TEXT
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service
Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Selected areas, all items index
Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Selected areas, all items index

 
 
 
 
FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
    Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-96-225
CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
    INFORMATION:       (202) 606-7828      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      Wednesday, June 12, 1996
 
                    CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  MAY 1996
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
0.2 percent before seasonal adjustment in May to a level of 156.6 (1982-
84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in May, the CPI-U
increased 2.9 percent.
 
     The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPI-W) rose 0.3 percent in May, prior to seasonal adjustment.
The May 1996 CPI-W level of 154.0 was 2.9 percent higher than the index
in May 1995.
 
CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in May,
following increases of 0.4 percent in each of the 2 preceding months.
The energy index  registered its sixth consecutive increase--up 1.1
percent in May--after declining throughout most of 1995, and accounted
for about one-fourth of the May advance in the overall CPI-U.  The index
for petroleum-based energy increased 1.8 percent in May and the index
for energy services rose 0.1 percent.  The food index rose 0.1 percent
in May.  The index for fruits and vegetables, which rose sharply in
March and April, declined 0.8 percent in May, offsetting increases in
the other major grocery store food groups.  Excluding food and energy,
the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent after increasing 0.1 percent in April,
reflecting increases in the indexes for apparel and upkeep,
entertainment, telephone services, and tobacco products, each of which
had declined in April.
 
Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                  Seasonally adjusted                 Un-
                                                         Compound   adjusted
    Expenditure        Changes from preceding month     annual rate  12-mos.
     Category          1995             1996           3-mos. ended   ended
                    Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.  May    May '96    May '96
All Items            .1    .2   .4   .2  .4    .4   .3     4.5         2.9
 Food and beverages  .0    .1   .1   .1  .5    .3   .1     4.0         2.6
 Housing             .2    .3   .3   .2  .3    .3   .2     2.9         3.0
 Apparel and upkeep  .0    .1   .7  -.9  .6   -.4   .1     1.2          .2
 Transportation     -.4    .1   .7   .5  .7   1.1   .7    10.6         2.9
 Medical care        .3    .4   .4   .2  .3    .3   .3     3.4         3.7
 Entertainment       .4    .4   .3   .8  .1   -.1   .4     1.8         3.4
 Other goods
  and services       .4    .2   .2   .4  .4    .3   .4     4.6         4.5
Special Indexes:
 Energy             -.9   1.1  1.9   .4 1.4   3.2  1.1    25.4         6.2
 Food                .0    .1   .1   .1  .6    .3   .1     4.0         2.5
 All items less
  food and energy    .1    .1   .3   .2  .3    .1   .2     2.7         2.7
 
 
     During the first 5 months of 1996, the CPI-U rose at a 4.1 percent
seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with a 2.5
percent increase for all of 1995.  Energy costs, which declined last
year, have increased at a 21.0 percent rate, with petroleum-based energy
advancing at a 40.8 SAAR.  The food index has risen at a 2.9 percent
annual rate in the first 5 months.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U
advanced at a 3.0 percent annual rate in the first 5 months of 1996, the
same rate as the increase for all of 1995.
 
     The food and beverage index rose 0.1 percent in May.  The index for
grocery store foods, which increased 0.3 percent in April, was unchanged
in May.  A decline in the index for fruit and vegetable prices--down 0.8
percent--offset increases in the other major grocery store food groups.
The index for fresh fruits decreased 1.6 percent, and the index for
fresh vegetables declined 2.6 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
fresh fruit prices rose 0.8 percent, while fresh vegetable prices fell
9.2 percent.)  Partially offsetting these declines, the index for
processed fruits and vegetables rose 1.9 percent.  Among the other major
grocery store foods, the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for
dairy products rose 0.6 and 0.5 percent, respectively; the indexes for
other food at home and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs each increased
0.1 percent.  Within the latter group, the index for beef declined for
the sixth consecutive month--down 1.7 percent in May--and, coupled with
a 1.8 percent decline in the index for eggs, largely offset increases in
the indexes for pork, poultry, and for fish and seafood.  The other two
components of the food and beverage index--restaurant meals and
alcoholic beverages--each increased 0.3 percent in May.
 
     The housing component rose 0.2 percent in May, following increases
of 0.3 percent in each of the 2 preceding months. Declines in the
indexes for household fuels and household furnishings and operation were
responsible for the  slightly smaller increase.  The index for household
fuels, which rose 1.6 percent in April, declined 0.1 percent in May.
The index for electricity decreased 1.2 percent and the index for fuel
oil fell 2.1 percent, more than offsetting a 3.1 percent rise in the
index for natural gas.  The index for household furnishings and
operation fell 0.2 percent in May, following a 0.1 percent rise in
April.  Shelter costs advanced 0.2 percent in May, the same as in each
of the three preceding months.  Within shelter, renters' costs rose 0.2
percent, homeowners' costs increased 0.3 percent, and  maintenance and
repair costs rose 0.6 percent.  The index for other utilities and public
services, which declined 0.6 percent in April, rose 1.0 percent in May,
reflecting an increase in the index for telephone services.  Charges for
local telephone calls increased 2.2 percent in May, following a 2.4
percent drop in April; these movements were largely attributable to a
one-time refund in the New York area in April and the subsequent return
to the regular rate in May.
 
     The transportation index advanced 0.7 percent in May.  The index
for motor fuels increased 2.3 percent and accounted for about two-thirds
of the overall transportation increase.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
prices for gasoline rose 4.7 percent in May, including the quality
adjustment to account for the mandated changes to gasoline in
California.  For more details of this change, see the note on page 4.)
Since beginning its upward movement in December, the index for gasoline
has risen 18.2 percent.  Despite the sharp increases since November,
gasoline prices as of May were still 4.3 percent below their peak level
of December 1990.  Automobile purchase costs continued their pattern of
very little movement evident since the introduction of the 1996 models.
The indexes for new car prices and for automobile finance charges
increased 0.1 and 0.2 percent, respectively, in May. The index for used
cars declined 0.9 percent. The index for public transportation increased
2.0 percent, reflecting a 2.3 percent increase in airline fares.
 
     The index for apparel and upkeep, which declined 0.4 percent in
April, increased 0.1 percent in May.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
clothing prices fell 0.9 percent, largely reflecting declines in women's
and girls' clothing.)
 
     Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in May to a level 3.7 percent
above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
drugs, non-prescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.2
percent in May.  The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent in
May.  Charges for professional services and hospital and related
services increased 0.3 and 0.4 percent, respectively.
 
     Entertainment costs, which fell 0.1 percent in April, increased 0.4
percent in May.  The index for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts,
and sporting events rose 1.0 percent, more than offsetting a decline in
the index for sporting goods and equipment.
 
     The index for other goods and services advanced 0.4 percent in May,
following an increase of 0.3 percent in April.  The index for tobacco
and smoking products, which fell 0.2 percent in April, increased 0.5
percent in May, accounting for the slightly larger rise in this major
group.
 
 
CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
Clerical Workers rose 0.3 percent in May.
 
Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPI-W)
                                  Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                         Compound  adjusted
    Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
     Category          1995             1996           3-mos. ended  ended
                    Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.  May   May '96    May '96
All Items            .1    .2   .4   .2   .5   .4   .3    4.8         2.9
 Food and beverages  .1    .1   .1   .1   .5   .3   .1    3.8         2.6
 Housing             .1    .3   .3   .1   .3   .3   .2    3.3         3.0
 Apparel and upkeep -.2    .2   .7  -.7   .6  -.2   .2    2.5          .8
 Transportation     -.3    .4   .9   .3   .9  1.1   .6   10.6         3.1
 Medical care        .3    .4   .4   .2   .2   .3   .3    3.4         3.7
 Entertainment       .4    .3   .4   .8   .0  -.1   .4    1.3         3.3
 Other goods
  and services       .4    .1   .2   .4   .3   .3   .4    4.3         4.3
Special Indexes:
 Energy             -.8   1.0  2.1   .2  1.8  3.3  1.1   27.8         6.4
 Food                .0    .2   .1   .1   .6   .3   .1    3.8         2.6
 All items less
  food and energy    .2    .2   .3   .2   .3   .1   .2    2.8         2.7
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Consumer Price Index data for June are scheduled for release on
Tuesday, July 16, 1996, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
 
 
 
                  Quality Adjustment for Gasoline
 
 
     An adjustment for a change in the quality of gasoline has been made
in the May CPI to account for the effects of the mandated changes to
gasoline in California associated with the requirements established by
the California Air Resources Board.  This adjustment affects about 90
percent of the gasoline price quotations collected for the month of May
in the State of California.  The remainder of these price quotations
will reflect the quality adjustment in the June CPI.  Without quality
adjustment, the May CPI-U gasoline component would have risen
approximately 0.9 percentage point more than the published increase of
2.5 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the increase would have
been 0.9 percentage point higher than the 4.7 percent rise.)  For more
details, see "Gasoline Quality Adjustments Resulting from New California
Requirements" in the May 1996 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
 
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service
group
 
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                              Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                             importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                              December     Apr.       May       May 1996 from-      Feb. to    Mar. to    Apr. to
                                                1995       1996      1996     May 1995  Apr. 1996     Mar.       Apr.       May
 
            Expenditure category
 
All items ..................................   100.000     156.3     156.6        2.9        0.2        0.4        0.4        0.3
All items (1967=100) .......................      -        468.2     469.0        -          -          -          -          -
 
  Food and beverages .......................    17.332     152.7     152.5        2.6        -.1         .5         .3         .1
    Food ...................................    15.766     152.3     152.0        2.5        -.2         .6         .3         .1
      Food at home .........................     9.880     153.3     152.6        2.6        -.5         .9         .3         .0
        Cereals and bakery products ........     1.473     173.3     173.6        4.2         .2         .5         .2         .6
        Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     2.936     141.8     141.2        2.8        -.4        -.2        -.2         .1
        Dairy products .....................     1.169     137.0     137.6        3.6         .4        -.2         .4         .5
        Fruits and vegetables ..............     1.936     188.4     184.1        1.7       -2.3        4.0        1.0        -.8
        Other food at home .................     2.365     142.8     142.9        1.5         .1         .5         .4         .1
          Sugar and sweets .................      .327     142.2     143.5        4.5         .9         .4        -.1         .8
          Fats and oils ....................      .248     139.9     140.0        2.1         .1         .5        -.2         .3
          Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .763     129.9     129.3       -1.8        -.5         .3         .5        -.4
          Other prepared food ..............     1.027     155.3     155.6        2.8         .2         .7         .6         .1
      Food away from home ..................     5.886     151.6     152.0        2.3         .3         .1         .3         .3
    Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.566     157.9     158.3        2.9         .3         .3         .3         .3
 
  Housing ..................................    41.346     151.8     152.0        3.0         .1         .3         .3         .2
    Shelter ................................    28.289     170.1     170.1        3.2         .0         .2         .2         .2
      Renters' costs 1/ ....................     7.988     179.7     178.9        3.0        -.4         .3         .2         .2
        Rent, residential ..................     5.762     160.9     161.2        2.5         .2         .1         .2         .3
        Other renters' costs ...............     2.227     216.1     211.8        4.1       -2.0         .9         .4        -.3
      Homeowners' costs 1/ .................    20.102     175.3     175.6        3.3         .2         .2         .2         .3
        Owners' equivalent rent 1/ .........    19.716     175.6     175.9        3.3         .2         .2         .3         .3
        Household insurance 1/ .............      .386     159.4     159.5        1.3         .1         .3         .3         .1
      Maintenance and repairs 2/ ...........      .199     138.0     138.8        3.1         .6         .4         .4         .6
        Maintenance and repair services 2/ .      .122     143.8     144.7        3.8         .6         .6         .0         .6
        Maintenance and repair
            commodities 2/ .................      .077     130.0     130.9        2.2         .7         .2         .8         .7
    Fuel and other utilities ...............     7.014     125.4     126.7        3.4        1.0         .2         .6         .3
      Fuels ................................     3.792     112.9     114.0        3.8        1.0        -.3        1.6        -.1
        Fuel oil and other household fuel
            commodities ....................      .356     102.1      99.6       12.8       -2.4        2.2        3.5       -1.8
        Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
            services).......................     3.436     118.9     120.6        2.9        1.4        -.6        1.4         .1
      Other utilities and public
          services 2/ ......................     3.222     155.4     156.9        3.0        1.0        1.0        -.6        1.0
    Household furnishings and operation ....     6.043     124.8     124.4        1.4        -.3         .2         .1        -.2
      Housefurnishings .....................     3.445     111.9     111.2         .2        -.6         .0         .3        -.5
      Housekeeping supplies ................     1.116     141.4     141.0        3.4        -.3         .9         .0        -.4
      Housekeeping services ................     1.482     146.6     147.3        2.8         .5         .2         .1         .5
 
  Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.516     134.9     133.7         .2        -.9         .6        -.4         .1
    Apparel commodities ....................     4.967     131.7     130.4         .2       -1.0         .6        -.4         .0
      Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.303     129.0     129.5        1.3         .4         .8        -.4         .1
      Women's and girls' apparel............     2.195     130.2     127.7       -1.5       -1.9         .2        -.3         .2
      Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ....      .195     133.7     130.4        5.5       -2.5        -.8         .3       -2.5
      Footwear .............................      .732     128.2     128.3        1.3         .1         .8        -.7         .2
      Other apparel commodities ............      .542     153.5     151.7         .9       -1.2        2.1        -.8        -.3
    Apparel services 2/ ....................      .550     158.8     159.4        1.1         .4         .3        -.1         .4
 
  Transportation ...........................    16.953     143.1     144.4        2.9         .9         .7        1.1         .7
    Private transportation .................    15.430     140.3     141.7        3.1        1.0         .8        1.1         .6
      New vehicles .........................     5.027     143.5     143.4        1.6        -.1         .1         .1         .2
        New cars ...........................     4.015     141.3     141.2        1.4        -.1         .1         .1         .1
      Used cars ............................     1.342     157.4     157.6        -.1         .1         .8       -1.3        -.9
      Motor fuel ...........................     2.908     108.6     113.6        9.0        4.6        3.6        5.4        2.3
        Gasoline ...........................      -        108.2     113.3        8.7        4.7        3.7        5.3        2.5
      Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.535     157.2     157.5        2.4         .2         .2         .1         .3
      Other private transportation .........     4.618     173.0     173.1        1.5         .1        -.3         .5         .2
        Other private transportation
            commodities ....................      .608     105.1     104.9         .2        -.2         .1        -.1        -.2
        Other private transportation
            services .......................     4.010     189.0     189.1        1.7         .1        -.4         .5         .3
    Public transportation ..................     1.523     179.3     180.2        2.0         .5         .2        1.0        2.0
 
  Medical care .............................     7.362     227.0     227.4        3.7         .2         .3         .3         .3
    Medical care commodities ...............     1.282     209.6     209.7        3.1         .0         .2         .4         .2
    Medical care services ..................     6.081     231.1     231.6        3.9         .2         .3         .2         .3
      Professional medical services ........     3.465     207.0     207.7        3.7         .3         .2         .3         .3
 
  Entertainment ............................     4.367     158.6     158.8        3.4         .1         .1        -.1         .4
    Entertainment commodities ..............     1.975     142.8     142.8        3.4         .0         .1        -.1         .2
    Entertainment services .................     2.392     177.2     177.6        3.4         .2         .0         .0         .6
 
  Other goods and services .................     7.123     213.3     214.1        4.5         .4         .4         .3         .4
    Tobacco and smoking products ...........     1.610     230.5     233.1        3.5        1.1         .7        -.2         .5
    Personal care 2/ .......................     1.170     149.7     150.3        2.5         .4         .1         .2         .4
      Toilet goods and personal care
          appliances 2/ ....................      .613     144.2     145.3        1.7         .8        -.1         .1         .8
      Personal care services 2/ ............      .557     155.7     155.8        3.5         .1         .1         .3         .1
    Personal and educational expenses ......     4.342     244.6     244.8        5.4         .1         .5         .4         .4
      School books and supplies ............      .258     225.5     224.7        5.9        -.4         .6         .4         .1
      Personal and educational services ....     4.084     246.3     246.6        5.4         .1         .4         .4         .4
 
        Commodity and service group
 
All items ..................................   100.000     156.3     156.6        2.9         .2         .4         .4         .3
  Commodities ..............................    42.916     140.2     140.4        2.6         .1         .7         .5         .1
    Food and beverages .....................    17.332     152.7     152.5        2.6        -.1         .5         .3         .1
    Commodities less food and beverages ....    25.584     132.5     133.0        2.5         .4         .8         .7         .2
      Nondurables less food and beverages ..    15.075     134.7     135.6        3.7         .7        1.1         .9         .4
        Apparel commodities ................     4.967     131.7     130.4         .2       -1.0         .6        -.4         .0
        Nondurables less food, beverages,
            and apparel ....................    10.108     139.3     141.4        5.4        1.5        1.6        1.6         .6
      Durables .............................    10.509     129.5     129.3         .9        -.2         .2        -.1        -.2
  Services .................................    57.084     172.7     173.1        3.2         .2         .2         .3         .3
    Rent of shelter 1/ .....................    27.671     177.0     177.0        3.2         .0         .3         .2         .3
    Household services less rent of
        shelter 1/ .........................     8.681     139.6     141.0        2.8        1.0         .2         .4         .7
    Transportation services ................     7.068     179.0     179.3        1.9         .2        -.1         .6         .6
    Medical care services ..................     6.081     231.1     231.6        3.9         .2         .3         .2         .3
    Other services .........................     7.583     199.5     199.9        4.3         .2         .3         .3         .4
 
              Special indexes
 
All items less food ........................    84.234     157.0     157.4        2.9         .3         .4         .4         .3
All items less shelter .....................    71.711     152.4     152.8        2.8         .3         .5         .5         .3
All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........    79.898     157.5     157.8        2.9         .2         .4         .4         .3
All items less medical care ................    92.638     152.3     152.6        2.8         .2         .4         .4         .3
Commodities less food ......................    27.150     133.5     134.0        2.6         .4         .8         .6         .2
Nondurables less food ......................    16.641     136.0     136.8        3.6         .6        1.0         .9         .4
Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    11.674     140.1     142.0        5.0        1.4        1.3        1.4         .5
Nondurables ................................    32.407     143.9     144.2        3.1         .2         .8         .6         .3
Services less rent of shelter 1/ ...........    29.414     180.6     181.4        3.2         .4         .1         .3         .4
Services less medical care services ........    51.004     167.3     167.7        3.1         .2         .2         .3         .3
Energy .....................................     6.700     110.0     112.9        6.2        2.6        1.4        3.2        1.1
All items less energy ......................    93.300     162.5     162.5        2.7         .0         .3         .2         .2
  All items less food and energy ...........    77.534     165.0     165.1        2.7         .1         .3         .1         .2
    Commodities less food and
        energy commodities .................    23.885     142.0     141.7        1.5        -.2         .4        -.1         .0
      Energy commodities ...................     3.264     108.1     112.3        9.5        3.9        3.5        5.2        1.8
    Services less energy services ..........    53.648     178.2     178.4        3.2         .1         .2         .3         .3
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
  1982-84=$1.00 2/ .........................      -        $.640     $.639       -2.7        -.2        -.5        -.3        -.2
  1967=$1.00 2/ ............................      -         .214      .213        -          -          -          -          -
 
 
 
   1/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
   -      Data not available.
   NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 
 
 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
 commodity and service group
 
 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                                  Seasonally adjusted indexes             Seasonally adjusted annual rate
                                                                                                percent change for
                                                                                        3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                 Feb.    Mar.    Apr.     May    Aug.    Nov.    Feb.     May     Nov.       May
                                                 1996    1996    1996    1996    1995    1995    1996    1996     1995      1996
 
              Expenditure category
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.1     2.1     3.2     4.5      2.1       3.8
 
   Food and beverages .........................   150.9   151.7   152.2   152.4     1.9     2.7     1.6     4.0      2.3       2.8
     Food .....................................   150.5   151.4   151.9   152.0     1.9     2.7     1.3     4.0      2.3       2.7
       Food at home ...........................   150.5   151.9   152.4   152.4     1.6     3.3      .5     5.1      2.4       2.8
         Cereals and bakery products ..........   171.7   172.5   172.8   173.8     3.4     4.4     4.3     5.0      3.9       4.6
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   142.1   141.8   141.5   141.6     3.8     7.7     1.7    -1.4      5.7        .1
         Dairy products .......................   136.8   136.5   137.1   137.8     -.3     3.7     8.3     3.0      1.7       5.6
         Fruits and vegetables ................   174.9   181.9   183.7   182.2    -2.0     -.4    -6.8    17.8     -1.2       4.8
         Other food at home ...................   141.2   141.9   142.5   142.6     2.0     -.3      .3     4.0       .9       2.1
           Sugar and sweets ...................   141.5   142.1   142.0   143.1     4.2     2.3     7.1     4.6      3.2       5.8
           Fats and oils ......................   139.0   139.7   139.4   139.8     2.4     3.5      .6     2.3      2.9       1.4
           Nonalcoholic beverages .............   128.6   129.0   129.7   129.2      .9    -3.6    -6.3     1.9     -1.4      -2.3
           Other prepared food ................   153.1   154.2   155.2   155.3     2.4      .5     2.9     5.9      1.5       4.4
       Food away from home ....................   151.1   151.2   151.6   152.0     2.2     2.2     2.4     2.4      2.2       2.4
     Alcoholic beverages ......................   156.7   157.1   157.5   158.0     2.4     2.1     3.7     3.4      2.2       3.5
 
   Housing ....................................   151.1   151.5   151.9   152.2     3.0     2.7     3.2     2.9      2.9       3.1
     Shelter ..................................   168.9   169.3   169.7   170.1     2.9     3.7     3.4     2.9      3.3       3.1
       Renters' costs 1/ ......................   177.1   177.7   178.1   178.4     2.1     3.0     4.2     3.0      2.6       3.6
         Rent, residential ....................   160.4   160.6   160.9   161.4     2.3     2.6     3.0     2.5      2.4       2.8
         Other renters' costs .................   210.7   212.5   213.3   212.7     1.6     4.2     6.9     3.9      2.9       5.4
       Homeowners' costs 1/ ...................   174.6   175.0   175.4   175.9     3.3     4.0     2.8     3.0      3.7       2.9
         Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ...........   175.0   175.3   175.8   176.3     3.3     4.0     3.0     3.0      3.7       3.0
         Household insurance 1/ ...............   158.8   159.3   159.7   159.8     1.0    -1.0     2.8     2.5       .0       2.7
       Maintenance and repairs 2/ .............   137.0   137.5   138.0   138.8     2.4     2.4     2.4     5.4      2.4       3.9
         Maintenance and repair services 2/ ...   143.0   143.8   143.8   144.7     2.6     4.3     3.4     4.8      3.5       4.1
         Maintenance and repair commodities 2/    128.8   129.0   130.0   130.9     2.2     -.3      .3     6.7       .9       3.4
     Fuel and other utilities .................   125.7   126.0   126.8   127.2     4.0      .0     4.9     4.9      2.0       4.9
       Fuels ..................................   112.8   112.5   114.3   114.2     5.6    -1.1     5.9     5.1      2.2       5.5
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ......................    95.7    97.8   101.2    99.4     2.3    -3.6    41.1    16.4      -.7      28.2
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).........................   119.9   119.2   120.9   121.0     5.9     -.7     2.7     3.7      2.6       3.2
       Other utilities and public services 2/ .   154.9   156.4   155.4   156.9     2.1     1.3     3.4     5.3      1.7       4.3
     Household furnishings and operation ......   124.1   124.4   124.5   124.3     2.6     1.3     1.3      .6      2.0       1.0
       Housefurnishings .......................   111.4   111.4   111.7   111.1     2.2    -1.1     1.1    -1.1       .5        .0
       Housekeeping supplies ..................   140.2   141.4   141.4   140.8     5.7     4.7     1.4     1.7      5.2       1.6
       Housekeeping services ..................   146.0   146.3   146.5   147.3     2.0     3.9     1.9     3.6      3.0       2.8
 
   Apparel and upkeep .........................   131.9   132.7   132.2   132.3      .3      .3     -.6     1.2       .3        .3
     Apparel commodities ......................   128.4   129.2   128.7   128.7      .3      .3     -.9      .9       .3        .0
       Men's and boys' apparel ................   127.6   128.6   128.1   128.2    -2.5      .3     5.2     1.9     -1.1       3.5
       Women's and girls' apparel .............   125.3   125.6   125.2   125.5    -2.2     1.0    -4.9      .6      -.6      -2.2
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ......   134.4   133.3   133.7   130.4    15.0     5.4    15.3   -11.4     10.1       1.1
       Footwear ...............................   126.4   127.4   126.5   126.7     1.3     1.6     1.6     1.0      1.4       1.3
       Other apparel commodities ..............   149.8   153.0   151.8   151.3    12.6    -6.3    -5.2     4.1      2.7       -.7
     Apparel services 2/.......................   158.5   158.9   158.8   159.4    -1.0     -.3     3.3     2.3      -.6       2.8
 
   Transportation .............................   140.7   141.7   143.3   144.3    -2.0    -1.7     5.3    10.6     -1.8       7.9
     Private transportation ...................   138.1   139.2   140.8   141.6    -2.3    -1.7     6.3    10.5     -2.0       8.4
       New vehicles ...........................   142.5   142.7   142.9   143.2     1.4     1.7     1.7     2.0      1.6       1.8
         New cars .............................   140.4   140.6   140.7   140.8      .9     1.7     1.7     1.1      1.3       1.4
       Used cars ..............................   159.8   161.1   159.0   157.6    -4.2     1.0     9.0    -5.4     -1.6       1.5
       Motor fuel .............................   101.0   104.6   110.3   112.8   -15.3   -14.8    25.6    55.6    -15.0      39.8
         Gasoline .............................   100.6   104.3   109.8   112.5   -16.6   -14.1    24.7    56.4    -15.4      39.6
       Maintenance and repairs ................   156.6   156.9   157.1   157.5     2.4     2.6     2.6     2.3      2.5       2.5
       Other private transportation ...........   172.3   171.7   172.5   172.9     1.9     2.1      .7     1.4      2.0       1.0
         Other private transportation
             commodities ......................   105.1   105.2   105.1   104.9     1.9     -.8      .4     -.8       .6       -.2
         Other private transportation
             services .........................   188.3   187.6   188.6   189.1     2.0     2.4      .9     1.7      2.2       1.3
     Public transportation ....................   175.2   175.6   177.3   180.8     4.1    -2.9    -5.7    13.4       .6       3.4
 
   Medical care ...............................   225.8   226.4   227.0   227.7     4.1     3.7     3.6     3.4      3.9       3.5
     Medical care commodities .................   208.1   208.5   209.4   209.9     2.0     3.4     3.5     3.5      2.7       3.5
     Medical care services ....................   229.7   230.3   230.8   231.6     4.6     3.8     3.7     3.3      4.2       3.5
       Professional medical services ..........   205.6   206.1   206.8   207.5     4.1     3.8     3.6     3.7      3.9       3.7
 
   Entertainment ..............................   158.1   158.3   158.2   158.8     2.6     3.7     5.8     1.8      3.2       3.8
     Entertainment commodities ................   142.5   142.7   142.5   142.8     3.2     3.8     6.1      .8      3.5       3.4
     Entertainment services ...................   176.6   176.6   176.6   177.6     1.9     3.8     5.6     2.3      2.8       3.9
 
   Other goods and services ...................   213.1   214.0   214.6   215.5     5.1     4.7     3.6     4.6      4.9       4.1
     Tobacco and smoking products .............   229.4   231.1   230.7   231.9     5.1     4.8     -.5     4.4      5.0       1.9
     Personal care 2/ .........................   149.3   149.4   149.7   150.3     1.9     4.4     1.1     2.7      3.2       1.9
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 2/ ......................   144.1   144.0   144.2   145.3      .8     4.5    -1.9     3.4      2.7        .7
       Personal care services 2/ ..............   155.2   155.3   155.7   155.8     3.0     4.8     4.5     1.6      3.9       3.0
     Personal and educational expenses ........   243.7   244.8   245.8   246.8     6.1     4.4     6.0     5.2      5.3       5.6
       School books and supplies ..............   222.9   224.3   225.2   225.4     2.8     8.9     7.3     4.6      5.8       5.9
       Personal and educational services ......   245.1   246.2   247.3   248.3     6.3     4.2     5.7     5.3      5.2       5.5
 
          Commodity and service group
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.1     2.1     3.2     4.5      2.1       3.8
   Commodities ................................   138.1   139.1   139.8   140.0      .3      .9     3.3     5.6       .6       4.4
     Food and beverages .......................   150.9   151.7   152.2   152.4     1.9     2.7     1.6     4.0      2.3       2.8
     Commodities less food and beverages ......   130.3   131.3   132.2   132.5     -.6     -.3     4.4     6.9      -.5       5.7
       Nondurables less food and beverages ....   131.5   132.9   134.1   134.7    -1.2     -.9     7.3    10.1     -1.1       8.7
         Apparel commodities ..................   128.4   129.2   128.7   128.7      .3      .3     -.9      .9       .3        .0
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ......................   135.8   138.0   140.2   141.0    -2.4    -2.7    12.0    16.2     -2.5      14.1
       Durables ...............................   129.2   129.5   129.4   129.2      .3     1.3     2.2      .0       .8       1.1
   Services ...................................   172.1   172.4   172.9   173.5     3.4     2.9     3.3     3.3      3.1       3.3
     Rent of shelter 1/ .......................   176.0   176.5   176.8   177.3     3.1     3.5     3.2     3.0      3.3       3.1
     Household services less rent
         of shelter 1/ ........................   140.0   140.3   140.8   141.8     3.2     1.2     2.3     5.2      2.2       3.8
     Transportation services ..................   177.5   177.3   178.3   179.4     2.5     1.1     -.2     4.4      1.8       2.0
     Medical care services ....................   229.7   230.3   230.8   231.6     4.6     3.8     3.7     3.3      4.2       3.5
     Other services ...........................   199.4   199.9   200.4   201.2     4.0     3.7     5.6     3.7      3.9       4.6
 
                Special indexes
 
 All items less food ..........................   155.7   156.3   156.9   157.4     2.1     1.8     3.7     4.4      2.0       4.1
 All items less shelter .......................   150.8   151.5   152.2   152.7     1.6     1.6     3.0     5.1      1.6       4.0
 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ..........   155.9   156.6   157.3   157.7     1.8     1.6     3.1     4.7      1.7       3.9
 All items less medical care ..................   150.8   151.4   152.0   152.5     1.9     1.9     3.2     4.6      1.9       3.9
 Commodities less food ........................   131.5   132.5   133.3   133.6     -.3     -.3     4.4     6.5      -.3       5.5
 Nondurables less food ........................   132.9   134.2   135.4   136.0    -1.2     -.9     7.2     9.7     -1.1       8.4
 Nondurables less food and apparel ............   136.8   138.6   140.6   141.3    -1.2     -.9     8.9    13.8     -1.0      11.4
 Nondurables ..................................   141.4   142.5   143.3   143.7      .9      .9     4.4     6.7       .9       5.5
 Services less rent of shelter 1/ .............   180.2   180.4   181.0   181.8     3.4     2.5     3.2     3.6      3.0       3.4
 Services less medical care services ..........   166.6   167.0   167.5   168.0     3.0     2.7     3.2     3.4      2.8       3.3
 Energy .......................................   106.5   108.0   111.5   112.7    -4.1    -7.4    14.3    25.4     -5.8      19.7
 All items less energy ........................   161.5   162.0   162.3   162.7     2.5     2.8     2.5     3.0      2.7       2.8
   All items less food and energy .............   164.2   164.7   164.9   165.3     2.8     2.7     2.7     2.7      2.8       2.7
     Commodities less food and energy
         commodities ..........................   140.8   141.3   141.2   141.2     1.7     1.7     1.7     1.1      1.7       1.4
       Energy commodities .....................   100.5   104.0   109.4   111.4   -13.8   -13.5    26.8    51.0    -13.6      38.4
     Services less energy services ............   177.3   177.7   178.2   178.8     3.3     3.2     3.0     3.4      3.3       3.2
 
 
 
    1/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
    2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 
 
Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
commodity and service group
 
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                              Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                             importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                              December     Apr.       May       May 1996 from-      Feb. to    Mar. to    Apr. to
                                                1995       1996      1996     May 1995  Apr. 1996     Mar.       Apr.       May
 
            Expenditure category
 
All items ..................................   100.000     153.6     154.0        2.9        0.3        0.5        0.4        0.3
All items (1967=100) .......................      -        457.6     458.7        -          -          -          -          -
 
  Food and beverages .......................    19.262     152.2     151.9        2.6        -.2         .5         .3         .1
    Food ...................................    17.581     151.7     151.5        2.6        -.1         .6         .3         .1
      Food at home .........................    11.206     152.4     151.7        2.6        -.5         .9         .3         .0
        Cereals and bakery products ........     1.682     173.0     173.3        4.2         .2         .4         .2         .6
        Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.453     141.5     140.8        2.8        -.5        -.2        -.1         .0
        Dairy products .....................     1.300     136.8     137.4        3.7         .4        -.1         .4         .6
        Fruits and vegetables ..............     2.052     187.7     183.5        2.1       -2.2        4.5         .8       -1.0
        Other food at home .................     2.719     142.4     142.5        1.5         .1         .5         .4         .0
          Sugar and sweets .................      .369     142.2     143.5        4.5         .9         .6        -.1         .7
          Fats and oils ....................      .285     139.7     139.7        2.0         .0         .4        -.2         .1
          Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .885     129.4     128.8       -1.7        -.5         .3         .6        -.4
          Other prepared food ..............     1.180     155.1     155.4        2.9         .2         .6         .6         .0
      Food away from home ..................     6.374     151.6     152.0        2.4         .3         .1         .3         .3
    Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.681     157.3     157.6        2.7         .2         .3         .2         .3
 
  Housing ..................................    38.888     148.6     148.9        3.0         .2         .3         .3         .2
    Shelter ................................    25.976     165.2     165.3        3.1         .1         .3         .2         .2
      Renters' costs 1/ ....................     8.091     156.6     156.4        2.9        -.1         .3         .2         .2
        Rent, residential ..................     6.616     160.6     160.9        2.5         .2         .1         .2         .3
        Other renters' costs ...............     1.475     215.6     212.0        4.0       -1.7         .9         .1        -.1
      Homeowners' costs 1/ .................    17.695     159.8     160.1        3.2         .2         .3         .3         .3
        Owners' equivalent rent 1/ .........    17.366     160.1     160.4        3.3         .2         .3         .3         .2
        Household insurance 1/ .............      .329     146.0     146.1        1.0         .1         .1         .2         .1
      Maintenance and repairs 2/ ...........      .189     136.8     137.5        2.5         .5         .4         .4         .5
        Maintenance and repair services 2/ .      .105     145.9     146.8        3.2         .6         .6         .1         .6
        Maintenance and repair
            commodities 2/ .................      .085     125.0     125.5        1.9         .4         .2         .7         .4
    Fuel and other utilities ...............     7.247     125.2     126.3        3.5         .9         .5         .6         .2
      Fuels ................................     3.887     112.3     113.4        3.9        1.0         .0        1.5        -.3
        Fuel oil and other household fuel
            commodities ....................      .327     101.6      99.1       12.4       -2.5        2.1        3.2       -1.8
        Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
            services).......................     3.560     118.5     120.0        3.2        1.3        -.2        1.4        -.2
      Other utilities and public
          services 2/ ......................     3.360     156.1     157.5        3.1         .9        1.0        -.6         .9
    Household furnishings and operation ....     5.666     123.4     123.0        1.2        -.3         .2         .1        -.2
      Housefurnishings .....................     3.367     110.5     109.8         .0        -.6         .1         .1        -.5
      Housekeeping supplies ................     1.149     141.7     141.3        3.4        -.3         .7         .0        -.4
      Housekeeping services ................     1.150     149.7     150.1        2.7         .3         .1         .3         .4
 
  Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.533     134.2     133.2         .8        -.7         .6        -.2         .2
    Apparel commodities ....................     5.017     131.2     130.1         .8        -.8         .6        -.1         .1
      Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.310     128.6     129.2        1.1         .5         .9        -.4         .0
      Women's and girls' apparel............     2.148     129.5     127.1        -.8       -1.9         .1         .2         .3
      Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ....      .251     134.8     131.5        6.1       -2.4        -.4         .1       -2.4
      Footwear .............................      .812     129.0     129.3        1.5         .2        1.0        -.5         .0
      Other apparel commodities ............      .495     153.0     151.5        3.1       -1.0        2.4        -.3         .5
    Apparel services 2/ ....................      .516     158.2     158.8        1.1         .4         .2         .0         .4
 
  Transportation ...........................    19.020     143.0     144.4        3.1        1.0         .9        1.1         .6
    Private transportation .................    17.847     141.0     142.5        3.0        1.1         .9        1.1         .6
      New vehicles .........................     4.958     144.5     144.5        1.8         .0         .2         .1         .2
        New cars ...........................     3.591     140.9     140.8        1.4        -.1         .1         .1         .1
      Used cars ............................     2.432     158.5     158.7         .2         .1         .6       -1.0        -.9
      Motor fuel ...........................     3.584     108.6     113.5        8.9        4.5        3.9        5.1        2.5
        Gasoline ...........................      -        108.3     113.3        8.6        4.6        3.9        5.0        2.3
      Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.619     158.2     158.4        2.5         .1         .2         .1         .2
      Other private transportation .........     5.255     168.6     168.7        1.3         .1        -.2         .6         .1
        Other private transportation
            commodities ....................      .767     104.2     104.0         .1        -.2        -.1        -.1        -.2
        Other private transportation
            services .......................     4.488     184.8     185.1        1.6         .2        -.3         .7         .2
    Public transportation ..................     1.173     177.5     178.6        3.5         .6         .8         .7        1.4
 
  Medical care .............................     6.262     226.4     226.8        3.7         .2         .2         .3         .3
    Medical care commodities ...............     1.055     207.0     207.1        3.0         .0         .1         .4         .1
    Medical care services ..................     5.208     230.7     231.3        3.9         .3         .2         .3         .3
      Professional medical services ........     2.965     208.1     208.8        3.8         .3         .1         .3         .3
 
  Entertainment ............................     4.029     156.3     156.5        3.3         .1         .0        -.1         .4
    Entertainment commodities ..............     2.053     141.8     141.9        3.2         .1         .0        -.1         .2
    Entertainment services .................     1.976     177.1     177.7        3.4         .3         .1         .0         .6
 
  Other goods and services .................     7.006     210.1     211.2        4.3         .5         .3         .3         .4
    Tobacco and smoking products ...........     2.135     230.3     233.1        3.4        1.2         .7         .0         .5
    Personal care 2/ .......................     1.132     149.6     150.3        2.4         .5         .1         .2         .5
      Toilet goods and personal care
          appliances 2/ ....................      .635     144.7     146.0        1.6         .9         .0         .1         .9
      Personal care services 2/ ............      .497     155.7     155.8        3.5         .1         .1         .3         .1
    Personal and educational expenses ......     3.739     240.1     240.3        5.4         .1         .3         .5         .3
      School books and supplies ............      .227     226.5     225.6        5.8        -.4         .5         .4         .0
      Personal and educational services ....     3.512     241.5     241.7        5.3         .1         .3         .6         .3
 
        Commodity and service group
 
All items ..................................   100.000     153.6     154.0        2.9         .3         .5         .4         .3
  Commodities ..............................    47.052     140.2     140.5        2.6         .2         .7         .5         .2
    Food and beverages .....................    19.262     152.2     151.9        2.6        -.2         .5         .3         .1
    Commodities less food and beverages ....    27.790     132.8     133.5        2.7         .5         .8         .6         .3
      Nondurables less food and beverages ..    16.074     134.5     135.7        4.0         .9        1.1        1.1         .5
        Apparel commodities ................     5.017     131.2     130.1         .8        -.8         .6        -.1         .1
        Nondurables less food, beverages,
            and apparel ....................    11.057     139.1     141.5        5.4        1.7        1.6        1.7         .5
      Durables .............................    11.716     129.4     129.2         .9        -.2         .0        -.1        -.2
  Services .................................    52.948     170.0     170.4        3.2         .2         .2         .4         .3
    Rent of shelter 1/ .....................    25.430     159.0     159.1        3.2         .1         .3         .3         .3
    Household services less rent of
        shelter 1/ .........................     8.531     128.4     129.6        2.9         .9         .4         .3         .5
    Transportation services ................     7.279     176.9     177.3        2.1         .2         .1         .5         .5
    Medical care services ..................     5.208     230.7     231.3        3.9         .3         .2         .3         .3
    Other services .........................     6.501     196.3     196.6        4.2         .2         .2         .3         .4
 
              Special indexes
 
All items less food ........................    82.419     153.9     154.4        3.0         .3         .4         .5         .3
All items less shelter .....................    74.024     150.6     151.1        2.9         .3         .5         .5         .3
All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........    82.305     144.4     144.8        2.9         .3         .5         .5         .3
All items less medical care ................    93.738     150.2     150.5        2.9         .2         .5         .4         .3
Commodities less food ......................    29.471     133.8     134.4        2.7         .4         .8         .6         .3
Nondurables less food ......................    17.756     135.8     136.9        3.9         .8        1.1        1.0         .4
Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    12.739     139.9     142.0        5.1        1.5        1.5        1.4         .6
Nondurables ................................    35.336     143.6     144.1        3.2         .3         .9         .6         .1
Services less rent of shelter 1/ ...........    27.518     161.0     161.7        3.2         .4         .1         .4         .4
Services less medical care services ........    47.740     164.8     165.2        3.1         .2         .2         .3         .4
Energy .....................................     7.470     109.8     112.8        6.4        2.7        1.8        3.3        1.1
All items less energy ......................    92.530     159.8     159.8        2.6         .0         .4         .2         .2
  All items less food and energy ...........    74.949     161.9     162.0        2.7         .1         .3         .1         .2
    Commodities less food and
        energy commodities .................    25.560     141.6     141.4        1.7        -.1         .4        -.1         .0
      Energy commodities ...................     3.911     108.3     112.5        9.1        3.9        3.7        4.9        2.1
    Services less energy services ..........    49.388     175.6     176.0        3.2         .2         .3         .2         .4
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
  1982-84=$1.00 2/ .........................      -        $.651     $.649       -2.8        -.3        -.5        -.5        -.3
  1967=$1.00 2/ ............................      -         .219      .218        -          -          -          -          -
 
 
 
   1/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
   2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
   -      Data not available.
   NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 
 
 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
 commodity and service group
 
 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                                  Seasonally adjusted indexes             Seasonally adjusted annual rate
                                                                                                percent change for
                                                                                        3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                 Feb.    Mar.    Apr.     May    Aug.    Nov.    Feb.     May     Nov.       May
                                                 1996    1996    1996    1996    1995    1995    1996    1996     1995      1996
 
              Expenditure category
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        1.6     2.1     3.2     4.8      1.9       4.0
 
   Food and beverages .........................   150.5   151.3   151.8   151.9     1.9     3.0     1.6     3.8      2.4       2.7
     Food .....................................   150.0   150.9   151.3   151.4     1.9     3.0     1.6     3.8      2.5       2.7
       Food at home ...........................   149.8   151.1   151.6   151.6     1.9     3.3      .8     4.9      2.6       2.8
         Cereals and bakery products ..........   171.4   172.1   172.5   173.5     3.4     4.4     4.3     5.0      3.9       4.7
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   141.7   141.4   141.2   141.2     4.1     7.4     1.7    -1.4      5.8        .1
         Dairy products .......................   136.5   136.3   136.9   137.7     -.9     4.3     8.0     3.6      1.7       5.8
         Fruits and vegetables ................   174.2   182.1   183.6   181.8    -1.1     -.2    -7.4    18.6      -.7       4.8
         Other food at home ...................   140.8   141.5   142.1   142.1     2.0      .0      .3     3.7      1.0       2.0
           Sugar and sweets ...................   141.3   142.2   142.1   143.1     4.2     2.0     6.8     5.2      3.1       6.0
           Fats and oils ......................   138.9   139.5   139.2   139.4     2.7     3.5      .6     1.4      3.1       1.0
           Nonalcoholic beverages .............   128.0   128.4   129.2   128.7      .9    -2.4    -6.9     2.2      -.8      -2.4
           Other prepared food ................   153.0   153.9   154.9   154.9     2.4      .3     3.7     5.1      1.3       4.4
       Food away from home ....................   151.0   151.1   151.6   152.0     2.2     2.4     2.4     2.7      2.3       2.5
     Alcoholic beverages ......................   156.1   156.5   156.8   157.3     2.1     2.6     3.1     3.1      2.4       3.1
 
   Housing ....................................   147.8   148.3   148.7   149.0     3.1     2.5     3.0     3.3      2.8       3.2
     Shelter ..................................   164.2   164.7   165.1   165.5     2.8     3.5     3.0     3.2      3.1       3.1
       Renters' costs 1/ ......................   155.1   155.6   155.9   156.2     1.9     2.9     4.0     2.9      2.4       3.4
         Rent, residential ....................   160.1   160.3   160.6   161.1     2.1     2.6     3.3     2.5      2.3       2.9
         Other renters' costs .................   210.8   212.8   213.1   212.9     1.0     3.8     7.3     4.0      2.4       5.7
       Homeowners' costs 1/ ...................   159.1   159.6   160.0   160.4     3.1     3.9     2.6     3.3      3.5       2.9
         Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ...........   159.4   159.8   160.3   160.7     3.1     4.1     2.5     3.3      3.6       2.9
         Household insurance 1/ ...............   145.9   146.0   146.3   146.4      .6     -.3     2.5     1.4       .1       1.9
       Maintenance and repairs 2/ .............   135.7   136.3   136.8   137.5     2.4     2.1      .3     5.4      2.2       2.8
         Maintenance and repair services 2/ ...   145.0   145.8   145.9   146.8     2.0     4.3     1.4     5.1      3.1       3.2
         Maintenance and repair commodities 2/    123.8   124.1   125.0   125.5     3.0     -.6     -.3     5.6      1.1       2.6
     Fuel and other utilities .................   125.1   125.7   126.5   126.8     4.0      .3     4.3     5.5      2.1       4.9
       Fuels ..................................   112.0   112.0   113.7   113.4     6.0     -.7     5.5     5.1      2.6       5.3
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ......................    95.6    97.6   100.7    98.9     2.3    -3.6    41.2    14.5      -.7      27.2
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).........................   119.1   118.9   120.6   120.4     6.3     -.3     2.4     4.4      2.9       3.4
       Other utilities and public services 2/ .   155.4   157.0   156.1   157.5     1.8     1.3     3.7     5.5      1.6       4.6
     Household furnishings and operation ......   122.7   123.0   123.1   122.8     3.0     1.0     1.0      .3      2.0        .7
       Housefurnishings .......................   110.0   110.1   110.2   109.7     1.8    -1.1      .7    -1.1       .4       -.2
       Housekeeping supplies ..................   140.7   141.7   141.7   141.2     6.0     4.1     2.6     1.4      5.0       2.0
       Housekeeping services ..................   149.0   149.1   149.5   150.1     2.5     4.1     1.1     3.0      3.3       2.0
 
   Apparel and upkeep .........................   131.0   131.8   131.6   131.8     -.3      .6      .6     2.5       .2       1.5
     Apparel commodities ......................   127.9   128.7   128.6   128.7      .0      .6      .3     2.5       .3       1.4
       Men's and boys' apparel ................   127.3   128.5   128.0   128.0    -3.4      .3     5.5     2.2     -1.6       3.9
       Women's and girls' apparel .............   124.6   124.7   124.9   125.3    -3.4     1.0    -2.5     2.3     -1.3       -.2
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ......   135.3   134.7   134.8   131.5    17.9     5.7    14.1   -10.8     11.6        .9
       Footwear ...............................   126.9   128.2   127.5   127.5     1.3     2.6      .0     1.9      1.9        .9
       Other apparel commodities ..............   147.6   151.1   150.7   151.4    14.3    -3.6    -7.2    10.7      5.0       1.3
     Apparel services 2/.......................   157.9   158.2   158.2   158.8     -.5     -.8     3.4     2.3      -.6       2.8
 
   Transportation .............................   140.5   141.7   143.3   144.1    -2.6    -1.4     6.2    10.6     -2.0       8.4
     Private transportation ...................   138.6   139.8   141.4   142.2    -2.9    -1.7     6.6    10.8     -2.3       8.7
       New vehicles ...........................   143.5   143.8   143.9   144.2     1.7     1.7     2.0     2.0      1.7       2.0
         New cars .............................   140.1   140.2   140.3   140.4     1.2     1.4     2.0      .9      1.3       1.4
       Used cars ..............................   161.0   161.9   160.3   158.9    -4.2     1.0     9.7    -5.1     -1.6       2.0
       Motor fuel .............................   100.7   104.6   109.9   112.6   -15.3   -14.1    23.6    56.3    -14.7      39.0
         Gasoline .............................   100.6   104.5   109.7   112.2   -16.0   -14.9    25.2    54.7    -15.4      39.2
       Maintenance and repairs ................   157.6   157.9   158.0   158.3     2.4     2.9     2.8     1.8      2.6       2.3
       Other private transportation ...........   167.9   167.5   168.5   168.7     1.5     2.2      .0     1.9      1.8       1.0
         Other private transportation
             commodities ......................   104.4   104.3   104.2   104.0     1.9     -.4      .4    -1.5       .8       -.6
         Other private transportation
             services .........................   183.9   183.4   184.7   185.1     1.3     2.7      .0     2.6      2.0       1.3
     Public transportation ....................   173.7   175.1   176.3   178.8     1.2     2.1     -.9    12.3      1.6       5.5
 
   Medical care ...............................   225.1   225.6   226.3   227.0     4.3     3.7     3.6     3.4      4.0       3.5
     Medical care commodities .................   205.7   206.0   206.8   207.1     2.8     3.0     3.4     2.8      2.9       3.1
     Medical care services ....................   229.4   229.9   230.5   231.3     4.8     3.8     3.7     3.4      4.3       3.6
       Professional medical services ..........   207.0   207.2   207.9   208.6     4.5     3.6     4.2     3.1      4.0       3.6
 
   Entertainment ..............................   155.9   155.9   155.8   156.4     2.4     3.5     6.1     1.3      2.9       3.7
     Entertainment commodities ................   141.6   141.6   141.4   141.7     2.3     3.5     6.5      .3      2.9       3.3
     Entertainment services ...................   176.5   176.6   176.6   177.7     2.1     3.3     5.9     2.7      2.7       4.3
 
   Other goods and services ...................   209.7   210.4   211.1   211.9     4.6     5.2     2.9     4.3      4.9       3.6
     Tobacco and smoking products .............   229.4   230.9   230.8   231.9     4.7     5.0     -.7     4.4      4.9       1.8
     Personal care 2/ .........................   149.2   149.3   149.6   150.3     1.6     4.4      .5     3.0      3.0       1.8
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 2/ ......................   144.6   144.6   144.7   146.0      .3     4.5    -2.2     3.9      2.4        .8
       Personal care services 2/ ..............   155.1   155.2   155.7   155.8     3.0     4.8     4.2     1.8      3.9       3.0
     Personal and educational expenses ........   239.1   239.8   241.1   241.8     5.5     5.3     5.9     4.6      5.4       5.2
       School books and supplies ..............   224.2   225.4   226.3   226.2     2.6     9.6     7.3     3.6      6.1       5.4
       Personal and educational services ......   240.4   241.1   242.5   243.2     5.7     5.0     5.7     4.7      5.4       5.2
 
          Commodity and service group
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        1.6     2.1     3.2     4.8      1.9       4.0
   Commodities ................................   138.1   139.1   139.8   140.1      .3      .9     3.6     5.9       .6       4.7
     Food and beverages .......................   150.5   151.3   151.8   151.9     1.9     3.0     1.6     3.8      2.4       2.7
     Commodities less food and beverages ......   130.5   131.6   132.4   132.8    -1.2     -.6     5.4     7.2      -.9       6.3
       Nondurables less food and beverages ....   131.1   132.6   134.1   134.8    -1.5    -2.2     9.0    11.8     -1.8      10.4
         Apparel commodities ..................   127.9   128.7   128.6   128.7      .0      .6      .3     2.5       .3       1.4
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ......................   135.5   137.7   140.1   140.8    -3.0    -3.3    12.7    16.6     -3.1      14.6
       Durables ...............................   129.4   129.4   129.3   129.1      .3      .6     3.5     -.9       .5       1.3
   Services ...................................   169.2   169.6   170.2   170.7     3.2     3.2     2.9     3.6      3.2       3.2
     Rent of shelter 1/ .......................   158.2   158.6   159.0   159.4     2.9     3.4     3.4     3.1      3.1       3.2
     Household services less rent
         of shelter 1/ ........................   128.7   129.2   129.6   130.3     3.2     1.3     2.5     5.1      2.2       3.8
     Transportation services ..................   175.5   175.6   176.5   177.3     1.4     2.5      .5     4.2      2.0       2.3
     Medical care services ....................   229.4   229.9   230.5   231.3     4.8     3.8     3.7     3.4      4.3       3.6
     Other services ...........................   196.0   196.4   197.0   197.8     3.8     4.0     5.5     3.7      3.9       4.6
 
                Special indexes
 
 All items less food ..........................   152.4   153.0   153.7   154.2     1.6     1.9     3.8     4.8      1.7       4.3
 All items less shelter .......................   149.0   149.8   150.5   150.9     1.4     1.6     3.3     5.2      1.5       4.2
 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ..........   142.9   143.6   144.3   144.7     1.4     1.7     3.4     5.1      1.6       4.3
 All items less medical care ..................   148.7   149.4   150.0   150.4     1.4     2.2     3.3     4.7      1.8       4.0
 Commodities less food ........................   131.7   132.8   133.6   134.0     -.9     -.3     5.0     7.2      -.6       6.1
 Nondurables less food ........................   132.5   134.0   135.3   135.9    -1.2    -1.8     8.2    10.7     -1.5       9.5
 Nondurables less food and apparel ............   136.4   138.4   140.4   141.3    -1.8    -2.1    10.3    15.2     -1.9      12.7
 Nondurables ..................................   141.1   142.3   143.2   143.4      .6      .9     5.0     6.7       .7       5.8
 Services less rent of shelter 1/ .............   160.5   160.7   161.3   162.0     3.1     2.8     2.8     3.8      2.9       3.3
 Services less medical care services ..........   164.0   164.4   164.9   165.5     2.8     3.0     2.7     3.7      2.9       3.2
 Energy .......................................   105.9   107.8   111.4   112.6    -5.2    -7.1    13.9    27.8     -6.1      20.7
 All items less energy ........................   158.7   159.3   159.6   159.9     2.1     2.8     2.6     3.1      2.5       2.8
   All items less food and energy .............   161.1   161.6   161.8   162.2     2.3     2.8     2.8     2.8      2.5       2.8
     Commodities less food and energy
         commodities ..........................   140.6   141.1   141.0   141.0     1.4     1.7     2.3     1.1      1.6       1.7
       Energy commodities .....................   100.5   104.2   109.3   111.6   -14.1   -13.5    25.2    52.1    -13.8      38.0
     Services less energy services ............   174.9   175.4   175.8   176.5     2.8     3.3     3.0     3.7      3.1       3.4
 
 
 
    1/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
    2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 
 
Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Selected areas, all items index
 
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                                                 Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                  Area                     Pricing                                       May 1996 from-          Apr. 1996 from-
                                          schedule    Feb.    Mar.    Apr.     May     May    Mar.    Apr.    Apr.    Feb.    Mar.
                                             1/       1996    1996    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996
 
 
 
U.S. city average ......................      M        154.9   155.7   156.3   156.6     2.9     0.6     0.2     2.9     0.9     0.4
 
        Region and area size 2/
 
Northeast urban.........................      M        162.2   162.8   162.9   163.0     2.8      .1      .1     2.9      .4      .1
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        163.0   163.7   163.6   163.6     2.8     -.1      .0     2.9      .4     -.1
  Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        159.2   160.2   160.6   161.0     2.9      .5      .2     2.8      .9      .2
  Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 ..........      M        160.6   160.8   161.3   160.9     2.4      .1     -.2     2.7      .4      .3
 
North Central urban ....................      M        150.8   151.7   152.3   152.7     3.0      .7      .3     2.8     1.0      .4
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        151.7   152.6   152.9   153.2     2.8      .4      .2     2.6      .8      .2
  Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        149.5   150.4   151.2   151.6     2.9      .8      .3     2.9     1.1      .5
  Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 ..........      M        152.4   153.1   153.9   154.7     3.1     1.0      .5     2.9     1.0      .5
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        146.9   147.7   149.0   149.2     3.2     1.0      .1     3.5     1.4      .9
 
South urban ............................      M        151.5   152.4   153.2   153.5     3.2      .7      .2     3.2     1.1      .5
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        150.6   151.5   152.4   152.7     2.7      .8      .2     2.8     1.2      .6
  Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        154.1   155.0   155.6   155.9     3.4      .6      .2     3.1     1.0      .4
  Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 ..........      M        151.4   152.2   153.1   153.2     3.8      .7      .1     3.9     1.1      .6
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        150.1   151.6   152.4   152.9     3.3      .9      .3     3.6     1.5      .5
 
West urban .............................      M        155.8   156.4   157.1   157.6     2.7      .8      .3     2.5      .8      .4
  Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        155.9   156.6   157.3   157.6     2.2      .6      .2     2.1      .9      .4
  Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 ..........      M        160.8   161.4   162.2   162.4     3.8      .6      .1     4.0      .9      .5
 
Size classes
  A 3/ .................................      M        140.0   140.7   141.1   141.3     2.6      .4      .1     2.6      .8      .3
  B ....................................      M        154.7   155.5   156.1   156.6     3.2      .7      .3     3.0      .9      .4
  C ....................................      M        154.8   155.5   156.3   156.4     3.3      .6      .1     3.5     1.0      .5
  D ....................................      M        151.1   152.1   153.0   153.5     3.4      .9      .3     3.6     1.3      .6
 
          Selected local areas
 
Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        155.2   156.3   156.4   156.9     2.5      .4      .3     2.2      .8      .1
Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        156.2   157.3   157.7   157.5     1.5      .1     -.1     1.9     1.0      .3
N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        165.7   166.5   166.0   166.4     2.8     -.1      .2     2.9      .2     -.3
Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD ..      M        161.2   162.0   162.1   161.8     2.5     -.1     -.2     2.7      .6      .1
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .....      M        153.2   152.9   153.9   155.1     2.5     1.4      .8     1.6      .5      .7
 
Baltimore, MD ..........................      1         -      153.0    -      153.9     2.3      .6    -       -       -       -
Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1         -      162.8    -      161.8     2.6     -.6    -       -       -       -
Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1         -      150.9    -      151.8     3.0      .6    -       -       -       -
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1         -      152.4    -      152.6     2.7      .1    -       -       -       -
St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........      1         -      148.9    -      148.1     2.4     -.5    -       -       -       -
Washington, DC-MD-VA ...................      1         -      158.4    -      159.0     2.8      .4    -       -       -       -
 
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2        146.2    -      148.5    -       -       -       -        2.4     1.6    -
Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2        151.3    -      152.3    -       -       -       -        2.8      .7    -
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2        141.5    -      143.1    -       -       -       -        3.7     1.1    -
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ...........      2        151.1    -      152.8    -       -       -       -        2.6     1.1    -
 
 
 
   1/     Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as
          indicated:
            M - Every month.
            1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.
            2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.
   2/     Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3/     Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   -      Data not available.
   NOTE:  Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than
          the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error.  As a
          result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are
          similar.  Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average
          CPI for use in their escalator clauses.
 
 
Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Selected areas, all items index
 
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                                                 Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                  Area                     Pricing                                       May 1996 from-          Apr. 1996 from-
                                          schedule    Feb.    Mar.    Apr.     May     May    Mar.    Apr.    Apr.    Feb.    Mar.
                                             1/       1996    1996    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996
 
 
 
U.S. city average ......................      M        152.2   152.9   153.6   154.0     2.9     0.7     0.3     2.9     0.9     0.5
 
        Region and area size 2/
 
Northeast urban.........................      M        159.4   160.1   160.3   160.6     2.9      .3      .2     2.9      .6      .1
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        159.2   160.0   160.0   160.2     2.9      .1      .1     3.0      .5      .0
  Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        156.9   158.1   158.5   158.9     3.0      .5      .3     2.8     1.0      .3
  Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 ..........      M        162.0   162.1   162.9   162.7     2.5      .4     -.1     2.7      .6      .5
 
North Central urban ....................      M        147.5   148.3   149.0   149.4     2.9      .7      .3     2.8     1.0      .5
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        147.7   148.6   149.0   149.3     2.8      .5      .2     2.5      .9      .3
  Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        145.7   146.6   147.3   147.8     2.7      .8      .3     2.7     1.1      .5
  Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 ..........      M        149.8   150.4   151.3   152.1     3.1     1.1      .5     3.0     1.0      .6
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        144.9   145.7   147.1   147.3     3.1     1.1      .1     3.4     1.5     1.0
 
South urban ............................      M        150.0   150.8   151.8   152.1     3.2      .9      .2     3.3     1.2      .7
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        148.7   149.5   150.6   151.0     2.7     1.0      .3     2.9     1.3      .7
  Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        150.3   151.1   151.9   152.3     3.3      .8      .3     3.1     1.1      .5
  Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 ..........      M        151.3   152.0   153.0   153.1     3.6      .7      .1     3.9     1.1      .7
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        150.4   152.1   152.9   153.5     3.6      .9      .4     3.8     1.7      .5
 
West urban .............................      M        152.7   153.4   154.2   154.7     2.7      .8      .3     2.6     1.0      .5
  Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        151.2   152.1   152.9   153.2     2.3      .7      .2     2.2     1.1      .5
  Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 ..........      M        157.6   158.2   159.1   159.4     3.6      .8      .2     4.1     1.0      .6
 
Size classes
  A 3/ .................................      M        138.9   139.7   140.2   140.4     2.6      .5      .1     2.6      .9      .4
  B ....................................      M        151.8   152.6   153.3   153.8     3.2      .8      .3     3.0     1.0      .5
  C ....................................      M        153.9   154.4   155.4   155.7     3.3      .8      .2     3.5     1.0      .6
  D ....................................      M        150.3   151.4   152.4   152.8     3.3      .9      .3     3.7     1.4      .7
 
          Selected local areas
 
Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        150.2   151.3   151.5   151.9     2.5      .4      .3     2.2      .9      .1
Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        150.9   151.9   152.4   152.3     1.7      .3     -.1     1.9     1.0      .3
N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        161.7   162.5   162.2   162.8     3.0      .2      .4     3.0      .3     -.2
Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD ..      M        160.5   161.3   161.3   161.3     2.5      .0      .0     2.5      .5      .0
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .....      M        150.5   150.7   151.9   153.0     2.7     1.5      .7     1.7      .9      .8
 
Baltimore, MD ..........................      1         -      151.8    -      152.8     2.3      .7    -       -       -       -
Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1         -      161.7    -      160.8     2.7     -.6    -       -       -       -
Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1         -      143.1    -      144.0     2.9      .6    -       -       -       -
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1         -      150.3    -      151.0     2.9      .5    -       -       -       -
St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........      1         -      148.0    -      147.4     2.2     -.4    -       -       -       -
Washington, DC-MD-VA ...................      1         -      155.4    -      156.7     2.9      .8    -       -       -       -
 
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2        145.9    -      148.6    -       -       -       -        2.8     1.9    -
Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2        146.5    -      147.6    -       -       -       -        2.8      .8    -
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2        140.8    -      142.3    -       -       -       -        3.4     1.1    -
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ...........      2        144.7    -      146.5    -       -       -       -        2.7     1.2    -
 
 
 
   1/     Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as
          indicated:
            M - Every month.
            1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.
            2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.
   2/     Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3/     Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   -      Data not available.
   NOTE:  Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than
          the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error.  As a
          result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are
          similar.  Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average
          CPI for use in their escalator clauses.