FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-98-243
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
 INFORMATION:           (202) 606-7828      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:      		    Tuesday, June 16, 1998
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
 
                                     
                      CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  MAY 1998
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2
 percent in May, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 162.8 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in May, the CPI-U has
 increased 1.7 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) rose 0.3 percent in May, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The May
 1998 CPI-W level of 159.5 was 1.5 percent higher than the index in May
 1997.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
     
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in May
 after increasing 0.2 percent in April.  The food index increased 0.6
 percent.  Grocery store food prices advanced 0.8 percent in May, following
 declines of 0.1 percent in each of the preceding three months, largely as
 a result of sharp increases in prices for fruits and vegetables.  The
 energy index registered its first increase since last September--up 0.3
 percent in May.  The index for petroleum-based energy increased 0.8
 percent, while the index for energy services was unchanged.  Excluding
 food and energy, the CPI-U, which rose 0.3 percent in April, increased 0.2
 percent in May.  A smaller increase in cigarette prices and a large
 decline in airline fares, coupled with a downturn in the index for
 household furnishings and operations, were responsible for the moderation.
 
 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          1997             1998           3-mos. ended  ended
                     Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.  May   May `98   May `98
                                                                    
 All Items            .1    .1   .0   .1   .0   .2   .3    2.2       1.7
  Food and beverages  .2    .1   .3   .0   .0   .1   .5    2.3       2.3
  Housing             .3    .1   .1   .1   .2   .4   .3    3.3       2.4
  Apparel             .1    .2  -.5   .2  -.2  -.1   .4     .6        .0
  Transportation     -.6   -.3  -.3  -.4  -.5  -.1   .1   -2.0      -1.7
  Medical care        .3    .3   .1   .3   .3   .4   .3    4.3       3.1
  Recreation           -     -   .3   .3   .4   .0   .0    1.6       1.6
  Education and                                                         
    communication      -     -   .0  -.1   .3   .3   .3    3.7       2.6
    Other goods and                                                     
      services        .4    .4   .4   .8  -.3  1.0   .7    5.8       6.1
  Special Indexes                                                       
     Energy           .0  -1.8 -2.4 -2.2 -1.2  -.1   .3   -4.2      -5.6
   Food               .1    .0   .3   .0   .0   .1   .6    2.5       2.4
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .1    .2   .2   .3   .1   .3   .2    2.6       2.2

 Beginning with release of the data for January 1999, the BLS will
 introduce a new formula for calculating the basic components of the CPI.
 See page 4 for more details.
 
      During the first five months of 1998, the CPI-U rose at a 1.5-percent
 seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an increase of
 1.7 percent for all of 1997.  Declines in energy costs have continued to
 act as a moderating influence on overall consumer price index movements
 thus far in 1998, decreasing at a 12.9-percent annual rate after declining
 3.4 percent in all of 1997.  Food costs, which rose 1.5 percent in 1997,
 have risen at a 2.3-percent SAAR in the first five months of 1998.
 Excluding food and energy, The CPI-U has advanced at a 2.7-percent rate
 thus far in 1998, compared with a 2.2 percent rise for all of 1997.  The
 larger rate of advance this year is primarily due to a sharp rise in the
 index for tobacco and smoking products--up at a SAAR of 16.2 percent.
      
      The food and beverages index rose 0.5 percent in May.  The index for
 grocery store food prices rose 0.8 percent, following declines of 0.1
 percent in each of the preceding three months.  About 95 percent of the
 May advance was the result of a 5.3 percent rise in the index for fruits
 and vegetables. The index for fresh fruits and for fresh vegetables
 increased 1.4 and 11.9 percent, respectively; processed fruits and
 vegetables rose 1.4 percent.  The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs
 registered its first increase since November, advancing 0.3 percent in
 May.  The indexes for beef, for pork, and for poultry increased 0.4, 0.5,
 and 0.8 percent, respectively. Despite the May increases, prices for each
 of these items were lower than a year earlier.  The index for cereal and
 bakery products increased 0.4 percent.  Each of the three other major
 grocery store food groups recorded declines in May.  The index for
 nonalcoholic beverages registered its third consecutive decrease--down 0.5
 percent in May--reflecting declines in prices for coffee and carbonated
 drinks.  The index for dairy products fell 0.3 percent, and the index for
 other food at home declined 0.1 percent.  The other two components of the
 food and beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--rose
 0.2 percent and remained unchanged, respectively.
      
      The housing component rose 0.3 percent in May.  Shelter costs rose
 0.4 percent, the same as in April.  Within shelter, the index for rent
 rose 0.4 percent; owners' equivalent rent, 0.3 percent; and the cost of
 lodging away from home, 1.0 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the
 latter index declined 1.4 percent.)  The index for fuels and utilities
 increased 0.1 percent in May.  The index for household fuels was
 unchanged; the index for electricity rose 0.1 percent, the index for
 natural gas was unchanged, and the index for fuel oil declined 0.5
 percent.  The index for household furnishings and operations, which
 increased 0.4 percent in April, decreased 0.2 percent in May, reflecting
 price declines for most housefurnishings.
      
      The transportation component, which declined in each of the preceding
 six months, rose 0.1 percent in May.  The upturn was largely due to the
 turnaround in the index for gasoline, which registered its first increase
 since September--up 0.8 in May.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline
 prices rose 3.4 percent.)  The index for new and used vehicle prices was
 unchanged in May; the index for new vehicles declined 0.3 percent, while
 the index for used car and truck prices advanced 1.2 percent.  Public
 transportation costs declined 0.8 percent in May.  The index for airline
 fares, which increased 8.2 percent during the first three months of 1998,
 declined for the second consecutive month--down 2.4 percent in May.
 
      The index for apparel increased 0.4 percent in May, following
 declines in each of the preceding two months.  (Prior to seasonal
 adjustment, apparel prices fell 0.4 percent.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in May to a level 3.1 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.7 percent.
 The index for medical care services rose 0.2 percent.  Charges for
 professional services and for hospital and related services increased 0.2
 and 0.1 percent, respectively.
 
      The index for recreation costs was unchanged for the second
 consecutive month.  Declines in the prices for sporting goods, for video
 and audio equipment, and for toys were largely offset by an increase in
 charges for cable television.
      
      The index for education and communication increased 0.3 percent in
 May, the same as in April.  In May, education costs rose 0.5 percent,
 reflecting an increase in charges for child care and nursery school.  The
 index for communication costs rose 0.1 percent.  Within the communication
 category, an increase in long distance  telephone charges--up 1.2 percent-
 -was partially offset by declines in the indexes for personal computers
 and peripheral equipment and for cellular telephone services--down 4.5 and
 0.2 percent, respectively.
 
      The index for other goods and services rose 0.7 percent in May.  Over
 half of the increase was attributable to a 1.7-percent increase in the
 index for tobacco and smoking products.  Prices for cigarettes rose 2.6
 percent in May and have risen 7.7 percent through the first five months of
 1998.
 
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers increased 0.3 percent in May.

 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category          1997             1998           3-mos. ended  ended
                     Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.  May   May '98   May '98
 
 All Items            .1    .1   .0   .0  -.1   .3   .3    2.0       1.5
  Food and beverages  .1    .0   .3   .0   .0   .0   .6    2.3       2.1
  Housing             .3    .0   .0   .1   .3   .3   .3    3.4       2.3
  Apparel             .0    .0  -.5  -.2  -.5   .2   .3     .0       -.7
  Transportation     -.6   -.3  -.5  -.4  -.6   .0   .1   -2.0      -1.9
  Medical care        .3    .4   .2   .2   .3   .4   .3    4.1       3.0
  Recreation           -     -   .3   .3   .3   .1  -.2     .8       1.5
  Education and                                                         
   communication       -     -  -.1   .0   .4   .2   .4    4.1       2.6
  Other goods and                                                     
   services           .4    .4   .5  1.1  -.6  1.4   .8    6.6       6.6
 Special Indexes                                                        
  Energy             -.2  -1.9 -2.5 -2.1 -1.3  -.2   .3   -4.9      -5.8
  Food                .2   -.1   .4  -.1   .0   .1   .6    2.5       2.2
  All Items less                                                        
   food and energy    .1    .2   .2   .2   .1   .4   .2    2.6       2.0
      
  
 Consumer Price Index data for June are scheduled for release on Tuesday,
 July 14, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
 
 CPI (Old Series)
 
      For the first six months of 1998, BLS also will calculate Old
 Series CPI-U and Old Series CPI-W based on the 1982-84 expenditure pattern
 used in the CPI from 1987 through 1997.  These Old Series data are
 contained in tables 1(OS)-4(OS).  From April to May, the Old Series CPI-U
 and the Old Series CPI-W rose 0.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively.  
 Note these series are not seasonally adjusted.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Planned change in the Consumer Price Index Formula
      
      On April 16, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its decision to
 use a new formula for calculating the basic components of the Consumer
 Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer Price Index
 for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).  This change will
 become effective with data for January 1999.
     The new formula, the geometric mean estimator, will be used in index
 categories that comprise approximately 61 percent of total consumer
 spending represented by the CPI-U.  The remaining index categories, which
 are shown in the table below, will continue to be calculated as they are
 currently. Based upon BLS research, it is expected that planned use of the
 new formula will reduce the annual rate of increase in the CPI by
 approximately 0.2 percentage point per year.
      The geometric mean estimator will be introduced in both the CPI-U and
 the CPI-W effective with data for January 1999, in accord with the past
 practice of introducing methodological changes at the beginning of a
 calendar year. BLS will continue to publish "overlap" CPI-U and CPI-W
 series using the current calculation method for the first six months of
 1999.  These indexes will not be published regularly for months subsequent
 to June 1999, but will be available upon request.
      Additional information on this change will be published in the April
 1998 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet
 (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm).  This information may also be obtained
 by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
 and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Room 3615 Washington, D.C.
 20212 or by calling (202) 606-7000.
 
      Arithmetic Mean (Laspeyres) Formula
      
 1.  Selected shelter services:

 A) Rent of primary       B) Owners' equivalent     C) Housing at school,
 residence                rent of primary           excluding board
                          residence
                                                   
                                                   
 2.  Selected utilities and government charges:

 A) Electricity           C) Residential water and  E)  Telephone services,
                          sewerage maintenance      local charges
                                                   
 B) Utility natural gas   D) State and local        F) Cable television
 service                  registration, license,
                          and motor vehicle
                          property tax
                                                   
                                                   
 3.  Selected medical care services:

 A) Physicians' services  C) Eyeglasses and eye     E) Hospital services
                          care
 B) Dental services       D) Services by other      F) Nursing homes and
                          medical professionals     adult daycare

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------    

 Overview of Publication Changes
 
 Beginning in 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) introduced
 a new geographic area sample, a revised item structure and updated
 expenditure weights into the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
 Approximately every ten years the CPI undertakes this type of
 revision in order to keep the index up-to-date.  Since World War
 II, revisions of the CPI have been introduced in 1953, 1964, 1978,
 and 1987.
 
 Because the changes the CPI undergoes during each revision can
 have a major impact on our users, special steps were taken in
 order to ameliorate the effects of these changes.  Beginning with
 the release of the January 1997 index, data series that were to be
 changed or dropped from publication have been footnoted in all BLS
 published tables.  This provided an early warning for users to
 reconsider their use of those indexes and provided time for them
 to make changes in their use.  The 1998 CPI Revision contains
 substantial changes in both the items being presented and the
 frequency of local area index publication.
 
 Changes to the Item Structure
 
 Effective in 1998, there are considerable changes to both the
 items being priced and the manner in which they are being
 aggregated in the CPI.  The most notable change in presentation is
 a reconstruction of several major groups with a resulting change
 from the formerly available seven major groups to the new total of
 eight.
 
 Formerly the major groups were: Food and Beverages, Housing,
 Apparel and Upkeep, Transportation, Medical Care, Entertainment
 and Other Goods and Services.  Three of these groups-- Food and
 Beverages, Transportation, and Medical care remained the same.
 The Apparel group was modified to exclude apparel upkeep products
 and services.  The Entertainment group has been slightly redefined
 into a major group called Recreation and a new major group,
 Education and Communication, has been formed from  past
 subelements of the Housing, Entertainment and Other Goods and
 Services groups
 
 Other important changes in our item structure at lower levels are
 an expansion of our Food Away from Home index, a reorientation of
 our car and truck indexes to a vehicle index, and the expansion of
 our information processing equipment index.
 
 For a complete listing of the new CPI Publication Structure see
 Table X.
 
 Changes to the Geographic Structure
 
 In each revision, the CPI geographic sample is selected to be
 representative of the current demographics of the United States.
 The 1998 revision utilizes the 1990 Census of population.  The CPI
 developed an updated area sample design, decided on new local area
 indexes and changed the frequency of publication for local area
 indexes in order to better reflect these new demographics.
  
 In addition to the national index, the BLS formerly published
 indexes for 29 metropolitan areas.  In 1998, it continues to
 publish indexes for all but two of these areas--Buffalo-Niagara
 Falls, NY, and New Orleans, LA.  Due to the revised Metropolitan
 Area (MA) definitions issued by the Office of Management and
 Budget(OMB), two other areas, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD,
 which the BLS formerly published separately, constitute a new
 Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area.  A single index is now
 published for this consolidated area.
 
 The new publication plan for local area indexes, that began with
 the index for January 1998, is summarized below:
 
      *  Monthly indexes are now published for the three largest
 metropolitan areas.  Because of sample design considerations,
 indexes for the Philadelphia and San Francisco areas, both
 formerly published monthly, are now published every other month
 following the release of the December, 1997 index.
 
      *  Bimonthly indexes are published for the next 11 largest
 areas, including Atlanta and Seattle, which used to have
 semiannual average indexes.
 
      *  Semiannual average indexes are now published for 12
 additional areas, including Pittsburgh and St. Louis, which
 formerly had bimonthly indexes.
 
      *  The BLS continues to publish separate indexes for the four
 Census regions of the United States.  However, beginning in 1998,
 there are only two area size classes for metropolitan areas,
 instead of the former three: Size A - areas with a population
 greater than 1.5 million; and Size B/C - areas with less than 1.5
 million population.  This cutoff of 1.5 million in population
 reflects a rise from the former cutoff of 1.2 million and is
 important since cities in size class A are those for which the
 Bureau publishes city level indexes.  The B/C size class is a
 combination of the old Size B and Size C metropolitan areas.  In
 addition to the two metropolitan area size indexes for each
 region, separate Size D indexes for urban non-metropolitan areas
 continue to be published for both the Midwest and the South.
 Separate indexes for Northeast and West urban nonmetropolitan
 areas were discontinued in 1987.
 
 The following is the full list of areas for which indexes are
 currently published, beginning in January, 1998:

 1. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published monthly:
 
  New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA
  Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI
  Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA
 
 2. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published bimonthly:
 
 In Odd Months (i.e. January,            In Even Months (i.e.
 March, etc.)                            February, April, etc.)
 ----------------------------            ----------------------                  

 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-          Philadelphia-Wilmington-
 ME-CT                                   Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD
 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-            San Francisco-Oakland-San
 VA-WV                                   Jose, CA
 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH  		         Atlanta, GA

 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX                   Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX
                                         
 		                         Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI
                                         
		                         Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
                                         
                                         Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA
                  
 3. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published  
    semiannually (In January and July)
 
 Pittsburgh, PA                          Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN 
 Kansas City, MO-KS                      Milwaukee-Racine, WI
 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI             St. Louis, MO-IL
 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL     Anchorage, AK
 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO              Honolulu, HI
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA                   San Diego, CA

 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 BLS to Maintain Current Reference Base of 1982-84-100 for most CPI
 index series

      The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) previously indicated its
 intention to change the numerical reference base for both the
 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the
 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) from their present 1982-84=100 base to a 1993-95=100 base,
 effective with release of the January 1999 index in February 1999.
 BLS also indicated that the alternate, or 1967=100 base, would be
 discontinued in 1999 as well.  This plan was initially described
 in the December 1996 Monthly Labor Review, a publication which
 contained several articles that dealt with the 1998 CPI Revision.
 
      The BLS has now decided not to implement this rebasing plan.
 Instead, the BLS will maintain the reference base of 1982-84=100
 used for most items.  In addition, the 1967=100 reference base
 will continue to be the alternate base for the All Items indexes.
 This decision is based in part on the fact that historical data
 have less precision after rebasing.  Rebasing is simply an
 arithmetic transformation that does not substantially impact the
 index.  Because the rebased index values are smaller, however, the
 loss of precision due to rounding is more serious.  In addition,
 retaining the old index reference bases would spare users the
 inconvenience associated with conversion.
 
      Changes in the numerical reference base should not be
 confused with the plans by BLS to update the market basket of the
 CPI.  With release of the January CPI in February 1998, the
 expenditure weights applied to CPI categories will be based on
 consumer spending patterns for 1993-95.
 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------

 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 1993 through 1997 were
 replaced at the end of 1997.  The seasonal movement of all items
 and 54 other aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal
 movement of 73 selected components.  Each year the seasonal status
 of every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical
 criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their seasonal
 adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally
 adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used for the last 5
 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before
 that period.
 
      Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index
 levels, are subject to revision for up to five years after their
 original release.  For this reason, BLS advises against the use of
 these data in escalation agreements.
 
      Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for
 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an enhanced seasonal
 adjustment procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal
 Adjustment for some CPI series.  Intervention Analysis Seasonal
 Adjustment allows for better estimates of seasonally adjusted
 data.  Extreme values and/or sharp movements which might distort
 the seasonal pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior
 to calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning with the
 calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was
 used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.
 
      For the fuel oil and the motor fuels indexes, this procedure
 was used to offset the effects that extreme price volatility would
 otherwise have had on the estimates of seasonally adjusted data
 for those series.  For some women's apparel indexes and the girls'
 apparel index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of
 changes in pricing methodology.  For the tobacco and smoking
 products index, this procedure was used to offset the effects of
 increases in excise taxes and wholesale tobacco prices.  For some
 alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis Seasonal
 Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise tax increases.
 For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to
 offset the effects of a large increase in coffee prices due to
 adverse weather.  For the Water and sewerage maintenance index,
 the procedure was used to account for a data collection anomaly.
 
      A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment,
 as well as a list of unusual events modeled and seasonal factors
 for these items may be obtained by writing the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes,
 Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire McAnaw Gallagher on
 (202) 606-6968.



 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                       May 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Apr.      May                                             
                                                              1998      1998      May     Apr.   Feb. to Mar. to Apr. to
                                                                                 1997     1998     Mar.    Apr.    May  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     162.5     162.8      1.7      0.2     0.0     0.2     0.3 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     486.8     487.7        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     160.2     160.7      2.3      0.3     0.0     0.1     0.5 
   Food ......................................     15.326     159.8     160.3      2.4      0.3     0.0     0.1     0.6 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     160.2     160.7      2.0      0.3    -0.1    -0.1     0.8 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.536     180.2     180.5      2.0      0.2     0.4    -0.2     0.4 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.629     146.3     146.2     -1.0     -0.1    -0.4    -0.1     0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.037     148.5     148.1      1.9     -0.3     0.5     0.1    -0.3 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.394     197.5     203.9      9.4      3.2    -1.0     0.2     5.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.077     133.9     132.9     -0.4     -0.7    -0.3    -0.4    -0.5 
     Other food at home ......................      1.972     149.6     149.3      1.5     -0.2     0.3     0.0    -0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     150.1     149.5      1.1     -0.4     0.9    -0.7    -0.4 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .291     140.7     141.2     -0.6      0.4     0.6    -1.1     0.6 
      Other foods ............................      1.305     165.0     164.7      2.7     -0.2     0.1     0.4    -0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .309     101.7     101.4        -     -0.3     1.1     0.2    -0.3 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.680     160.2     160.6      2.8      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .172     100.6     100.6        -      0.0    -0.1     0.3     0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .983     165.2     165.2      1.5      0.0    -0.1     0.0     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.560     159.5     159.7      2.4      0.1     0.2     0.4     0.3 
   Shelter ...................................     29.788     181.0     181.2      3.4      0.1     0.2     0.4     0.4 
    Rent of primary residence ................      6.885     170.7     171.1      3.1      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.4 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.327     110.2     108.7        -     -1.4    -0.4     1.2     1.0 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     20.199     186.4     186.8      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .377     100.4      99.6        -     -0.8     0.1     0.1    -0.8 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.942     127.0     127.9     -0.9      0.7     0.3     0.3     0.1 
    Fuels ....................................      4.018     112.3     113.2     -1.8      0.8     0.4     0.4     0.0 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .261      92.8      91.8     -8.6     -1.1     0.4    -0.7     0.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.757     119.4     120.5     -1.1      0.9     0.2     0.4     0.0 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.831     127.0     126.6      0.6     -0.3     0.1     0.4    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.944     135.8     135.3      0.0     -0.4    -0.2    -0.1     0.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.390     133.4     133.5      1.1      0.1     0.6    -0.6    -0.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.990     130.9     129.7     -0.2     -0.9     0.1    -0.1     1.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .268     126.6     126.9     -5.2      0.2     1.1     1.8     0.2 
   Footwear ..................................       .895     127.9     128.3     -0.6      0.3    -0.8    -0.2     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.578     141.5     142.0     -1.7      0.4    -0.5    -0.1     0.1 
   Private transportation ....................     16.240     137.7     138.4     -1.8      0.5    -0.6    -0.1     0.1 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.899     100.1      99.9     -1.2     -0.2     0.0     0.1     0.0 
     New vehicles ............................      5.063     144.3     143.3     -0.9     -0.7     0.1     0.0    -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.880     148.2     150.0     -2.5      1.2    -0.7     0.6     1.2 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.995      91.7      94.7    -10.4      3.3    -3.5    -0.9     0.9 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.976      91.1      94.2    -10.5      3.4    -3.5    -1.0     0.8 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .560     100.5     100.6     -1.1      0.1     0.0    -0.5     0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.603     165.7     165.9      2.3      0.1     0.1     0.0     0.1 
   Public transportation .....................      1.338     193.4     190.4      1.2     -1.6     0.4    -0.2    -0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.614     240.7     241.4      3.1      0.3     0.3     0.4     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.222     220.2     221.5      2.7      0.6     0.0     0.7     0.7 
   Medical care services .....................      4.392     245.4     245.9      3.1      0.2     0.3     0.4     0.2 
    Professional services ....................      2.808     221.1     221.7      3.0      0.3     0.4     0.4     0.2 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.334     285.6     285.6      3.0      0.0     0.2     0.4     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.145     101.1     101.0      1.6     -0.1     0.4     0.0     0.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.763     101.4     101.2      2.3     -0.2     0.2     0.0    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.528      99.9     100.1      2.6      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.3 
   Education (2)..............................      2.615     100.7     100.9      5.3      0.2     0.5     0.6     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .194     248.8     248.9      5.5      0.0     0.6     0.8     0.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.421     290.0     290.5      5.3      0.2     0.4     0.6     0.5 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.913      99.3      99.4     -1.2      0.1     0.1     0.0     0.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.706      99.2      99.3     -1.3      0.1     0.2    -0.1     0.1 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.357     100.5     101.1        -      0.6     0.4     0.1     0.6 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .350      42.8      41.5    -18.3     -3.0    -2.0    -1.4    -3.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .234      86.6      82.7        -     -4.5    -2.8    -2.4    -4.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.321     234.7     236.7      6.1      0.9    -0.3     1.0     0.7 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       .894     263.5     270.0     10.7      2.5    -2.6     3.8     1.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.427     155.9     156.6      2.6      0.4     0.3     0.3     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     147.3     149.3      3.6      1.4     0.4     0.0     1.4 
    Personal care services (1)................       .963     165.2     165.4      1.9      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.465     233.5     234.0      4.0      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.635     142.0     142.3      0.1      0.2    -0.4     0.1     0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     160.2     160.7      2.3      0.3     0.0     0.1     0.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     26.326     131.0     131.3     -1.2      0.2    -0.5     0.2     0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.729     133.0     134.0     -1.0      0.8    -1.0     0.1     0.7 
    Apparel ..................................      4.944     135.8     135.3      0.0     -0.4    -0.2    -0.1     0.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.785     136.6     138.4     -1.4      1.3    -1.0     0.0     0.9 
   Durables ..................................     11.596     128.1     127.6     -1.4     -0.4     0.0    -0.1    -0.2 
 Services ....................................     57.365     183.2     183.4      2.8      0.1     0.2     0.4     0.3 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     29.410     188.4     188.6      3.4      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.4 
  Transportation services ....................      6.984     188.3     187.8      1.6     -0.3     0.2    -0.1    -0.2 
  Other services .............................     10.625     215.6     216.1      3.9      0.2     0.4     0.4     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.674     163.0     163.3      1.6      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.212     156.9     157.3      1.0      0.3    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
 All items less medical care .................     94.386     158.1     158.4      1.6      0.2     0.0     0.2     0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................     27.309     132.4     132.7     -1.0      0.2    -0.5     0.1     0.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.712     135.0     135.9     -0.8      0.7    -0.9     0.0     0.7 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.768     138.4     140.1     -1.1      1.2    -1.0     0.1     0.7 
 Nondurables .................................     31.039     146.7     147.5      0.8      0.5    -0.4     0.0     0.6 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     27.955     190.8     191.1      2.2      0.2     0.4     0.3     0.3 
 Services less medical care services .........     52.973     177.4     177.6      2.8      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      7.013     101.9     103.8     -5.6      1.9    -1.2    -0.1     0.3 
 All items less energy .......................     92.987     170.4     170.5      2.2      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.3 
  All items less food and energy .............     77.661     173.0     173.1      2.2      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.053     143.8     143.6      0.2     -0.1    -0.1     0.1     0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.256      91.8      94.6    -10.2      3.1    -3.1    -0.9     0.8 
   Services less energy services .............     53.608     189.7     189.8      3.1      0.1     0.2     0.4     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .615    $ .614        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .205    $ .205        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Feb.    Mar.    Apr.    May                                            
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Aug.   Nov.   Feb.    May   Nov.    May 
                                                                                1997   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  162.0   162.0   162.4   162.9    2.0    2.3    0.5    2.2    2.1    1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  159.7   159.7   159.8   160.6    3.1    2.0    1.3    2.3    2.6    1.8 
   Food ......................................  159.4   159.4   159.5   160.4    3.1    2.0    1.3    2.5    2.6    1.9 
    Food at home .............................  159.7   159.5   159.4   160.7    3.6    1.3    0.5    2.5    2.4    1.5 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  179.4   180.1   179.7   180.5    2.3    1.8    1.3    2.5    2.0    1.9 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  147.2   146.6   146.5   146.9    1.4   -1.6   -3.7   -0.8   -0.1   -2.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  147.7   148.4   148.5   148.1   -5.4   10.4    1.9    1.1    2.2    1.5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  194.9   193.0   193.3   203.5   12.2    2.5    6.8   18.9    7.3   12.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  134.1   133.7   133.1   132.5   12.3   -4.6   -3.5   -4.7    3.5   -4.1 
     Other food at home ......................  148.8   149.3   149.3   149.2    5.3   -0.3    0.8    1.1    2.5    0.9 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  149.4   150.7   149.6   149.0    1.1    2.5    1.9   -1.1    1.8    0.4 
      Fats and oils ..........................  141.0   141.8   140.3   141.1   -0.8   -0.8   -0.8    0.3   -0.8   -0.3 
      Other foods ............................  163.8   164.0   164.7   164.5    2.8    2.8    3.2    1.7    2.8    2.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  100.4   101.5   101.7   101.4      -      -      -    4.0      -      - 
    Food away from home (1)...................  159.6   159.9   160.2   160.6    2.8    3.1    2.5    2.5    3.0    2.5 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  100.4   100.3   100.6   100.6      -      -      -    0.8      -      - 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  164.8   164.7   164.7   164.7    2.5    1.7    1.7   -0.2    2.1    0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  158.6   158.9   159.5   159.9    2.1    3.4    1.0    3.3    2.7    2.2 
   Shelter ...................................  179.5   179.9   180.6   181.3    3.2    3.0    3.4    4.1    3.1    3.7 
    Rent of primary residence ................  169.7   170.3   170.7   171.3    3.2    3.1    2.6    3.8    3.2    3.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  100.3    99.9   101.1   102.1      -      -      -    7.4      -      - 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  185.5   185.9   186.6   187.2    3.4    2.7    3.5    3.7    3.0    3.6 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  100.2   100.3   100.4    99.6      -      -      -   -2.4      -      - 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  127.9   128.3   128.7   128.8    1.2    6.3  -12.1    2.8    3.7   -4.9 
    Fuels ....................................  112.7   113.1   113.5   113.5    0.0    9.7  -17.9    2.9    4.7   -8.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   91.9    92.3    91.7    91.7  -14.0   -0.4  -17.7   -0.9   -7.4   -9.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  120.3   120.6   121.1   121.1    1.6   10.8  -18.0    2.7    6.1   -8.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  126.1   126.2   126.7   126.4   -1.3    0.6    2.3    1.0   -0.3    1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  132.7   132.5   132.4   132.9   -2.1    1.2   -0.9    0.6   -0.4   -0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  132.0   132.8   132.0   131.5    1.9    0.9    3.4   -1.5    1.4    0.9 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  125.3   125.4   125.3   126.5   -5.6    3.2   -2.5    3.9   -1.3    0.6 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  123.1   124.4   126.6   126.9  -18.1   -4.0   -8.9   12.9  -11.3    1.4 
   Footwear ..................................  127.1   126.1   125.8   126.5    2.2    1.6   -4.3   -1.9    1.9   -3.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  142.4   141.7   141.5   141.7    1.1   -1.1   -4.1   -2.0    0.0   -3.0 
   Private transportation ....................  138.8   138.0   137.9   138.1    1.7   -1.4   -5.3   -2.0    0.1   -3.7 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.1   100.1   100.2   100.2      -      -      -    0.4      -      - 
     New vehicles ............................  143.5   143.7   143.7   143.2   -0.6   -1.4   -0.6   -0.8   -1.0   -0.7 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  148.4   147.3   148.2   150.0  -13.3   -2.4    2.2    4.4   -8.0    3.3 
    Motor fuel ...............................   96.4    93.0    92.2    93.0   10.8   -4.8  -29.2  -13.4    2.7  -21.7 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   95.9    92.5    91.6    92.3   11.7   -5.2  -29.6  -14.2    2.9  -22.3 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  101.1   101.1   100.6   100.7    0.4   -1.6   -1.6   -1.6   -0.6   -1.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  165.5   165.7   165.7   165.9    2.5    1.5    4.0    1.0    2.0    2.5 
   Public transportation .....................  191.4   192.1   191.7   190.2   -5.4    1.7   11.9   -2.5   -1.9    4.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  238.9   239.6   240.6   241.4    2.1    2.7    3.1    4.3    2.4    3.7 
   Medical care commodities ..................  218.0   218.1   219.7   221.2    0.4    1.5    3.0    6.0    0.9    4.5 
   Medical care services .....................  243.5   244.3   245.2   245.7    2.4    3.0    3.2    3.7    2.7    3.4 
    Professional services ....................  219.2   220.0   220.8   221.3    2.6    2.2    3.2    3.9    2.4    3.5 
    Hospital and related services ............  284.0   284.6   285.6   285.9    2.0    3.6    3.6    2.7    2.8    3.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  100.6   101.0   101.0   101.0      -      -      -    1.6      -      - 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.2   101.4   101.4   101.2    4.5    1.2    3.6    0.0    2.9    1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............   99.9   100.2   100.5   100.8      -      -      -    3.7      -      - 
   Education (2)..............................  100.7   101.2   101.8   102.3      -      -      -    6.5      -      - 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  244.9   246.3   248.3   249.9    7.1    3.2    3.5    8.4    5.1    5.9 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   289.0   290.3   292.0   293.5    5.6    4.5    4.8    6.4    5.0    5.6 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.2    99.3    99.3    99.4   -3.1    1.2   -3.5    0.8   -1.0   -1.4 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.1    99.3    99.2    99.3   -3.1    1.2   -3.9    0.8   -1.0   -1.6 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.0   100.4   100.5   101.1      -      -      -    4.5      -      - 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   44.3    43.4    42.8    41.5  -19.0   -4.9  -25.0  -23.0  -12.2  -24.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   91.3    88.7    86.6    82.7      -      -      -  -32.7      -      - 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  233.7   233.0   235.4   237.0    4.3    5.6    6.8    5.8    5.0    6.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  261.2   254.3   264.0   268.4    2.8   10.9   18.6   11.5    6.8   15.0 
   Personal care (1)..........................  155.0   155.5   155.9   156.6   -0.3    4.8    1.8    4.2    2.2    3.0 
    Personal care products (1)................  146.7   147.3   147.3   149.3   -1.7    7.4    1.7    7.3    2.8    4.4 
    Personal care services (1)................  164.3   164.7   165.2   165.4    1.0    2.0    2.0    2.7    1.5    2.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  231.6   232.4   232.8   233.3    7.5    2.8    2.6    3.0    5.1    2.8 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  141.8   141.3   141.4   141.9    0.9    1.1   -1.4    0.3    1.0   -0.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  159.7   159.7   159.8   160.6    3.1    2.0    1.3    2.3    2.6    1.8 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  131.0   130.3   130.5   130.7   -0.3    0.0   -3.0   -0.9   -0.2   -2.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  133.0   131.7   131.8   132.7    1.5    0.9   -5.2   -0.9    1.2   -3.1 
    Apparel ..................................  132.7   132.5   132.4   132.9   -2.1    1.2   -0.9    0.6   -0.4   -0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  137.7   136.3   136.3   137.5    4.1   -0.3   -8.3   -0.6    1.9   -4.5 
   Durables ..................................  127.8   127.8   127.7   127.4   -2.8   -1.2   -0.3   -1.2   -2.0   -0.8 
 Services ....................................  182.3   182.7   183.4   183.9    2.7    3.1    2.0    3.6    2.9    2.8 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  187.1   187.6   188.2   189.0    3.1    3.3    3.3    4.1    3.2    3.7 
  Transportation services ....................  187.8   188.2   188.1   187.8    0.7    1.1    4.6    0.0    0.9    2.3 
  Other services .............................  214.4   215.2   216.1   216.8    4.1    2.5    3.2    4.6    3.3    3.9 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  162.3   162.4   162.8   163.2    1.8    2.3    0.2    2.2    2.0    1.2 
 All items less shelter ......................  156.6   156.5   156.8   157.1    1.8    1.8   -0.8    1.3    1.8    0.3 
 All items less medical care .................  157.5   157.5   157.8   158.3    2.1    2.3    0.3    2.0    2.2    1.1 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.6   131.9   132.0   132.2   -0.3    0.3   -2.7   -1.2    0.0   -1.9 
 Nondurables less food .......................  135.0   133.8   133.8   134.7    1.5    0.9   -4.3   -0.9    1.2   -2.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  139.4   138.0   138.1   139.1    3.7    0.0   -7.4   -0.9    1.9   -4.2 
 Nondurables .................................  146.5   145.9   145.9   146.8    2.5    1.9   -1.9    0.8    2.2   -0.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  189.9   190.6   191.2   191.7    1.9    3.7   -0.2    3.8    2.8    1.8 
 Services less medical care services .........  176.5   177.0   177.6   178.0    2.6    3.5    1.6    3.4    3.0    2.5 
 Energy ......................................  104.3   103.0   102.9   103.2    4.5    2.9  -22.9   -4.2    3.7  -14.0 
 All items less energy .......................  169.6   169.8   170.2   170.7    1.9    2.2    2.4    2.6    2.0    2.5 
  All items less food and energy .............  172.2   172.4   172.9   173.3    1.7    2.1    2.8    2.6    1.9    2.7 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  142.9   142.8   143.0   143.2   -1.4    1.1    1.1    0.8   -0.1    1.0 
    Energy commodities .......................   95.9    92.9    92.1    92.8    7.5   -4.1  -28.5  -12.3    1.6  -20.8 
   Services less energy services .............  188.6   189.0   189.7   190.2    2.8    2.8    3.5    3.4    2.8    3.5 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. 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                                  May1998 from--       Apr.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.    May                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998    May   Mar.   Apr.   Apr.   Feb.   Mar. 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    161.9  162.2  162.5  162.8    1.7    0.4    0.2    1.4    0.4    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    169.1  169.3  169.5  169.4    1.6    0.1   -0.1    1.4    0.2    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    170.1  170.2  170.2  170.2    1.6    0.0    0.0    1.5    0.1    0.0 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.4  101.7  102.1  101.8    1.5    0.1   -0.3    1.4    0.7    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    158.0  158.4  159.0  159.4    2.0    0.6    0.3    1.9    0.6    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    158.9  159.5  160.1  160.5    2.2    0.6    0.2    2.0    0.8    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.6  101.6  101.9  102.3    1.8    0.7    0.4    1.6    0.3    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    152.7  152.9  153.2  153.4    0.8    0.3    0.1    0.7    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    157.8  158.2  158.5  158.8    1.4    0.4    0.2    1.1    0.4    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    156.7  157.2  157.6  157.7    1.4    0.3    0.1    1.2    0.6    0.3 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    101.6  101.8  102.0  102.2    1.2    0.4    0.2    0.9    0.4    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    157.9  158.4  159.1  159.3    2.1    0.6    0.1    1.9    0.8    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    163.2  163.3  163.6  164.3    2.0    0.6    0.4    1.6    0.2    0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    163.6  163.8  164.2  165.0    2.4    0.7    0.5    1.9    0.4    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.3  102.3  102.2  102.4    0.9    0.1    0.2    0.8   -0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    146.4  146.6  147.0  147.3    1.9    0.5    0.2    1.7    0.4    0.3 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    101.7  101.8  102.0  102.2    1.3    0.4    0.2    1.1    0.3    0.2 
   D .........................................   M    157.8  158.1  158.5  158.8    1.5    0.4    0.2    1.3    0.4    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    163.1  164.1  164.8  165.6    2.8    0.9    0.5    2.4    1.0    0.4 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    161.1  161.4  161.8  162.3    1.8    0.6    0.3    1.2    0.4    0.2 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    172.7  173.0  173.0  173.0    1.8    0.0    0.0    1.6    0.2    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  171.3      -  170.9    2.5   -0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  158.6      -  159.2    2.3    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  153.0      -  153.0      -    0.0      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1        -  101.6      -  101.5    1.0   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    159.5      -  160.8      -      -      -      -      -    0.8      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    158.5      -  159.1      -      -      -      -    2.0    0.4      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    146.1      -  146.3      -      -      -      -    0.8    0.1      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    160.2      -  160.2      -      -      -      -      -    0.0      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    167.0      -  167.1      -      -      -      -    0.7    0.1      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    163.2      -  164.6      -      -      -      -    3.1    0.9      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    166.5      -  166.4      -      -      -      -      -   -0.1      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                       May 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Apr.      May                                             
                                                              1998      1998      May     Apr.   Feb. to Mar. to Apr. to
                                                                                 1997     1998     Mar.    Apr.    May  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     159.1     159.5      1.5      0.3    -0.1     0.3     0.3 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     473.9     475.2        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     159.5     159.9      2.1      0.3     0.0     0.0     0.6 
   Food ......................................     16.861     159.1     159.6      2.2      0.3     0.0     0.1     0.6 
    Food at home .............................     10.785     159.1     159.6      1.9      0.3    -0.1    -0.1     0.8 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.678     179.9     180.3      2.0      0.2     0.4    -0.2     0.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.125     146.0     145.8     -1.1     -0.1    -0.3    -0.1     0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.135     148.2     147.8      1.9     -0.3     0.5     0.1    -0.3 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.447     196.3     202.8      9.4      3.3    -0.9     0.2     5.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.215     132.7     131.6     -0.6     -0.8    -0.3    -0.4    -0.5 
     Other food at home ......................      2.185     148.9     148.7      1.4     -0.1     0.3    -0.1     0.0 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     150.0     149.4      1.0     -0.4     1.0    -0.7    -0.5 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .332     140.4     141.1     -0.4      0.5     0.4    -1.0     0.8 
      Other foods ............................      1.432     165.0     164.6      2.7     -0.2     0.1     0.4     0.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .344     101.7     101.5        -     -0.2     1.3    -0.1    -0.2 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.076     160.2     160.6      2.8      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .212     100.6     100.6        -      0.0     0.0     0.3     0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.042     164.2     164.1      1.2     -0.1    -0.1     0.1    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.450     155.8     156.1      2.3      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.3 
   Shelter ...................................     27.033     175.5     175.7      3.2      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................      8.347     170.3     170.8      3.1      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.4 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.346     110.3     108.6        -     -1.5     0.0     1.5     0.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     17.016     169.9     170.2      3.2      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.4 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .324     100.5      99.7        -     -0.8     0.3     0.0    -0.8 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      5.053     126.9     127.9     -0.6      0.8     0.3     0.4    -0.1 
    Fuels ....................................      4.143     111.8     112.9     -1.6      1.0     0.4     0.4    -0.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .229      93.1      92.0     -8.0     -1.2     0.8    -0.5     0.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.914     118.9     120.2     -1.1      1.1     0.3     0.5    -0.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.365     125.6     125.2      0.7     -0.3     0.1     0.4    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.300     134.0     133.7     -0.7     -0.2    -0.5     0.2     0.3 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.503     132.9     133.1      1.1      0.2     0.6    -0.2    -0.5 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.985     128.3     127.4     -1.2     -0.7    -0.3    -0.1     0.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .337     126.9     127.4     -5.6      0.4     1.1     1.9     0.4 
   Footwear ..................................      1.082     128.4     129.0     -0.8      0.5    -1.1    -0.1     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.847     140.3     141.1     -1.9      0.6    -0.6     0.0     0.1 
   Private transportation ....................     18.790     137.7     138.6     -2.0      0.7    -0.6    -0.1     0.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.285     100.1     100.1     -1.4      0.0    -0.1     0.2     0.1 
     New vehicles ............................      5.304     145.5     144.5     -1.0     -0.7     0.2     0.1    -0.4 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.162     149.5     151.3     -2.6      1.2    -0.7     0.5     1.2 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.682      91.9      95.0    -10.1      3.4    -3.2    -1.0     0.9 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.658      91.3      94.5    -10.2      3.5    -3.4    -0.9     0.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .694      99.9      99.9     -0.8      0.0    -0.1    -0.5     0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.664     166.8     167.0      2.3      0.1     0.1     0.1     0.1 
   Public transportation .....................      1.057     190.1     187.4      1.2     -1.4     0.3    -0.2    -0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.591     239.9     240.6      3.0      0.3     0.3     0.4     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .906     217.0     218.3      2.5      0.6     0.1     0.7     0.7 
   Medical care services .....................      3.684     245.1     245.6      3.1      0.2     0.3     0.4     0.2 
    Professional services ....................      2.372     222.5     223.2      3.1      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.3 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.097     281.7     281.7      3.0      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.969     101.0     100.9      1.5     -0.1     0.3     0.1    -0.2 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.968     101.4     101.1      2.2     -0.3     0.2     0.0    -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.396     100.1     100.3      2.6      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.4 
   Education (2)..............................      2.402     100.7     100.9      5.4      0.2     0.5     0.6     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .192     251.2     251.3      5.8      0.0     0.5     0.8     0.8 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.211     284.4     284.9      5.4      0.2     0.5     0.6     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.994      99.5      99.7     -0.8      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.841      99.5      99.7     -0.8      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.547     100.5     101.2        -      0.7     0.4     0.1     0.7 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .294      44.1      42.6    -17.8     -3.4    -2.2    -1.6    -3.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191      86.0      81.9        -     -4.8    -3.1    -2.6    -4.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.544     232.3     234.8      6.6      1.1    -0.6     1.4     0.8 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.300     263.6     270.1     11.0      2.5    -2.8     4.1     1.5 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.244     155.9     156.7      2.7      0.5     0.3     0.3     0.5 
    Personal care products (1)................       .832     148.4     150.5      3.8      1.4     0.4     0.1     1.4 
    Personal care services (1)................       .964     165.5     165.7      2.0      0.1     0.2     0.4     0.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.226     232.5     233.0      3.7      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     47.234     141.6     142.1      0.0      0.4    -0.5     0.2     0.3 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     159.5     159.9      2.1      0.3     0.0     0.0     0.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     29.331     130.9     131.4     -1.4      0.4    -0.7     0.2     0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.928     132.3     133.6     -1.3      1.0    -1.1     0.2     0.7 
    Apparel ..................................      5.300     134.0     133.7     -0.7     -0.2    -0.5     0.2     0.3 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.628     136.0     138.2     -1.4      1.6    -1.2     0.1     1.0 
   Durables ..................................     13.403     127.6     127.3     -1.5     -0.2    -0.1     0.1    -0.3 
 Services ....................................     52.766     179.9     180.3      2.7      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     26.708     169.0     169.2      3.2      0.1     0.2     0.4     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.824     185.7     185.4      1.6     -0.2     0.2     0.1    -0.1 
  Other services .............................     10.006     212.4     213.0      3.9      0.3     0.4     0.4     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.139     159.0     159.4      1.3      0.3    -0.1     0.3     0.3 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.967     154.6     155.1      0.8      0.3    -0.2     0.2     0.3 
 All items less medical care .................     95.409     155.3     155.7      1.4      0.3    -0.1     0.3     0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................     30.373     132.2     132.7     -1.3      0.4    -0.7     0.2     0.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.970     134.2     135.5     -1.0      1.0    -0.9     0.2     0.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.670     137.8     139.7     -1.2      1.4    -1.4     0.2     0.7 
 Nondurables .................................     33.831     146.2     147.1      0.6      0.6    -0.3     0.0     0.6 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     26.057     169.8     170.2      2.2      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.4 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.082     174.4     174.7      2.7      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.3 
 Energy ......................................      7.825     101.1     103.2     -5.8      2.1    -1.3    -0.2     0.3 
 All items less energy .......................     92.175     167.1     167.3      2.1      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.3 
  All items less food and energy .............     75.315     169.1     169.3      2.0      0.1     0.1     0.4     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.463     143.1     143.1      0.1      0.0    -0.3     0.4     0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.910      92.1      95.0    -10.0      3.1    -3.0    -1.0     0.8 
   Services less energy services .............     48.852     186.7     186.9      3.0      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .629    $ .627        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .211    $ .210        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Feb.    Mar.    Apr.    May                                            
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Aug.   Nov.   Feb.    May   Nov.    May 
                                                                                1997   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  158.7   158.6   159.0   159.5    2.1    1.8    0.3    2.0    1.9    1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  159.2   159.2   159.2   160.1    3.1    1.8    1.3    2.3    2.4    1.8 
   Food ......................................  158.7   158.7   158.8   159.7    3.1    2.0    1.0    2.5    2.6    1.8 
    Food at home .............................  158.7   158.6   158.4   159.7    3.4    1.3    0.3    2.5    2.3    1.4 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  179.1   179.8   179.4   180.3    1.8    2.0    1.4    2.7    1.9    2.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.8   146.3   146.1   146.5    1.4   -1.9   -3.7   -0.8   -0.3   -2.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  147.4   148.1   148.2   147.8   -5.7   11.1    1.6    1.1    2.4    1.4 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  194.4   192.6   193.0   203.0   12.5    2.1    7.1   18.9    7.2   12.8 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  132.8   132.4   131.9   131.2   10.7   -4.1   -3.5   -4.7    3.1   -4.1 
     Other food at home ......................  148.2   148.7   148.6   148.6    4.7   -0.3    1.1    1.1    2.2    1.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  149.2   150.7   149.6   148.9    1.1    1.9    1.9   -0.8    1.5    0.5 
      Fats and oils ..........................  140.8   141.4   140.0   141.1   -0.6   -0.8   -0.8    0.9   -0.7    0.0 
      Other foods ............................  163.8   163.9   164.5   164.5    3.0    2.2    3.7    1.7    2.6    2.7 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  100.5   101.8   101.7   101.5      -      -      -    4.0      -      - 
    Food away from home (1)...................  159.6   159.9   160.2   160.6    3.1    3.1    2.5    2.5    3.1    2.5 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  100.3   100.3   100.6   100.6      -      -      -    1.2      -      - 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  163.8   163.6   163.7   163.6    2.5    1.2    1.5   -0.5    1.9    0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  155.0   155.4   155.9   156.3    2.1    3.4    0.5    3.4    2.8    1.9 
   Shelter ...................................  174.4   174.8   175.4   176.0    3.1    2.8    3.5    3.7    3.0    3.6 
    Rent of primary residence ................  169.4   170.0   170.3   171.0    3.2    3.2    2.6    3.8    3.2    3.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  100.1   100.1   101.6   102.1      -      -      -    8.2      -      - 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  169.1   169.5   170.0   170.6    3.2    2.7    3.6    3.6    2.9    3.6 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  100.2   100.5   100.5    99.7      -      -      -   -2.0      -      - 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  127.6   128.0   128.5   128.4    1.6    6.6  -12.2    2.5    4.1   -5.1 
    Fuels ....................................  112.1   112.5   112.9   112.8    0.0   10.1  -18.0    2.5    4.9   -8.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   91.8    92.5    92.0    92.0  -13.3   -0.4  -17.4    0.9   -7.1   -8.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  119.7   120.0   120.6   120.5    1.3   11.6  -18.3    2.7    6.3   -8.4 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  124.7   124.8   125.3   125.0   -1.3    0.6    2.6    1.0   -0.3    1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  131.1   130.5   130.7   131.1   -2.1    0.6   -2.7    0.0   -0.8   -1.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.1   131.9   131.7   131.1    1.9    0.9    1.2    0.0    1.4    0.6 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  123.4   123.0   122.9   124.0   -5.3    1.6   -4.4    2.0   -1.9   -1.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  123.1   124.5   126.9   127.4  -17.9   -4.0  -12.0   14.7  -11.2    0.5 
   Footwear ..................................  128.0   126.6   126.5   127.1    2.2    2.2   -4.8   -2.8    2.2   -3.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  141.3   140.4   140.4   140.6    1.1   -1.7   -4.7   -2.0   -0.3   -3.3 
   Private transportation ....................  138.7   137.9   137.8   138.1    1.4   -2.0   -5.6   -1.7   -0.3   -3.7 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.1   100.0   100.2   100.3      -      -      -    0.8      -      - 
     New vehicles ............................  144.6   144.9   145.0   144.4   -0.5   -1.6   -0.8   -0.6   -1.1   -0.7 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  149.9   148.8   149.5   151.3  -13.2   -1.9    1.9    3.8   -7.7    2.8 
    Motor fuel ...............................   96.4    93.3    92.4    93.2   11.2   -6.2  -28.4  -12.6    2.1  -20.9 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   96.0    92.7    91.9    92.5   13.0   -5.9  -29.0  -13.8    3.1  -21.8 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.6   100.5   100.0   100.0    1.2   -1.6   -0.4   -2.4   -0.2   -1.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  166.5   166.7   166.8   167.0    2.7    1.7    3.7    1.2    2.2    2.4 
   Public transportation .....................  188.1   188.7   188.4   187.0   -3.2    1.8    9.0   -2.3   -0.8    3.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  238.1   238.8   239.8   240.5    2.1    2.8    3.1    4.1    2.4    3.6 
   Medical care commodities ..................  214.9   215.1   216.6   218.1   -0.4    2.3    2.3    6.1    0.9    4.2 
   Medical care services .....................  243.2   244.0   244.9   245.4    2.4    2.9    3.4    3.7    2.6    3.5 
    Professional services ....................  220.8   221.3   222.0   222.7    2.8    2.6    3.3    3.5    2.7    3.4 
    Hospital and related services ............  280.3   280.8   281.4   282.0    2.2    3.5    3.8    2.4    2.9    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  100.6   100.9   101.0   100.8      -      -      -    0.8      -      - 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.2   101.4   101.4   101.1    4.5    1.2    3.6   -0.4    2.9    1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............   99.9   100.3   100.5   100.9      -      -      -    4.1      -      - 
   Education (2)..............................  100.7   101.2   101.8   102.3      -      -      -    6.5      -      - 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  247.4   248.7   250.7   252.6    7.4    3.7    3.8    8.7    5.5    6.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   283.2   284.7   286.4   287.5    5.1    5.3    4.8    6.2    5.2    5.5 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.3    99.5    99.5    99.7   -3.1    1.6   -3.2    1.6   -0.8   -0.8 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.3    99.5    99.5    99.7   -3.1    1.6   -3.2    1.6   -0.8   -0.8 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.0   100.4   100.5   101.2      -      -      -    4.9      -      - 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   45.8    44.8    44.1    42.6  -18.0    0.0  -25.5  -25.2   -9.4  -25.3 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   91.1    88.3    86.0    81.9      -      -      -  -34.7      -      - 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  230.9   229.6   232.8   234.6    3.7    6.6    8.2    6.6    5.1    7.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  261.1   253.9   264.4   268.3    3.0   10.8   19.2   11.5    6.8   15.3 
   Personal care (1)..........................  155.0   155.5   155.9   156.7   -0.5    5.1    1.8    4.5    2.2    3.1 
    Personal care products (1)................  147.6   148.2   148.4   150.5   -1.6    7.7    1.4    8.1    2.9    4.7 
    Personal care services (1)................  164.5   164.9   165.5   165.7    1.0    2.2    2.0    3.0    1.6    2.5 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  230.6   231.3   231.8   232.3    5.7    3.0    3.2    3.0    4.3    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  141.6   140.9   141.2   141.6    0.9    0.6   -1.4    0.0    0.7   -0.7 
  Food and beverages .........................  159.2   159.2   159.2   160.1    3.1    1.8    1.3    2.3    2.4    1.8 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.9   130.0   130.3   130.6   -0.3   -0.3   -3.3   -0.9   -0.3   -2.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.6   131.1   131.3   132.2    1.5    0.6   -5.8   -1.2    1.0   -3.5 
    Apparel ..................................  131.1   130.5   130.7   131.1   -2.1    0.6   -2.7    0.0   -0.8   -1.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  137.5   135.8   135.9   137.2    4.4   -0.3   -8.5   -0.9    2.0   -4.8 
   Durables ..................................  127.4   127.3   127.4   127.0   -3.4   -1.9    0.3   -1.2   -2.6   -0.5 
 Services ....................................  179.1   179.6   180.2   180.6    2.8    3.2    1.6    3.4    3.0    2.5 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  167.9   168.3   169.0   169.3    3.2    2.9    3.2    3.4    3.1    3.3 
  Transportation services ....................  185.2   185.5   185.6   185.5    1.5    0.9    3.8    0.6    1.2    2.2 
  Other services .............................  211.2   212.0   212.9   213.6    3.7    2.9    3.3    4.6    3.3    4.0 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  158.3   158.2   158.7   159.1    1.8    2.0   -0.3    2.0    1.9    0.9 
 All items less shelter ......................  154.4   154.1   154.4   154.9    1.6    1.8   -1.0    1.3    1.7    0.1 
 All items less medical care .................  154.9   154.7   155.1   155.6    1.8    2.1    0.0    1.8    2.0    0.9 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.4   131.5   131.8   132.1   -0.3    0.0   -3.3   -0.9   -0.1   -2.1 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.3   133.1   133.3   134.1    1.5    0.6   -5.7   -0.6    1.0   -3.2 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  139.2   137.3   137.6   138.6    4.3    1.4   -8.4   -1.7    2.9   -5.1 
 Nondurables .................................  145.9   145.5   145.5   146.4    2.8    0.8   -2.4    1.4    1.8   -0.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  169.0   169.7   170.1   170.7    2.4    3.4   -0.7    4.1    2.9    1.7 
 Services less medical care services .........  173.4   174.1   174.5   175.0    2.6    3.3    0.9    3.7    3.0    2.3 
 Energy ......................................  103.8   102.4   102.2   102.5    5.2    2.2  -23.0   -4.9    3.7  -14.4 
 All items less energy .......................  166.3   166.4   166.9   167.4    1.7    2.0    2.2    2.7    1.8    2.4 
  All items less food and energy .............  168.4   168.5   169.1   169.5    1.2    2.2    2.4    2.6    1.7    2.5 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  142.4   142.0   142.5   142.7   -1.7    0.8    1.1    0.8   -0.4    1.0 
    Energy commodities .......................   96.2    93.3    92.4    93.1    8.8   -5.6  -27.6  -12.3    1.4  -20.3 
   Services less energy services .............  185.9   186.4   187.0   187.5    2.9    2.6    3.3    3.5    2.8    3.4 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 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 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                                  May1998 from--       Apr.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.    May                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998    May   Mar.   Apr.   Apr.   Feb.   Mar. 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    158.5  158.7  159.1  159.5    1.5    0.5    0.3    1.2    0.4    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    165.9  166.0  166.3  166.4    1.4    0.2    0.1    1.2    0.2    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    165.8  165.8  166.0  166.1    1.4    0.2    0.1    1.3    0.1    0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.1  101.3  101.5  101.5    1.2    0.2    0.0    0.9    0.4    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    154.2  154.4  155.0  155.6    1.8    0.8    0.4    1.6    0.5    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    154.2  154.7  155.4  155.9    2.1    0.8    0.3    1.8    0.8    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.4  101.3  101.7  102.1    1.7    0.8    0.4    1.6    0.3    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    150.8  150.7  150.9  151.3    0.7    0.4    0.3    0.6    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    155.7  156.0  156.4  156.7    1.0    0.4    0.2    0.8    0.4    0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    154.3  154.7  155.1  155.3    1.1    0.4    0.1    1.0    0.5    0.3 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    101.1  101.3  101.5  101.8    0.9    0.5    0.3    0.6    0.4    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    158.0  158.2  159.1  159.6    2.1    0.9    0.3    1.8    0.7    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    159.4  159.4  159.6  160.3    1.6    0.6    0.4    1.1    0.1    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    158.0  158.1  158.5  159.4    2.1    0.8    0.6    1.5    0.3    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.2  102.1  102.0  102.2    0.7    0.1    0.2    0.6   -0.2   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    144.8  145.0  145.4  145.8    1.7    0.6    0.3    1.4    0.4    0.3 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    101.3  101.4  101.6  101.9    1.2    0.5    0.3    0.9    0.3    0.2 
   D .........................................   M    156.8  156.8  157.3  157.8    1.4    0.6    0.3    1.1    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    157.4  158.3  159.0  159.9    2.8    1.0    0.6    2.4    1.0    0.4 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    155.0  155.1  155.6  156.2    1.4    0.7    0.4    0.8    0.4    0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    168.2  168.2  168.5  168.6    1.6    0.2    0.1    1.4    0.2    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  169.3      -  168.9    2.0   -0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  150.1      -  151.2    2.3    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  152.8      -  152.8      -    0.0      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1        -  101.3      -  101.3    0.8    0.0      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    156.6      -  157.7      -      -      -      -      -    0.7      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    152.9      -  153.5      -      -      -      -    1.7    0.4      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    144.7      -  144.8      -      -      -      -    0.5    0.1      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    157.3      -  157.4      -      -      -      -      -    0.1      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    166.1      -  166.5      -      -      -      -    0.8    0.2      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    159.6      -  160.8      -      -      -      -    2.6    0.8      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    162.2      -  161.9      -      -      -      -      -   -0.2      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 1(OS).  Old Series 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    percent change
                                               importan-     indexes            to      
                Item and group                    ce,                     May 1998 from-
                                                December                                
                                                  1997     Apr.    May                  
                                                           1998    1998    May     Apr. 
                                                                           1997    1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                       
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  100.000   162.6   162.9     1.7     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................        -   487.1   488.1       -       - 
                                                                                        
   Food and beverages ........................   17.465   160.1   160.6     2.2      .3 
     Food ....................................   15.886   159.6   160.2     2.3      .4 
       Food at home ..........................    9.964   160.0   160.7     2.0      .4 
         Cereals and bakery products .........    1.476   180.1   180.6     2.1      .3 
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......    2.921   146.4   146.1    -1.1     -.2 
         Dairy products ......................    1.218   148.6   148.4     2.1     -.1 
         Fruits and vegetables ...............    1.982   194.9   200.1     7.3     2.7 
         Other food at home ..................    2.366   149.6   148.9     1.2     -.5 
           Sugar and sweets ..................     .332   150.0   149.5     1.1     -.3 
           Fats and oils .....................     .241   140.8   141.2     -.6      .3 
           Nonalcoholic beverages ............     .747   134.7   133.0     -.3    -1.3 
           Other prepared food ...............    1.046   165.2   165.0     2.9     -.1 
       Food away from home ...................    5.923   160.1   160.6     2.8      .3 
     Alcoholic beverages .....................    1.578   164.9   164.9     1.3      .0 
                                                                                        
   Housing ...................................   41.469   159.5   159.6     2.4      .1 
     Shelter .................................   28.640   181.0   181.1     3.3      .1 
       Renters' costs (1).....................    8.169   192.7   192.3     3.8     -.2 
         Rent, residential ...................    5.810   170.7   171.1     3.1      .2 
         Other renters' costs ................    2.359   237.9   234.6     5.2    -1.4 
       Homeowners' costs (1)..................   20.269   185.9   186.3     3.2      .2 
         Owners' equivalent rent (1)..........   19.881   186.3   186.7     3.2      .2 
         Household insurance (1)..............     .388   167.6   166.3     1.1     -.8 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............     .202   146.5   146.4     2.2     -.1 
         Maintenance and repair services .....     .126   156.0   156.1     4.1      .1 
         Maintenance and repair commodities ..     .076   133.4   133.1     -.7     -.2 
     Fuel and other utilities ................    7.015   128.6   129.2      .2      .5 
       Fuels .................................    3.769   112.3   112.8    -2.2      .4 
         Fuel oil and other household fuel                                              
     commodities .............................     .368    93.1    92.1    -8.3    -1.1 
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy                                            
     services)................................    3.401   119.4   120.2    -1.4      .7 
       Other utilities and public services ...    3.246   165.0   165.6     2.8      .4 
     Household furnishings and operation .....    5.814   126.7   126.3      .4     -.3 
       Housefurnishings ......................    3.232   111.1   110.4    -1.0     -.6 
       Housekeeping supplies .................    1.090   145.4   145.5     1.7      .1 
       Housekeeping services .................    1.492   154.9   155.3     2.6      .3 
                                                                                        
   Apparel and upkeep ........................    5.291   135.4   134.9     -.3     -.4 
     Apparel commodities .....................    4.748   131.6   131.1     -.5     -.4 
       Men's and boys' apparel ...............    1.292   133.2   133.4     1.1     0.2 
       Women's and girls' apparel.............    2.072   129.4   128.4    -1.2     -.8 
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel ........     .182   126.9   127.2    -4.9      .2 
       Footwear ..............................     .719   128.3   128.6     -.4      .2 
       Other apparel commodities .............     .484   147.8   145.6     -.3    -1.5 
     Apparel services ........................     .543   165.6   166.0     1.9      .2 
                                                                                        
   Transportation ............................   16.620   141.6   142.0    -1.7      .3 
     Private transportation ..................   15.054   137.5   138.2    -2.0      .5 
       New vehicles ..........................    4.829   144.3   143.3     -.9     -.7 
         New cars ............................    3.842   141.6   140.6    -1.1     -.7 
       Used cars .............................    1.195   148.0   149.8    -2.7     1.2 
       Motor fuel ............................    2.925    91.6    94.9   -10.2     3.6 
         Gasoline ............................        -    91.1    94.3   -10.4     3.5 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............    1.546   165.7   166.0     2.3      .2 
       Other private transportation ..........    4.560   179.2   179.3     1.3      .1 
         Other private transportation                                                   
     commodities .............................     .574   103.3   103.3    -1.3      .0 
         Other private transportation services                                          
     .........................................    3.986   197.3   197.3     1.6      .0 
     Public transportation ...................    1.566   193.3   189.8      .9    -1.8 
                                                                                        
   Medical care ..............................    7.426   240.6   241.2     3.0      .2 
     Medical care commodities ................    1.280   220.0   221.6     2.8      .7 
     Medical care services ...................    6.145   245.4   245.8     3.1      .2 
       Professional medical services .........    3.518   221.1   221.7     3.0      .3 
                                                                                        
   Entertainment .............................    4.339   164.7   164.6     1.5    -0.1 
     Entertainment commodities ...............    1.924   144.3   144.1      .1     -.1 
     Entertainment services ..................    2.415   188.1   188.2     2.6      .1 
                                                                                        
   Other goods and services ..................    7.390   234.4   236.3     5.9      .8 
     Tobacco and smoking products ............    1.688   263.7   270.2    10.8     2.5 
     Personal care ...........................    1.152   155.8   156.9     2.8      .7 
       Toilet goods and personal care                                                   
     appliances ..............................     .589   147.6   149.5     3.7     1.3 
       Personal care services ................     .564   165.1   165.1     1.7      .0 
     Personal and educational expenses .......    4.550   268.5   269.0     4.8      .2 
       School books and supplies .............     .273   248.2   248.3     5.3      .0 
       Personal and educational services .....    4.277   270.3   270.8     4.8      .2 
                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                   
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  100.000   162.6   162.9     1.7      .2 
   Commodities ...............................   42.255   142.1   142.6      .4      .4 
     Food and beverages ......................   17.465   160.1   160.6     2.2      .3 
     Commodities less food and beverages .....   24.791   131.3   131.8     -.8      .4 
       Nondurables less food and beverages ...   14.865   133.4   134.6     -.6      .9 
         Apparel commodities .................    4.748   131.6   131.1     -.5     -.4 
         Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                          
     apparel .................................   10.117   137.4   139.4     -.7     1.5 
       Durables ..............................    9.926   128.4   127.9    -1.2     -.4 
   Services ..................................   57.745   183.2   183.4     2.8      .1 
     Rent of shelter (1)......................   28.016   188.4   188.6     3.4      .1 
     Household services less rent of shelter                                            
     (1)......................................    8.687   145.0   145.5     1.0      .3 
     Transportation services .................    7.097   188.6   187.9     1.6     -.4 
     Medical care services ...................    6.145   245.4   245.8     3.1      .2 
     Other services ..........................    7.799   215.4   215.7     3.7      .1 
                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                         
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................   84.114   163.2   163.4     1.7      .1 
 All items less shelter ......................   71.360   157.1   157.5     1.2      .3 
 All items less homeowners' costs (1).........   79.731   163.1   163.4     1.4      .2 
 All items less medical care .................   92.574   158.2   158.5     1.7      .2 
 Commodities less food .......................   26.369   132.7   133.2     -.7      .4 
 Nondurables less food .......................   16.443   135.3   136.4     -.4      .8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........   11.695   139.2   141.1     -.4     1.4 
 Nondurables .................................   32.329   146.9   147.7      .9      .5 
 Services less rent of shelter (1)............   29.728   191.0   191.2     2.3      .1 
 Services less medical care services .........   51.599   177.4   177.6     2.8      .1 
 Energy ......................................    6.695   101.8   103.6    -5.7     1.8 
 All items less energy .......................   93.305   170.5   170.7     2.3      .1 
   All items less food and energy ............   77.419   173.2   173.2     2.3      .0 
     Commodities less food and energy                                                   
     commodities .............................   23.076   144.2   144.2      .6      .0 
       Energy commodities ....................    3.293    92.0    94.8   -10.0     3.0 
     Services less energy services ...........   54.343   189.7   189.8     3.1      .1 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:                                               
     1982-84=$1.00 ...........................        -  $ .615  $ .614       -       - 
     1967=$1.00 ..............................        -  $ .205  $ .205       -       - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2(OS).  Old Series 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    percent change
                                               importan-     indexes            to      
                Item and group                    ce,                     May 1998 from-
                                                December                                
                                                  1997     Apr.    May                  
                                                           1998    1998    May     Apr. 
                                                                           1997    1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                       
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  100.000   159.2   159.7     1.6     0.3 
 All items (1967=100) ........................        -   474.3   475.6       -       - 
                                                                                        
   Food and beverages ........................   19.434   159.3   159.8     2.0      .3 
     Food ....................................   17.739   159.0   159.5     2.2      .3 
       Food at home ..........................   11.309   158.9   159.5     1.9      .4 
         Cereals and bakery products .........    1.689   179.7   180.2     2.0      .3 
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......    3.441   146.0   145.8    -1.1     -.1 
         Dairy products ......................    1.358   148.2   148.1     2.1     -.1 
         Fruits and vegetables ...............    2.100   193.4   198.7     7.2     2.7 
         Other food at home ..................    2.722   149.0   148.3     1.2     -.5 
           Sugar and sweets ..................     .376   149.9   149.3      .9     -.4 
           Fats and oils .....................     .277   140.4   140.7     -.7      .2 
           Nonalcoholic beverages ............     .863   133.4   131.7     -.5    -1.3 
           Other prepared food ...............    1.206   165.2   165.0     2.9     -.1 
       Food away from home ...................    6.430   160.2   160.6     2.8      .2 
     Alcoholic beverages .....................    1.695   163.9   163.9     1.0      .0 
                                                                                        
   Housing ...................................   39.037   155.9   156.1     2.3      .1 
     Shelter .................................   26.305   175.6   175.8     3.2      .1 
       Renters' costs (1).....................    8.250   167.4   167.4     3.6      .0 
         Rent, residential ...................    6.686   170.4   170.8     3.1      .2 
         Other renters' costs ................    1.564   237.8   234.8     5.3    -1.3 
       Homeowners' costs (1)..................   17.864   169.4   169.8     3.2      .2 
         Owners' equivalent rent (1)..........   17.538   169.8   170.2     3.2      .2 
         Household insurance (1)..............     .327   152.1   151.0     1.3     -.7 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............     .191   144.2   143.9     1.6     -.2 
         Maintenance and repair services .....     .107   156.9   157.0     3.4      .1 
         Maintenance and repair commodities ..     .084   128.4   127.7     -.7     -.5 
     Fuel and other utilities ................    7.274   128.5   129.1      .3      .5 
       Fuels .................................    3.875   111.7   112.3    -2.1      .5 
         Fuel oil and other household fuel                                              
     commodities .............................     .338    93.1    92.1    -7.9    -1.1 
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy                                            
     services)................................    3.537   118.8   119.7    -1.5      .8 
       Other utilities and public services ...    3.399   166.0   166.6     3.0      .4 
     Household furnishings and operation .....    5.458   125.1   124.7      .3     -.3 
       Housefurnishings ......................    3.171   109.8   109.0    -1.1     -.7 
       Housekeeping supplies .................    1.130   146.1   146.4     1.9      .2 
       Housekeeping services .................    1.157   157.9   158.2     2.8      .2 
                                                                                        
   Apparel and upkeep ........................    5.311   133.8   133.3    -1.0     -.4 
     Apparel commodities .....................    4.801   130.3   129.7    -1.4    -0.5 
       Men's and boys' apparel ...............    1.298   132.4   132.5      .6      .1 
       Women's and girls' apparel.............    2.019   127.4   126.3    -2.1     -.9 
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel ........     .233   127.9   128.3    -4.9      .3 
       Footwear ..............................     .800   129.1   129.4     -.5      .2 
       Other apparel commodities .............     .450   144.8   142.3    -3.1    -1.7 
     Apparel services ........................     .510   164.6   165.0     1.9      .2 
                                                                                        
   Transportation ............................   18.597   140.3   141.0    -1.9      .5 
     Private transportation ..................   17.389   137.5   138.4    -2.2      .7 
       New vehicles ..........................    4.781   145.5   144.5    -1.0     -.7 
         New cars ............................    3.439   141.1   140.1    -1.2     -.7 
       Used cars .............................    2.179   149.6   151.4    -2.5     1.2 
       Motor fuel ............................    3.608    91.8    95.0   -10.1     3.5 
         Gasoline ............................        -    91.3    94.5   -10.2     3.5 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............    1.634   166.8   167.0     2.3      .1 
       Other private transportation ..........    5.188   174.4   174.5     1.2      .1 
         Other private transportation                                                   
     commodities .............................     .727   102.6   102.7    -1.1      .1 
         Other private transportation services                                          
     .........................................    4.460   192.8   192.8     1.5      .0 
     Public transportation ...................    1.208   190.1   186.8      .9    -1.7 
                                                                                        
   Medical care ..............................    6.331   239.9   240.6     3.0      .3 
     Medical care commodities ................    1.054   217.3   218.9     2.8      .7 
     Medical care services ...................    5.276   245.0   245.5     3.1      .2 
       Professional medical services .........    3.020   222.5   223.1     3.0      .3 
                                                                                        
   Entertainment .............................    4.006   161.9   161.8     1.3    -0.1 
     Entertainment commodities ...............    2.005   142.9   142.7     -.1     -.1 
     Entertainment services ..................    2.001   188.7   188.9     2.8      .1 
                                                                                        
   Other goods and services ..................    7.285   232.1   234.4     6.4     1.0 
     Tobacco and smoking products ............    2.237   263.6   270.4    11.1     2.6 
     Personal care ...........................    1.116   155.7   156.8     2.8      .7 
       Toilet goods and personal care                                                   
     appliances ..............................     .612   148.4   150.2     3.6     1.2 
       Personal care services ................     .504   165.3   165.4     1.8      .1 
     Personal and educational expenses .......    3.932   264.2   264.7     4.8      .2 
       School books and supplies .............     .241   250.4   250.5     5.5      .0 
       Personal and educational services .....    3.692   265.6   266.2     4.8      .2 
                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                   
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  100.000   159.2   159.7     1.6      .3 
   Commodities ...............................   46.401   141.8   142.4      .2      .4 
     Food and beverages ......................   19.434   159.3   159.8     2.0      .3 
     Commodities less food and beverages .....   26.967   131.1   131.8    -1.1      .5 
       Nondurables less food and beverages ...   15.915   132.7   134.1     -.9     1.1 
         Apparel commodities .................    4.801   130.3   129.7    -1.4     -.5 
         Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                          
     apparel .................................   11.114   136.8   139.2     -.7     1.8 
       Durables ..............................   11.052   127.9   127.5    -1.3     -.3 
   Services ..................................   53.599   180.0   180.3     2.7      .2 
     Rent of shelter (1)......................   25.761   169.1   169.3     3.3      .1 
     Household services less rent of shelter                                            
     (1)......................................    8.554   133.0   133.6     1.0      .5 
     Transportation services .................    7.302   185.8   185.3     1.6     -.3 
     Medical care services ...................    5.276   245.0   245.5     3.1      .2 
     Other services ..........................    6.706   212.4   212.7     3.8      .1 
                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                         
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................   82.261   159.2   159.6     1.5      .3 
 All items less shelter ......................   73.695   154.8   155.3     1.0      .3 
 All items less homeowners' costs (1).........   82.136   149.0   149.4     1.2      .3 
 All items less medical care .................   93.669   155.4   155.8     1.4      .3 
 Commodities less food .......................   28.662   132.5   133.1    -1.0      .5 
 Nondurables less food .......................   17.610   134.6   135.9     -.7     1.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........   12.809   138.6   140.7     -.5     1.5 
 Nondurables .................................   35.349   146.3   147.3      .8      .7 
 Services less rent of shelter (1)............   27.838   169.9   170.2     2.2      .2 
 Services less medical care services .........   48.322   174.5   174.7     2.7     0.1 
 Energy ......................................    7.483   101.0   102.9    -6.0     1.9 
 All items less energy .......................   92.517   167.2   167.4     2.1      .1 
   All items less food and energy ............   74.778   169.4   169.5     2.2      .1 
     Commodities less food and energy                                                   
     commodities .............................   24.717   143.5   143.6      .5      .1 
       Energy commodities ....................    3.946    92.2    95.0   -10.0     3.0 
     Services less energy services ...........   50.062   186.8   186.9     3.0      .1 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:                                               
     1982-84=$1.00 ...........................        -  $ .628  $ .626       -       - 
     1967=$1.00 ..............................        -  $ .211  $ .210       -       - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3(OS) Old Series Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all
 items index

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 ng                                  May1998 from--   
                     Area                      sched-                                                 
                                                 ule                                                  
                                                 (1)   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.    May   Feb.   Mar.   Apr. 
                                                       1998   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                      
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    162.0  162.2  162.6  162.9    0.6    0.4    0.2 
                                                                                                      
             Selected local areas                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI ..........   M    163.0  163.8  164.7  165.4    1.5    1.0     .4 
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...........   M    161.2  161.3  161.7  162.0     .5     .4     .2 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT    M    172.8  173.1  173.1  173.1     .2     .0     .0 
                                                                                                      
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH.................   1        -  171.2      -  170.9      -    -.2      - 
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ..................   1        -  157.9      -  158.7      -     .5      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  153.3      -  153.4      -     .1      - 
                                                                                                      
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .......................   2    158.7      -  159.3      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    146.5      -  146.4      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    160.6      -  160.1      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD    2    167.4      -  167.1      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    163.5      -  164.8      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                      
             Region and area size                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Northeast urban .............................   M    169.2  169.3  169.5  169.4     .1     .1    -.1 
 Midwest urban (2)............................   M    158.1  158.4  159.1  159.5     .9     .7     .3 
 South urban .................................   M    157.9  158.5  158.9  159.1     .8     .4     .1 
 West urban ..................................   M    163.3  163.3  163.6  164.3     .6     .6     .4 
                                                                                                      
            Population size classes                                                                   
                                                                                                      
 A (3)........................................   M    146.4  146.6  147.0  147.2     .5     .4     .1 
 D ...........................................   M    158.0  158.2  158.7  159.0     .6     .5     .2 
                                                                                                      
 Region/Population size class cross                                                                   
 classifications                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
 Northeast Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .....   M    170.1  170.2  170.2  170.2     .1     .0     .0 
 Midwest Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ......   M    158.8  159.3  160.0  160.4    1.0     .7     .3 
 South Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .........   M    156.8  157.6  157.8  157.8     .6     .1     .0 
 West Size A   - More than 1,500,000 .........   M    163.6  163.7  164.2  164.9     .8     .7     .4 
 Midwest Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                        
     50,000) .................................   M    153.1  153.3  153.5  153.7     .4     .3     .1 
 South Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                          
     50,000) .................................   M    158.0  158.4  159.1  159.5     .9     .7     .3 

   1 The 'All items' index size B/C is on a December 1996=100 base.
   2    The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is
 composed of the same geographic entities.
   3 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4(OS) Old Series Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W):
 Selected areas, all items index

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 ng                                  May1998 from--   
                     Area                      sched-                                                 
                                                 ule                                                  
                                                 (1)   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.    May   Feb.   Mar.   Apr. 
                                                       1998   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                      
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    158.7  158.8  159.2  159.7    0.6    0.6    0.3 
                                                                                                      
             Selected local areas                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI ..........   M    157.2  157.9  158.7  159.6    1.5    1.1     .6 
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...........   M    155.2  155.1  155.6  156.0     .5     .6     .3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT    M    168.3  168.5  168.6  168.7     .2     .1     .1 
                                                                                                      
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH.................   1        -  169.5      -  169.0      -    -.3      - 
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ..................   1        -  149.7      -  151.1      -     .9      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  152.5      -  152.7      -     .1      - 
                                                                                                      
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .......................   2    153.0      -  153.8      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    145.1      -  145.0      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    157.8      -  157.3      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD    2    166.3      -  166.0      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    160.1      -  161.2      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                      
             Region and area size                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Northeast urban .............................   M    166.1  166.1  166.3  166.4     .2     .2     .1 
 Midwest urban (2)............................   M    154.3  154.5  155.2  155.8    1.0     .8     .4 
 South urban .................................   M    155.8  156.2  156.6  157.0     .8     .5     .3 
 West urban ..................................   M    159.4  159.3  159.7  160.3     .6     .6     .4 
                                                                                                      
            Population size classes                                                                   
                                                                                                      
 A (3)........................................   M    144.8  145.0  145.4  145.8     .7     .6     .3 
 D ...........................................   M    156.8  156.9  157.4  157.9     .7     .6     .3 
                                                                                                      
 Region/Population size class cross                                                                   
 classifications                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
 Northeast Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .....   M    165.9  165.8  166.0  166.1     .1     .2     .1 
 Midwest Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ......   M    154.2  154.5  155.3  155.9    1.1     .9     .4 
 South Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .........   M    154.3  154.8  155.1  155.3     .6     .3     .1 
 West Size A   - More than 1,500,000 .........   M    158.1  158.0  158.5  159.3     .8     .8     .5 
 Midwest Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                        
     50,000) .................................   M    151.0  151.0  151.1  151.6     .4     .4     .3 
 South Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                          
     50,000) .................................   M    158.0  158.3  159.2  159.8    1.1     .9     .4 

   1 The 'All items' index size B/C is on a December 1996=100 base.
   2    The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is
 composed of the same geographic entities.
   3 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.