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                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  SEPTEMBER 2003
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
 0.3 percent in September, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The September
 level of 185.2 (1982-84=100) was 2.3 percent higher than in September
 2002.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) rose 0.4 percent in September, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The
 September level of 181.0 was 2.3 percent higher than in September 2002.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in
 September, the same as in August.  Energy costs advanced sharply for the
 second consecutive month--up 3.0 percent in September--reflecting a 6.3
 percent increase in the index for gasoline.  The index for food rose 0.2
 percent with the index for food at home up 0.3 percent.  Increases in the
 indexes for dairy products and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs were
 partially offset by declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables, for
 cereal and bakery products, and for nonalcoholic beverages.  The index for
 all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in September, the
 same as in August.  A smaller increase in the index for shelter was offset
 by larger increases in the indexes for medical care and apparel.
 

 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                      2003               3-mos. ended  ended
                    Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug. Sep.  Sep. '03    Sep. '03
 All Items            .3   -.3   .0   .2   .2   .3  .3     3.1       2.3
  Food and beverages  .2   -.1   .3   .4   .1   .3  .2     2.2       2.5
  Housing             .4   -.1   .4   .1   .2   .1  .1     1.3       2.4
  Apparel            -.4   -.6  -.3   .4   .0   .1  .5     2.3      -2.1    
  Transportation     1.0  -1.7 -1.3   .3   .2  1.1  .9     9.0       3.5
  Medical care        .2    .2   .4   .3   .5   .2  .5     4.7       4.0
  Recreation          .1   -.1   .3   .1   .0   .0  .2      .7       1.4
  Education and                                                         
    communication    -.1   -.2  -.2  -.1   .5   .5  .1     4.1       1.3
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         -.1    .3   .0   .0   .4   .1  .1     2.4       1.0
  Special Indexes                                                       
    Energy           4.6  -4.6 -3.1   .8   .4  2.7 3.0    27.8      14.7
    Food              .2   -.1   .3   .4   .1   .3  .2     2.5       2.4
    All Items less                                                       
      food and energy .0    .0   .3   .0   .2   .1  .1     1.5       1.2
     
      
       Consumer prices increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR)
 of 3.1 percent in the third quarter of 2003, following an increase at a
 5.2 percent rate in the first quarter and a decline at a 0.7 percent rate
 in the second quarter.  This brings the year-to-date annual rate to 2.5
 percent and compares with an increase of 2.4 percent in all of 2002.  The
 index for energy, which advanced at a 76.5 percent SAAR in the first
 quarter, before decreasing at a 24.5 percent rate in the second quarter,
 advanced at a 27.8 rate in the third quarter of 2003.  Thus far this year
 energy costs have risen at a 19.4 percent SAAR after increasing 10.7
 percent in all of 2002.  In the first nine months of 2003, petroleum-based
 energy costs increased at a 27.4 percent rate and charges for energy
 services increased at an 11.8 percent rate.  The food index rose at a 2.6
 percent SAAR in the first nine months of 2003.  The index for grocery
 store food prices increased at a 3.0 percent rate, largely reflecting an
 increase in the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs--up at an annual
 rate of 6.7 percent.
      
       The CPI-U excluding food and energy advanced at a 1.5 percent SAAR
 in the third quarter, following increases at rates of 0.8 and 1.0 percent
 in the first two quarter of 2003.  The advance at a 1.1 percent SAAR for
 the first nine months of 2003 compares with a 1.9 percent rise in all of
 2002.  Smaller increases in the indexes for shelter and medical care were
 largely responsible for the deceleration.  The annual rates for selected
 groups for the last seven and three-quarters years are shown below.

     
                               Percentage change 12 months             SAAR 9
                               ended in December                       mos. ended        
                     						       in Sep.                   
                       	 1996   1997   1998   1999   2000  2001  2002  2003
 All items                3.3    1.7    1.6    2.7    3.4   1.6   2.4   2.5
  Food and beverages      4.2    1.6    2.3    2.0    2.8   2.8   1.5   2.5
  Housing                 2.9    2.4    2.3    2.2    4.3   2.9   2.4   2.3
  Apparel                -0.2    1.0   -0.7    -.5   -1.8  -3.2  -1.8  -1.8
  Transportation    	  4.4   -1.4   -1.7    5.4    4.1  -3.8   3.8   4.8
  Medical care            3.0    2.8    3.4    3.7    4.2   4.7   5.0   3.3
  Recreation              3.0    1.5    1.2     .8    1.7   1.5   1.1   1.4
  Education and
    communication         3.4    3.0    0.7    1.6    1.3   3.2   2.2   1.5
  Other goods and
    services              3.6    5.2    8.8    5.1    4.2   4.5   3.3   1.9                                                      

 Special indexes                                                        
  Energy                  8.6   -3.4   -8.8   13.4   14.2 -13.0  10.7  19.4
    Energy commodities   13.8   -6.9  -15.1   29.5   15.7 -24.5  23.7  27.4
    Energy services       3.8    0.2   -3.3    1.2   12.7  -1.5    .4  11.8
  All items less energy   2.9    2.1    2.4    2.0    2.6   2.8   1.8   1.3
    Food                  4.3    1.5    2.3    1.9    2.8   2.8   1.5   2.6
  All items less food                       
    and energy		  2.6    2.2    2.4    1.9    2.6   2.7   1.9   1.1

     
      The food and beverages index rose 0.2 percent in September.  The
 index for food at home increased 0.3 percent in September, following a 0.4
 percent rise in August.  Advances in the indexes for meats, poultry, fish
 and eggs and for dairy products--up 0.7 and 1.7 percent, respectively--
 were partially offset by declines in the indexes for fruits and
 vegetables, for cereal and bakery products, and for nonalcoholic
 beverages.  Within the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs group, beef and pork
 prices rose 1.5 and 1.7 percent, respectively.  Beef prices have risen
 10.0 percent and pork prices 5.5 percent during the last 12 months.  Milk
 prices rose 5.0 percent in September, their largest monthly advance since
 a 6.5 percent increase in October 1999.  On the other hand, the index for
 fruits and vegetables declined for the second consecutive month, down 0.7
 percent in September.  Declines in the indexes for fresh fruits and for
 processed fruits and vegetables--down 2.2 and 0.9 percent, respectively--
 more than offset a 1.0 percent increase in the index for fresh vegetables.
 Among the other major grocery store food groups, the indexes for cereals
 and bakery products and for nonalcoholic beverages each declined 0.1
 percent, while the index for other food at home increased 0.2 percent.
 The other two components of the food and beverages index--food away from
 home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.1 percent and 0.6 percent,
 respectively.
      
      The index for housing increased 0.1 percent in September, the same as
 in August.  Shelter costs rose 0.1 percent in September, following an
 increase of 0.2 percent in August.  Within shelter, the indexes for rent
 and owners' equivalent rent rose 0.2 and 0.1 percent, respectively, while
 the index for lodging away from home declined 0.3 percent.  (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from home fell 5.3
 percent, as a 5.9 percent decline in other lodging away from home
 including hotels and motels more than offset a 2.1 percent rise in the
 index for housing at school.)  The index for fuels and utilities increased
 0.2 percent in September.  A 0.6 percent increase in the index for
 electricity more than offset declines in the indexes for fuel oil and for
 natural gas-down 1.9 and 0.4 percent, respectively.  For the 12 months
 ended in September, charges for natural gas have risen 24.8 percent, fuel
 oil prices, 12.1 percent, and charges for electricity, 3.8 percent.  The
 index for household furnishings and operations declined for the seventh
 consecutive month, down 0.4 percent in September.
      
      The transportation index increased 0.9 percent in September.  The
 index for gasoline advanced for the fourth consecutive month--up 6.3
 percent in September.  As of September the price of gasoline was 0.6
 percent below its peak level of March 2003.  The index for new vehicles,
 which turned up in August, declined 0.4 percent in September.  (About 14
 percent of the new vehicle sample in September was represented by 2004
 models.)  New vehicle prices are 1.7 percent lower than in September 2002.
 The index for used cars and trucks decreased 3.1 percent in September, and
 this index has declined 8.7 percent in the last 12 months.  The index for
 public transportation declined 0.5 percent in September, reflecting
 declines in airline and other intercity transportation fares.  Airline
 fares declined for the second consecutive month--down 1.8 percent in
 September--following increases in each of the preceding six months.
      
      The index for apparel, which rose 0.1 percent in August, increased
 0.5 percent in September.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices
 rose 4.1 percent, reflecting price increases associated with the
 introduction of fall-winter wear.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.5 percent in September and are 4.0 percent
 higher than a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--
 prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased
 0.4 percent.   The index for medical care services rose 0.5 percent in
 September.  The indexes for professional services and for hospital and
 related services increased 0.3 and 0.6 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for recreation, which was unchanged in each of the
 preceding two months, increased 0.2 percent in September.  Small price
 increases within the index for recreational services, primarily for
 admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events, more than
 offset declines in the indexes for toys, for sporting goods, for
 photography, and for pets, pet products and services.
      
      The index for education and communication increased 0.1 percent in
 September.  Educational costs increased 0.6 percent, while communication
 costs declined 0.4 percent.  The index for college tuition and fees, which
 rose 2.5 percent in August, increased 0.7 percent in September.  (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, this index rose 2.4 percent to a level 9.5 percent
 above a year ago.)  Within the communication group, the index for
 telephone services decreased 0.4 percent, reflecting a decline in long
 distance charges.  The index for personal computers and peripheral equipment
 declined 2.4 percent in September and 22.7 percent during the last 12 months.
      
      The index for other goods and services rose 0.1 percent in September.
 A decline in cigarette prices was more than offset by price increases for
 haircuts and for miscellaneous personal services.  Prices for cigarettes
 fell 0.7 percent in September and are 4.0 percent lower than their level
 in September 2002.
      
 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 September.
 

 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                      2003               3-mos. ended   ended
                    Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug. Sep.   Sep. '03    Sep. '03    
 All Items           .5   -.5  -.1   .2   .1   .4  .3      3.2       2.3
  Food and beverages .2   -.1   .3   .4   .1   .3  .3      2.7       2.6
  Housing            .6   -.1   .3   .1   .2   .2  .1      1.6       2.6
  Apparel           -.2   -.8  -.1   .4  -.5   .3  .7      2.0      -2.0
  Transportation    1.1  -1.9 -1.5   .3   .1  1.1  .8      8.2       3.3
  Medical care       .2    .1   .4   .3   .4   .2  .5      4.4       4.0
  Recreation         .0   -.1   .2   .0   .2   .0  .0       .8       1.1
  Education and                                                         
    communication   -.2   -.3  -.2  -.2   .5   .4 -.1      3.0        .5
  Other goods and                                                     
    services        -.3    .3  -.1   .0   .5   .2  .0      2.5        .0
  Special Indexes                                                       
    Energy          4.6  -4.8 -3.4  1.1   .4  3.0 3.3     30.2      15.1
    Food             .1   -.1   .3   .4   .1   .3  .3      2.7       2.6
    All Items less                                                       
     food and energy .1    .0   .2   .1   .1   .1  .0       .6        .9

 Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
 
      The C-CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in September on a not seasonally
 adjusted basis.  The September level of 108.1 (December 1999=100) was 1.8
 percent higher than in September 2002.  Table 7 contains the most recent
 indexes for all items and the component series that are published.   Data
 are published monthly in the CPI Detailed Report and are available on the
 CPI home page:  http://www.bls.gov/cpi/.  Please note that the indexes for
 the post-2001 period are subject to revision.
 
     Consumer Price Index data for October are scheduled for release on
 Tuesday, November 18, 2003, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
  
 ____________________________________________________________________________


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 impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200, Federal
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 ___________________________________________________________________________
 

 Brief Explanation of the CPI
 
     The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in
 prices over time of goods and services purchased by households.  The
 Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups:  (1)
 the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers
 households of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise
 approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All
 Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-
 U), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population and
 include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households,
 groups such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-
 employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not
 in the labor force.
 
      The CPIs are based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels,
 transportation fares, charges for doctors' and dentists' services, drugs,
 and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living.
 Prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about
 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail establishments-
 department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other
 types of stores and service establishments.  All taxes directly associated
 with the purchase and use of items are included in the index.  Prices of
 fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations.
 Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
 the three largest geographic areas and every other month in other areas.
 Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or
 telephone calls of the Bureau's trained representatives.
 
      In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each
 location are averaged together with weights, which represent their
 importance in the spending of the appropriate population group.  Local
 data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average.  For the CPI-U and
 CPI-W separate indexes are also published by size of city, by region of
 the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size
 classes, and for 27 local areas.  Area indexes do not measure differences
 in the level of prices among cities, they only measure the average change
 in prices for each area since the base period.  For the C-CPI-U data are
 issued only at the national level.  It is important to note that the CPI-U
 and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in
 preliminary form and subject to two annual revisions.
 
      The index measures price change from a designed reference date.  For
 the CPI-U and the CPI-W the reference base is 1982-84 equals 100.0. The
 reference base for the C-CPI-U is December 1999 equals 100.
 An increase of 16.5 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown
 as 116.5.  This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:  the
 price of a base period market basket of goods and services in the CPI has
 risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65.
 
      For further details visit the CPI home page on the Internet at
 http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ or contact our CPI Information and Analysis
 Section on (202) 691-7000.
  
 ___________________________________________________________________________ 
 
  
       Calculating Index Changes
       
            Movements of the indexes from one month to another are
       usually expressed as percent changes rather than changes in index 
       points, because index point changes are affected by the level of 
       the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are 
       not.  The example below illustrates the computation of index point 
       and percent changes.
       
            Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods are expressed 
       as annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula 
       for compound growth rates.  These data indicate what the percent 
       change would be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month 
       period.
       
         
                    Index Point Change
       
       CPI   					115.7
       Less previous index    			111.2
       Equals index point change  		4.5
       
       
                    Percent Change
       
       Index point difference			4.5
       Divided by the previous index		111.2
       Equals					0.040
       Results multiplied by one hundred	0.040 x 100
       Equals percent change			4.0

 ___________________________________________________________________________


 Regions Defined
 
 The states in the four regions shown in Tables 3 and 6 are listed below.
 
 The Northeast--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,
 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

 The Midwest--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
 Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

 The South--Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
 Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
 Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of
 Columbia.

 The West--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana,
 Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

 _________________________________________________________________________


 A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data
 
   Because price data are used for different purposes by different groups,
 the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted as well as
 unadjusted changes each month.
   
   For analyzing general price trends in the economy, seasonally adjusted
 changes are usually preferred since they eliminate the effect of changes
 that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every
 year--such as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions,
 production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales.
   
   The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about
 the prices they actually pay.  Unadjusted data also are used extensively
 for escalation purposes.  Many collective bargaining contract agreements
 and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer
 Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.
   
   Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted indexes are
 derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method.  The updated
 seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977.
 Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data; e.g.,
 data from 1998 through 2002 were replaced at the end of 2002.  In January
 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-
 December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for
 dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see
 "Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series," in the
 October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
   
   The seasonal movement of all items and 54 other aggregations is derived
 by combining the seasonal movement of 73 selected components.  Each year
 the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain
 statistical criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their seasonal
 adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not
 seasonally adjusted data will be used for the last 5 years, but the
 seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period.  Note: 44 of
 the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2003.
   
   Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are
 subject to revision for up to five years after their original release.
 For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation
 agreements.
 
   Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990, the
 Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an enhanced seasonal adjustment
 procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI
 series.  Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better
 estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  Extreme values and/or sharp
 movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and
 removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning
 with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was
 used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.
 
   For the fuel oil, natural gas, motor fuels, and educational books and
 supplies indexes, this procedure was used to offset the effects that
 extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of
 seasonally adjusted data for those series.   For the Nonalcoholic
 beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a large
 increase in coffee prices due to adverse weather.  The procedure was used
 to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions and decreases in milk
 supply affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the Water and sewerage
 maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data collection
 anomaly and dry weather in California.  It was used to offset an increase
 in demand due to warmer than expected weather and increased rates to
 conserve supplies for Electricity.  For New vehicles, New cars, and New
 trucks, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a model changeover
 combined with financing incentives.
 
   For a complete list of series that used Intervention Analysis
 Seasonal Adjustment, a list of unusual events modeled for them, or for a
 description of intervention analysis please write to the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC
 20212 or by calling Daniel Chow on (202) 691-6968 or sending e-mail to
 Chow_Dan@BLS.GOV.  If you have general questions about the CPI, please
 call our information staff at (202) 691-7000.    




 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Sep. 2003 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   2002       Aug.      Sep.                                            
                                                              2003      2003     Sep.     Aug.   June to July to Aug. to
                                                                                 2002     2003     July    Aug.    Sep. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     184.6     185.2      2.3      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.3 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     553.0     554.7        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     15.583     180.9     181.3      2.5      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
   Food ......................................     14.554     180.4     180.7      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
    Food at home .............................      8.338     179.7     180.1      2.8      0.2    -0.1     0.4     0.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.281     204.5     203.5      2.6     -0.5     0.3     0.0    -0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.222     169.7     171.1      5.7      0.8     0.4     0.7     0.7 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........       .876     167.5     170.3      2.4      1.7     0.5     1.7     1.7 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.234     224.9     224.4      2.7     -0.2     0.3    -0.4    -0.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................       .954     139.7     139.2     -0.7     -0.4    -1.5     0.5    -0.1 
     Other food at home ......................      1.771     163.2     163.1      1.4     -0.1    -0.6     0.2     0.2 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .314     162.5     162.3      1.7     -0.1    -0.2    -0.1    -0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .252     157.7     157.6      1.5     -0.1    -0.6     0.8     0.2 
      Other foods ............................      1.205     179.4     179.4      1.4      0.0    -0.7     0.2     0.3 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .287     109.9     111.0      1.2      1.0    -0.2    -1.3     1.0 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.216     182.6     182.8      2.0      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .388     121.4     121.8      2.5      0.3    -0.3    -0.1     0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.029     187.1     187.9      2.2      0.4    -0.1    -0.1     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     40.854     186.1     185.8      2.4     -0.2     0.2     0.1     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     31.728     214.3     213.8      2.2     -0.2     0.3     0.2     0.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      6.467     206.1     206.6      2.9      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      2.654     125.1     118.5      0.8     -5.3     0.7    -0.3    -0.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     22.243     220.1     220.7      2.1      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .365     115.8     115.9      5.4      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.469     159.2     159.6      8.4      0.3    -0.2     0.1     0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      3.604     143.0     143.4      9.5      0.3    -0.4    -0.1     0.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .205     130.7     130.5     13.3     -0.2     1.0     1.2    -1.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.399     151.0     151.5      9.2      0.3    -0.5    -0.1     0.3 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .864     118.0     118.3      4.1      0.3     0.3     0.8     0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.658     125.5     125.2     -2.3     -0.2    -0.2    -0.3    -0.4 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .820     121.8     122.3      2.2      0.4    -0.1     0.1     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.220     117.2     122.0     -2.1      4.1     0.0     0.1     0.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.065     113.4     117.3     -2.3      3.4     0.1    -0.6     1.7 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.738     107.9     115.5     -2.1      7.0    -0.1     0.2    -0.1 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............       .193     120.8     124.1     -1.7      2.7    -1.3     2.2     1.1 
   Footwear ..................................       .853     117.8     120.3     -1.1      2.1    -0.2     0.0     0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.293     158.3     159.4      3.5      0.7     0.2     1.1     0.9 
   Private transportation ....................     16.121     154.1     155.4      3.6      0.8     0.1     1.2     0.9 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      8.170      96.0      95.1     -3.6     -0.9    -0.4    -0.2    -1.0 
     New vehicles ............................      4.864     136.8     136.4     -1.7     -0.3    -0.1     0.5    -0.4 
     Used cars and trucks ....................      2.025     143.3     139.0     -8.7     -3.0    -1.4    -1.6    -3.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.119     139.0     147.1     20.9      5.8     1.5     6.0     6.2 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.091     138.4     146.5     21.0      5.9     1.2     6.2     6.3 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .416     107.9     107.7      0.3     -0.2    -0.1     0.3    -0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.418     195.7     196.2      2.5      0.3     0.6    -0.3     0.2 
   Public transportation .....................      1.172     213.8     211.2      2.3     -1.2     0.5    -0.8    -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.961     298.4     299.2      4.0      0.3     0.5     0.2     0.5 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.387     264.1     264.9      2.7      0.3     0.5     0.3     0.4 
   Medical care services .....................      4.574     307.2     308.2      4.4      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.5 
    Professional services (3).................      2.808     261.7     262.3      2.9      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.451     398.0     399.6      7.0      0.4     0.7     0.5     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.943     107.7     107.7      1.4      0.0     0.0     0.0     0.2 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.638     103.7     103.5      1.2     -0.2     0.1     0.0     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.798     110.1     110.9      1.3      0.7     0.5     0.5     0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.835     136.2     138.7      7.0      1.8     0.7     1.3     0.6 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .236     338.5     338.2      4.6     -0.1     0.5     0.7    -1.0 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.599     392.1     400.0      7.3      2.0     0.7     1.4     0.7 
   Communication (2)..........................      2.963      89.0      88.6     -4.2     -0.4     0.2    -0.4    -0.4 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.765      87.0      86.7     -4.4     -0.3     0.3    -0.6    -0.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.273      97.8      97.4     -2.7     -0.4     0.6    -0.3    -0.4 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .492      15.7      15.6    -12.4     -0.6    -1.2    -1.9    -0.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .210      16.7      16.3    -22.7     -2.4    -1.7    -2.9    -2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.350     299.6     299.9      1.0      0.1     0.4     0.1     0.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........       .992     471.8     468.7     -3.5     -0.7     1.2     0.6    -0.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.358     178.4     179.0      2.3      0.3     0.1     0.0     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .680     153.5     153.4     -0.6     -0.1     0.3    -0.5    -0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................       .897     193.9     195.4      3.3      0.8     0.2     0.4     0.8 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.573     284.3     285.3      3.7      0.4     0.1     0.1     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     40.822     150.9     152.0      1.2      0.7     0.1     0.5     0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................     15.583     180.9     181.3      2.5      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     25.239     133.9     135.4      0.4      1.1     0.1     0.7     0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     13.824     149.2     153.1      4.0      2.6     1.1     2.2     0.9 
    Apparel ..................................      4.220     117.2     122.0     -2.1      4.1     0.0     0.1     0.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.604     173.0     176.4      6.8      2.0     0.7     2.7     1.4 
   Durables ..................................     11.416     116.7     115.7     -4.1     -0.9    -0.5    -0.3    -0.9 
 Services ....................................     59.178     218.0     218.1      3.1      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     31.364     223.1     222.6      2.2     -0.2     0.3     0.1     0.1 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .365     115.8     115.9      5.4      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.399     151.0     151.5      9.2      0.3    -0.5    -0.1     0.3 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .864     118.0     118.3      4.1      0.3     0.3     0.8     0.3 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .820     121.8     122.3      2.2      0.4    -0.1     0.1     0.4 
  Transportation services ....................      6.722     217.2     216.8      3.2     -0.2     0.4    -0.2     0.1 
  Medical care services ......................      4.574     307.2     308.2      4.4      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.5 
  Other services .............................     11.071     255.5     257.0      3.2      0.6     0.3     0.4     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     85.446     185.3     186.0      2.3      0.4     0.2     0.3     0.3 
 All items less shelter ......................     68.272     175.0     176.0      2.4      0.6     0.2     0.3     0.4 
 All items less medical care .................     94.039     178.7     179.2      2.2      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................     26.268     135.9     137.3      0.4      1.0     0.1     0.7     0.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................     14.853     151.5     155.2      4.0      2.4     0.9     2.1     0.9 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.633     173.4     176.6      6.3      1.8     0.7     2.0     1.7 
 Nondurables .................................     29.406     165.2     167.4      3.2      1.3     0.5     1.2     0.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.815     228.4     229.2      4.2      0.4     0.1     0.2     0.4 
 Services less medical care services .........     54.604     210.3     210.3      3.0      0.0     0.2     0.1     0.3 
 Energy ......................................      6.723     140.6     144.6     14.7      2.8     0.4     2.7     3.0 
 All items less energy .......................     93.277     190.8     191.0      1.4      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.724     193.5     193.6      1.2      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     22.945     139.7     140.2     -2.4      0.4    -0.1    -0.1    -0.4 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.324     139.2     146.9     20.4      5.5     1.5     5.6     5.8 
   Services less energy services .............     55.779     224.9     224.9      2.7      0.0     0.3     0.2     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .542    $ .540        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .181    $ .180        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 June    July    Aug.    Sep.                                           
                                                 2003    2003    2003    2003                                           
                                                                                Dec.   Mar.   June   Sep.   Mar.   Sep. 
                                                                                2002   2003   2003   2003   2003   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  183.6   183.9   184.5   185.0    1.6    5.2   -0.7    3.1    3.3    1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  180.3   180.4   180.9   181.3    2.3    2.5    2.7    2.2    2.4    2.5 
   Food ......................................  179.7   179.8   180.4   180.8    2.1    2.7    2.7    2.5    2.4    2.6 
    Food at home .............................  179.1   179.0   179.7   180.3    2.1    3.0    3.4    2.7    2.5    3.1 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  203.1   203.7   203.7   203.5   -0.8    9.6    0.8    0.8    4.3    0.8 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  167.5   168.1   169.2   170.4    3.0    6.8    6.2    7.1    4.9    6.7 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  163.9   164.7   167.5   170.3    2.4   -0.5   -7.4   16.6    1.0    3.9 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  228.8   229.5   228.5   227.0    4.6   -1.2   11.6   -3.1    1.6    4.0 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  141.0   138.9   139.6   139.5    0.6   -3.9    5.0   -4.2   -1.7    0.3 
     Other food at home ......................  163.2   162.3   162.7   163.0    2.5    1.7    2.0   -0.5    2.1    0.7 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  162.8   162.4   162.3   162.2    2.3    4.6    1.7   -1.5    3.4    0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................  156.8   155.8   157.0   157.3   -1.8    9.4   -2.3    1.3    3.6   -0.5 
      Other foods ............................  179.7   178.5   178.9   179.4    3.2   -0.2    2.9   -0.7    1.5    1.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  111.5   111.3   109.9   111.0    1.8   -0.4    5.2   -1.8    0.7    1.6 
    Food away from home (1)...................  181.9   182.3   182.6   182.8    2.0    2.0    2.0    2.0    2.0    2.0 
     Other food away from home (2)............  121.8   121.4   121.3   121.3    4.5    3.7    3.7   -1.6    4.1    1.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  187.1   187.0   186.9   188.0    2.6    2.8    1.1    1.9    2.7    1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  184.8   185.1   185.3   185.4    2.5    4.2    1.5    1.3    3.3    1.4 
   Shelter ...................................  212.7   213.3   213.7   214.0    2.7    1.1    2.5    2.5    1.9    2.5 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  205.4   205.8   206.3   206.8    3.0    3.2    3.0    2.8    3.1    2.9 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  119.4   120.2   119.8   119.4    1.7  -11.3   14.6    0.0   -5.0    7.1 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  219.3   219.9   220.4   220.7    2.8    2.2    0.7    2.6    2.5    1.7 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  115.2   115.6   115.8   115.9    8.6    6.2    4.3    2.5    7.4    3.4 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  156.4   156.1   156.2   156.5    3.4   36.0   -1.3    0.3   18.6   -0.5 
    Fuels ....................................  140.4   139.9   139.8   140.0    3.2   44.5   -2.0   -1.1   22.1   -1.6 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................  134.7   136.0   137.6   135.0   13.4  215.3  -54.4    0.9   89.1  -32.2 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  147.9   147.2   147.0   147.4    3.0   37.4    3.0   -1.3   18.9    0.8 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  116.6   117.0   117.9   118.3    3.9    3.2    3.5    6.0    3.6    4.7 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  126.1   125.9   125.5   125.0   -1.6   -0.9   -3.1   -3.4   -1.2   -3.3 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  121.8   121.7   121.8   122.3    0.7    5.8    0.7    1.7    3.2    1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  120.5   120.5   120.6   121.2   -2.6   -5.7   -2.0    2.3   -4.2    0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  116.5   116.6   115.9   117.9   -3.3    2.4  -12.3    4.9   -0.5   -4.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  113.1   113.0   113.2   113.1   -2.7   -7.1    1.1    0.0   -5.0    0.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............  122.2   120.6   123.2   124.5   -4.0   -8.9   -0.7    7.7   -6.5    3.5 
   Footwear ..................................  119.4   119.2   119.2   120.1    0.0   -8.6    2.4    2.4   -4.4    2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  156.6   156.9   158.6   160.0    0.0   17.6  -10.3    9.0    8.5   -1.1 
   Private transportation ....................  152.5   152.7   154.6   156.0    0.0   19.3  -11.7    9.5    9.2   -1.6 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   97.1    96.7    96.5    95.5   -3.6   -1.2   -3.6   -6.4   -2.4   -5.0 
     New vehicles ............................  137.6   137.4   138.1   137.6   -0.3   -3.1   -3.1    0.0   -1.7   -1.6 
     Used cars and trucks ....................  147.5   145.5   143.1   138.6   -9.6    5.0   -5.8  -22.0   -2.6  -14.3 
    Motor fuel ...............................  128.9   130.8   138.6   147.2    0.7  120.0  -43.5   70.1   48.8   -2.0 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  128.3   129.9   138.0   146.7    1.0  120.8  -43.7   70.9   49.3   -1.9 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  107.7   107.6   107.9   107.7   -1.5    3.4   -0.7    0.0    0.9   -0.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  195.3   196.4   195.9   196.2    4.7    1.2    2.5    1.9    2.9    2.2 
   Public transportation .....................  211.8   212.9   211.3   210.3    1.6   -1.9   12.8   -2.8   -0.2    4.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  296.1   297.5   298.1   299.5    6.1    1.7    3.6    4.7    3.9    4.1 
   Medical care commodities ..................  261.6   263.0   263.9   264.9    3.1    2.2    0.3    5.1    2.7    2.7 
   Medical care services .....................  305.2   306.4   306.9   308.5    7.1    1.5    4.7    4.4    4.2    4.6 
    Professional services (3).................  261.0   261.6   261.7   262.6    4.6    0.9    3.8    2.5    2.8    3.1 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  392.6   395.5   397.6   400.0   11.5    3.8    5.4    7.8    7.6    6.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  107.6   107.6   107.6   107.8    1.5    2.3    1.1    0.7    1.9    0.9 
   Video and audio (2)........................  103.5   103.6   103.6   103.9    4.4   -1.9    0.8    1.6    1.2    1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  109.1   109.6   110.1   110.2    0.7    2.2   -1.8    4.1    1.5    1.1 
   Education (2)..............................  133.4   134.3   136.1   136.9    5.1    6.7    5.9   10.9    5.9    8.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  335.7   337.4   339.9   336.5    4.3    8.9    4.8    1.0    6.6    2.9 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   383.6   386.2   391.7   394.5    4.9    6.6    6.1   11.9    5.7    8.9 
   Communication (2)..........................   89.2    89.4    89.0    88.6   -3.0   -2.2   -8.9   -2.7   -2.6   -5.8 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   87.2    87.5    87.0    86.7   -3.1   -2.2   -9.9   -2.3   -2.6   -6.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   97.5    98.1    97.8    97.4   -0.8   -0.8   -8.5   -0.4   -0.8   -4.6 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   16.2    16.0    15.7    15.6  -12.8   -9.0  -13.5  -14.0  -10.9  -13.8 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   17.5    17.2    16.7    16.3  -24.0  -13.5  -28.0  -24.7  -18.9  -26.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  298.1   299.2   299.6   299.9   -1.6    2.0    1.1    2.4    0.2    1.8 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  463.5   469.1   471.8   468.7  -10.5   -4.4   -3.1    4.6   -7.5    0.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................  178.2   178.4   178.4   179.0    1.1    4.2    2.3    1.8    2.6    2.0 
    Personal care products (1)................  153.8   154.2   153.5   153.4   -2.6   -0.3    1.3   -1.0   -1.4    0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................  192.8   193.2   193.9   195.4    1.5    3.8    2.3    5.5    2.7    3.9 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  283.8   284.1   284.3   285.5    3.4    4.4    4.3    2.4    3.9    3.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  150.5   150.7   151.5   152.1   -0.8    7.7   -5.9    4.3    3.4   -0.9 
  Food and beverages .........................  180.3   180.4   180.9   181.3    2.3    2.5    2.7    2.2    2.4    2.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  133.7   133.8   134.8   135.5   -2.6   10.9  -10.6    5.5    3.9   -2.9 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  145.6   147.2   150.5   151.8    6.2   18.4  -21.1   18.2   12.1   -3.5 
    Apparel ..................................  120.5   120.5   120.6   121.2   -2.6   -5.7   -2.0    2.3   -4.2    0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  168.2   169.4   173.9   176.4   -0.5   37.9  -21.7   21.0   17.1   -2.7 
   Durables ..................................  118.2   117.6   117.2   116.1   -4.2   -1.0   -4.0   -6.9   -2.6   -5.5 
 Services ....................................  216.4   216.9   217.3   217.8    3.3    3.8    2.8    2.6    3.5    2.7 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  221.5   222.2   222.5   222.8    2.4    1.5    2.4    2.4    1.9    2.4 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  115.2   115.6   115.8   115.9    8.6    6.2    4.3    2.5    7.4    3.4 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  147.9   147.2   147.0   147.4    3.0   37.4    3.0   -1.3   18.9    0.8 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  116.6   117.0   117.9   118.3    3.9    3.2    3.5    6.0    3.6    4.7 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  121.8   121.7   121.8   122.3    0.7    5.8    0.7    1.7    3.2    1.2 
  Transportation services ....................  216.8   217.6   217.2   217.5    3.3    2.5    5.9    1.3    2.9    3.6 
  Medical care services ......................  305.2   306.4   306.9   308.5    7.1    1.5    4.7    4.4    4.2    4.6 
  Other services .............................  253.6   254.4   255.3   256.3    2.9    3.7    1.6    4.3    3.3    3.0 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  184.3   184.6   185.2   185.8    1.6    5.8   -1.3    3.3    3.7    1.0 
 All items less shelter ......................  174.2   174.5   175.1   175.8    1.2    7.2   -2.3    3.7    4.1    0.7 
 All items less medical care .................  177.7   178.0   178.6   179.1    1.4    5.6   -1.1    3.2    3.5    1.0 
 Commodities less food .......................  135.7   135.8   136.7   137.4   -2.6   10.7  -10.2    5.1    3.8   -2.8 
 Nondurables less food .......................  148.1   149.4   152.6   154.0    6.4   17.2  -19.8   16.9   11.7   -3.2 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  168.9   170.0   173.4   176.4    0.7   33.4  -20.0   19.0   15.9   -2.4 
 Nondurables .................................  163.1   163.9   165.9   166.8    3.8   10.7   -9.5    9.4    7.2   -0.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  226.8   227.1   227.5   228.5    3.5    6.5    3.8    3.0    5.0    3.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  208.7   209.2   209.5   210.1    2.8    3.8    2.9    2.7    3.3    2.8 
 Energy ......................................  134.4   135.0   138.7   142.9    2.3   76.5  -24.5   27.8   34.4   -1.8 
 All items less energy .......................  190.4   190.7   190.9   191.1    1.7    1.1    1.5    1.5    1.4    1.5 
  All items less food and energy .............  193.0   193.4   193.6   193.7    1.5    0.8    1.0    1.5    1.2    1.3 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  141.0   140.9   140.7   140.2   -2.5   -1.7   -3.1   -2.3   -2.1   -2.7 
    Energy commodities .......................  129.9   131.8   139.2   147.3    1.3  125.0  -44.4   65.3   51.0   -4.1 
   Services less energy services .............  223.4   224.1   224.5   225.0    3.3    1.8    2.9    2.9    2.6    2.9 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Sep. 2003 from--      Aug. 2003 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   June   July   Aug.   Sep.                                           
                                                 (1)   2003   2003   2003   2003   Sep.   July   Aug.   Aug.   June   July 
                                                                                   2002   2003   2003   2002   2003   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    183.7  183.9  184.6  185.2    2.3    0.7    0.3    2.2    0.5    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    192.8  193.5  194.3  195.0    2.9    0.8    0.4    2.6    0.8    0.4 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    194.9  195.5  196.6  197.3    3.2    0.9    0.4    2.8    0.9    0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    113.9  114.5  114.4  115.0    2.1    0.4    0.5    2.1    0.4   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    178.4  178.1  178.8  179.5    1.9    0.8    0.4    1.7    0.2    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    180.7  180.5  181.2  182.0    1.8    0.8    0.4    1.7    0.3    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    113.2  113.1  113.6  113.9    2.2    0.7    0.3    2.0    0.4    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    172.6  171.4  172.1  172.3    1.4    0.5    0.1    1.4   -0.3    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    177.2  177.3  177.9  178.3    2.4    0.6    0.2    2.4    0.4    0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    179.0  179.1  179.8  180.1    2.5    0.6    0.2    2.5    0.4    0.4 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    113.1  113.1  113.4  113.8    2.3    0.6    0.4    2.3    0.3    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    174.9  175.0  175.9  176.3    2.1    0.7    0.2    1.9    0.6    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    188.1  188.4  189.2  189.6    2.1    0.6    0.2    2.1    0.6    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    190.9  190.9  191.7  192.3    2.2    0.7    0.3    2.0    0.4    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    114.4  115.1  115.5  115.6    2.2    0.4    0.1    2.2    1.0    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    168.2  168.3  169.0  169.6    2.5    0.8    0.4    2.2    0.5    0.4 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    113.4  113.6  113.9  114.3    2.2    0.6    0.4    2.2    0.4    0.3 
   D .........................................   M    176.4  176.1  177.1  177.4    1.8    0.7    0.2    1.8    0.4    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    184.1  184.1  184.5  186.1    2.2    1.1    0.9    1.6    0.2    0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    186.3  186.3  186.9  188.2    2.6    1.0    0.7    2.1    0.3    0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    196.9  197.7  199.1  199.6    3.3    1.0    0.3    3.1    1.1    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  203.0      -  206.8    3.9    1.9      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  176.0      -  178.5    2.2    1.4      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  176.5      -  177.0    2.2    0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  116.8      -  117.2    2.8    0.3      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    181.5      -  181.7      -      -      -      -    1.1    0.1      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    182.8      -  183.6      -      -      -      -    1.5    0.4      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    162.5      -  164.1      -      -      -      -    2.5    1.0      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    179.4      -  180.9      -      -      -      -    3.3    0.8      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    189.7      -  191.1      -      -      -      -    1.5    0.7      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    196.3      -  196.3      -      -      -      -    1.4    0.0      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    191.7      -  194.4      -      -      -      -    2.2    1.4      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA;
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Sep. 2003 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   2002       Aug.      Sep.                                            
                                                              2003      2003     Sep.     Aug.   June to July to Aug. to
                                                                                 2002     2003     July    Aug.    Sep. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     180.3     181.0      2.3      0.4     0.1     0.4     0.3 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     537.1     539.2        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.072     180.2     180.7      2.6      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.3 
   Food ......................................     16.071     179.7     180.2      2.6      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.3 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     178.8     179.4      2.9      0.3     0.0     0.4     0.4 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.449     204.5     203.5      2.6     -0.5     0.3     0.0     0.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.773     169.5     170.9      5.8      0.8     0.5     0.5     0.7 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........       .977     167.0     170.2      2.5      1.9     0.6     1.6     1.9 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.337     223.8     223.4      2.7     -0.2     0.3    -0.4    -0.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.118     138.9     138.5     -0.8     -0.3    -1.5     0.4     0.1 
     Other food at home ......................      1.992     162.6     162.8      1.6      0.1    -0.6     0.2     0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .337     162.1     162.1      1.6      0.0    -0.4     0.1     0.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .302     157.7     157.6      1.5     -0.1    -0.6     0.9    -0.1 
      Other foods ............................      1.353     179.7     180.0      1.6      0.2    -0.6     0.1     0.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .308     110.1     111.3      1.1      1.1    -0.4    -1.3     1.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.425     182.4     182.7      2.1      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .278     121.6     122.0      2.3      0.3    -0.2     0.0    -0.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.001     186.9     187.7      2.3      0.4     0.0     0.1     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     38.134     181.6     181.6      2.6      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     29.422     207.7     207.6      2.3      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.456     205.3     205.8      2.9      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.1 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      1.499     125.2     119.8      1.8     -4.3     0.8    -0.1    -0.1 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     19.144     199.9     200.4      2.0      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .323     115.7     115.8      5.2      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.783     158.7     159.1      8.6      0.3    -0.2     0.1     0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      3.902     141.9     142.3      9.5      0.3    -0.4    -0.1     0.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .192     129.6     129.4     13.0     -0.2     1.0     0.7    -1.4 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.710     150.1     150.6      9.4      0.3    -0.4    -0.1     0.3 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .880     118.1     118.4      4.1      0.3     0.5     0.6     0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      3.929     121.4     121.0     -2.3     -0.3    -0.2    -0.2    -0.5 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .357     122.9     123.4      2.7      0.4     0.0     0.2     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.638     116.1     121.0     -2.0      4.2    -0.5     0.3     0.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.176     112.9     116.5     -2.8      3.2    -0.3    -0.5     1.6 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.801     106.9     114.5     -2.0      7.1    -0.9     0.9     0.1 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............       .244     122.9     126.5     -1.5      2.9    -1.0     1.6     1.3 
   Footwear ..................................      1.136     117.2     119.6     -1.5      2.0    -0.4     0.1     0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.666     157.1     158.1      3.3      0.6     0.1     1.1     0.8 
   Private transportation ....................     18.751     154.2     155.3      3.3      0.7     0.1     1.2     0.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.568      95.7      94.4     -4.6     -1.4    -0.6    -0.4    -1.5 
     New vehicles ............................      4.682     137.9     137.6     -1.6     -0.2    -0.1     0.6    -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks ....................      3.783     144.0     139.8     -8.7     -2.9    -1.4    -1.6    -3.2 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.836     139.4     147.5     20.8      5.8     1.3     6.1     6.3 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.803     138.8     147.0     20.9      5.9     1.4     6.2     6.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .524     107.3     107.2      0.5     -0.1    -0.1     0.3    -0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.458     197.3     197.9      2.6      0.3     0.5    -0.3     0.2 
   Public transportation .....................       .915     210.5     208.4      3.2     -1.0     0.4    -0.7    -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.747     297.4     298.3      4.0      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.5 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.012     258.6     259.4      2.7      0.3     0.6     0.2     0.4 
   Medical care services .....................      3.735     307.0     307.9      4.4      0.3     0.4     0.1     0.5 
    Professional services (3).................      2.265     263.9     264.4      3.0      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.177     394.2     395.8      7.3      0.4     0.7     0.4     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.567     105.7     105.5      1.1     -0.2     0.2     0.0     0.0 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.795     102.9     102.7      1.3     -0.2     0.2    -0.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.604     109.1     109.7      0.5      0.5     0.5     0.4    -0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.472     135.5     137.8      6.6      1.7     0.6     1.3     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .217     339.6     339.6      4.8      0.0     0.4     0.8    -1.0 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.256     382.1     389.2      6.7      1.9     0.6     1.4     0.4 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.132      90.5      90.2     -3.9     -0.3     0.2    -0.4    -0.3 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.972      89.1      88.8     -4.2     -0.3     0.3    -0.6    -0.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.536      98.0      97.6     -2.7     -0.4     0.6    -0.3    -0.4 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .436      16.3      16.1    -13.0     -1.2    -1.8    -1.2    -1.2 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191      16.3      16.0    -23.1     -1.8    -1.7    -3.6    -1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.571     308.0     307.9      0.0      0.0     0.5     0.2     0.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.542     473.2     469.9     -3.8     -0.7     1.2     0.6    -0.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.030     177.4     177.9      2.0      0.3     0.2    -0.1     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .786     154.3     154.0     -0.8     -0.2     0.3    -0.3    -0.2 
    Personal care services (1)................       .896     194.6     196.1      3.2      0.8     0.2     0.4     0.8 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.170     284.4     285.2      3.7      0.3     0.0     0.1     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     45.066     151.6     152.7      1.1      0.7     0.1     0.6     0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.072     180.2     180.7      2.6      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.3 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     27.994     135.4     136.7      0.2      1.0     0.0     0.8     0.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.152     151.7     155.9      4.4      2.8     1.1     2.6     1.0 
    Apparel ..................................      4.638     116.1     121.0     -2.0      4.2    -0.5     0.3     0.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.514     177.4     181.2      7.2      2.1     0.8     3.0     1.5 
   Durables ..................................     12.842     116.9     115.5     -4.6     -1.2    -0.5    -0.5    -1.1 
 Services ....................................     54.934     214.0     214.3      3.2      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.099     200.0     199.9      2.3     -0.1     0.3     0.2     0.3 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .323     115.7     115.8      5.2      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.710     150.1     150.6      9.4      0.3    -0.4    -0.1     0.3 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .880     118.1     118.4      4.1      0.3     0.5     0.6     0.3 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .357     122.9     123.4      2.7      0.4     0.0     0.2     0.4 
  Transportation services ....................      6.706     216.8     216.8      3.8      0.0     0.3    -0.1     0.2 
  Medical care services ......................      3.735     307.0     307.9      4.4      0.3     0.4     0.1     0.5 
  Other services .............................     10.123     249.3     250.6      2.7      0.5     0.3     0.3     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.929     180.3     181.0      2.2      0.4     0.2     0.3     0.3 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.578     172.3     173.3      2.2      0.6     0.1     0.4     0.4 
 All items less medical care .................     95.253     175.2     176.0      2.2      0.5     0.1     0.4     0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................     28.995     137.2     138.6      0.4      1.0     0.0     0.7     0.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.153     153.9     157.9      4.2      2.6     1.1     2.4     1.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.514     177.5     181.1      6.8      2.0     0.9     2.1     1.9 
 Nondurables .................................     32.224     166.4     168.8      3.4      1.4     0.5     1.5     0.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     25.835     203.1     203.7      4.3      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.4 
 Services less medical care services .........     51.199     206.6     206.8      3.1      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.3 
 Energy ......................................      7.738     140.0     144.2     15.1      3.0     0.4     3.0     3.3 
 All items less energy .......................     92.262     186.2     186.4      1.1      0.1     0.1     0.1     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     76.191     187.9     188.1      0.9      0.1     0.1     0.1     0.0 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.967     140.1     140.2     -2.9      0.1    -0.2    -0.1    -0.6 
    Energy commodities .......................      4.028     139.5     147.2     20.5      5.5     1.3     5.9     5.8 
   Services less energy services .............     51.224     221.0     221.3      2.7      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .555    $ .552        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .186    $ .185        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 June    July    Aug.    Sep.                                           
                                                 2003    2003    2003    2003                                           
                                                                                Dec.   Mar.   June   Sep.   Mar.   Sep. 
                                                                                2002   2003   2003   2003   2003   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  179.5   179.7   180.4   180.9    1.4    6.2   -1.5    3.2    3.8    0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  179.6   179.7   180.2   180.8    2.1    2.7    2.7    2.7    2.4    2.7 
   Food ......................................  179.0   179.2   179.7   180.2    2.3    2.5    2.7    2.7    2.4    2.7 
    Food at home .............................  178.1   178.1   178.8   179.5    2.1    3.0    3.4    3.2    2.5    3.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  203.0   203.6   203.7   203.7   -1.2    9.6    1.0    1.4    4.1    1.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  167.2   168.1   169.0   170.2    3.3    6.8    5.7    7.4    5.0    6.5 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  163.5   164.4   167.0   170.2    2.7   -1.2   -7.5   17.4    0.7    4.2 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  227.1   227.8   227.0   225.5    4.1   -0.5   10.7   -2.8    1.7    3.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  140.3   138.2   138.8   139.0    0.3   -5.0    5.9   -3.7   -2.4    1.0 
     Other food at home ......................  162.8   161.9   162.3   162.8    2.3    2.0    2.0    0.0    2.1    1.0 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  162.4   161.8   162.0   162.0    1.8    4.1    1.7   -1.0    2.9    0.4 
      Fats and oils ..........................  156.8   155.9   157.3   157.2   -1.5    9.4   -2.5    1.0    3.8   -0.8 
      Other foods ............................  180.1   179.1   179.3   180.2    3.4   -0.2    3.2    0.2    1.6    1.7 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  112.1   111.6   110.1   111.3    2.2   -0.7    5.9   -2.8    0.7    1.5 
    Food away from home (1)...................  181.7   182.1   182.4   182.7    2.3    2.2    1.6    2.2    2.2    1.9 
     Other food away from home (2)............  121.8   121.5   121.5   121.4    4.5    3.0    3.0   -1.3    3.7    0.8 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  186.8   186.8   186.9   187.9    3.1    3.9    0.0    2.4    3.5    1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  180.4   180.7   181.0   181.1    2.7    5.0    1.1    1.6    3.9    1.3 
   Shelter ...................................  206.5   207.0   207.4   207.7    3.0    1.6    2.2    2.3    2.3    2.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  204.6   205.0   205.5   205.8    3.2    3.0    2.8    2.4    3.1    2.6 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  119.7   120.6   120.5   120.4    1.7   -8.8   12.6    2.4   -3.7    7.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  199.2   199.6   200.1   200.4    2.9    2.0    0.8    2.4    2.5    1.6 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  115.0   115.4   115.7   115.8    8.2    5.5    4.3    2.8    6.8    3.5 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  155.8   155.5   155.6   155.9    3.7   35.5   -0.5    0.3   18.5   -0.1 
    Fuels ....................................  139.2   138.7   138.6   138.9    3.5   43.3   -1.1   -0.9   21.8   -1.0 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................  133.9   135.3   136.3   134.4   14.5  202.4  -53.6    1.5   86.1  -31.3 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  146.8   146.2   146.1   146.5    3.0   37.7    2.8   -0.8   19.1    1.0 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  116.7   117.3   118.0   118.4    3.6    3.9    3.1    6.0    3.7    4.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  121.8   121.6   121.4   120.8   -1.0   -1.9   -3.2   -3.2   -1.4   -3.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  122.7   122.7   122.9   123.4    2.0    5.7    0.7    2.3    3.9    1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  119.7   119.1   119.5   120.3   -2.6   -5.5   -2.0    2.0   -4.0    0.0 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  116.3   116.0   115.4   117.2   -3.9    2.0  -11.8    3.1   -1.0   -4.6 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  112.3   111.3   112.3   112.4   -2.8   -7.8    2.5    0.4   -5.3    1.4 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............  124.4   123.2   125.2   126.8   -4.6   -9.1    0.6    7.9   -6.9    4.2 
   Footwear ..................................  118.9   118.4   118.5   119.4    0.3   -5.8   -1.7    1.7   -2.8    0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  155.6   155.7   157.4   158.7   -0.8   19.9  -11.4    8.2    9.1   -2.1 
   Private transportation ....................  152.7   152.8   154.6   155.9   -1.1   21.2  -12.5    8.6    9.5   -2.5 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   97.1    96.5    96.1    94.7   -4.7    0.0   -4.0   -9.5   -2.4   -6.8 
     New vehicles ............................  138.6   138.4   139.2   138.8   -0.3   -3.1   -3.4    0.6   -1.7   -1.4 
     Used cars and trucks ....................  148.3   146.2   143.9   139.3  -10.1    4.9   -5.7  -22.2   -2.9  -14.3 
    Motor fuel ...............................  129.4   131.1   139.1   147.8   -0.3  119.7  -43.0   70.2   48.0   -1.5 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  128.7   130.5   138.6   147.2    0.0  118.6  -43.0   71.1   47.8   -1.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  107.1   107.0   107.3   107.2   -1.5    3.4   -0.4    0.4    0.9    0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  197.0   198.0   197.5   197.9    4.9    1.4    2.5    1.8    3.1    2.2 
   Public transportation .....................  208.9   209.7   208.2   207.6    2.0   -1.2   15.3   -2.5    0.4    6.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  295.3   296.6   297.1   298.5    6.6    1.7    3.5    4.4    4.1    3.9 
   Medical care commodities ..................  256.1   257.7   258.3   259.4    3.0    2.5    0.0    5.3    2.8    2.6 
   Medical care services .....................  305.1   306.3   306.7   308.2    7.5    1.5    4.4    4.1    4.5    4.3 
    Professional services (3).................  263.3   263.8   263.9   264.7    4.9    0.8    3.9    2.1    2.8    3.0 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  388.9   391.7   393.4   396.1   12.8    3.9    5.1    7.6    8.3    6.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  105.4   105.6   105.6   105.6    1.9    1.1    0.4    0.8    1.5    0.6 
   Video and audio (2)........................  102.7   102.9   102.8   103.0    5.2   -1.5    0.4    1.2    1.8    0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  108.3   108.8   109.2   109.1    0.4    1.5   -2.5    3.0    0.9    0.2 
   Education (2)..............................  133.0   133.8   135.6   136.1    4.5    6.0    5.9    9.7    5.2    7.8 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  336.8   338.3   341.0   337.6    5.2    8.7    4.6    1.0    6.9    2.8 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   374.8   377.2   382.5   384.2    4.4    5.8    6.0   10.4    5.1    8.2 
   Communication (2)..........................   90.7    90.9    90.5    90.2   -2.9   -1.7   -8.7   -2.2   -2.3   -5.5 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   89.3    89.6    89.1    88.8   -3.0   -1.7   -9.7   -2.2   -2.4   -6.0 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   97.7    98.3    98.0    97.6   -0.8   -0.8   -8.5   -0.4   -0.8   -4.6 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   16.8    16.5    16.3    16.1  -14.3   -8.7  -13.1  -15.7  -11.5  -14.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   17.2    16.9    16.3    16.0  -25.9  -13.7  -26.9  -25.1  -20.0  -26.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  306.0   307.5   308.0   307.9   -3.5    0.7    0.5    2.5   -1.4    1.5 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  464.8   470.5   473.2   469.9  -11.1   -4.3   -3.6    4.5   -7.7    0.3 
   Personal care (1)..........................  177.2   177.5   177.4   177.9    0.7    3.2    2.5    1.6    2.0    2.1 
    Personal care products (1)................  154.4   154.8   154.3   154.0   -2.6   -1.0    1.6   -1.0   -1.8    0.3 
    Personal care services (1)................  193.5   193.9   194.6   196.1    1.5    3.6    2.3    5.5    2.5    3.9 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  283.9   284.0   284.4   285.5    3.7    4.1    4.9    2.3    3.9    3.6 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  151.2   151.3   152.2   152.8   -1.3    8.8   -6.6    4.3    3.6   -1.3 
  Food and beverages .........................  179.6   179.7   180.2   180.8    2.1    2.7    2.7    2.7    2.4    2.7 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  135.1   135.1   136.2   136.8   -3.5   12.4  -11.5    5.1    4.1   -3.6 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  147.4   149.0   152.8   154.4    7.8   19.9  -23.7   20.4   13.7   -4.1 
    Apparel ..................................  119.7   119.1   119.5   120.3   -2.6   -5.5   -2.0    2.0   -4.0    0.0 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  171.7   173.1   178.3   181.0   -0.9   41.9  -24.0   23.5   18.6   -3.1 
   Durables ..................................  118.4   117.8   117.2   115.9   -4.9   -0.3   -4.6   -8.2   -2.6   -6.4 
 Services ....................................  212.6   213.1   213.4   213.9    3.5    4.3    2.7    2.5    3.9    2.6 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  198.7   199.3   199.6   200.1    2.9    1.8    1.6    2.8    2.4    2.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  115.0   115.4   115.7   115.8    8.2    5.5    4.3    2.8    6.8    3.5 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  146.8   146.2   146.1   146.5    3.0   37.7    2.8   -0.8   19.1    1.0 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  116.7   117.3   118.0   118.4    3.6    3.9    3.1    6.0    3.7    4.5 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  122.7   122.7   122.9   123.4    2.0    5.7    0.7    2.3    3.9    1.5 
  Transportation services ....................  216.8   217.4   217.1   217.5    4.5    3.1    6.5    1.3    3.8    3.9 
  Medical care services ......................  305.1   306.3   306.7   308.2    7.5    1.5    4.4    4.1    4.5    4.3 
  Other services .............................  247.7   248.5   249.3   250.0    2.8    3.1    1.0    3.8    3.0    2.4 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  179.4   179.7   180.3   180.9    1.1    6.9   -2.4    3.4    4.0    0.4 
 All items less shelter ......................  171.6   171.7   172.4   173.1    0.7    8.3   -3.0    3.5    4.4    0.2 
 All items less medical care .................  174.4   174.6   175.3   175.8    1.2    6.4   -1.8    3.2    3.8    0.7 
 Commodities less food .......................  137.0   137.0   138.0   138.7   -3.1   12.2  -11.1    5.1    4.2   -3.4 
 Nondurables less food .......................  149.6   151.3   155.0   156.5    7.4   19.3  -23.0   19.8   13.2   -4.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  172.1   173.7   177.3   180.7    0.5   37.7  -22.8   21.5   17.6   -3.1 
 Nondurables .................................  163.8   164.7   167.1   167.9    4.8   10.9  -10.9   10.4    7.8   -0.8 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  201.6   201.8   202.3   203.1    3.7    7.1    3.4    3.0    5.4    3.2 
 Services less medical care services .........  205.2   205.6   206.0   206.6    3.0    4.4    2.4    2.8    3.7    2.6 
 Energy ......................................  133.6   134.2   138.2   142.7    1.6   78.6  -25.3   30.2   34.7   -1.4 
 All items less energy .......................  186.0   186.2   186.4   186.5    1.3    1.3    1.1    1.1    1.3    1.1 
  All items less food and energy .............  187.9   188.1   188.2   188.2    1.3    0.9    0.9    0.6    1.1    0.7 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  141.5   141.2   141.0   140.2   -3.3   -1.4   -3.3   -3.6   -2.3   -3.5 
    Energy commodities .......................  130.1   131.8   139.6   147.7    0.3  123.8  -43.7   66.1   49.8   -3.3 
   Services less energy services .............  219.8   220.5   220.9   221.3    3.6    2.2    2.4    2.8    2.9    2.6 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Sep. 2003 from--      Aug. 2003 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   June   July   Aug.   Sep.                                           
                                                 (1)   2003   2003   2003   2003   Sep.   July   Aug.   Aug.   June   July 
                                                                                   2002   2003   2003   2002   2003   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    179.6  179.6  180.3  181.0    2.3    0.8    0.4    2.1    0.4    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    189.2  190.0  190.7  191.9    3.1    1.0    0.6    2.7    0.8    0.4 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..............   M    190.0  190.8  191.8  193.0    3.4    1.2    0.6    2.9    0.9    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    113.9  114.5  114.5  115.1    2.3    0.5    0.5    2.2    0.5    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    173.7  173.3  174.1  174.6    1.7    0.8    0.3    1.6    0.2    0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..............   M    175.1  174.8  175.5  176.4    1.7    0.9    0.5    1.6    0.2    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    112.7  112.5  113.0  113.2    1.9    0.6    0.2    1.8    0.3    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    170.1  169.1  169.8  170.0    1.3    0.5    0.1    1.3   -0.2    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    174.3  174.3  174.8  175.3    2.1    0.6    0.3    2.0    0.3    0.3 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..............   M    176.2  176.2  177.0  177.5    2.7    0.7    0.3    2.5    0.5    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    112.0  111.9  112.1  112.4    1.7    0.4    0.3    1.7    0.1    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    174.8  174.6  175.5  175.9    1.7    0.7    0.2    1.6    0.4    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    183.3  183.4  184.2  185.0    2.4    0.9    0.4    2.2    0.5    0.4 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..............   M    184.5  184.3  185.3  186.1    2.4    1.0    0.4    2.2    0.4    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    114.1  114.6  114.8  115.3    2.3    0.6    0.4    2.0    0.6    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    166.3  166.3  167.2  168.0    2.6    1.0    0.5    2.3    0.5    0.5 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    112.8  112.9  113.1  113.5    2.0    0.5    0.4    1.9    0.3    0.2 
   D .........................................   M    174.9  174.4  175.3  175.6    1.6    0.7    0.2    1.6    0.2    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    178.0  177.8  178.3  179.8    2.3    1.1    0.8    1.6    0.2    0.3 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    179.6  179.6  180.5  181.9    3.2    1.3    0.8    2.8    0.5    0.5 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    191.9  192.8  194.1  195.0    3.4    1.1    0.5    3.2    1.1    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  202.2      -  206.2    4.3    2.0      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  167.0      -  169.5    2.3    1.5      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  175.9      -  176.7    2.2    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  116.2      -  116.9    2.8    0.6      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    178.7      -  179.4      -      -      -      -    1.5    0.4      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    176.7      -  177.5      -      -      -      -    1.4    0.5      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    160.7      -  162.5      -      -      -      -    2.8    1.1      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    176.8      -  178.3      -      -      -      -    3.2    0.8      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    187.8      -  189.2      -      -      -      -    1.3    0.7      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    192.2      -  192.3      -      -      -      -    1.6    0.1      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    185.7      -  188.2      -      -      -      -    1.8    1.3      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA;
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 7. Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                    Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative       Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                               importance,       indexes         Sep. 2003 from-  
                    C-CPI-U                     December                                          
                                                1999-2000                                         
                                                              Aug.      Sep.      Sep.      Aug.  
                                                              2003      2003      2002      2003  
                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                  
             Expenditure category                                                                 
                                                                                                  
 All items ...................................    100.000     107.8     108.1       1.8       0.3 
  Food and beverages .........................     15.451     108.3     108.5       2.4       0.2 
   Food ......................................     14.432     108.3     108.4       2.3       0.1 
    Food at home .............................      8.335     107.3     107.5       2.6       0.2 
    Food away from home ......................      6.096     109.5     109.6       2.0       0.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.019     108.3     108.8       2.2       0.5 
  Housing ....................................     40.040     112.1     111.9       2.2      -0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     30.643     113.4     113.1       2.2      -0.3 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.376     123.3     123.6       8.2       0.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      5.020      96.0      95.7      -2.6      -0.3 
  Apparel ....................................      4.819      89.2      93.0      -2.4       4.3 
  Transportation .............................     17.770     105.9     106.4       2.8       0.5 
   Private transportation ....................     16.520     105.9     106.5       2.8       0.6 
   Public transportation .....................      1.250     105.9     104.6       1.9      -1.2 
  Medical care ...............................      5.563     116.7     117.1       3.8       0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.330     112.5     112.8       2.5       0.3 
   Medical care services .....................      4.233     118.1     118.4       4.1       0.3 
  Recreation .................................      6.124     103.1     103.0       0.7      -0.1 
  Education and communication ................      6.068      97.0      97.4      -1.3       0.4 
   Education .................................      2.546     125.1     127.3       7.0       1.8 
   Communication .............................      3.522      80.1      79.6      -6.9      -0.6 
  Other goods and services ...................      4.164     112.1     112.2       0.9       0.1 
                                                                                                  
          Commodity and service group                                                             
                                                                                                  
 Services ....................................     57.098     113.8     113.8       2.9       0.0 
 Commodities .................................     42.902     100.4     101.0       0.4       0.6 
  Durables ...................................     12.953      88.4      87.6      -4.8      -0.9 
 Nondurables .................................     29.949     105.9     107.3       2.8       1.3 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.851     106.3     106.4       0.7       0.1 
 Energy ......................................      6.717     125.2     128.8      14.6       2.9 

 Indexes for 2003 are initial estimates.  Indexes for 2002 are interim adjustments.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.