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 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 691-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
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 INTERNET ADDRESS:                          Thursday, January 16, 2003
     http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ 
 
                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  DECEMBER 2002
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined 0.2
 percent in December, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The December
 level of 180.9 (1982-84=100) was 2.4 percent higher than in December 2001.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also declined 0.2 percent in December, prior to seasonal
 adjustment.  The December level of 177.0 was 2.4 percent higher than in
 December 2001.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent in
 December, the same as in November.  The index for food rose 0.3 percent in
 December, with prices for food at home up 0.3 percent.  Energy costs
 declined for the second consecutive month--down 0.4 percent in December.
 Within energy, the index for petroleum-based energy declined 1.4 percent
 while the index for energy services increased 0.5 percent.  Excluding food
 and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent, following increases of 0.2 percent
 in the preceding two months.  Larger declines in the indexes for household
 furnishings and operations and for new vehicles, coupled with a smaller
 increase in the index for shelter, accounted for the deceleration in
 December.

      
 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                      2002               3-mos. ended   ended
                    June  July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.  Dec. '02    Dec.'02
 All Items            .1    .1   .3   .2   .3   .1   .1    1.8       2.4
  Food and beverages  .1    .2  -.1   .2   .1   .3   .2    2.3       1.5
  Housing             .1    .1   .3   .1   .3   .2   .2    2.5       2.4
  Apparel            -.9  -1.0  1.1   .1   .0  -.4  -.5   -3.5      -1.8
  Transportation      .1    .3   .4   .3   .6  -.1  -.3     .8       3.8
  Medical care        .2    .7   .2   .3   .6   .6   .3    6.1       5.0
  Recreation         -.3    .1   .1   .0   .3   .0   .2    1.9       1.1
  Education and                                                         
     communication    .3    .7   .7  -.2   .0   .0   .2     .7       2.2
  Other goods and                                                     
     services        1.0    .0   .5   .4  -.5   .1   .1   -1.6       3.3
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy             .0    .4   .6   .7  1.9  -.2  -.4    4.9      10.7
   Food               .0    .2  -.1   .2   .1   .2   .3    2.3       1.5
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .1    .2   .3   .1   .2   .2   .1    1.5       1.9


 See page 4 and table 7 for the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban
 Consumers (C-CPI-U), a new supplemental index of consumer price change.
      
      
      Consumer prices rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of
 1.8 percent in the fourth quarter.  This followed increases in the first
 three quarters at annual rates of 3.0, 2.5, and 2.5 percent, respectively.
 For the 12-month period ended in December, the CPI rose 2.4 percent.  This
 compares with an increase of 1.6 percent in all of 2001.  The index for
 energy, which had declined sharply in 2001, following large increases in
 the preceding two years, advanced 10.7 percent in 2002.  Petroleum-based
 energy costs increased 23.7 percent and charges for energy services
 increased 0.4 percent.  The food index rose 1.5 percent in 2002.  The
 index for grocery store food prices increased 0.8 percent in 2002.  Among
 the major grocery store food groups, the index for fruits and vegetables
 registered the largest advance--up 4.9 percent--while the index for dairy
 and related products declined 2.0 percent.
      
       Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.5 percent SAAR
 in the fourth quarter, following increases at rates of 2.1, 1.9, and 2.3
 percent in the first three quarters of 2002.  The 1.9 percent rise in 2002
 compares with a 2.7 percent increase in 2001.  The principal reason for
 the deceleration was a smaller advance in shelter costs--up 3.1 percent in
 2002 compared with a 4.2 percent rise in 2001. Also contributing to the
 moderation this year was a downturn in the index for communication and a
 larger decline in the index for new and used vehicles.  The annual rates
 for selected groups for the last eight years are shown below.
      

                                  Percentage change 12 months           
                                  ended in December                     
                     						                      
                       	 1995   1996   1997   1998   1999   2000  2001  2002
 All items                2.5    3.3    1.7    1.6    2.7    3.4   1.6   2.4
  Food and beverages      2.1    4.2    1.6    2.3    2.0    2.8   2.8   1.5
  Housing                 3.0    2.9    2.4    2.3    2.2    4.3   2.9   2.4
  Apparel                 0.1   -0.2    1.0   -0.7    -.5   -1.8  -3.2  -1.8 
  Transportation    	  1.5    4.4   -1.4   -1.7    5.4    4.1  -3.8   3.8
  Medical care            3.9    3.0    2.8    3.4    3.7    4.2   4.7   5.0
  Recreation              2.8    3.0    1.5    1.2     .8    1.7   1.5   1.1
  Education and
   communication          4.0    3.4    3.0    0.7    1.6    1.3   3.2   2.2
  Other goods and
   services               4.3    3.6    5.2    8.8    5.1    4.2   4.5   3.3                                                        

 Special indexes                                                        
  Energy                 -1.3    8.6   -3.4   -8.8   13.4   14.2 -13.0  10.7 
   Energy commodities    -3.3   13.8   -6.9  -15.1   29.5   15.7 -24.5  23.7
   Energy services        0.8    3.8    0.2   -3.3    1.2   12.7  -1.5    .4
  All items less energy   2.9    2.9    2.1    2.4    2.0    2.6   2.8   1.8
   Food                   2.1    4.3    1.5    2.3    1.9    2.8   2.8   1.5
  All items less food                        
   and energy		  3.0    2.6    2.2    2.4    1.9    2.6   2.7   1.9

     
      The food and beverages index increased 0.2 percent in December.  The
 index for food at home rose 0.3 percent in December, the same as in
 November.  The indexes for fruits and vegetables and for meats, poultry,
 fish, and eggs advanced for the second consecutive month--up 0.7 and 0.5
 percent, respectively.  Within the fruits and vegetables group, the
 indexes for for fresh fruits and for processed fruits and vegetables rose
 1.2 and 1.4 percent, respectively, while the index for fresh vegetables
 was unchanged. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, fresh fruit and fresh
 vegetable prices rose 3.3 and 1.9 percent, respectively.)  For the 12-
 month period ended in December, fresh fruit prices have increased 4.7
 percent and fresh vegetable prices 6.4 percent.  Within the index for
 meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, price increases for beef and pork were
 partially offset by a decline in poultry prices. For the 12-month period
 ended in December, beef prices rose 0.6 percent, while prices for pork and
 for poultry declined 2.3 and 0.7 percent, respectively.  The index for
 nonalcoholic beverages advanced 1.2 percent in December and 0.9 percent in
 the last 12 months.  In December, the indexes for dairy products and for
 other food at home each increased 0.1 percent, while the index for cereal
 and bakery products fell 0.7 percent.  The other two components of the
 food and beverages index, food away from home and alcoholic beverages,
 increased 0.2 and 0.1 percent, respectively, in December and rose 2.3 and
 2.2 percent in 2002.
      
      The index for housing rose 0.2 percent in December.  Shelter costs,
 which increased 0.3 percent in November, advanced 0.2 percent in December.
 Within shelter, the indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent increased
 0.1 and 0.3 percent, respectively, while the index for lodging away from
 home fell 0.3 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for
 lodging away from home declined 3.5 percent.)  During the 12 months ended
 in December 2002, the indexes for rent and for owner's equivalent rent
 rose 3.1 and 3.3 percent, respectively.  In 2001, these indexes rose 4.7
 and 4.5 percent, respectively.  The index for fuels and utilities rose 0.5
 percent in December.  The index for fuel oil increased 2.5 percent in
 December, and prices for fuel oil rose 14.7 percent in all of 2002.  In
 December, the index for natural gas rose 1.2 percent, bringing the
 increase in 2002 to 6.7 percent.  The index for electricity increased 0.4
 percent in December, but declined 1.9 percent in the last 12 months.  The
 index for household furnishings and operations declined 0.5 percent in
 December and 1.5 percent in 2002.
      
      The transportation index declined 0.3 percent in December.  The index
 for gasoline fell 1.4 percent in December, but was 24.8 percent higher
 than in December 2001.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices
 declined 3.8 percent in December, and were 18.4 percent below their peak
 level in May 2001.)  The index for new vehicles decreased 0.4 percent in
 December and during the last 12 months has fallen 2.0 percent.  (As of
 December, about 75 percent of the new vehicle sample was represented by
 2003 models.  The 2003 models will continue to be phased in, with
 appropriate adjustments for quality change, over the next several months
 as they replace old models at dealerships. For a report on quality changes
 for the 2003 vehicles represented in the Producer Price Index sample, see
 news release USDL-02-634, dated November 15, 2002.)  The index for used
 cars and trucks declined 0.1 percent in December to a level 5.5 percent
 lower than in December 2001.  Airline fares, which had registered declines
 in each of the three preceding months, increased 0.4 percent in December,
 but were 2.4 percent lower than a year ago.
      
      The index for apparel declined 0.5 percent in December.  (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, apparel prices fell 3.2 percent, reflecting pre-
 holiday discounting.)  During the 12-month period ended in December,
 apparel prices declined 1.8 percent, their fifth consecutive annual
 decline.
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in December.  The index for
 medical care commodities--prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and
 medical supplies--was virtually unchanged.  The index for medical care
 services rose 0.4 percent in December.  Charges for professional services
 and for hospital and related services increased 0.4 and 0.7 percent,
 respectively.  In the 12 months ended in December 2002, the index for
 medical care rose 5.0 percent after increasing 4.7 percent in 2001.  The
 larger advance in 2002 largely reflects the acceleration in charges for
 hospital and related services--up 9.8 percent, following a 7.1 percent
 rise in 2001.
      
      The index for recreation, which was unchanged in November, rose 0.2
 percent in December.  Increases in the indexes for admissions to movies,
 theaters, concerts, and sporting events, for cable television, and for
 pets and pet products more than offset decreases in the indexes for
 sporting goods and for photography.  During the last 12 months, cable
 television and admission costs increased 7.3 and 4.9 percent,
 respectively, while the index for toys fell 9.3 percent.
      
      
      The index for education and communication increased 0.2 percent in
 December after registering no change in October and in November.  The
 education index rose 0.4 percent, while the index for communication costs
 was unchanged.  Within the latter group, a 0.2 percent rise in local
 charges for telephone services was offset by a 1.5 percent decline in the
 index for personal computers and peripheral equipment.  During the 12
 months ended in December, education costs rose 6.6 percent, largely as a
 result of a 7.0 percent rise in the index for college tuition and fees.
 The index for communication declined 1.7 percent during the last 12
 months, reflecting a 22.1 percent decline in the index for personal
 computers and peripheral equipment.
      
      The index for other goods and services rose 0.1 percent in December.
 A 0.4 percent rise in the index for tobacco and smoking products more than
 offset a 0.1 percent decline in the index for personal care.  During the
 last 12 months, prices for cigarettes have risen 9.8 percent.
      
 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 December.

 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                      2002               3-mos. ended   ended
                    June  July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.  Dec. '02    Dec.'02
 All Items           .1    .2   .3   .2   .2   .1   .1     1.6       2.4
  Food and beverages .1    .1  -.1   .2   .1   .2   .2     2.1       1.4
  Housing            .1    .2   .2   .2   .3   .2   .2     2.5       2.3
  Apparel           -.9  -1.0  1.1   .1  -.2  -.2  -.4    -3.2      -1.7
  Transportation     .2    .4   .5   .3   .5  -.2  -.3     -.3       3.8
  Medical care       .1    .8   .2   .3   .7   .6   .4     6.7       5.2
  Recreation        -.3    .1   .0   .0   .3  -.1   .3     1.9        .9
  Education and                                                         
     communication   .3    .7   .7  -.2   .0   .0   .1      .4       1.8
  Other goods and                                                     
     services       1.5    .0   .8   .6  -.9   .0   .0    -3.5       4.0
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy            .2    .4   .7   .7  1.9  -.2  -.6     5.0      11.5
   Food              .1    .2  -.1   .2   .1   .2   .3     2.3       1.4
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy .1    .2   .3   .2   .1   .1   .1      .9       1.7
 

 Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
 
      The C-CPI-U declined 0.3 percent in December on a not seasonally
 adjusted basis.  The December level of 105.8  (December 1999=100) was 2.1
 percent higher than in December 2001.  Table 7 contains the most recent
 indexes for all items and the component series that are published.   Data
 will be published monthly in the CPI Detailed Report and are available on
 the CPI home page:  http://www.bls.gov/cpi/. Please note that the indexes
 for the post-2000 period are subject to revision.
     
     Consumer Price Index data for January are scheduled for release on
 Friday, February 21, 2003, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
      
 ___________________________________________________________________________


 Recalculated Seasonally Adjusted Indexes 
 to be Available on February 19, 2003
 
 Each year with the release of the January CPI, seasonal adjustment factors
 are recalculated to reflect price movements from the just-completed
 calendar year.  This routine annual recalculation may result in revisions
 to seasonally adjusted indexes for the previous 5 years.  BLS will make
 available recalculated seasonally adjusted indexes, as well as
 recalculated seasonal adjustment factors, for the period January 1998
 through December 2002, on Wednesday, February 19, 2003.  This date is two
 working days before the scheduled release of the January 2003 CPI on
 Friday, February 21, 2003.
 
 The revised indexes and seasonal factors will be available on the
 internet.  The address is http://www.bls.gov/cpi.  Look under Tables
 Created by BLS and select Revised Seasonally Adjusted Data, 2002.
 
 For further information please contact Dan Chow or Jeff Wilson on (202)
 691-6968.

 ___________________________________________________________________________



                     NOTE ON A NEW, SUPPLEMENTAL INDEX
                          OF CONSUMER PRICE CHANGE
                                     
       The Bureau of Labor Statistics began publishing a consumer price
 index (CPI) called the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban
 Consumers, effective with release of July data on August 16, 2002.
 Designated the C-CPI-U, the index supplements the existing indexes already
 produced by the BLS: the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the CPI
 for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
 
     The C-CPI-U employs a Tornqvist formula and utilizes expenditure data
 in adjacent time periods in order to reflect the effect of any
 substitution that consumers make across item categories in response to
 changes in relative prices.  The new measure, said to be a "superlative"
 index, is designed to be a closer approximation to a "cost-of-living"
 index than the CPI-U and CPI-W.  The use of expenditure data for both a
 base period and the current period in order to average price change across
 item categories distinguishes the C-CPI-U from the other CPI measures,
 which use only a single expenditure base period to compute the price
 change over time.  In 1999, the BLS introduced a geometric mean estimator
 for averaging prices within most of the index's item categories in order
 to approximate the effect of consumers' responses to changes in relative
 prices within these item categories.  The geometric mean estimator is used
 in the C-CPI-U in the same item categories in which it is now used in the
 CPI-U and CPI-W.  (See Monthly Labor Review, October 1998, pp. 3-7.)

      Expenditure data required for the calculation of the C-CPI-U are
 available only with a time lag.  Thus, the C-CPI-U is being issued first
 in preliminary form using the latest available expenditure data at this
 time and will be subject to two subsequent revisions.  Accordingly, with
 release of the July data, "final" values of the C-CPI-U have been issued
 for the 12 months of 2000, "interim" values have been issued for the 12
 months of 2001, and "initial" values have been issued for January-July 2of
 2002.  In February 2003, with release of the January 2003 index, revised
 interim indexes for the 12 months of 2002 will be published, and the index
 values for 2001 will be revised and will become final.  Then, in February
 2004, when the monthly expenditure data from calendar year 2002 become
 available, C-CPI-U indexes for the 12 months of 2002 will be issued in
 final form and values for the 12 months of 2003 will be revised and issued
 as interim. The C-CPI-U index revisions are expected to be small, but in
 principle each monthly index could be revised from its previously
 published level.
 
 ___________________________________________________________________________     
 
      
 Facilities for Sensory Impaired

      Information from this release will be made available to sensory
 impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200, Federal
 Relay Services:  1-800-877-8339.  For a recorded message of Summary CPI
 data, call (202) 691-5200.
 
 ___________________________________________________________________________
 

 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 1997 through 2001 were replaced at the end of 2001.  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: 39 of
 the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2002.
 
      Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are
 subject to revision for up to five years after their original release.
 For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation
 agreements.
 
      Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990, the
 Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an enhanced seasonal adjustment
 procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI
 series.  Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better
 estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  Extreme values and/or sharp
 movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and
 removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning
 with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was
 used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.
 
      For the fuel oil, natural gas, motor fuels, and educational books and
 supplies indexes, this procedure was used to offset the effects that
 extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of
 seasonally adjusted data for those series.   For the Nonalcoholic
 beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a large
 increase in coffee prices due to adverse weather.  The procedure was used
 to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions and decreases in milk
 supply affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the Water and sewerage
 maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data collection
 anomaly.  It was used to offset an increase in summer demand in the
 Midwest and South for Electricity.  For New vehicles, New cars, and New
 trucks, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a model changeover
 combined with financing incentives.
 
      A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment, as well
 as a list of unusual events modeled and seasonal factors for these items
 may be obtained by writing the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of
 Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling
 Daniel Chow on (202) 691-6968 or sending e-mail to Chow_Dan@BLS.GOV.  If
 you have general questions about the CPI, please call our information
 staff at (202) 691-7000.


 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Dec. 2002 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   2001       Nov.      Dec.                                            
                                                              2002      2002     Dec.     Nov.   Sep. to Oct. to Nov. to
                                                                                 2001     2002     Oct.    Nov.    Dec. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     181.3     180.9      2.4     -0.2     0.3     0.1     0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     543.1     541.9        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     15.719     177.4     177.8      1.5      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
   Food ......................................     14.688     176.8     177.3      1.5      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.3 
    Food at home .............................      8.468     175.5     176.1      0.8      0.3    -0.1     0.3     0.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.298     198.3     197.3      1.0     -0.5     0.4     0.1    -0.7 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.271     162.1     162.4      0.2      0.2    -0.4     0.6     0.5 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........       .916     167.1     167.3     -2.0      0.1     0.1     0.4     0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.204     219.8     224.9      4.9      2.3    -0.9     1.0     0.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................       .967     139.1     139.8      0.9      0.5     0.1    -0.7     1.2 
     Other food at home ......................      1.811     161.1     161.1      0.1      0.0     0.3     0.3     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .315     158.5     159.1      1.9      0.4     0.4     0.1     0.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .265     153.4     152.8     -2.6     -0.4     0.1    -1.0     0.1 
      Other foods ............................      1.232     178.3     178.2      0.2     -0.1     0.3     0.7     0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .289     110.3     110.2      1.6     -0.1     0.1     0.5    -0.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.220     179.8     180.1      2.3      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .383     119.7     119.8      3.7      0.1     0.3     0.5     0.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.031     185.1     184.9      2.2     -0.1     0.4     0.2     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     40.873     181.2     181.1      2.4     -0.1     0.3     0.2     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     31.522     209.6     209.5      3.1      0.0     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      6.421     202.0     202.5      3.1      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.1 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      2.702     113.2     109.2      0.6     -3.5     0.0     0.7    -0.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     22.046     217.3     217.9      3.3      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .353     111.4     112.3      5.6      0.8     0.0     1.3     0.8 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.511     143.6     144.2      1.4      0.4     0.4     0.0     0.5 
    Fuels ....................................      3.654     127.0     127.5      1.0      0.4     0.5    -0.2     0.6 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .188     121.8     125.6     11.4      3.1     1.7     0.8     0.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.466     133.7     134.1      0.4      0.3     0.4    -0.2     0.5 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .857     114.3     114.6      3.2      0.3     0.4     0.4     0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.840     127.8     127.0     -1.5     -0.6     0.3    -0.1    -0.5 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .820     119.9     119.9      2.3      0.0     0.0     0.2     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.399     125.5     121.5     -1.8     -3.2     0.0    -0.4    -0.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.122     123.2     119.3     -2.9     -3.2    -0.2     0.3    -1.0 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.807     118.0     113.1     -1.5     -4.2     0.3    -0.8    -0.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .203     127.5     125.3     -2.5     -1.7     1.2    -0.2    -1.7 
   Footwear ..................................       .874     122.7     120.7      0.1     -1.6    -0.3    -0.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.055     155.2     154.2      3.8     -0.6     0.6    -0.1    -0.3 
   Private transportation ....................     15.845     151.5     150.4      4.2     -0.7     0.7    -0.1    -0.5 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      8.614      98.8      98.7     -2.9     -0.1    -0.2    -0.5    -0.4 
     New vehicles ............................      5.083     140.4     140.6     -2.0      0.1     0.4    -0.1    -0.4 
     Used cars and trucks ....................      2.195     148.8     148.5     -5.5     -0.2    -1.6    -1.4    -0.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.564     124.4     119.7     24.6     -3.8     3.4    -0.2    -1.5 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.536     123.8     119.1     24.8     -3.8     3.8    -0.4    -1.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .421     107.2     107.0      1.1     -0.2    -0.5     0.3    -0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.400     192.8     193.3      3.7      0.3     0.1     0.5     0.5 
   Public transportation .....................      1.211     202.3     203.0     -0.9      0.3    -1.6     0.9     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.810     290.5     291.3      5.0      0.3     0.6     0.6     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.377     259.1     259.5      3.1      0.2     0.3     0.4     0.0 
   Medical care services .....................      4.434     298.5     299.4      5.6      0.3     0.7     0.6     0.4 
    Professional services (3).................      2.784     256.5     257.0      3.3      0.2     0.6     0.3     0.4 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.353     380.7     382.4      9.8      0.4     0.9     1.2     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.019     106.4     106.5      1.1      0.1     0.3     0.0     0.2 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.645     103.0     103.2      2.0      0.2     0.4     0.4     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.813     109.3     109.2      2.2     -0.1     0.0     0.0     0.2 
   Education (2)..............................      2.726     130.0     130.0      6.6      0.0     0.3     0.4     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .220     324.0     323.3      9.7     -0.2    -0.1     1.1     0.0 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.506     374.1     374.0      6.2      0.0     0.4     0.4     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      3.087      91.8      91.8     -1.7      0.0    -0.3    -0.4     0.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.903      90.0      90.0     -2.5      0.0    -0.3    -0.4     0.0 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.324      99.8      99.9      0.2      0.1    -0.2    -0.1     0.1 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .580      17.3      17.2    -13.1     -0.6    -0.6    -2.3    -0.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .275      20.0      19.7    -22.1     -1.5    -1.9    -3.4    -1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.312     295.6     295.8      3.3      0.1    -0.5     0.1     0.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........       .928     470.4     472.5      9.5      0.4    -3.1     0.0     0.4 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.384     175.5     175.4      1.6     -0.1     0.2     0.1    -0.1 
    Personal care products (1)................       .706     154.2     153.4     -1.3     -0.5     0.1    -0.3    -0.5 
    Personal care services (1)................       .901     189.9     189.9      1.9      0.0     0.1     0.3     0.0 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.562     276.6     276.9      3.1      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     41.300     150.6     149.7      1.2     -0.6     0.1    -0.1    -0.2 
  Food and beverages .........................     15.719     177.4     177.8      1.5      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     25.582     135.2     133.6      1.0     -1.2     0.2    -0.3    -0.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     13.493     148.0     145.2      4.9     -1.9     0.8     0.5    -0.7 
    Apparel ..................................      4.399     125.5     121.5     -1.8     -3.2     0.0    -0.4    -0.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.094     166.0     163.9      8.1     -1.3     1.3     0.8    -0.8 
   Durables ..................................     12.089     120.5     120.2     -3.3     -0.2    -0.2    -0.5    -0.3 
 Services ....................................     58.700     211.8     211.9      3.2      0.0     0.3     0.3     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     31.169     218.2     218.1      3.0      0.0     0.3     0.1     0.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .353     111.4     112.3      5.6      0.8     0.0     1.3     0.8 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.466     133.7     134.1      0.4      0.3     0.4    -0.2     0.5 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .857     114.3     114.6      3.2      0.3     0.4     0.4     0.3 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .820     119.9     119.9      2.3      0.0     0.0     0.2     0.0 
  Transportation services ....................      6.638     212.0     212.0      3.7      0.0     0.1     0.6     0.2 
  Medical care services ......................      4.434     298.5     299.4      5.6      0.3     0.7     0.6     0.4 
  Other services .............................     10.963     249.9     250.2      3.4      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     85.312     182.1     181.6      2.6     -0.3     0.3     0.1     0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     68.478     172.3     171.7      2.1     -0.3     0.2     0.1     0.0 
 All items less medical care .................     94.190     175.6     175.1      2.2     -0.3     0.2     0.1     0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     26.612     137.0     135.6      1.1     -1.0     0.2    -0.3    -0.4 
 Nondurables less food .......................     14.524     150.2     147.6      4.8     -1.7     0.7     0.5    -0.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.125     166.9     165.0      7.6     -1.1     1.3     0.7    -0.7 
 Nondurables .................................     29.212     162.9     161.6      3.1     -0.8     0.3     0.5    -0.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.531     220.2     220.5      3.4      0.1     0.4     0.3     0.2 
 Services less medical care services .........     54.266     204.3     204.3      3.0      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      6.218     125.3     123.3     10.7     -1.6     1.9    -0.2    -0.4 
 All items less energy .......................     93.782     188.9     188.6      1.8     -0.2     0.2     0.2     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     79.094     191.8     191.4      1.9     -0.2     0.2     0.2     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     23.860     143.6     142.5     -1.5     -0.8    -0.1    -0.3    -0.3 
    Energy commodities .......................      2.752     124.9     120.7     23.7     -3.4     3.3    -0.2    -1.4 
   Services less energy services .............     55.234     219.8     219.8      3.4      0.0     0.3     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .552    $ .553        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .184    $ .185        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 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--   
                                                 Sep.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec.                                           
                                                 2002    2002    2002    2002                                           
                                                                                Mar.   June   Sep.   Dec.   June   Dec. 
                                                                                2002   2002   2002   2002   2002   2002 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  180.8   181.3   181.5   181.6    3.0    2.5    2.5    1.8    2.7    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  177.0   177.1   177.6   178.0    3.0   -0.5    1.4    2.3    1.3    1.8 
   Food ......................................  176.4   176.5   176.9   177.4    3.0   -0.7    1.4    2.3    1.1    1.8 
    Food at home .............................  175.4   175.2   175.8   176.3    3.2   -2.7    0.7    2.1    0.2    1.4 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  198.4   199.1   199.2   197.9    3.7    1.0    0.6   -1.0    2.4   -0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  161.4   160.7   161.7   162.5    2.2   -2.2   -2.0    2.8    0.0    0.4 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  166.3   166.5   167.1   167.3   -3.2   -3.3   -4.0    2.4   -3.3   -0.8 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  220.4   218.4   220.6   222.2   30.3  -13.1    3.5    3.3    6.4    3.4 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  140.6   140.7   139.7   141.4   -2.8   -3.7    8.7    2.3   -3.3    5.4 
     Other food at home ......................  160.7   161.2   161.7   161.9   -4.9    2.5    0.0    3.0   -1.2    1.5 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  159.3   160.0   160.1   160.1   -1.3    4.9    2.0    2.0    1.8    2.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................  155.3   155.4   153.9   154.1   -4.0   -4.0    0.8   -3.1   -4.0   -1.2 
      Other foods ............................  177.0   177.5   178.7   178.9   -6.1    3.5   -0.7    4.4   -1.5    1.8 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  109.7   109.8   110.3   110.2   -2.6    4.5    2.6    1.8    0.9    2.2 
    Food away from home (1)...................  179.2   179.6   179.8   180.1    2.5    2.5    2.3    2.0    2.5    2.1 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  118.8   119.1   119.7   119.8    2.8    4.5    4.1    3.4    3.7    3.8 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  183.9   184.7   185.1   185.3    2.9    2.2    0.9    3.1    2.6    2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  181.1   181.6   181.9   182.2    2.3    2.7    2.2    2.5    2.5    2.3 
   Shelter ...................................  209.3   209.8   210.4   210.8    3.8    3.1    2.9    2.9    3.5    2.9 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  200.7   201.3   202.0   202.3    4.1    2.6    2.4    3.2    3.4    2.8 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  118.2   118.2   119.0   118.7   -2.4    3.1    0.3    1.7    0.3    1.0 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  216.2   216.8   217.1   217.7    4.0    3.2    3.2    2.8    3.6    3.0 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  110.0   110.0   111.4   112.3    1.9    3.8    8.4    8.6    2.8    8.5 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  144.3   144.9   144.9   145.6   -3.6    4.0    2.2    3.7    0.1    2.9 
    Fuels ....................................  127.9   128.5   128.3   129.1   -5.5    4.5    2.2    3.8   -0.6    3.0 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................  119.0   121.0   122.0   123.0   -2.2   19.5   15.9   14.1    8.1   15.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  134.9   135.5   135.2   135.9   -5.8    3.7    1.5    3.0   -1.2    2.2 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  113.5   113.9   114.3   114.7    4.0    2.2    2.5    4.3    3.1    3.4 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  127.8   128.2   128.1   127.4   -2.1   -0.3   -2.2   -1.2   -1.2   -1.7 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  119.7   119.7   119.9   119.9    5.9   -0.3    3.1    0.7    2.7    1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  123.8   123.8   123.3   122.7    3.9   -7.7    0.6   -3.5   -2.1   -1.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  120.7   120.4   120.8   119.6    5.6  -11.1   -1.3   -3.6   -3.1   -2.5 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  115.8   116.1   115.2   114.6    4.2   -7.9    2.5   -4.1   -2.1   -0.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  126.2   127.7   127.5   125.3    4.4  -14.5    4.2   -2.8   -5.5    0.6 
   Footwear ..................................  121.6   121.2   121.1   121.3    7.5   -5.7    0.0   -1.0    0.7   -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  154.3   155.2   155.1   154.6    5.2    5.7    4.0    0.8    5.4    2.4 
   Private transportation ....................  150.3   151.4   151.3   150.6    5.9    5.3    4.9    0.8    5.6    2.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   99.3    99.1    98.6    98.2   -6.2   -2.4    1.6   -4.4   -4.3   -1.4 
     New vehicles ............................  139.9   140.4   140.3   139.8   -6.8   -2.3    1.7   -0.3   -4.6    0.7 
     Used cars and trucks ....................  152.4   149.9   147.8   147.6   -7.7   -2.6    0.5  -12.0   -5.2   -6.0 
    Motor fuel ...............................  120.9   125.0   124.7   122.8   53.3   31.7   12.5    6.4   42.1    9.4 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  120.2   124.8   124.3   122.6   49.0   33.8   12.5    8.2   41.2   10.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  107.4   106.9   107.2   107.0    2.7    0.8    2.7   -1.5    1.7    0.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  191.2   191.4   192.4   193.3    3.9    4.1    2.1    4.5    4.0    3.3 
   Public transportation .....................  206.3   203.1   205.0   206.5   -4.3   10.1   -8.8    0.4    2.6   -4.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  288.0   289.8   291.4   292.3    4.4    4.6    4.9    6.1    4.5    5.5 
   Medical care commodities ..................  257.9   258.8   259.9   260.0    3.4    2.9    3.2    3.3    3.1    3.2 
   Medical care services .....................  295.5   297.7   299.4   300.6    4.7    5.2    5.3    7.1    5.0    6.2 
    Professional services (3).................  255.0   256.5   257.2   258.3    1.4    2.6    3.7    5.3    2.0    4.5 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  373.3   376.7   381.1   383.6   11.1    9.0    7.7   11.5   10.0    9.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  106.2   106.5   106.5   106.7    1.9   -0.4    0.8    1.9    0.8    1.3 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  102.5   102.9   103.3   103.7    3.6    1.2   -1.5    4.8    2.4    1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  108.8   108.8   108.8   109.0    0.0    2.7    5.3    0.7    1.3    3.0 
   Education (2)..............................  128.0   128.4   128.9   129.4    7.1    6.6    7.9    4.4    6.9    6.1 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  320.9   320.6   324.0   323.9   26.4    8.0    2.0    3.8   16.8    2.9 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   368.0   369.4   370.8   372.2    5.5    6.6    8.2    4.6    6.0    6.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   92.5    92.2    91.8    91.8   -5.9   -0.9    3.1   -3.0   -3.4    0.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   90.7    90.4    90.0    90.0   -6.3   -0.9    0.4   -3.1   -3.6   -1.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.1    99.9    99.8    99.9   -2.4    0.4    3.7   -0.8   -1.0    1.4 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   17.8    17.7    17.3    17.2  -18.7   -8.2  -12.4  -12.8  -13.6  -12.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   21.1    20.7    20.0    19.7  -30.5   -8.4  -24.0  -24.0  -20.2  -24.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  297.0   295.4   295.6   295.8    3.0    8.4    3.6   -1.6    5.7    1.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  485.8   470.6   470.4   472.5    1.6   35.3   16.7  -10.5   17.2    2.2 
   Personal care (1)..........................  174.9   175.3   175.5   175.4    3.5    1.9    0.0    1.1    2.7    0.6 
    Personal care products (1)................  154.4   154.6   154.2   153.4   -0.8    0.8   -2.5   -2.6    0.0   -2.6 
    Personal care services (1)................  189.2   189.3   189.9   189.9    1.9    2.2    1.9    1.5    2.0    1.7 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  275.2   276.0   276.9   277.7    4.8    3.3    0.9    3.7    4.1    2.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  150.3   150.5   150.4   150.1    3.0    1.1    1.6   -0.5    2.0    0.5 
  Food and beverages .........................  177.0   177.1   177.6   178.0    3.0   -0.5    1.4    2.3    1.3    1.8 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  134.8   135.1   134.7   134.1    3.1    1.8    1.8   -2.1    2.4   -0.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  145.9   147.1   147.8   146.8   13.2    0.8    3.6    2.5    6.8    3.1 
    Apparel ..................................  123.8   123.8   123.3   122.7    3.9   -7.7    0.6   -3.5   -2.1   -1.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  163.6   165.7   167.1   165.7   17.8    3.3    6.4    5.2   10.3    5.8 
   Durables ..................................  121.1   120.9   120.3   119.9   -6.6   -1.3   -1.0   -3.9   -4.0   -2.5 
 Services ....................................  211.2   211.8   212.4   212.9    3.1    3.5    3.3    3.3    3.3    3.3 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  217.9   218.6   218.9   219.4    4.0    2.8    2.6    2.8    3.4    2.7 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  110.0   110.0   111.4   112.3    1.9    3.8    8.4    8.6    2.8    8.5 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  134.9   135.5   135.2   135.9   -5.8    3.7    1.5    3.0   -1.2    2.2 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  113.5   113.9   114.3   114.7    4.0    2.2    2.5    4.3    3.1    3.4 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  119.7   119.7   119.9   119.9    5.9   -0.3    3.1    0.7    2.7    1.9 
  Transportation services ....................  210.6   210.8   212.0   212.4    3.6    4.7    2.9    3.5    4.1    3.2 
  Medical care services ......................  295.5   297.7   299.4   300.6    4.7    5.2    5.3    7.1    5.0    6.2 
  Other services .............................  248.4   249.1   249.7   250.3    2.7    3.3    4.6    3.1    3.0    3.9 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  181.6   182.1   182.3   182.4    3.0    2.9    2.9    1.8    2.9    2.3 
 All items less shelter ......................  171.7   172.1   172.2   172.2    2.6    2.1    2.6    1.2    2.4    1.9 
 All items less medical care .................  175.2   175.6   175.7   175.8    2.8    2.3    2.6    1.4    2.6    2.0 
 Commodities less food .......................  136.7   137.0   136.6   136.0    2.7    2.1    1.8   -2.0    2.4   -0.1 
 Nondurables less food .......................  148.2   149.3   150.0   149.1   12.6    0.8    3.6    2.5    6.6    3.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  164.6   166.7   167.9   166.8   16.1    3.3    5.8    5.5    9.5    5.6 
 Nondurables .................................  161.6   162.1   162.9   162.6    7.3    0.5    2.3    2.5    3.8    2.4 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  219.3   220.1   220.7   221.2    2.1    4.0    4.1    3.5    3.0    3.8 
 Services less medical care services .........  203.9   204.4   204.9   205.3    2.6    3.2    3.4    2.8    2.9    3.1 
 Energy ......................................  124.1   126.4   126.1   125.6   16.5   15.8    7.1    4.9   16.2    6.0 
 All items less energy .......................  188.4   188.7   189.0   189.2    2.0    1.7    2.2    1.7    1.8    1.9 
  All items less food and energy .............  191.3   191.6   191.9   192.0    2.1    1.9    2.3    1.5    2.0    1.9 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.7   143.5   143.1   142.6   -1.9   -1.4    0.3   -3.0   -1.7   -1.4 
    Energy commodities .......................  121.4   125.4   125.1   123.4   49.9   30.6   12.8    6.8   39.9    9.7 
   Services less energy services .............  218.9   219.6   220.2   220.7    3.8    3.4    3.4    3.3    3.6    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 converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Dec.2002 from--      Nov.2002 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Sep.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.                                           
                                                 (1)   2002   2002   2002   2002   Dec.   Oct.   Nov.   Nov.   Sep.   Oct. 
                                                                                   2001   2002   2002   2001   2002   2002 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    181.0  181.3  181.3  180.9    2.4   -0.2   -0.2    2.2    0.2    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    189.5  189.9  190.1  189.6    2.9   -0.2   -0.3    2.8    0.3    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    191.2  191.5  191.7  191.4    3.2   -0.1   -0.2    3.0    0.3    0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    112.6  113.0  113.1  112.6    2.1   -0.4   -0.4    2.0    0.4    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    176.2  176.3  176.1  175.5    2.1   -0.5   -0.3    2.1   -0.1   -0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    178.8  178.7  178.3  177.8    2.3   -0.5   -0.3    2.4   -0.3   -0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    111.5  111.9  111.7  111.4    1.6   -0.4   -0.3    1.5    0.2   -0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    170.0  170.2  170.4  169.5    2.4   -0.4   -0.5    2.5    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    174.2  174.9  174.9  174.6    2.5   -0.2   -0.2    2.3    0.4    0.0 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    175.7  176.5  176.1  175.9    2.4   -0.3   -0.1    2.3    0.2   -0.2 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    111.2  111.6  111.9  111.6    2.5    0.0   -0.3    2.3    0.6    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    172.6  172.9  173.0  172.3    2.8   -0.3   -0.4    2.4    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    185.7  185.8  185.8  185.5    2.1   -0.2   -0.2    1.9    0.1    0.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    188.2  188.4  188.4  188.0    2.5   -0.2   -0.2    2.2    0.1    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    113.1  113.3  113.1  113.1    1.3   -0.2    0.0    1.0    0.0   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    165.5  165.8  165.7  165.4    2.7   -0.2   -0.2    2.5    0.1   -0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    111.8  112.1  112.2  111.9    2.0   -0.2   -0.3    1.8    0.4    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    174.3  174.3  174.5  173.8    2.4   -0.3   -0.4    2.2    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    182.1  182.8  183.2  182.4    2.5   -0.2   -0.4    3.3    0.6    0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    183.4  183.7  184.0  183.7    3.7    0.0   -0.2    3.3    0.3    0.2 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    193.3  193.7  193.4  193.1    3.1   -0.3   -0.2    3.0    0.1   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    199.1      -  200.4      -      -      -      -    4.0    0.7      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    174.6      -  173.4      -      -      -      -    0.6   -0.7      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    173.2      -  173.6      -      -      -      -    1.2    0.2      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    114.0      -  114.0      -      -      -      -    2.8    0.0      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  179.4      -  177.3    1.4   -1.2      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  180.4      -  179.7    3.6   -0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  162.6      -  159.8    1.7   -1.7      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  177.0      -  177.9    2.8    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  185.8      -  185.3    3.0   -0.3      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  194.3      -  193.2    1.4   -0.6      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  190.9      -  190.0    2.1   -0.5      -      -      -      - 

   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,                      Dec. 2002 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   2001       Nov.      Dec.                                            
                                                              2002      2002     Dec.     Nov.   Sep. to Oct. to Nov. to
                                                                                 2001     2002     Oct.    Nov.    Dec. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     177.4     177.0      2.4     -0.2     0.2     0.1     0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     528.4     527.2        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.229     176.6     177.1      1.4      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Food ......................................     16.228     176.0     176.5      1.4      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.3 
    Food at home .............................      9.798     174.5     175.1      0.8      0.3    -0.1     0.3     0.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.468     198.2     197.1      1.0     -0.6     0.3     0.1    -0.9 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.831     162.1     162.3      0.3      0.1    -0.3     0.6     0.6 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.021     166.9     167.2     -2.0      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.307     218.0     222.9      4.7      2.2    -0.9     0.8     0.8 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.132     138.6     139.1      1.0      0.4     0.1    -0.8     1.2 
     Other food at home ......................      2.038     160.7     160.6      0.1     -0.1     0.2     0.5     0.0 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .339     158.2     158.9      1.9      0.4     0.2     0.1     0.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .316     153.4     152.9     -2.3     -0.3     0.1    -0.9     0.1 
      Other foods ............................      1.383     178.8     178.5      0.1     -0.2     0.3     0.9     0.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .310     111.0     110.7      1.6     -0.3     0.0     0.8    -0.3 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.430     179.7     180.0      2.3      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .275     120.0     120.1      3.7      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.001     184.6     184.7      2.3      0.1     0.6     0.1     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     38.141     176.9     176.9      2.3      0.0     0.3     0.2     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     29.212     203.7     203.9      3.1      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.395     201.3     201.9      3.2      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      1.523     114.0     109.6      0.7     -3.9     0.3     0.8    -1.1 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     18.980     197.4     198.0      3.3      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .314     111.2     112.3      5.6      1.0     0.0     1.0     1.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.829     143.0     143.5      1.4      0.3     0.5     0.1     0.6 
    Fuels ....................................      3.955     126.0     126.4      1.0      0.3     0.6     0.0     0.6 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .177     121.0     125.0     10.9      3.3     2.1     0.9     0.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.778     132.9     133.2      0.5      0.2     0.5    -0.1     0.6 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .873     114.3     114.6      3.2      0.3     0.3     0.4     0.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.101     123.7     123.0     -1.9     -0.6     0.3    -0.2    -0.4 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .357     120.8     120.8      2.4      0.0     0.2     0.3     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.831     124.6     120.9     -1.7     -3.0    -0.2    -0.2    -0.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.243     122.7     118.8     -3.2     -3.2    -0.5     0.3    -0.8 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.864     117.2     112.3     -1.1     -4.2     0.3    -0.8    -0.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .256     129.7     127.2     -2.4     -1.9     0.9     0.2    -1.9 
   Footwear ..................................      1.165     122.5     120.8     -0.2     -1.4    -0.7     0.2     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.393     154.2     153.0      3.8     -0.8     0.5    -0.2    -0.3 
   Private transportation ....................     18.452     151.6     150.4      4.1     -0.8     0.6    -0.2    -0.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........     10.145      98.7      98.5     -3.4     -0.2    -0.4    -0.8    -0.3 
     New vehicles ............................      4.897     141.5     141.7     -2.1      0.1     0.4    -0.2    -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks ....................      4.099     149.7     149.3     -5.6     -0.3    -1.6    -1.4    -0.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.153     124.8     120.0     24.6     -3.8     3.5    -0.5    -1.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.120     124.3     119.4     24.8     -3.9     3.4    -0.3    -1.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .530     106.5     106.3      1.3     -0.2    -0.5     0.3    -0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.438     194.3     195.0      3.8      0.4     0.1     0.6     0.6 
   Public transportation .....................       .941     198.5     199.2     -0.4      0.4    -1.2     0.8     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.620     289.6     290.6      5.2      0.3     0.7     0.6     0.4 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.006     253.5     254.0      3.0      0.2     0.2     0.5     0.1 
   Medical care services .....................      3.614     298.4     299.5      5.8      0.4     0.8     0.6     0.5 
    Professional services (3).................      2.245     258.7     259.2      3.3      0.2     0.7     0.4     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.092     376.7     379.1     10.3      0.6     1.1     1.2     0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.649     104.6     104.7      0.9      0.1     0.3    -0.1     0.3 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.803     102.2     102.4      1.9      0.2     0.6     0.4     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.637     108.8     108.8      1.8      0.0     0.0     0.0     0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.382     129.7     129.7      6.2      0.0     0.3     0.5     0.2 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .203     325.0     324.5      9.1     -0.2     0.2     1.2     0.1 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.178     366.0     366.0      6.0      0.0     0.3     0.4     0.3 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      3.255      93.3      93.2     -1.5     -0.1    -0.3    -0.3    -0.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      3.107      92.0      92.0     -2.0      0.0    -0.3    -0.4     0.0 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.591     100.1     100.1      0.2      0.0    -0.1    -0.1     0.0 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .516      17.9      17.8    -13.6     -0.6    -1.1    -2.2    -0.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .253      19.7      19.3    -22.8     -2.0    -1.9    -3.4    -2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.499     305.0     305.1      4.0      0.0    -0.9     0.0     0.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.441     472.8     474.3      9.6      0.3    -3.1    -0.1     0.3 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.059     174.9     174.7      1.4     -0.1     0.2     0.1    -0.1 
    Personal care products (1)................       .815     155.0     154.2     -1.2     -0.5     0.2    -0.3    -0.5 
    Personal care services (1)................       .900     190.6     190.7      1.9      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.161     276.6     276.7      3.2      0.0     0.3     0.3     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     45.559     151.3     150.3      1.3     -0.7     0.1    -0.1    -0.2 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.229     176.6     177.1      1.4      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     28.330     136.5     135.0      1.2     -1.1     0.1    -0.4    -0.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.685     150.2     147.3      5.7     -1.9     0.8     0.7    -0.6 
    Apparel ..................................      4.831     124.6     120.9     -1.7     -3.0    -0.2    -0.2    -0.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.854     169.6     167.2      9.2     -1.4     1.3     0.9    -0.9 
   Durables ..................................     13.645     120.6     120.4     -3.6     -0.2    -0.3    -0.7    -0.4 
 Services ....................................     54.441     208.1     208.3      3.3      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.3 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     28.898     196.2     196.3      3.1      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .314     111.2     112.3      5.6      1.0     0.0     1.0     1.0 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.778     132.9     133.2      0.5      0.2     0.5    -0.1     0.6 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .873     114.3     114.6      3.2      0.3     0.3     0.4     0.2 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .357     120.8     120.8      2.4      0.0     0.2     0.3     0.0 
  Transportation services ....................      6.573     211.4     211.7      4.5      0.1     0.2     0.6     0.3 
  Medical care services ......................      3.614     298.4     299.5      5.8      0.4     0.8     0.6     0.5 
  Other services .............................     10.033     244.8     245.1      3.3      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.772     177.5     177.0      2.6     -0.3     0.3     0.1     0.0 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.788     169.7     169.1      2.1     -0.4     0.2     0.1     0.0 
 All items less medical care .................     95.380     172.5     172.1      2.3     -0.2     0.2     0.1     0.0 
 Commodities less food .......................     29.331     138.3     136.8      1.3     -1.1     0.1    -0.4    -0.4 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.687     152.3     149.6      5.5     -1.8     0.8     0.6    -0.7 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.855     170.2     168.0      8.6     -1.3     1.3     0.8    -0.7 
 Nondurables .................................     31.915     163.9     162.6      3.4     -0.8     0.3     0.5    -0.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     25.543     195.6     195.9      3.5      0.2     0.4     0.3     0.3 
 Services less medical care services .........     50.827     200.9     201.1      3.1      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.3 
 Energy ......................................      7.109     124.8     122.6     11.5     -1.8     1.9    -0.2    -0.6 
 All items less energy .......................     92.891     184.8     184.6      1.7     -0.1     0.1     0.1     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     76.663     187.0     186.7      1.7     -0.2     0.1     0.1     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.001     144.1     143.1     -1.7     -0.7    -0.3    -0.3    -0.3 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.330     125.2     120.7     23.8     -3.6     3.4    -0.4    -1.5 
   Services less energy services .............     50.663     216.5     216.7      3.5      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .564    $ .565        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .189    $ .190        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Sep.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec.                                           
                                                 2002    2002    2002    2002                                           
                                                                                Mar.   June   Sep.   Dec.   June   Dec. 
                                                                                2002   2002   2002   2002   2002   2002 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  176.8   177.2   177.4   177.5    3.0    2.5    2.5    1.6    2.8    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  176.3   176.4   176.8   177.2    3.0   -0.5    1.1    2.1    1.3    1.6 
   Food ......................................  175.7   175.8   176.2   176.7    3.3   -0.9    1.1    2.3    1.2    1.7 
    Food at home .............................  174.4   174.2   174.8   175.3    3.5   -2.7    0.5    2.1    0.3    1.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  198.6   199.1   199.2   197.5    4.6    0.4    1.6   -2.2    2.5   -0.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  161.1   160.6   161.5   162.4    2.5   -2.4   -2.2    3.3    0.0    0.5 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  166.1   166.4   166.9   167.2   -3.2   -3.3   -4.0    2.7   -3.3   -0.7 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  219.1   217.1   218.9   220.6   31.2  -13.1    3.0    2.8    6.8    2.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  140.1   140.2   139.1   140.8   -2.6   -4.0    9.4    2.0   -3.3    5.6 
     Other food at home ......................  160.3   160.6   161.4   161.4   -4.9    2.8   -0.2    2.8   -1.1    1.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  159.3   159.6   159.8   159.8   -1.0    6.0    1.3    1.3    2.4    1.3 
      Fats and oils ..........................  155.2   155.4   154.0   154.1   -3.7   -3.8    1.0   -2.8   -3.8   -0.9 
      Other foods ............................  177.2   177.7   179.3   179.3   -6.3    3.7   -1.1    4.8   -1.4    1.8 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  110.1   110.1   111.0   110.7   -2.5    4.9    1.8    2.2    1.1    2.0 
    Food away from home (1)...................  179.0   179.4   179.7   180.0    2.3    2.3    2.3    2.3    2.3    2.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  119.3   119.6   120.0   120.1    3.5    4.5    4.1    2.7    4.0    3.4 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  183.4   184.5   184.6   184.8    2.9    2.7    0.4    3.1    2.8    1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  176.5   177.0   177.3   177.6    2.3    2.3    2.3    2.5    2.3    2.4 
   Shelter ...................................  203.0   203.6   204.1   204.5    4.1    2.8    2.8    3.0    3.5    2.9 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  200.0   200.6   201.1   201.7    4.2    2.9    2.2    3.4    3.5    2.8 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  118.1   118.5   119.4   118.1    2.4   -3.0    3.1    0.0   -0.3    1.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  196.4   196.9   197.3   197.8    3.8    3.4    3.1    2.9    3.6    3.0 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  110.1   110.1   111.2   112.3    2.3    3.8    8.4    8.2    3.0    8.3 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  143.4   144.1   144.2   145.0   -3.6    3.4    1.7    4.5   -0.1    3.1 
    Fuels ....................................  126.5   127.3   127.3   128.1   -5.3    3.9    1.3    5.2   -0.8    3.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................  118.3   120.8   121.9   122.7   -3.9   16.7   16.8   15.7    5.9   16.3 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  133.7   134.4   134.3   135.1   -5.5    3.1    0.9    4.3   -1.3    2.6 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  113.7   114.0   114.4   114.6    4.4    2.2    2.9    3.2    3.3    3.0 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  123.7   124.1   123.9   123.4   -3.1   -0.6   -2.9   -1.0   -1.9   -1.9 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  120.2   120.4   120.8   120.8    5.2    0.3    2.0    2.0    2.7    2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  122.9   122.7   122.4   121.9    3.3   -7.5    0.7   -3.2   -2.2   -1.3 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  120.5   119.9   120.3   119.3    4.6  -10.8   -2.0   -3.9   -3.4   -3.0 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  114.7   115.1   114.2   113.6    4.2   -7.0    2.5   -3.8   -1.6   -0.7 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  128.4   129.5   129.7   127.2    4.4  -12.2    2.9   -3.7   -4.3   -0.5 
   Footwear ..................................  121.3   120.5   120.8   121.3    4.7   -5.1    0.0    0.0   -0.3    0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  153.5   154.2   153.9   153.4    5.2    6.0    4.6   -0.3    5.6    2.1 
   Private transportation ....................  150.7   151.6   151.3   150.7    5.9    5.8    4.9    0.0    5.9    2.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   99.5    99.1    98.3    98.0   -6.9   -2.4    1.6   -5.9   -4.7   -2.2 
     New vehicles ............................  141.1   141.6   141.3   140.9   -7.3   -2.2    2.0   -0.6   -4.8    0.7 
     Used cars and trucks ....................  153.2   150.7   148.6   148.5   -8.1   -2.3    0.5  -11.7   -5.3   -5.8 
    Motor fuel ...............................  121.5   125.7   125.1   123.1   52.5   32.0   13.6    5.4   41.9    9.4 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  121.0   125.1   124.7   122.6   53.5   32.2   13.6    5.4   42.4    9.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  106.7   106.2   106.5   106.3    3.1    0.8    3.1   -1.5    1.9    0.8 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  192.7   192.9   194.1   195.2    3.7    4.3    2.1    5.3    4.0    3.7 
   Public transportation .....................  201.7   199.2   200.7   202.2   -3.3    8.8   -7.6    1.0    2.6   -3.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  286.9   288.8   290.5   291.6    4.2    4.4    5.3    6.7    4.3    6.0 
   Medical care commodities ..................  252.5   253.1   254.3   254.6    3.1    2.4    3.2    3.4    2.8    3.3 
   Medical care services .....................  295.2   297.5   299.3   300.7    4.6    5.0    5.9    7.7    4.8    6.8 
    Professional services (3).................  257.0   258.7   259.7   260.6    1.9    2.1    3.5    5.7    2.0    4.6 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  368.5   372.6   377.1   380.2   10.2   10.0    7.7   13.3   10.1   10.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  104.5   104.8   104.7   105.0    2.3   -0.8    0.4    1.9    0.8    1.2 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.5   102.1   102.5   103.0    3.6    1.2   -2.7    6.0    2.4    1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  108.5   108.5   108.5   108.6    0.0    2.3    4.9    0.4    1.1    2.6 
   Education (2)..............................  127.9   128.3   128.9   129.2    6.7    6.6    7.5    4.1    6.7    5.8 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  322.7   323.2   327.0   327.4   17.7    9.1    4.1    6.0   13.3    5.0 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   360.6   361.8   363.1   364.2    5.6    6.6    7.9    4.1    6.1    6.0 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   93.9    93.6    93.3    93.2   -5.4   -0.9    3.5   -2.9   -3.1    0.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   92.7    92.4    92.0    92.0   -5.4   -0.9    1.3   -3.0   -3.2   -0.9 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.3   100.2   100.1   100.1   -2.4    0.0    4.1   -0.8   -1.2    1.6 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   18.5    18.3    17.9    17.8  -19.7   -8.0  -12.0  -14.3  -14.0  -13.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   20.8    20.4    19.7    19.3  -30.8   -8.5  -24.3  -25.9  -20.4  -25.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  307.8   304.9   305.0   305.1    2.6   11.7    5.8   -3.5    7.1    1.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  488.4   473.1   472.8   474.3    1.1   35.9   17.9  -11.1   17.2    2.4 
   Personal care (1)..........................  174.4   174.8   174.9   174.7    3.3    1.6    0.0    0.7    2.5    0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................  155.2   155.5   155.0   154.2    0.0    0.5   -2.5   -2.6    0.3   -2.5 
    Personal care services (1)................  190.0   190.1   190.6   190.7    1.9    2.1    2.1    1.5    2.0    1.8 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  275.2   275.9   276.8   277.5    4.8    3.7    1.2    3.4    4.3    2.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  151.1   151.2   151.0   150.7    2.7    1.6    1.9   -1.1    2.2    0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................  176.3   176.4   176.8   177.2    3.0   -0.5    1.1    2.1    1.3    1.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  136.4   136.6   136.0   135.4    2.7    2.7    2.4   -2.9    2.7   -0.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  148.0   149.2   150.2   149.3   14.3   -0.3    5.9    3.6    6.8    4.7 
    Apparel ..................................  122.9   122.7   122.4   121.9    3.3   -7.5    0.7   -3.2   -2.2   -1.3 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  167.2   169.4   171.0   169.4   20.2    3.5    8.3    5.4   11.5    6.8 
   Durables ..................................  121.6   121.2   120.4   119.9   -7.2   -1.3   -0.7   -5.5   -4.3   -3.1 
 Services ....................................  207.2   207.9   208.4   209.0    3.2    3.4    3.4    3.5    3.3    3.4 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  195.5   196.1   196.6   196.9    3.8    2.7    2.9    2.9    3.3    2.9 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  110.1   110.1   111.2   112.3    2.3    3.8    8.4    8.2    3.0    8.3 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  133.7   134.4   134.3   135.1   -5.5    3.1    0.9    4.3   -1.3    2.6 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  113.7   114.0   114.4   114.6    4.4    2.2    2.9    3.2    3.3    3.0 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  120.2   120.4   120.8   120.8    5.2    0.3    2.0    2.0    2.7    2.0 
  Transportation services ....................  209.5   210.0   211.2   211.8    4.6    4.6    4.1    4.5    4.6    4.3 
  Medical care services ......................  295.2   297.5   299.3   300.7    4.6    5.0    5.9    7.7    4.8    6.8 
  Other services .............................  243.5   244.1   244.6   245.2    2.6    3.2    4.6    2.8    2.9    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  176.9   177.4   177.5   177.5    3.0    3.0    3.0    1.4    3.0    2.2 
 All items less shelter ......................  169.2   169.5   169.6   169.6    2.7    2.2    2.6    0.9    2.4    1.8 
 All items less medical care .................  172.0   172.4   172.5   172.5    2.9    2.4    2.6    1.2    2.6    1.9 
 Commodities less food .......................  138.2   138.3   137.8   137.2    2.7    3.0    2.3   -2.9    2.8   -0.3 
 Nondurables less food .......................  150.2   151.4   152.3   151.2   14.1    0.0    5.5    2.7    6.8    4.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  167.9   170.1   171.4   170.2   18.5    3.0    8.0    5.6   10.5    6.8 
 Nondurables .................................  162.6   163.1   163.9   163.5    7.5    0.7    2.8    2.2    4.1    2.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  194.7   195.4   196.0   196.5    1.9    4.0    4.4    3.7    3.0    4.1 
 Services less medical care services .........  200.4   200.9   201.3   201.9    2.7    3.1    3.9    3.0    2.9    3.5 
 Energy ......................................  123.4   125.8   125.6   124.9   18.3   16.3    7.5    5.0   17.3    6.2 
 All items less energy .......................  184.3   184.5   184.7   184.9    2.0    1.3    2.2    1.3    1.7    1.8 
  All items less food and energy .............  186.6   186.7   186.9   187.0    1.5    2.0    2.6    0.9    1.7    1.7 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  144.5   144.0   143.5   143.1   -2.4   -1.1    0.6   -3.8   -1.8   -1.7 
    Energy commodities .......................  121.8   126.0   125.5   123.6   49.3   31.5   13.5    6.0   40.1    9.7 
   Services less energy services .............  215.4   216.1   216.7   217.2    3.9    3.2    3.6    3.4    3.6    3.5 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Dec.2002 from--      Nov.2002 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Sep.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.                                           
                                                 (1)   2002   2002   2002   2002   Dec.   Oct.   Nov.   Nov.   Sep.   Oct. 
                                                                                   2001   2002   2002   2001   2002   2002 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    177.0  177.3  177.4  177.0    2.4   -0.2   -0.2    2.1    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    186.2  186.5  186.9  186.6    3.1    0.1   -0.2    2.8    0.4    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    186.7  186.9  187.3  187.1    3.3    0.1   -0.1    3.0    0.3    0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    112.5  112.9  113.1  112.7    2.5   -0.2   -0.4    2.4    0.5    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    171.7  171.8  171.6  171.0    2.0   -0.5   -0.3    2.0   -0.1   -0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    173.4  173.3  173.0  172.4    2.2   -0.5   -0.3    2.3   -0.2   -0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    111.1  111.4  111.3  111.0    1.6   -0.4   -0.3    1.4    0.2   -0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    167.8  168.1  168.2  167.2    2.4   -0.5   -0.6    2.5    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    171.7  172.3  172.4  172.0    2.3   -0.2   -0.2    2.0    0.4    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    172.9  173.7  173.3  173.1    2.4   -0.3   -0.1    2.2    0.2   -0.2 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    110.5  110.9  111.1  110.8    2.1   -0.1   -0.3    1.9    0.5    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    173.0  173.2  173.4  172.6    2.6   -0.3   -0.5    2.1    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    180.7  180.8  181.0  180.8    2.3    0.0   -0.1    1.9    0.2    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    181.7  181.7  181.9  181.6    2.7   -0.1   -0.2    2.4    0.1    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    112.7  112.9  112.9  112.9    1.5    0.0    0.0    1.0    0.2    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    163.8  164.0  164.0  163.7    2.7   -0.2   -0.2    2.5    0.1    0.0 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    111.3  111.6  111.7  111.4    1.9   -0.2   -0.3    1.6    0.4    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    172.9  173.0  173.1  172.5    2.4   -0.3   -0.3    2.0    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    175.8  176.5  176.9  176.0    2.5   -0.3   -0.5    3.3    0.6    0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    176.3  176.5  177.0  176.7    4.1    0.1   -0.2    3.7    0.4    0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    188.6  188.8  188.8  188.7    3.2   -0.1   -0.1    3.0    0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    197.7      -  199.2      -      -      -      -    3.8    0.8      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    165.7      -  164.9      -      -      -      -    0.5   -0.5      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    172.9      -  173.0      -      -      -      -    1.1    0.1      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    113.7      -  113.5      -      -      -      -    2.5   -0.2      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  176.3      -  174.6    1.5   -1.0      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  175.0      -  174.4    3.9   -0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  160.3      -  158.0    1.8   -1.4      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  174.5      -  175.3    2.8    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  185.6      -  184.9    3.2   -0.4      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  190.0      -  189.6    1.7   -0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  185.5      -  184.6    1.9   -0.5      -      -      -      - 

   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         Dec. 2002 from-  
                    C-CPI-U                     December                                          
                                                1999-2000                                         
                                                              Nov.      Dec.      Dec.      Nov.  
                                                              2002      2002      2001      2002  
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                  
             Expenditure category                                                                 
                                                                                                  
 All items ...................................    100.000     106.1     105.8       2.1      -0.3 
  Food and beverages .........................     15.451     106.5     106.7       1.4       0.2 
   Food ......................................     14.432     106.5     106.7       1.3       0.2 
    Food at home .............................      8.335     105.4     105.7       0.7       0.3 
    Food away from home ......................      6.096     107.9     108.1       2.3       0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.019     107.0     106.9       2.2      -0.1 
  Housing ....................................     40.040     109.1     109.0       2.3      -0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     30.643     110.9     110.7       2.9      -0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.376     110.7     111.2       1.6       0.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      5.020      97.9      97.2      -1.9      -0.7 
  Apparel ....................................      4.819      95.5      92.5      -2.0      -3.1 
  Transportation .............................     17.770     103.8     103.0       3.8      -0.8 
   Private transportation ....................     16.520     104.0     103.2       4.2      -0.8 
   Public transportation .....................      1.250     100.2     100.6      -0.9       0.4 
  Medical care ...............................      5.563     113.8     114.0       4.8       0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.330     110.1     110.3       3.1       0.2 
   Medical care services .....................      4.233     114.9     115.3       5.4       0.3 
  Recreation .................................      6.124     102.2     102.2       0.3       0.0 
  Education and communication ................      6.068      97.0      96.9       0.1      -0.1 
   Education .................................      2.546     118.7     118.6       6.5      -0.1 
   Communication .............................      3.522      83.6      83.4      -4.4      -0.2 
  Other goods and services ...................      4.164     110.9     110.9       3.0       0.0 
                                                                                                  
          Commodity and service group                                                             
                                                                                                  
 Services ....................................     57.098     110.5     110.5       3.1       0.0 
 Commodities .................................     42.902     100.7     100.0       0.8      -0.7 
  Durables ...................................     12.953      91.6      91.3      -4.0      -0.3 
 Nondurables .................................     29.949     104.9     104.0       3.0      -0.9 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.851     105.7     105.4       1.4      -0.3 
 Energy ......................................      6.717     110.8     109.0      11.7      -1.6 

 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 Indexes for 2002 are initial estimates.  Indexes for 2001 are interim adjustments.

 Table 1A. 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)
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                              Annual      Annual     Percent  
                           CPI-U                             average     average      change  
                                                               2001        2002     from 2001 
                                                                                     to 2002  
                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                              
                   Expenditure category                                                       
                                                                                              
 All items ...............................................      177.1       179.9         1.6 
 All items (1967=100) ....................................      530.4       538.8           - 
                                                                                              
  Food and beverages .....................................      173.6       176.8         1.8 
   Food ..................................................      173.1       176.2         1.8 
    Food at home .........................................      173.4       175.6         1.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .........................      193.8       198.0         2.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......................      161.3       162.1          .5 
     Dairy and related products ..........................      167.1       168.1          .6 
     Fruits and vegetables ...............................      212.2       220.9         4.1 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .......      139.2       139.2          .0 
     Other food at home ..................................      159.6       160.8          .8 
      Sugar and sweets ...................................      155.7       159.0         2.1 
      Fats and oils ......................................      155.7       155.4         -.2 
      Other foods ........................................      176.0       177.1          .6 
       Other miscellaneous foods  (1).....................      108.9       109.2          .3 
    Food away from home ..................................      173.9       178.3         2.5 
     Other food away from home  (1).......................      113.4       117.7         3.8 
   Alcoholic beverages ...................................      179.3       183.6         2.4 
                                                                                              
  Housing ................................................      176.4       180.3         2.2 
   Shelter ...............................................      200.6       208.1         3.7 
    Rent of primary residence (2).........................      192.1       199.7         4.0 
    Lodging away from home (1) (2)........................      118.6       118.3         -.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (2) (3)..      206.3       214.7         4.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance  (1).................      106.2       108.7         2.4 
   Fuels and utilities ...................................      150.2       143.6        -4.4 
    Fuels ................................................      135.4       127.2        -6.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ............................      129.3       115.5       -10.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (2)......................      142.4       134.4        -5.6 
   Household furnishings and operations ..................      129.1       128.3         -.6 
                                                                                              
  Apparel ................................................      127.3       124.0        -2.6 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...............................      125.7       121.7        -3.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ............................      119.3       115.8        -2.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ........................      129.2       126.4        -2.2 
   Footwear ..............................................      123.0       121.4        -1.3 
                                                                                              
  Transportation .........................................      154.3       152.9         -.9 
   Private transportation ................................      150.0       148.8         -.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (1).......................      101.3        99.2        -2.1 
     New vehicles ........................................      142.1       140.0        -1.5 
     Used cars and trucks ................................      158.7       152.0        -4.2 
    Motor fuel ...........................................      124.7       116.6        -6.5 
     Gasoline (all types) ................................      124.0       116.0        -6.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ....................      104.8       106.9         2.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .................      183.5       190.2         3.7 
   Public transportation .................................      210.6       207.4        -1.5 
                                                                                              
  Medical care ...........................................      272.8       285.6         4.7 
   Medical care commodities ..............................      247.6       256.4         3.6 
   Medical care services .................................      278.8       292.9         5.1 
    Professional services (2).............................      246.5       253.9         3.0 
    Hospital and related services (2).....................      338.3       367.8         8.7 
                                                                                              
  Recreation (1)..........................................      104.9       106.2         1.2 
   Video and audio (1)....................................      101.5       102.8         1.3 
                                                                                              
  Education and communication (1).........................      105.2       107.9         2.6 
   Education (1)..........................................      118.5       126.0         6.3 
    Educational books and supplies .......................      295.9       317.6         7.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............      341.1       362.1         6.2 
   Communication  (1).....................................       93.3        92.3        -1.1 
    Information and information processing  (1)...........       92.3        90.8        -1.6 
     Telephone services  (1)..............................       99.3        99.7          .4 
     Information and information processing other than                                        
         telephone services  (4)..........................       21.3        18.3       -14.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral equipment  (1)....       29.5        22.2       -24.7 
                                                                                              
  Other goods and services ...............................      282.6       293.2         3.8 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..........................      425.2       461.5         8.5 
   Personal care .........................................      170.5       174.7         2.5 
    Personal care products ...............................      155.1       154.7         -.3 
    Personal care services ...............................      184.3       188.4         2.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ......................      263.1       274.4         4.3 
                                                                                              
                Commodity and service group                                                   
                                                                                              
 Commodities .............................................      150.7       149.7         -.7 
  Food and beverages .....................................      173.6       176.8         1.8 
  Commodities less food and beverages ....................      137.2       134.2        -2.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages ...................      147.1       145.1        -1.4 
    Apparel ..............................................      127.3       124.0        -2.6 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........      163.4       162.2         -.7 
   Durables ..............................................      124.6       121.4        -2.6 
 Services ................................................      203.4       209.8         3.1 
  Rent of shelter (3).....................................      208.9       216.7         3.7 
  Transportation services ................................      201.9       209.1         3.6 
  Other services .........................................      238.0       246.4         3.5 
                                                                                              
                      Special indexes                                                         
                                                                                              
 All items less food .....................................      177.8       180.5         1.5 
 All items less shelter ..................................      169.7       170.8          .6 
 All items less medical care .............................      171.9       174.3         1.4 
 Commodities less food ...................................      138.9       136.0        -2.1 
 Nondurables less food ...................................      149.1       147.4        -1.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel .......................      164.1       163.3         -.5 
 Nondurables .............................................      160.6       161.1          .3 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)........................      212.3       217.5         2.4 
 Services less medical care services .....................      196.6       202.5         3.0 
 Energy ..................................................      129.3       121.7        -5.9 
 All items less energy ...................................      183.5       187.7         2.3 
  All items less food and energy .........................      186.1       190.5         2.4 
   Commodities less food and energy commodities ..........      145.3       143.7        -1.1 
    Energy commodities ...................................      125.2       117.1        -6.5 
   Services less energy services .........................      209.6       217.5         3.8 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) .     $ .565      $ .556           - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ....     $ .189      $ .186           - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum
 index series converted to a geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.

 Table 4A. 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)
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                              Annual      Annual     Percent  
                           CPI-W                             average     average      change  
                                                               2001        2002     from 2001 
                                                                                     to 2002  
                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                              
                   Expenditure category                                                       
                                                                                              
 All items ...............................................      173.5       175.9         1.4 
 All items (1967=100) ....................................      516.8       523.9           - 
                                                                                              
  Food and beverages .....................................      173.0       176.1         1.8 
   Food ..................................................      172.5       175.5         1.7 
    Food at home .........................................      172.4       174.7         1.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .........................      193.6       198.0         2.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......................      161.2       162.0          .5 
     Dairy and related products ..........................      167.1       167.9          .5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...............................      210.8       219.6         4.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .......      138.4       138.6          .1 
     Other food at home ..................................      159.1       160.4          .8 
      Sugar and sweets ...................................      155.6       158.8         2.1 
      Fats and oils ......................................      155.4       155.3         -.1 
      Other foods ........................................      176.3       177.6          .7 
       Other miscellaneous foods  (1).....................      109.1       109.7          .5 
    Food away from home ..................................      173.8       178.2         2.5 
     Other food away from home  (1).......................      113.6       118.1         4.0 
   Alcoholic beverages ...................................      178.8       183.3         2.5 
                                                                                              
  Housing ................................................      172.1       175.7         2.1 
   Shelter ...............................................      194.5       201.9         3.8 
    Rent of primary residence (2).........................      191.5       199.0         3.9 
    Lodging away from home (1) (2)........................      118.4       118.4          .0 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (2) (3)..      187.6       195.1         4.0 
    Tenants' and household insurance  (1).................      106.4       108.7         2.2 
   Fuels and utilities ...................................      149.5       142.9        -4.4 
    Fuels ................................................      134.2       126.1        -6.0 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ............................      129.2       115.0       -11.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (2)......................      141.5       133.4        -5.7 
    Water and sewer and trash collection services (1).....      109.6       113.1         3.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ..................      125.8       124.4        -1.1 
    Household operations  (1).............................      116.2       119.7         3.0 
                                                                                              
  Apparel ................................................      126.1       123.1        -2.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...............................      125.8       121.7        -3.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ............................      117.3       114.6        -2.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ........................      130.9       128.6        -1.8 
   Footwear ..............................................      123.1       121.2        -1.5 
                                                                                              
  Transportation .........................................      153.6       151.8        -1.2 
   Private transportation ................................      150.8       149.0        -1.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (1).......................      101.9        99.4        -2.5 
     New vehicles ........................................      143.2       141.1        -1.5 
     Used cars and trucks ................................      159.8       152.8        -4.4 
    Motor fuel ...........................................      124.9       117.0        -6.3 
     Gasoline (all types) ................................      124.2       116.4        -6.3 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ....................      104.0       106.1         2.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .................      185.1       191.7         3.6 
   Public transportation .................................      204.9       202.6        -1.1 
                                                                                              
  Medical care ...........................................      271.8       284.6         4.7 
   Medical care commodities ..............................      242.7       251.1         3.5 
   Medical care services .................................      278.5       292.5         5.0 
    Professional services (2).............................      248.7       256.0         2.9 
    Hospital and related services (2).....................      333.8       363.2         8.8 
                                                                                              
  Recreation (1)..........................................      103.6       104.6         1.0 
   Video and audio (1)....................................      100.9       102.0         1.1 
                                                                                              
  Education and communication (1).........................      105.3       107.6         2.2 
   Education (1)..........................................      118.7       125.9         6.1 
    Educational books and supplies .......................      299.9       318.5         6.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............      334.7       354.8         6.0 
   Communication  (1).....................................       94.5        93.7         -.8 
    Information and information processing  (1)...........       93.8        92.7        -1.2 
     Telephone services  (1)..............................       99.4        99.9          .5 
     Information and information processing other than                                        
         telephone services  (4)..........................       22.1        19.0       -14.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral equipment  (1)....       29.1        21.8       -25.1 
                                                                                              
  Other goods and services ...............................      289.5       302.0         4.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..........................      426.1       463.2         8.7 
   Personal care .........................................      170.3       174.1         2.2 
    Personal care products ...............................      155.7       155.5         -.1 
    Personal care services ...............................      184.9       189.1         2.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ......................      262.8       274.0         4.3 
                                                                                              
                Commodity and service group                                                   
                                                                                              
 Commodities .............................................      151.4       150.4         -.7 
  Food and beverages .....................................      173.0       176.1         1.8 
  Commodities less food and beverages ....................      138.7       135.5        -2.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages ...................      149.0       147.0        -1.3 
    Apparel ..............................................      126.1       123.1        -2.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........      166.3       165.3         -.6 
   Durables ..............................................      125.3       121.8        -2.8 
 Services ................................................      199.6       205.9         3.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).....................................      187.3       194.5         3.8 
  Tenants' and household insurance  (1)...................      106.4       108.7         2.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (2).........................      141.5       133.4        -5.7 
  Water and sewer and trash collection services (1).......      109.6       113.1         3.2 
  Household operations  (1)...............................      116.2       119.7         3.0 
  Transportation services ................................      199.1       207.7         4.3 
  Medical care services ..................................      278.5       292.5         5.0 
  Other services .........................................      233.7       241.6         3.4 
                                                                                              
                      Special indexes                                                         
                                                                                              
 All items less food .....................................      173.6       175.8         1.3 
 All items less shelter ..................................      167.6       168.3          .4 
 All items less medical care .............................      169.1       171.1         1.2 
 Commodities less food ...................................      140.2       137.3        -2.1 
 Nondurables less food ...................................      150.8       149.2        -1.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel .......................      166.7       166.1         -.4 
 Nondurables .............................................      161.4       161.9          .3 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)........................      188.5       193.1         2.4 
 Services less medical care services .....................      193.1       198.9         3.0 
 Energy ..................................................      128.7       120.9        -6.1 
 All items less energy ...................................      179.8       183.6         2.1 
  All items less food and energy .........................      181.7       185.6         2.1 
   Commodities less food and energy commodities ..........      146.1       144.4        -1.2 
    Energy commodities ...................................      125.3       117.3        -6.4 
   Services less energy services .........................      206.0       213.9         3.8 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) .     $ .576      $ .569           - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ....     $ .193      $ .191           - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum
 index series converted to a geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.