less medical care services..........     51.592     212.3     212.4      2.8      0.0     0.0     0.3     0.2 
 Energy.......................................      8.114     158.5     153.3     16.9     -3.3     4.3     0.0    -1.9 
 All items less energy........................     91.886     191.1     191.0      2.2     -0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
  All items less food and energy..............     75.825     192.2     192.0      2.1     -0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................     24.337     140.6     139.9      0.9     -0.5     0.3     0.1     0.1 
    Energy commodities........................      4.183     173.7     163.4     26.7     -5.9     8.6    -1.7    -3.6 
   Services less energy services..............     51.488     228.0     228.1      2.7      0.0     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .535    $ .537        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00).............................          -    $ .180    $ .180        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - 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--   
                                                 Sep.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec.                                           
                                                 2004    2004    2004    2004                                           
                                                                                Mar.   June   Sep.   Dec.   June   Dec. 
                                                                                2004   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................  185.3   186.5   186.8   186.6    5.4    4.9    0.7    2.8    5.2    1.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................  187.0   188.0   188.3   188.3    1.3    5.1    1.3    2.8    3.2    2.0 
   Food.......................................  186.5   187.5   187.9   187.8    1.1    5.1    1.3    2.8    3.1    2.1 
    Food at home..............................  185.9   187.3   187.7   187.5   -0.2    7.2   -0.9    3.5    3.4    1.3 
     Cereals and bakery products..............  206.5   207.1   208.0   207.2    2.6    1.6    1.2    1.4    2.1    1.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........  183.6   182.9   181.8   182.6   -3.5    8.8    2.0   -2.2    2.5   -0.1 
     Dairy and related products...............  181.6   180.9   179.9   179.0   -0.9   51.3  -16.9   -5.6   22.4  -11.4 
     Fruits and vegetables....................  226.4   240.5   248.9   246.7   -2.4   -3.1    2.7   41.0   -2.8   20.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................  140.2   139.7   139.9   140.9    0.0    0.0    2.3    2.0    0.0    2.2 
     Other food at home.......................  164.7   165.1   164.4   163.5    4.2    1.5   -1.0   -2.9    2.8   -1.9 
      Sugar and sweets........................  163.1   162.5   163.9   161.9    1.0   -0.7    3.0   -2.9    0.1    0.0 
      Fats and oils...........................  169.9   168.4   168.3   168.4   20.0   16.1   -5.5   -3.5   18.0   -4.5 
      Other foods.............................  179.7   180.9   179.3   178.4    1.8   -1.1   -0.9   -2.9    0.3   -1.9 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  111.0   110.3   111.1   111.3    7.1   -2.8   -1.4    1.1    2.0   -0.2 
    Food away from home (1)...................  188.8   189.3   189.5   189.7    3.1    2.6    4.4    1.9    2.8    3.1 
     Other food away from home (2)............  125.5   126.4   126.4   126.8    3.3    3.3    1.6    4.2    3.3    2.9 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................  194.0   193.9   194.2   194.2    5.0    3.2    2.7    0.4    4.1    1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................  186.1   186.4   186.9   187.1    3.6    4.0    2.4    2.2    3.8    2.3 
   Shelter....................................  213.5   213.9   213.9   214.2    3.3    3.1    2.7    1.3    3.2    2.0 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  211.6   212.2   212.4   212.8    2.7    3.7    2.9    2.3    3.2    2.6 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  128.7   128.7   127.5   128.2    9.8    1.0   10.6   -1.5    5.3    4.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  205.1   205.5   205.6   205.7    2.6    2.8    2.0    1.2    2.7    1.6 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  116.8   116.5   118.1   118.9    2.8    4.6    1.0    7.4    3.7    4.2 
   Fuels and utilities........................  163.0   162.6   165.8   165.9    6.1   14.5    2.2    7.3   10.2    4.7 
    Fuels.....................................  144.8   144.1   147.6   147.7    5.7   16.5    1.7    8.3   10.9    4.9 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................  169.6   183.6   189.4   182.2   24.8   29.0   53.4   33.2   26.9   42.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  151.0   149.5   153.0   153.5    4.8   16.0   -1.1    6.8   10.2    2.8 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  125.7   126.1   126.4   126.5    7.9    6.0    5.6    2.6    7.0    4.1 
   Household furnishings and operations.......  120.6   121.7   121.5   121.6    2.3   -0.7   -2.0    3.4    0.8    0.7 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  127.6   127.9   129.2   129.3    5.3    5.2    1.9    5.4    5.2    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................  119.7   120.0   119.9   119.5    3.0    0.7   -3.3   -0.7    1.8   -2.0 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................  116.5   115.4   115.5   115.8    1.7   -0.3   -5.9   -2.4    0.7   -4.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................  111.8   114.1   113.8   111.6    4.0    2.9   -7.2   -0.7    3.4   -4.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............  121.5   120.4   120.3   121.4    7.4  -10.8    4.4   -0.3   -2.1    2.0 
   Footwear...................................  119.9   118.7   118.8   119.8    0.3   -2.0    8.1   -0.3   -0.8    3.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................  162.1   165.9   165.6   164.2   16.0   11.5   -2.9    5.3   13.8    1.1 
   Private transportation.....................  159.6   163.4   162.9   161.6   16.7   12.3   -2.7    5.1   14.5    1.1 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   93.3    93.6    93.9    94.0   -0.4   -0.9    4.9    3.0   -0.6    3.9 
     New vehicles.............................  137.1   137.6   138.5   138.8    0.6    0.6   -4.3    5.1    0.6    0.3 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  137.3   137.6   137.5   138.1    0.9   -1.8   19.2    2.4   -0.5   10.5 
    Motor fuel................................  161.5   175.4   172.0   165.9   85.8   53.4  -19.7   11.4   68.8   -5.4 
     Gasoline (all types).....................  160.7   174.6   171.2   165.1   85.7   53.6  -20.2   11.4   68.9   -5.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  108.7   108.9   109.4   109.3    0.4    1.5    3.4    2.2    0.9    2.8 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......  202.7   203.6   204.9   205.3    0.8    3.2    2.0    5.2    2.0    3.6 
   Public transportation......................  202.1   204.8   210.1   207.7    3.3   -4.0   -8.6   11.6   -0.4    1.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................  312.2   313.0   314.0   315.1    6.1    3.8    3.8    3.8    5.0    3.8 
   Medical care commodities...................  264.8   265.7   265.7   265.0    2.6    2.8    2.3    0.3    2.7    1.3 
   Medical care services......................  324.6   325.4   326.7   328.4    7.1    4.2    4.3    4.8    5.6    4.5 
    Professional services.....................  276.2   276.6   277.7   278.1    7.4    2.7    3.6    2.8    5.0    3.2 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  417.3   418.9   420.6   423.8    5.7    5.5    3.0    6.4    5.6    4.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  106.3   106.4   106.5   106.5    2.3    0.8   -1.1    0.8    1.5   -0.2 
   Video and audio (2)........................  103.6   104.0   103.5   103.8    0.4    1.6    0.0    0.8    1.0    0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  110.3   110.0   110.3   110.3    1.5    0.7    1.1    0.0    1.1    0.5 
   Education (2)..............................  144.2   145.0   145.7   146.4    6.8    5.5    6.3    6.2    6.2    6.3 
    Educational books and supplies............  353.1   354.5   357.9   360.5    2.1    4.3    1.0    8.7    3.2    4.8 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.  407.9   409.9   411.9   413.7    7.1    5.9    7.0    5.8    6.5    6.4 
   Communication (2)..........................   88.0    87.2    87.3    86.9   -2.2   -2.7   -2.2   -4.9   -2.4   -3.6 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   86.3    85.6    85.7    85.5   -1.8   -4.5   -2.7   -3.7   -3.1   -3.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   95.5    94.8    95.1    95.0   -2.0   -3.3   -2.5   -2.1   -2.7   -2.3 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................   15.2    15.0    14.9    14.8   -2.5   -7.4   -5.1  -10.1   -5.0   -7.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   14.8    14.3    13.9    13.7   -9.7   -7.5  -10.1  -26.6   -8.6  -18.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................  314.4   314.7   315.1   316.6    2.5    1.3    3.6    2.8    1.9    3.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  483.9   483.0   482.5   485.7    2.3    2.3    6.0    1.5    2.3    3.7 
   Personal care..............................  180.9   181.4   181.9   182.5    2.7    0.9    2.2    3.6    1.8    2.9 
    Personal care products (1)................  154.0   154.3   154.3   153.8    2.6   -1.8   -0.8   -0.5    0.4   -0.6 
    Personal care services (1)................  199.7   199.9   200.6   201.8    2.9    2.5    4.5    4.3    2.7    4.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........  296.5   296.9   298.1   299.6    4.2    3.9    4.2    4.2    4.1    4.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................  155.9   157.9   157.8   157.1    7.6    6.7   -1.3    3.1    7.1    0.9 
  Food and beverages..........................  187.0   188.0   188.3   188.3    1.3    5.1    1.3    2.8    3.2    2.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........  138.3   140.8   140.4   139.4   11.9    7.8   -3.1    3.2    9.9    0.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........  158.4   165.1   166.4   165.4   15.2    8.9   -8.6   18.9   12.0    4.2 
    Apparel...................................  119.7   120.0   119.9   119.5    3.0    0.7   -3.3   -0.7    1.8   -2.0 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................  189.8   197.7   196.9   193.1   32.1   20.3   -9.5    7.1   26.1   -1.5 
   Durables...................................  114.1   114.5   114.8   115.0    0.4   -1.7    2.1    3.2   -0.7    2.7 
 Services.....................................  219.9   220.1   220.8   221.2    3.4    3.7    2.4    2.4    3.6    2.4 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  205.7   205.9   206.0   206.2    3.2    3.2    2.6    1.0    3.2    1.8 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  116.8   116.5   118.1   118.9    2.8    4.6    1.0    7.4    3.7    4.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  151.0   149.5   153.0   153.5    4.8   16.0   -1.1    6.8   10.2    2.8 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  125.7   126.1   126.4   126.5    7.9    6.0    5.6    2.6    7.0    4.1 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  127.6   127.9   129.2   129.3    5.3    5.2    1.9    5.4    5.2    3.7 
  Transportation services.....................  221.4   222.1   223.3   223.0    2.4    1.6    1.6    2.9    2.0    2.3 
  Medical care services.......................  324.6   325.4   326.7   328.4    7.1    4.2    4.3    4.8    5.6    4.5 
  Other services..............................  255.5   255.4   256.2   256.6    2.7    1.9    2.5    1.7    2.3    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................  185.0   186.2   186.4   186.2    6.1    5.1    0.7    2.6    5.6    1.6 
 All items less shelter.......................  177.1   178.6   178.9   178.5    6.2    6.1   -0.2    3.2    6.1    1.5 
 All items less medical care..................  179.9   181.1   181.3   181.1    5.4    5.1    0.4    2.7    5.2    1.6 
 Commodities less food........................  140.3   142.7   142.3   141.4   11.4    7.7   -2.8    3.2    9.6    0.1 
 Nondurables less food........................  160.5   167.0   168.1   167.1   14.7    7.7   -7.6   17.5   11.1    4.2 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............  189.1   196.6   195.4   192.2   29.5   19.6   -9.5    6.7   24.5   -1.7 
 Nondurables..................................  173.1   177.0   177.9   177.2    7.6    7.4   -4.1    9.8    7.5    2.6 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  208.7   208.8   210.4   211.0    2.2    4.6    2.5    4.5    3.4    3.5 
 Services less medical care services..........  211.9   212.0   212.7   213.2    2.7    3.7    2.3    2.5    3.2    2.4 
 Energy.......................................  152.4   159.0   159.0   156.0   41.1   34.9  -10.5    9.8   38.0   -0.9 
 All items less energy........................  190.3   190.8   191.1   191.2    2.4    2.6    1.9    1.9    2.5    1.9 
  All items less food and energy..............  191.4   191.8   192.1   192.3    2.8    1.9    1.9    1.9    2.4    1.9 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................  139.5   139.9   140.0   140.1    1.4    0.0    0.6    1.7    0.7    1.2 
    Energy commodities........................  162.5   176.5   173.5   167.3   82.4   51.9  -17.1   12.3   66.4   -3.5 
   Services less energy services..............  227.6   227.9   228.3   228.6    3.5    2.7    2.9    1.8    3.1    2.3 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 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                                  Dec. 2004 from--      Nov. 2004 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Sep.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.                                           
                                                 (1)   2004   2004   2004   2004   Dec.   Oct.   Nov.   Nov.   Sep.   Oct. 
                                                                                   2003   2004   2004   2003   2004   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average............................   M    185.4  186.5  186.8  186.0    3.4   -0.3   -0.4    3.7    0.8    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban..............................   M    197.7  199.0  199.4  198.7    3.7   -0.2   -0.4    3.9    0.9    0.2 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    198.4  199.7  200.2  199.6    3.6   -0.1   -0.3    3.8    0.9    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    119.2  120.1  120.2  119.4    3.6   -0.6   -0.7    4.2    0.8    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban................................   M    178.6  179.5  179.8  178.8    3.1   -0.4   -0.6    3.4    0.7    0.2 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    180.2  181.1  181.2  180.1    2.9   -0.6   -0.6    3.1    0.6    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    115.9  116.6  116.9  116.4    3.6   -0.2   -0.4    3.7    0.9    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    173.7  174.4  175.2  174.9    3.4    0.3   -0.2    3.6    0.9    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban..................................   M    179.7  180.6  180.7  180.3    3.5   -0.2   -0.2    3.7    0.6    0.1 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    181.4  182.5  182.5  182.4    3.4   -0.1   -0.1    3.5    0.6    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    115.4  115.9  116.0  115.6    3.4   -0.3   -0.3    3.7    0.5    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    180.7  182.3  182.2  181.5    4.2   -0.4   -0.4    4.4    0.8   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban...................................   M    188.8  190.0  190.2  189.4    3.3   -0.3   -0.4    3.7    0.7    0.1 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    189.9  191.0  191.2  190.2    3.4   -0.4   -0.5    3.7    0.7    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    117.8  118.7  118.9  118.6    3.3   -0.1   -0.3    3.8    0.9    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    171.8  172.8  173.0  172.4    3.4   -0.2   -0.3    3.5    0.7    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    116.5  117.2  117.3  116.9    3.5   -0.3   -0.3    3.8    0.7    0.1 
   D..........................................   M    179.7  180.8  181.1  180.6    3.6   -0.1   -0.3    3.8    0.8    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI...............   M    183.1  184.0  184.2  183.1    2.4   -0.5   -0.6    2.8    0.6    0.1 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA......   M    187.8  189.8  190.3  188.5    4.6   -0.7   -0.9    5.4    1.3    0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA..............................   M    200.6  201.9  202.2  201.8    3.7    0.0   -0.2    3.9    0.8    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT..........   1    208.8      -  211.0      -      -      -      -    2.6    1.1      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH..........................   1    174.8      -  173.9      -      -      -      -    3.3   -0.5      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX........................   1    180.0      -  180.5      -      -      -      -    2.8    0.3      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    120.4      -  120.4      -      -      -      -    3.7    0.0      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA..................................   2        -  181.7      -  181.5    2.8   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI..................   2        -  183.0      -  180.7    2.7   -1.3      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX...............   2        -  169.5      -  167.7    3.4   -1.1      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL....................   2        -  185.1      -  186.6    4.3    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD..............................   2        -  199.8      -  197.9    4.7   -1.0      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA...........   2        -  196.4      -  195.9    2.5   -0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA.................   2        -  191.6      -  190.3    2.7   -0.7      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA;
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 7. Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                    Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative       Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                               importance,       indexes         Dec. 2004 from-  
                    C-CPI-U                     December                                          
                                                2001-2002                                         
                                                              Nov.      Dec.      Dec.      Nov.  
                                                              2004      2004      2003      2004  
                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
             Expenditure category                                                                 
                                                                                                  
 All items....................................    100.000     111.1     110.7       2.9      -0.4 
                                                                                                  
  Food and beverages..........................     15.076     112.3     112.4       2.5       0.1 
   Food.......................................     14.086     112.3     112.4       2.5       0.1 
    Food at home..............................      8.062     111.2     111.4       2.1       0.2 
    Food away from home.......................      6.023     113.7     113.8       2.9       0.1 
   Alcoholic beverages........................       .990     112.4     112.2       2.6      -0.2 
                                                                                                  
  Housing.....................................     41.793     114.7     114.6       2.9      -0.1 
   Shelter....................................     32.380     116.2     116.1       2.6      -0.1 
   Fuels and utilities........................      4.643     126.4     126.5       6.9       0.1 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      4.771      95.8      95.5       0.2      -0.3 
                                                                                                  
  Apparel.....................................      4.317      92.9      89.8      -0.4      -3.3 
                                                                                                  
  Transportation..............................     17.315     110.1     108.9       5.8      -1.1 
   Private transportation.....................     16.206     110.5     109.4       6.3      -1.0 
   Public transportation......................      1.109     103.5     101.7      -0.4      -1.7 
                                                                                                  
  Medical care................................      5.783     122.9     123.1       4.1       0.2 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.466     115.5     115.3       2.1      -0.2 
   Medical care services......................      4.317     125.4     125.9       4.8       0.4 
                                                                                                  
  Recreation..................................      5.978     103.4     103.2       0.0      -0.2 
                                                                                                  
  Education and communication.................      6.004      99.7      99.5       0.3      -0.2 
   Education..................................      2.560     136.4     136.5       6.3       0.1 
   Communication..............................      3.444      78.0      77.7      -4.0      -0.4 
                                                                                                  
  Other goods and services....................      3.734     114.8     115.1       2.4       0.3 
                                                                                                  
          Commodity and service group                                                             
                                                                                                  
 Services.....................................     58.567     117.0     116.9       2.8      -0.1 
 Commodities..................................     41.433     103.6     102.8       2.9      -0.8 
  Durables....................................     12.521      87.1      87.2       0.1       0.1 
 Nondurables..................................     28.912     111.5     110.2       4.3      -1.2 
  All items less food and energy..............     78.985     108.8     108.5       1.9      -0.3 
 Energy.......................................      6.929     138.1     134.2      15.6      -2.8 

 Indexes for 2004 are initial estimates.  Indexes for 2003 are interim adjustments.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 1A. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                              Annual      Annual     Percent  
                           CPI-U                             average     average      change  
                                                               2003        2004     from 2003 
                                                                                     to 2004  
                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                              
                   Expenditure category                                                       
                                                                                              
 All items................................................      184.0       188.9         2.7 
 All items (1967=100).....................................      551.1       565.8           - 
                                                                                              
  Food and beverages......................................      180.5       186.6         3.4 
   Food...................................................      180.0       186.2         3.4 
    Food at home..........................................      179.4       186.2         3.8 
     Cereals and bakery products..........................      202.8       206.0         1.6 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.......................      169.3       181.7         7.3 
     Dairy and related products...........................      167.9       180.2         7.3 
     Fruits and vegetables................................      225.9       232.7         3.0 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials........      139.8       140.4          .4 
     Other food at home...................................      162.6       164.9         1.4 
      Sugar and sweets....................................      162.0       163.2          .7 
      Fats and oils.......................................      157.4       167.8         6.6 
      Other foods.........................................      178.8       179.7          .5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1)......................      110.3       110.4          .1 
    Food away from home...................................      182.1       187.5         3.0 
     Other food away from home (1)........................      121.3       125.3         3.3 
   Alcoholic beverages....................................      187.2       192.1         2.6 
                                                                                              
  Housing.................................................      184.8       189.5         2.5 
   Shelter................................................      213.1       218.8         2.7 
    Rent of primary residence.............................      205.5       211.0         2.7 
    Lodging away from home (1)............................      119.3       125.9         5.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (2)......      219.9       224.9         2.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1)..................      114.8       116.2         1.2 
   Fuels and utilities....................................      154.5       161.9         4.8 
    Fuels.................................................      138.2       144.4         4.5 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.............................      139.5       160.5        15.1 
     Gas (piped) and electricity..........................      145.0       150.6         3.9 
   Household furnishings and operations...................      126.1       125.5         -.5 
                                                                                              
  Apparel.................................................      120.9       120.4         -.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel................................      118.0       117.5         -.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel.............................      113.1       113.0         -.1 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.........................      122.1       118.5        -2.9 
   Footwear...............................................      119.6       119.3         -.3 
                                                                                              
  Transportation..........................................      157.6       163.1         3.5 
   Private transportation.................................      153.6       159.4         3.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (1).......................       96.5        94.2        -2.4 
     New vehicles.........................................      137.9       137.1         -.6 
     Used cars and trucks.................................      142.9       133.3        -6.7 
    Motor fuel............................................      135.8       160.4        18.1 
     Gasoline (all types).................................      135.1       159.7        18.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment.....................      107.8       108.7          .8 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair..................      195.6       200.2         2.4 
   Public transportation..................................      209.3       209.1        -0.1 
                                                                                              
  Medical care............................................      297.1       310.1         4.4 
   Medical care commodities...............................      262.8       269.3         2.5 
   Medical care services..................................      306.0       321.3         5.0 
    Professional services.................................      261.2       271.5         3.9 
    Hospital and related services.........................      394.8       417.9         5.9 
                                                                                              
  Recreation (1)..........................................      107.5       108.6         1.0 
   Video and audio (1)....................................      103.6       104.2          .6 
                                                                                              
  Education and communication (1).........................      109.8       111.6         1.6 
   Education (1)..........................................      134.4       143.7         6.9 
    Educational books and supplies........................      335.4       351.0         4.7 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.............      386.7       414.3         7.1 
   Communication (1)......................................       89.7        86.7        -3.3 
    Information and information processing (1)............       87.8        84.6        -3.6 
     Telephone services (1)...............................       98.3        95.8        -2.5 
     Information technology, hardware and services (3)....       16.1        14.8        -8.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1).....       17.6        15.3       -13.1 
                                                                                              
  Other goods and services................................      298.7       304.7         2.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products...........................      469.0       478.0         1.9 
   Personal care..........................................      178.0       181.7         2.1 
    Personal care products................................      153.5       153.9          .3 
    Personal care services................................      193.2       197.6         2.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services.......................      283.5       293.9         3.7 
                                                                                              
                Commodity and service group                                                   
                                                                                              
 Commodities..............................................      151.2       154.7         2.3 
  Food and beverages......................................      180.5       186.6         3.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages.....................      134.5       136.7         1.6 
   Nondurables less food and beverages....................      149.7       157.2         5.0 
    Apparel...............................................      120.9       120.4         -.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel.........      171.5       183.9         7.2 
   Durables...............................................      117.5       114.8        -2.3 
 Services.................................................      216.5       222.8         2.9 
  Rent of shelter (2).....................................      221.9       227.9         2.7 
  Transportation services.................................      216.3       220.6         2.0 
  Other services..........................................      254.4       261.3         2.7 
                                                                                              
                      Special indexes                                                         
                                                                                              
 All items less food......................................      184.7       189.4         2.5 
 All items less shelter...................................      174.6       179.3         2.7 
 All items less medical care..............................      178.1       182.7         2.6 
 Commodities less food....................................      136.5       138.8         1.7 
 Nondurables less food....................................      151.9       159.3         4.9 
 Nondurables less food and apparel........................      172.1       183.8         6.8 
 Nondurables..............................................      165.3       172.2         4.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (2)........................      226.4       233.5         3.1 
 Services less medical care services......................      208.7       214.5         2.8 
 Energy...................................................      136.5       151.4        10.9 
 All items less energy....................................      190.6       194.4         2.0 
  All items less food and energy..........................      193.2       196.6         1.8 
   Commodities less food and energy commodities...........      140.9       139.6         -.9 
    Energy commodities....................................      136.7       161.2        17.9 
   Services less energy services..........................      223.8       230.2         2.9 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00)..     $ .544      $ .530           - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00).....     $ .182      $ .177           - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.


 Table 4A. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                              Annual      Annual     Percent  
                           CPI-W                             average     average      change  
                                                               2003        2004     from 2003 
                                                                                     to 2004  
                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                              
                   Expenditure category                                                       
                                                                                              
 All items................................................      179.8       184.5         2.6 
 All items (1967=100).....................................      535.6       549.5           - 
                                                                                              
  Food and beverages......................................      179.9       186.2         3.5 
   Food...................................................      179.4       185.7         3.5 
    Food at home..........................................      178.5       185.4         3.9 
     Cereals and bakery products..........................      202.8       206.0         1.6 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.......................      169.2       181.8         7.4 
     Dairy and related products...........................      167.6       180.0         7.4 
     Fruits and vegetables................................      224.3       230.4         2.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials........      139.1       139.7          .4 
     Other food at home...................................      162.2       164.5         1.4 
      Sugar and sweets....................................      161.6       162.5          .6 
      Fats and oils.......................................      157.4       167.8         6.6 
      Other foods.........................................      179.2       180.1          .5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1)......................      110.8       110.9          .1 
    Food away from home...................................      182.0       187.4         3.0 
     Other food away from home (1)........................      121.5       125.1         3.0 
   Alcoholic beverages....................................      187.1       192.4         2.8 
                                                                                              
  Housing.................................................      180.4       185.0         2.5 
   Shelter................................................      206.9       212.2         2.6 
    Rent of primary residence.............................      204.7       210.2         2.7 
    Lodging away from home (1)............................      119.8       126.4         5.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (2)......      199.7       204.1         2.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1)..................      114.7       116.4         1.5 
   Fuels and utilities....................................      153.9       161.2         4.7 
    Fuels.................................................      137.0       143.2         4.5 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.............................      138.7       160.0        15.4 
     Gas (piped) and electricity..........................      144.1       149.8         4.0 
    Water and sewer and trash collection services (1).....      117.3       124.1         5.8 
   Household furnishings and operations...................      121.9       121.1         -.7 
    Household operations (1)..............................      122.9       126.8         3.2 
                                                                                              
  Apparel.................................................      120.0       120.0          .0 
   Men's and boys' apparel................................      117.5       117.3         -.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel.............................      112.1       112.8          .6 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.........................      124.1       121.3        -2.3 
   Footwear...............................................      119.1       118.2         -.8 
                                                                                              
  Transportation..........................................      156.3       161.5         3.3 
   Private transportation.................................      153.5       158.8         3.5 
    New and used motor vehicles (1).......................       96.0        92.8        -3.3 
     New vehicles.........................................      139.0       138.1         -.6 
     Used cars and trucks.................................      143.7       134.1        -6.7 
    Motor fuel............................................      136.1       160.9        18.2 
     Gasoline (all types).................................      135.5       160.2        18.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment.....................      107.3       108.2         0.8 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair..................      197.3       202.0         2.4 
   Public transportation..................................      206.0       207.1          .5 
                                                                                              
  Medical care............................................      296.3       309.5         4.5 
   Medical care commodities...............................      257.4       263.2         2.3 
   Medical care services..................................      305.9       321.5         5.1 
    Professional services.................................      263.4       274.0         4.0 
    Hospital and related services.........................      391.2       414.0         5.8 
                                                                                              
  Recreation (1)..........................................      105.5       106.3          .8 
   Video and audio (1)....................................      102.9       103.4          .5 
                                                                                              
  Education and communication (1).........................      109.0       110.0          .9 
   Education (1)..........................................      133.8       142.5         6.5 
    Educational books and supplies........................      336.5       352.2         4.7 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.............      377.3       402.5         6.7 
   Communication (1)......................................       91.2        88.3        -3.2 
    Information and information processing (1)............       89.9        86.8        -3.4 
     Telephone services (1)...............................       98.5        96.0        -2.5 
     Information technology, hardware and services (3)....       16.7        15.3        -8.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral equipment (1).....       17.3        15.0       -13.3 
                                                                                              
  Other goods and services................................      307.0       312.6         1.8 
   Tobacco and smoking products...........................      470.5       478.8         1.8 
   Personal care..........................................      177.0       180.4         1.9 
    Personal care products................................      154.2       154.4          .1 
    Personal care services................................      193.9       198.2         2.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services.......................      283.3       294.0         3.8 
                                                                                              
                Commodity and service group                                                   
                                                                                              
 Commodities..............................................      151.8       155.4         2.4 
  Food and beverages......................................      179.9       186.2         3.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages.....................      135.8       138.1         1.7 
   Nondurables less food and beverages....................      152.1       160.6         5.6 
    Apparel...............................................      120.0       120.0          .0 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel.........      175.6       189.6         8.0 
   Durables...............................................      117.4       114.0        -2.9 
 Services.................................................      212.6       218.6         2.8 
  Rent of shelter (2).....................................      199.2       204.3         2.6 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1)....................      114.7       116.4         1.5 
  Gas (piped) and electricity.............................      144.1       149.8         4.0 
  Water and sewer and trash collection services (1).......      117.3       124.1         5.8 
  Household operations (1)................................      122.9       126.8         3.2 
  Transportation services.................................      216.2       220.9         2.2 
  Medical care services...................................      305.9       321.5         5.1 
  Other services..........................................      248.5       254.1         2.3 
                                                                                              
                      Special indexes                                                         
                                                                                              
 All items less food......................................      179.7       184.1         2.4 
 All items less shelter...................................      171.9       176.4         2.6 
 All items less medical care..............................      174.8       179.1         2.5 
 Commodities less food....................................      137.7       140.0         1.7 
 Nondurables less food....................................      154.2       162.6         5.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel........................      175.9       189.0         7.4 
 Nondurables..............................................      166.4       173.9         4.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (2)........................      201.3       207.4         3.0 
 Services less medical care services......................      205.2       210.6         2.6 
 Energy...................................................      135.9       151.3        11.3 
 All items less energy....................................      186.1       189.5         1.8 
  All items less food and energy..........................      187.9       190.6         1.4 
   Commodities less food and energy commodities...........      141.1       139.4        -1.2 
    Energy commodities....................................      136.8       161.5        18.1 
   Services less energy services..........................      220.2       226.2         2.7 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00)..     $ .556      $ .542           - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00).....     $ .187      $ .182           - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.