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                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  AUGUST 2004
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
 0.1 percent in August, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The August
 level of 189.5 (1982-84=100) was 2.7 percent higher than in August 2003.

      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also increased 0.1 percent in August, prior to seasonal
 adjustment.  The August level of 185.0 was 2.6 percent higher than in
 August 2003.

      The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
 was unchanged in August on a not seasonally adjusted basis.  The August
 level of 110.3 (December 1999=100) was 2.1 percent higher than in August
 2003.  Please note that the indexes for the post-2002 period are subject
 to revision.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.1 percent in
 August, following a 0.1 percent decrease in July.  Energy costs declined
 for the second consecutive month--down 0.3 percent in August--after
 advancing sharply in the first half of the year.  Within energy, the index
 for motor fuels decreased 1.5 percent, while the index for household fuels
 rose 0.9 percent.  The index for food rose 0.1 percent in August, as a 0.3
 percent increase in the index for food away from home more than offset a
 0.2 percent decline in the index for food at home.  The index for all
 items less food and energy registered a 0.1 percent increase for the third
 consecutive month.  Increases in the rent and owners' equivalent rent
 components of shelter were largely offset by declines in the indexes for
 apparel, for recreation, and for lodging away from home.

 
 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                      2004                3-mos. ended  ended
                    Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   Aug. '04  Aug. '04
 All Items            .3    .5   .2   .6   .3  -.1  .1     1.3       2.7
  Food and beverages  .2    .2   .2   .9   .2   .2  .1     1.9       3.5
  Housing             .2    .3   .4   .4   .3   .2  .2     2.6       2.7
  Apparel            -.1    .9   .0   .3   .2  -.8 -.2    -3.6       -.6
  Transportation      .7   1.1   .1  1.7   .8  -.8 -.3    -1.5       2.9
  Medical care        .6    .6   .4   .3   .3   .3  .2     3.4       4.4
  Recreation          .3    .3   .2  -.2   .3  -.2 -.2     -.4        .7
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .3    .1   .3   .0   .2  -.1  .1      .7       1.5
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .2    .2   .1   .1   .1   .3  .2     2.5       2.0
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy            1.7   1.9   .1  4.6  2.6 -1.9 -.3     1.6      10.5
   Food               .2    .2   .2   .9   .2   .3  .1     1.9       3.5
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .2    .4   .3   .2   .1   .1  .1     1.0       1.7
 
      During the first eight months of 2004, the CPI-U rose at a 3.7
 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an
 increase of 1.9 percent for all of 2003.   The index for energy, which
 increased 6.9 percent in 2003, increased at a 21.9 percent SAAR in the
 first eight months of 2004.  Petroleum-based energy costs increased at a
 35.9 percent annual rate and charges for energy services rose at an 8.7
 percent annual rate.  The food index has increased at a 2.9 percent rate
 thus far in 2004, following a 3.6 percent rise for all of 2003.  Excluding
 food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.2 percent SAAR in the first
 eight months of 2004 after advancing 1.1 percent in 2003.

      The food and beverages index increased 0.1 percent in August.  The
 index for food at home decreased 0.2 percent, following a 0.2 percent
 increase in July.  A 1.8 percent decline in the index for dairy products
 more than offset small increases in the indexes for fruits and vegetables
 and for other food at home--up 0.2 and 0.1 percent, respectively.  Within
 the index for dairy products, milk prices fell 4.4 percent in August, but
 remained 17.7 percent higher than in August 2003.  The indexes for fresh
 vegetables and for processed fruits and vegetables rose 1.7 and 0.4
 percent, respectively, while the index for fresh fruits fell 1.4 percent.
 The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs was unchanged in August.  Egg
 prices declined for the fifth consecutive month--down 4.5 percent in
 August.  The indexes for pork and for fish and seafood also declined in
 August.  These declines were offset by increases in the indexes for
 poultry, for beef and veal, and for other meats.  The two other major
 grocery store food groups--cereal and bakery products and nonalcoholic
 beverages--registered no change in August. The other two components of the
 food and beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--
 increased 0.3 and 0.2 percent, respectively.
 
      The index for housing rose 0.2 percent in August, the same as in
 July.  Shelter costs, which rose 0.2 percent in July, increased 0.1
 percent in August.  The index for lodging away from home declined 1.7
 percent in August, following a 1.1 percent increase in July.  The indexes
 for rent and owners' equivalent rent each increased 0.3 percent.  The
 index for fuels and utilities rose 0.8 percent in August.  The index for
 fuel oil rose 5.2 percent in August and was 24.8 percent higher than in
 August 2003.  The indexes for natural gas and for electricity increased
 1.0 and 0.3 percent, respectively.  During the last 12 months, these
 indexes have advanced 9.4 and 2.2 percent, respectively.  The index for
 household furnishings and operations decreased 0.2 percent in August.
 Declines in the indexes for furniture and bedding, for appliances, and for
 window and floor coverings and other linens were partially offset by
 increases in charges for domestic services and for gardening and lawncare
 services.
      
      The transportation index declined for the second consecutive month,
 down 0.3 percent in August, reflecting decreases in the indexes for motor
 fuels, for new vehicles, and for airline fares.   The index for gasoline,
 which registered its peak level in June, declined for the second
 consecutive month--down 1.4 percent in August.  Reflecting increased
 incentives by some manufacturers in mid-July, the index for new vehicles
 declined 0.3 percent in August.  Partially offsetting these declines was a
 1.3 percent increase in the index for used cars and trucks.  Despite
 advances in July and August, used car and truck prices were still 6.6
 percent lower than a year ago.  The index for public transportation
 decreased 1.4 percent, reflecting a 3.7 percent decline in airline fares.
      
      The index for apparel declined for the second consecutive month, down
 0.2 percent in August.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose
 0.5 percent, as price increases associated with the introduction of fall-
 winter wear more than offset the decline in prices for the discounted
 spring-summer clothing.  The proportion of fall-winter clothing introduced
 in this August, however, was somewhat less than in recent years.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in August to a level 4.4 percent
 higher than a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--
 prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased
 0.1 percent.  The index for medical care services rose 0.2 percent in
 August.  Charges for professional services and for hospital and related
 services increased 0.5 and decreased 0.4 percent, respectively.
      
      In August, for the second consecutive month, the index for recreation
 decreased 0.2 percent.  Declines in prices for sporting goods, for video
 and audio equipment, and for toys were largely responsible for the August
 decrease.
      
      The index for education and communication increased 0.1 percent in
 August.  Educational costs rose 0.6 percent, reflecting increases of 1.0
 percent in the indexes for both college tuition and for college textbooks.
 (Prior to seasonal adjustment, charges for college tuition and fees rose
 3.2 percent in August and were 8.4 percent higher than a year ago.)  The
 index for communication costs declined 0.5 percent.  The index for
 telephone services declined 0.6 percent, reflecting a 1.9 percent decrease
 in long distance charges.  The index for personal computers and peripheral
 equipment declined 1.3 percent.
      
      The index for other goods and services rose 0.2 percent August.  The
 indexes for tobacco and smoking products and for personal care each
 increased 0.2 percent.  Within personal care services, the index for
 haircuts rose 0.7 percent in August.
 
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers increased 0.1 percent in August.

 
 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                      2004                3-mos. ended  ended
                    Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   Aug. '04  Aug. '04
 All Items            .3    .5   .2   .7   .3  -.1  .1     1.3       2.6
  Food and beverages  .2    .2   .2   .9   .2   .3  .1     1.9       3.7
  Housing             .2    .2   .3   .3   .4   .3  .2     3.5       2.8
  Apparel             .0    .8  -.1   .2   .0  -.7 -.4    -4.2       -.2
  Transportation      .6   1.3  -.1  2.1   .7  -.9 -.2    -1.5       2.7
  Medical care        .7    .6   .4   .3   .3   .3  .2     3.3       4.6
  Recreation          .4    .3   .0   .0   .2  -.3 -.2    -1.1        .4
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .2    .1   .2  -.2   .2  -.1  .0      .4        .7
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .2    .2   .2   .1   .1   .4  .2     2.9       1.8
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy            1.6   2.2  -.1  5.0  2.7 -2.0 -.5      .5      10.8
   Food               .2    .2   .1  1.0   .1   .3  .1     2.0       3.7
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .2    .3   .2   .1   .2   .1  .1     1.5       1.4



     Consumer Price Index data for September are scheduled for release on
 Tuesday, October 19, 2004, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).

 _________________________________________________________________________________


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 _________________________________________________________________________________


 Brief Explanation of the CPI

      The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in
 prices over time of goods and services purchased by households.  The
 Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups:  (1)
 the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers
 households of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise
 approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All
 Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-
 U), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population and
 include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households, groups
 such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-
 employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not
 in the labor force.
 
      The CPIs are based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels,
 transportation fares, charges for doctors' and dentists' services, drugs,
 and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living.
 Prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about
 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail establishments-
 department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other
 types of stores and service establishments.  All taxes directly associated
 with the purchase and use of items are included in the index.  Prices of
 fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations.
 Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
 the three largest geographic areas and every other month in other areas.
 Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or
 telephone calls of the Bureau's trained representatives.
 
      In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each
 location are averaged together with weights, which represent their
 importance in the spending of the appropriate population group.  Local
 data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average.  For the CPI-U and
 CPI-W separate indexes are also published by size of city, by region of
 the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size
 classes, and for 27 local areas.  Area indexes do not measure differences
 in the level of prices among cities; they only measure the average change
 in prices for each area since the base period.  For the C-CPI-U data are
 issued only at the national level.  It is important to note that the CPI-U
 and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in
 preliminary form and subject to two annual revisions.
 
      The index measures price change from a designed reference date.  For
 the CPI-U and the CPI-W the reference base is 1982-84 equals 100.0. The
 reference base for the C-CPI-U is December 1999 equals 100.
 An increase of 16.5 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown
 as 116.5.  This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:  the
 price of a base period market basket of goods and services in the CPI has
 risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65.
 
      For further details visit the CPI home page on the Internet at
 http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ or contact our CPI Information and Analysis
 Section on (202) 691-7000.

 _______________________________________________________________________________________ 


       Calculating Index Changes
 
            Movements of the indexes from one month to another are
       usually expressed as percent changes rather than changes in index 
       points, because index point changes are affected by the level of 
       the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are 
       not.  The example below illustrates the computation of index point 
       and percent changes.
       
            Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods are expressed 
       as annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula 
       for compound growth rates.  These data indicate what the percent 
       change would be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month 
       period.
       
         
                    Index Point Change
       
       CPI   					115.7
       Less previous index    			111.2
       Equals index point change  		4.5
       
       
                    Percent Change
       
       Index point difference			4.5
       Divided by the previous index		111.2
       Equals					0.040
       Results multiplied by one hundred	0.040 x 100
       Equals percent change			4.0

 __________________________________________________________________________


 Regions Defined
 
 The states in the four regions shown in Tables 3 and 6 are listed below.
 
 The Northeast--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,
 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

 The Midwest--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
 Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

 The South--Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
 Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
 Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of
 Columbia.

 The West--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana,
 Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

 _______________________________________________________________________________________


 A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data
 
   Because price data are used for different purposes by different groups,
 the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted as well as
 unadjusted changes each month.
   
   For analyzing general price trends in the economy, seasonally adjusted
 changes are usually preferred since they eliminate the effect of changes
 that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every
 year--such as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions,
 production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales.
   
   The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about
 the prices they actually pay.  Unadjusted data also are used extensively
 for escalation purposes.  Many collective bargaining contract agreements
 and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer
 Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.
   
   Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted indexes are
 derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method.  The updated
 seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977.
 Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g.,
 data from 1999 through 2003 were replaced at the end of 2003.  In January
 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-
 December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for
 dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see
 "Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series," in the
 October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
   
   The seasonal movement of All items and 54 other aggregations is derived
 by combining the seasonal movement of 73 selected components.  Each year
 the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain
 statistical criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their seasonal
 adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not
 seasonally adjusted data will be used for the last 5 years, but the
 seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period.  Note: 47 of
 the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2004.
   
   Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are
 subject to revision for up to five years after their original release.
 For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation
 agreements.
   
        Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990,
 the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an enhanced seasonal adjustment
 procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI
 series.  Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better
 estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  Extreme values and/or sharp
 movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and
 removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning
 with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was
 used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.
   
        For the fuel oil, natural gas, motor fuels, and educational books
 and supplies indexes, this procedure was used to offset the effects that
 extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of
 seasonally adjusted data for those series.   For the Nonalcoholic
 beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of labor and
 supply problems for coffee.  The procedure was used to account for unusual
 butter fat supply reductions, decreases in milk supply, and large swings
 in soybean oil inventories affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the
 Water and sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to account
 for a data collection anomaly and dry weather in California.  For Dairy
 products, it mitigated the effects of significant changes in milk
 production levels and higher demand for cheese.  For Electricity, it was
 used to offset an increase in demand due to warmer than expected weather,
 increased rates to conserve supplies, and declining natural gas
 inventories.  For New vehicles, New cars, and New trucks, the procedure
 was used to offset the effects of a model changeover combined with
 financing incentives.
   
        For additional information on seasonal adjustment in the CPI,
 please write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer
 Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Daniel Chow on
 (202) 691-6968 by e-mail at Chow.Daniel@bls.gov.  If you have general
 questions about the CPI, please call our information staff at (202) 691-
 7000.



 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Aug. 2004 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   2003       July      Aug.                                            
                                                              2004      2004     Aug.     July    May to June to July to
                                                                                 2003     2004     June    July    Aug. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................    100.000     189.4     189.5      2.7      0.1     0.3    -0.1     0.1 
 All items (1967=100).........................          -     567.5     567.6        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................     15.384     187.2     187.3      3.5      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
   Food.......................................     14.383     186.8     186.8      3.5      0.0     0.2     0.3     0.1 
    Food at home..............................      8.256     187.1     186.7      3.9     -0.2     0.1     0.2    -0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products..............      1.202     207.2     207.2      1.3      0.0     0.1     0.1     0.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........      2.320     183.7     183.7      8.2      0.0     0.3     0.8     0.0 
     Dairy and related products...............       .842     187.7     184.9     10.4     -1.5     1.7    -0.6    -1.8 
     Fruits and vegetables....................      1.221     224.5     224.0     -0.4     -0.2    -0.8    -0.2     0.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................       .905     140.5     140.3      0.4     -0.1     0.0     0.3     0.0 
     Other food at home.......................      1.765     166.0     166.2      1.8      0.1    -0.1     0.2     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets........................       .305     163.8     164.4      1.2      0.4    -0.3     0.4     0.6 
      Fats and oils...........................       .251     171.9     169.7      7.6     -1.3     1.8    -0.2    -1.3 
      Other foods.............................      1.210     180.3     180.9      0.8      0.3    -0.6     0.3     0.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .308     109.4     111.5      1.5      1.9     0.1    -1.4     1.9 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.127     187.8     188.4      3.2      0.3     0.2     0.4     0.3 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .332     125.1     125.4      3.3      0.2     0.0    -0.1     0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................      1.001     192.2     192.5      2.9      0.2     0.4    -0.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................     42.089     190.9     191.2      2.7      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
   Shelter....................................     32.878     220.0     220.3      2.8      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      6.157     211.2     211.9      2.8      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.954     132.2     130.6      4.4     -1.2    -0.9     1.1    -1.7 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     23.383     225.1     225.7      2.5      0.3     0.2     0.1     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .385     116.1     116.3      0.4      0.2     0.1    -0.1     0.2 
   Fuels and utilities........................      4.741     166.6     167.7      5.3      0.7     1.9     0.4     0.8 
    Fuels.....................................      3.830     149.5     150.5      5.2      0.7     2.3     0.4     0.9 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................       .231     151.1     157.4     20.4      4.2     3.2     3.0     5.3 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.599     156.9     157.6      4.4      0.4     2.1     0.2     0.6 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .910     124.4     125.3      6.2      0.7     0.5     0.6     0.4 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      4.470     125.2     124.8     -0.6     -0.3     0.1    -0.3    -0.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .704     125.5     126.1      3.5      0.5     0.6     0.6     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................      3.975     115.9     116.5     -0.6      0.5     0.2    -0.8    -0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................      1.024     115.2     113.8      0.4     -1.2     0.3     0.0    -1.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................      1.704     106.1     107.5     -0.4      1.3     0.2    -1.1    -0.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............       .195     114.5     115.0     -4.8      0.4     0.3     0.4    -1.4 
   Footwear...................................       .778     115.1     117.3     -0.4      1.9     0.0    -1.8     1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................     16.881     164.0     162.9      2.9     -0.7     0.8    -0.8    -0.3 
   Private transportation.....................     15.817     160.0     159.1      3.2     -0.6     0.8    -0.9    -0.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.912      93.5      93.4     -2.7     -0.1    -0.1     0.0     0.1 
     New vehicles.............................      4.817     135.9     134.9     -1.4     -0.7     0.2    -0.7    -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      2.007     132.1     133.8     -6.6      1.3    -0.9     1.1     1.3 
    Motor fuel................................      3.249     165.2     162.0     16.5     -1.9     3.0    -4.0    -1.5 
     Gasoline (all types).....................      3.222     164.5     161.2     16.5     -2.0     3.1    -4.2    -1.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .369     108.8     109.0      1.0      0.2     0.3     0.6     0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......      1.349     200.3     200.8      2.6      0.2     0.5     0.4     0.2 
   Public transportation......................      1.064     214.4     209.7     -1.9     -2.2     0.0     0.4    -1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................      6.074     311.0     311.6      4.4      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.499     269.9     270.0      2.2      0.0     0.1     0.0     0.1 
   Medical care services......................      4.575     322.3     323.1      5.2      0.2     0.4     0.4     0.2 
    Professional services.....................      2.749     272.3     273.3      4.4      0.4     0.3     0.3     0.5 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.489     419.1     418.8      5.2     -0.1     0.6     0.6    -0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.872     108.7     108.5      0.7     -0.2     0.3    -0.2    -0.2 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.736     104.4     104.1      0.4     -0.3     0.1     0.1    -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.948     110.9     111.7      1.5      0.7     0.2    -0.1     0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.841     142.1     145.1      6.5      2.1     0.5     0.4     0.6 
    Educational books and supplies............       .219     349.5     353.3      4.4      1.1     0.1    -0.1     1.0 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.      2.623     409.4     418.3      6.7      2.2     0.5     0.4     0.7 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.107      86.5      86.1     -3.3     -0.5     0.0    -0.6    -0.5 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.925      84.5      84.0     -3.4     -0.6    -0.1    -0.2    -0.6 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.315      95.6      95.0     -2.9     -0.6    -0.1    -0.2    -0.6 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................       .610      14.8      14.7     -6.4     -0.7     0.0    -0.7    -0.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .230      15.3      15.1     -9.6     -1.3    -1.3    -1.3    -1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................      3.776     305.1     305.5      2.0      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........       .806     480.5     481.6      2.1      0.2     0.5     0.9     0.2 
   Personal care..............................      2.970     181.7     181.9      2.0      0.1     0.0     0.1     0.2 
    Personal care products (1)................       .680     153.4     152.8     -0.5     -0.4    -0.5    -0.3    -0.4 
    Personal care services (1)................       .650     197.5     198.9      2.6      0.7     0.2     0.3     0.7 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........      1.448     294.4     295.2      3.8      0.3     0.3     0.3     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................     40.117     154.5     154.2      2.2     -0.2     0.4    -0.5    -0.1 
  Food and beverages..........................     15.384     187.2     187.3      3.5      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........     24.733     136.1     135.6      1.3     -0.4     0.5    -0.9    -0.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........     13.458     156.7     156.1      4.6     -0.4     0.2    -0.3    -0.6 
    Apparel...................................      3.975     115.9     116.5     -0.6      0.5     0.2    -0.8    -0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................      9.483     185.8     184.4      6.6     -0.8     1.2    -1.9    -0.4 
   Durables...................................     11.275     114.1     113.7     -2.6     -0.4    -0.2    -0.3     0.0 
 Services.....................................     59.883     224.1     224.5      3.0      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.1 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     32.494     229.2     229.4      2.8      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.0 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .385     116.1     116.3      0.4      0.2     0.1    -0.1     0.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.599     156.9     157.6      4.4      0.4     2.1     0.2     0.6 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .910     124.4     125.3      6.2      0.7     0.5     0.6     0.4 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .704     125.5     126.1      3.5      0.5     0.6     0.6     0.5 
  Transportation services.....................      6.319     221.6     220.8      1.7     -0.4     0.2     0.5    -0.1 
  Medical care services.......................      4.575     322.3     323.1      5.2      0.2     0.4     0.4     0.2 
  Other services..............................     10.896     260.5     261.9      2.5      0.5     0.3     0.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................     85.617     189.9     189.9      2.5      0.0     0.4    -0.1     0.0 
 All items less shelter.......................     67.122     179.6     179.5      2.6     -0.1     0.4    -0.2     0.0 
 All items less medical care..................     93.926     183.2     183.2      2.5      0.0     0.3    -0.1     0.0 
 Commodities less food........................     25.734     138.2     137.7      1.3     -0.4     0.5    -0.9    -0.3 
 Nondurables less food........................     14.459     158.8     158.2      4.4     -0.4     0.2    -0.4    -0.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............     10.484     185.6     184.3      6.3     -0.7     1.1    -1.7    -0.6 
 Nondurables..................................     28.842     172.2     171.9      4.1     -0.2     0.5    -0.2    -0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.389     235.0     235.6      3.2      0.3     0.6     0.1     0.4 
 Services less medical care services..........     55.308     215.8     216.2      2.8      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
 Energy.......................................      7.080     156.3     155.3     10.5     -0.6     2.6    -1.9    -0.3 
 All items less energy........................     92.920     194.5     194.7      2.0      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
  All items less food and energy..............     78.537     196.6     196.8      1.7      0.1     0.1     0.1     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................     22.254     138.2     138.1     -1.1     -0.1     0.0    -0.3    -0.1 
    Energy commodities........................      3.480     165.1     162.5     16.7     -1.6     3.0    -3.7    -1.0 
   Services less energy services..............     56.283     231.0     231.4      2.9      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.1 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .528    $ .528        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00).............................          -    $ .176    $ .176        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 May     June    July    Aug.                                           
                                                 2004    2004    2004    2004                                           
                                                                                Nov.   Feb.    May   Aug.   Feb.   Aug. 
                                                                                2003   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................  188.8   189.4   189.3   189.4    0.2    3.7    5.5    1.3    2.0    3.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................  186.6   186.9   187.3   187.5    4.7    2.6    5.1    1.9    3.7    3.5 
   Food.......................................  186.1   186.4   186.9   187.0    4.7    2.7    5.1    1.9    3.7    3.5 
    Food at home..............................  186.7   186.9   187.3   187.0    6.4    1.8    6.9    0.6    4.0    3.7 
     Cereals and bakery products..............  205.7   206.0   206.2   206.3    0.4    0.8    3.0    1.2    0.6    2.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........  182.0   182.5   183.9   183.9   22.4    1.3    6.2    4.2   11.4    5.2 
     Dairy and related products...............  186.8   189.9   188.7   185.3    5.8    2.4   41.4   -3.2    4.1   17.0 
     Fruits and vegetables....................  229.3   227.5   227.0   227.4    2.3   -1.9    1.6   -3.3    0.2   -0.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................  139.9   139.9   140.3   140.3   -2.3    4.4   -1.7    1.1    1.0   -0.3 
     Other food at home.......................  165.7   165.5   165.8   165.9   -1.5    4.0    4.5    0.5    1.2    2.5 
      Sugar and sweets........................  163.2   162.7   163.3   164.2    2.5    0.0   -0.2    2.5    1.2    1.1 
      Fats and oils...........................  169.0   172.0   171.7   169.4    1.5   11.3   17.6    1.0    6.3    8.9 
      Other foods.............................  180.7   179.7   180.2   180.6   -2.9    3.6    2.9   -0.2    0.3    1.3 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  110.8   110.9   109.4   111.5   -3.2    1.8    4.8    2.6   -0.7    3.7 
    Food away from home (1)...................  186.7   187.0   187.8   188.4    2.7    3.8    2.6    3.7    3.2    3.2 
     Other food away from home (2)............  125.2   125.2   125.1   125.4    3.0    5.7    3.9    0.6    4.3    2.3 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................  191.7   192.4   192.2   192.5    3.2    2.8    3.8    1.7    3.0    2.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................  189.1   189.6   190.0   190.3    0.9    3.0    4.3    2.6    2.0    3.4 
   Shelter....................................  218.6   218.8   219.3   219.5    2.3    1.7    5.3    1.7    2.0    3.5 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  210.4   210.9   211.4   212.1    2.1    2.3    3.5    3.3    2.2    3.4 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  126.7   125.6   127.0   124.9    3.0   -2.9   25.1   -5.6    0.0    8.7 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  224.6   225.0   225.3   225.9    2.2    2.0    3.5    2.3    2.1    2.9 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  116.1   116.2   116.1   116.3   -5.1    2.5    3.9    0.7   -1.4    2.3 
   Fuels and utilities........................  159.7   162.7   163.3   164.6   -4.3   12.5    2.0   12.8    3.8    7.3 
    Fuels.....................................  142.1   145.3   145.9   147.2   -6.4   13.8    0.8   15.1    3.2    7.8 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................  148.5   153.3   157.9   166.2   -3.2   32.6    4.4   56.9   13.3   28.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  148.9   152.1   152.4   153.3   -6.9   12.8    0.8   12.4    2.5    6.4 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  123.3   123.9   124.6   125.1    5.9    7.9    5.0    6.0    6.9    5.5 
   Household furnishings and operations.......  125.4   125.5   125.1   124.9   -1.9    2.3   -1.0   -1.6    0.2   -1.3 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  124.0   124.7   125.5   126.1    2.0    3.3    2.0    6.9    2.6    4.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................  121.2   121.4   120.4   120.1   -0.3   -3.0    5.1   -3.6   -1.7    0.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................  118.3   118.6   118.6   117.1    4.9    0.7    0.0   -4.0    2.8   -2.0 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................  114.0   114.2   113.0   112.7   -0.7   -4.9    9.3   -4.5   -2.8    2.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............  117.4   117.7   118.2   116.6   -7.0   -1.7   -7.8   -2.7   -4.4   -5.3 
   Footwear...................................  119.0   119.0   116.9   118.8    0.0   -3.3    2.4   -0.7   -1.7    0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................  163.7   165.0   163.6   163.1   -6.9    9.0   12.4   -1.5    0.8    5.2 
   Private transportation.....................  160.0   161.3   159.8   159.4   -7.5    9.9   13.5   -1.5    0.8    5.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   93.9    93.8    93.8    93.9   -8.0   -1.7   -0.8    0.0   -4.9   -0.4 
     New vehicles.............................  137.3   137.6   136.7   136.3   -2.9    1.2   -0.6   -2.9   -0.9   -1.7 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  131.8   130.6   132.1   133.8  -28.0   -3.0    2.5    6.2  -16.4    4.3 
    Motor fuel................................  164.9   169.9   163.1   160.7  -18.8   51.0   66.8   -9.8   10.7   22.7 
     Gasoline (all types).....................  164.2   169.3   162.2   160.0  -18.6   51.2   66.7   -9.8   10.9   22.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  107.9   108.2   108.8   109.0    0.0    0.4   -0.4    4.1    0.2    1.9 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......  199.0   199.9   200.7   201.2    1.8    1.6    2.4    4.5    1.7    3.5 
   Public transportation......................  208.8   208.8   209.6   206.6    1.3   -2.4   -2.3   -4.1   -0.6   -3.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................  309.0   309.9   310.9   311.6    4.1    5.4    4.9    3.4    4.7    4.2 
   Medical care commodities...................  269.1   269.4   269.3   269.7    1.5    3.1    3.6    0.9    2.3    2.3 
   Medical care services......................  319.8   321.0   322.3   323.1    4.9    6.2    5.3    4.2    5.5    4.7 
    Professional services.....................  270.6   271.3   272.0   273.3    3.1    5.9    4.7    4.1    4.5    4.4 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  415.5   418.1   420.4   418.8    7.3    5.3    5.1    3.2    6.3    4.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  108.6   108.9   108.7   108.5    0.7    1.5    1.1   -0.4    1.1    0.4 
   Video and audio (2)........................  104.2   104.3   104.4   104.1    1.2   -1.1    1.9   -0.4    0.0    0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  111.4   111.6   111.5   111.6    1.5    2.2    1.4    0.7    1.8    1.1 
   Education (2)..............................  142.6   143.3   143.9   144.8    5.1    7.2    7.0    6.3    6.1    6.7 
    Educational books and supplies............  351.0   351.3   350.9   354.3   -2.0    9.6    6.5    3.8    3.6    5.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.  410.9   413.0   414.8   417.5    6.0    6.8    7.2    6.6    6.4    6.9 
   Communication (2)..........................   87.0    87.0    86.5    86.1   -2.7   -2.7   -3.6   -4.1   -2.7   -3.8 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   84.8    84.7    84.5    84.0   -3.6   -0.5   -5.9   -3.7   -2.1   -4.8 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   95.9    95.8    95.6    95.0   -2.4   -0.4   -4.9   -3.7   -1.4   -4.3 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................   14.9    14.9    14.8    14.7   -7.4   -5.1   -7.7   -5.3   -6.3   -6.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   15.7    15.5    15.3    15.1   -9.2   -7.2   -7.3  -14.4   -8.2  -10.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................  303.6   303.9   304.8   305.5    0.5    3.0    1.7    2.5    1.7    2.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  473.5   476.0   480.5   481.6   -2.3    3.0    0.8    7.0    0.3    3.8 
   Personal care..............................  181.3   181.3   181.5   181.9    1.4    2.9    2.0    1.3    2.1    1.7 
    Personal care products (1)................  154.6   153.8   153.4   152.8   -0.8    3.4    0.3   -4.6    1.3   -2.2 
    Personal care services (1)................  196.6   196.9   197.5   198.9    0.6    2.1    2.9    4.8    1.3    3.8 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........  292.8   293.6   294.4   295.2    4.7    3.4    4.1    3.3    4.1    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................  155.2   155.8   155.0   154.8   -2.6    5.1    7.6   -1.0    1.2    3.2 
  Food and beverages..........................  186.6   186.9   187.3   187.5    4.7    2.6    5.1    1.9    3.7    3.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........  137.4   138.1   136.9   136.5   -6.7    6.2    9.2   -2.6   -0.4    3.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........  158.1   158.4   158.0   157.0   -1.9    9.4   14.6   -2.8    3.6    5.6 
    Apparel...................................  121.2   121.4   120.4   120.1   -0.3   -3.0    5.1   -3.6   -1.7    0.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................  186.2   188.4   184.9   184.1   -7.6   16.8   25.3   -4.4    3.9    9.4 
   Durables...................................  114.7   114.5   114.2   114.2   -7.0    0.7   -1.7   -1.7   -3.2   -1.7 
 Services.....................................  222.1   222.8   223.4   223.7    2.0    3.0    3.9    2.9    2.5    3.4 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  227.7   228.1   228.7   228.8    2.4    1.8    5.4    1.9    2.1    3.7 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  116.1   116.2   116.1   116.3   -5.1    2.5    3.9    0.7   -1.4    2.3 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  148.9   152.1   152.4   153.3   -6.9   12.8    0.8   12.4    2.5    6.4 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  123.3   123.9   124.6   125.1    5.9    7.9    5.0    6.0    6.9    5.5 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  124.0   124.7   125.5   126.1    2.0    3.3    2.0    6.9    2.6    4.4 
  Transportation services.....................  219.6   220.1   221.1   220.8    3.0    0.7    0.7    2.2    1.9    1.5 
  Medical care services.......................  319.8   321.0   322.3   323.1    4.9    6.2    5.3    4.2    5.5    4.7 
  Other services..............................  260.3   261.0   261.3   261.8    2.7    2.8    2.3    2.3    2.8    2.3 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................  189.2   189.9   189.8   189.8   -0.4    3.7    5.5    1.3    1.6    3.3 
 All items less shelter.......................  179.2   180.0   179.7   179.7   -0.7    4.9    5.3    1.1    2.1    3.2 
 All items less medical care..................  182.6   183.2   183.1   183.1    0.0    3.6    5.4    1.1    1.8    3.2 
 Commodities less food........................  139.4   140.1   138.9   138.5   -6.3    6.1    8.8   -2.6   -0.3    3.0 
 Nondurables less food........................  160.1   160.5   159.9   159.2   -1.8    8.7   14.1   -2.2    3.3    5.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............  186.2   188.2   185.0   183.9   -6.8   15.1   25.0   -4.9    3.6    9.1 
 Nondurables..................................  172.5   173.3   172.9   172.4    1.7    5.9    9.1   -0.2    3.8    4.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  232.2   233.5   233.8   234.7    2.5    4.1    1.9    4.4    3.3    3.1 
 Services less medical care services..........  213.8   214.5   214.9   215.3    2.1    2.3    4.0    2.8    2.2    3.4 
 Energy.......................................  152.4   156.4   153.4   153.0  -12.7   30.1   29.7    1.6    6.6   14.8 
 All items less energy........................  194.2   194.5   194.7   194.8    1.3    1.9    3.6    1.2    1.6    2.4 
  All items less food and energy..............  196.4   196.6   196.8   196.9    0.8    1.7    3.3    1.0    1.2    2.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................  139.7   139.7   139.3   139.1   -4.2    0.3    0.9   -1.7   -2.0   -0.4 
    Energy commodities........................  164.7   169.7   163.5   161.8  -18.0   50.1   61.9   -6.9   11.0   22.8 
   Services less energy services..............  229.6   230.0   230.6   230.9    2.7    2.1    4.3    2.3    2.4    3.3 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Aug.2004 from--      July 2004 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule    May   June   July   Aug.                                           
                                                 (1)   2004   2004   2004   2004   Aug.   June   July   July    May   June 
                                                                                   2003   2004   2004   2003   2004   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average............................   M    189.1  189.7  189.4  189.5    2.7   -0.1    0.1    3.0    0.2   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban..............................   M    199.9  201.1  201.0  201.0    3.4    0.0    0.0    3.9    0.6    0.0 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    202.0  203.3  203.0  203.1    3.3   -0.1    0.0    3.8    0.5   -0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    118.3  118.7  119.2  118.9    3.9    0.2   -0.3    4.1    0.8    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban................................   M    182.9  183.3  183.2  183.3    2.5    0.0    0.1    2.9    0.2   -0.1 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    185.0  185.3  185.4  185.6    2.4    0.2    0.1    2.7    0.2    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    116.4  116.8  116.3  116.5    2.6   -0.3    0.2    2.8   -0.1   -0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    176.0  176.9  177.1  176.3    2.4   -0.3   -0.5    3.3    0.6    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban..................................   M    182.0  182.9  182.6  182.6    2.6   -0.2    0.0    3.0    0.3   -0.2 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    183.4  184.3  183.7  183.7    2.2   -0.3    0.0    2.6    0.2   -0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    116.4  117.0  116.9  116.9    3.1   -0.1    0.0    3.4    0.4   -0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    179.4  180.5  180.1  180.0    2.3   -0.3   -0.1    2.9    0.4   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban...................................   M    193.4  193.3  192.9  193.0    2.0   -0.2    0.1    2.4   -0.3   -0.2 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    195.9  195.9  195.4  195.5    2.0   -0.2    0.1    2.4   -0.3   -0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    118.2  117.9  117.9  118.1    2.3    0.2    0.2    2.4   -0.3    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    172.9  173.4  173.1  173.2    2.5   -0.1    0.1    2.9    0.1   -0.2 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    117.0  117.3  117.3  117.3    3.0    0.0    0.0    3.3    0.3    0.0 
   D..........................................   M    180.9  181.8  181.3  181.0    2.2   -0.4   -0.2    3.0    0.2   -0.3 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI...............   M    188.7  189.1  189.2  190.2    3.1    0.6    0.5    2.8    0.3    0.1 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA......   M    193.3  193.7  193.4  193.1    3.3   -0.3   -0.2    3.8    0.1   -0.2 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA..............................   M    204.4  206.0  205.5  205.7    3.3   -0.1    0.1    3.9    0.5   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT..........   1    208.7      -  208.9      -      -      -      -    2.9    0.1      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH..........................   1    181.3      -  181.7      -      -      -      -    3.2    0.2      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX........................   1    179.1      -  179.1      -      -      -      -    1.5    0.0      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    118.9      -  120.2      -      -      -      -    2.9    1.1      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA..................................   2        -  185.7      -  184.1    1.3   -0.9      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI..................   2        -  185.8      -  186.8    1.7    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX...............   2        -  169.3      -  169.1    3.0   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL....................   2        -  185.6      -  185.1    2.3   -0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD..............................   2        -  198.0      -  199.1    4.2    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA...........   2        -  199.0      -  198.7    1.2   -0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA.................   2        -  195.3      -  194.6    0.1   -0.4      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA;
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Aug. 2004 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   2003       July      Aug.                                            
                                                              2004      2004     Aug.     July    May to June to July to
                                                                                 2003     2004     June    July    Aug. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................    100.000     184.9     185.0      2.6      0.1     0.3    -0.1     0.1 
 All items (1967=100).........................          -     550.8     551.0        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................     17.151     186.8     186.9      3.7      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.1 
   Food.......................................     16.061     186.3     186.4      3.7      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.1 
    Food at home..............................      9.637     186.3     186.1      4.1     -0.1     0.2     0.1    -0.1 
     Cereals and bakery products..............      1.364     207.2     207.0      1.2     -0.1     0.1     0.2     0.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........      2.908     183.7     183.7      8.4      0.0     0.4     0.6     0.1 
     Dairy and related products...............       .955     187.8     184.9     10.7     -1.5     1.7    -0.8    -1.7 
     Fruits and vegetables....................      1.344     222.3     222.2     -0.7      0.0    -0.9    -0.2     0.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................      1.076     139.8     139.6      0.5     -0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
     Other food at home.......................      1.991     165.6     165.8      2.0      0.1    -0.2     0.1     0.2 
      Sugar and sweets........................       .321     162.9     163.8      1.0      0.6    -0.4     0.4     0.7 
      Fats and oils...........................       .303     172.0     169.9      7.7     -1.2     1.8    -0.1    -1.5 
      Other foods.............................      1.366     180.7     181.4      0.9      0.4    -0.6     0.2     0.3 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .350     109.7     112.0      1.7      2.1     0.2    -1.5     2.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.424     187.6     188.2      3.2      0.3     0.1     0.4     0.3 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .252     124.9     125.2      3.0      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................      1.090     192.2     192.8      3.2      0.3     0.4    -0.3     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................     39.114     186.2     186.6      2.8      0.2     0.4     0.3     0.2 
   Shelter....................................     30.151     213.0     213.4      2.7      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.065     210.3     211.0      2.8      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.722     133.0     131.6      5.1     -1.1    -0.7     1.8    -1.0 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.026     204.2     204.7      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .337     116.3     116.5      0.7      0.2     0.1    -0.2     0.2 
   Fuels and utilities........................      5.079     166.1     167.2      5.4      0.7     1.9     0.4     0.8 
    Fuels.....................................      4.146     148.4     149.3      5.2      0.6     2.2     0.3     0.8 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................       .216     150.2     156.8     21.0      4.4     3.3     3.3     5.4 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.930     156.2     156.8      4.5      0.4     2.2     0.1     0.6 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .933     124.5     125.4      6.2      0.7     0.4     0.6     0.4 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      3.884     120.7     120.4     -0.8     -0.2     0.2    -0.6    -0.1 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .318     127.5     128.0      4.1      0.4     0.9     0.4     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................      4.357     115.6     115.9     -0.2      0.3     0.0    -0.7    -0.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................      1.120     115.2     113.3      0.4     -1.6     0.1     0.0    -1.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................      1.727     106.0     106.9      0.0      0.8     0.0    -1.0    -0.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............       .250     117.0     117.6     -4.3      0.5     0.1     0.2    -1.2 
   Footwear...................................      1.011     114.4     116.3     -0.8      1.7     0.1    -1.3     1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................     19.145     162.2     161.4      2.7     -0.5     0.7    -0.9    -0.2 
   Private transportation.....................     18.348     159.3     158.6      2.9     -0.4     0.8    -0.9    -0.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.305      92.1      92.2     -3.7      0.1    -0.3     0.2     0.2 
     New vehicles.............................      4.864     137.0     136.0     -1.4     -0.7     0.1    -0.6    -0.4 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.487     133.0     134.6     -6.5      1.2    -0.9     1.2     1.2 
    Motor fuel................................      3.967     165.6     162.4     16.5     -1.9     3.1    -4.0    -1.6 
     Gasoline (all types).....................      3.936     165.0     161.7     16.5     -2.0     3.2    -4.0    -1.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .456     108.2     108.4      1.0      0.2     0.3     0.4     0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......      1.365     202.1     202.7      2.7      0.3     0.4     0.3     0.4 
   Public transportation......................       .797     212.1     208.0     -1.2     -1.9    -0.1     0.6    -1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................      4.969     310.4     311.0      4.6      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.142     263.7     263.8      2.0      0.0     0.0     0.0     0.2 
   Medical care services......................      3.827     322.4     323.2      5.3      0.2     0.4     0.4     0.2 
    Professional services.....................      2.256     274.8     275.8      4.5      0.4     0.2     0.3     0.5 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.254     415.2     414.9      5.3     -0.1     0.6     0.5    -0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.697     106.3     106.1      0.4     -0.2     0.2    -0.3    -0.2 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.928     103.7     103.4      0.5     -0.3     0.1     0.1    -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.645     109.4     109.9      0.7      0.5     0.2    -0.1     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.299     141.0     143.6      6.0      1.8     0.4     0.5     0.6 
    Educational books and supplies............       .215     350.4     354.7      4.4      1.2     0.1    -0.1     1.1 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.      2.084     398.1     405.8      6.2      1.9     0.5     0.5     0.5 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.345      88.1      87.6     -3.2     -0.6    -0.1    -0.5    -0.5 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      3.194      86.7      86.2     -3.3     -0.6    -0.1    -0.2    -0.6 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.622      95.8      95.2     -2.9     -0.6     0.0    -0.3    -0.6 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................       .572      15.3      15.3     -6.1      0.0     0.0    -0.6     0.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .205      15.0      14.9     -8.6     -0.7    -1.3    -1.3    -0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................      3.923     313.2     313.5      1.8      0.1     0.1     0.4     0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.248     481.6     482.6      2.0      0.2     0.5     1.0     0.2 
   Personal care..............................      2.675     180.3     180.5      1.7      0.1    -0.1     0.1     0.2 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     153.9     153.1     -0.8     -0.5    -0.5    -0.3    -0.5 
    Personal care services (1)................       .610     198.1     199.5      2.5      0.7     0.2     0.3     0.7 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........      1.152     294.7     295.4      3.9      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................     44.582     155.2     154.9      2.2     -0.2     0.3    -0.4    -0.1 
  Food and beverages..........................     17.151     186.8     186.9      3.7      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.1 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........     27.430     137.5     137.1      1.3     -0.3     0.5    -0.9    -0.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........     14.671     160.4     159.5      5.1     -0.6     0.1    -0.4    -0.6 
    Apparel...................................      4.357     115.6     115.9     -0.2      0.3     0.0    -0.7    -0.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................     10.315     191.8     190.2      7.2     -0.8     1.2    -2.0    -0.6 
   Durables...................................     12.759     113.2     113.1     -3.3     -0.1    -0.3    -0.3     0.1 
 Services.....................................     55.418     219.7     220.2      2.9      0.2     0.4     0.3     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.813     205.1     205.5      2.8      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.1 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .337     116.3     116.5      0.7      0.2     0.1    -0.2     0.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.930     156.2     156.8      4.5      0.4     2.2     0.1     0.6 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .933     124.5     125.4      6.2      0.7     0.4     0.6     0.4 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .318     127.5     128.0      4.1      0.4     0.9     0.4     0.4 
  Transportation services.....................      6.241     221.6     221.0      1.9     -0.3     0.2     0.4     0.0 
  Medical care services.......................      3.827     322.4     323.2      5.3      0.2     0.4     0.4     0.2 
  Other services..............................     10.020     253.5     254.4      2.0      0.4     0.3     0.1     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................     83.939     184.5     184.5      2.3      0.0     0.4    -0.1     0.0 
 All items less shelter.......................     69.849     176.7     176.6      2.5     -0.1     0.5    -0.2     0.0 
 All items less medical care..................     95.031     179.6     179.6      2.5      0.0     0.4    -0.1     0.0 
 Commodities less food........................     28.520     139.4     139.0      1.3     -0.3     0.5    -0.8    -0.3 
 Nondurables less food........................     15.761     162.3     161.5      4.9     -0.5     0.1    -0.2    -0.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............     11.405     191.0     189.6      6.8     -0.7     1.0    -1.9    -0.6 
 Nondurables..................................     31.823     174.0     173.6      4.3     -0.2     0.2    -0.2    -0.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     25.605     208.9     209.3      3.1      0.2     0.6     0.2     0.2 
 Services less medical care services..........     51.592     211.8     212.2      2.7      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.2 
 Energy.......................................      8.114     156.2     155.1     10.8     -0.7     2.7    -2.0    -0.5 
 All items less energy........................     91.886     189.3     189.5      1.8      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
  All items less food and energy..............     75.825     190.3     190.5      1.4      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................     24.337     138.0     138.0     -1.5      0.0    -0.1    -0.2     0.0 
    Energy commodities........................      4.183     165.5     162.8     16.7     -1.6     3.1    -3.6    -1.3 
   Services less energy services..............     51.488     226.7     227.1      2.8      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.1 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .541    $ .541        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00).............................          -    $ .182    $ .181        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 May     June    July    Aug.                                           
                                                 2004    2004    2004    2004                                           
                                                                                Nov.   Feb.    May   Aug.   Feb.   Aug. 
                                                                                2003   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................  184.4   185.0   184.9   185.0   -0.7    4.1    5.6    1.3    1.7    3.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................  186.1   186.4   186.9   187.0    5.2    2.4    5.1    1.9    3.8    3.5 
   Food.......................................  185.7   185.9   186.4   186.6    5.2    2.4    5.3    2.0    3.8    3.6 
    Food at home..............................  185.9   186.3   186.5   186.4    6.6    1.8    7.0    1.1    4.2    4.0 
     Cereals and bakery products..............  205.6   205.9   206.3   206.2   -0.2    1.2    2.8    1.2    0.5    2.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........  182.0   182.7   183.8   184.0   22.7    1.6    6.2    4.5   11.6    5.3 
     Dairy and related products...............  187.0   190.2   188.7   185.4    6.4    1.9   43.4   -3.4    4.1   17.7 
     Fruits and vegetables....................  226.9   224.9   224.4   225.1    1.8   -2.1    0.9   -3.1   -0.2   -1.1 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................  139.3   139.4   139.7   139.8   -2.3    5.0   -1.7    1.4    1.3   -0.1 
     Other food at home.......................  165.4   165.1   165.3   165.6   -0.7    3.2    5.0    0.5    1.2    2.7 
      Sugar and sweets........................  162.6   161.9   162.5   163.6    3.3   -1.7    0.2    2.5    0.7    1.4 
      Fats and oils...........................  169.2   172.3   172.2   169.7    1.0   11.1   18.7    1.2    5.9    9.6 
      Other foods.............................  181.1   180.1   180.4   181.0   -2.0    2.7    3.2   -0.2    0.3    1.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  111.2   111.4   109.7   112.0   -2.2    2.2    4.1    2.9    0.0    3.5 
    Food away from home (1)...................  186.6   186.8   187.6   188.2    2.9    3.5    2.8    3.5    3.2    3.2 
     Other food away from home (2)............  124.8   125.0   125.0   125.3    2.7    4.7    2.9    1.6    3.6    2.3 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................  192.0   192.7   192.2   192.8    4.1    2.6    4.3    1.7    3.3    3.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................  184.3   185.0   185.5   185.9    0.9    3.4    3.3    3.5    2.1    3.4 
   Shelter....................................  211.7   212.1   212.7   213.0    2.1    2.1    4.1    2.5    2.1    3.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  209.4   210.1   210.6   211.2    2.0    2.5    3.1    3.5    2.3    3.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  126.4   125.5   127.8   126.5    3.4   -1.6   19.5    0.3    0.8    9.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  203.8   204.1   204.6   204.9    2.2    1.8    3.4    2.2    2.0    2.8 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  116.4   116.5   116.3   116.5   -4.4    2.5    4.6    0.3   -1.0    2.4 
   Fuels and utilities........................  159.1   162.1   162.7   164.0   -4.6   12.8    2.0   12.9    3.8    7.3 
    Fuels.....................................  141.1   144.2   144.7   145.9   -6.8   13.9    1.4   14.3    3.1    7.7 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................  147.5   152.4   157.4   165.9   -2.0   30.2    4.7   60.0   12.9   29.5 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  148.2   151.4   151.6   152.5   -6.9   12.9    1.4   12.1    2.5    6.6 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  123.5   124.0   124.7   125.2    5.5    8.3    5.4    5.6    6.9    5.5 
   Household furnishings and operations.......  121.0   121.2   120.5   120.4   -2.3    2.3   -1.3   -2.0    0.0   -1.6 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  125.9   127.0   127.5   128.0    2.6    3.9    3.2    6.8    3.3    5.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................  120.7   120.7   119.9   119.4    1.0   -1.3    4.1   -4.2   -0.2   -0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................  118.2   118.3   118.3   116.6    6.0    2.1   -1.0   -5.3    4.0   -3.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................  113.9   113.9   112.8   112.2    0.4   -4.6   10.9   -5.8   -2.1    2.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............  120.1   120.2   120.5   119.0   -6.9    3.3   -9.7   -3.6   -1.9   -6.7 
   Footwear...................................  117.5   117.6   116.1   117.7   -0.3   -2.3   -1.4    0.7   -1.3   -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................  162.1   163.3   161.9   161.5   -9.6    9.4   13.9   -1.5   -0.5    5.9 
   Private transportation.....................  159.4   160.7   159.2   158.9  -10.0   10.2   14.5   -1.2   -0.4    6.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   92.5    92.2    92.4    92.6  -12.3   -2.1    0.0    0.4   -7.4    0.2 
     New vehicles.............................  138.5   138.6   137.8   137.3   -2.6    1.2   -0.6   -3.4   -0.7   -2.0 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  132.6   131.4   133.0   134.6  -27.7   -3.3    2.8    6.2  -16.4    4.5 
    Motor fuel................................  165.5   170.6   163.8   161.1  -19.2   51.3   67.4  -10.2   10.5   22.6 
     Gasoline (all types).....................  164.8   170.0   163.2   160.5  -19.1   51.5   67.3  -10.0   10.7   22.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  107.5   107.8   108.2   108.4    0.7    0.4   -0.4    3.4    0.6    1.5 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......  200.8   201.7   202.3   203.1    2.2    1.8    2.2    4.7    2.0    3.4 
   Public transportation......................  206.9   206.7   207.9   205.1    2.1   -1.1   -2.3   -3.4    0.5   -2.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................  308.4   309.3   310.2   310.9    4.4    5.6    4.9    3.3    5.0    4.1 
   Medical care commodities...................  263.3   263.3   263.2   263.6    1.4    2.6    3.7    0.5    2.0    2.1 
   Medical care services......................  320.0   321.2   322.4   323.2    5.2    6.5    5.3    4.1    5.8    4.7 
    Professional services.....................  273.3   273.8   274.5   275.8    2.9    6.3    5.0    3.7    4.6    4.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  411.9   414.2   416.4   414.9    8.3    4.8    5.2    2.9    6.5    4.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  106.4   106.6   106.3   106.1    0.4    1.5    1.1   -1.1    0.9    0.0 
   Video and audio (2)........................  103.5   103.6   103.7   103.4    1.2   -1.5    2.8   -0.4   -0.2    1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  109.8   110.0   109.9   109.9    0.7    1.5    0.4    0.4    1.1    0.4 
   Education (2)..............................  141.4   142.0   142.7   143.5    4.5    7.2    6.2    6.1    5.8    6.1 
    Educational books and supplies............  351.8   352.2   351.8   355.8   -1.5    9.1    6.0    4.6    3.7    5.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.  399.0   401.1   403.3   405.4    5.3    7.0    5.9    6.6    6.2    6.2 
   Communication (2)..........................   88.6    88.5    88.1    87.7   -2.6   -2.2   -3.5   -4.0   -2.4   -3.8 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   87.0    86.9    86.7    86.2   -3.1   -0.9   -5.3   -3.6   -2.0   -4.5 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   96.1    96.1    95.8    95.2   -2.4   -0.4   -4.8   -3.7   -1.4   -4.3 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................   15.4    15.4    15.3    15.3   -9.5   -2.5   -9.7   -2.6   -6.0   -6.2 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   15.4    15.2    15.0    14.9   -7.2   -7.3   -7.4  -12.4   -7.2   -9.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................  311.3   311.6   312.9   313.5   -0.4    2.9    1.7    2.9    1.2    2.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  474.4   476.9   481.6   482.6   -2.5    2.6    1.0    7.1    0.0    4.0 
   Personal care..............................  180.0   179.9   180.1   180.5    0.7    3.0    2.0    1.1    1.8    1.6 
    Personal care products (1)................  155.1   154.3   153.9   153.1   -1.3    3.2    0.3   -5.1    0.9   -2.4 
    Personal care services (1)................  197.1   197.5   198.1   199.5    0.4    1.9    2.9    5.0    1.1    3.9 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........  292.8   293.5   294.4   295.4    4.0    3.5    4.5    3.6    3.8    4.0 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................  155.9   156.4   155.7   155.5   -3.4    5.1    8.4   -1.0    0.8    3.6 
  Food and beverages..........................  186.1   186.4   186.9   187.0    5.2    2.4    5.1    1.9    3.8    3.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........  138.7   139.4   138.2   137.8   -8.5    6.8   10.1   -2.6   -1.2    3.6 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........  161.8   162.0   161.3   160.3   -1.6   10.4   16.6   -3.7    4.2    6.0 
    Apparel...................................  120.7   120.7   119.9   119.4    1.0   -1.3    4.1   -4.2   -0.2   -0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................  192.2   194.6   190.8   189.6   -8.1   18.5   28.0   -5.3    4.3   10.1 
   Durables...................................  113.8   113.5   113.2   113.3   -9.9    0.4   -1.4   -1.7   -4.9   -1.6 
 Services.....................................  217.8   218.6   219.2   219.6    1.9    3.2    3.2    3.3    2.5    3.3 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  203.9   204.4   204.9   205.1    2.2    2.0    4.2    2.4    2.1    3.3 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  116.4   116.5   116.3   116.5   -4.4    2.5    4.6    0.3   -1.0    2.4 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  148.2   151.4   151.6   152.5   -6.9   12.9    1.4   12.1    2.5    6.6 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  123.5   124.0   124.7   125.2    5.5    8.3    5.4    5.6    6.9    5.5 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  125.9   127.0   127.5   128.0    2.6    3.9    3.2    6.8    3.3    5.0 
  Transportation services.....................  220.0   220.5   221.4   221.4    3.0    1.3    1.1    2.6    2.1    1.8 
  Medical care services.......................  320.0   321.2   322.4   323.2    5.2    6.5    5.3    4.1    5.8    4.7 
  Other services..............................  253.2   253.9   254.1   254.3    2.3    2.6    1.6    1.7    2.4    1.7 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................  183.9   184.7   184.5   184.5   -1.5    4.3    5.4    1.3    1.3    3.3 
 All items less shelter.......................  176.4   177.2   176.8   176.8   -1.6    5.0    5.9    0.9    1.6    3.4 
 All items less medical care..................  179.0   179.7   179.6   179.6   -0.7    3.9    5.3    1.3    1.6    3.3 
 Commodities less food........................  140.6   141.3   140.1   139.7   -7.9    6.7    9.6   -2.5   -0.9    3.4 
 Nondurables less food........................  163.5   163.7   163.3   162.3   -1.3    9.7   15.3   -2.9    4.0    5.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............  191.9   193.9   190.2   189.0   -7.3   16.6   28.0   -5.9    4.0    9.8 
 Nondurables..................................  174.5   174.9   174.5   174.2    1.7    6.4   10.5   -0.7    4.0    4.8 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  206.2   207.4   207.9   208.3    2.2    4.0    1.8    4.1    3.1    2.9 
 Services less medical care services..........  209.9   210.7   211.2   211.6    2.2    2.3    3.3    3.3    2.2    3.3 
 Energy.......................................  152.6   156.7   153.5   152.8  -13.2   31.0   32.3    0.5    6.6   15.3 
 All items less energy........................  189.1   189.4   189.7   189.8    0.6    1.9    3.0    1.5    1.3    2.3 
  All items less food and energy..............  190.2   190.5   190.7   190.9   -0.2    1.7    2.6    1.5    0.7    2.0 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................  139.4   139.3   139.0   139.0   -5.8    0.3    0.9   -1.1   -2.8   -0.1 
    Energy commodities........................  165.2   170.3   164.1   162.0  -18.4   49.7   63.9   -7.5   10.5   23.1 
   Services less energy services..............  225.5   226.0   226.7   227.0    2.6    2.4    3.4    2.7    2.5    3.1 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Aug.2004 from--      July 2004 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule    May   June   July   Aug.                                           
                                                 (1)   2004   2004   2004   2004   Aug.   June   July   July    May   June 
                                                                                   2003   2004   2004   2003   2004   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average............................   M    184.7  185.3  184.9  185.0    2.6   -0.2    0.1    3.0    0.1   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban..............................   M    196.4  197.5  197.3  197.2    3.4   -0.2   -0.1    3.8    0.5   -0.1 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    197.1  198.3  198.0  198.1    3.3   -0.1    0.1    3.8    0.5   -0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    118.4  118.8  119.1  118.7    3.7   -0.1   -0.3    4.0    0.6    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban................................   M    177.8  178.2  178.0  178.2    2.4    0.0    0.1    2.7    0.1   -0.1 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    179.4  179.4  179.5  179.8    2.5    0.2    0.2    2.7    0.1    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    115.5  116.0  115.5  115.7    2.4   -0.3    0.2    2.7    0.0   -0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    173.2  174.1  173.7  173.4    2.1   -0.4   -0.2    2.7    0.3   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban..................................   M    178.8  179.7  179.3  179.4    2.6   -0.2    0.1    2.9    0.3   -0.2 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    180.8  181.9  181.2  181.2    2.4   -0.4    0.0    2.8    0.2   -0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    114.8  115.3  115.2  115.3    2.9    0.0    0.1    2.9    0.3   -0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    179.0  180.0  179.4  179.5    2.3   -0.3    0.1    2.7    0.2   -0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban...................................   M    188.6  188.6  188.0  188.0    2.1   -0.3    0.0    2.5   -0.3   -0.3 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    189.6  189.7  188.9  188.9    1.9   -0.4    0.0    2.5   -0.4   -0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    117.8  117.6  117.4  117.6    2.4    0.0    0.2    2.4   -0.3   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    171.2  171.7  171.3  171.4    2.5   -0.2    0.1    3.0    0.1   -0.2 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    116.0  116.4  116.2  116.2    2.7   -0.2    0.0    2.9    0.2   -0.2 
   D..........................................   M    178.8  179.7  179.0  178.8    2.0   -0.5   -0.1    2.6    0.1   -0.4 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI...............   M    182.2  182.5  182.4  183.2    2.7    0.4    0.4    2.6    0.1   -0.1 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA......   M    186.8  187.4  186.8  186.5    3.3   -0.5   -0.2    4.0    0.0   -0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA..............................   M    199.1  200.4  200.1  200.3    3.2    0.0    0.1    3.8    0.5   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT..........   1    207.9      -  207.9      -      -      -      -    2.8    0.0      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH..........................   1    172.6      -  172.8      -      -      -      -    3.5    0.1      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX........................   1    179.5      -  179.4      -      -      -      -    2.0   -0.1      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    118.4      -  119.7      -      -      -      -    3.0    1.1      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA..................................   2        -  184.0      -  182.5    1.7   -0.8      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI..................   2        -  180.4      -  181.5    2.3    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX...............   2        -  167.6      -  167.4    3.0   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL....................   2        -  183.4      -  182.9    2.6   -0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD..............................   2        -  197.3      -  198.0    4.7    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA...........   2        -  195.4      -  195.0    1.4   -0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA.................   2        -  190.4      -  189.6    0.7   -0.4      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA;
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 7. Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                    Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative       Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                               importance,       indexes         Aug. 2004 from-  
                    C-CPI-U                     December                                          
                                                2001-2002                                         
                                                              July      Aug.      Aug.      July  
                                                              2004      2004      2003      2004  
                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                  
             Expenditure category                                                                 
                                                                                                  
 All items....................................    100.000     110.3     110.3       2.1       0.0 
                                                                                                  
  Food and beverages..........................     15.076     111.6     111.6       3.3       0.0 
   Food.......................................     14.086     111.6     111.6       3.3       0.0 
    Food at home..............................      8.062     110.8     110.6       3.5      -0.2 
    Food away from home.......................      6.023     112.6     113.0       3.2       0.4 
   Alcoholic beverages........................       .990     111.3     111.5       2.9       0.2 
                                                                                                  
  Housing.....................................     41.793     114.9     115.0       2.4       0.1 
   Shelter....................................     32.380     116.3     116.5       2.6       0.2 
   Fuels and utilities........................      4.643     128.1     128.9       5.1       0.6 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      4.771      95.4      95.0      -1.2      -0.4 
                                                                                                  
  Apparel.....................................      4.317      87.5      87.8      -0.1       0.3 
                                                                                                  
  Transportation..............................     17.315     108.1     107.6       2.0      -0.5 
   Private transportation.....................     16.206     108.2     107.8       2.2      -0.4 
   Public transportation......................      1.109     106.5     104.0      -2.1      -2.3 
                                                                                                  
  Medical care................................      5.783     121.7     121.9       4.3       0.2 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.466     115.0     115.0       2.1       0.0 
   Medical care services......................      4.317     124.1     124.4       5.2       0.2 
                                                                                                  
  Recreation..................................      5.978     103.5     103.3      -0.2      -0.2 
                                                                                                  
  Education and communication.................      6.004      98.8      99.2       0.2       0.4 
   Education..................................      2.560     130.8     133.5       6.5       2.1 
   Communication..............................      3.444      79.2      78.6      -4.3      -0.8 
                                                                                                  
  Other goods and services....................      3.734     114.1     114.3       2.0       0.2 
                                                                                                  
          Commodity and service group                                                             
                                                                                                  
 Services.....................................     58.567     116.8     117.0       2.6       0.2 
 Commodities..................................     41.433     102.0     101.8       1.5      -0.2 
  Durables....................................     12.521      86.3      86.0      -3.2      -0.3 
 Nondurables..................................     28.912     109.4     109.3       3.5      -0.1 
  All items less food and energy..............     78.985     108.0     108.0       1.2       0.0 
 Energy.......................................      6.929     137.1     136.4      10.1      -0.5 

 Indexes for 2004 are initial estimates.  Indexes for 2003 are interim adjustments.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.