FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
 Patrick C. Jackman     (202) 691-7000      USDL-03-734
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 691-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
    INFORMATION:        (202) 691-5200      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 691-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:                          Tuesday, November 18, 2003
    http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ 
                 
              CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  OCTOBER 2003
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased
 0.1 percent in October, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The October
 level of 185.0 (1982-84=100) was 2.0 percent higher than in October 2002.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) decreased 0.2 percent in October, prior to seasonal adjustment.
 The October level of 180.7 was 1.9 percent higher than in October 2002.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U was unchanged in October,
 following increases of 0.3 percent in each of the preceding two months.
 Energy costs, which advanced sharply in August and September, turned down
 in October, declining 3.9 percent.  Within energy, the index for petroleum-
 based energy declined 6.6 percent and the index for energy services fell
 1.1 percent.  The index for food rose 0.6 percent with the index for food
 at home up 0.7 percent.  A 1.8 percent increase in the index for meats,
 poultry, fish, and eggs accounted for over 60 percent of the increase in
 grocery store food prices.  The index for all items less food and energy
 increased 0.2 percent in October after advancing 0.1 percent in each of
 the preceding two months, principally reflecting a larger increase in the
 index for shelter.

 
 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                      2003                3-mos. ended   ended
                    Apr.  May June July Aug. Sep.  Oct.   Oct. '03   Oct. '03
 All Items           -.3    .0   .2   .2   .3   .3   .0     2.4       2.0
  Food and beverages -.1    .3   .4   .1   .3   .2   .6     4.3       2.9
  Housing            -.1    .4   .1   .2   .1   .1   .3     1.7       2.4
  Apparel            -.6   -.3   .4   .0   .1   .5   .2     3.4      -1.6     
  Transportation    -1.7  -1.3   .3   .2  1.1   .9 -1.6     1.5       1.4
  Medical care        .2    .4   .3   .5   .2   .5   .3     4.1       3.7
  Recreation         -.1    .3   .1   .0   .0   .2   .0      .7       1.1
  Education and                                                         
    communication    -.2   -.2  -.1   .5   .5   .1   .0     2.2       1.4
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .3    .0   .0   .4   .1   .1   .1     1.3       1.6
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy           -4.6  -3.1   .8   .4  2.7  3.0 -3.9     7.0       8.8
   Food              -.1    .3   .4   .1   .3   .2   .6     4.5       2.9
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .0    .3   .0   .2   .1   .1   .2     1.5       1.3
     
 See pages 4 -6 for notes on planned changes in the CPI in 2004.
      
      
      During the first 10 months of 2003, the CPI-U rose at a 2.3 percent
 seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an increase of
 2.4 percent for all of 2002.  The index for energy, which rose 10.7
 percent in 2002, advanced at an 11.8 percent SAAR in the first 10 months
 of 2003.   Petroleum-based energy costs increased at a 14.6 percent annual
 rate and charges for energy services rose at a 9.1 percent annual rate.
 The food index has increased at a 3.1 percent SAAR thus far this year,
 following a 1.5 percent rise for all of 2002.    Excluding food and
 energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.3 percent SAAR in the first 10 months,
 following a 1.9 percent rise in all of 2002.
      
      The food and beverages index rose 0.6 percent in October.  The index
 for food at home increased 0.7 percent in October, following a 0.3 percent
 rise in September.  The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs rose 1.8
 percent, reflecting a sharp increase in meat prices.  Beef prices rose 3.8
 percent, their largest advance since a 5.6 percent rise in February 1979.
 The indexes for pork and for other meats increased 0.9 and 0.8 percent,
 respectively; the index for poultry rose 1.3 percent.  The indexes for
 dairy products and fruits and vegetables each increased 0.9 percent in
 October.  Milk prices rose 1.6 percent in October and have risen 8.2
 percent in the last 3 months.  The indexes for fresh vegetables and
 processed fruits and vegetables increased 2.2 and 0.1 percent,
 respectively, while the index for fresh fruits was unchanged.  Among the
 other major grocery store food groups, the indexes for nonalcoholic
 beverages and other food at home rose 0.5 and 0.1 percent, respectively,
 while the index for cereal and bakery products decreased 0.2 percent.  The
 other two components of the food and beverages index--food away from home
 and alcoholic beverages--increased 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent,
 respectively.
      
      The index for housing rose 0.3 percent in October after recording
 increases of 0.1 percent in August and September.  Shelter costs rose 0.4
 percent in October, following an increase of 0.1 percent in September.
 Within shelter, the index for rent was virtually unchanged, while the
 indexes for owners' equivalent rent and for lodging away from home rose
 0.3 and 2.3 percent, respectively.  The index for fuels and utilities
 turned down in October.  The indexes for fuel oil and for natural gas each
 declined 1.5 percent and the index for electricity fell 1.0 percent.
 (Prior to seasonal adjustment fuel oil prices rose 0.9 percent.)  For the
 12 months ended in October, charges for natural gas have risen 20.4
 percent, fuel oil prices, 8.4 percent, and charges for electricity, 3.2
 percent.  The index for household furnishings and operations turned up in
 October, advancing 0.2 percent, following declines in each of the
 preceding seven months.
      
      The transportation index decreased 1.6 percent in October.  The index
 for gasoline declined 6.8 percent, after advancing 6.3 percent in
 September.  Despite the drop in October, gasoline prices are 9.8 percent
 higher than in October 2002.  The index for new vehicles declined 0.3
 percent in October.  (As of October, about 30 percent of the new vehicle
 sample was represented by 2004 models.  The 2004 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 2004 vehicles represented in the
 Producer Price Index sample, see news release USDL-03-721, dated November
 14, 2003.)  New vehicle prices are 2.2 percent lower than in October 2002.
 The index for used cars and trucks decreased 3.0 percent in October, and
 this index has declined 10.4 percent in the last 12 months.  The index for
 public transportation turned up in October after registering declines in
 the preceding two months.  Airline fares, which had declined in August and
 September, were virtually unchanged, but the indexes for other intercity
 transportation fares and for intracity transportation fares both recorded
 increases.
      
      The index for apparel registered its third consecutive monthly
 increase--up 0.2 percent in October.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
 apparel prices rose 2.3 percent, reflecting price increases associated
 with the continued introduction of fall-winter wear.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in October and are 3.7 percent
 higher than a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--
 prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased
 0.1 percent.   The index for medical care services rose 0.4 percent in
 October.  The indexes for professional services and for hospital and
 related services both increased 0.3 percent.
      
      The index for recreation was unchanged in October, following a 0.2
 percent increase in September.  Small increases in the indexes for cable
 television, for audio equipment, for pet services, for newspapers, and for
 club membership dues and fees for participant sports were offset by
 declines in the indexes for toys, for sporting goods and for admissions to
 movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events.
      
      The index for education and communication was unchanged in October.
 Educational costs increased 0.4 percent, while communication costs
 declined 0.2 percent.  The index for college tuition and fees increased
 0.6 percent in October to a level 9.7 percent above a year ago.  Within
 the communication group, the index for telephone services decreased 0.3
 percent, reflecting a 1.2 percent decline in long distance charges.  The
 index for personal computers and peripheral equipment turned up in
 October, advancing 1.2 percent.  During the last 12 months, however, these
 prices have fallen 20.3 percent.
      
      In October, for the third consecutive month, the index for other
 goods and services rose 0.1 percent.  An upturn in the index for tobacco
 and smoking products was largely offset by a smaller rise in the index for
 personal care services.  The index for tobacco and smoking products rose
 0.2 percent in October after declining 0.7 percent in September, but is
 0.2 percent lower than its level in October 2002.
      
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers decreased 0.2 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                      2003                3-mos. ended  ended
                    Apr.   May June July Aug. Sep. Oct.   Oct. '03  Oct. '03
 All Items           -.5   -.1   .2   .1   .4   .3  -.2     2.0       1.9
  Food and beverages -.1    .3   .4   .1   .3   .3   .6     4.8       3.1
  Housing            -.1    .3   .1   .2   .2   .1   .2     1.6       2.5
  Apparel            -.8   -.1   .4  -.5   .3   .7   .4     5.8      -1.3
  Transportation    -1.9  -1.5   .3   .1  1.1   .8 -1.8      .3        .9
  Medical care        .1    .4   .3   .4   .2   .5   .4     4.2       3.7
  Recreation         -.1    .2   .0   .2   .0   .0  -.1     -.4        .8
  Education and                                                         
    communication    -.3   -.2  -.2   .5   .4  -.1   .0     1.1        .6
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .3   -.1   .0   .5   .2   .0   .1      .9       1.1
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy           -4.8  -3.4  1.1   .4  3.0  3.3 -4.0    8.6        8.9
   Food              -.1    .3   .4   .1   .3   .3   .6    4.8        3.1
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .0    .2   .1   .1   .1   .0   .1     .6         .9


 Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
 
      The C-CPI-U was unchanged in October on a not seasonally adjusted
 basis.  The October level of 108.1 (December 1999=100) was 1.6 percent
 higher than in October 2002.  Table 7 contains the most recent indexes for
 all items and the component series that are published.   Data are
 published monthly in the CPI Detailed Report and are available on the CPI
 home page:  http://www.bls.gov/cpi/.  Please note that the indexes for the
 post-2001 period are subject to revision.

     Consumer Price Index data for November are scheduled for release on
 Tuesday, December 16, 2003, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).


 ______________________________________________________________________________


 Planned Changes in the Consumer Price Index in 2004
 
 Expenditure Weight Update

    Effective with release of data for January 2004, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics (BLS) will update the consumption expenditure weights in the
 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and Consumer Price
 Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to the 2001-02
 period.  The updated expenditure weights for these indexes will replace
 the 1999-2000 weights that were introduced effective with the January 2002
 CPI release.  As originally announced by BLS in December 1998, CPI
 expenditure weights will continue to be updated at two-year intervals
 subsequent to the 2004 updating.

    For the first six months of 2004, BLS will continue to calculate and
 publish selected CPI-U and CPI-W "overlap" indexes using the 1999-2000
 expenditure pattern that was introduced into the CPI in 2002.  These
 indexes will be compiled on a not seasonally adjusted basis.  Comparison
 of these index series to the corresponding updated series will enable
 users of the CPI to observe the effects of the expenditure weight change.
 The subsequent expenditure updates scheduled in 2006 and every two years
 thereafter also will be accompanied by the publication of overlap indexes
 for a six-month period using the previous expenditure pattern.

 C-CPI-U Index Revisions

    As scheduled, effective with release of data for January 2004, the
 Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) will
 undergo its second annual index revision.  C-CPI-U indexes for the 12
 months of 2002 will be issued in final form and values for the 12 months
 of 2003 will be revised and issued as interim.  Calculation of the
 preliminary versions of the C-CPI-U--the initial version for January and
 the subsequent months of 2004 and the interim (revised initial) indexes
 for 2003--will employ the 2001-02 expenditure weights also used in the CPI-
 U and CPI-W.  Note that the final values of the C-CPI-U employ monthly
 expenditure weights corresponding to the price collection period in their
 calculation.  Thus, in calculation of the final (revised interim) C-CPI-U
 values for the months of 2002, the biennial 1999-2000 expenditure weights
 will be replaced with separate monthly expenditure weights.

 Elementary Index Formula Changes

    Effective with release of data for January 2004, a geometric mean
 formula will replace the arithmetic mean formula in the calculation of the
 elementary indexes in the CPI-U, CPI-W, and C-CPI-U for (1) cable and
 satellite television and radio services (formerly cable TV) and for (2)
 eyeglasses and eye care.  The geometric mean formula at the elementary
 index level is more appropriate for use in categories in which the
 consumer may alter his or her spending in response to changing prices
 within that category.  Since the original decision to employ an arithmetic
 mean was made by BLS in 1998, changes in the markets for the above-
 mentioned categories have led to increased opportunity for consumer
 substitution behavior within those categories. The BLS introduced the
 geometric mean formula for calculating most of the basic components of the
 CPI-U and CPI-W with release of the CPI for January 1999.

    The BLS will continue to evaluate the appropriateness of the formula
 used in the calculation of the elementary item indexes and on an annual
 basis may change or adjust the formula for constructing these indexes.  A
 description of the 1999 adoption of the geometric mean formula is
 available on the internet at http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/1998/10/contents.htm

 Title Changes

    The following index and average price series will have new titles
 beginning in January 2004.  These series are continuous. The new titles
 serve to clarify the content of each series.

 Index series with new titles
 
 Item    Old title                New title
 code

 SEHF02  Utility natural gas      Utility (piped) gas
         service                  service
 
 SERA02  Cable television         Cable and satellite
                                  television and radio
                                  service
 
 SEED01  Telephone services,      Land-line telephone
         local charges            services, local charges
 
 SEED02  Telephone services,      Land-line telephone
         long distance charges    services, long distance
                                  charges
 
 SS27051 Interstate toll calls    Land-line interstate toll
                                  calls
 
 SS27061 Intrastate toll calls    Land-line intrastate toll
                                  calls
 
 SEED03  Cellular telephone       Wireless telephone
         services                 services
 
 SEEE    Information and          Information technology,
         information processing   hardware, and services
         other than telephone
         services
 
 SEEE03  Computer information     Internet services and
         processing services      electronic information
                                  providers

 SEEE04  Other information        Telephone hardware,
         processing equipment     calculators, and other
                                  consumer information items

 Average price series with new titles
 
 Item     Old title               New title
 code
 
 72620    Utility natural gas     Utility (piped) gas per
          per therm               therm
 
 72601    Utility natural gas -   Utility (piped) gas - 40
          40 therms               therms
 
 72611    Utility natural gas -   Utility (piped) gas - 100
          100 therms              therms


 Expanded Collection of Price Data

    During the last year, the CPI program completed its conversion to
 Computer Assisted Data Collection (CADC).  Due to the efficiencies gained
 from the conversion to CADC, BLS will extend data collection to cover the
 entire month, beginning with data for January 2004.

    The new data collection process utilizes hand-held computers called
 penpads, along with software developed by BLS staff, to collect price and
 other item characteristic data in stores each month.  Data collection
 instructions are transmitted electronically from Washington to each data
 collector's penpad.   After completing collection the field staff transmit
 data back to Washington.  This electronic collection provides numerous
 benefits.  Many data edits can take place during collection.  The accuracy
 and efficiency of data entry and review are improved by having field staff
 directly enter data rather than filling out paper survey forms by hand for
 later computer input by clerical staff.  The progress of data collection
 also can be monitored more effectively throughout the month.
    
    Lastly, the introduction of CADC reduces the time required to transmit
 and process data.  With electronic collection and transmission, the CPI
 will be able to eliminate the mailing and data entry functions, allowing
 the BLS to collect prices during the entire index month without
 compromising the timeliness of the CPI release, which takes place during
 the middle of the subsequent month.

    CPI data collection is scheduled in terms of business days--weekdays
 excluding holidays.  Currently, data collection covers three pricing
 periods, each comprising six business days in most months and five days in
 November and December.  Consequently, the last day of scheduled data
 collection is usually the 18th business day of the month.  This has
 allowed time during the end of the month for the mailing of paper
 schedules back to the Washington Office and the data entry of the
 information on these schedules.  Starting in January 2004, the three
 pricing periods will have variable lengths, between six and eight business
 days long.  The third pricing period now normally will end on the last
 business day of the month.

 ____________________________________________________________________________


 Facilities for Sensory Impaired

      Information from this release will be made available to sensory
 impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200, Federal
 Relay Services:  1-800-877-8339.  For a recorded message of Summary CPI
 data, call (202) 691-5200.
 
 ___________________________________________________________________________
 

 Brief Explanation of the CPI
 
     The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in
 prices over time of goods and services purchased by households.  The
 Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups:  (1)
 the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers
 households of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise
 approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All
 Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-
 U), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population and
 include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households,
 groups such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-
 employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not
 in the labor force.
 
      The CPIs are based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels,
 transportation fares, charges for doctors' and dentists' services, drugs,
 and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living.
 Prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about
 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail establishments-
 department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other
 types of stores and service establishments.  All taxes directly associated
 with the purchase and use of items are included in the index.  Prices of
 fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations.
 Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
 the three largest geographic areas and every other month in other areas.
 Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or
 telephone calls of the Bureau's trained representatives.
 
      In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each
 location are averaged together with weights, which represent their
 importance in the spending of the appropriate population group.  Local
 data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average.  For the CPI-U and
 CPI-W separate indexes are also published by size of city, by region of
 the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size
 classes, and for 27 local areas.  Area indexes do not measure differences
 in the level of prices among cities, they only measure the average change
 in prices for each area since the base period.  For the C-CPI-U data are
 issued only at the national level.  It is important to note that the CPI-U
 and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in
 preliminary form and subject to two annual revisions.
 
      The index measures price change from a designed reference date.  For
 the CPI-U and the CPI-W the reference base is 1982-84 equals 100.0. The
 reference base for the C-CPI-U is December 1999 equals 100.
 An increase of 16.5 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown
 as 116.5.  This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:  the
 price of a base period market basket of goods and services in the CPI has
 risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65.
 
      For further details visit the CPI home page on the Internet at
 http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ or contact our CPI Information and Analysis
 Section on (202) 691-7000.
  
 ___________________________________________________________________________ 
 
  
       Calculating Index Changes
       
            Movements of the indexes from one month to another are
       usually expressed as percent changes rather than changes in index 
       points, because index point changes are affected by the level of 
       the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are 
       not.  The example below illustrates the computation of index point 
       and percent changes.
       
            Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods are expressed 
       as annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula 
       for compound growth rates.  These data indicate what the percent 
       change would be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month 
       period.
       
         
                    Index Point Change
       
       CPI   					115.7
       Less previous index    			111.2
       Equals index point change  		4.5
       
       
                    Percent Change
       
       Index point difference			4.5
       Divided by the previous index		111.2
       Equals					0.040
       Results multiplied by one hundred	0.040 x 100
       Equals percent change			4.0

 __________________________________________________________________________


 Regions Defined
 
 The states in the four regions shown in Tables 3 and 6 are listed below.
 
 The Northeast--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,
 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

 The Midwest--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
 Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

 The South--Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
 Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
 Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of
 Columbia.

 The West--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana,
 Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

 _________________________________________________________________________


 A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data
 
   Because price data are used for different purposes by different groups,
 the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted as well as
 unadjusted changes each month.
   
   For analyzing general price trends in the economy, seasonally adjusted
 changes are usually preferred since they eliminate the effect of changes
 that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every
 year--such as price movements resulting from changing climatic conditions,
 production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales.
   
   The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about
 the prices they actually pay.  Unadjusted data also are used extensively
 for escalation purposes.  Many collective bargaining contract agreements
 and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer
 Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.
   
   Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally adjusted indexes are
 derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method.  The updated
 seasonal data at the end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977.
 Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data; e.g.,
 data from 1998 through 2002 were replaced at the end of 2002.  In January
 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-
 December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for
 dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see
 "Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series," in the
 October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
   
   The seasonal movement of all items and 54 other aggregations is derived
 by combining the seasonal movement of 73 selected components.  Each year
 the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain
 statistical criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their seasonal
 adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not
 seasonally adjusted data will be used for the last 5 years, but the
 seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period.  Note: 44 of
 the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2003.
   
   Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are
 subject to revision for up to five years after their original release.
 For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation
 agreements.
 
   Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990, the
 Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an enhanced seasonal adjustment
 procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI
 series.  Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better
 estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  Extreme values and/or sharp
 movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and
 removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning
 with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was
 used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.
 
   For the fuel oil, natural gas, motor fuels, and educational books and
 supplies indexes, this procedure was used to offset the effects that
 extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of
 seasonally adjusted data for those series.   For the Nonalcoholic
 beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a large
 increase in coffee prices due to adverse weather.  The procedure was used
 to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions and decreases in milk
 supply affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the Water and sewerage
 maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data collection
 anomaly and dry weather in California.  It was used to offset an increase
 in demand due to warmer than expected weather and increased rates to
 conserve supplies for Electricity.  For New vehicles, New cars, and New
 trucks, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a model changeover
 combined with financing incentives.
 
   For a complete list of series that used Intervention Analysis
 Seasonal Adjustment, a list of unusual events modeled for them, or for a
 description of intervention analysis please write to the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC
 20212 or by calling Daniel Chow on (202) 691-6968 or sending e-mail to
 Chow_Dan@BLS.GOV.  If you have general questions about the CPI, please
 call our information staff at (202) 691-7000.    

 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Oct. 2003 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   2002       Sep.      Oct.                                            
                                                              2003      2003     Oct.     Sep.   July to Aug. to Sep. to
                                                                                 2002     2003     Aug.    Sep.    Oct. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     185.2     185.0      2.0     -0.1     0.3     0.3     0.0 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     554.7     554.3        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     15.583     181.3     182.2      2.9      0.5     0.3     0.2     0.6 
   Food ......................................     14.554     180.7     181.7      2.9      0.6     0.3     0.2     0.6 
    Food at home .............................      8.338     180.1     181.5      3.7      0.8     0.4     0.3     0.7 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.281     203.5     203.1      2.1     -0.2     0.0    -0.1    -0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.222     171.1     174.0      7.9      1.7     0.7     0.7     1.8 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........       .876     170.3     171.8      3.2      0.9     1.7     1.7     0.9 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.234     224.4     226.3      4.1      0.8    -0.4    -0.7     0.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................       .954     139.2     140.5      0.0      0.9     0.5    -0.1     0.5 
     Other food at home ......................      1.771     163.1     163.0      1.3     -0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .314     162.3     162.5      1.6      0.1    -0.1    -0.1     0.3 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .252     157.6     159.7      2.4      1.3     0.8     0.2     1.0 
      Other foods ............................      1.205     179.4     178.7      1.0     -0.4     0.2     0.3    -0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .287     111.0     110.7      0.8     -0.3    -1.3     1.0    -0.3 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.216     182.8     183.3      2.1      0.3     0.2     0.1     0.3 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .388     121.8     122.3      2.7      0.4    -0.1     0.0     0.4 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.029     187.9     188.1      1.8      0.1    -0.1     0.6     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     40.854     185.8     185.7      2.4     -0.1     0.1     0.1     0.3 
   Shelter ...................................     31.728     213.8     214.7      2.4      0.4     0.2     0.1     0.4 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      6.467     206.6     206.9      2.8      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.0 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      2.654     118.5     120.9      3.3      2.0    -0.3    -0.3     2.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     22.243     220.7     221.4      2.1      0.3     0.2     0.1     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .365     115.9     116.0      5.5      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.469     159.6     155.0      7.3     -2.9     0.1     0.2    -0.8 
    Fuels ....................................      3.604     143.4     138.2      8.1     -3.6    -0.1     0.1    -1.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .205     130.5     131.4     10.1      0.7     1.2    -1.9    -1.3 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.399     151.5     145.6      7.9     -3.9    -0.1     0.3    -1.1 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .864     118.3     118.8      4.3      0.4     0.8     0.3     0.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.658     125.2     125.1     -2.3     -0.1    -0.3    -0.4     0.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .820     122.3     122.6      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.220     122.0     124.8     -1.6      2.3     0.1     0.5     0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.065     117.3     120.8     -1.6      3.0    -0.6     1.7     0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.738     115.5     118.8     -1.4      2.9     0.2    -0.1     1.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............       .193     124.1     125.2     -2.0      0.9     2.2     1.1    -0.9 
   Footwear ..................................       .853     120.3     121.8     -1.0      1.2     0.0     0.8    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.293     159.4     157.1      1.4     -1.4     1.1     0.9    -1.6 
   Private transportation ....................     16.121     155.4     153.0      1.3     -1.5     1.2     0.9    -1.7 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      8.170      95.1      94.6     -4.3     -0.5    -0.2    -1.0    -0.7 
     New vehicles ............................      4.864     136.4     136.5     -2.2      0.1     0.5    -0.4    -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks ....................      2.025     139.0     135.1    -10.4     -2.8    -1.6    -3.1    -3.0 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.119     147.1     136.6      9.7     -7.1     6.0     6.2    -6.8 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.091     146.5     136.0      9.8     -7.2     6.2     6.3    -6.8 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .416     107.7     107.9      0.9      0.2     0.3    -0.2     0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.418     196.2     196.9      2.7      0.4    -0.3     0.2     0.2 
   Public transportation .....................      1.172     211.2     211.3      3.9      0.0    -0.8    -0.5     1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.961     299.2     299.9      3.7      0.2     0.2     0.5     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.387     264.9     264.7      2.5     -0.1     0.3     0.4     0.1 
   Medical care services .....................      4.574     308.2     309.1      4.0      0.3     0.2     0.5     0.4 
    Professional services (3).................      2.808     262.3     263.0      2.7      0.3     0.0     0.3     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.451     399.6     400.7      6.4      0.3     0.5     0.6     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.943     107.7     107.6      1.1     -0.1     0.0     0.2     0.0 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.638     103.5     103.5      0.9      0.0     0.0     0.3     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.798     110.9     110.9      1.4      0.0     0.5     0.1     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.835     138.7     139.1      7.1      0.3     1.3     0.6     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .236     338.2     339.7      5.1      0.4     0.7    -1.0     0.5 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.599     400.0     401.1      7.3      0.3     1.4     0.7     0.4 
   Communication (2)..........................      2.963      88.6      88.4     -4.1     -0.2    -0.4    -0.4    -0.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.765      86.7      86.4     -4.4     -0.3    -0.6    -0.3    -0.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.273      97.4      97.1     -2.8     -0.3    -0.3    -0.4    -0.3 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .492      15.6      15.6    -11.9      0.0    -1.9    -0.6     0.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .210      16.3      16.5    -20.3      1.2    -2.9    -2.4     1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.350     299.9     300.2      1.6      0.1     0.1     0.1     0.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........       .992     468.7     469.5     -0.2      0.2     0.6    -0.7     0.2 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.358     179.0     179.1      2.2      0.1     0.0     0.3     0.1 
    Personal care products (1)................       .680     153.4     153.6     -0.6      0.1    -0.5    -0.1     0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................       .897     195.4     195.6      3.3      0.1     0.4     0.8     0.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.573     285.3     285.8      3.6      0.2     0.1     0.4     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     40.822     152.0     151.4      0.5     -0.4     0.5     0.4    -0.6 
  Food and beverages .........................     15.583     181.3     182.2      2.9      0.5     0.3     0.2     0.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     25.239     135.4     134.1     -1.0     -1.0     0.7     0.5    -1.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     13.824     153.1     151.2      1.9     -1.2     2.2     0.9    -1.4 
    Apparel ..................................      4.220     122.0     124.8     -1.6      2.3     0.1     0.5     0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.604     176.4     171.6      3.4     -2.7     2.7     1.4    -2.6 
   Durables ..................................     11.416     115.7     115.2     -4.5     -0.4    -0.3    -0.9    -0.7 
 Services ....................................     59.178     218.1     218.4      3.2      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.3 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     31.364     222.6     223.5      2.3      0.4     0.1     0.1     0.4 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .365     115.9     116.0      5.5      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.399     151.5     145.6      7.9     -3.9    -0.1     0.3    -1.1 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .864     118.3     118.8      4.3      0.4     0.8     0.3     0.5 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .820     122.3     122.6      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.4     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.722     216.8     218.9      3.8      1.0    -0.2     0.1     0.8 
  Medical care services ......................      4.574     308.2     309.1      4.0      0.3     0.2     0.5     0.4 
  Other services .............................     11.071     257.0     257.2      3.0      0.1     0.4     0.4     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     85.446     186.0     185.6      1.9     -0.2     0.3     0.3    -0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     68.272     176.0     175.5      1.9     -0.3     0.3     0.4    -0.3 
 All items less medical care .................     94.039     179.2     179.1      2.0     -0.1     0.3     0.3    -0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     26.268     137.3     136.1     -0.9     -0.9     0.7     0.5    -1.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................     14.853     155.2     153.3      1.8     -1.2     2.1     0.9    -1.3 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.633     176.6     172.2      3.2     -2.5     2.0     1.7    -2.0 
 Nondurables .................................     29.406     167.4     166.8      2.3     -0.4     1.2     0.5    -0.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.815     229.2     228.7      4.0     -0.2     0.2     0.4     0.1 
 Services less medical care services .........     54.604     210.3     210.5      3.1      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.3 
 Energy ......................................      6.723     144.6     136.9      8.8     -5.3     2.7     3.0    -3.9 
 All items less energy .......................     93.277     191.0     191.7      1.5      0.4     0.1     0.1     0.3 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.724     193.6     194.3      1.3      0.4     0.1     0.1     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     22.945     140.2     140.4     -2.4      0.1    -0.1    -0.4    -0.3 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.324     146.9     137.0      9.8     -6.7     5.6     5.8    -6.6 
   Services less energy services .............     55.779     224.9     225.8      2.9      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.4 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .540    $ .540        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .180    $ .180        -        -       -       -       - 

   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.                                           
                                                 2003    2003    2003    2003                                           
                                                                                Jan.   Apr.   July   Oct.   Apr.   Oct. 
                                                                                2003   2003   2003   2003   2003   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  183.9   184.5   185.0   185.0    2.2    2.4    1.3    2.4    2.3    1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  180.4   180.9   181.3   182.3    1.1    2.7    3.4    4.3    1.9    3.8 
   Food ......................................  179.8   180.4   180.8   181.8    0.9    3.0    3.4    4.5    1.9    4.0 
    Food at home .............................  179.0   179.7   180.3   181.6    1.4    3.0    4.1    5.9    2.2    5.0 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  203.7   203.7   203.5   203.1    2.0    3.4    4.0   -1.2    2.7    1.4 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  168.1   169.2   170.4   173.4    2.5   10.8    5.2   13.2    6.6    9.1 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  164.7   167.5   170.3   171.8   -0.2   -1.4   -2.6   18.4   -0.8    7.4 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  229.5   228.5   227.0   229.0    1.3   -2.0   19.5   -0.9   -0.4    8.8 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  138.9   139.6   139.5   140.2   -0.9    0.6   -3.7    3.8   -0.1    0.0 
     Other food at home ......................  162.3   162.7   163.0   163.2    1.2    0.5    1.0    2.2    0.9    1.6 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  162.4   162.3   162.2   162.7   -1.0    4.3    2.5    0.7    1.6    1.6 
      Fats and oils ..........................  155.8   157.0   157.3   158.9    1.8    0.5   -0.5    8.2    1.2    3.8 
      Other foods ............................  178.5   178.9   179.4   179.2    1.8   -0.7    0.9    1.6    0.6    1.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  111.3   109.9   111.0   110.7   -0.4    2.6    3.3   -2.1    1.1    0.5 
    Food away from home (1)...................  182.3   182.6   182.8   183.3    0.7    2.7    2.7    2.2    1.7    2.4 
     Other food away from home (2)............  121.4   121.3   121.3   121.8    4.5    3.0    2.0    1.3    3.7    1.7 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  187.0   186.9   188.0   188.1    2.4    1.3    1.3    2.4    1.8    1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  185.1   185.3   185.4   185.9    2.9    2.4    2.4    1.7    2.7    2.1 
   Shelter ...................................  213.3   213.7   214.0   214.9    2.9    0.4    3.3    3.0    1.6    3.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  205.8   206.3   206.8   206.9    3.6    2.8    2.6    2.2    3.2    2.4 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  120.2   119.8   119.4   122.2    2.4  -10.9   16.9    6.8   -4.5   11.7 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  219.9   220.4   220.7   221.4    2.8    1.1    1.8    2.8    1.9    2.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  115.6   115.8   115.9   116.0   15.0    1.1    5.0    1.4    7.8    3.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  156.1   156.2   156.5   155.2    8.0   23.5    1.8   -2.3   15.5   -0.3 
    Fuels ....................................  139.9   139.8   140.0   138.4    9.4   28.2    1.4   -4.2   18.4   -1.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................  136.0   137.6   135.0   133.3   40.8   44.9  -21.5   -7.7   42.9  -14.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  147.2   147.0   147.4   145.8    7.9   27.1    3.0   -3.8   17.1   -0.4 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  117.0   117.9   118.3   118.9    2.5    4.6    3.5    6.7    3.5    5.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  125.9   125.5   125.0   125.3   -1.6   -2.2   -3.1   -1.9   -1.9   -2.5 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  121.7   121.8   122.3   122.6    3.7    1.3    1.7    3.0    2.5    2.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  120.5   120.6   121.2   121.5   -5.4   -4.5    0.3    3.4   -5.0    1.8 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  116.6   115.9   117.9   118.3   -6.8    3.8   -8.8    6.0   -1.7   -1.7 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  113.0   113.2   113.1   114.2   -7.7   -4.2    2.5    4.3   -6.0    3.4 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............  120.6   123.2   124.5   123.4  -13.0    1.0   -3.9    9.6   -6.3    2.6 
   Footwear ..................................  119.2   119.2   120.1   120.0    4.0  -14.2    5.2    2.7   -5.5    3.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  156.9   158.6   160.0   157.5    2.6    5.2   -3.2    1.5    3.9   -0.9 
   Private transportation ....................  152.7   154.6   156.0   153.3    2.4    5.6   -4.3    1.6    4.0   -1.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   96.7    96.5    95.5    94.8   -5.1   -0.8   -3.6   -7.6   -3.0   -5.7 
     New vehicles ............................  137.4   138.1   137.6   137.2   -4.5   -1.4   -2.0   -0.6   -3.0   -1.3 
     Used cars and trucks ....................  145.5   143.1   138.6   134.5   -4.7    3.0   -9.8  -27.0   -0.9  -18.8 
    Motor fuel ...............................  130.8   138.6   147.2   137.2   17.7   20.8  -15.7   21.1   19.2    1.0 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  129.9   138.0   146.7   136.7   17.1   20.9  -16.3   22.6   19.0    1.3 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  107.6   107.9   107.7   107.9    3.4   -0.4   -0.4    1.1    1.5    0.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  196.4   195.9   196.2   196.5    4.7    1.9    3.8    0.2    3.3    2.0 
   Public transportation .....................  212.9   211.3   210.3   212.6    1.4    1.8   13.6   -0.6    1.6    6.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  297.5   298.1   299.5   300.5    4.1    2.1    4.7    4.1    3.1    4.4 
   Medical care commodities ..................  263.0   263.9   264.9   265.2    2.8    1.2    2.6    3.4    2.0    3.0 
   Medical care services .....................  306.4   306.9   308.5   309.7    4.4    2.3    5.3    4.4    3.3    4.8 
    Professional services (3).................  261.6   261.7   262.6   263.5    2.5    1.9    3.8    2.9    2.2    3.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  395.5   397.6   400.0   401.1    8.9    3.2    7.6    5.8    6.0    6.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  107.6   107.6   107.8   107.8    1.5    1.1    1.5    0.7    1.3    1.1 
   Video and audio (2)........................  103.6   103.6   103.9   104.1    1.2    0.4    0.4    1.9    0.8    1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  109.6   110.1   110.2   110.2    2.6   -0.4    0.7    2.2    1.1    1.5 
   Education (2)..............................  134.3   136.1   136.9   137.4    6.1    6.3    6.5    9.6    6.2    8.0 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  337.4   339.9   336.5   338.3    7.7    5.9    5.9    1.1    6.8    3.5 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   386.2   391.7   394.5   396.0    6.0    6.3    6.5   10.5    6.2    8.5 
   Communication (2)..........................   89.4    89.0    88.6    88.4   -0.9   -6.4   -4.8   -4.4   -3.7   -4.6 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   87.5    87.0    86.7    86.4   -0.4   -7.3   -4.9   -4.9   -3.9   -4.9 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   98.1    97.8    97.4    97.1    2.0   -6.6   -2.4   -4.0   -2.4   -3.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   16.0    15.7    15.6    15.6  -12.9   -9.0  -15.7   -9.6  -11.0  -12.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   17.2    16.7    16.3    16.5  -21.2  -15.4  -28.4  -15.3  -18.4  -22.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  299.2   299.6   299.9   300.2    1.5    2.2    1.5    1.3    1.8    1.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  469.1   471.8   468.7   469.5    1.5   -3.8    1.0    0.3   -1.1    0.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................  178.4   178.4   179.0   179.1    1.4    4.2    1.6    1.6    2.8    1.6 
    Personal care products (1)................  154.2   153.5   153.4   153.6   -4.1    2.9    0.3   -1.5   -0.6   -0.6 
    Personal care services (1)................  193.2   193.9   195.4   195.6    2.8    4.0    1.5    5.1    3.4    3.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  284.1   284.3   285.5   285.8    3.4    4.8    3.5    2.4    4.1    2.9 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  150.7   151.5   152.1   151.2    0.3    2.1   -1.6    1.3    1.2   -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................  180.4   180.9   181.3   182.3    1.1    2.7    3.4    4.3    1.9    3.8 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  133.8   134.8   135.5   133.7   -0.3    1.5   -4.6   -0.3    0.6   -2.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  147.2   150.5   151.8   149.7    7.0    1.9   -7.8    7.0    4.4   -0.7 
    Apparel ..................................  120.5   120.6   121.2   121.5   -5.4   -4.5    0.3    3.4   -5.0    1.8 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  169.4   173.9   176.4   171.9    3.2   10.4   -5.7    6.0    6.7    0.0 
   Durables ..................................  117.6   117.2   116.1   115.3   -3.9   -1.3   -4.9   -7.6   -2.6   -6.3 
 Services ....................................  216.9   217.3   217.8   218.5    3.4    2.8    3.4    3.0    3.1    3.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  222.2   222.5   222.8   223.7    2.6    0.7    3.3    2.7    1.7    3.0 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  115.6   115.8   115.9   116.0   15.0    1.1    5.0    1.4    7.8    3.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  147.2   147.0   147.4   145.8    7.9   27.1    3.0   -3.8   17.1   -0.4 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  117.0   117.9   118.3   118.9    2.5    4.6    3.5    6.7    3.5    5.1 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  121.7   121.8   122.3   122.6    3.7    1.3    1.7    3.0    2.5    2.3 
  Transportation services ....................  217.6   217.2   217.5   219.3    2.7    4.2    5.1    3.2    3.4    4.1 
  Medical care services ......................  306.4   306.9   308.5   309.7    4.4    2.3    5.3    4.4    3.3    4.8 
  Other services .............................  254.4   255.3   256.3   256.6    3.6    2.1    2.9    3.5    2.8    3.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  184.6   185.2   185.8   185.5    2.2    2.4    0.9    2.0    2.3    1.4 
 All items less shelter ......................  174.5   175.1   175.8   175.3    1.6    3.3    0.7    1.8    2.5    1.3 
 All items less medical care .................  178.0   178.6   179.1   179.0    2.1    2.5    1.1    2.3    2.3    1.7 
 Commodities less food .......................  135.8   136.7   137.4   135.7   -0.3    1.5   -4.3   -0.3    0.6   -2.3 
 Nondurables less food .......................  149.4   152.6   154.0   152.0    6.6    1.9   -7.4    7.1    4.2   -0.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  170.0   173.4   176.4   172.8    3.4    8.8   -5.7    6.8    6.1    0.3 
 Nondurables .................................  163.9   165.9   166.8   166.0    4.3    2.0   -1.9    5.2    3.1    1.6 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  227.1   227.5   228.5   228.7    3.3    6.5    3.2    2.8    4.9    3.0 
 Services less medical care services .........  209.2   209.5   210.1   210.7    3.2    3.1    3.3    2.9    3.2    3.1 
 Energy ......................................  135.0   138.7   142.9   137.3   12.9   24.8   -7.1    7.0   18.7   -0.3 
 All items less energy .......................  190.7   190.9   191.1   191.6    1.3    0.8    2.1    1.9    1.1    2.0 
  All items less food and energy .............  193.4   193.6   193.7   194.1    1.5    0.4    1.9    1.5    0.9    1.7 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  140.9   140.7   140.2   139.8   -3.0   -1.7   -2.2   -3.1   -2.4   -2.7 
    Energy commodities .......................  131.8   139.2   147.3   137.6   18.7   22.5  -16.1   18.8   20.6   -0.1 
   Services less energy services .............  224.1   224.5   225.0   225.9    3.3    1.3    3.7    3.3    2.3    3.5 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 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. 2003 from--      Sep. 2003 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   July   Aug.   Sep.   Oct.                                           
                                                 (1)   2003   2003   2003   2003   Oct.   Aug.   Sep.   Sep.   July   Aug. 
                                                                                   2002   2003   2003   2002   2003   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    183.9  184.6  185.2  185.0    2.0    0.2   -0.1    2.3    0.7    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    193.5  194.3  195.0  195.4    2.9    0.6    0.2    2.9    0.8    0.4 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    195.5  196.6  197.3  197.7    3.2    0.6    0.2    3.2    0.9    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    114.5  114.4  115.0  115.2    1.9    0.7    0.2    2.1    0.4    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    178.1  178.8  179.5  179.1    1.6    0.2   -0.2    1.9    0.8    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    180.5  181.2  182.0  181.7    1.7    0.3   -0.2    1.8    0.8    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    113.1  113.6  113.9  113.6    1.5    0.0   -0.3    2.2    0.7    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    171.4  172.1  172.3  171.8    0.9   -0.2   -0.3    1.4    0.5    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    177.3  177.9  178.3  178.1    1.8    0.1   -0.1    2.4    0.6    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    179.1  179.8  180.1  180.1    2.0    0.2    0.0    2.5    0.6    0.2 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    113.1  113.4  113.8  113.6    1.8    0.2   -0.2    2.3    0.6    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    175.0  175.9  176.3  175.6    1.6   -0.2   -0.4    2.1    0.7    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    188.4  189.2  189.6  189.4    1.9    0.1   -0.1    2.1    0.6    0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    190.9  191.7  192.3  191.9    1.9    0.1   -0.2    2.2    0.7    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    115.1  115.5  115.6  115.5    1.9    0.0   -0.1    2.2    0.4    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    168.3  169.0  169.6  169.5    2.2    0.3   -0.1    2.5    0.8    0.4 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    113.6  113.9  114.3  114.1    1.8    0.2   -0.2    2.2    0.6    0.4 
   D .........................................   M    176.1  177.1  177.4  176.9    1.5   -0.1   -0.3    1.8    0.7    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    184.1  184.5  186.1  185.8    1.6    0.7   -0.2    2.2    1.1    0.9 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    186.3  186.9  188.2  187.8    2.2    0.5   -0.2    2.6    1.0    0.7 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    197.7  199.1  199.6  200.0    3.3    0.5    0.2    3.3    1.0    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    203.0      -  206.8      -      -      -      -    3.9    1.9      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    176.0      -  178.5      -      -      -      -    2.2    1.4      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    176.5      -  177.0      -      -      -      -    2.2    0.3      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    116.8      -  117.2      -      -      -      -    2.8    0.3      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  181.7      -  180.1    0.4   -0.9      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  183.6      -  183.3    1.6   -0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  164.1      -  166.1    2.2    1.2      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  180.9      -  181.6    2.6    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  191.1      -  190.3    2.4   -0.4      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  196.3      -  196.3    1.0    0.0      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  194.4      -  193.7    1.5   -0.4      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA;
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Oct. 2003 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   2002       Sep.      Oct.                                            
                                                              2003      2003     Oct.     Sep.   July to Aug. to Sep. to
                                                                                 2002     2003     Aug.    Sep.    Oct. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     181.0     180.7      1.9     -0.2     0.4     0.3    -0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     539.2     538.2        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.072     180.7     181.7      3.1      0.6     0.3     0.3     0.6 
   Food ......................................     16.071     180.2     181.2      3.1      0.6     0.3     0.3     0.6 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     179.4     180.7      3.7      0.7     0.4     0.4     0.7 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.449     203.5     203.2      2.2     -0.1     0.0     0.0    -0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.773     170.9     173.8      7.8      1.7     0.5     0.7     1.8 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........       .977     170.2     171.7      3.2      0.9     1.6     1.9     0.9 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.337     223.4     224.9      4.0      0.7    -0.4    -0.7     0.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.118     138.5     139.8     -0.1      0.9     0.4     0.1     0.4 
     Other food at home ......................      1.992     162.8     162.5      1.4     -0.2     0.2     0.3     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .337     162.1     162.1      1.6      0.0     0.1     0.0     0.3 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .302     157.6     159.6      2.4      1.3     0.9    -0.1     1.1 
      Other foods ............................      1.353     180.0     179.0      1.0     -0.6     0.1     0.5    -0.3 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .308     111.3     111.2      1.0     -0.1    -1.3     1.1    -0.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.425     182.7     183.3      2.2      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.3 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .278     122.0     122.5      2.4      0.4     0.0    -0.1     0.5 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.001     187.7     188.1      2.1      0.2     0.1     0.5     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     38.134     181.6     181.3      2.5     -0.2     0.2     0.1     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     29.422     207.6     208.3      2.4      0.3     0.2     0.1     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.456     205.8     206.1      2.7      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      1.499     119.8     121.7      3.4      1.6    -0.1    -0.1     1.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     19.144     200.4     201.0      2.1      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .323     115.8     116.0      5.4      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.783     159.1     154.3      7.5     -3.0     0.1     0.2    -0.8 
    Fuels ....................................      3.902     142.3     137.0      8.1     -3.7    -0.1     0.2    -1.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .192     129.4     130.7     10.2      1.0     0.7    -1.4    -1.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.710     150.6     144.6      8.1     -4.0    -0.1     0.3    -1.2 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .880     118.4     118.9      4.3      0.4     0.6     0.3     0.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      3.929     121.0     120.9     -2.4     -0.1    -0.2    -0.5     0.1 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .357     123.4     123.7      2.7      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.638     121.0     123.9     -1.3      2.4     0.3     0.7     0.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.176     116.5     120.0     -1.9      3.0    -0.5     1.6     0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.801     114.5     118.2     -0.9      3.2     0.9     0.1     1.1 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............       .244     126.5     127.7     -1.4      0.9     1.6     1.3    -0.7 
   Footwear ..................................      1.136     119.6     121.1     -1.0      1.3     0.1     0.8     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.666     158.1     155.4      0.9     -1.7     1.1     0.8    -1.8 
   Private transportation ....................     18.751     155.3     152.5      0.7     -1.8     1.2     0.8    -2.0 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.568      94.4      93.5     -5.6     -1.0    -0.4    -1.5    -1.3 
     New vehicles ............................      4.682     137.6     137.8     -2.1      0.1     0.6    -0.3    -0.4 
     Used cars and trucks ....................      3.783     139.8     135.9    -10.3     -2.8    -1.6    -3.2    -2.9 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.836     147.5     136.9      9.6     -7.2     6.1     6.3    -6.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.803     147.0     136.4      9.6     -7.2     6.2     6.2    -6.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .524     107.2     107.5      1.2      0.3     0.3    -0.1     0.3 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.458     197.9     198.6      2.7      0.4    -0.3     0.2     0.3 
   Public transportation .....................       .915     208.4     208.7      4.8      0.1    -0.7    -0.3     1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.747     298.3     299.1      3.7      0.3     0.2     0.5     0.4 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.012     259.4     259.2      2.5     -0.1     0.2     0.4     0.1 
   Medical care services .....................      3.735     307.9     309.1      4.1      0.4     0.1     0.5     0.5 
    Professional services (3).................      2.265     264.4     265.2      2.7      0.3     0.0     0.3     0.4 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.177     395.8     397.5      6.7      0.4     0.4     0.7     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.567     105.5     105.4      0.8     -0.1     0.0     0.0    -0.1 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.795     102.7     102.8      1.0      0.1    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.604     109.7     109.7      0.6      0.0     0.4    -0.1     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.472     137.8     138.1      6.6      0.2     1.3     0.4     0.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .217     339.6     340.6      5.1      0.3     0.8    -1.0     0.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.256     389.2     390.1      6.7      0.2     1.4     0.4     0.3 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.132      90.2      89.9     -4.0     -0.3    -0.4    -0.3    -0.3 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.972      88.8      88.5     -4.2     -0.3    -0.6    -0.3    -0.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.536      97.6      97.3     -2.9     -0.3    -0.3    -0.4    -0.3 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .436      16.1      16.2    -11.5      0.6    -1.2    -1.2     0.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191      16.0      16.2    -20.6      1.3    -3.6    -1.8     1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.571     307.9     308.2      1.1      0.1     0.2     0.0     0.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.542     469.9     470.7     -0.5      0.2     0.6    -0.7     0.2 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.030     177.9     178.0      1.8      0.1    -0.1     0.3     0.1 
    Personal care products (1)................       .786     154.0     154.1     -0.9      0.1    -0.3    -0.2     0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................       .896     196.1     196.3      3.3      0.1     0.4     0.8     0.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.170     285.2     285.6      3.5      0.1     0.1     0.4     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     45.066     152.7     151.9      0.3     -0.5     0.6     0.4    -0.7 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.072     180.7     181.7      3.1      0.6     0.3     0.3     0.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     27.994     136.7     135.2     -1.2     -1.1     0.8     0.4    -1.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.152     155.9     153.6      2.0     -1.5     2.6     1.0    -1.4 
    Apparel ..................................      4.638     121.0     123.9     -1.3      2.4     0.3     0.7     0.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.514     181.2     175.7      3.5     -3.0     3.0     1.5    -2.7 
   Durables ..................................     12.842     115.5     114.7     -5.2     -0.7    -0.5    -1.1    -1.0 
 Services ....................................     54.934     214.3     214.4      3.2      0.0     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.099     199.9     200.6      2.3      0.4     0.2     0.3     0.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .323     115.8     116.0      5.4      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.710     150.6     144.6      8.1     -4.0    -0.1     0.3    -1.2 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .880     118.4     118.9      4.3      0.4     0.6     0.3     0.5 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .357     123.4     123.7      2.7      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.706     216.8     219.0      4.3      1.0    -0.1     0.2     0.9 
  Medical care services ......................      3.735     307.9     309.1      4.1      0.4     0.1     0.5     0.5 
  Other services .............................     10.123     250.6     250.7      2.5      0.0     0.3     0.3     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.929     181.0     180.4      1.6     -0.3     0.3     0.3    -0.3 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.578     173.3     172.6      1.7     -0.4     0.4     0.4    -0.4 
 All items less medical care .................     95.253     176.0     175.6      1.8     -0.2     0.4     0.3    -0.2 
 Commodities less food .......................     28.995     138.6     137.0     -1.2     -1.2     0.7     0.5    -1.4 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.153     157.9     155.7      2.0     -1.4     2.4     1.0    -1.3 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.514     181.1     176.1      3.4     -2.8     2.1     1.9    -2.3 
 Nondurables .................................     32.224     168.8     168.1      2.6     -0.4     1.5     0.5    -0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     25.835     203.7     203.2      4.1     -0.2     0.2     0.4     0.1 
 Services less medical care services .........     51.199     206.8     206.9      3.1      0.0     0.2     0.3     0.1 
 Energy ......................................      7.738     144.2     136.3      8.9     -5.5     3.0     3.3    -4.0 
 All items less energy .......................     92.262     186.4     187.0      1.2      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     76.191     188.1     188.6      0.9      0.3     0.1     0.0     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.967     140.2     140.3     -2.9      0.1    -0.1    -0.6    -0.4 
    Energy commodities .......................      4.028     147.2     137.2      9.7     -6.8     5.9     5.8    -6.3 
   Services less energy services .............     51.224     221.3     222.1      2.8      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.4 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .552    $ .553        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .185    $ .186        -        -       -       -       - 

   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.                                           
                                                 2003    2003    2003    2003                                           
                                                                                Jan.   Apr.   July   Oct.   Apr.   Oct. 
                                                                                2003   2003   2003   2003   2003   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  179.7   180.4   180.9   180.6    2.0    2.7    0.9    2.0    2.4    1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  179.7   180.2   180.8   181.8    1.4    3.0    3.2    4.8    2.2    4.0 
   Food ......................................  179.2   179.7   180.2   181.3    1.4    3.0    3.4    4.8    2.2    4.1 
    Food at home .............................  178.1   178.8   179.5   180.8    1.6    3.0    4.1    6.2    2.3    5.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  203.6   203.7   203.7   203.2    2.4    3.0    4.0   -0.8    2.7    1.6 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  168.1   169.0   170.2   173.2    2.5   11.1    5.4   12.7    6.7    9.0 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  164.4   167.0   170.2   171.7   -0.2   -1.7   -2.9   19.0   -1.0    7.5 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  227.8   227.0   225.5   227.5    2.0   -2.9   19.0   -0.5   -0.5    8.8 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  138.2   138.8   139.0   139.5   -1.1    0.0   -3.1    3.8   -0.6    0.3 
     Other food at home ......................  161.9   162.3   162.8   162.9    1.3    1.0    1.0    2.5    1.1    1.7 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  161.8   162.0   162.0   162.5   -1.2    4.3    2.3    1.7    1.5    2.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................  155.9   157.3   157.2   159.0    1.6    0.8   -0.3    8.2    1.2    3.9 
      Other foods ............................  179.1   179.3   180.2   179.7    1.6    0.2    1.1    1.3    0.9    1.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  111.6   110.1   111.3   111.2    0.0    2.9    2.5   -1.4    1.5    0.5 
    Food away from home (1)...................  182.1   182.4   182.7   183.3    0.9    2.7    2.5    2.7    1.8    2.6 
     Other food away from home (2)............  121.5   121.5   121.4   122.0    3.7    2.7    1.7    1.7    3.2    1.7 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  186.8   186.9   187.9   188.3    2.4    2.0    0.9    3.3    2.2    2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  180.7   181.0   181.1   181.4    3.2    3.2    2.0    1.6    3.2    1.8 
   Shelter ...................................  207.0   207.4   207.7   208.4    3.0    1.0    2.8    2.7    2.0    2.7 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  205.0   205.5   205.8   206.1    3.4    2.6    2.6    2.2    3.0    2.4 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  120.6   120.5   120.4   122.6    1.4   -8.8   16.0    6.8   -3.8   11.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  199.6   200.1   200.4   201.0    2.9    1.0    1.6    2.8    1.9    2.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  115.4   115.7   115.8   116.0   13.7    1.1    5.0    2.1    7.2    3.5 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  155.5   155.6   155.9   154.6    8.0   24.3    1.6   -2.3   15.9   -0.4 
    Fuels ....................................  138.7   138.6   138.9   137.3    9.1   29.3    0.9   -4.0   18.8   -1.6 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................  135.3   136.3   134.4   133.0   37.5   44.9  -20.5   -6.6   41.2  -13.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  146.2   146.1   146.5   144.8    8.0   28.7    1.9   -3.8   17.9   -1.0 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  117.3   118.0   118.4   119.0    2.8    4.2    4.6    5.9    3.5    5.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  121.6   121.4   120.8   120.9   -1.6   -3.2   -2.9   -2.3   -2.4   -2.6 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  122.7   122.9   123.4   123.7    4.4    1.7    1.6    3.3    3.0    2.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  119.1   119.5   120.3   120.8   -5.1   -4.9   -0.7    5.8   -5.0    2.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  116.0   115.4   117.2   117.6   -6.8    3.8   -9.4    5.6   -1.7   -2.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  111.3   112.3   112.4   113.6   -7.5   -5.6    1.5    8.5   -6.5    4.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............  123.2   125.2   126.8   125.9  -13.7    2.3   -1.6    9.1   -6.0    3.6 
   Footwear ..................................  118.4   118.5   119.4   119.4    4.0  -12.8    2.4    3.4   -4.8    2.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  155.7   157.4   158.7   155.8    2.4    5.8   -4.3    0.3    4.1   -2.0 
   Private transportation ....................  152.8   154.6   155.9   152.8    2.4    5.9   -5.1    0.0    4.1   -2.6 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   96.5    96.1    94.7    93.5   -4.8   -0.4   -4.8  -11.9   -2.6   -8.4 
     New vehicles ............................  138.4   139.2   138.8   138.3   -3.9   -2.3   -2.0   -0.3   -3.1   -1.1 
     Used cars and trucks ....................  146.2   143.9   139.3   135.2   -4.7    3.0  -10.0  -26.9   -0.9  -18.9 
    Motor fuel ...............................  131.1   139.1   147.8   138.0   15.4   20.0  -15.2   22.8   17.7    2.1 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  130.5   138.6   147.2   137.5   15.5   19.8  -15.2   23.2   17.6    2.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  107.0   107.3   107.2   107.5    3.4    0.0   -0.4    1.9    1.7    0.7 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  198.0   197.5   197.9   198.4    5.1    2.3    3.1    0.8    3.7    1.9 
   Public transportation .....................  209.7   208.2   207.6   209.9    1.6    1.8   16.1    0.4    1.7    8.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  296.6   297.1   298.5   299.7    4.4    1.8    4.7    4.2    3.1    4.5 
   Medical care commodities ..................  257.7   258.3   259.4   259.7    3.0    1.4    2.7    3.1    2.2    2.9 
   Medical care services .....................  306.3   306.7   308.2   309.7    4.8    2.0    5.3    4.5    3.4    4.9 
    Professional services (3).................  263.8   263.9   264.7   265.7    2.0    2.2    3.7    2.9    2.1    3.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  391.7   393.4   396.1   397.9    9.8    2.9    7.7    6.5    6.3    7.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  105.6   105.6   105.6   105.5    1.5    0.4    1.5   -0.4    1.0    0.6 
   Video and audio (2)........................  102.9   102.8   103.0   103.2    2.0    0.0    0.8    1.2    1.0    1.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  108.8   109.2   109.1   109.1    2.2   -1.1    0.4    1.1    0.6    0.7 
   Education (2)..............................  133.8   135.6   136.1   136.5    5.4    6.0    6.2    8.3    5.7    7.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  338.3   341.0   337.6   339.0    7.9    6.0    5.6    0.8    6.9    3.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   377.2   382.5   384.2   385.5    5.3    5.9    6.4    9.1    5.6    7.7 
   Communication (2)..........................   90.9    90.5    90.2    89.9   -0.4   -6.3   -4.7   -4.3   -3.4   -4.5 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   89.6    89.1    88.8    88.5   -0.4   -6.8   -4.8   -4.8   -3.6   -4.8 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   98.3    98.0    97.6    97.3    2.0   -7.0   -2.4   -4.0   -2.6   -3.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   16.5    16.3    16.1    16.2  -12.5   -6.6  -19.1   -7.1   -9.6  -13.3 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   16.9    16.3    16.0    16.2  -23.2  -12.0  -30.4  -15.6  -17.8  -23.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  307.5   308.0   307.9   308.2    0.9    1.1    1.4    0.9    1.0    1.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  470.5   473.2   469.9   470.7    1.0   -3.7    0.6    0.2   -1.4    0.4 
   Personal care (1)..........................  177.5   177.4   177.9   178.0    0.9    3.5    1.8    1.1    2.2    1.5 
    Personal care products (1)................  154.8   154.3   154.0   154.1   -4.3    2.1    0.5   -1.8   -1.2   -0.6 
    Personal care services (1)................  193.9   194.6   196.1   196.3    2.5    4.0    1.5    5.0    3.3    3.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  284.0   284.4   285.5   285.9    2.6    5.0    3.9    2.7    3.8    3.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  151.3   152.2   152.8   151.7    0.3    1.9   -1.8    1.1    1.1   -0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................  179.7   180.2   180.8   181.8    1.4    3.0    3.2    4.8    2.2    4.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  135.1   136.2   136.8   134.8   -0.3    1.5   -5.2   -0.9    0.6   -3.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  149.0   152.8   154.4   152.2    7.7    1.9   -9.3    8.9    4.7   -0.7 
    Apparel ..................................  119.1   119.5   120.3   120.8   -5.1   -4.9   -0.7    5.8   -5.0    2.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  173.1   178.3   181.0   176.2    3.3   10.7   -6.4    7.4    6.9    0.2 
   Durables ..................................  117.8   117.2   115.9   114.7   -4.2   -1.0   -5.3  -10.1   -2.6   -7.7 
 Services ....................................  213.1   213.4   213.9   214.4    3.7    3.3    3.3    2.5    3.5    2.9 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  199.3   199.6   200.1   200.6    2.7    1.2    2.4    2.6    1.9    2.5 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  115.4   115.7   115.8   116.0   13.7    1.1    5.0    2.1    7.2    3.5 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  146.2   146.1   146.5   144.8    8.0   28.7    1.9   -3.8   17.9   -1.0 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  117.3   118.0   118.4   119.0    2.8    4.2    4.6    5.9    3.5    5.2 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  122.7   122.9   123.4   123.7    4.4    1.7    1.6    3.3    3.0    2.5 
  Transportation services ....................  217.4   217.1   217.5   219.4    3.7    4.6    5.3    3.7    4.1    4.5 
  Medical care services ......................  306.3   306.7   308.2   309.7    4.8    2.0    5.3    4.5    3.4    4.9 
  Other services .............................  248.5   249.3   250.0   250.2    3.5    1.1    2.6    2.8    2.3    2.7 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  179.7   180.3   180.9   180.3    2.3    2.7    0.4    1.3    2.5    0.9 
 All items less shelter ......................  171.7   172.4   173.1   172.4    1.9    3.3    0.0    1.6    2.6    0.8 
 All items less medical care .................  174.6   175.3   175.8   175.4    2.1    2.8    0.5    1.8    2.5    1.2 
 Commodities less food .......................  137.0   138.0   138.7   136.7   -0.3    1.7   -4.8   -0.9    0.7   -2.9 
 Nondurables less food .......................  151.3   155.0   156.5   154.5    7.1    1.8   -8.3    8.7    4.4   -0.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  173.7   177.3   180.7   176.6    3.8    9.4   -6.0    6.8    6.5    0.2 
 Nondurables .................................  164.7   167.1   167.9   167.4    4.2    2.4   -2.9    6.7    3.3    1.8 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  201.8   202.3   203.1   203.4    3.7    6.7    3.0    3.2    5.2    3.1 
 Services less medical care services .........  205.6   206.0   206.6   206.9    3.0    3.8    2.8    2.6    3.4    2.7 
 Energy ......................................  134.2   138.2   142.7   137.0   12.3   24.5   -7.4    8.6   18.3    0.3 
 All items less energy .......................  186.2   186.4   186.5   186.8    1.3    1.1    1.5    1.3    1.2    1.4 
  All items less food and energy .............  188.1   188.2   188.2   188.4    1.3    0.4    1.3    0.6    0.9    1.0 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  141.2   141.0   140.2   139.6   -3.0   -1.7   -2.8   -4.5   -2.3   -3.6 
    Energy commodities .......................  131.8   139.6   147.7   138.4   16.1   21.4  -15.6   21.6   18.7    1.3 
   Services less energy services .............  220.5   220.9   221.3   222.2    3.2    1.7    3.3    3.1    2.4    3.2 

   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. 2003 from--      Sep. 2003 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   July   Aug.   Sep.   Oct.                                           
                                                 (1)   2003   2003   2003   2003   Oct.   Aug.   Sep.   Sep.   July   Aug. 
                                                                                   2002   2003   2003   2002   2003   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    179.6  180.3  181.0  180.7    1.9    0.2   -0.2    2.3    0.8    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    190.0  190.7  191.9  192.1    3.0    0.7    0.1    3.1    1.0    0.6 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..............   M    190.8  191.8  193.0  193.2    3.4    0.7    0.1    3.4    1.2    0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    114.5  114.5  115.1  115.3    2.1    0.7    0.2    2.3    0.5    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    173.3  174.1  174.6  174.1    1.3    0.0   -0.3    1.7    0.8    0.3 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..............   M    174.8  175.5  176.4  176.0    1.6    0.3   -0.2    1.7    0.9    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    112.5  113.0  113.2  112.7    1.2   -0.3   -0.4    1.9    0.6    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    169.1  169.8  170.0  169.3    0.7   -0.3   -0.4    1.3    0.5    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    174.3  174.8  175.3  174.9    1.5    0.1   -0.2    2.1    0.6    0.3 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..............   M    176.2  177.0  177.5  177.3    2.1    0.2   -0.1    2.7    0.7    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    111.9  112.1  112.4  112.1    1.1    0.0   -0.3    1.7    0.4    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    174.6  175.5  175.9  174.8    0.9   -0.4   -0.6    1.7    0.7    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    183.4  184.2  185.0  184.4    2.0    0.1   -0.3    2.4    0.9    0.4 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000 ..............   M    184.3  185.3  186.1  185.4    2.0    0.1   -0.4    2.4    1.0    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    114.6  114.8  115.3  115.0    1.9    0.2   -0.3    2.3    0.6    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    166.3  167.2  168.0  167.7    2.3    0.3   -0.2    2.6    1.0    0.5 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    112.9  113.1  113.5  113.2    1.4    0.1   -0.3    2.0    0.5    0.4 
   D .........................................   M    174.4  175.3  175.6  174.9    1.1   -0.2   -0.4    1.6    0.7    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    177.8  178.3  179.8  179.1    1.5    0.4   -0.4    2.3    1.1    0.8 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    179.6  180.5  181.9  181.2    2.7    0.4   -0.4    3.2    1.3    0.8 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    192.8  194.1  195.0  195.2    3.4    0.6    0.1    3.4    1.1    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    202.2      -  206.2      -      -      -      -    4.3    2.0      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    167.0      -  169.5      -      -      -      -    2.3    1.5      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    175.9      -  176.7      -      -      -      -    2.2    0.5      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    116.2      -  116.9      -      -      -      -    2.8    0.6      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  179.4      -  177.6    0.7   -1.0      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  177.5      -  178.2    1.8    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  162.5      -  164.0    2.3    0.9      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  178.3      -  179.0    2.6    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  189.2      -  190.2    2.5    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  192.3      -  191.9    1.0   -0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  188.2      -  187.8    1.2   -0.2      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA;
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 7. Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                    Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative       Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                               importance,       indexes         Oct. 2003 from-  
                    C-CPI-U                     December                                          
                                                1999-2000                                         
                                                              Sep.      Oct.      Oct.      Sep.  
                                                              2003      2003      2002      2003  
                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                  
             Expenditure category                                                                 
                                                                                                  
 All items ...................................    100.000     108.1     108.1       1.6       0.0 
  Food and beverages .........................     15.451     108.5     109.0       2.7       0.5 
   Food ......................................     14.432     108.4     109.0       2.8       0.6 
    Food at home .............................      8.335     107.5     108.2       3.2       0.7 
    Food away from home ......................      6.096     109.6     109.9       2.0       0.3 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.019     108.8     108.9       1.8       0.1 
  Housing ....................................     40.040     111.9     111.9       2.2       0.0 
   Shelter ...................................     30.643     113.1     113.6       2.3       0.4 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.376     123.6     119.7       7.1      -3.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      5.020      95.7      95.6      -2.7      -0.1 
  Apparel ....................................      4.819      93.0      95.1      -2.1       2.3 
  Transportation .............................     17.770     106.4     105.0       0.9      -1.3 
   Private transportation ....................     16.520     106.5     105.0       0.7      -1.4 
   Public transportation .....................      1.250     104.6     104.7       3.7       0.1 
  Medical care ...............................      5.563     117.1     117.3       3.4       0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.330     112.8     112.7       2.4      -0.1 
   Medical care services .....................      4.233     118.4     118.8       3.8       0.3 
  Recreation .................................      6.124     103.0     102.9       0.5      -0.1 
  Education and communication ................      6.068      97.4      97.3      -1.2      -0.1 
   Education .................................      2.546     127.3     127.7       7.0       0.3 
   Communication .............................      3.522      79.6      79.4      -6.7      -0.3 
  Other goods and services ...................      4.164     112.2     112.3       1.4       0.1 
                                                                                                  
          Commodity and service group                                                             
                                                                                                  
 Services ....................................     57.098     113.8     113.9       2.9       0.1 
 Commodities .................................     42.902     101.0     100.7      -0.3      -0.3 
  Durables ...................................     12.953      87.6      87.2      -5.2      -0.5 
 Nondurables .................................     29.949     107.3     107.0       2.0      -0.3 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.851     106.4     106.8       0.8       0.4 
 Energy ......................................      6.717     128.8     121.7       8.7      -5.5 

 Indexes for 2003 are initial estimates.  Indexes for 2002 are interim adjustments.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.