FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-99-327
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
 INFORMATION:           (202) 606-7828      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:      		    Wednesday, November 17, 1999
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm                                    

                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  OCTOBER 1999
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2
 percent in October, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 168.2 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in October, the CPI-U
 increased 2.6 percent.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) rose 0.2 in October, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The October
 level of 165.0 was 2.7 percent higher than the index in October 1998.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in
 October, following a 0.4 percent increase in September.  The energy index,
 which increased sharply in each of the preceding three months, declined
 0.1 percent in October.  The index for petroleum-based energy fell 0.2
 percent, while the index for energy services was unchanged.  For the
 fourth consecutive month in October, the food index increased 0.2 percent.
 Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in October,
 following an increase of 0.3 percent in September.  Smaller increases in
 the indexes for apparel and shelter, coupled with a downturn in the index
 for cigarettes, were largely responsible for the deceleration in the
 October all items less food and energy index.

 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                      1999                3-mos. ended  ended
                     Apr.  May June July Aug. Sep. Oct.   Oct. `99  Oct. `99
 All Items            .7    .0   .0   .3   .3   .4   .2    3.6       2.6
  Food and beverages  .1    .4   .0   .2   .2   .2   .2    2.7       1.9
  Housing             .4    .1   .2   .1   .2   .4   .1    2.7       2.2
  Apparel            1.5   -.2  -.4  -.9  -.3  1.2   .6    6.3       -.7
  Transportation     2.4   -.5  -.6  1.2   .9   .6   .2    7.1       4.2
  Medical care        .4    .2   .4   .3   .4   .3   .2    3.4       3.5
  Recreation          .3    .2   .0   .0   .0  -.5   .1   -1.6        .7
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .1   -.1   .0   .2   .2   .0   .2    1.6       1.1
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         1.0   -.2   .2   .9  -.2  1.9   .1    7.1       9.1
  Special Indexes                                                       
    Energy           6.1  -1.3 -1.2  2.1  2.7  1.7  -.1   18.5      10.2
    Food              .1    .4   .0   .2   .2   .2   .2    2.7       1.9
    All Items less                                                       
      food and energy .4    .1   .1   .2   .1   .3   .2    2.5       2.1
 

 See page 4 for a note on the use of hedonic models to adjust prices of
 audio and video products in the CPI for changes in quality.
 
      During the first 10 months of 1999, the CPI-U rose at a 2.8 percent
 seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an increase of
 1.6 percent for all of 1998.  The energy index, which declined 8.8 percent
 in 1998, has risen at a 14.2 percent SAAR thus far in 1999.  In the 10
 months of 1999, petroleum-based energy costs increased at a 30.9 percent
 SAAR, and charges for energy services rose at a 2.0 percent annual rate.
 The food index has risen at a 2.1 percent SAAR thus far in 1999, following
 a 2.3 percent increase for all of 1998. Excluding food and energy, the CPI-
 U has advanced at a 1.9 percent rate thus far in 1998, compared with a 2.4
 percent rise for all of 1998.
      
      The index for food and beverages rose 0.2 percent in October.  The
 index for food at home also increased 0.2 percent, following a 0.3 percent
 rise in September.  Declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables, for
 meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, and for other food at home partially
 offset a sharp increase in prices for dairy and related products.  The
 index for dairy products, which rose 1.4 percent in September, advanced
 3.4 percent in October, the largest rise in this component since a 5.4
 percent rise in October 1973.  Also contributing to the October advance
 were small increases in the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for
 nonalcoholic beverages--up 0.1 and 0.3 percent, respectively.  The index
 for fruits and vegetables declined 0.6 percent in October.  Within the
 fruits and vegetables group, the index for fresh vegetables decreased 2.1
 percent, while the index for fresh fruits was virtually unchanged.  (Prior
 to seasonal adjustment, fresh vegetable prices rose 0.4 percent, while
 fresh fruit prices declined 1.3 percent.)  The index for processed fruits
 and vegetables rose 0.9 percent.  The index for meats, poultry, fish, and
 eggs declined 0.1 percent.  Within the latter group, the index for beef
 increased substantially for the second consecutive month--up 0.8 percent
 in October.  Prices for pork and poultry each turned down in October and
 the index for eggs declined 6.9 percent.  The index for other food at home
 declined 0.3 percent.  The other two components of the food and beverages
 index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and
 declined 0.2 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for housing rose 0.1 percent in October, following an
 increase of 0.4 percent in September.  Each of the three major housing
 groups--shelter, fuel and utilities, and household furnishings and
 operations--contributed to the moderation.  Shelter costs, which increased
 0.3 percent in September, rose 0.1 percent in October.  Within shelter,
 the indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent each increased 0.2
 percent, while the index for lodging away from home declined 0.6 percent.
 The index for fuels and utilities increased 0.2 percent in October,
 following a 0.9 percent rise in September.  The index for natural gas,
 which rose 2.7 percent in September, fell 1.4 percent in October,
 partially offsetting increases in the indexes for fuel oil and electricity-
 -up 2.2 and 0.6 percent, respectively.  The index for household
 furnishings and operations, which rose 0.1 percent in September, declined
 0.2 percent in October.
      
      The transportation component increased 0.2 percent in October,
 following a 0.6 percent rise in September, largely reflecting a downturn
 in the index for motor fuel.  The gasoline index, which increased 2.6
 percent in September, declined 0.4 percent in October.  The index for new
 and used vehicles also decelerated, increasing 0.1 percent, following a
 0.5 percent advance in September.  The index for new vehicles rose 0.1
 percent in October.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices
 rose 0.5 percent.  As of October, about 37 percent of the new vehicle
 sample was represented by 2000 models.  The 2000 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 2000 vehicles represented in the
 Producer Price Index sample, see news release USDL-99-324, dated November
 10, 1999.)  The index for used cars and trucks also moderated, increasing
 0.4 percent in October after advancing 1.2 percent in September.  The
 index for public transportation, however, turned up in October, following
 declines in each of the preceding two months.  Airline fares, which had
 declined 2.7 and 1.7 percent in August and September, respectively, rose
 5.3 percent in October.
      
      The index for apparel, which rose 1.2 percent in September, increased
 0.6 percent in October.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices
 rose 2.1 percent, reflecting the continued introduction of higher priced
 fall-winter wear.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in October to a level 3.5 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.1 percent,
 with the index for prescription drugs up 0.4 percent.  The index for
 medical care services rose 0.2 percent.  Charges for professional services
 and for hospital and related services increased 0.2 and 0.3 percent,
 respectively.
      
      The index for recreation costs increased 0.1 percent in October,
 following a 0.5 percent decline in September.  The index for admissions to
 movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events, which declined 0.3
 percent in September, turned up in October, increasing 0.7 percent.
 Decreases in the indexes for sporting goods and for toys--down 0.7 and 0.4
 percent, respectively--partially offset that advance.
      
      The index for education and communication, which was unchanged in
 September, increased 0.2 percent in October.  Educational costs rose 0.4
 percent, while the index for communication was unchanged.  Within the
 latter group, an increase of 0.2 percent in the index for telephone
 services was offset by a 2.0 percent decline in the index for information
 processing other than telephone services; prices for personal computers
 and peripheral equipment declined 3.0 percent.
      
      The index for other goods and services increased 0.1 percent in
 October after advancing 1.9 percent in September.  Cigarette prices, which
 rose 7.1 percent in September, declined 0.3 percent in October.  Prices
 for tobacco products other than cigarettes, however, rose 1.1 percent in
 October.
      
 
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers rose 0.1 percent in October.
 

 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                      1999                3-mos. ended  ended
                     Apr.  May June July Aug. Sep. Oct.   Oct.`99   Oct. `99
 All Items            .7    .0   .0   .4   .2   .5   .1    3.7       2.7
  Food and beverages  .1    .3   .1   .2   .2   .3   .2    2.7       1.9
  Housing             .3    .1   .1   .2   .1   .4   .1    2.5       2.2
  Apparel            1.4   -.1  -.5  -.7  -.5  1.3   .6    5.7       -.9
  Transportation     2.6   -.4  -.5  1.2  1.0   .8   .1    8.0       4.4
  Medical care        .4    .2   .4   .3   .2   .4   .2    3.2       3.4
  Recreation          .2    .2   .1   .0  -.1  -.5   .1   -2.0        .3
  Education and                                                         
    communication    -.1    .0   .1   .2   .1   .0   .3    1.6       1.2
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         1.4   -.4   .3  1.2  -.4  2.4   .0    8.3      11.4
 Special Indexes                                                        
  Energy             6.4  -1.4 -1.2  2.3  2.8  1.8  -.2   19.4      10.8
  Food                .1    .3   .1   .1   .2   .2   .2    3.0       1.9
  All Items less                                                        
     food and energy  .4    .1   .1   .2   .1   .4   .2    2.6       2.1

 
 Consumer Price Index data for November are scheduled for release on
 Tuesday, December 14, 1999, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).

 ________________________________________________________________________     


 Extending the use of hedonic models to adjust prices for Audio and
 Video Products in the Consumer Price Index for changes in quality
      
      Effective with the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for
 January 2000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will extend hedonic
 quality adjustment to items in two CPI strata: Audio equipment and Other
 video equipment (which contains video equipment other than televisions). A
 hedonic model decomposes the price of a consumer product into implicit
 prices for each of its important features and components, thereby
 providing an estimate of the value of each feature and component. The
 following table gives the relative importance (share of weight), as of
 December 1998, of these strata in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban
 Consumers (the CPI-U) and in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage
 Earners and Clerical Workers (the CPI-W).
     
                Relative Importance in Percent
     CPI Item Stratum          CPI-U             CPI-W
     Audio equipment           0.152             0.177
     Other video equipment     0.075             0.086
     
      There are 12 main audio products in Audio equipment: (1) portable CD
 players, (2) table CD players, (3) radios, (4) tape recorders, (5)
 portable radio cassette players, (6) headset stereos, (7) receivers, (8)
 cassette decks, (9) stereo main speakers, (10) surround speakers, (11)
 rack systems, and (12) shelf systems. These items account for about
 80 percent of the weight of Audio equipment in the CPI-U and 81 percent in
 the CPI-W. The hedonic models estimated for these products rely on home
 and portable audio products data that BLS purchased from a secondary
 source.  Items in this index stratum that will not be subject to hedonic
 quality adjustment at this time are automotive audio equipment and audio
 accessories and miscellaneous equipment; the data source did not cover
 them.  Detailed information on the work on Audio products is in a paper by
 Kokoski, Waehrer and Rozaklis available from the BLS. /1
      The CPI also will use hedonic quality adjustment for video cameras,
 which have an estimated 31 percent of the weight within Other video
 equipment. (Items in this stratum that will not be subject to hedonic
 quality adjustment at this time include video cassette recorders, digital
 versatile disc players, satellite dishes and miscellaneous video
 equipment.) The hedonic models that BLS analysts developed for video
 cameras use observations collected for the CPI supplemented with
 additional observations that the BLS collected specifically for this
 purpose. A paper on this work is in preparation and will be available
 before the release of the January 2000 CPI.
      Additional work on hedonic quality adjustment is underway at BLS. In
 the future we plan to extend this method to additional CPI items as
 satisfactory estimates of hedonic models are developed. We will give CPI
 users notice three months before the first use of each additional model
 and will have a detailed paper reporting on each model available by the
 time of its implementation.
     
     For more information on these changes, write to
               Bureau of Labor Statistics
               Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes
               2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3260
               Washington, DC 20212
     
 or telephone or send electronic mail to Paul Liegey at (202) 691-5394,
 Liegey_P@bls.gov.
     

 _______________________________
 1/ Kokoski, Mary, Keith Waehrer, and Patricia Rozaklis, "Using Hedonic
 Methods for Quality Adjustment in the CPI: The Consumer Audio Products
 Component", paper presented at the Conference on the Measurement of
 Inflation, Cardiff, Wales, September 1, 1999.

 __________________________________________________________________________


       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 1994 through 1998 were replaced at the end of
       1998.  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.
            
                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 and the motor fuels 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 some women's
       apparel indexes and the girls' apparel index, the procedure
       was used to offset the effects of changes in pricing
       methodology.  For the tobacco and smoking products index,
       this procedure was used to offset the effects wholesale
       tobacco prices and legal fees passed on to consumers.  For
       some alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis
       Seasonal Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise
       tax increases.  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
       affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the Water and
       sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to
       account for a data collection anomaly.
            
                 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 Claire
       McAnaw Gallagher on (202) 606-6968 or sending e-mail to
       Gallagher_C@BLS.GOV.
      
     
 

 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Oct. 1999 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1998       Sep.      Oct.                                            
                                                              1999      1999     Oct.     Sep.   July to Aug. to Sep. to
                                                                                 1998     1999     Aug.    Sep.    Oct. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     167.9     168.2      2.6      0.2     0.3     0.4     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     502.9     503.9        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.408     165.1     165.5      1.9      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
   Food ......................................     15.422     164.6     165.1      1.9      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Food at home .............................      9.691     164.5     165.1      1.6      0.4     0.1     0.3     0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.544     185.2     185.2      1.6      0.0    -0.9     0.6     0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.569     149.2     149.2      0.8      0.0     0.3     0.4    -0.1 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.088     158.7     164.1      5.9      3.4     0.5     1.4     3.4 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.440     202.6     202.2      1.4     -0.2     0.6    -0.2    -0.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.049     134.2     134.6      1.5      0.3    -0.1    -0.4     0.3 
     Other food at home ......................      2.002     153.9     153.7      0.7     -0.1     0.3     0.0    -0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     153.5     153.3      1.9     -0.1     0.5     0.4     0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .309     148.5     149.0     -5.0      0.3     0.5     0.1     0.1 
      Other foods ............................      1.316     169.2     168.7      1.6     -0.3     0.2    -0.2    -0.4 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .320     105.3     104.3      0.8     -0.9     0.6     0.5    -0.9 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.730     165.8     166.2      2.4      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .175     106.4     106.8      4.0      0.4     0.3     0.6     0.4 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .986     170.7     170.5      2.3     -0.1     0.3     0.2    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.828     165.2     165.0      2.2     -0.1     0.2     0.4     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     30.283     188.3     188.5      2.5      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      7.007     178.4     178.8      2.8      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      2.376     113.8     113.1      3.3     -0.6    -0.3     2.1    -0.6 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.529     193.9     194.2      2.3      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .371     102.3     102.2      2.5     -0.1     0.1     0.1    -0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.735     132.7     130.3      2.5     -1.8     0.4     0.9     0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      3.801     117.6     115.0      2.7     -2.2     0.4     1.1     0.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .227      93.9      97.6     13.0      3.9     2.4     4.6     2.4 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.574     125.3     122.0      2.0     -2.6     0.3     0.8     0.0 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .934     104.5     104.6      2.1      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.810     127.0     126.6      0.0     -0.3     0.1     0.1    -0.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .908     105.2     105.2      2.7      0.0     0.7     0.2     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.831     131.8     134.6     -0.7      2.1    -0.3     1.2     0.6 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.358     130.5     134.0     -0.1      2.7    -1.7     1.2     1.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.939     125.4     128.4     -0.3      2.4     0.8     2.4     0.4 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .272     129.9     132.4      1.7      1.9     0.7     1.2     1.9 
   Footwear ..................................       .876     124.7     126.1     -3.2      1.1    -1.1    -0.4    -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     16.999     146.5     147.3      4.2      0.5     0.9     0.6     0.2 
   Private transportation ....................     15.653     142.9     143.3      4.1      0.3     1.1     0.8    -0.1 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.843     100.1     100.5      0.4      0.4     0.1     0.5     0.1 
     New vehicles ............................      4.983     141.6     142.3     -0.1      0.5    -0.1     0.2     0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.914     155.7     156.4      2.2      0.4     1.0     1.2     0.4 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.493     110.3     110.0     21.1     -0.3     5.6     2.4    -0.4 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.476     109.7     109.4     21.2     -0.3     5.6     2.6    -0.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .549     100.6     100.5     -0.9     -0.1     0.0     0.5    -0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.624     172.8     173.2      2.5      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.346     194.7     201.5      6.1      3.5    -1.8    -1.2     3.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.713     252.3     252.8      3.5      0.2     0.4     0.3     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.252     233.1     233.2      4.0      0.0     0.6     0.4     0.1 
   Medical care services .....................      4.461     256.6     257.1      3.3      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
    Professional services (3).................      2.854     230.4     230.9      3.0      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.354     302.1     302.9      4.4      0.3     0.7     0.4     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.120     101.7     101.8      0.7      0.1     0.0    -0.5     0.1 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.748     100.1     100.1     -1.0      0.0     0.3    -0.5     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.478     101.9     102.1      1.1      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.2 
   Education (2)..............................      2.694     109.4     109.6      4.9      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .203     267.0     269.0      4.7      0.7     0.6     0.3     0.8 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.492     315.3     315.9      4.9      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.783      95.3      95.3     -2.6      0.0     0.1    -0.3     0.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.580      94.7      94.7     -3.0      0.0     0.1    -0.3     0.0 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.327      99.6      99.8     -0.9      0.2     0.3    -0.2     0.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .253      29.3      28.7    -20.5     -2.0    -0.7    -1.7    -2.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .148      49.7      48.2    -28.6     -3.0    -3.8    -2.4    -3.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.624     262.6     263.2      9.1      0.2    -0.2     1.9     0.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.159     373.8     373.3     31.0     -0.1    -1.3     6.5    -0.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.465     161.8     162.4      2.7      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .742     153.0     153.4      2.7      0.3     0.2     0.5     0.3 
    Personal care services (1)................       .973     172.1     172.9      3.2      0.5     0.3     0.1     0.5 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.491     244.6     245.6      3.7      0.4     0.4     0.4     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.109     145.8     146.4      2.7      0.4     0.4     0.7     0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.408     165.1     165.5      1.9      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     25.702     134.3     134.9      3.1      0.4     0.5     1.0     0.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.345     141.0     141.9      6.2      0.6     0.8     1.5     0.2 
    Apparel ..................................      4.831     131.8     134.6     -0.7      2.1    -0.3     1.2     0.6 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.514     151.2     151.2      9.9      0.0     1.8     1.5     0.1 
   Durables ..................................     11.356     125.7     125.9     -0.8      0.2     0.0     0.4    -0.2 
 Services ....................................     57.891     190.1     190.2      2.5      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.912     196.1     196.3      2.5      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.1 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .371     102.3     102.2      2.5     -0.1     0.1     0.1    -0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.574     125.3     122.0      2.0     -2.6     0.3     0.8     0.0 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .934     104.5     104.6      2.1      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.3 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .908     105.2     105.2      2.7      0.0     0.7     0.2     0.0 
  Transportation services ....................      6.963     189.9     191.9      2.0      1.1    -0.4    -0.1     0.6 
  Medical care services ......................      4.461     256.6     257.1      3.3      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
  Other services .............................     10.768     224.5     225.1      2.8      0.3     0.3     0.0     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.578     168.5     168.8      2.7      0.2     0.3     0.5     0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     69.717     161.6     162.0      2.6      0.2     0.2     0.5     0.2 
 All items less medical care .................     94.287     163.2     163.6      2.6      0.2     0.3     0.4     0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     26.688     135.8     136.3      3.0      0.4     0.5     1.0     0.0 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.331     142.8     143.7      6.0      0.6     0.8     1.5     0.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.500     152.3     152.3      9.2      0.0     1.6     1.4     0.0 
 Nondurables .................................     30.753     153.2     154.0      4.0      0.5     0.5     0.7     0.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.979     197.3     197.4      2.5      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.3 
 Services less medical care services .........     53.429     183.9     184.1      2.4      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      6.294     113.2     111.6     10.2     -1.4     2.7     1.7    -0.1 
 All items less energy .......................     93.706     175.1     175.7      2.0      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.284     177.7     178.3      2.1      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     23.967     144.6     145.3      1.0      0.5    -0.1     0.7     0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      2.720     109.1     109.1     20.6      0.0     5.4     2.7    -0.2 
   Services less energy services .............     54.316     196.6     197.2      2.5      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .596    $ .594        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .199    $ .198        -        -       -       -       - 

   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--   
                                                 July    Aug.    Sep.    Oct.                                           
                                                 1999    1999    1999    1999                                           
                                                                                Jan.   Apr.   July   Oct.   Apr.   Oct. 
                                                                                1999   1999   1999   1999   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  166.7   167.2   167.9   168.2    1.7    3.9    1.2    3.6    2.8    2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  164.5   164.8   165.2   165.6    2.7    0.2    2.2    2.7    1.5    2.5 
   Food ......................................  164.2   164.5   164.9   165.3    2.7    0.0    2.2    2.7    1.4    2.5 
    Food at home .............................  164.0   164.2   164.7   165.1    2.5   -1.2    2.5    2.7    0.6    2.6 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  185.8   184.2   185.3   185.4    4.5    0.4    2.6   -0.9    2.4    0.9 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  147.6   148.1   148.7   148.6   -5.1    4.2    1.6    2.7   -0.5    2.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  155.7   156.5   158.7   164.1   17.0  -12.1   -1.0   23.4    1.4   10.5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  204.7   206.0   205.6   204.3    6.3   -7.4    7.8   -0.8   -0.8    3.4 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  134.9   134.8   134.2   134.6    2.4    0.3    4.3   -0.9    1.4    1.7 
     Other food at home ......................  153.7   154.1   154.1   153.7    0.5    1.1    1.0    0.0    0.8    0.5 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  152.1   152.8   153.4   153.5    1.3    0.5    2.1    3.7    0.9    2.9 
      Fats and oils ..........................  147.7   148.5   148.6   148.7  -14.9   -3.7   -2.9    2.7   -9.5   -0.1 
      Other foods ............................  169.3   169.6   169.3   168.7    4.2    2.7    1.4   -1.4    3.4    0.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  104.2   104.8   105.3   104.3    2.3    5.9   -5.2    0.4    4.1   -2.4 
    Food away from home (1)...................  165.1   165.6   165.8   166.2    3.0    2.5    1.5    2.7    2.7    2.1 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  105.5   105.8   106.4   106.8    3.2    1.9    5.9    5.0    2.5    5.5 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  170.1   170.6   170.9   170.6    2.2    2.2    3.9    1.2    2.2    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  163.8   164.1   164.7   164.9    1.5    3.0    1.7    2.7    2.2    2.2 
   Shelter ...................................  187.1   187.5   188.1   188.3    2.0    3.5    1.9    2.6    2.7    2.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  177.5   177.9   178.4   178.8    3.5    2.8    2.3    3.0    3.1    2.6 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  105.8   105.5   107.7   107.0   -7.1   13.6    2.3    4.6    2.7    3.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  193.0   193.4   193.7   194.0    2.6    2.8    1.9    2.1    2.7    2.0 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  102.1   102.2   102.3   102.2    0.0    2.4    7.4    0.4    1.2    3.8 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  128.2   128.7   129.9   130.1    0.0    2.5    1.9    6.1    1.3    4.0 
    Fuels ....................................  112.1   112.6   113.8   114.0   -1.1    2.6    2.2    7.0    0.7    4.5 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   90.0    92.2    96.4    98.7  -11.4    9.3   16.1   44.6   -1.6   29.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  119.7   120.1   121.1   121.1   -0.3    2.4    1.3    4.8    1.0    3.0 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  103.8   103.9   104.1   104.4    3.2    2.4    0.8    2.3    2.8    1.6 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  126.7   126.8   126.9   126.7    1.0   -0.3   -0.6    0.0    0.3   -0.3 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  104.3   105.0   105.2   105.2    2.8    3.5    1.2    3.5    3.1    2.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  130.2   129.8   131.4   132.2   -7.0    4.0   -5.6    6.3   -1.6    0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  130.8   128.6   130.2   132.0   -5.3    6.0   -4.2    3.7    0.2   -0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  121.0   122.0   124.9   125.4  -11.0    4.3   -7.9   15.4   -3.6    3.1 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  127.4   128.3   129.9   132.4   -0.6   -5.4   -2.5   16.6   -3.0    6.7 
   Footwear ..................................  126.6   125.2   124.7   124.3   -4.0    2.2   -3.7   -7.1   -0.9   -5.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  144.7   146.0   146.9   147.2   -2.5   12.5    0.3    7.1    4.7    3.6 
   Private transportation ....................  140.7   142.3   143.4   143.3   -2.9   11.6    0.3    7.6    4.1    3.9 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.4   100.5   101.0   101.1   -0.8   -2.8    2.4    2.8   -1.8    2.6 
     New vehicles ............................  142.7   142.6   142.9   143.0    0.6   -1.9   -0.3    0.8   -0.7    0.3 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  152.3   153.8   155.7   156.4   -6.1   -6.0   11.2   11.2   -6.0   11.2 
    Motor fuel ...............................  100.9   106.6   109.2   108.8  -14.3   98.9   -6.5   35.2   30.5   12.5 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  100.2   105.8   108.5   108.1  -14.0   98.7   -7.2   35.5   30.7   12.1 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.1   100.1   100.6   100.5   -1.6   -2.0   -1.6    1.6   -1.8    0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  172.2   172.3   172.7   172.8    2.6    3.1    2.6    1.4    2.9    2.0 
   Public transportation (1)..................  200.8   197.1   194.7   201.5    1.1   25.2   -1.2    1.4   12.5    0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  251.2   252.1   252.9   253.3    3.3    3.4    3.6    3.4    3.4    3.5 
   Medical care commodities ..................  231.2   232.5   233.5   233.7    2.9    4.7    4.3    4.4    3.8    4.3 
   Medical care services .....................  255.5   256.2   256.8   257.4    3.4    3.2    3.5    3.0    3.3    3.3 
    Professional services (3).................  229.5   230.1   230.6   231.1    2.9    2.9    3.2    2.8    2.9    3.0 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  299.3   301.3   302.4   303.2    4.3    3.9    4.1    5.3    4.1    4.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  102.0   102.0   101.5   101.6    2.4    0.8    0.8   -1.6    1.6   -0.4 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  100.5   100.8   100.3   100.3    1.2   -4.3   -0.4   -0.8   -1.6   -0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  101.3   101.5   101.5   101.7    1.6    0.8    0.4    1.6    1.2    1.0 
   Education (2)..............................  107.9   108.2   108.5   108.9    4.7    6.2    5.0    3.8    5.5    4.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  264.2   265.8   266.5   268.5   -0.3    6.9    5.5    6.7    3.2    6.1 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   309.4   310.2   311.0   312.1    4.9    6.0    5.1    3.5    5.4    4.3 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   95.5    95.6    95.3    95.3   -2.0   -4.0   -3.3   -0.8   -3.0   -2.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   94.9    95.0    94.7    94.7   -2.8   -4.5   -3.7   -0.8   -3.7   -2.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   99.5    99.8    99.6    99.8    0.0   -2.8   -2.0    1.2   -1.4   -0.4 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   30.0    29.8    29.3    28.7  -23.2  -18.7  -23.7  -16.2  -20.9  -20.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   52.9    50.9    49.7    48.2  -31.5  -26.8  -24.8  -31.1  -29.2  -28.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  259.0   258.4   263.2   263.5   25.7    1.1    3.8    7.1   12.7    5.5 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  356.3   351.5   374.2   371.8  142.2   -5.5    8.8   18.6   51.2   13.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................  161.1   161.4   161.8   162.4    2.0    3.3    2.3    3.3    2.7    2.8 
    Personal care products (1)................  152.0   152.3   153.0   153.4    1.3    2.7    2.9    3.7    2.0    3.3 
    Personal care services (1)................  171.4   171.9   172.1   172.9    3.1    3.6    2.6    3.5    3.4    3.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  242.9   243.9   244.8   245.8    3.8    2.7    3.2    4.9    3.2    4.0 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  144.4   145.0   146.0   146.1    1.4    4.3    0.3    4.8    2.8    2.5 
  Food and beverages .........................  164.5   164.8   165.2   165.6    2.7    0.2    2.2    2.7    1.5    2.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  132.5   133.2   134.5   134.5    0.3    6.9   -0.9    6.2    3.6    2.6 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  137.6   138.7   140.8   141.1    0.6   14.6    0.0   10.6    7.4    5.2 
    Apparel ..................................  130.2   129.8   131.4   132.2   -7.0    4.0   -5.6    6.3   -1.6    0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  146.1   148.8   151.0   151.1    5.6   20.0    0.8   14.4   12.6    7.4 
   Durables ..................................  125.9   125.9   126.4   126.2   -1.3   -3.4    0.6    1.0   -2.3    0.8 
 Services ....................................  189.0   189.3   189.8   190.2    2.2    3.5    1.9    2.6    2.8    2.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  195.1   195.5   196.1   196.3    1.9    3.4    2.1    2.5    2.6    2.3 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  102.1   102.2   102.3   102.2    0.0    2.4    7.4    0.4    1.2    3.8 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  119.7   120.1   121.1   121.1   -0.3    2.4    1.3    4.8    1.0    3.0 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  103.8   103.9   104.1   104.4    3.2    2.4    0.8    2.3    2.8    1.6 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  104.3   105.0   105.2   105.2    2.8    3.5    1.2    3.5    3.1    2.3 
  Transportation services ....................  191.4   190.7   190.5   191.7    1.1    5.6    0.8    0.6    3.3    0.7 
  Medical care services ......................  255.5   256.2   256.8   257.4    3.4    3.2    3.5    3.0    3.3    3.3 
  Other services .............................  223.6   224.2   224.2   225.0    3.7    2.6    2.5    2.5    3.1    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  167.0   167.5   168.3   168.5    1.5    4.7    1.0    3.6    3.1    2.3 
 All items less shelter ......................  160.3   160.7   161.5   161.8    1.8    3.8    1.0    3.8    2.8    2.4 
 All items less medical care .................  161.8   162.3   163.0   163.2    1.8    3.8    1.0    3.5    2.8    2.2 
 Commodities less food .......................  134.1   134.8   136.1   136.1    0.3    6.8   -0.9    6.1    3.5    2.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................  139.5   140.6   142.7   142.8    0.9   13.7    0.0    9.8    7.1    4.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  147.6   150.0   152.1   152.1    5.3   18.4    1.1   12.8   11.7    6.8 
 Nondurables .................................  151.3   152.1   153.2   153.3    1.9    6.1    2.1    5.4    4.0    3.8 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  196.1   196.5   196.7   197.2    2.3    2.9    2.5    2.3    2.6    2.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  183.0   183.2   183.6   183.9    2.0    3.4    2.2    2.0    2.7    2.1 
 Energy ......................................  106.0   108.9   110.7   110.6   -6.2   35.0   -1.9   18.5   12.5    7.8 
 All items less energy .......................  174.7   174.9   175.4   175.8    2.3    2.1    1.4    2.5    2.2    2.0 
  All items less food and energy .............  177.3   177.5   178.1   178.4    2.1    2.3    1.4    2.5    2.2    1.9 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  144.1   143.9   144.9   145.0    2.2   -0.8    0.0    2.5    0.7    1.3 
    Energy commodities .......................   99.9   105.3   108.1   107.9  -14.0   90.0   -5.0   36.1   27.9   13.7 
   Services less energy services .............  196.1   196.4   196.7   197.2    2.3    3.6    2.1    2.3    2.9    2.2 

   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                                  Oct.1999 from--      Sep.1999 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   July   Aug.   Sep.   Oct.                                           
                                                 (1)   1999   1999   1999   1999   Oct.   Aug.   Sep.   Sep.   July   Aug. 
                                                                                   1998   1999   1999   1998   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    166.7  167.1  167.9  168.2    2.6    0.7    0.2    2.6    0.7    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    173.4  174.1  174.8  175.5    2.5    0.8    0.4    2.5    0.8    0.4 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    174.5  175.1  175.7  176.4    2.4    0.7    0.4    2.3    0.7    0.3 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    103.9  104.3  105.1  105.3    2.6    1.0    0.2    2.8    1.2    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    162.9  163.2  164.3  164.3    2.6    0.7    0.0    2.8    0.9    0.7 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    164.6  164.8  165.7  165.7    2.7    0.5    0.0    2.7    0.7    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    103.9  104.2  105.1  105.0    2.5    0.8   -0.1    2.8    1.2    0.9 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    157.2  157.7  158.6  158.7    2.9    0.6    0.1    3.0    0.9    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    162.2  162.6  163.2  163.6    2.4    0.6    0.2    2.3    0.6    0.4 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    161.4  161.9  162.7  163.2    2.6    0.8    0.3    2.5    0.8    0.5 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    104.3  104.4  104.8  105.1    2.2    0.7    0.3    2.2    0.5    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    162.6  163.7  164.1  164.1    2.7    0.2    0.0    2.5    0.9    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    168.9  169.5  170.0  170.4    3.0    0.5    0.2    3.0    0.7    0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    169.9  170.5  171.2  171.6    3.2    0.6    0.2    3.2    0.8    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    104.9  105.2  105.2  105.5    2.4    0.3    0.3    2.4    0.3    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    151.1  151.6  152.2  152.6    2.8    0.7    0.3    2.7    0.7    0.4 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    104.2  104.5  105.0  105.2    2.4    0.7    0.2    2.5    0.8    0.5 
   D .........................................   M    162.4  163.1  163.7  163.8    2.6    0.4    0.1    2.5    0.8    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    169.4  169.3  169.7  169.7    2.4    0.2    0.0    2.7    0.2    0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    165.8  166.3  167.2  167.2    2.5    0.5    0.0    2.8    0.8    0.5 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    177.2  177.6  178.2  178.9    2.3    0.7    0.4    2.2    0.6    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    175.3      -  176.8      -      -      -      -    2.7    0.9      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    162.8      -  164.2      -      -      -      -    1.7    0.9      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    158.3      -  159.8      -      -      -      -    3.4    0.9      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    104.6      -  105.4      -      -      -      -    2.4    0.8      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  165.9      -  166.5    2.8    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  164.2      -  165.9    3.0    1.0      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  148.9      -  151.2    1.8    1.5      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  162.3      -  164.1    1.9    1.1      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  173.1      -  174.4    2.4    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  173.5      -  175.2    4.8    1.0      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  173.4      -  174.7    3.2    0.7      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 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; 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,                      Oct. 1999 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1998       Sep.      Oct.                                            
                                                              1999      1999     Oct.     Sep.   July to Aug. to Sep. to
                                                                                 1998     1999     Aug.    Sep.    Oct. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     164.7     165.0      2.7      0.2     0.2     0.5     0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     490.5     491.5        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     18.011     164.3     164.7      1.9      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
   Food ......................................     16.966     163.9     164.4      1.9      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Food at home .............................     10.832     163.5     164.0      1.7      0.3     0.2     0.4     0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.689     185.0     185.0      1.7      0.0    -0.8     0.6     0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.055     148.9     148.8      0.9     -0.1     0.3     0.5    -0.1 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.193     158.4     164.0      6.1      3.5     0.5     1.5     3.5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.492     201.6     201.0      1.3     -0.3     0.7    -0.1    -0.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.184     133.0     133.4      1.6      0.3    -0.1    -0.4     0.4 
     Other food at home ......................      2.220     153.3     152.9      0.7     -0.3     0.3     0.1    -0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     153.3     153.2      2.0     -0.1     0.6     0.4     0.2 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .354     148.1     148.6     -4.8      0.3     0.6     0.0     0.1 
      Other foods ............................      1.446     169.2     168.5      1.7     -0.4     0.2     0.0    -0.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .355     105.1     103.8      0.5     -1.2     0.5     0.7    -1.2 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.133     165.8     166.1      2.3      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .216     106.2     106.6      3.7      0.4     0.5     0.4     0.4 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.045     169.8     169.5      2.5     -0.2     0.2     0.2    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.685     161.3     161.0      2.2     -0.2     0.1     0.4     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     27.496     182.6     182.8      2.5      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.500     178.0     178.4      2.8      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      1.379     113.8     113.1      3.1     -0.6    -0.3     2.4    -0.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     17.296     176.5     176.8      2.3      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .320     102.5     102.4      2.4     -0.1     0.1     0.2    -0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.850     132.6     130.1      2.5     -1.9     0.4     0.9     0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      3.928     117.2     114.4      2.5     -2.4     0.4     1.1     0.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .201      93.9      97.7     12.4      4.0     2.4     4.4     2.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.727     124.9     121.5      2.0     -2.7     0.3     0.8     0.0 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .922     104.5     104.7      2.2      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.339     124.8     124.5     -0.3     -0.2     0.0     0.1    -0.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .402     105.7     105.7      3.0      0.0     0.6     0.3     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.199     130.5     133.1     -0.9      2.0    -0.5     1.3     0.6 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.474     130.3     134.0     -0.1      2.8    -1.8     0.9     1.8 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.948     123.3     126.0     -0.7      2.2     0.7     2.8     0.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .344     131.4     134.1      2.4      2.1     0.9     1.4     2.1 
   Footwear ..................................      1.057     125.1     126.6     -3.3      1.2    -1.3    -0.4    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.166     146.0     146.6      4.4      0.4     1.0     0.8     0.1 
   Private transportation ....................     18.109     143.6     143.9      4.4      0.2     1.3     0.8     0.0 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.250     100.7     101.2      0.8      0.5     0.3     0.6     0.2 
     New vehicles ............................      5.224     142.8     143.5     -0.1      0.5     0.1     0.2     0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.216     157.0     157.7      2.3      0.4     1.0     1.2     0.4 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.066     110.6     110.0     21.0     -0.5     5.4     2.6    -0.5 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.045     110.0     109.4     21.0     -0.5     5.6     2.7    -0.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .682      99.9      99.8     -0.9     -0.1     0.2     0.2     0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.690     174.3     174.7      2.6      0.2     0.0     0.2     0.2 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.056     190.7     196.3      5.4      2.9    -1.6    -0.9     2.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.672     251.4     251.9      3.4      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .926     229.0     229.1      3.8      0.0     0.5     0.5     0.0 
   Medical care services .....................      3.746     256.4     257.0      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.2 
    Professional services (3).................      2.415     232.0     232.5      3.0      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.114     298.2     298.9      4.4      0.2     0.7     0.5     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.925     101.0     101.1      0.3      0.1    -0.1    -0.5     0.1 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.951      99.8      99.9     -1.1      0.1     0.3    -0.6     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.361     102.1     102.3      1.2      0.2     0.1     0.0     0.3 
   Education (2)..............................      2.478     109.5     109.7      5.0      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .200     269.9     271.8      4.8      0.7     0.6     0.3     0.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.278     309.5     310.0      5.0      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.5 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.883      96.2      96.3     -2.1      0.1     0.2    -0.3     0.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.733      95.8      95.9     -2.4      0.1     0.1    -0.3     0.1 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.519      99.7     100.0     -0.8      0.3     0.2    -0.2     0.3 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .213      30.3      29.9    -20.1     -1.3    -1.0    -1.6    -1.3 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .120      49.4      48.1    -28.7     -2.6    -3.6    -2.4    -2.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.981     267.3     267.9     11.4      0.2    -0.4     2.4     0.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.694     374.4     374.0     31.1     -0.1    -1.4     6.5    -0.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.287     161.9     162.6      2.7      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .838     153.7     154.1      2.5      0.3     0.3     0.4     0.3 
    Personal care services (1)................       .975     172.4     173.2      3.2      0.5     0.2     0.1     0.5 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.253     244.5     245.5      3.8      0.4     0.2     0.3     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     46.764     146.3     146.8      3.1      0.3     0.4     0.8     0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     18.011     164.3     164.7      1.9      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     28.753     135.4     135.9      3.7      0.4     0.5     1.2     0.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.564     142.1     142.9      7.3      0.6     0.9     1.6     0.2 
    Apparel ..................................      5.199     130.5     133.1     -0.9      2.0    -0.5     1.3     0.6 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.365     153.2     153.1     11.5     -0.1     2.0     1.8    -0.1 
   Durables ..................................     13.189     126.1     126.3     -0.5      0.2     0.2     0.6    -0.1 
 Services ....................................     53.236     186.6     186.7      2.4      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     27.175     175.8     176.1      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .320     102.5     102.4      2.4     -0.1     0.1     0.2    -0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.727     124.9     121.5      2.0     -2.7     0.3     0.8     0.0 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .922     104.5     104.7      2.2      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.3 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .402     105.7     105.7      3.0      0.0     0.6     0.3     0.0 
  Transportation services ....................      6.800     187.3     189.0      1.7      0.9    -0.3     0.0     0.4 
  Medical care services ......................      3.746     256.4     257.0      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.2 
  Other services .............................     10.144     220.9     221.6      2.7      0.3     0.2     0.0     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.034     164.7     165.0      2.9      0.2     0.2     0.6     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.504     159.7     160.1      2.8      0.3     0.3     0.6     0.2 
 All items less medical care .................     95.328     160.7     161.0      2.7      0.2     0.3     0.5     0.2 
 Commodities less food .......................     29.798     136.7     137.2      3.6      0.4     0.6     1.1     0.0 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.609     143.8     144.6      7.0      0.6     0.9     1.6     0.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.410     154.0     153.8     10.6     -0.1     1.7     1.7    -0.1 
 Nondurables .................................     33.575     153.6     154.3      4.5      0.5     0.6     0.9     0.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     26.061     175.5     175.4      2.4     -0.1     0.3     0.2     0.2 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.490     180.7     180.8      2.4      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      6.994     113.1     111.4     10.8     -1.5     2.8     1.8    -0.2 
 All items less energy .......................     93.006     171.8     172.4      2.1      0.3     0.1     0.4     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     76.040     173.9     174.5      2.1      0.3     0.1     0.4     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.531     145.0     145.7      1.5      0.5    -0.1     0.9     0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.267     109.7     109.4     20.5     -0.3     5.3     2.7    -0.3 
   Services less energy services .............     49.509     193.4     194.0      2.5      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .607    $ .606        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .204    $ .203        -        -       -       -       - 

   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--   
                                                 July    Aug.    Sep.    Oct.                                           
                                                 1999    1999    1999    1999                                           
                                                                                Jan.   Apr.   July   Oct.   Apr.   Oct. 
                                                                                1999   1999   1999   1999   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  163.3   163.7   164.6   164.8    2.3    3.5    1.5    3.7    2.9    2.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  163.8   164.1   164.6   164.9    2.7    0.0    2.2    2.7    1.4    2.5 
   Food ......................................  163.3   163.7   164.1   164.5    2.8    0.0    2.0    3.0    1.4    2.5 
    Food at home .............................  162.8   163.1   163.7   164.1    2.5   -1.2    2.2    3.2    0.6    2.7 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  185.5   184.0   185.1   185.2    4.2    0.7    2.6   -0.6    2.4    1.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  147.2   147.6   148.4   148.2   -5.1    4.2    1.6    2.7   -0.5    2.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  155.3   156.0   158.4   164.0   17.9  -12.7   -1.0   24.4    1.4   10.9 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  204.0   205.4   205.1   203.7    7.6   -9.6    8.5   -0.6   -1.4    3.8 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  133.8   133.6   133.1   133.6    2.8    0.3    4.3   -0.6    1.5    1.8 
     Other food at home ......................  152.8   153.3   153.4   153.0    0.8    1.1    0.5    0.5    0.9    0.5 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  151.7   152.6   153.2   153.5    2.1    0.5    0.8    4.8    1.3    2.8 
      Fats and oils ..........................  147.2   148.1   148.1   148.3  -14.5   -3.4   -3.5    3.0   -9.2   -0.3 
      Other foods ............................  169.0   169.4   169.4   168.5    4.4    2.4    1.2   -1.2    3.4    0.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  103.9   104.4   105.1   103.8    3.5    3.9   -4.9   -0.4    3.7   -2.6 
    Food away from home (1)...................  164.9   165.5   165.8   166.1    3.0    2.2    1.2    2.9    2.6    2.1 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  105.3   105.8   106.2   106.6    3.1    1.9    4.7    5.0    2.5    4.9 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  169.3   169.6   170.0   169.6    2.9    1.7    4.6    0.7    2.3    2.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  159.9   160.1   160.7   160.9    1.8    2.6    1.8    2.5    2.2    2.1 
   Shelter ...................................  181.8   181.9   182.5   182.8    2.3    3.2    2.5    2.2    2.7    2.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  177.3   177.5   178.0   178.4    3.5    2.5    3.0    2.5    3.0    2.7 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  104.9   104.6   107.1   106.7   -6.4   12.3    0.0    7.0    2.5    3.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  175.9   176.1   176.3   176.6    2.6    2.6    2.3    1.6    2.6    2.0 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  102.2   102.3   102.5   102.4    0.4    2.0    6.5    0.8    1.2    3.6 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  127.8   128.3   129.4   129.7    0.0    2.6    1.6    6.1    1.3    3.8 
    Fuels ....................................  111.4   111.9   113.1   113.3   -0.4    2.2    1.8    7.0    0.9    4.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   90.1    92.3    96.4    98.9  -11.3    8.7   14.5   45.2   -1.8   28.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  119.0   119.4   120.4   120.4    0.0    2.0    1.0    4.8    1.0    2.9 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  103.9   104.0   104.2   104.5    2.8    2.7    0.8    2.3    2.8    1.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  124.7   124.7   124.8   124.6    0.6   -1.0   -0.6   -0.3   -0.2   -0.5 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  104.8   105.4   105.7   105.7    3.2    3.5    1.9    3.5    3.3    2.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  129.1   128.4   130.1   130.9   -6.5    2.5   -4.8    5.7   -2.1    0.3 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.1   128.8   129.9   132.3   -7.1    7.6   -3.9    3.7    0.0   -0.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  118.9   119.7   123.1   123.3   -9.3    1.0   -8.0   15.6   -4.3    3.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  128.4   129.6   131.4   134.1   -0.6   -4.5   -2.8   19.0   -2.6    7.6 
   Footwear ..................................  127.3   125.6   125.1   124.8   -4.0    1.9   -3.1   -7.6   -1.1   -5.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  143.6   145.1   146.2   146.4   -2.8   12.0    1.1    8.0    4.3    4.5 
   Private transportation ....................  140.8   142.6   143.8   143.8   -2.9   11.3    1.1    8.8    4.0    4.9 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.6   100.9   101.5   101.7   -1.2   -3.5    3.7    4.4   -2.4    4.1 
     New vehicles ............................  143.7   143.8   144.1   144.2    1.4   -2.5   -0.6    1.4   -0.6    0.4 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  153.7   155.2   157.0   157.7   -6.1   -5.7   11.4   10.8   -5.9   11.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................  101.0   106.5   109.3   108.8  -14.3   96.4   -5.4   34.7   29.7   12.9 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  100.3   105.9   108.8   108.3  -14.7   97.9   -6.5   35.9   29.9   12.7 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........   99.5    99.7    99.9    99.9   -1.6   -2.4   -1.2    1.6   -2.0    0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  173.7   173.7   174.1   174.4    2.9    2.6    3.3    1.6    2.7    2.5 
   Public transportation (1)..................  195.7   192.5   190.7   196.3    1.1   22.2   -1.4    1.2   11.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  250.3   250.9   251.9   252.3    3.2    3.6    3.6    3.2    3.4    3.4 
   Medical care commodities ..................  227.3   228.4   229.5   229.5    2.6    5.1    3.4    3.9    3.8    3.7 
   Medical care services .....................  255.3   255.8   256.7   257.2    3.3    3.2    3.7    3.0    3.2    3.3 
    Professional services (3).................  231.2   231.5   232.2   232.8    2.9    2.7    3.5    2.8    2.8    3.2 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  295.3   297.3   298.8   299.2    4.7    3.4    4.2    5.4    4.0    4.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.4   101.3   100.8   100.9    2.4   -0.4    1.2   -2.0    1.0   -0.4 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  100.3   100.6   100.0   100.1    1.6   -4.6   -0.4   -0.8   -1.6   -0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  101.6   101.7   101.7   102.0    1.6    0.4    1.2    1.6    1.0    1.4 
   Education (2)..............................  108.2   108.3   108.6   109.1    4.7    6.2    5.7    3.4    5.5    4.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  266.9   268.6   269.3   271.0    0.5    7.0    5.4    6.3    3.7    5.9 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   304.1   304.4   305.2   306.6    5.0    5.9    5.9    3.3    5.5    4.6 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   96.3    96.5    96.2    96.3   -1.2   -4.4   -2.9    0.0   -2.8   -1.4 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   96.0    96.1    95.8    95.9   -2.0   -4.4   -2.9   -0.4   -3.2   -1.6 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   99.7    99.9    99.7   100.0    0.0   -3.1   -1.2    1.2   -1.6    0.0 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   31.1    30.8    30.3    29.9  -23.3  -21.0  -21.1  -14.6  -22.1  -17.9 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   52.5    50.6    49.4    48.1  -32.9  -29.9  -22.2  -29.5  -31.4  -26.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  262.4   261.4   267.7   267.7   35.6    0.6    4.2    8.3   16.8    6.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  357.0   352.0   374.8   372.2  141.5   -4.1    8.1   18.1   52.2   13.0 
   Personal care (1)..........................  161.3   161.6   161.9   162.6    2.0    3.3    2.3    3.3    2.7    2.8 
    Personal care products (1)................  152.7   153.1   153.7   154.1    0.8    2.7    2.7    3.7    1.7    3.2 
    Personal care services (1)................  171.8   172.2   172.4   173.2    3.1    3.6    2.8    3.3    3.4    3.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  243.2   243.8   244.5   245.8    4.5    2.5    3.7    4.3    3.5    4.0 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  144.6   145.2   146.4   146.5    2.0    4.3    0.6    5.4    3.1    2.9 
  Food and beverages .........................  163.8   164.1   164.6   164.9    2.7    0.0    2.2    2.7    1.4    2.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  133.1   133.8   135.4   135.4    1.5    6.9   -0.3    7.1    4.2    3.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  138.3   139.6   141.8   142.1    2.7   15.2    0.6   11.5    8.8    5.9 
    Apparel ..................................  129.1   128.4   130.1   130.9   -6.5    2.5   -4.8    5.7   -2.1    0.3 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  147.3   150.2   152.9   152.7    8.4   22.2    0.8   15.5   15.1    7.9 
   Durables ..................................  125.8   126.0   126.7   126.6   -1.6   -4.0    1.3    2.6   -2.8    1.9 
 Services ....................................  185.6   185.7   186.2   186.6    2.2    3.1    2.4    2.2    2.7    2.3 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  174.9   175.3   175.8   176.1    2.3    3.0    1.9    2.8    2.7    2.3 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  102.2   102.3   102.5   102.4    0.4    2.0    6.5    0.8    1.2    3.6 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  119.0   119.4   120.4   120.4    0.0    2.0    1.0    4.8    1.0    2.9 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  103.9   104.0   104.2   104.5    2.8    2.7    0.8    2.3    2.8    1.5 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  104.8   105.4   105.7   105.7    3.2    3.5    1.9    3.5    3.3    2.7 
  Transportation services ....................  188.5   188.0   188.0   188.7    0.9    4.4    1.3    0.4    2.6    0.9 
  Medical care services ......................  255.3   255.8   256.7   257.2    3.3    3.2    3.7    3.0    3.2    3.3 
  Other services .............................  220.1   220.5   220.5   221.4    3.4    2.0    3.0    2.4    2.7    2.7 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  163.0   163.4   164.3   164.6    2.0    4.3    1.5    4.0    3.2    2.7 
 All items less shelter ......................  158.1   158.6   159.5   159.8    2.1    3.6    1.3    4.4    2.9    2.8 
 All items less medical care .................  159.2   159.6   160.4   160.7    2.1    3.3    1.5    3.8    2.7    2.7 
 Commodities less food .......................  134.7   135.5   137.0   137.0    1.5    6.8   -0.3    7.0    4.1    3.3 
 Nondurables less food .......................  140.1   141.4   143.7   143.7    2.7   14.6    0.3   10.7    8.5    5.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  148.6   151.2   153.7   153.5    7.4   20.4    1.6   13.9   13.7    7.6 
 Nondurables .................................  151.4   152.3   153.6   153.8    2.5    7.5    1.6    6.5    5.0    4.0 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  174.2   174.7   175.0   175.4    1.9    2.1    2.8    2.8    2.0    2.8 
 Services less medical care services .........  179.7   180.0   180.4   180.8    2.3    2.5    2.5    2.5    2.4    2.5 
 Energy ......................................  105.7   108.7   110.7   110.5   -7.0   38.0   -1.5   19.4   13.3    8.5 
 All items less energy .......................  171.3   171.4   172.1   172.4    2.9    1.2    1.7    2.6    2.0    2.1 
  All items less food and energy .............  173.5   173.6   174.3   174.6    2.8    1.6    1.6    2.6    2.2    2.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  144.3   144.1   145.4   145.5    3.7   -1.4    0.6    3.4    1.1    2.0 
    Energy commodities .......................  100.4   105.7   108.6   108.3  -13.9   89.6   -4.3   35.4   27.8   13.8 
   Services less energy services .............  193.2   193.4   193.7   194.2    2.3    3.2    2.3    2.1    2.8    2.2 

   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                                  Oct.1999 from--      Sep.1999 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   July   Aug.   Sep.   Oct.                                           
                                                 (1)   1999   1999   1999   1999   Oct.   Aug.   Sep.   Sep.   July   Aug. 
                                                                                   1998   1999   1999   1998   1999   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    163.3  163.8  164.7  165.0    2.7    0.7    0.2    2.8    0.9    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    170.2  170.9  171.9  172.5    2.6    0.9    0.3    2.7    1.0    0.6 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    170.3  171.0  171.8  172.5    2.6    0.9    0.4    2.6    0.9    0.5 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    103.4  103.8  104.7  105.0    2.7    1.2    0.3    2.8    1.3    0.9 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    159.1  159.4  160.6  160.6    2.8    0.8    0.0    2.9    0.9    0.8 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    159.9  160.2  161.1  161.1    2.8    0.6    0.0    2.8    0.8    0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    103.8  104.0  105.1  105.0    2.8    1.0   -0.1    3.1    1.3    1.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    155.4  156.1  157.1  157.2    3.1    0.7    0.1    3.2    1.1    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    160.1  160.6  161.5  161.9    2.6    0.8    0.2    2.5    0.9    0.6 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    158.9  159.5  160.4  160.9    2.7    0.9    0.3    2.6    0.9    0.6 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    103.9  104.0  104.6  104.9    2.4    0.9    0.3    2.4    0.7    0.6 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    163.0  164.1  164.8  164.8    2.7    0.4    0.0    2.6    1.1    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    164.7  165.3  165.8  166.2    2.9    0.5    0.2    3.0    0.7    0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    164.0  164.7  165.3  165.6    3.2    0.5    0.2    3.3    0.8    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    104.7  105.1  105.1  105.4    2.5    0.3    0.3    2.5    0.4    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    149.6  150.1  150.8  151.2    2.9    0.7    0.3    2.9    0.8    0.5 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    103.9  104.1  104.8  105.0    2.5    0.9    0.2    2.7    0.9    0.7 
   D .........................................   M    161.3  162.1  163.0  163.1    2.6    0.6    0.1    2.7    1.1    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    163.4  163.5  164.1  164.0    2.5    0.3   -0.1    2.8    0.4    0.4 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    159.2  159.8  160.7  160.7    2.5    0.6    0.0    2.9    0.9    0.6 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    172.5  173.2  173.9  174.5    2.3    0.8    0.3    2.4    0.8    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    173.3      -  175.2      -      -      -      -    3.1    1.1      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    154.9      -  156.4      -      -      -      -    2.0    1.0      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    158.0      -  159.6      -      -      -      -    3.4    1.0      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    104.3      -  105.3      -      -      -      -    2.5    1.0      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  163.2      -  164.0    3.0    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  158.7      -  160.4    3.0    1.1      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  147.9      -  149.9    2.0    1.4      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  160.0      -  161.9    2.1    1.2      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  172.6      -  174.3    3.0    1.0      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  170.0      -  171.2    4.8    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  168.8      -  170.2    3.2    0.8      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 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; 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.