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                    CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  OCTOBER 1998
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2
 percent in October, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 164.0 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in October, the CPI-U has
 increased 1.5 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also rose 0.2 percent in October, prior to seasonal adjustment.
 The October 1998 CPI-W level of 160.6 was 1.3 percent higher than the
 index in October 1997.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
     
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in
 October, following no change in September.  The October advance reflects
 upturns in the indexes for food and for energy.  The food index, which was
 unchanged in September, rose 0.6 percent in October.  Prices for food at
 home increased 0.7 percent after declining 0.2 percent in September,
 primarily as a result of a sharp turnaround in prices for fruits and
 vegetables.  The energy index, which declined 1.3 percent in September,
 rose 0.9 percent in October.  The index for petroleum-based energy
 increased 2.4 percent, while the index for energy services fell 0.3
 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U increased 0.2 percent in
 October, the same as in each of the preceding three months.  Smaller
 increases in the indexes for shelter and for cigarettes largely were
 offset by upturns in the indexes for apparel, for household furnishings
 and operation, and for education and communication.
 
 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                      1998                3-mos. ended  ended
                     Apr.  May June July Aug. Sep. Oct.   Oct. `98  Oct. `98
                                                                    
 All Items            .2    .3   .1   .2   .2   .0   .2    1.7       1.5
  Food and beverages  .1    .5   .1   .2   .3   .0   .5    3.3       2.3
  Housing             .4    .3   .1   .2   .1   .2   .2    2.3       2.3
  Apparel            -.1    .4   .2  -.3  1.1  -.7   .1    1.5        .5
  Transportation     -.1    .1  -.3   .3   .0  -.4   .3    -.6      -2.2
  Medical care        .4    .3   .4   .2   .4   .3   .2    3.5       3.6
  Recreation          .0    .0   .1   .0   .1   .1  -.3    -.4       1.1
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .3    .3   .1   .0  -.5   .0   .2   -1.2       1.1
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         1.0    .7   .0   .7   .1   .9   .3    5.5       5.2
  Special Indexes                                                       
    Energy           -.1    .3  -.7   .0 -1.0 -1.3   .9   -5.4      -9.1
    Food              .1    .6   .1   .2   .2   .0   .6    3.3       2.4
    All Items less                                                       
      Food and energy .3    .2   .1   .2   .2   .2   .2    2.3       2.3
 
 
 Beginning with release of data for January 1999, the BLS will introduce a
 new formula for calculating the basic components of the CPI.  See page 4
 for more details.  See pages 5-9 for announcements of other methodological
 changes to be introduced with data for January 1999.
      
      During the first 10 months of 1998, the CPI-U rose at a 1.6-percent
 seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an increase of
 1.7 percent for all of 1997.  Energy costs, although increasing in
 October, have continued to act as a moderating influence on overall
 consumer price index movements thus far in 1998, decreasing at an 8.9-
 percent annual rate after declining 3.4 percent in all of 1997.  Food
 costs, which rose 1.5 percent in 1997, have risen at a 2.6-percent SAAR in
 the first 10 months of 1998.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U has
 advanced at a 2.4-percent rate thus far in 1998, compared with a 2.2
 percent rise for all of 1997.
      
      The food and beverages index rose 0.5 percent in October.  The index
 for food at home increased 0.7 percent, following a 0.2 percent decline in
 September.  The sharp turnaround in the index for fruits and vegetables--
 up 3.2 percent in October after declining 2.0 percent in September--
 accounted for about three-quarters of the acceleration in the food at home
 component.  In October, the indexes for fresh fruits and for fresh
 vegetables increased 2.8 and 5.7 percent, respectively.  The index for
 processed fruits and vegetables declined 0.3 percent. Upturns in the
 indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for cereal and bakery
 products also contributed to the acceleration in October.  Within the
 former group, meat prices c
 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,                      Oct. 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Sep.      Oct.                                            
                                                              1998      1998     Oct.     Sep.   July to Aug. to Sep. to
                                                                                 1997     1998     Aug.    Sep.    Oct. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     163.6     164.0      1.5      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     490.1     491.3        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     161.5     162.4      2.3      0.6     0.3     0.0     0.5 
   Food ......................................     15.326     161.1     162.0      2.4      0.6     0.2     0.0     0.6 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     161.2     162.5      2.2      0.8     0.3    -0.2     0.7 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.536     181.9     182.2      2.1      0.2     0.5     0.0     0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.629     147.5     148.0     -0.6      0.3     0.3    -0.7     0.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.037     152.9     155.0      6.4      1.4     1.6     1.6     1.4 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.394     193.5     199.5      5.8      3.1    -0.4    -2.0     3.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.077     132.2     132.6     -2.9      0.3    -0.7     0.0     0.4 
     Other food at home ......................      1.972     152.2     152.7      2.5      0.3     0.7     0.3     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     150.8     150.5      1.6     -0.2     0.6     0.3    -0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .291     152.4     156.8     10.7      2.9     2.0     1.9     2.6 
      Other foods ............................      1.305     166.3     166.0      2.2     -0.2     0.5    -0.1    -0.4 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .309     103.6     103.5        -     -0.1     0.9     0.1    -0.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.680     162.1     162.3      2.6      0.1     0.2     0.4     0.1 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .172     102.7     102.7        -      0.0     0.7     0.4     0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .983     166.3     166.6      1.8      0.2     0.0     0.4     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.560     161.5     161.4      2.3     -0.1     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     29.788     183.4     183.9      3.4      0.3     0.3     0.5     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................      6.885     173.4     173.9      3.4      0.3     0.3     0.3     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.327     109.8     109.5        -     -0.3     0.7     2.8    -0.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     20.199     189.2     189.8      3.4      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .377      99.2      99.7        -      0.5    -0.1     0.0     0.5 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.942     130.0     127.1     -2.8     -2.2    -0.4    -0.6    -0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      4.018     115.2     112.0     -4.6     -2.8    -0.4    -0.8    -0.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .261      85.9      86.4     -9.3      0.6    -0.7    -1.7    -0.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.757     123.3     119.6     -4.4     -3.0    -0.4    -0.8    -0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.831     126.5     126.6      1.0      0.1    -0.2    -0.3     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.944     133.6     135.6      0.5      1.5     1.1    -0.7     0.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.390     131.1     134.1      0.8      2.3     0.3    -1.3     1.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.990     127.8     128.8      0.4      0.8     1.9    -0.5    -1.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .268     124.9     130.2      3.2      4.2     2.0     0.4     4.2 
   Footwear ..................................       .895     128.6     130.3     -0.2      1.3     0.7    -0.4    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.578     140.7     141.3     -2.2      0.4     0.0    -0.4     0.3 
   Private transportation ....................     16.240     137.0     137.7     -2.3      0.5    -0.2    -0.3     0.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.899      99.8     100.1      0.5      0.3     0.2     0.1    -0.1 
     New vehicles ............................      5.063     142.3     142.5     -0.6      0.1     0.3    -0.1    -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.880     151.9     153.0      3.4      0.7    -0.1     0.5     0.7 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.995      90.0      90.8    -14.9      0.9    -1.6    -2.0     2.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.976      89.5      90.3    -15.2      0.9    -1.5    -2.0     2.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .560     101.2     101.4      0.0      0.2     0.0     0.0     0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.603     168.3     169.0      3.1      0.4     0.2     0.5     0.4 
   Public transportation .....................      1.338     190.2     189.9     -0.5     -0.2     2.2    -1.6    -1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.614     243.9     244.3      3.6      0.2     0.4     0.3     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.222     224.0     224.2      4.0      0.1     0.6     0.6     0.1 
   Medical care services .....................      4.392     248.4     249.0      3.5      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
    Professional services ....................      2.808     223.7     224.2      3.4      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.334     289.2     290.2      3.6      0.3     0.3     0.0     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.145     101.3     101.1      1.1     -0.2     0.1     0.1    -0.3 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.763     101.4     101.1      1.2     -0.3     0.1     0.2    -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.528     100.9     101.0      1.1      0.1    -0.5     0.0     0.2 
   Education (2)..............................      2.615     104.3     104.5      4.6      0.2     0.4     0.0     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .194     253.7     257.0      6.0      1.3    -0.3     1.2     1.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.421     300.9     301.2      4.5      0.1     0.4    -0.1     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.913      97.9      97.8     -2.2     -0.1    -1.2     0.0    -0.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.706      97.7      97.6     -2.4     -0.1    -1.3     0.0    -0.1 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.357     100.7     100.7        -      0.0    -1.1     0.3     0.0 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .350      36.7      36.1    -26.2     -1.6    -3.8    -2.4    -1.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .234      68.5      67.5        -     -1.5    -5.5    -3.7    -1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.321     240.4     241.3      5.2      0.4     0.1     0.9     0.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       .894     283.5     284.9     13.9      0.5     0.1     3.3     0.3 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.427     157.5     158.1      3.1      0.4     0.1     0.3     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     149.1     149.4      3.4      0.2    -0.4     0.4     0.2 
    Personal care services (1)................       .963     167.1     167.5      2.5      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.465     236.2     236.9      3.5      0.3     0.4     0.3     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.635     141.8     142.6      0.1      0.6     0.1    -0.1     0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     161.5     162.4      2.3      0.6     0.3     0.0     0.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     26.326     130.2     130.8     -1.3      0.5     0.0    -0.2     0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.729     132.6     133.6     -1.6      0.8    -0.1    -0.3     0.6 
    Apparel ..................................      4.944     133.6     135.6      0.5      1.5     1.1    -0.7     0.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.785     137.1     137.6     -2.6      0.4    -0.4    -0.2     0.6 
   Durables ..................................     11.596     126.8     126.9     -0.7      0.1     0.0    -0.3    -0.2 
 Services ....................................     57.365     185.5     185.5      2.5      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     29.410     191.0     191.5      3.5      0.3     0.4     0.5     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.984     187.3     188.2      0.7      0.5     0.4    -0.3    -0.2 
  Other services .............................     10.625     219.0     219.0      3.0      0.0     0.1     0.2     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.674     164.1     164.4      1.4      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.212     157.6     157.9      0.6      0.2     0.1    -0.1     0.3 
 All items less medical care .................     94.386     159.2     159.5      1.3      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................     27.309     131.6     132.3     -1.1      0.5     0.0    -0.3     0.3 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.712     134.6     135.6     -1.3      0.7    -0.1    -0.3     0.5 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.768     138.9     139.5     -2.1      0.4    -0.3    -0.1     0.6 
 Nondurables .................................     31.039     147.1     148.1      0.5      0.7     0.0     0.0     0.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     27.955     193.0     192.6      1.5     -0.2     0.0     0.0     0.0 
 Services less medical care services .........     52.973     179.6     179.7      2.4      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 Energy ......................................      7.013     102.7     101.3     -9.1     -1.4    -1.0    -1.3     0.9 
 All items less energy .......................     92.987     171.6     172.2      2.3      0.3     0.2     0.1     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     77.661     174.2     174.7      2.3      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.053     143.2     143.8      0.8      0.4     0.2    -0.1     0.0 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.256      89.8      90.5    -14.4      0.8    -1.4    -2.1     2.4 
   Services less energy services .............     53.608     191.8     192.3      3.0      0.3     0.3     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .611    $ .610        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .204    $ .204        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 July    Aug.    Sep.    Oct.                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Jan.   Apr.   July   Oct.   Apr.   Oct. 
                                                                                1998   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  163.3   163.6   163.6   164.0    0.7    1.2    2.2    1.7    1.0    2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  161.2   161.7   161.7   162.5    2.0    0.3    3.6    3.3    1.1    3.4 
   Food ......................................  161.0   161.4   161.4   162.3    1.8    0.3    3.8    3.3    1.0    3.5 
    Food at home .............................  161.3   161.8   161.4   162.6    1.5   -1.2    4.9    3.3    0.1    4.1 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  181.2   182.1   182.1   182.4    0.9    1.6    3.4    2.7    1.2    3.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  147.6   148.1   147.1   147.4   -3.2   -2.2    3.0   -0.5   -2.7    1.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  148.2   150.5   152.9   155.0    7.3    0.5   -0.8   19.7    3.9    8.9 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  202.0   201.1   197.0   203.3   11.8   -6.4   19.3    2.6    2.3   10.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  133.0   132.1   132.1   132.6   -7.1   -2.7   -0.3   -1.2   -4.9   -0.7 
     Other food at home ......................  150.9   152.0   152.5   152.7   -0.5    1.6    4.4    4.9    0.5    4.6 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  149.3   150.2   150.7   150.5    4.9   -1.1   -0.8    3.3    1.9    1.2 
      Fats and oils ..........................  147.0   149.9   152.7   156.6   -4.4    0.9   20.5   28.8   -1.8   24.6 
      Other foods ............................  165.7   166.5   166.4   165.8    3.0    2.7    2.5    0.2    2.9    1.3 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  102.6   103.5   103.6   103.5      -    5.3    3.6    3.6      -    3.6 
    Food away from home (1)...................  161.1   161.5   162.1   162.3    2.6    2.5    2.3    3.0    2.5    2.6 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  101.6   102.3   102.7   102.7      -    2.0    4.0    4.4      -    4.2 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  165.8   165.8   166.5   166.7    2.7   -0.5    2.7    2.2    1.1    2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  160.4   160.6   161.0   161.3    1.8    2.8    2.3    2.3    2.3    2.3 
   Shelter ...................................  181.9   182.4   183.3   183.7    3.2    3.6    2.9    4.0    3.4    3.5 
    Rent of primary residence ................  172.2   172.8   173.4   173.9    3.1    2.9    3.6    4.0    3.0    3.8 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  100.7   101.4   104.2   103.9      -    5.3   -1.6   13.3      -    5.6 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  188.1   188.5   189.0   189.6    3.3    3.7    3.3    3.2    3.5    3.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..   99.3    99.2    99.2    99.7      -    0.4   -4.3    1.6      -   -1.4 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  128.3   127.8   127.0   126.8   -5.7   -1.2   -1.2   -4.6   -3.5   -2.9 
    Fuels ....................................  112.9   112.4   111.5   111.1   -8.3   -2.4   -2.1   -6.2   -5.4   -4.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   90.3    89.7    88.2    87.5   -9.2   -9.8   -6.0  -11.8   -9.5   -9.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  120.6   120.1   119.1   118.8   -8.1   -2.3   -1.6   -5.8   -5.2   -3.8 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  127.0   126.8   126.4   126.6    1.3    3.2    1.0   -1.3    2.2   -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  132.8   134.2   133.2   133.3   -1.2   -0.3    1.2    1.5   -0.8    1.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.9   132.3   130.6   132.2    2.5    0.0   -0.3    0.9    1.2    0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  126.0   128.4   127.7   125.8   -3.8    2.9    2.3   -0.6   -0.5    0.8 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  122.0   124.4   124.9   130.2   -4.4    5.9  -13.8   29.7    0.6    5.8 
   Footwear ..................................  128.5   129.4   128.9   128.6   -0.3   -9.0    8.9    0.3   -4.8    4.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  141.7   141.7   141.1   141.5   -4.6   -4.1    0.6   -0.6   -4.4    0.0 
   Private transportation ....................  138.2   137.9   137.5   138.1   -5.0   -4.8    0.9   -0.3   -4.9    0.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.5   100.7   100.8   100.7      -    0.4    1.2    0.8      -    1.0 
     New vehicles ............................  143.4   143.9   143.7   143.2   -1.1    0.3   -0.8   -0.6   -0.4   -0.7 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  151.3   151.1   151.9   153.0    0.5    0.3    8.6    4.6    0.4    6.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................   92.1    90.6    88.8    91.1  -24.6  -26.9   -0.4   -4.3  -25.8   -2.4 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   91.3    89.9    88.1    90.5  -25.3  -27.6   -1.3   -3.5  -26.4   -2.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  101.3   101.3   101.3   101.5   -2.0   -1.6    2.8    0.8   -1.8    1.8 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  167.0   167.3   168.1   168.7    3.5    1.7    3.2    4.1    2.6    3.7 
   Public transportation .....................  190.1   194.2   191.0   188.6   -1.7    6.3   -3.3   -3.1    2.2   -3.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  242.8   243.7   244.4   244.9    3.3    4.1    3.7    3.5    3.7    3.6 
   Medical care commodities ..................  221.7   223.1   224.5   224.7    3.6    3.5    3.7    5.5    3.6    4.6 
   Medical care services .....................  247.4   248.2   248.6   249.2    3.0    4.4    3.6    2.9    3.7    3.3 
    Professional services ....................  222.6   223.3   224.0   224.4    3.0    3.9    3.3    3.3    3.4    3.3 
    Hospital and related services ............  288.5   289.5   289.5   290.5    3.0    4.3    4.1    2.8    3.7    3.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.1   101.2   101.3   101.0      -    2.8    0.4   -0.4      -    0.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.1   101.2   101.4   101.1    2.8    3.2   -1.2    0.0    3.0   -0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.9   100.4   100.4   100.6      -    2.0    1.6   -1.2      -    0.2 
   Education (2)..............................  102.9   103.3   103.3   103.8      -    5.7    4.4    3.5      -    4.0 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  250.8   250.1   253.2   256.8    1.8    8.7    4.1    9.9    5.2    7.0 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   295.3   296.4   296.1   297.4    5.3    5.5    4.6    2.9    5.4    3.7 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.1    97.9    97.9    97.8   -1.6   -1.2   -0.8   -5.1   -1.4   -3.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.0    97.7    97.7    97.6   -1.6   -1.6   -0.8   -5.5   -1.6   -3.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  101.5   100.4   100.7   100.7      -    2.4    4.0   -3.1      -    0.4 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   39.1    37.6    36.7    36.1  -20.3  -26.3  -30.3  -27.3  -23.4  -28.9 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   75.2    71.1    68.5    67.5      -  -36.2  -43.1  -35.1      -  -39.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  238.5   238.7   240.9   241.7    5.0    6.4    5.4    5.5    5.7    5.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  273.8   274.2   283.2   284.0    7.1   17.1   15.7   15.8   12.0   15.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................  157.0   157.1   157.5   158.1    3.4    3.4    2.9    2.8    3.4    2.8 
    Personal care products (1)................  149.1   148.5   149.1   149.4    4.5    3.3    5.0    0.8    3.9    2.9 
    Personal care services (1)................  166.1   166.6   167.1   167.5    2.2    2.2    2.2    3.4    2.2    2.8 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  234.8   235.7   236.5   237.3    4.1    2.1    3.5    4.3    3.1    3.9 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.1   142.2   142.0   142.5   -1.1   -1.4    2.0    1.1   -1.3    1.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  161.2   161.7   161.7   162.5    2.0    0.3    3.6    3.3    1.1    3.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.7   130.7   130.4   130.7   -3.0   -2.4    0.6    0.0   -2.7    0.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.7   132.6   132.2   133.0   -5.8   -3.8    2.8    0.9   -4.8    1.8 
    Apparel ..................................  132.8   134.2   133.2   133.3   -1.2   -0.3    1.2    1.5   -0.8    1.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  137.6   137.1   136.8   137.6   -7.7   -6.2    3.9    0.0   -7.0    1.9 
   Durables ..................................  127.8   127.8   127.4   127.2   -0.3   -0.9    0.3   -1.9   -0.6   -0.8 
 Services ....................................  184.4   184.8   185.2   185.5    2.0    3.3    2.2    2.4    2.7    2.3 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  189.5   190.3   191.2   191.5    3.3    3.5    2.8    4.3    3.4    3.5 
  Transportation services ....................  187.8   188.6   188.0   187.7    1.3    2.2   -0.6   -0.2    1.7   -0.4 
  Other services .............................  217.8   218.1   218.6   218.8    3.0    4.0    3.2    1.8    3.5    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  163.6   163.8   163.9   164.2    0.5    1.5    2.0    1.5    1.0    1.7 
 All items less shelter ......................  157.5   157.6   157.4   157.8   -0.3    0.3    1.8    0.8    0.0    1.3 
 All items less medical care .................  158.6   158.9   158.9   159.3    0.5    1.0    2.0    1.8    0.8    1.9 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.3   132.3   131.9   132.3   -2.7   -2.4    0.9    0.0   -2.5    0.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.8   134.6   134.2   134.9   -4.9   -3.8    3.0    0.3   -4.3    1.7 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  139.3   138.9   138.7   139.5   -6.6   -5.9    3.5    0.6   -6.2    2.0 
 Nondurables .................................  147.0   147.0   147.0   147.8   -0.5   -2.4    3.1    2.2   -1.5    2.6 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  192.4   192.4   192.4   192.4    0.6    2.8    2.5    0.0    1.7    1.3 
 Services less medical care services .........  178.7   178.9   179.3   179.5    2.1    3.0    2.5    1.8    2.5    2.2 
 Energy ......................................  102.5   101.5   100.2   101.1  -15.5  -13.5   -1.5   -5.4  -14.5   -3.5 
 All items less energy .......................  171.3   171.7   171.9   172.3    1.9    2.4    2.6    2.4    2.1    2.5 
  All items less food and energy .............  173.8   174.2   174.5   174.8    2.1    2.8    2.1    2.3    2.5    2.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.4   143.7   143.6   143.6    0.6    1.1    1.1    0.6    0.8    0.8 
    Energy commodities .......................   91.8    90.5    88.6    90.7  -23.0  -25.7   -1.3   -4.7  -24.4   -3.0 
   Services less energy services .............  190.9   191.4   191.9   192.3    2.8    3.7    2.6    3.0    3.2    2.8 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Oct.1998 from--      Sep.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   July   Aug.   Sep.   Oct.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998   Oct.   Aug.   Sep.   Sep.   July   Aug. 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    163.2  163.4  163.6  164.0    1.5    0.4    0.2    1.5    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    169.9  170.5  170.6  171.3    1.5    0.5    0.4    1.3    0.4    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    170.7  171.4  171.7  172.3    1.7    0.5    0.3    1.5    0.6    0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    102.0  102.2  102.2  102.6    1.2    0.4    0.4    0.9    0.2    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    159.8  159.5  159.9  160.1    1.5    0.4    0.1    1.5    0.1    0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    161.2  161.0  161.4  161.4    1.9    0.2    0.0    2.0    0.1    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.2  102.0  102.2  102.4    1.1    0.4    0.2    1.0    0.0    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    153.5  153.3  154.0  154.3    0.7    0.7    0.2    0.4    0.3    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    159.3  159.5  159.5  159.8    1.3    0.2    0.2    1.3    0.1    0.0 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    158.5  158.9  158.8  159.0    1.5    0.1    0.1    1.5    0.2   -0.1 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.4  102.5  102.5  102.8    1.0    0.3    0.3    1.0    0.1    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.0  160.2  160.1  159.8    1.8   -0.2   -0.2    1.9    0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    164.3  164.8  165.1  165.5    1.7    0.4    0.2    1.9    0.5    0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    165.1  165.6  165.9  166.3    2.0    0.4    0.2    2.2    0.5    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.3  102.5  102.7  103.0    0.9    0.5    0.3    0.9    0.4    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    147.7  148.1  148.2  148.5    1.7    0.3    0.2    1.8    0.3    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.3  102.4  102.4  102.7    1.0    0.3    0.3    1.0    0.1    0.0 
   D .........................................   M    159.3  159.4  159.7  159.7    1.3    0.2    0.0    1.5    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    166.5  165.4  165.3  165.7    2.0    0.2    0.2    2.0   -0.7   -0.1 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    162.1  162.6  162.6  163.2    1.3    0.4    0.4    1.3    0.3    0.0 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    173.6  174.2  174.4  174.8    1.5    0.3    0.2    1.6    0.5    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    170.7      -  172.1      -      -      -      -    2.6    0.8      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    159.9      -  161.5      -      -      -      -    2.7    1.0      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    154.2      -  154.5      -      -      -      -      -    0.2      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1    102.8      -  102.9      -      -      -      -    1.5    0.1      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  161.9      -  162.0      -    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  160.5      -  161.0    2.0    0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  147.4      -  148.5    0.8    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  160.8      -  161.1      -    0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  168.6      -  170.3    1.6    1.0      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  166.6      -  167.2    2.9    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  168.5      -  169.3      -    0.5      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Oct. 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Sep.      Oct.                                            
                                                              1998      1998     Oct.     Sep.   July to Aug. to Sep. to
                                                                                 1997     1998     Aug.    Sep.    Oct. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     160.2     160.6      1.3      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.3 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     477.2     478.4        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     160.8     161.6      2.2      0.5     0.2     0.0     0.5 
   Food ......................................     16.861     160.4     161.3      2.3      0.6     0.3    -0.1     0.5 
    Food at home .............................     10.785     160.2     161.3      2.1      0.7     0.3    -0.2     0.7 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.678     181.8     181.9      2.2      0.1     0.5     0.1     0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.125     147.1     147.5     -0.7      0.3     0.3    -0.7     0.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.135     152.6     154.6      6.3      1.3     1.6     1.7     1.3 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.447     192.5     198.4      5.7      3.1    -0.6    -2.0     3.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.215     130.9     131.3     -2.9      0.3    -0.7    -0.1     0.3 
     Other food at home ......................      2.185     151.7     151.9      2.4      0.1     0.7     0.2     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     150.6     150.2      1.5     -0.3     0.7     0.1    -0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .332     151.9     156.1     10.4      2.8     1.9     1.7     2.6 
      Other foods ............................      1.432     166.3     165.7      2.1     -0.4     0.4    -0.1    -0.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .344     103.7     103.3        -     -0.4     0.7     0.2    -0.4 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.076     162.0     162.3      2.6      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .212     102.8     102.8        -      0.0     0.7     0.6     0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.042     165.1     165.4      1.6      0.2     0.0     0.3     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.450     157.8     157.6      2.1     -0.1     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     27.033     177.9     178.4      3.3      0.3     0.2     0.4     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................      8.347     173.0     173.5      3.3      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.346     109.8     109.7        -     -0.1     0.5     2.7     0.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     17.016     172.4     172.9      3.3      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .324      99.4     100.0        -      0.6     0.0     0.0     0.6 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      5.053     130.0     126.9     -2.8     -2.4    -0.5    -0.6    -0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      4.143     114.9     111.6     -4.5     -2.9    -0.6    -0.9    -0.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .229      86.2      86.9     -8.5      0.8    -0.8    -1.8    -0.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.914     122.9     119.1     -4.4     -3.1    -0.7    -0.8    -0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.365     124.9     124.9      0.8      0.0    -0.2    -0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.300     132.0     134.3      0.3      1.7     0.9    -0.5     0.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.503     130.7     134.1      1.3      2.6    -0.1    -1.0     1.7 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.985     125.5     126.9      0.1      1.1     1.9    -0.1    -1.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .337     125.8     131.0      2.6      4.1     1.9     0.6     4.1 
   Footwear ..................................      1.082     129.3     130.9     -0.7      1.2     0.9    -0.3    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.847     139.6     140.4     -2.2      0.6    -0.1    -0.4     0.4 
   Private transportation ....................     18.790     137.1     137.9     -2.3      0.6    -0.3    -0.3     0.5 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.285     100.1     100.4      0.7      0.3     0.2     0.0     0.0 
     New vehicles ............................      5.304     143.4     143.6     -0.8      0.1     0.3    -0.2    -0.4 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.162     153.2     154.2      3.2      0.7    -0.2     0.5     0.7 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.682      90.1      90.9    -14.7      0.9    -1.6    -2.1     2.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.658      89.6      90.4    -15.0      0.9    -1.6    -2.0     2.8 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .694     100.5     100.7      0.1      0.2    -0.1     0.0     0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.664     169.4     170.3      3.3      0.5     0.2     0.5     0.5 
   Public transportation .....................      1.057     186.5     186.3     -0.8     -0.1     1.8    -1.7    -1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.591     243.2     243.7      3.6      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .906     220.8     220.8      3.7      0.0     0.5     0.7    -0.1 
   Medical care services .....................      3.684     248.2     248.8      3.5      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
    Professional services ....................      2.372     225.3     225.8      3.5      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.3 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.097     285.3     286.4      3.6      0.4     0.4     0.0     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.969     101.0     100.8      0.7     -0.2     0.2     0.0    -0.3 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.968     101.3     101.0      1.1     -0.3     0.1     0.2    -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.396     101.1     101.1      1.2      0.0    -0.5     0.1     0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.402     104.3     104.5      4.7      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .192     255.9     259.4      6.0      1.4    -0.4     1.2     1.5 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.211     294.9     295.2      4.6      0.1     0.4     0.0     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.994      98.5      98.4     -1.5     -0.1    -1.2     0.1    -0.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.841      98.4      98.3     -1.6     -0.1    -1.2     0.1    -0.1 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.547     100.8     100.8        -      0.0    -1.0     0.3     0.0 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .294      38.2      37.4    -25.3     -2.1    -3.2    -1.8    -2.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191      69.0      67.5        -     -2.2    -4.3    -3.1    -2.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.544     239.4     240.4      6.3      0.4     0.2     1.3     0.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.300     283.7     285.2     14.1      0.5     0.3     3.4     0.2 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.244     157.7     158.3      3.3      0.4     0.1     0.3     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .832     150.1     150.4      3.4      0.2    -0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Personal care services (1)................       .964     167.4     167.8      2.6      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.226     236.0     236.6      3.9      0.3     0.5     0.6     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     47.234     141.7     142.4      0.1      0.5     0.1    -0.1     0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     160.8     161.6      2.2      0.5     0.2     0.0     0.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     29.331     130.3     131.0     -1.3      0.5    -0.1    -0.2     0.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.928     132.1     133.2     -1.8      0.8    -0.5    -0.2     0.8 
    Apparel ..................................      5.300     132.0     134.3      0.3      1.7     0.9    -0.5     0.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.628     136.6     137.3     -2.8      0.5    -0.4    -0.3     0.9 
   Durables ..................................     13.403     126.7     126.9     -0.3      0.2    -0.1    -0.2    -0.1 
 Services ....................................     52.766     182.2     182.3      2.4      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     26.708     171.3     171.8      3.4      0.3     0.2     0.5     0.3 
  Transportation services ....................      6.824     184.7     185.8      0.9      0.6     0.2    -0.3    -0.1 
  Other services .............................     10.006     215.7     215.7      3.0      0.0     0.0     0.3     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.139     160.0     160.4      1.1      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.967     155.3     155.7      0.6      0.3     0.1    -0.1     0.3 
 All items less medical care .................     95.409     156.3     156.8      1.2      0.3     0.1     0.0     0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................     30.373     131.7     132.4     -1.1      0.5    -0.1    -0.2     0.3 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.970     134.0     135.2     -1.5      0.9    -0.3    -0.2     0.7 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.670     138.4     139.0     -2.4      0.4    -0.2    -0.2     1.0 
 Nondurables .................................     33.831     146.7     147.7      0.3      0.7     0.0    -0.1     0.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     26.057     171.8     171.3      1.4     -0.3     0.1     0.1     0.0 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.082     176.6     176.6      2.3      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.1 
 Energy ......................................      7.825     101.8     100.5     -9.5     -1.3    -1.1    -1.4     1.0 
 All items less energy .......................     92.175     168.3     168.9      2.2      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     75.315     170.3     170.9      2.3      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.463     142.8     143.5      0.9      0.5     0.1     0.1     0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.910      90.0      90.8    -14.2      0.9    -1.6    -2.1     2.4 
   Services less energy services .............     48.852     188.8     189.3      2.9      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .624    $ .623        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .210    $ .209        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 July    Aug.    Sep.    Oct.                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Jan.   Apr.   July   Oct.   Apr.   Oct. 
                                                                                1998   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  159.9   160.0   160.1   160.6    0.5    0.8    2.3    1.8    0.6    2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  160.7   161.1   161.1   161.9    1.8    0.0    3.8    3.0    0.9    3.4 
   Food ......................................  160.3   160.8   160.7   161.5    2.0    0.0    3.8    3.0    1.0    3.4 
    Food at home .............................  160.3   160.8   160.4   161.5    1.3   -1.3    4.9    3.0    0.0    4.0 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  181.0   181.9   182.0   182.1    0.9    1.8    3.6    2.5    1.4    3.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  147.3   147.8   146.7   147.0   -2.9   -2.4    3.3   -0.8   -2.7    1.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  147.8   150.1   152.6   154.6    6.8    0.8   -1.1   19.7    3.7    8.8 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  201.6   200.4   196.4   202.9   12.7   -6.9   19.1    2.6    2.4   10.5 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  131.9   131.0   130.9   131.3   -7.2   -2.4    0.0   -1.8   -4.8   -0.9 
     Other food at home ......................  150.4   151.5   151.8   152.0   -0.3    1.4    4.9    4.3    0.5    4.6 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  149.3   150.3   150.4   150.2    5.2   -0.8   -0.8    2.4    2.2    0.8 
      Fats and oils ..........................  146.7   149.5   152.1   156.1   -3.9    0.0   20.6   28.2   -2.0   24.3 
      Other foods ............................  165.9   166.6   166.5   165.7    3.2    2.2    3.4   -0.5    2.7    1.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  102.8   103.5   103.7   103.3      -    4.9    4.4    2.0      -    3.2 
    Food away from home (1)...................  161.1   161.4   162.0   162.3    2.8    2.3    2.3    3.0    2.5    2.6 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  101.5   102.2   102.8   102.8      -    2.0    3.6    5.2      -    4.4 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  164.7   164.7   165.2   165.5    2.7   -0.7    2.5    2.0    1.0    2.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  156.8   156.9   157.2   157.5    1.3    2.9    2.3    1.8    2.1    2.1 
   Shelter ...................................  176.8   177.2   177.9   178.4    3.3    3.3    3.2    3.7    3.3    3.5 
    Rent of primary residence ................  172.0   172.4   173.0   173.5    3.1    2.6    4.1    3.5    2.9    3.8 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  100.8   101.3   104.0   104.3      -    6.1   -3.1   14.6      -    5.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  171.4   171.8   172.2   172.7    3.1    3.6    3.3    3.1    3.4    3.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..   99.4    99.4    99.4   100.0      -    0.4   -4.3    2.4      -   -1.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  128.1   127.4   126.6   126.4   -5.7   -0.9   -1.2   -5.2   -3.3   -3.2 
    Fuels ....................................  112.4   111.7   110.7   110.5   -8.7   -2.1   -1.8   -6.6   -5.4   -4.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   90.8    90.1    88.5    87.9   -8.8   -7.9   -5.1  -12.2   -8.4   -8.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  120.1   119.3   118.4   118.1   -8.7   -1.6   -1.6   -6.5   -5.3   -4.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  125.5   125.2   124.7   124.9    1.3    3.6    0.6   -1.9    2.4   -0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  131.0   132.2   131.6   132.1   -2.1   -1.8    0.9    3.4   -2.0    2.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.6   131.5   130.2   132.4    2.2    0.9   -0.3    2.5    1.5    1.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  123.4   125.7   125.6   124.1   -4.4   -0.3    1.6    2.3   -2.4    2.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  122.7   125.0   125.8   131.0   -7.3    5.2  -12.6   29.9   -1.2    6.6 
   Footwear ..................................  128.8   130.0   129.6   129.4   -0.9  -10.1    7.5    1.9   -5.6    4.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  140.7   140.5   139.9   140.5   -5.2   -4.2    0.9   -0.6   -4.7    0.1 
   Private transportation ....................  138.2   137.8   137.4   138.1   -5.5   -4.8    1.2   -0.3   -5.2    0.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.7   100.9   100.9   100.9      -    0.4    2.0    0.8      -    1.4 
     New vehicles ............................  144.6   145.1   144.8   144.2   -1.9    0.8   -1.1   -1.1   -0.5   -1.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  152.7   152.4   153.2   154.2    0.8   -0.5    8.8    4.0    0.1    6.4 
    Motor fuel ...............................   92.2    90.7    88.8    91.1  -24.9  -25.6   -0.9   -4.7  -25.3   -2.8 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   91.5    90.0    88.2    90.7  -25.3  -26.3   -1.7   -3.5  -25.8   -2.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.7   100.6   100.6   100.8   -0.8   -2.0    2.8    0.4   -1.4    1.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  168.1   168.5   169.3   170.2    3.2    1.9    3.2    5.1    2.6    4.1 
   Public transportation .....................  187.2   190.6   187.4   185.2   -2.1    5.7   -2.5   -4.2    1.7   -3.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  242.1   242.9   243.7   244.1    3.3    3.8    3.9    3.3    3.5    3.6 
   Medical care commodities ..................  218.7   219.9   221.5   221.3    3.2    3.0    3.9    4.8    3.1    4.4 
   Medical care services .....................  247.2   248.0   248.5   249.1    3.2    4.0    3.8    3.1    3.6    3.5 
    Professional services ....................  224.1   224.6   225.5   226.2    2.8    3.7    3.8    3.8    3.2    3.8 
    Hospital and related services ............  284.5   285.6   285.6   286.7    3.1    3.8    4.5    3.1    3.4    3.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  100.8   101.0   101.0   100.7      -    2.8   -0.8   -0.4      -   -0.6 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.0   101.1   101.3   101.0    2.4    3.6   -1.6    0.0    3.0   -0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  101.1   100.6   100.7   100.8      -    2.4    2.4   -1.2      -    0.6 
   Education (2)..............................  102.9   103.2   103.4   103.9      -    6.1    4.4    3.9      -    4.2 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  253.3   252.3   255.3   259.1    1.6    9.1    4.2    9.5    5.3    6.8 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   289.4   290.5   290.6   291.7    5.0    6.2    4.3    3.2    5.6    3.7 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.6    98.4    98.5    98.4   -0.8   -0.8    0.4   -4.7   -0.8   -2.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.5    98.3    98.4    98.3   -1.2   -0.4    0.0   -4.7   -0.8   -2.4 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  101.5   100.5   100.8   100.8      -    2.4    4.0   -2.7      -    0.6 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   40.2    38.9    38.2    37.4  -17.8  -26.9  -31.0  -25.1  -22.5  -28.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   74.4    71.2    69.0    67.5      -  -37.2  -44.0  -32.2      -  -38.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  236.3   236.7   239.7   240.4    5.4    7.7    6.2    7.1    6.6    6.6 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  273.7   274.5   283.7   284.3    7.3   18.2   14.8   16.4   12.6   15.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................  157.0   157.2   157.7   158.3    3.2    3.7    2.9    3.4    3.4    3.1 
    Personal care products (1)................  150.1   149.6   150.1   150.4    4.5    3.9    4.7    0.8    4.2    2.7 
    Personal care services (1)................  166.4   167.0   167.4   167.8    2.5    2.5    2.2    3.4    2.5    2.8 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  233.7   234.9   236.2   236.8    4.5    2.3    3.3    5.4    3.4    4.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  141.9   142.0   141.8   142.4   -1.4   -1.7    2.0    1.4   -1.5    1.7 
  Food and beverages .........................  160.7   161.1   161.1   161.9    1.8    0.0    3.8    3.0    0.9    3.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.7   130.6   130.3   130.7   -3.6   -2.7    1.2    0.0   -3.1    0.6 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.4   131.8   131.5   132.6   -6.1   -4.7    3.4    0.6   -5.4    2.0 
    Apparel ..................................  131.0   132.2   131.6   132.1   -2.1   -1.8    0.9    3.4   -2.0    2.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  137.1   136.5   136.1   137.3   -8.5   -6.2    3.6    0.6   -7.4    2.1 
   Durables ..................................  127.6   127.5   127.2   127.1   -0.3   -0.3    0.6   -1.6   -0.3   -0.5 
 Services ....................................  181.2   181.5   181.9   182.2    2.0    3.2    2.2    2.2    2.6    2.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  170.1   170.5   171.3   171.8    3.4    3.4    2.6    4.1    3.4    3.3 
  Transportation services ....................  185.6   186.0   185.5   185.4    1.8    2.0    0.0   -0.4    1.9   -0.2 
  Other services .............................  214.5   214.6   215.3   215.5    3.1    4.2    3.0    1.9    3.7    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  159.5   159.6   159.7   160.0    0.0    1.0    2.0    1.3    0.5    1.6 
 All items less shelter ......................  155.2   155.3   155.1   155.5   -0.5   -0.3    2.1    0.8   -0.4    1.4 
 All items less medical care .................  156.0   156.1   156.1   156.6    0.0    0.8    2.3    1.5    0.4    1.9 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.2   132.1   131.9   132.3   -3.2   -2.7    1.2    0.3   -3.0    0.8 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.2   133.8   133.5   134.5   -5.7   -4.1    2.7    0.9   -4.9    1.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  138.5   138.2   137.9   139.3   -8.4   -5.9    2.6    2.3   -7.2    2.5 
 Nondurables .................................  146.7   146.7   146.6   147.3   -0.8   -2.7    3.3    1.6   -1.8    2.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  171.1   171.2   171.3   171.3    0.5    2.4    2.4    0.5    1.4    1.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  175.7   176.0   176.3   176.4    1.9    2.6    2.8    1.6    2.2    2.2 
 Energy ......................................  101.8   100.7    99.3   100.3  -16.8  -13.6   -1.6   -5.8  -15.2   -3.7 
 All items less energy .......................  168.0   168.3   168.6   168.9    2.0    2.2    2.7    2.2    2.1    2.4 
  All items less food and energy .............  170.1   170.4   170.7   171.0    1.9    2.6    2.4    2.1    2.3    2.3 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.0   143.2   143.3   143.4    0.3    1.1    1.4    1.1    0.7    1.3 
    Energy commodities .......................   92.2    90.7    88.8    90.9  -23.9  -24.7   -0.9   -5.5  -24.3   -3.2 
   Services less energy services .............  188.2   188.6   189.1   189.5    2.9    3.5    2.6    2.8    3.2    2.7 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Oct.1998 from--      Sep.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   July   Aug.   Sep.   Oct.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998   Oct.   Aug.   Sep.   Sep.   July   Aug. 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    159.8  160.0  160.2  160.6    1.3    0.4    0.2    1.2    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    166.6  167.1  167.4  168.1    1.4    0.6    0.4    1.1    0.5    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    166.5  167.1  167.5  168.1    1.6    0.6    0.4    1.3    0.6    0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.5  101.7  101.8  102.2    1.0    0.5    0.4    0.7    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    155.9  155.6  156.0  156.2    1.4    0.4    0.1    1.4    0.1    0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    156.5  156.4  156.7  156.7    1.8    0.2    0.0    1.8    0.1    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.9  101.7  101.9  102.1    0.9    0.4    0.2    0.8    0.0    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    151.7  151.4  152.2  152.4    0.9    0.7    0.1    0.5    0.3    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    157.2  157.5  157.5  157.8    1.1    0.2    0.2    1.0    0.2    0.0 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    156.1  156.3  156.3  156.6    1.2    0.2    0.2    1.2    0.1    0.0 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    101.9  102.1  102.1  102.4    0.9    0.3    0.3    0.8    0.2    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.4  160.6  160.6  160.4    2.0   -0.1   -0.1    1.8    0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    160.3  160.7  160.9  161.5    1.4    0.5    0.4    1.5    0.4    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    159.3  159.7  160.0  160.5    1.6    0.5    0.3    1.8    0.4    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.1  102.3  102.5  102.8    0.7    0.5    0.3    0.7    0.4    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    146.2  146.4  146.6  147.0    1.6    0.4    0.3    1.5    0.3    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    101.9  101.9  102.0  102.4    0.9    0.5    0.4    0.7    0.1    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    158.3  158.3  158.7  158.9    1.4    0.4    0.1    1.3    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    160.6  159.6  159.6  160.0    2.0    0.3    0.3    2.0   -0.6    0.0 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    155.9  156.1  156.1  156.8    0.9    0.4    0.4    0.9    0.1    0.0 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    169.1  169.7  169.9  170.5    1.4    0.5    0.4    1.3    0.5    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    168.8      -  169.9      -      -      -      -    2.2    0.7      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    152.1      -  153.3      -      -      -      -    2.7    0.8      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    154.0      -  154.3      -      -      -      -      -    0.2      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1    102.5      -  102.7      -      -      -      -    1.3    0.2      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  159.1      -  159.2      -    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  155.1      -  155.7    2.2    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  146.1      -  146.9    0.4    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  158.0      -  158.6      -    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  167.9      -  169.3    1.5    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  162.7      -  163.4    2.4    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  163.8      -  164.9      -    0.7      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.