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                  CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  MARCH 2004
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
 0.6 percent in March, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The March
 level of 187.4 (1982-84=100) was 1.7 percent higher than in March 2003.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) increased 0.5 percent in March, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The
 March level of 182.9 was 1.4 percent higher than in March 2003.
      
      The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
 increased 0.6 percent in March, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The March
 level of 109.4 (December 1999=100) was 1.4 percent higher than in March
 2003.  Please note that the indexes for the post-2002 period are subject
 to revision.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.5 percent in March,
 following an increase of 0.3 percent in February.  Energy costs advanced
 sharply for the third consecutive month--up 1.9 percent in March.  Within
 energy, the index for petroleum-based energy increased 5.0 percent, while
 the index for energy services decreased 1.4 percent.  The index for food
 rose 0.2 percent in March, the same as in February.  The index for all
 items less food and energy, which rose 0.2 percent in February, increased
 0.4 percent in March.  Upturns in the indexes for lodging while away from
 home and for apparel accounted for the larger advance in March.

 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category               2003             2004      3-mos. ended  ended
                     Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.   Mar. '04  Mar. '04
 All Items            .3   -.1  -.2   .2   .5   .3   .5    5.1       1.7
  Food and beverages  .3    .4   .4   .5  -.1   .2   .2    1.5       3.2
  Housing             .1    .2  -.1   .2   .4   .2   .3    3.5       2.0
  Apparel             .2    .2  -.5  -.3  -.3  -.1   .9    2.0       -.1
  Transportation      .9  -1.4 -1.3  -.2  1.7   .7  1.1   14.9       -.3
  Medical care        .4    .2   .3   .5   .2   .6   .6    5.8       4.5
  Recreation          .1   -.1   .2   .1   .0   .3   .3    2.2       1.3
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .2    .0   .2   .2   .1   .3   .1    1.8       1.6
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .1    .1   .0   .2   .3   .2   .2    2.8       2.0
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy            3.3  -3.5 -3.0   .3  4.7  1.7  1.9   38.6        .4
   Food               .2    .5   .4   .5   .0   .2   .2    1.3       3.2
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .1    .2   .0   .1   .2   .2   .4    2.9       1.6
 
  
      For the first three months of 2004, consumer prices increased at a
 seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 5.1 percent.  This compares with
 an increase of 1.9 percent for all of 2003.  The index for energy, which
 rose 6.9 percent in 2003, accelerated in the first quarter of 2004,
 advancing at a 38.6 percent SAAR and accounting for about half of the
 first quarter advance in the overall CPI-U.  Petroleum-based energy costs
 increased at an 82.5 percent annual rate and charges for energy services
 rose at a 4.2 percent annual rate.  The food index rose at a 1.3 percent
 SAAR in the first quarter of 2004.  The index for grocery store food
 prices decreased at a 0.2 percent annual rate, reflecting declines in the
 indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for fruits and vegetables--
 down at annual rates of 3.7 and 2.2 percent, respectively.
      
       Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.9 percent SAAR
 in the first quarter, following a 1.1 percent rise in all of 2003.  While
 many categories advanced at a faster rate in the first quarter of 2004
 than in all of 2003, most of the acceleration was accounted for by larger
 increases in the indexes for shelter and for medical care, and an upturn
 in the index for apparel.  The annual rates for selected groups for the
 last seven and one-quarter years are shown below.
   

                             Percentage change 12 months               SAAR 3  
                             ended in December                         mos. ended
                                                                       in March  
                       1997   1998    1999   2000   2001   2002   2003   2004
 All items              1.7    1.6     2.7    3.4    1.6    2.4    1.9    5.1
  Food and beverages    1.6    2.3     2.0    2.8    2.8    1.5    3.5    1.5
  Housing               2.4    2.3     2.2    4.3    2.9    2.4    2.2    3.5 
  Apparel               1.0    -.7     -.5   -1.8   -3.2   -1.8   -2.1    2.0
  Transportation       -1.4   -1.7     5.4    4.1   -3.8    3.8     .3   14.9  
  Medical care          2.8    3.4     3.7    4.2    4.7    5.0    3.7    5.8 
  Recreation            1.5    1.2      .8    1.7    1.5    1.1    1.1    2.2
  Education and
   communication        3.0     .7     1.6    1.3    3.2    2.2    1.6    1.8
  Other goods and     
   services             5.2    8.8     5.1    4.2    4.5    3.3    1.5    2.8
                                                                           
 Special indexes
  Energy               -3.4   -8.8    13.4   14.2  -13.0   10.7    6.9   38.6
   Energy commodities  -6.9  -15.1    29.5   15.7  -24.5   23.7    6.9   82.5
   Energy services       .2   -3.3     1.2   12.7   -1.5     .4    6.9    4.2
  All items less energy 2.1    2.4     2.0    2.6    2.8    1.8    1.5    2.7
   Food                 1.5    2.3     1.9    2.8    2.8    1.5    3.6    1.3
  All items less
    food and energy     2.2    2.4     1.9    2.6    2.7    1.9    1.1    2.9


      The food and beverages index increased 0.2 percent in March.  The
 index for food at home, which rose 0.1 percent in February, advanced 0.2
 percent in March.  The index for fruits and vegetables increased 0.3
 percent in March, following a 1.0 percent rise in February.  The indexes
 for fresh fruits and for processed fruits and vegetables each increased
 0.6 percent, while the index for fresh vegetables declined 0.3 percent.
 The index for dairy products rose 0.5 percent in March, following declines
 in the first two months of 2004.  The index for cereals and bakery
 products also increased 0.5 percent in March, as price increases for
 bakery products more than offset a decline in cereal prices.  The index
 for other food at home rose 0.6 percent, reflecting a 15.2 percent
 increase in the index for butter.  Partially offsetting these increases
 were decreases in the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for
 nonalcoholic beverages.  The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs
 declined 0.3 percent.  The index for beef and veal, which rose sharply in
 2003, declined for the third consecutive month--down 2.5 percent in March.
 Despite the recent declines, beef prices were 12.8 percent higher than in
 March 2003.  The indexes for pork and for poultry, each of which declined
 in February, turned up sharply in March--advancing 1.1 and 2.1 percent,
 respectively.  The index for nonalcoholic beverages decreased 0.2 percent,
 reflecting a decline in prices for carbonated drinks.  The other two
 components of the food and beverage index--food away from home and
 alcoholic beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.5 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for housing rose 0.3 percent in March.  Shelter costs,
 which rose 0.1 percent in February, increased 0.6 percent in March,
 largely as a result of a 3.8 percent advance in the index for lodging away
 from home.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from
 home rose 6.8 percent.)  The indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent
 increased 0.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively.  The index for fuels and
 utilities declined 1.1 percent, following a 0.9 percent increase in
 February.  Prices for each of the three major household fuels declined in
 March.  The index for fuel oil decreased 1.0 percent; the indexes for
 natural gas and for electricity fell 2.4 and 0.9 percent, respectively.
 The index for household furnishings and operations, which increased in the
 first two months of 2004, turned back down in March.  A 0.2 percent drop
 in March brought the index 1.1 percent lower than in March 2003.
      
      The transportation index rose 1.1 percent in March.  A 5.5 percent
 increase in the index for gasoline accounted for over 95 percent of the
 advance in the overall transportation component.  As of March, the price
 of gasoline was 1.6 percent higher than its previous peak level of March
 2003.  The index for new vehicles, which rose 0.4 percent in February,
 turned back down in March, declining 0.1 percent. During the last 12
 months, new vehicle prices have fallen 1.0 percent.  The index for used
 cars and trucks rose 0.2 percent in March, but during the last 12 months
 this index has declined 11.6 percent.  Airline fares registered their
 third consecutive advance, up 1.1 percent in March, and are 0.5 percent
 higher than a year ago.
      
      The index for apparel increased 0.9 percent in March.  (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 4.1 percent, reflecting the
 continued introduction of spring-summer wear.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.6 percent in March to a level 4.5 percent
 higher than a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--
 prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased
 0.2 percent.  The index for medical care services rose 0.7 percent in
 March.  Charges for physician's services and for hospital and related
 services increased 0.9 and 0.5 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for recreation rose 0.3 percent in March.  Increases in the
 indexes for pets, pet products and services and for recreational reading
 materials--recreational books, newspapers, and magazines--each up 0.9
 percent--accounted for nearly one-half of the March advance in the index
 for recreation.
      
      The index for education and communication increased 0.1 percent in
 March.  The education index rose 0.6 percent, while the index for
 communication costs declined 0.3 percent.  Within the latter group, the
 index for telephone services decreased 0.4 percent, reflecting a decline
 in long distance charges.  The index for personal computers and peripheral
 equipment declined 1.3 percent in March and 16.8 percent during the last
 12 months.
      
      The index for other goods and services rose 0.2 percent in March.
 The indexes for tobacco and smoking products and for personal care each
 increased 0.2 percent.  Within personal care, the index for legal services
 advanced 0.8 percent in March, the same as in each of the preceding two
 months.

 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers increased 0.5 percent in March.
 

 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             2004      3-mos. ended  ended
                     Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.   Mar. '04  Mar. '04
 All Items           .3   -.2  -.3   .2   .6   .3   .5     5.4       1.4
  Food and beverages .3    .5   .5   .4  -.1   .2   .2     1.3       3.3
  Housing            .2    .1  -.1   .2   .5   .2   .2     3.6       1.8
  Apparel            .4    .2  -.4  -.3  -.1   .0   .8     3.0        .3
  Transportation     .8  -1.7 -1.6  -.2  1.8   .6  1.3    16.0      -1.1
  Medical care       .4    .3   .3   .4   .3   .7   .6     6.1       4.6
  Recreation         .0   -.1   .2   .1  -.1   .4   .3     2.3       1.0
  Education and                                                         
    communication    .1    .0   .1   .1   .1   .2   .1     1.5        .8
  Other goods and                                                     
    services        -.1    .1  -.1   .3   .3   .2   .2     2.5       1.7
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy           3.4  -3.6 -3.1   .3  4.9  1.6  2.2    41.1        .6
   Food              .3    .5   .5   .5  -.1   .2   .2     1.1       3.3
   All Items less                                                       
    food and energy -.1    .1  -.1   .1   .2   .2   .3     2.8       1.1


     Consumer Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on
 Friday, May 14, 2004, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
 
 CPI (Old Weights)
 
      For the first six months of 2004, BLS also will calculate Old Weights
 CPI-U and Old Weights CPI-W based on the 1999-2000 expenditure pattern
 used in the CPI from 2002 through 2003.  These Old Weight data are
 contained in tables 1(OW)-4(OW).  From February to March, the Old Weight
 CPI-U rose 0.6 percent and the Old Weight CPI-W rose 0.5 percent.  Note
 these series are not seasonally adjusted.
 

 _________________________________________________________________________________


 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 1999 through 2003 were replaced at the end of 2003.  In January
 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-
 December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for
 dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see
 "Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series," in the
 October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
   
   The seasonal movement of All items and 54 other aggregations is derived
 by combining the seasonal movement of 73 selected components.  Each year
 the seasonal status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain
 statistical criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their seasonal
 adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally adjusted, not
 seasonally adjusted data will be used for the last 5 years, but the
 seasonally adjusted indexes will be used before that period.  Note: 47 of
 the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2004.
   
   Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index levels, are
 subject to revision for up to five years after their original release.
 For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation
 agreements.
   
        Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors for 1990,
 the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an enhanced seasonal adjustment
 procedure called Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI
 series.  Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better
 estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  Extreme values and/or sharp
 movements which might distort the seasonal pattern are estimated and
 removed from the data prior to calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning
 with the calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA software was
 used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment.
   
        For the fuel oil, natural gas, motor fuels, and educational books
 and supplies indexes, this procedure was used to offset the effects that
 extreme price volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of
 seasonally adjusted data for those series.   For the Nonalcoholic
 beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of labor and
 supply problems for coffee.  The procedure was used to account for unusual
 butter fat supply reductions, decreases in milk supply, and large swings
 in soybean oil inventories affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the
 Water and sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to account
 for a data collection anomaly and dry weather in California.  For Dairy
 products, it mitigated the effects of significant changes in milk
 production levels and higher demand for cheese.  For Electricity, it was
 used to offset an increase in demand due to warmer than expected weather,
 increased rates to conserve supplies, and declining natural gas
 inventories.  For New vehicles, New cars, and New trucks, the procedure
 was used to offset the effects of a model changeover combined with
 financing incentives.
   
        For additional information on seasonal adjustment in the CPI,
 please write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer
 Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or contact Daniel Chow on
 (202) 691-6968 by e-mail at Chow.Daniel@bls.gov.  If you have general
 questions about the CPI, please call our information staff at (202) 691-
 7000.


 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Mar. 2004 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   2003       Feb.      Mar.                                            
                                                              2004      2004     Mar.     Feb.   Dec. to Jan. to Feb. to
                                                                                 2003     2004     Jan.    Feb.    Mar. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................    100.000     186.2     187.4      1.7      0.6     0.5     0.3     0.5 
 All items (1967=100).........................          -     557.9     561.5        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................     15.384     184.5     184.9      3.2      0.2    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Food.......................................     14.383     184.1     184.4      3.2      0.2     0.0     0.2     0.2 
    Food at home..............................      8.256     184.0     184.3      3.7      0.2    -0.3     0.1     0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products..............      1.202     204.4     204.8      1.3      0.2     0.1     0.0     0.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........      2.320     179.7     179.5      8.9     -0.1     0.0    -0.7    -0.3 
     Dairy and related products...............       .842     172.1     171.9      2.9     -0.1    -0.3    -0.2     0.5 
     Fruits and vegetables....................      1.221     229.7     230.1      2.9      0.2    -1.8     1.0     0.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................       .905     141.4     140.8      0.4     -0.4     0.3     0.1    -0.2 
     Other food at home.......................      1.765     163.7     165.1      1.5      0.9    -0.4     0.8     0.6 
      Sugar and sweets........................       .305     163.9     163.3      0.5     -0.4    -0.3     0.8    -0.3 
      Fats and oils...........................       .251     162.3     166.2      5.5      2.4     1.1     1.1     2.5 
      Other foods.............................      1.210     178.9     180.4      1.0      0.8    -0.7     0.8     0.4 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .308     109.5     111.7      1.5      2.0    -0.6     0.4     2.0 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.127     185.5     185.8      2.7      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .332     124.0     124.1      3.1      0.1     1.0     0.1     0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................      1.001     189.9     190.8      2.3      0.5     0.4     0.3     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................     42.089     187.0     187.9      2.0      0.5     0.4     0.2     0.3 
   Shelter....................................     32.878     216.0     217.8      2.7      0.8     0.1     0.1     0.6 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      6.157     208.8     209.2      2.5      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.954     120.0     128.1      7.0      6.8    -0.2    -1.6     3.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     23.383     222.9     223.3      2.0      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .385     115.0     115.1      1.0      0.1     0.4     0.2     0.1 
   Fuels and utilities........................      4.741     156.9     155.2      0.5     -1.1     1.6     0.9    -1.1 
    Fuels.....................................      3.830     139.5     137.6     -0.6     -1.4     1.9     0.9    -1.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................       .231     155.1     152.5     -9.8     -1.7     6.8     1.0    -1.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.599     145.5     143.5      0.0     -1.4     1.6     0.9    -1.4 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .910     121.8     122.2      5.4      0.3     0.5     1.1     0.1 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      4.470     125.7     125.7     -1.1      0.0     0.4     0.2    -0.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .704     123.4     123.6      1.6      0.2     0.1     0.6     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................      3.975     118.6     123.5     -0.1      4.1    -0.3    -0.1     0.9 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................      1.024     117.1     119.8     -1.0      2.3    -0.1     0.3    -0.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................      1.704     110.3     117.6      0.3      6.6    -0.7    -0.2     1.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............       .195     119.3     121.9     -1.8      2.2     0.2     0.3     0.4 
   Footwear...................................       .778     117.0     120.1      0.3      2.6    -0.8     0.3     1.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................     16.881     158.8     160.5     -0.3      1.1     1.7     0.7     1.1 
   Private transportation.....................     15.817     154.9     156.6     -0.4      1.1     1.9     0.7     1.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.912      94.4      94.2     -3.9     -0.2    -0.1     0.2    -0.2 
     New vehicles.............................      4.817     138.3     137.9     -1.0     -0.3    -0.1     0.4    -0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      2.007     131.0     131.2    -11.6      0.2    -0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Motor fuel................................      3.249     143.1     150.5      1.6      5.2     8.1     2.5     5.5 
     Gasoline (all types).....................      3.222     142.5     149.8      1.6      5.1     8.1     2.5     5.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .369     108.0     107.8     -0.1     -0.2     0.3     0.0    -0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......      1.349     198.2     198.5      2.2      0.2     0.1    -0.1     0.3 
   Public transportation......................      1.064     208.1     209.9      1.8      0.9     0.2     0.0     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................      6.074     306.0     307.5      4.5      0.5     0.2     0.6     0.6 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.499     266.7     267.3      2.3      0.2     0.1     0.4     0.2 
   Medical care services......................      4.575     316.6     318.4      5.2      0.6     0.3     0.7     0.7 
    Professional services.....................      2.749     268.0     269.7      4.1      0.6     0.2     0.8     0.7 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.489     412.5     413.8      6.5      0.3     0.3     0.5     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.872     108.4     108.8      1.3      0.4     0.0     0.3     0.3 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.736     104.1     104.3      0.6      0.2    -0.3     0.1     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.948     111.2     111.1      1.6     -0.1     0.1     0.3     0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.841     140.4     140.6      7.2      0.1     0.5     0.5     0.6 
    Educational books and supplies............       .219     348.6     348.9      4.7      0.1    -0.5     0.4     0.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.      2.623     404.2     404.7      7.5      0.1     0.6     0.4     0.6 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.107      88.1      87.7     -3.9     -0.5    -0.3     0.0    -0.3 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.925      86.1      85.7     -4.2     -0.5    -0.1     0.0    -0.5 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.315      97.1      96.7     -3.0     -0.4    -0.2     0.1    -0.4 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................       .610      15.2      15.2     -9.5      0.0     0.0    -0.7     0.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .230      16.0      15.8    -16.8     -1.3     0.0    -1.2    -1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................      3.776     302.3     303.1      2.0      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........       .806     472.6     473.6      1.4      0.2     0.6    -0.1     0.2 
   Personal care..............................      2.970     180.4     180.9      2.1      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Personal care products (1)................       .680     154.5     154.5      0.8      0.0     0.3     0.5     0.0 
    Personal care services (1)................       .650     195.2     195.8      2.1      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........      1.448     290.4     291.6      3.6      0.4     0.3     0.3     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................     40.117     152.3     153.7      0.4      0.9     0.7     0.5     0.7 
  Food and beverages..........................     15.384     184.5     184.9      3.2      0.2    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........     24.733     134.2     136.0     -1.4      1.3     1.1     0.5     1.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........     13.458     151.4     155.3      0.5      2.6     1.2     0.4     1.6 
    Apparel...................................      3.975     118.6     123.5     -0.1      4.1    -0.3    -0.1     0.9 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................      9.483     175.6     179.1      0.7      2.0     2.8     1.1     2.5 
   Durables...................................     11.275     115.3     115.1     -3.7     -0.2    -0.1     0.4    -0.2 
 Services.....................................     59.883     219.9     221.0      2.7      0.5     0.3     0.2     0.4 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     32.494     224.9     226.8      2.7      0.8     0.1     0.2     0.6 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .385     115.0     115.1      1.0      0.1     0.4     0.2     0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.599     145.5     143.5      0.0     -1.4     1.6     0.9    -1.4 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .910     121.8     122.2      5.4      0.3     0.5     1.1     0.1 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .704     123.4     123.6      1.6      0.2     0.1     0.6     0.2 
  Transportation services.....................      6.319     219.3     219.7      2.6      0.2     0.5     0.0     0.0 
  Medical care services.......................      4.575     316.6     318.4      5.2      0.6     0.3     0.7     0.7 
  Other services..............................     10.896     259.2     259.5      2.7      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................     85.617     186.6     188.0      1.5      0.8     0.5     0.3     0.5 
 All items less shelter.......................     67.122     176.7     177.6      1.3      0.5     0.6     0.5     0.4 
 All items less medical care..................     93.926     180.1     181.3      1.6      0.7     0.4     0.3     0.4 
 Commodities less food........................     25.734     136.3     138.0     -1.3      1.2     1.0     0.6     1.0 
 Nondurables less food........................     14.459     153.7     157.5      0.6      2.5     1.0     0.4     1.7 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............     10.484     176.1     179.4      1.0      1.9     2.2     1.3     2.6 
 Nondurables..................................     28.842     168.1     170.3      1.9      1.3     0.5     0.4     0.8 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.389     230.6     230.7      2.8      0.0     0.3     0.4    -0.1 
 Services less medical care services..........     55.308     211.7     212.7      2.6      0.5     0.1     0.1     0.4 
 Energy.......................................      7.080     140.6     143.1      0.4      1.8     4.7     1.7     1.9 
 All items less energy........................     92.920     192.7     193.7      1.8      0.5     0.2     0.2     0.4 
  All items less food and energy..............     78.537     194.9     196.1      1.6      0.6     0.2     0.2     0.4 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................     22.254     139.3     140.3     -1.6      0.7     0.0     0.2     0.1 
    Energy commodities........................      3.480     144.6     151.3      0.8      4.6     8.0     2.5     5.0 
   Services less energy services..............     56.283     227.5     228.9      2.9      0.6     0.2     0.1     0.5 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .537    $ .534        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00).............................          -    $ .179    $ .178        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.                                           
                                                 2003    2004    2004    2004                                           
                                                                                June   Sep.   Dec.   Mar.   Sep.   Mar. 
                                                                                2003   2003   2003   2004   2003   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................  184.9   185.8   186.3   187.2   -1.1    3.5   -0.4    5.1    1.2    2.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................  184.0   183.9   184.3   184.7    2.7    2.9    5.6    1.5    2.8    3.6 
   Food.......................................  183.5   183.5   183.8   184.1    2.7    2.9    5.9    1.3    2.8    3.6 
    Food at home..............................  184.0   183.4   183.6   183.9    3.7    3.6    7.7   -0.2    3.6    3.7 
     Cereals and bakery products..............  204.1   204.3   204.2   205.2    1.0    1.6    0.8    2.2    1.3    1.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........  180.5   180.5   179.3   178.8    8.0    9.4   23.6   -3.7    8.7    9.1 
     Dairy and related products...............  172.2   171.6   171.3   172.2   -6.1   14.0    4.5    0.0    3.5    2.2 
     Fruits and vegetables....................  230.3   226.1   228.4   229.0   10.7   -1.2    5.2   -2.2    4.5    1.4 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................  140.0   140.4   140.5   140.2    1.7   -2.3    1.2    0.6   -0.3    0.9 
     Other food at home.......................  163.2   162.6   163.9   164.9    1.2    0.0    0.5    4.2    0.6    2.3 
      Sugar and sweets........................  162.5   162.0   163.3   162.8    1.5   -1.0    0.7    0.7    0.2    0.7 
      Fats and oils...........................  158.8   160.6   162.3   166.3   -1.3    0.5    3.9   20.3   -0.4   11.8 
      Other foods.............................  179.3   178.0   179.4   180.2    1.8    0.2   -0.2    2.0    1.0    0.9 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  109.8   109.1   109.5   111.7    5.2   -1.8   -4.3    7.1    1.6    1.3 
    Food away from home (1)...................  184.3   184.9   185.5   185.8    2.0    2.0    3.3    3.3    2.0    3.3 
     Other food away from home (2)............  122.7   123.9   124.0   124.2    3.7   -0.7    4.4    5.0    1.5    4.7 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................  188.7   189.4   189.9   190.8    1.1    1.7    1.7    4.5    1.4    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................  186.1   186.8   187.1   187.7    1.5    1.5    1.3    3.5    1.5    2.4 
   Shelter....................................  215.3   215.6   215.8   217.1    2.3    2.5    2.5    3.4    2.4    2.9 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  207.8   208.1   208.6   209.0    2.8    2.8    2.1    2.3    2.8    2.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  122.0   121.7   119.8   124.4   10.4    1.7    7.9    8.1    5.9    8.0 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  221.9   222.2   222.7   223.3    1.1    2.6    2.0    2.5    1.8    2.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  114.3   114.8   115.0   115.1    4.3    2.5   -5.4    2.8    3.4   -1.4 
   Fuels and utilities........................  155.0   157.5   158.9   157.1   -0.5    0.5   -3.8    5.5    0.0    0.8 
    Fuels.....................................  137.9   140.5   141.8   139.8   -1.4   -0.6   -5.9    5.6   -1.0   -0.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................  136.2   145.4   146.9   144.2  -49.8    6.4   -1.2   25.6  -26.9   11.4 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  145.0   147.3   148.6   146.5    3.3   -1.1   -6.1    4.2    1.1   -1.1 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  119.9   120.5   121.8   121.9    3.5    5.6    5.5    6.8    4.5    6.2 
   Household furnishings and operations.......  124.9   125.4   125.7   125.5   -2.8   -3.1   -0.6    1.9   -3.0    0.6 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  122.6   122.7   123.4   123.6    0.7    1.7    1.0    3.3    1.2    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................  120.2   119.8   119.7   120.8   -0.7    0.3   -2.3    2.0   -0.2   -0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................  118.1   118.0   118.3   118.2   -7.2    2.1    1.0    0.3   -2.7    0.7 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................  112.5   111.7   111.5   113.2    1.4   -1.1   -1.4    2.5    0.2    0.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............  119.3   119.5   119.8   120.3   -0.7    3.6  -12.6    3.4    1.5   -5.0 
   Footwear...................................  119.0   118.0   118.3   119.5    1.0    1.0   -2.6    1.7    1.0   -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................  155.3   157.9   159.0   160.8  -12.1    9.5  -11.0   14.9   -1.9    1.1 
   Private transportation.....................  151.1   153.9   155.0   156.9  -13.5   10.7  -12.0   16.3   -2.1    1.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   94.0    93.9    94.1    93.9   -2.4   -6.8   -6.1   -0.4   -4.6   -3.3 
     New vehicles.............................  137.0   136.9   137.5   137.3   -3.1   -0.6   -1.4    0.9   -1.9   -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  131.0   130.8   131.0   131.2   -2.9  -20.9  -21.1    0.6  -12.4  -10.9 
    Motor fuel................................  130.9   141.5   145.1   153.1  -48.6   75.7  -37.0   87.1   -5.0    8.6 
     Gasoline (all types).....................  130.4   141.0   144.5   152.4  -48.8   76.7  -36.9   86.6   -4.9    8.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  107.7   108.0   108.0   107.8   -0.7    0.0    0.0    0.4   -0.4    0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......  197.9   198.0   197.8   198.3    2.3    2.1    3.3    0.8    2.2    2.0 
   Public transportation......................  209.7   210.1   210.0   210.6    8.0   -0.9   -0.9    1.7    3.4    0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................  302.7   303.4   305.3   307.0    3.6    4.5    4.2    5.8    4.1    5.0 
   Medical care commodities...................  265.4   265.7   266.7   267.3    0.6    5.0    0.8    2.9    2.8    1.8 
   Medical care services......................  312.6   313.5   315.7   317.8    4.4    4.4    5.3    6.8    4.4    6.1 
    Professional services.....................  264.9   265.5   267.5   269.4    3.6    2.5    3.5    7.0    3.0    5.2 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  407.0   408.4   410.4   412.5    5.9    7.5    6.9    5.5    6.7    6.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  108.0   108.0   108.3   108.6    1.5    0.7    0.7    2.2    1.1    1.5 
   Video and audio (2)........................  103.9   103.6   103.7   104.0    1.2    1.2    0.0    0.4    1.2    0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  110.6   110.7   111.0   111.1   -0.4    3.3    1.5    1.8    1.5    1.6 
   Education (2)..............................  138.8   139.5   140.2   141.0    6.9    9.0    6.6    6.5    7.9    6.5 
    Educational books and supplies............  345.8   344.0   345.5   347.5    4.2    1.8   11.4    2.0    3.0    6.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.  399.5   402.0   403.8   406.3    7.1    9.6    6.2    7.0    8.3    6.6 
   Communication (2)..........................   88.1    87.8    87.8    87.5   -7.3   -2.2   -3.6   -2.7   -4.8   -3.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   86.2    86.1    86.1    85.7   -9.9   -2.3   -2.3   -2.3   -6.2   -2.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   97.2    97.0    97.1    96.7   -8.5   -0.4   -0.8   -2.0   -4.6   -1.4 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................   15.3    15.3    15.2    15.2  -13.5  -14.0   -7.5   -2.6  -13.8   -5.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   16.2    16.2    16.0    15.8  -28.0  -24.7   -2.4   -9.5  -26.4   -6.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................  300.8   301.7   302.3   302.9    1.1    2.7    1.2    2.8    1.9    2.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  470.4   473.0   472.6   473.6   -3.1    4.6    1.5    2.7    0.6    2.1 
   Personal care..............................  179.5   179.9   180.4   180.7    2.3    2.3    1.1    2.7    2.3    1.9 
    Personal care products (1)................  153.4   153.8   154.5   154.5    1.3   -1.0    0.0    2.9    0.1    1.4 
    Personal care services (1)................  194.3   194.6   195.2   195.8    2.3    5.5   -2.2    3.1    3.9    0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........  288.2   289.1   289.9   291.1    4.3    2.6    3.8    4.1    3.4    4.0 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................  150.7   151.7   152.4   153.4   -6.4    4.6   -3.6    7.4   -1.0    1.7 
  Food and beverages..........................  184.0   183.9   184.3   184.7    2.7    2.9    5.6    1.5    2.8    3.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........  132.2   133.7   134.4   135.7  -11.7    5.8   -9.1   11.0   -3.3    0.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........  150.4   152.2   152.8   155.3  -21.3   14.5   -0.3   13.7   -5.1    6.5 
    Apparel...................................  120.2   119.8   119.7   120.8   -0.7    0.3   -2.3    2.0   -0.2   -0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................  169.3   174.1   176.0   180.4  -23.1   22.4  -15.0   28.9   -3.0    4.7 
   Durables...................................  114.8   114.7   115.2   115.0   -4.6   -6.3   -4.4    0.7   -5.5   -1.9 
 Services.....................................  218.9   219.5   220.0   220.8    2.8    2.6    2.0    3.5    2.7    2.8 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  224.1   224.3   224.7   226.1    2.2    2.4    2.4    3.6    2.3    3.0 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  114.3   114.8   115.0   115.1    4.3    2.5   -5.4    2.8    3.4   -1.4 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  145.0   147.3   148.6   146.5    3.3   -1.1   -6.1    4.2    1.1   -1.1 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  119.9   120.5   121.8   121.9    3.5    5.6    5.5    6.8    4.5    6.2 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  122.6   122.7   123.4   123.6    0.7    1.7    1.0    3.3    1.2    2.1 
  Transportation services.....................  218.2   219.2   219.2   219.3    5.1    1.7    1.3    2.0    3.4    1.7 
  Medical care services.......................  312.6   313.5   315.7   317.8    4.4    4.4    5.3    6.8    4.4    6.1 
  Other services..............................  257.6   258.0   258.8   259.4    2.2    4.0    2.0    2.8    3.1    2.4 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................  185.2   186.2   186.7   187.7   -1.7    3.5   -1.3    5.5    0.9    2.1 
 All items less shelter.......................  175.1   176.1   176.9   177.6   -2.5    4.0   -1.6    5.8    0.7    2.1 
 All items less medical care..................  178.9   179.7   180.2   181.0   -1.1    3.2   -0.4    4.8    1.0    2.1 
 Commodities less food........................  134.3   135.7   136.5   137.8  -11.2    5.4   -8.5   10.8   -3.3    0.7 
 Nondurables less food........................  152.8   154.3   154.9   157.5  -20.2   14.2   -0.3   12.9   -4.5    6.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............  170.2   173.9   176.1   180.6  -21.1   19.6  -13.1   26.8   -2.9    4.9 
 Nondurables..................................  167.4   168.2   168.8   170.2   -8.6    7.0    3.2    6.9   -1.1    5.0 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  229.5   230.2   231.1   230.9    3.4    3.2    2.1    2.5    3.3    2.3 
 Services less medical care services..........  211.1   211.4   211.7   212.5    2.7    2.7    2.1    2.7    2.7    2.4 
 Energy.......................................  134.1   140.4   142.8   145.5  -27.5   30.1  -22.2   38.6   -2.9    3.8 
 All items less energy........................  191.9   192.2   192.5   193.2    1.5    1.5    1.7    2.7    1.5    2.2 
  All items less food and energy..............  194.1   194.4   194.8   195.5    1.3    1.2    0.8    2.9    1.3    1.9 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................  139.1   139.1   139.4   139.6   -2.2   -2.8   -2.8    1.4   -2.5   -0.7 
    Energy commodities........................  131.9   142.4   146.0   153.3  -48.6   70.2  -35.2   82.5   -6.5    8.8 
   Services less energy services..............  226.4   226.9   227.2   228.3    2.7    2.9    2.5    3.4    2.8    3.0 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Mar. 2004 from--      Feb. 2004 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.                                           
                                                 (1)   2003   2004   2004   2004   Mar.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.   Dec.   Jan. 
                                                                                   2003   2004   2004   2003   2003   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average............................   M    184.3  185.2  186.2  187.4    1.7    1.2    0.6    1.7    1.0    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban..............................   M    194.9  195.9  196.8  198.6    2.9    1.4    0.9    2.7    1.0    0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    197.1  197.9  198.8  200.7    3.1    1.4    1.0    2.7    0.9    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    115.0  116.0  116.6  117.4    2.1    1.2    0.7    2.5    1.4    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban................................   M    178.4  179.4  180.2  181.0    1.3    0.9    0.4    1.3    1.0    0.4 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    180.9  181.8  182.5  183.1    1.3    0.7    0.3    1.4    0.9    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    113.3  114.1  114.7  115.2    1.4    1.0    0.4    1.7    1.2    0.5 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    171.5  171.8  173.0  174.1    0.6    1.3    0.6    0.3    0.9    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban..................................   M    177.5  178.2  179.1  180.1    1.5    1.1    0.6    1.5    0.9    0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    179.2  179.8  180.8  181.8    1.5    1.1    0.6    1.4    0.9    0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    113.3  113.8  114.3  114.9    1.4    1.0    0.5    1.6    0.9    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    175.1  175.3  176.8  177.7    1.3    1.4    0.5    1.1    1.0    0.9 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban...................................   M    188.3  189.4  190.8  192.2    1.5    1.5    0.7    1.4    1.3    0.7 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    190.6  191.7  193.2  194.5    1.2    1.5    0.7    1.2    1.4    0.8 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    115.2  116.0  117.0  117.9    2.2    1.6    0.8    2.2    1.6    0.9 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    168.7  169.4  170.4  171.5    1.8    1.2    0.6    1.7    1.0    0.6 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    113.8  114.6  115.2  115.9    1.7    1.1    0.6    1.9    1.2    0.5 
   D..........................................   M    176.5  176.9  177.9  178.9    1.1    1.1    0.6    1.1    0.8    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI...............   M    185.5  185.4  186.4  186.3    0.8    0.5   -0.1    1.2    0.5    0.5 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA......   M    187.0  188.5  190.1  191.5    1.8    1.6    0.7    1.9    1.7    0.8 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA..............................   M    199.3  199.9  201.1  203.4    3.2    1.8    1.1    2.5    0.9    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT..........   1        -  208.4      -  208.7    2.9    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH..........................   1        -  178.4      -  180.0    2.6    0.9      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX........................   1        -  175.7      -  177.7    0.5    1.1      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  117.1      -  118.1    1.9    0.9      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA..................................   2    179.0      -  180.8      -      -      -      -    0.1    1.0      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI..................   2    181.3      -  183.4      -      -      -      -    0.5    1.2      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX...............   2    164.1      -  168.5      -      -      -      -    2.7    2.7      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL....................   2    181.6      -  183.6      -      -      -      -    1.8    1.1      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD..............................   2    189.0      -  191.4      -      -      -      -    2.6    1.3      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA...........   2    195.3      -  198.1      -      -      -      -    0.2    1.4      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA.................   2    191.0      -  193.5      -      -      -      -    1.2    1.3      - 

   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,                      Mar. 2004 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   2003       Feb.      Mar.                                            
                                                              2004      2004     Mar.     Feb.   Dec. to Jan. to Feb. to
                                                                                 2003     2004     Jan.    Feb.    Mar. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................    100.000     181.9     182.9      1.4      0.5     0.6     0.3     0.5 
 All items (1967=100).........................          -     541.7     544.8        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................     17.151     184.0     184.4      3.3      0.2    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Food.......................................     16.061     183.5     183.8      3.3      0.2    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
    Food at home..............................      9.637     183.2     183.5      3.8      0.2    -0.3     0.1     0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products..............      1.364     204.4     204.9      1.4      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.4 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........      2.908     179.7     179.6      9.0     -0.1    -0.1    -0.6    -0.2 
     Dairy and related products...............       .955     171.7     171.3      2.8     -0.2    -0.3    -0.3     0.4 
     Fruits and vegetables....................      1.344     227.5     227.8      2.5      0.1    -2.0     1.3     0.1 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................      1.076     140.8     140.1      0.4     -0.5     0.2     0.1    -0.4 
     Other food at home.......................      1.991     163.3     164.7      1.6      0.9    -0.4     0.7     0.7 
      Sugar and sweets........................       .321     163.2     162.6      0.3     -0.4    -0.2     0.6    -0.2 
      Fats and oils...........................       .303     162.2     166.0      5.3      2.3     1.3     0.9     2.4 
      Other foods.............................      1.366     179.4     180.8      1.1      0.8    -0.8     0.7     0.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .350     110.1     112.2      1.5      1.9    -0.6     0.5     1.9 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.424     185.3     185.6      2.5      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .252     123.8     123.8      2.6      0.0     0.6     0.2     0.1 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................      1.090     190.0     191.2      2.4      0.6     0.3     0.3     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................     39.114     182.6     183.2      1.8      0.3     0.5     0.2     0.2 
   Shelter....................................     30.151     209.8     211.0      2.5      0.6     0.3     0.0     0.4 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.065     208.0     208.4      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.722     121.1     128.8      7.0      6.4     0.7    -1.9     3.6 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.026     202.3     202.7      2.0      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .337     115.1     115.2      1.2      0.1     0.4     0.2     0.1 
   Fuels and utilities........................      5.079     156.2     154.7      0.7     -1.0     1.6     0.9    -1.0 
    Fuels.....................................      4.146     138.3     136.6     -0.3     -1.2     1.8     0.9    -1.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................       .216     154.5     152.0     -9.5     -1.6     6.9     0.8    -1.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.930     144.7     142.9      0.2     -1.2     1.6     0.8    -1.2 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .933     121.9     122.4      5.5      0.4     0.6     1.1     0.2 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      3.884     121.4     121.4     -1.1      0.0     0.4     0.2     0.0 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .318     124.9     125.4      2.4      0.4    -0.1     1.0     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................      4.357     118.3     122.9      0.3      3.9    -0.1     0.0     0.8 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................      1.120     117.4     120.0     -0.5      2.2     0.2     0.3    -0.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................      1.727     109.8     117.4      1.3      6.9    -0.5    -0.4     1.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............       .250     122.2     125.2     -0.5      2.5     0.7     0.7     0.4 
   Footwear...................................      1.011     116.4     118.6     -0.8      1.9    -0.3     0.2     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................     19.145     156.8     158.5     -1.1      1.1     1.8     0.6     1.3 
   Private transportation.....................     18.348     154.0     155.7     -1.3      1.1     1.9     0.7     1.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.305      92.8      92.6     -5.5     -0.2    -0.1     0.1    -0.1 
     New vehicles.............................      4.864     139.5     139.0     -1.0     -0.4    -0.1     0.4    -0.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.487     131.7     132.0    -11.5      0.2    -0.1     0.1     0.2 
    Motor fuel................................      3.967     143.6     150.9      1.6      5.1     8.1     2.5     5.4 
     Gasoline (all types).....................      3.936     143.0     150.3      1.7      5.1     8.1     2.5     5.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .456     107.6     107.4      0.2     -0.2     0.3     0.0    -0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......      1.365     200.1     200.3      2.2      0.1     0.0     0.0     0.2 
   Public transportation......................       .797     206.2     208.0      3.0      0.9     0.4     0.1     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................      4.969     305.4     306.9      4.6      0.5     0.3     0.7     0.6 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.142     260.9     261.5      2.1      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
   Medical care services......................      3.827     316.8     318.6      5.3      0.6     0.3     0.8     0.6 
    Professional services.....................      2.256     270.6     272.3      4.2      0.6     0.2     0.8     0.7 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.254     408.7     409.9      6.4      0.3     0.5     0.4     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.697     106.2     106.5      1.0      0.3    -0.1     0.4     0.3 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.928     103.2     103.5      0.6      0.3    -0.4     0.1     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.645     110.0     109.8      0.8     -0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.299     139.4     139.6      6.7      0.1     0.7     0.4     0.6 
    Educational books and supplies............       .215     349.5     349.9      4.8      0.1    -0.7     0.7     0.5 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.      2.084     393.3     393.8      7.0      0.1     0.7     0.4     0.5 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.345      89.6      89.3     -3.8     -0.3    -0.3     0.1    -0.3 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      3.194      88.2      87.9     -4.0     -0.3    -0.1     0.0    -0.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.622      97.3      96.9     -3.0     -0.4    -0.2     0.1    -0.4 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................       .572      15.8      15.7     -9.8     -0.6     0.0     0.0    -0.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .205      15.7      15.5    -16.7     -1.3    -0.6    -0.6    -1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................      3.923     310.0     310.8      1.7      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.248     473.2     474.2      1.1      0.2     0.5    -0.1     0.2 
   Personal care..............................      2.675     179.1     179.7      2.0      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     155.0     155.0      0.8      0.0     0.2     0.5     0.0 
    Personal care services (1)................       .610     195.7     196.3      2.0      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........      1.152     290.2     291.6      3.7      0.5     0.3     0.3     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................     44.582     152.7     154.1      0.1      0.9     0.7     0.4     0.7 
  Food and beverages..........................     17.151     184.0     184.4      3.3      0.2    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........     27.430     135.2     137.0     -1.9      1.3     1.3     0.5     1.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........     14.671     154.3     158.4      0.7      2.7     1.3     0.4     1.9 
    Apparel...................................      4.357     118.3     122.9      0.3      3.9    -0.1     0.0     0.8 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................     10.315     180.2     184.1      0.8      2.2     2.9     1.3     2.8 
   Durables...................................     12.759     114.2     114.0     -4.8     -0.2    -0.1     0.4    -0.2 
 Services.....................................     55.418     216.0     216.7      2.6      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.813     202.0     203.2      2.5      0.6     0.2     0.1     0.5 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .337     115.1     115.2      1.2      0.1     0.4     0.2     0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.930     144.7     142.9      0.2     -1.2     1.6     0.8    -1.2 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .933     121.9     122.4      5.5      0.4     0.6     1.1     0.2 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .318     124.9     125.4      2.4      0.4    -0.1     1.0     0.4 
  Transportation services.....................      6.241     219.7     220.0      2.9      0.1     0.5     0.0     0.1 
  Medical care services.......................      3.827     316.8     318.6      5.3      0.6     0.3     0.8     0.6 
  Other services..............................     10.020     252.6     252.9      2.4      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................     83.939     181.4     182.6      1.1      0.7     0.7     0.3     0.5 
 All items less shelter.......................     69.849     173.7     174.7      1.0      0.6     0.6     0.5     0.4 
 All items less medical care..................     95.031     176.6     177.6      1.3      0.6     0.6     0.3     0.5 
 Commodities less food........................     28.520     137.1     138.9     -1.8      1.3     1.2     0.6     0.9 
 Nondurables less food........................     15.761     156.4     160.4      0.8      2.6     1.2     0.4     1.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............     11.405     180.2     184.0      0.9      2.1     2.4     1.4     2.8 
 Nondurables..................................     31.823     169.5     171.8      2.0      1.4     0.5     0.4     0.9 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     25.605     204.9     204.9      2.7      0.0     0.2     0.4    -0.1 
 Services less medical care services..........     51.592     208.2     208.8      2.4      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.3 
 Energy.......................................      8.114     140.2     143.0      0.6      2.0     4.9     1.6     2.2 
 All items less energy........................     91.886     187.9     188.7      1.5      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.3 
  All items less food and energy..............     75.825     189.1     190.1      1.1      0.5     0.2     0.2     0.3 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................     24.337     139.0     140.0     -2.2      0.7     0.0     0.2     0.1 
    Energy commodities........................      4.183     144.7     151.5      1.0      4.7     8.0     2.4     5.1 
   Services less energy services..............     51.488     223.9     224.9      2.8      0.4     0.3     0.1     0.4 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .550    $ .547        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00).............................          -    $ .185    $ .184        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.                                           
                                                 2003    2004    2004    2004                                           
                                                                                June   Sep.   Dec.   Mar.   Sep.   Mar. 
                                                                                2003   2003   2003   2004   2003   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items....................................  180.4   181.4   181.9   182.8   -1.8    3.4   -1.1    5.4    0.8    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages..........................  183.5   183.4   183.8   184.1    2.7    3.2    5.9    1.3    2.9    3.6 
   Food.......................................  183.1   182.9   183.3   183.6    3.0    3.2    6.1    1.1    3.1    3.6 
    Food at home..............................  183.2   182.6   182.8   183.1    3.7    4.1    7.8   -0.2    3.9    3.7 
     Cereals and bakery products..............  203.8   204.0   204.2   205.1    1.2    1.6    0.0    2.6    1.4    1.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........  180.5   180.4   179.3   178.9    7.8    9.4   24.1   -3.5    8.6    9.5 
     Dairy and related products...............  171.9   171.4   170.9   171.5   -5.6   15.4    3.6   -0.9    4.4    1.3 
     Fruits and vegetables....................  228.1   223.6   226.4   226.7    9.5   -0.7    4.0   -2.4    4.3    0.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials............................  139.4   139.7   139.9   139.4    2.3   -2.3    1.4    0.0    0.0    0.7 
     Other food at home.......................  162.8   162.2   163.4   164.5    1.7    0.5    0.0    4.2    1.1    2.1 
      Sugar and sweets........................  161.8   161.5   162.5   162.2    1.2    0.0   -0.7    1.0    0.6    0.1 
      Fats and oils...........................  158.6   160.6   162.1   166.0   -1.3    0.3    3.3   20.0   -0.5   11.4 
      Other foods.............................  179.8   178.4   179.7   180.6    2.5    0.4   -0.4    1.8    1.5    0.7 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  110.3   109.6   110.1   112.2    5.9   -2.8   -3.5    7.1    1.5    1.6 
    Food away from home (1)...................  184.2   184.8   185.3   185.6    1.6    2.2    3.3    3.1    1.9    3.2 
     Other food away from home (2)............  123.0   123.7   123.9   124.0    3.0   -0.3    4.7    3.3    1.3    4.0 
   Alcoholic beverages (1)....................  188.9   189.5   190.0   191.2    0.0    1.9    2.6    5.0    1.0    3.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing.....................................  181.6   182.5   182.8   183.2    1.3    1.6    0.9    3.6    1.5    2.2 
   Shelter....................................  208.8   209.5   209.6   210.5    2.2    2.3    1.9    3.3    2.3    2.6 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  206.8   207.2   207.8   208.2    2.8    2.6    1.8    2.7    2.7    2.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  122.3   123.2   120.9   125.2    8.8    3.0    5.8    9.8    5.9    7.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  201.4   201.9   202.1   202.7    1.2    2.2    2.0    2.6    1.7    2.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  114.4   114.9   115.1   115.2    4.3    2.8   -4.7    2.8    3.5   -1.0 
   Fuels and utilities........................  154.4   156.9   158.3   156.7    0.0    0.5   -3.8    6.1    0.3    1.0 
    Fuels.....................................  136.9   139.4   140.6   138.8   -0.9   -0.3   -5.6    5.7   -0.6   -0.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................  135.3   144.7   145.8   143.0  -48.6    7.7   -2.9   24.8  -25.6   10.1 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  144.2   146.5   147.7   145.9    3.1   -0.8   -5.9    4.8    1.1   -0.7 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  119.9   120.6   121.9   122.2    3.5    5.6    5.2    7.9    4.5    6.5 
   Household furnishings and operations.......  120.7   121.2   121.4   121.4   -3.2   -2.3   -1.3    2.3   -2.7    0.5 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  123.8   123.7   124.9   125.4    0.7    2.3    1.3    5.3    1.5    3.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel.....................................  119.6   119.5   119.5   120.5   -1.3    1.0   -1.7    3.0   -0.2    0.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................  117.9   118.1   118.5   118.4   -7.5    1.7    2.1    1.7   -3.0    1.9 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................  112.0   111.4   111.0   113.1    1.1    1.1   -1.4    4.0    1.1    1.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............  121.5   122.4   123.2   123.7    0.3    3.9  -12.4    7.4    2.1   -3.0 
   Footwear...................................  118.1   117.7   117.9   118.2   -0.7    0.0   -3.3    0.3   -0.3   -1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation..............................  153.1   155.9   156.9   158.9  -13.0    9.1  -13.2   16.0   -2.6    0.4 
   Private transportation.....................  150.2   153.0   154.1   156.1  -14.1    9.5  -13.6   16.7   -3.0    0.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   92.5    92.4    92.5    92.4   -2.8   -9.1   -9.4   -0.4   -6.0   -5.0 
     New vehicles.............................  138.2   138.1   138.7   138.4   -3.1   -0.3   -1.4    0.6   -1.7   -0.4 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  131.7   131.6   131.7   132.0   -2.9  -20.6  -21.2    0.9  -12.2  -10.8 
    Motor fuel................................  131.3   141.9   145.5   153.3  -48.4   75.9  -36.9   85.8   -4.7    8.3 
     Gasoline (all types).....................  130.8   141.4   144.9   152.7  -48.4   76.4  -36.8   85.7   -4.6    8.3 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  107.3   107.6   107.6   107.4   -0.4    0.4    0.4    0.4    0.0    0.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......  199.7   199.7   199.7   200.1    2.3    2.0    3.5    0.8    2.2    2.1 
   Public transportation......................  207.1   207.9   208.1   208.8    9.8    0.0   -0.8    3.3    4.8    1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care................................  301.9   302.7   304.7   306.4    3.5    4.4    4.4    6.1    3.9    5.2 
   Medical care commodities...................  259.8   260.0   260.9   261.5    0.3    5.1    0.6    2.6    2.7    1.6 
   Medical care services......................  312.5   313.5   315.9   317.9    4.2    4.3    5.4    7.1    4.2    6.3 
    Professional services.....................  267.2   267.8   270.0   272.0    3.6    2.5    3.7    7.4    3.0    5.5 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  403.1   405.1   406.7   408.7    5.5    7.5    6.8    5.7    6.5    6.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  105.8   105.7   106.1   106.4    0.8    0.4    0.8    2.3    0.6    1.5 
   Video and audio (2)........................  103.1   102.7   102.8   103.2    0.8    0.8    0.4    0.4    0.8    0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  109.4   109.5   109.7   109.8   -1.5    2.6    0.7    1.5    0.6    1.1 
   Education (2)..............................  137.8   138.7   139.3   140.1    5.9    8.7    5.7    6.8    7.3    6.3 
    Educational books and supplies............  346.7   344.4   346.7   348.5    4.5    2.2   10.7    2.1    3.3    6.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.  388.7   391.6   393.3   395.4    6.3    9.1    5.4    7.1    7.7    6.2 
   Communication (2)..........................   89.6    89.3    89.4    89.1   -7.1   -2.2   -3.5   -2.2   -4.7   -2.9 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   88.3    88.2    88.2    87.9   -9.7   -2.2   -2.2   -1.8   -6.0   -2.0 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   97.4    97.2    97.3    96.9   -8.5   -0.4   -0.8   -2.0   -4.6   -1.4 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                                               
         services (1) (5).....................   15.8    15.8    15.8    15.7  -13.1  -15.7   -7.2   -2.5  -14.4   -4.9 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   15.9    15.8    15.7    15.5  -26.9  -25.1   -2.5   -9.7  -26.0   -6.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services....................  308.7   309.5   310.0   310.6    0.3    2.8    1.2    2.5    1.5    1.8 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  471.5   473.8   473.2   474.2   -3.6    4.5    1.4    2.3    0.3    1.8 
   Personal care..............................  178.3   178.6   179.1   179.5    2.3    2.0    0.9    2.7    2.2    1.8 
    Personal care products (1)................  154.0   154.3   155.0   155.0    1.6   -1.0    0.0    2.6    0.3    1.3 
    Personal care services (1)................  194.9   195.1   195.7   196.3    2.3    5.5   -2.4    2.9    3.9    0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........  287.7   288.6   289.6   290.7    4.9    2.3    3.3    4.2    3.6    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities..................................  151.1   152.2   152.8   153.9   -6.8    4.6   -4.4    7.6   -1.3    1.4 
  Food and beverages..........................  183.5   183.4   183.8   184.1    2.7    3.2    5.9    1.3    2.9    3.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........  133.0   134.7   135.4   136.8  -12.3    5.8  -10.7   11.9   -3.7    0.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........  153.1   155.1   155.7   158.6  -23.3   16.4    0.0   15.2   -5.5    7.3 
    Apparel...................................  119.6   119.5   119.5   120.5   -1.3    1.0   -1.7    3.0   -0.2    0.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel...............................  173.3   178.3   180.7   185.8  -25.6   25.0  -15.8   32.1   -3.6    5.5 
   Durables...................................  113.9   113.8   114.2   114.0   -4.9   -8.2   -6.4    0.4   -6.6   -3.1 
 Services.....................................  214.8   215.6   216.1   216.6    2.7    2.5    1.7    3.4    2.6    2.5 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  201.2   201.6   201.8   202.8    2.0    2.4    2.2    3.2    2.2    2.7 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  114.4   114.9   115.1   115.2    4.3    2.8   -4.7    2.8    3.5   -1.0 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  144.2   146.5   147.7   145.9    3.1   -0.8   -5.9    4.8    1.1   -0.7 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  119.9   120.6   121.9   122.2    3.5    5.6    5.2    7.9    4.5    6.5 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  123.8   123.7   124.9   125.4    0.7    2.3    1.3    5.3    1.5    3.3 
  Transportation services.....................  218.3   219.4   219.4   219.6    5.5    2.0    1.3    2.4    3.8    1.8 
  Medical care services.......................  312.5   313.5   315.9   317.9    4.2    4.3    5.4    7.1    4.2    6.3 
  Other services..............................  251.0   251.5   252.2   252.7    1.6    3.6    1.4    2.7    2.6    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food..........................  179.7   180.9   181.5   182.4   -2.6    3.6   -2.6    6.1    0.4    1.7 
 All items less shelter.......................  172.0   173.1   173.9   174.6   -3.4    4.0   -2.5    6.2    0.2    1.7 
 All items less medical care..................  175.2   176.2   176.7   177.5   -1.8    3.2   -1.4    5.4    0.7    1.9 
 Commodities less food........................  135.0   136.6   137.4   138.7  -11.9    5.4  -10.0   11.4   -3.6    0.1 
 Nondurables less food........................  155.3   157.1   157.8   160.7  -22.6   16.1    0.0   14.7   -5.2    7.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............  173.8   177.9   180.4   185.4  -23.3   21.6  -14.2   29.5   -3.5    5.4 
 Nondurables..................................  168.7   169.6   170.2   171.8  -10.0    8.6    3.1    7.6   -1.2    5.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  204.0   204.5   205.3   205.1    3.0    3.2    2.2    2.2    3.1    2.2 
 Services less medical care services..........  207.4   208.0   208.2   208.8    2.4    2.4    2.0    2.7    2.4    2.3 
 Energy.......................................  133.4   140.0   142.3   145.4  -28.9   33.0  -23.2   41.1   -2.7    4.1 
 All items less energy........................  187.1   187.4   187.7   188.2    1.3    1.1    1.3    2.4    1.2    1.8 
  All items less food and energy..............  188.3   188.7   189.0   189.6    0.9    0.6    0.2    2.8    0.7    1.5 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities............................  138.8   138.8   139.1   139.3   -2.5   -3.9   -3.9    1.4   -3.2   -1.3 
    Energy commodities........................  132.0   142.6   146.0   153.4  -48.3   72.1  -35.7   82.4   -5.7    8.3 
   Services less energy services..............  222.6   223.3   223.6   224.5    2.6    2.8    2.2    3.5    2.7    2.8 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series were calculated
 using a geometric means estimator.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Mar. 2004 from--      Feb. 2004 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.                                           
                                                 (1)   2003   2004   2004   2004   Mar.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.   Dec.   Jan. 
                                                                                   2003   2004   2004   2003   2003   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average............................   M    179.9  180.9  181.9  182.9    1.4    1.1    0.5    1.5    1.1    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban..............................   M    191.7  192.6  193.6  195.1    2.8    1.3    0.8    2.7    1.0    0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    192.7  193.3  194.3  195.9    3.1    1.3    0.8    2.7    0.8    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    115.2  116.1  116.7  117.5    2.0    1.2    0.7    2.4    1.3    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban................................   M    173.4  174.5  175.3  175.8    1.0    0.7    0.3    1.2    1.1    0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    175.1  176.2  176.9  177.2    1.0    0.6    0.2    1.3    1.0    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    112.4  113.3  113.8  114.2    1.0    0.8    0.4    1.2    1.2    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    169.1  169.4  170.6  171.4    0.5    1.2    0.5    0.3    0.9    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban..................................   M    174.2  175.0  175.8  176.7    1.0    1.0    0.5    1.1    0.9    0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    176.4  177.1  178.0  178.9    1.4    1.0    0.5    1.3    0.9    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    111.8  112.3  112.7  113.4    0.8    1.0    0.6    0.9    0.8    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    174.2  174.6  176.0  176.9    0.7    1.3    0.5    0.7    1.0    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban...................................   M    183.3  184.3  185.7  187.1    1.3    1.5    0.8    1.4    1.3    0.8 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    183.9  185.0  186.5  187.9    1.1    1.6    0.8    1.1    1.4    0.8 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    114.8  115.4  116.4  117.2    1.8    1.6    0.7    2.1    1.4    0.9 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    166.8  167.6  168.6  169.6    1.7    1.2    0.6    1.7    1.1    0.6 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    112.9  113.6  114.2  114.9    1.2    1.1    0.6    1.4    1.2    0.5 
   D..........................................   M    174.3  174.8  175.8  176.7    0.6    1.1    0.5    0.6    0.9    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI...............   M    178.8  179.0  179.9  179.7    0.4    0.4   -0.1    1.0    0.6    0.5 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA......   M    180.2  181.7  183.4  184.9    1.8    1.8    0.8    2.1    1.8    0.9 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA..............................   M    194.6  194.9  196.3  198.2    3.2    1.7    1.0    2.6    0.9    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT..........   1        -  206.8      -  207.4    2.5    0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH..........................   1        -  169.8      -  171.0    2.3    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX........................   1        -  175.7      -  177.6    0.6    1.1      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  116.5      -  117.6    1.8    0.9      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA..................................   2    176.6      -  178.7      -      -      -      -    0.3    1.2      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI..................   2    175.9      -  178.1      -      -      -      -    0.7    1.3      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX...............   2    162.2      -  165.7      -      -      -      -    2.5    2.2      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL....................   2    178.9      -  180.8      -      -      -      -    1.6    1.1      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD..............................   2    189.0      -  191.2      -      -      -      -    2.9    1.2      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA...........   2    191.1      -  194.1      -      -      -      -    0.2    1.6      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA.................   2    185.3      -  187.8      -      -      -      -    0.9    1.3      - 

   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         Mar. 2004 from-  
                    C-CPI-U                     December                                          
                                                2001-2002                                         
                                                              Feb.      Mar.      Mar.      Feb.  
                                                              2004      2004      2003      2004  
                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
             Expenditure category                                                                 
                                                                                                  
 All items....................................    100.000     108.7     109.4       1.4       0.6 
                                                                                                  
  Food and beverages..........................     15.076     110.0     110.2       3.0       0.2 
   Food.......................................     14.086     110.0     110.2       3.0       0.2 
    Food at home..............................      8.062     109.1     109.2       3.3       0.1 
    Food away from home.......................      6.023     111.2     111.4       2.6       0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages........................       .990     110.0     110.6       2.3       0.5 
                                                                                                  
  Housing.....................................     41.793     112.5     113.1       1.8       0.5 
   Shelter....................................     32.380     114.2     115.1       2.5       0.8 
   Fuels and utilities........................      4.643     120.5     119.3       0.8      -1.0 
   Household furnishings and operations.......      4.771      96.0      95.9      -1.4      -0.1 
                                                                                                  
  Apparel.....................................      4.317      89.7      93.4       0.2       4.1 
                                                                                                  
  Transportation..............................     17.315     105.4     106.3      -1.0       0.9 
   Private transportation.....................     16.206     105.5     106.4      -1.2       0.9 
   Public transportation......................      1.109     103.3     104.3       1.9       1.0 
                                                                                                  
  Medical care................................      5.783     119.8     120.3       4.2       0.4 
   Medical care commodities...................      1.466     113.7     113.9       2.1       0.2 
   Medical care services......................      4.317     121.9     122.6       5.1       0.6 
                                                                                                  
  Recreation..................................      5.978     103.9     104.2       0.8       0.3 
                                                                                                  
  Education and communication.................      6.004      99.5      99.3      -0.2      -0.2 
   Education..................................      2.560     129.3     129.5       7.3       0.2 
   Communication..............................      3.444      80.9      80.6      -5.4      -0.4 
                                                                                                  
  Other goods and services....................      3.734     113.2     113.5       1.9       0.3 
                                                                                                  
          Commodity and service group                                                             
                                                                                                  
 Services.....................................     58.567     114.7     115.3       2.5       0.5 
 Commodities..................................     41.433     101.0     101.8      -0.2       0.8 
  Durables....................................     12.521      87.3      87.1      -4.4      -0.2 
 Nondurables..................................     28.912     107.3     108.7       1.8       1.3 
  All items less food and energy..............     78.985     107.2     107.9       1.2       0.7 
 Energy.......................................      6.929     123.6     125.5       0.6       1.5 

 Indexes for 2004 are initial estimates.  Indexes for 2003 are interim adjustments.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 1 (OW). Old Weight 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    percent change to
                                                importance,      indexes       Mar. 2004 from- 
                Item and group                   December                                      
                                                   2003                                        
                                                              Feb.     Mar.     Mar.     Feb.  
                                                              2004     2004     2003     2004  
                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                               
             Expenditure category                                                              
                                                                                               
 All items....................................     100.000    186.3    187.5      1.8      0.6 
 All items (1967=100).........................           -    558.2    561.6        -        - 
                                                                                               
  Food and beverages..........................      15.832    184.6    184.9      3.2      0.2 
   Food.......................................      14.801    184.1    184.4      3.2      0.2 
    Food at home..............................       8.558    184.0    184.3      3.7      0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products..............       1.293    204.4    204.9      1.4      0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........       2.433    179.4    179.2      8.7     -0.1 
     Dairy and related products...............        .889    172.2    171.9      2.9     -0.2 
     Fruits and vegetables....................       1.252    230.1    230.8      3.2      0.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                       
         materials............................        .933    141.4    140.6      0.2     -0.6 
     Other food at home.......................       1.759    163.8    165.1      1.5      0.8 
      Sugar and sweets........................        .311    163.9    163.2      0.4     -0.4 
      Fats and oils...........................        .255    162.4    166.0      5.4      2.2 
      Other foods.............................       1.192    178.9    180.4      1.0      0.8 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1)..........        .280    109.4    111.6      1.4      2.0 
    Food away from home.......................       6.243    185.5    185.8      2.7      0.2 
     Other food away from home (1)............        .391    124.4    124.4      3.3      0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages........................       1.031    189.9    190.8      2.3      0.5 
                                                                                               
  Housing.....................................      40.998    187.0    187.9      2.0      0.5 
   Shelter....................................      31.834    216.1    217.7      2.6      0.7 
    Rent of primary residence (2).............       6.516    208.8    209.2      2.5      0.2 
    Lodging away from home (1)................       2.693    120.9    128.8      7.6      6.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                         
        residence (2) (3).....................      22.261    222.9    223.4      2.1      0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1)......        .364    114.9    115.0      0.9      0.1 
   Fuels and utilities........................       4.674    156.8    155.2      0.5     -1.0 
    Fuels.....................................       3.787    139.4    137.6     -0.6     -1.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................        .220    155.2    152.7     -9.6     -1.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (2)..........       3.568    145.4    143.5      0.0     -1.3 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                       
        services (1)..........................        .887    121.8    122.2      5.4      0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations.......       4.489    125.7    125.7     -1.1      0.0 
    Household operations (1)..................        .822    123.7    123.9      1.9      0.2 
                                                                                               
  Apparel.....................................       4.058    119.1    123.6      0.0      3.8 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................       1.034    116.8    119.2     -1.5      2.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................       1.673    110.7    118.0      0.7      6.6 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............        .180    119.5    121.5     -2.1      1.7 
   Footwear...................................        .822    117.4    120.1      0.3      2.3 
                                                                                               
  Transportation..............................      17.035    158.9    160.6     -0.2      1.1 
   Private transportation.....................      15.870    155.0    156.7     -0.4      1.1 
    New and used motor vehicles (1)...........       7.674     94.4     94.1     -4.0     -0.3 
     New vehicles.............................       4.686    138.3    137.9     -1.0     -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks.....................       1.753    131.0    131.2    -11.6      0.2 
    Motor fuel................................       3.269    143.2    150.6      1.7      5.2 
     Gasoline (all types).....................       3.241    142.5    149.9      1.7      5.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment.........        .411    108.0    107.9      0.0     -0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......       1.426    198.2    198.5      2.2      0.2 
   Public transportation......................       1.165    208.0    209.7      1.7      0.8 
                                                                                               
  Medical care................................       6.067    306.1    307.6      4.6      0.5 
   Medical care commodities...................       1.390    266.7    267.3      2.3      0.2 
   Medical care services......................       4.677    316.7    318.5      5.3      0.6 
    Professional services.....................       2.833    268.0    269.8      4.1      0.7 
    Hospital and related services (2).........       1.515    413.0    414.0      6.5      0.2 
                                                                                               
  Recreation (1)..............................       5.897    108.5    108.8      1.3      0.3 
   Video and audio (1)........................       1.609    104.3    104.5      0.8      0.2 
                                                                                               
  Education and communication (1).............       5.780    111.3    111.1      1.6     -0.2 
   Education (1)..............................       2.985    140.5    140.6      7.2      0.1 
    Educational books and supplies............        .246    348.9    349.3      4.8      0.1 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.       2.740    404.5    404.8      7.5      0.1 
   Communication (1)..........................       2.794     88.0     87.7     -3.9     -0.3 
    Information and information processing (1)       2.600     86.0     85.6     -4.4     -0.5 
     Telephone services (1)...................       2.171     97.1     96.7     -3.0     -0.4 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                      
         services (4).........................        .429     15.2     15.1    -10.1     -0.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                        
          equipment (1).......................        .169     16.0     15.8    -16.8     -1.3 
                                                                                               
  Other goods and services....................       4.333    302.4    303.3      2.0      0.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products...............        .969    472.3    473.2      1.3      0.2 
   Personal care..............................       3.364    180.5    181.1      2.2      0.3 
    Personal care products....................        .668    154.5    154.5      0.8      0.0 
    Personal care services....................        .901    195.2    195.8      2.1      0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........       1.601    290.8    292.1      3.8      0.4 
                                                                                               
          Commodity and service group                                                          
                                                                                               
 Commodities..................................      40.254    152.4    153.7      0.4      0.9 
  Food and beverages..........................      15.832    184.6    184.9      3.2      0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........      24.422    134.4    136.2     -1.3      1.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........      13.706    151.6    155.4      0.6      2.5 
    Apparel...................................       4.058    119.1    123.6      0.0      3.8 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                      
        apparel...............................       9.648    175.6    179.1      0.7      2.0 
   Durables...................................      10.716    115.3    115.1     -3.7     -0.2 
 Services.....................................      59.746    220.0    221.0      2.7      0.5 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................      31.470    225.0    226.8      2.7      0.8 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1)........        .364    114.9    115.0      0.9      0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (2).............       3.568    145.4    143.5      0.0     -1.3 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                         
      services (1)............................        .887    121.8    122.2      5.4      0.3 
  Household operations (1)....................        .822    123.7    123.9      1.9      0.2 
  Transportation services.....................       6.774    219.5    219.8      2.6      0.1 
  Medical care services.......................       4.677    316.7    318.5      5.3      0.6 
  Other services..............................      11.183    259.4    259.7      2.8      0.1 
                                                                                               
                Special indexes                                                                
                                                                                               
 All items less food..........................      85.199    186.7    188.0      1.5      0.7 
 All items less shelter.......................      68.166    176.8    177.7      1.4      0.5 
 All items less medical care..................      93.933    180.2    181.3      1.6      0.6 
 Commodities less food........................      25.453    136.4    138.2     -1.1      1.3 
 Nondurables less food........................      14.737    153.8    157.5      0.6      2.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............      10.679    176.0    179.3      0.9      1.9 
 Nondurables..................................      29.538    168.2    170.3      1.9      1.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............      28.276    230.7    230.8      2.9      0.0 
 Services less medical care services..........      55.068    211.8    212.7      2.6      0.4 
 Energy.......................................       7.056    140.7    143.3      0.5      1.8 
 All items less energy........................      92.944    192.8    193.8      1.9      0.5 
  All items less food and energy..............      78.143    195.0    196.2      1.7      0.6 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                            
       commodities............................      21.965    139.5    140.4     -1.5      0.6 
    Energy commodities........................       3.488    144.6    151.5      0.9      4.8 
   Services less energy services..............      56.178    227.6    228.9      2.9      0.6 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                       
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................           -   $ .537   $ .533        -        - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                       
     (1967=$1.00).............................           -   $ .179   $ .178        -        - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum
 index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 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 (OW).  Old Weight 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    percent change to
                                                importance,      indexes       Mar. 2004 from- 
                Item and group                   December                                      
                                                   2003                                        
                                                              Feb.     Mar.     Mar.     Feb.  
                                                              2004     2004     2003     2004  
                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                               
             Expenditure category                                                              
                                                                                               
 All items....................................     100.000    181.9    182.9      1.4      0.5 
 All items (1967=100).........................           -    541.7    544.8        -        - 
                                                                                               
  Food and beverages..........................      17.410    184.1    184.4      3.3      0.2 
   Food.......................................      16.404    183.6    183.8      3.3      0.1 
    Food at home..............................       9.937    183.3    183.5      3.8      0.1 
     Cereals and bakery products..............       1.467    204.4    204.9      1.4      0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs...........       3.043    179.5    179.2      8.7     -0.2 
     Dairy and related products...............        .993    171.8    171.5      2.9     -0.2 
     Fruits and vegetables....................       1.355    228.1    228.6      2.9      0.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                       
         materials............................       1.096    140.8    140.1      0.4     -0.5 
     Other food at home.......................       1.982    163.4    164.7      1.6      0.8 
      Sugar and sweets........................        .335    163.5    162.8      0.4     -0.4 
      Fats and oils...........................        .306    162.4    165.9      5.2      2.2 
      Other foods.............................       1.341    179.3    180.7      1.0      0.8 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1)..........        .302    109.8    112.0      1.4      2.0 
    Food away from home.......................       6.466    185.4    185.7      2.6      0.2 
     Other food away from home (1)............        .280    124.4    124.4      3.1      0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages........................       1.007    190.0    191.0      2.2      0.5 
                                                                                               
  Housing.....................................      38.367    182.6    183.1      1.8      0.3 
   Shelter....................................      29.566    209.6    210.8      2.4      0.6 
    Rent of primary residence (2).............       8.532    207.9    208.4      2.5      0.2 
    Lodging away from home (1)................       1.525    120.6    128.6      6.8      6.6 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                         
        residence (2) (3).....................      19.185    202.3    202.7      2.0      0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1)......        .324    114.9    115.0      1.1      0.1 
   Fuels and utilities........................       5.017    156.2    154.7      0.7     -1.0 
    Fuels.....................................       4.111    138.3    136.5     -0.4     -1.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels.................        .206    154.8    152.1     -9.4     -1.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (2)..........       3.905    144.7    142.9      0.2     -1.2 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                       
        services (1)..........................        .906    121.9    122.4      5.5      0.4 
   Household furnishings and operations.......       3.784    121.4    121.4     -1.1      0.0 
    Household operations (1)..................        .360    125.3    125.6      2.5      0.2 
                                                                                               
  Apparel.....................................       4.483    118.0    122.4     -0.1      3.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel....................       1.147    116.3    118.9     -1.4      2.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel.................       1.744    109.4    116.8      0.8      6.8 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel.............        .230    120.9    122.9     -2.3      1.7 
   Footwear...................................       1.090    117.1    118.9     -0.6      1.5 
                                                                                               
  Transportation..............................      19.281    156.9    158.7     -1.0      1.1 
   Private transportation.....................      18.361    154.1    156.0     -1.1      1.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (1)...........       8.868     92.8     92.6     -5.5     -0.2 
     New vehicles.............................       4.524    139.6    139.1     -0.9     -0.4 
     Used cars and trucks.....................       3.283    131.7    132.0    -11.5      0.2 
    Motor fuel................................       4.029    143.6    151.0      1.7      5.2 
     Gasoline (all types).....................       3.995    143.0    150.4      1.8      5.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment.........        .521    107.5    107.4      0.2     -0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair......       1.469    200.0    200.2      2.1      0.1 
   Public transportation......................        .920    205.8    207.5      2.7      0.8 
                                                                                               
  Medical care................................       4.844    305.5    307.1      4.6      0.5 
   Medical care commodities...................       1.017    261.0    261.6      2.1      0.2 
   Medical care services......................       3.827    316.9    318.7      5.3      0.6 
    Professional services.....................       2.290    270.4    272.2      4.2      0.7 
    Hospital and related services (2).........       1.232    409.7    410.7      6.6      0.2 
                                                                                               
  Recreation (1)..............................       5.515    106.4    106.7      1.2      0.3 
   Video and audio (1)........................       1.766    103.5    103.7      0.8      0.2 
                                                                                               
  Education and communication (1).............       5.559    110.0    109.8      0.8     -0.2 
   Education (1)..............................       2.595    139.4    139.6      6.7      0.1 
    Educational books and supplies............        .226    349.3    349.9      4.8      0.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare.       2.369    393.3    393.7      6.9      0.1 
   Communication (1)..........................       2.965     89.6     89.2     -3.9     -0.4 
    Information and information processing (1)       2.807     88.1     87.8     -4.1     -0.3 
     Telephone services (1)...................       2.427     97.3     96.9     -3.0     -0.4 
     Information technology, hardware and                                                      
         services (4).........................        .381     15.7     15.6    -10.3     -0.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                        
          equipment (1).......................        .154     15.7     15.5    -16.7     -1.3 
                                                                                               
  Other goods and services....................       4.540    310.0    310.8      1.7      0.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products...............       1.508    473.3    474.1      1.1      0.2 
   Personal care..............................       3.033    179.1    179.6      2.0      0.3 
    Personal care products....................        .772    155.2    155.3      1.0      0.1 
    Personal care services....................        .901    195.8    196.4      2.1      0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services...........       1.193    290.0    291.4      3.7      0.5 
                                                                                               
          Commodity and service group                                                          
                                                                                               
 Commodities..................................      44.446    152.8    154.2      0.1      0.9 
  Food and beverages..........................      17.410    184.1    184.4      3.3      0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages.........      27.036    135.3    137.2     -1.7      1.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages........      15.078    154.2    158.2      0.6      2.6 
    Apparel...................................       4.483    118.0    122.4     -0.1      3.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                      
        apparel...............................      10.596    180.1    184.1      0.8      2.2 
   Durables...................................      11.957    114.3    114.1     -4.8     -0.2 
 Services.....................................      55.554    216.0    216.6      2.6      0.3 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................      29.242    201.9    203.0      2.4      0.5 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1)........        .324    114.9    115.0      1.1      0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (2).............       3.905    144.7    142.9      0.2     -1.2 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                         
      services (1)............................        .906    121.9    122.4      5.5      0.4 
  Household operations (1)....................        .360    125.3    125.6      2.5      0.2 
  Transportation services.....................       6.796    219.9    220.1      2.9      0.1 
  Medical care services.......................       3.827    316.9    318.7      5.3      0.6 
  Other services..............................      10.194    252.6    252.8      2.3      0.1 
                                                                                               
                Special indexes                                                                
                                                                                               
 All items less food..........................      83.596    181.4    182.6      1.1      0.7 
 All items less shelter.......................      70.434    173.7    174.7      1.0      0.6 
 All items less medical care..................      95.156    176.6    177.6      1.3      0.6 
 Commodities less food........................      28.042    137.2    139.1     -1.6      1.4 
 Nondurables less food........................      16.085    156.3    160.2      0.6      2.5 
 Nondurables less food and apparel............      11.602    180.3    184.0      0.9      2.1 
 Nondurables..................................      32.489    169.5    171.8      2.0      1.4 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............      26.312    204.9    204.9      2.7      0.0 
 Services less medical care services..........      51.727    208.2    208.7      2.3      0.2 
 Energy.......................................       8.139    140.3    143.2      0.7      2.1 
 All items less energy........................      91.861    187.9    188.7      1.5      0.4 
  All items less food and energy..............      75.457    189.1    190.1      1.1      0.5 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                            
       commodities............................      23.808    139.0    140.0     -2.2      0.7 
    Energy commodities........................       4.234    144.7    151.6      1.1      4.8 
   Services less energy services..............      51.649    223.9    224.8      2.7      0.4 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                       
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................           -   $ .550   $ .547        -        - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                       
     (1967=$1.00).............................           -   $ .185   $ .184        -        - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum
 index series were calculated using a geometric means estimator.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 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 3 (OW). Old Weight 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 
                     Area                        ng                                  Mar. 2004 from-       Feb. 2004 from-   
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule                                                                       
                                                 (1)   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Mar.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.   Dec.   Jan. 
                                                       2003   2004   2004   2004   2003   2004   2004   2003   2003   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average............................   M    184.3  185.3  186.3  187.5    1.8    1.2    0.6    1.7    1.1    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban..............................   M    194.9  195.9  196.7  198.3    2.7    1.2    0.8    2.6    0.9    0.4 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    197.1  197.9  198.7  200.4    3.0    1.3    0.9    2.7    0.8    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    115.0  115.9  116.5  117.3    2.0    1.2    0.7    2.4    1.3    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban................................   M    178.4  179.5  180.3  181.0    1.3    0.8    0.4    1.4    1.1    0.4 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    180.9  182.0  182.5  183.1    1.3    0.6    0.3    1.4    0.9    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    113.3  114.1  114.7  115.2    1.4    1.0    0.4    1.7    1.2    0.5 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    171.5  171.7  173.1  174.3    0.8    1.5    0.7    0.3    0.9    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban..................................   M    177.5  178.2  179.2  180.1    1.5    1.1    0.5    1.6    1.0    0.6 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    179.2  179.9  181.0  181.9    1.6    1.1    0.5    1.5    1.0    0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    113.3  113.8  114.3  115.0    1.5    1.1    0.6    1.6    0.9    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    175.1  175.4  176.8  177.6    1.3    1.3    0.5    1.1    1.0    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban...................................   M    188.3  189.5  191.1  192.4    1.6    1.5    0.7    1.6    1.5    0.8 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    190.6  191.9  193.6  194.9    1.5    1.6    0.7    1.4    1.6    0.9 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    115.2  116.0  117.0  117.9    2.2    1.6    0.8    2.2    1.6    0.9 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    168.7  169.6  170.5  171.6    1.9    1.2    0.6    1.8    1.1    0.5 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    113.8  114.6  115.2  115.9    1.7    1.1    0.6    1.9    1.2    0.5 
   D..........................................   M    176.5  176.9  177.9  179.0    1.2    1.2    0.6    1.1    0.8    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI...............   M    185.5  185.3  186.3  186.3    0.8    0.5    0.0    1.2    0.4    0.5 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA......   M    187.0  188.6  190.5  191.9    2.0    1.7    0.7    2.1    1.9    1.0 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA..............................   M    199.3  200.0  201.2  203.1    3.0    1.6    0.9    2.5    1.0    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT..........   1        -  208.0      -  208.7    2.9    0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH..........................   1        -  178.3      -  180.2    2.7    1.1      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX........................   1        -  176.1      -  178.2    0.8    1.2      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  117.2      -  118.2    2.0    0.9      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA..................................   2    179.0      -  181.1      -      -      -      -    0.2    1.2      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI..................   2    181.3      -  183.3      -      -      -      -    0.5    1.1      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX...............   2    164.1      -  168.5      -      -      -      -    2.7    2.7      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL....................   2    181.6      -  183.5      -      -      -      -    1.8    1.0      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD..............................   2    189.0      -  191.1      -      -      -      -    2.4    1.1      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA...........   2    195.3      -  199.0      -      -      -      -    0.7    1.9      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA.................   2    191.0      -  193.9      -      -      -      -    1.4    1.5      - 

   1 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas;  
   most other goods and services priced as indicated:                      
        M - Every month.                                                   
         1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.            
         2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.          
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 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: Local area indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than the
 national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error. As a result, local
 area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are similar.  Therefore, the
 Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average CPI for use in their escalator
 clauses. 
 
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4 (OW). Old Weight 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 
                     Area                        ng                                  Mar. 2004 from-       Feb. 
2004 from-   
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule                                                                       
                                                 (1)   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Mar.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.   Dec.   Jan. 
                                                       2003   2004   2004   2004   2003   2004   2004   2003   2003   2004 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average............................   M    179.9  180.9  181.9  182.9    1.4    1.1    0.5    1.5    1.1    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban..............................   M    191.7  192.5  193.5  194.9    2.7    1.2    0.7    2.6    0.9    0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    192.7  193.2  194.1  195.5    2.9    1.2    0.7    2.6    0.7    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    115.2  116.2  116.8  117.6    2.1    1.2    0.7    2.5    1.4    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban................................   M    173.4  174.4  175.2  175.8    1.0    0.8    0.3    1.1    1.0    0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    175.1  176.1  176.7  177.1    1.0    0.6    0.2    1.2    0.9    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    112.4  113.3  113.8  114.2    1.0    0.8    0.4    1.2    1.2    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    169.1  169.3  170.6  171.6    0.6    1.4    0.6    0.3    0.9    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban..................................   M    174.2  175.0  175.8  176.8    1.0    1.0    0.6    1.1    0.9    0.5 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    176.4  177.2  178.2  179.0    1.4    1.0    0.4    1.4    1.0    0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    111.8  112.3  112.7  113.4    0.8    1.0    0.6    0.9    0.8    0.4 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000)................................   M    174.2  174.5  175.9  176.9    0.7    1.4    0.6    0.6    1.0    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban...................................   M    183.3  184.3  185.9  187.2    1.4    1.6    0.7    1.5    1.4    0.9 
   Size A - More than 1,500,000...............   M    183.9  185.1  186.7  188.1    1.2    1.6    0.7    1.2    1.5    0.9 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    114.8  115.4  116.3  117.2    1.8    1.6    0.8    2.0    1.3    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    166.8  167.6  168.6  169.5    1.6    1.1    0.5    1.7    1.1    0.6 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    112.9  113.6  114.2  114.9    1.2    1.1    0.6    1.4    1.2    0.5 
   D..........................................   M    174.3  174.7  175.8  176.8    0.7    1.2    0.6    0.6    0.9    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI...............   M    178.8  178.9  180.0  179.9    0.5    0.6   -0.1    1.1    0.7    0.6 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA......   M    180.2  181.6  183.5  185.0    1.9    1.9    0.8    2.2    1.8    1.0 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA..............................   M    194.6  195.0  196.2  197.9    3.0    1.5    0.9    2.6    0.8    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT..........   1        -  206.3      -  207.4    2.5    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH..........................   1        -  169.4      -  170.6    2.1    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX........................   1        -  175.8      -  178.2    1.0    1.4      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  116.6      -  117.5    1.7    0.8      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA..................................   2    176.6      -  178.6      -      -      -      -    0.3    1.1      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI..................   2    175.9      -  177.8      -      -      -      -    0.6    1.1      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX...............   2    162.2      -  166.1      -      -      -      -    2.7    2.4      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL....................   2    178.9      -  181.0      -      -      -      -    1.7    1.2      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD..............................   2    189.0      -  190.7      -      -      -      -    2.6    0.9      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA...........   2    191.1      -  194.8      -      -      -      -    0.6    1.9      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA.................   2    185.3      -  187.7      -      -      -      -    0.8    1.3      - 

   1 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas;  
   most other goods and services priced as indicated:                      
        M - Every month.                                                   
         1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.            
         2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.          
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 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: Local area indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than the
 national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error. As a result, local
 area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are similar.  Therefore, the
 Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average CPI for use in their escalator
 clauses. 
 
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.