TEXT
Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service
Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Selected areas, all items index
Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Selected areas, all items index

 
 
 
 
 
FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
    Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-96-331
CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
    INFORMATION:       (202) 606-7828      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      Tuesday, August 13, 1996
 
                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  JULY 1996
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
0.2 percent before seasonal adjustment in July to a level of 157.0 (1982-
84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in July, the CPI-U
increased 3.0 percent.
 
     The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPI-W) rose 0.1 percent in July, prior to seasonal adjustment.
The July 1996 CPI-W level of 154.3 was 2.9 percent higher than the index
in July 1995.
 
CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.3 percent in July, following a 0.1
percent increase in June.  The energy index, which turned down in June
after increasing 9.4 percent in the preceding 6-month period, declined
0.4 percent in July.  The index for petroleum-based energy declined 2.0
percent in July, while the index for energy services rose 1.1 percent.
The food index rose 0.5 percent in July, reflecting, in part, another
sharp increase in prices for dairy products.  Excluding food and energy,
the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent, following a 0.2 percent increase in June.
The slightly larger advance in July was due to a jump in shelter costs,
which partially resulted from a 2.3 percent rise in the cost of lodging
while out of town.
 
Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                  Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                         Compound  adjusted
    Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
     Category                      1996                3-mos. ended  ended
                    Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July   July'96   July'96
All Items            .4    .2   .4   .4   .3   .1   .3    2.6       3.0
 Food and beverages  .1    .1   .5   .3   .1   .7   .5    5.1       3.4
 Housing             .3    .2   .3   .3   .2   .1   .4    2.7       2.9
 Apparel and upkeep  .7   -.9   .6  -.4   .1  -.4  -.1   -1.5        .0
 Transportation      .7    .5   .7  1.1   .7  -.4  -.2     .3       2.4
 Medical care        .4    .2   .3   .3   .3   .3   .3    3.4       3.6
 Entertainment       .3    .8   .1  -.1   .4   .3   .1    2.8       3.5
 Other goods
  and services       .2    .4   .4   .3   .4   .2   .4    4.2       4.3
Special Indexes:
 Energy             1.9    .4  1.4  3.2  1.1 -2.2  -.4   -6.0       4.1
 Food                .1    .1   .6   .3   .1   .7   .5    5.1       3.4
 All items less
  food and energy    .3    .2   .3   .1   .2   .2   .3    2.9       2.7
 
     See page 4 for a note on the implementation of improvements in CPI
item substitution procedures and the announcement of a change in the
hospital and related service component of the CPI.
 
 
     During the first 7 months of 1996, consumer prices rose at a 3.5
percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an
increase of 2.5 percent for all of 1995.  Increases in the food and
energy components, which acted as moderating influences on overall
consumer price movements throughout most of the past 5 years, have been
responsible for the acceleration thus far in 1996.  Energy costs, which
declined last year, have increased at a 9.6 percent rate, with petroleum-
based energy advancing at a 15.7 SAAR.  The food index has risen at a
4.1 percent annual rate in the first 7 months after increasing 2.1
percent in all of 1995.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced
at a 3.0 percent rate in the first 7 months of 1996, the same rate as
the increase for all of 1995.
 
     The food and beverage index rose 0.5 percent in July.  The index
for grocery store foods, which increased 1.0 percent in June, advanced
0.5 percent in July.  The index for dairy products increased 1.5
percent, the same as in June.  The indexes for fruits and vegetables and
for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, which increased 2.0 and 1.5 percent,
respectively, in June, each decelerated in July, advancing 0.5 and 0.6
percent, respectively. In the former group, the index for fresh fruit
prices fell 1.3 percent, while the indexes for fresh vegetables and for
processed fruits and vegetables increased 2.1 and 1.3 percent,
respectively.  Within the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs,
price increases for beef, pork, and poultry each slowed in July,
advancing 0.8, 0.3, and 0.9 percent, respectively. The other two major
grocery store food indexes--cereal and bakery products and other food at
home--each rose 0.2 percent in July.  The other two components of the
food and beverage index--restaurant meals and alcoholic beverages--
increased 0.3 and 0.1 percent, respectively, in July.
 
     The housing component rose 0.4 percent in July after advancing 0.1
percent in June, reflecting a jump in shelter costs and an upturn in the
index for fuel and other utilities.  Shelter costs advanced 0.5 percent
in July, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the 5 preceding
months.  Within shelter, renters' costs rose 0.8 percent, homeowners'
costs rose 0.3 percent, and maintenance and repair costs increased 0.4
percent.  The rise in renters' costs reflects a 2.3 percent increase in
the index for lodging while out of town; residential rents rose 0.3
percent.  The index for fuel and other utilities, which declined 0.2
percent in June, increased 0.5 percent in July.  The index for household
fuels increased 0.9 percent in July, while the index for other utilities
and public services fell 0.1 percent.  Among household fuels, the index
for electricity increased 1.5 percent after declining 1.1 percent in
June.  The index for natural gas rose 0.4 percent, while the index for
fuel oil fell 2.0 percent.  The index for household furnishings and
operation rose 0.1 percent in July, the same as in June.
 
     The transportation index declined for the second consecutive month-
-down 0.2 percent in July--primarily as a result of a second consecutive
decrease in the index for motor fuels.  The index for gasoline, which
increased 18.2 percent in the period from November 1995 through May
1996, prior to a 3.2 percent drop in June, fell 2.7 percent in July.  As
of July, the gasoline index was 9.9 percent below its peak level of
December 1990.  The indexes for new car prices and for automobile
finance charges increased 0.2 and 0.9 percent, respectively.  (Prior to
seasonal adjustment, new car prices fell 0.2 percent.)  The index for
used cars declined for the fourth consecutive month--down 0.1 percent.
Public transportation costs declined 0.5 percent, largely as a result of
a 1.3 percent decrease in airline fares.
 
     The index for apparel and upkeep, which declined 0.4 percent in
June, decreased 0.1 percent in July.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
clothing prices fell 2.1 percent, reflecting large seasonal price
declines for spring and summer wear.)
 
     Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in July to a level 3.6 percent
above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--was unchanged in
July.  The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent in July.
Charges for professional services and hospital and related services
increased 0.4 and 0.2 percent, respectively.
 
     Entertainment costs increased 0.1 percent in July.  Increases in
the indexes for fees for participant sports and for club memberships--up
1.3 and 0.7 percent, respectively--were largely offset by declines in
prices for sporting goods and equipment and in charges for admissions to
movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events--down 1.1 and 0.4
percent, respectively.
 
     The index for other goods and services increased 0.4 percent in
July, following a 0.2 percent rise in June.  An upturn in the index for
personal care--toilet goods, personal care appliances, and personal care
services--coupled with a larger increase in the index for tobacco and
smoking products, was primarily responsible for the larger advance of
this major group in July.
 
 
CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
Clerical Workers rose 0.2 percent in July.
 
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                      1996                3-mos. ended  ended
                    Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July   July '96  July '96
All Items            .4    .2   .5   .4   .3   .1   .2    2.4       2.9
 Food and beverages  .1    .1   .5   .3   .1   .7   .4    4.8       3.4
 Housing             .3    .1   .3   .3   .2   .1   .4    2.7       2.9
 Apparel and upkeep  .7   -.7   .6  -.2   .2  -.6   .0   -1.8        .4
 Transportation      .9    .3   .9  1.1   .6  -.6  -.4   -1.7       2.5
 Medical care        .4    .2   .2   .3   .3   .3   .3    3.6       3.6
 Entertainment       .4    .8   .0  -.1   .4   .3   .0    2.9       3.4
 Other goods
  and services       .2    .4   .3   .3   .4   .1   .4    3.8       4.1
Special Indexes:
 Energy             2.1    .2  1.8  3.3  1.1 -2.0  -.9   -7.3       4.3
 Food                .1    .1   .6   .3   .1   .8   .5    5.4       3.5
 All items less
  food and energy    .3    .2   .3   .1   .2   .1   .2    2.5       2.7
 
 
 
 
 
     Consumer Price Index data for August are scheduled for release on
Friday, September 13, 1996, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
Changing the Hospital and Related Services Component of the Consumer
Price Index
 
     Effective with the release of data for January 1997, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS) will introduce improvements in the way in which
the Hospital and related services component of the Consumer Price Index
(CPI) is calculated.  Two complementary changes will be made:
 
     Items within the hospital and related services component will be
reclassified into two main groups, or item strata--Hospital services and
Nursing home services, instead of the current three--Hospital rooms,
Other inpatient services, and Hospital outpatient services.
     The definition of the specific items selected for pricing within
individual hospitals will be broadened substantially.  These newly
defined items will be reselected using new procedures in the majority of
the hospitals from which price data currently are collected for the CPI.
 
     Additional information on these changes will be published in the
June 1996 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet.  (Go to
gopher://stats.bls.gov and access
/pub/special.requests/cpi/hospital.txt.)  This information may also be
obtained by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of
Consumer Prices and Price Indexes,
2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3260, Washington, DC 20212, or by
telephoning Elaine Cardenas at (202) 606-6985 ext. 251
 
 
 
Improving the Procedures for Substitute Items
 
Effective with the Consumer Price Index for July 1996, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics has changed the way it determines the weight of
replacement items that enter the sample during certain types of item
substitutions.  Along with earlier improvements in CPI sample rotation
procedures, these changes will complete the process of correcting a
technical problem that ties an item's weight to its expected price
change.
 
When an outlet stops selling a CPI sample item, or other circumstances
make it necessary or desirable for the CPI to replace an item it has
been pricing, the CPI field agent finds a replacement item.  The object
of the substitution process is to find the item in the outlet that is
most similar to the one the CPI had been following.   About 3.5 percent
of all pricings result in substitutions.  Whenever there is a
substitution, a CPI analyst determines if the new item is comparable to,
that is, not significantly different from, the item it replaces.   If
the item is judged comparable, there is no break in the series or change
in the item's weight.  About 55 percent of substitutions are comparable.
If the substitute is not comparable to the previous item, the analyst
may be able to determine the value of the difference and make a quality
adjustment to keep the series continuous.  CPI analysts adjust for
quality in about 15 percent of the substitutions.  However, about 30
percent of the substitutes are neither comparable nor adjustable.   In
this case, the CPI had started the item's series anew and recalculated
its base period price, and hence the implicit quantity weight,  using
the price of the substitute item.  This created a situation in which the
item's weight was not independent of its probability of price change.
 
Effective with the CPI for July 1996, the CPI will--except in rare and
extreme cases--no longer recalculate the base period price of a
noncomparable substitute item.  Instead, the CPI will use the originally
calculated weight for the item throughout the life of that item series.
For more details, see "Improving CPI Item Substitution Procedures" in
the July 1996 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
 
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)
 
 
                                              Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                             importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                              December     June      July       July 1996 from-     Apr. to     May to    June to
                                                1995       1996      1996    July 1995  June 1996     May        June       July
 
            Expenditure category
 
All items ..................................   100.000     156.7     157.0        3.0        0.2        0.3        0.1        0.3
All items (1967=100) .......................      -        469.5     470.4        -          -          -          -          -
 
  Food and beverages .......................    17.332     153.1     153.6        3.4         .3         .1         .7         .5
    Food ...................................    15.766     152.6     153.2        3.4         .4         .1         .7         .5
      Food at home .........................     9.880     153.4     154.1        4.0         .5         .0        1.0         .5
        Cereals and bakery products ........     1.473     174.2     174.8        3.9         .3         .6         .1         .2
        Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     2.936     143.1     143.9        4.8         .6         .1        1.5         .6
        Dairy products .....................     1.169     139.8     142.0        6.8        1.6         .5        1.5        1.5
        Fruits and vegetables ..............     1.936     183.4     184.0        4.1         .3        -.8        2.0         .5
        Other food at home .................     2.365     142.9     142.9        1.6         .0         .1         .1         .2
          Sugar and sweets .................      .327     143.7     144.6        4.7         .6         .8         .5         .5
          Fats and oils ....................      .248     140.8     140.5        1.8        -.2         .3         .7        -.6
          Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .763     128.4     127.5       -2.5        -.7        -.4        -.6        -.1
          Other prepared food ..............     1.027     156.2     156.8        3.6         .4         .1         .6         .4
      Food away from home ..................     5.886     152.3     152.8        2.5         .3         .3         .2         .3
    Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.566     158.6     158.5        3.1        -.1         .3         .2         .1
 
  Housing ..................................    41.346     152.7     153.6        2.9         .6         .2         .1         .4
    Shelter ................................    28.289     170.7     171.9        3.3         .7         .2         .2         .5
      Renters' costs 1/ ....................     7.988     180.0     183.0        3.6        1.7         .2         .2         .8
        Rent, residential ..................     5.762     161.7     162.2        2.7         .3         .3         .2         .3
        Other renters' costs ...............     2.227     214.9     225.4        5.6        4.9        -.3         .0        2.1
      Homeowners' costs 1/ .................    20.102     176.0     176.6        3.2         .3         .3         .2         .3
        Owners' equivalent rent 1/ .........    19.716     176.3     176.9        3.2         .3         .3         .1         .3
        Household insurance 1/ .............      .386     160.7     162.0        2.3         .8         .1         .5         .5
      Maintenance and repairs 2/ ...........      .199     138.8     139.4        3.2         .4         .6         .0         .4
        Maintenance and repair services 2/ .      .122     144.6     146.3        4.6        1.2         .6        -.1        1.2
        Maintenance and repair
            commodities 2/ .................      .077     130.9     130.1        1.1        -.6         .7         .0        -.6
    Fuel and other utilities ...............     7.014     128.4     129.0        3.1         .5         .3        -.2         .5
      Fuels ................................     3.792     116.5     117.4        3.3         .8        -.1        -.9         .9
        Fuel oil and other household fuel
            commodities ....................      .356      94.6      92.3        6.0       -2.4       -1.8       -4.1       -1.6
        Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
            services).......................     3.436     124.1     125.6        3.0        1.2         .1        -.5        1.1
      Other utilities and public
          services 2/ ......................     3.222     157.6     157.5        2.9        -.1        1.0         .4        -.1
    Household furnishings and operation ....     6.043     124.5     124.7        1.4         .2        -.2         .1         .1
      Housefurnishings .....................     3.445     111.2     111.2         .1         .0        -.5         .1        -.3
      Housekeeping supplies ................     1.116     140.8     141.1        2.7         .2        -.4        -.2         .4
      Housekeeping services ................     1.482     147.8     148.6        3.5         .5         .5         .3         .5
 
  Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.516     130.8     128.3         .0       -1.9         .1        -.4        -.1
    Apparel commodities ....................     4.967     127.2     124.5        -.2       -2.1         .0        -.5        -.1
      Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.303     127.1     125.1        1.4       -1.6         .1        -.4        -.2
      Women's and girls' apparel............     2.195     122.8     118.5       -2.1       -3.5         .2        -.8         .0
      Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ....      .195     129.1     125.7        2.2       -2.6       -2.5       -1.0       -2.6
      Footwear .............................      .732     127.1     125.6        1.9       -1.2         .2         .5        -.1
      Other apparel commodities ............      .542     150.8     151.5        -.2         .5        -.3        -.4         .7
    Apparel services 2/ ....................      .550     159.7     159.9        1.7         .1         .4         .2         .1
 
  Transportation ...........................    16.953     144.0     143.5        2.4        -.3         .7        -.4        -.2
    Private transportation .................    15.430     141.0     140.5        2.6        -.4         .6        -.6        -.2
      New vehicles .........................     5.027     143.5     143.2        2.1        -.2         .2         .3         .2
        New cars ...........................     4.015     141.3     141.0        2.0        -.2         .1         .4         .2
      Used cars ............................     1.342     157.2     156.9        -.4        -.2        -.9       -1.1        -.1
      Motor fuel ...........................     2.908     111.2     108.9        5.1       -2.1        2.3       -3.6       -1.9
        Gasoline ...........................      -        111.0     108.8        4.9       -2.0        2.5       -3.2       -2.7
      Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.535     157.7     158.1        2.7         .3         .3         .2         .3
      Other private transportation .........     4.618     173.1     173.5        2.3         .2         .2         .4         .3
        Other private transportation
            commodities ....................      .608     105.2     104.7        -.1        -.5        -.2         .5        -.5
        Other private transportation
            services .......................     4.010     189.1     189.7        2.7         .3         .3         .4         .4
    Public transportation ..................     1.523     182.2     182.7         .5         .3        2.0        2.0        -.5
 
  Medical care .............................     7.362     227.8     228.7        3.6         .4         .3         .3         .3
    Medical care commodities ...............     1.282     210.5     211.0        3.2         .2         .2         .4         .0
    Medical care services ..................     6.081     231.9     232.9        3.7         .4         .3         .2         .3
      Professional medical services ........     3.465     207.9     208.7        3.5         .4         .3         .1         .4
 
  Entertainment ............................     4.367     159.0     159.0        3.5         .0         .4         .3         .1
    Entertainment commodities ..............     1.975     142.9     142.9        3.2         .0         .2         .2         .0
    Entertainment services .................     2.392     177.9     178.0        3.9         .1         .6         .3         .2
 
  Other goods and services .................     7.123     214.0     214.6        4.3         .3         .4         .2         .4
    Tobacco and smoking products ...........     1.610     232.9     233.3        3.1         .2         .5         .1         .4
    Personal care 2/ .......................     1.170     149.6     150.0        2.1         .3         .4        -.5         .3
      Toilet goods and personal care
          appliances 2/ ....................      .613     143.9     144.4        1.2         .3         .8       -1.0         .3
      Personal care services 2/ ............      .557     155.9     156.3        3.2         .3         .1         .1         .3
    Personal and educational expenses ......     4.342     245.1     245.8        5.4         .3         .4         .4         .4
      School books and supplies ............      .258     224.7     224.7        5.5         .0         .1         .1         .3
      Personal and educational services ....     4.084     246.8     247.6        5.3         .3         .4         .4         .4
 
        Commodity and service group
 
All items ..................................   100.000     156.7     157.0        3.0         .2         .3         .1         .3
  Commodities ..............................    42.916     139.9     139.5        2.4        -.3         .1        -.1         .1
    Food and beverages .....................    17.332     153.1     153.6        3.4         .3         .1         .7         .5
    Commodities less food and beverages ....    25.584     131.9     130.9        1.9        -.8         .2        -.6        -.2
      Nondurables less food and beverages ..    15.075     133.7     132.3        2.5       -1.0         .4       -1.0        -.4
        Apparel commodities ................     4.967     127.2     124.5        -.2       -2.1         .0        -.5        -.1
        Nondurables less food, beverages,
            and apparel ....................    10.108     140.1     139.3        3.7        -.6         .6       -1.2        -.6
      Durables .............................    10.509     129.3     129.1        1.0        -.2        -.2         .1        -.1
  Services .................................    57.084     173.9     174.8        3.3         .5         .3         .2         .5
    Rent of shelter 1/ .....................    27.671     177.6     178.9        3.3         .7         .3         .2         .4
    Household services less rent of
        shelter 1/ .........................     8.681     143.1     143.9        3.0         .6         .7        -.1         .5
    Transportation services ................     7.068     179.8     180.3        2.2         .3         .6         .7         .2
    Medical care services ..................     6.081     231.9     232.9        3.7         .4         .3         .2         .3
    Other services .........................     7.583     200.1     200.6        4.4         .2         .4         .3         .3
 
              Special indexes
 
All items less food ........................    84.234     157.5     157.7        2.8         .1         .3         .0         .2
All items less shelter .....................    71.711     152.8     152.8        2.8         .0         .3         .1         .2
All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........    79.898     157.9     158.1        2.9         .1         .3         .1         .3
All items less medical care ................    92.638     152.7     153.0        2.9         .2         .3         .1         .3
Commodities less food ......................    27.150     133.0     132.0        1.9        -.8         .2        -.5        -.2
Nondurables less food ......................    16.641     135.1     133.8        2.5       -1.0         .4        -.9        -.4
Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    11.674     140.9     140.2        3.6        -.5         .5        -.8        -.6
Nondurables ................................    32.407     143.6     143.1        2.9        -.3         .3        -.1         .1
Services less rent of shelter 1/ ...........    29.414     182.4     183.1        3.3         .4         .4         .2         .4
Services less medical care services ........    51.004     168.5     169.4        3.2         .5         .3         .2         .5
Energy .....................................     6.700     113.1     112.5        4.1        -.5        1.1       -2.2        -.4
All items less energy ......................    93.300     162.7     163.1        2.9         .2         .2         .2         .3
  All items less food and energy ...........    77.534     165.2     165.5        2.7         .2         .2         .2         .3
    Commodities less food and
        energy commodities .................    23.885     141.0     140.3        1.4        -.5         .0         .0         .0
      Energy commodities ...................     3.264     109.5     107.2        5.2       -2.1        1.8       -3.7       -2.0
    Services less energy services ..........    53.648     179.0     179.9        3.3         .5         .3         .3         .3
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
  1982-84=$1.00 2/ .........................      -        $.638     $.637       -2.9        -.2        -.2        -.2        -.2
  1967=$1.00 2/ ............................      -         .213      .213        -          -          -          -          -
 
 
 
   1/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
   -      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
                                                                                        3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                 Apr.     May    June    July    Oct.    Jan.    Apr.    July     Jan.      July
                                                 1996    1996    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1996     1996      1996
 
              Expenditure category
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.6     2.6     3.9     2.6      2.6       3.3
 
   Food and beverages .........................   152.2   152.4   153.4   154.1     3.5     1.1     4.0     5.1      2.3       4.6
     Food .....................................   151.9   152.0   153.1   153.8     3.5      .8     4.3     5.1      2.2       4.7
       Food at home ...........................   152.4   152.4   154.0   154.8     4.1      .3     5.1     6.4      2.2       5.8
         Cereals and bakery products ..........   172.8   173.8   173.9   174.3     3.4     6.5     2.3     3.5      4.9       2.9
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   141.5   141.6   143.7   144.5     9.0     3.5    -1.7     8.8      6.2       3.4
         Dairy products .......................   137.1   137.8   139.9   142.0     2.1     5.5     5.1    15.1      3.8      10.0
         Fruits and vegetables ................   183.7   182.2   185.9   186.9     3.2   -12.2    21.1     7.2     -4.8      13.9
         Other food at home ...................   142.5   142.6   142.8   143.1      .6     1.1     2.9     1.7       .9       2.3
           Sugar and sweets ...................   142.0   143.1   143.8   144.5     2.9     7.4     1.7     7.2      5.1       4.4
           Fats and oils ......................   139.4   139.8   140.8   139.9     2.3     2.9      .3     1.4      2.6        .9
           Nonalcoholic beverages .............   129.7   129.2   128.4   128.3    -2.4    -3.9      .6    -4.2     -3.2      -1.8
           Other prepared food ................   155.2   155.3   156.2   156.8     1.9     2.7     5.6     4.2      2.3       4.9
       Food away from home ....................   151.6   152.0   152.3   152.8     2.4     1.6     2.7     3.2      2.0       2.9
     Alcoholic beverages ......................   157.5   158.0   158.3   158.5     3.2     2.3     4.2     2.6      2.7       3.4
 
   Housing ....................................   151.9   152.2   152.3   152.9     3.0     3.2     2.9     2.7      3.1       2.8
     Shelter ..................................   169.7   170.1   170.4   171.2     3.2     3.6     2.6     3.6      3.4       3.1
       Renters' costs 1/ ......................   178.1   178.4   178.7   180.2     2.8     3.5     3.2     4.8      3.1       4.0
         Rent, residential ....................   160.9   161.4   161.8   162.3     2.0     3.1     2.3     3.5      2.5       2.9
         Other renters' costs .................   213.3   212.7   212.6   217.1     4.5     4.5     5.8     7.3      4.5       6.6
       Homeowners' costs 1/ ...................   175.4   175.9   176.2   176.7     3.5     3.5     2.5     3.0      3.5       2.8
         Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ...........   175.8   176.3   176.5   177.1     3.5     3.7     2.5     3.0      3.6       2.8
         Household insurance 1/ ...............   159.7   159.8   160.6   161.4    -1.5     2.6     4.1     4.3       .5       4.2
       Maintenance and repairs 2/ .............   138.0   138.8   138.8   139.4     3.6      .0     5.1     4.1      1.8       4.6
         Maintenance and repair services 2/ ...   143.8   144.7   144.6   146.3     5.8      .8     4.9     7.1      3.3       6.0
         Maintenance and repair commodities 2/    130.0   130.9   130.9   130.1      .6     -.9     4.4      .3      -.2       2.3
     Fuel and other utilities .................   126.8   127.2   126.9   127.5     1.6     2.9     5.9     2.2      2.3       4.0
       Fuels ..................................   114.3   114.2   113.2   114.2     2.2     3.3     8.5     -.3      2.7       4.0
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ......................   101.2    99.4    95.3    93.8    -3.6    40.0    26.1   -26.2     16.2      -3.5
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).........................   120.9   121.0   120.4   121.7     2.7      .0     6.9     2.7      1.4       4.8
       Other utilities and public services 2/ .   155.4   156.9   157.6   157.5     1.3     2.4     2.6     5.5      1.8       4.1
     Household furnishings and operation ......   124.5   124.3   124.4   124.5     3.3     2.0      .3      .0      2.6        .2
       Housefurnishings .......................   111.7   111.1   111.2   110.9     2.9      .7     -.7    -2.8      1.8      -1.8
       Housekeeping supplies ..................   141.4   140.8   140.5   141.1     5.0     4.1     2.6     -.8      4.6        .9
       Housekeeping services ..................   146.5   147.3   147.8   148.6     3.1     2.5     2.2     5.9      2.8       4.0
 
   Apparel and upkeep .........................   132.2   132.3   131.8   131.7      .9     3.1    -2.7    -1.5      2.0      -2.1
     Apparel commodities ......................   128.7   128.7   128.1   128.0     1.3     2.8    -3.0    -2.2      2.0      -2.6
       Men's and boys' apparel ................   128.1   128.2   127.7   127.4     1.6     3.5     2.5    -2.2      2.6        .2
       Women's and girls' apparel .............   125.2   125.5   124.5   124.5    -1.6     5.8    -9.9    -2.2      2.1      -6.1
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ......   133.7   130.4   129.1   125.7    28.7     1.5     6.9   -21.9     14.3      -8.6
       Footwear ...............................   126.5   126.7   127.3   127.2     4.2    -5.0     6.2     2.2      -.5       4.2
       Other apparel commodities ..............   151.8   151.3   150.7   151.8     -.8     3.2    -3.1      .0      1.2      -1.6
     Apparel services 2/.......................   158.8   159.4   159.7   159.9     -.5     3.1     1.5     2.8      1.3       2.2
 
   Transportation .............................   143.3   144.3   143.7   143.4    -1.4     1.4     9.8      .3       .0       4.9
     Private transportation ...................   140.8   141.6   140.7   140.4     -.9     3.9     9.0    -1.1      1.5       3.8
       New vehicles ...........................   142.9   143.2   143.7   144.0     2.0      .8     2.3     3.1      1.4       2.7
         New cars .............................   140.7   140.8   141.4   141.7     1.4     1.2     2.0     2.9      1.3       2.4
       Used cars ..............................   159.0   157.6   155.9   155.7     -.8     7.1      .8    -8.0      3.1      -3.7
       Motor fuel .............................   110.3   112.8   108.7   106.6   -14.5    16.5    41.1   -12.8      -.2      11.0
         Gasoline .............................   109.8   112.5   108.9   106.0   -14.6    16.6    40.2   -13.1      -.2      10.4
       Maintenance and repairs ................   157.1   157.5   157.8   158.2     2.9     3.4     1.5     2.8      3.1       2.2
       Other private transportation ...........   172.5   172.9   173.6   174.1     3.8     -.5     2.1     3.8      1.7       2.9
         Other private transportation
             commodities ......................   105.1   104.9   105.4   104.9      .8     -.8      .4     -.8       .0       -.2
         Other private transportation
             services .........................   188.6   189.1   189.9   190.6     4.4     -.6     2.6     4.3      1.8       3.4
     Public transportation ....................   177.3   180.8   184.4   183.5    -3.9   -22.4    19.4    14.7    -13.6      17.1
 
   Medical care ...............................   227.0   227.7   228.3   228.9     3.9     4.2     2.9     3.4      4.0       3.1
     Medical care commodities .................   209.4   209.9   210.7   210.7     2.8     3.9     3.3     2.5      3.4       2.9
     Medical care services ....................   230.8   231.6   232.1   232.9     4.2     4.3     2.6     3.7      4.2       3.2
       Professional medical services ..........   206.8   207.5   207.7   208.5     3.6     4.2     3.2     3.3      3.9       3.2
 
   Entertainment ..............................   158.2   158.8   159.2   159.3     3.7     4.2     3.4     2.8      3.9       3.1
     Entertainment commodities ................   142.5   142.8   143.1   143.1     3.2     4.7     3.4     1.7      3.9       2.6
     Entertainment services ...................   176.6   177.6   178.2   178.5     4.0     3.7     3.0     4.4      3.9       3.7
 
   Other goods and services ...................   214.6   215.5   215.9   216.8     5.1     3.5     4.6     4.2      4.3       4.4
     Tobacco and smoking products .............   230.7   231.9   232.2   233.1     5.4     -.9     4.1     4.2      2.2       4.2
     Personal care 2/ .........................   149.7   150.3   149.6   150.0     4.4     1.6     1.6      .8      3.0       1.2
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 2/ ......................   144.2   145.3   143.9   144.4     4.9    -1.9     1.4      .6      1.4       1.0
       Personal care services 2/ ..............   155.7   155.8   155.9   156.3     4.3     5.3     1.8     1.6      4.8       1.7
     Personal and educational expenses ........   245.8   246.8   247.8   248.8     5.0     5.6     5.6     5.0      5.3       5.3
       School books and supplies ..............   225.2   225.4   225.6   226.2     6.3     8.5     5.7     1.8      7.4       3.7
       Personal and educational services ......   247.3   248.3   249.3   250.4     5.0     5.4     5.7     5.1      5.2       5.4
 
          Commodity and service group
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.6     2.6     3.9     2.6      2.6       3.3
   Commodities ................................   139.8   140.0   139.9   140.0     1.5     2.9     5.0      .6      2.2       2.8
     Food and beverages .......................   152.2   152.4   153.4   154.1     3.5     1.1     4.0     5.1      2.3       4.6
     Commodities less food and beverages ......   132.2   132.5   131.7   131.4      .3     4.1     5.6    -2.4      2.2       1.5
       Nondurables less food and beverages ....   134.1   134.7   133.3   132.8    -1.2     7.3     7.8    -3.8      3.0       1.8
         Apparel commodities ..................   128.7   128.7   128.1   128.0     1.3     2.8    -3.0    -2.2      2.0      -2.6
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ......................   140.2   141.0   139.3   138.4    -2.4     8.4    15.3    -5.0      2.9       4.6
       Durables ...............................   129.4   129.2   129.3   129.2     1.3     1.9     1.2     -.6      1.6        .3
   Services ...................................   172.9   173.5   173.9   174.7     3.1     2.4     3.5     4.2      2.7       3.9
     Rent of shelter 1/ .......................   176.8   177.3   177.6   178.3     3.3     3.5     2.8     3.4      3.4       3.1
     Household services less rent
         of shelter 1/ ........................   140.8   141.8   141.7   142.4     2.3     1.2     4.1     4.6      1.7       4.4
     Transportation services ..................   178.3   179.4   180.7   181.0     2.3    -5.3     6.1     6.2     -1.6       6.1
     Medical care services ....................   230.8   231.6   232.1   232.9     4.2     4.3     2.6     3.7      4.2       3.2
     Other services ...........................   200.4   201.2   201.9   202.5     4.2     4.8     4.3     4.3      4.5       4.3
 
                Special indexes
 
 All items less food ..........................   156.9   157.4   157.4   157.7     2.4     2.9     4.2     2.1      2.6       3.1
 All items less shelter .......................   152.2   152.7   152.8   153.1     2.2     2.2     4.6     2.4      2.2       3.5
 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ..........   157.3   157.7   157.9   158.3     2.4     2.3     4.4     2.6      2.4       3.5
 All items less medical care ..................   152.0   152.5   152.6   153.0     2.2     2.7     4.0     2.7      2.4       3.3
 Commodities less food ........................   133.3   133.6   132.9   132.6      .3     4.1     5.3    -2.1      2.2       1.5
 Nondurables less food ........................   135.4   136.0   134.8   134.3     -.9     6.9     7.4    -3.2      2.9       2.0
 Nondurables less food and apparel ............   140.6   141.3   140.1   139.2    -1.2     8.0    12.2    -3.9      3.3       3.8
 Nondurables ..................................   143.3   143.7   143.6   143.7      .9     4.4     5.8     1.1      2.6       3.4
 Services less rent of shelter 1/ .............   181.0   181.8   182.2   182.9     3.2     1.6     4.1     4.3      2.4       4.2
 Services less medical care services ..........   167.5   168.0   168.3   169.1     3.2     2.0     3.9     3.9      2.6       3.9
 Energy .......................................   111.5   112.7   110.2   109.8    -5.6     8.7    22.0    -6.0      1.3       7.1
 All items less energy ........................   162.3   162.7   163.1   163.6     3.1     2.3     2.8     3.2      2.7       3.0
   All items less food and energy .............   164.9   165.3   165.6   166.1     3.0     2.2     2.7     2.9      2.6       2.8
     Commodities less food and energy
         commodities ..........................   141.2   141.2   141.2   141.2     2.3     2.3      .9      .0      2.3        .4
       Energy commodities .....................   109.4   111.4   107.3   105.2   -13.6    19.1    39.3   -14.5      1.4       9.1
     Services less energy services ............   178.2   178.8   179.4   180.0     3.3     2.5     3.4     4.1      2.9       3.8
 
 
 
    1/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
    2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
    -      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)
 
 
                                              Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                             importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                              December     June      July       July 1996 from-     Apr. to     May to    June to
                                                1995       1996      1996    July 1995  June 1996     May        June       July
 
            Expenditure category
 
All items ..................................   100.000     154.1     154.3        2.9        0.1        0.3        0.1        0.2
All items (1967=100) .......................      -        459.1     459.7        -          -          -          -          -
 
  Food and beverages .......................    19.262     152.6     153.1        3.4         .3         .1         .7         .4
    Food ...................................    17.581     152.1     152.8        3.5         .5         .1         .8         .5
      Food at home .........................    11.206     152.6     153.3        4.0         .5         .0        1.0         .6
        Cereals and bakery products ........     1.682     174.0     174.5        3.9         .3         .6         .1         .2
        Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.453     142.7     143.6        4.8         .6         .0        1.4         .7
        Dairy products .....................     1.300     139.7     141.9        7.1        1.6         .6        1.5        1.5
        Fruits and vegetables ..............     2.052     182.6     183.4        4.1         .4       -1.0        1.9         .6
        Other food at home .................     2.719     142.5     142.6        1.6         .1         .0         .2         .2
          Sugar and sweets .................      .369     143.7     144.6        4.8         .6         .7         .4         .5
          Fats and oils ....................      .285     140.6     140.2        1.7        -.3         .1         .9        -.8
          Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .885     127.9     127.1       -2.2        -.6        -.4        -.6        -.1
          Other prepared food ..............     1.180     155.9     156.6        3.6         .4         .0         .6         .4
      Food away from home ..................     6.374     152.3     152.7        2.5         .3         .3         .2         .3
    Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.681     157.9     157.8        3.1        -.1         .3         .2         .1
 
  Housing ..................................    38.888     149.6     150.4        2.9         .5         .2         .1         .4
    Shelter ................................    25.976     165.9     166.9        3.2         .6         .2         .2         .4
      Renters' costs 1/ ....................     8.091     157.2     159.1        3.4        1.2         .2         .3         .6
        Rent, residential ..................     6.616     161.3     161.9        2.8         .4         .3         .2         .3
        Other renters' costs ...............     1.475     215.3     226.0        5.8        5.0        -.1         .3        1.7
      Homeowners' costs 1/ .................    17.695     160.5     161.0        3.1         .3         .3         .2         .3
        Owners' equivalent rent 1/ .........    17.366     160.8     161.3        3.2         .3         .2         .1         .3
        Household insurance 1/ .............      .329     146.9     147.8        1.7         .6         .1         .2         .5
      Maintenance and repairs 2/ ...........      .189     137.5     137.9        2.4         .3         .5         .0         .3
        Maintenance and repair services 2/ .      .105     146.7     148.2        3.7        1.0         .6        -.1        1.0
        Maintenance and repair
            commodities 2/ .................      .085     125.6     124.8         .6        -.6         .4         .1        -.6
    Fuel and other utilities ...............     7.247     128.2     128.7        3.3         .4         .2        -.2         .4
      Fuels ................................     3.887     116.1     117.0        3.4         .8        -.3        -.8         .9
        Fuel oil and other household fuel
            commodities ....................      .327      94.3      92.1        5.9       -2.3       -1.8       -3.9       -1.5
        Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
            services).......................     3.560     123.8     125.1        3.2        1.1        -.2        -.5        1.1
      Other utilities and public
          services 2/ ......................     3.360     158.2     158.0        3.0        -.1         .9         .4        -.1
    Household furnishings and operation ....     5.666     123.1     123.2        1.1         .1        -.2         .2         .1
      Housefurnishings .....................     3.367     109.9     109.8        -.1        -.1        -.5         .2        -.2
      Housekeeping supplies ................     1.149     141.2     141.6        2.9         .3        -.4        -.2         .5
      Housekeeping services ................     1.150     150.5     151.1        3.1         .4         .4         .3         .5
 
  Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.533     130.2     127.9         .4       -1.8         .2        -.6         .0
    Apparel commodities ....................     5.017     126.9     124.3         .2       -2.0         .1        -.7         .0
      Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.310     126.7     124.7        1.3       -1.6         .0        -.6        -.2
      Women's and girls' apparel............     2.148     122.1     118.1       -1.6       -3.3         .3       -1.0         .1
      Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ....      .251     130.1     126.8        2.7       -2.5       -2.4       -1.1       -2.5
      Footwear .............................      .812     128.1     126.8        2.1       -1.0         .0         .5         .2
      Other apparel commodities ............      .495     150.5     150.9        1.1         .3         .5        -.8         .9
    Apparel services 2/ ....................      .516     159.0     159.3        1.6         .2         .4         .1         .2
 
  Transportation ...........................    19.020     143.8     143.3        2.5        -.3         .6        -.6        -.4
    Private transportation .................    17.847     141.8     141.1        2.5        -.5         .6        -.6        -.4
      New vehicles .........................     4.958     144.5     144.3        2.1        -.1         .2         .3         .2
        New cars ...........................     3.591     140.9     140.6        1.8        -.2         .1         .4         .3
      Used cars ............................     2.432     158.3     158.1        -.2        -.1        -.9       -1.1        -.3
      Motor fuel ...........................     3.584     111.0     108.8        5.1       -2.0        2.5       -3.2       -2.7
        Gasoline ...........................      -        110.9     108.7        4.9       -2.0        2.3       -3.2       -2.5
      Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.619     158.6     158.9        2.6         .2         .2         .3         .2
      Other private transportation .........     5.255     168.8     169.2        2.2         .2         .1         .4         .4
        Other private transportation
            commodities ....................      .767     104.3     103.8        -.2        -.5        -.2         .5        -.5
        Other private transportation
            services .......................     4.488     185.1     185.7        2.5         .3         .2         .3         .5
    Public transportation ..................     1.173     180.1     180.6        2.3         .3        1.4        1.2        -.6
 
  Medical care .............................     6.262     227.3     228.2        3.6         .4         .3         .3         .3
    Medical care commodities ...............     1.055     208.0     208.5        3.1         .2         .1         .4         .2
    Medical care services ..................     5.208     231.6     232.6        3.7         .4         .3         .3         .3
      Professional medical services ........     2.965     209.0     209.9        3.6         .4         .3         .1         .4
 
  Entertainment ............................     4.029     156.7     156.7        3.4         .0         .4         .3         .0
    Entertainment commodities ..............     2.053     141.9     141.8        3.0        -.1         .2         .1        -.1
    Entertainment services .................     1.976     178.0     178.2        4.0         .1         .6         .4         .2
 
  Other goods and services .................     7.006     211.0     211.6        4.1         .3         .4         .1         .4
    Tobacco and smoking products ...........     2.135     232.8     233.2        3.0         .2         .5         .1         .4
    Personal care 2/ .......................     1.132     149.6     150.0        2.1         .3         .5        -.5         .3
      Toilet goods and personal care
          appliances 2/ ....................      .635     144.6     145.0        1.2         .3         .9       -1.0         .3
      Personal care services 2/ ............      .497     156.0     156.2        3.2         .1         .1         .1         .1
    Personal and educational expenses ......     3.739     240.6     241.4        5.3         .3         .3         .4         .5
      School books and supplies ............      .227     225.5     225.5        5.5         .0         .0         .1         .2
      Personal and educational services ....     3.512     242.0     242.9        5.3         .4         .3         .4         .5
 
        Commodity and service group
 
All items ..................................   100.000     154.1     154.3        2.9         .1         .3         .1         .2
  Commodities ..............................    47.052     140.0     139.7        2.6        -.2         .2        -.1         .0
    Food and beverages .....................    19.262     152.6     153.1        3.4         .3         .1         .7         .4
    Commodities less food and beverages ....    27.790     132.4     131.4        1.9        -.8         .3        -.6        -.3
      Nondurables less food and beverages ..    16.074     133.8     132.4        2.7       -1.0         .5       -1.0        -.4
        Apparel commodities ................     5.017     126.9     124.3         .2       -2.0         .1        -.7         .0
        Nondurables less food, beverages,
            and apparel ....................    11.057     140.1     139.2        3.7        -.6         .5       -1.2        -.7
      Durables .............................    11.716     129.2     129.0         .9        -.2        -.2         .0         .0
  Services .................................    52.948     171.2     172.0        3.3         .5         .3         .2         .4
    Rent of shelter 1/ .....................    25.430     159.6     160.6        3.3         .6         .3         .3         .4
    Household services less rent of
        shelter 1/ .........................     8.531     131.6     132.3        3.1         .5         .5        -.1         .5
    Transportation services ................     7.279     177.6     178.1        2.5         .3         .5         .5         .3
    Medical care services ..................     5.208     231.6     232.6        3.7         .4         .3         .3         .3
    Other services .........................     6.501     196.9     197.4        4.4         .3         .4         .4         .4
 
              Special indexes
 
All items less food ........................    82.419     154.4     154.5        2.8         .1         .3        -.1         .1
All items less shelter .....................    74.024     151.1     151.0        2.9        -.1         .3         .1         .1
All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ........    82.305     144.8     145.0        2.9         .1         .3         .0         .2
All items less medical care ................    93.738     150.6     150.8        2.9         .1         .3         .1         .2
Commodities less food ......................    29.471     133.3     132.4        1.9        -.7         .3        -.6        -.3
Nondurables less food ......................    17.756     135.1     133.8        2.7       -1.0         .4        -.9        -.4
Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    12.739     140.8     140.0        3.6        -.6         .6       -1.0        -.7
Nondurables ................................    35.336     143.5     143.1        3.1        -.3         .1        -.1         .0
Services less rent of shelter 1/ ...........    27.518     162.6     163.3        3.4         .4         .4         .2         .5
Services less medical care services ........    47.740     166.0     166.8        3.3         .5         .4         .2         .5
Energy .....................................     7.470     112.9     112.2        4.3        -.6        1.1       -2.0        -.9
All items less energy ......................    92.530     160.0     160.3        2.9         .2         .2         .3         .2
  All items less food and energy ...........    74.949     162.0     162.2        2.7         .1         .2         .1         .2
    Commodities less food and
        energy commodities .................    25.560     140.7     140.1        1.4        -.4         .0        -.1         .1
      Energy commodities ...................     3.911     109.8     107.6        5.2       -2.0        2.1       -3.2       -2.6
    Services less energy services ..........    49.388     176.4     177.2        3.3         .5         .4         .2         .3
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
  1982-84=$1.00 2/ .........................      -        $.649     $.648       -2.8        -.2        -.3         .0        -.2
  1967=$1.00 2/ ............................      -         .218      .218        -          -          -          -          -
 
 
 
   1/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
   2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
   -      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): 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
                                                                                        3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                 Apr.     May    June    July    Oct.    Jan.    Apr.    July     Jan.      July
                                                 1996    1996    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1996     1996      1996
 
              Expenditure category
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.7     2.7     4.3     2.4      2.7       3.3
 
   Food and beverages .........................   151.8   151.9   153.0   153.6     3.5     1.3     4.1     4.8      2.4       4.4
     Food .....................................   151.3   151.4   152.6   153.3     3.8     1.1     4.1     5.4      2.4       4.7
       Food at home ...........................   151.6   151.6   153.1   154.0     4.4      .5     4.9     6.5      2.4       5.7
         Cereals and bakery products ..........   172.5   173.5   173.7   174.0     3.6     6.5     2.1     3.5      5.1       2.8
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   141.2   141.2   143.2   144.2     9.3     3.5    -1.7     8.8      6.4       3.4
         Dairy products .......................   136.9   137.7   139.8   141.9     2.1     6.1     5.1    15.4      4.1      10.2
         Fruits and vegetables ................   183.6   181.8   185.2   186.3     3.2   -12.3    22.5     6.0     -4.9      14.0
         Other food at home ...................   142.1   142.1   142.4   142.7      .9     1.1     3.2     1.7      1.0       2.4
           Sugar and sweets ...................   142.1   143.1   143.7   144.4     2.9     7.1     2.6     6.6      5.0       4.6
           Fats and oils ......................   139.2   139.4   140.7   139.6     2.4     3.2      .0     1.2      2.8        .6
           Nonalcoholic beverages .............   129.2   128.7   127.9   127.8    -1.8    -3.3      .6    -4.3     -2.6      -1.9
           Other prepared food ................   154.9   154.9   155.9   156.6     1.9     2.7     5.6     4.5      2.3       5.0
       Food away from home ....................   151.6   152.0   152.3   152.7     2.7     1.9     2.7     2.9      2.3       2.8
     Alcoholic beverages ......................   156.8   157.3   157.6   157.8     3.2     2.6     3.9     2.6      2.9       3.2
 
   Housing ....................................   148.7   149.0   149.1   149.7     3.1     3.0     3.0     2.7      3.0       2.9
     Shelter ..................................   165.1   165.5   165.8   166.5     3.3     3.5     2.7     3.4      3.4       3.1
       Renters' costs 1/ ......................   155.9   156.2   156.6   157.6     2.9     2.9     3.4     4.4      2.9       3.9
         Rent, residential ....................   160.6   161.1   161.5   162.0     2.3     3.1     2.3     3.5      2.7       2.9
         Other renters' costs .................   213.1   212.9   213.6   217.3     5.2     2.1     7.7     8.1      3.6       7.9
       Homeowners' costs 1/ ...................   160.0   160.4   160.7   161.2     3.4     3.6     2.5     3.0      3.5       2.8
         Owners' equivalent rent 1/ ...........   160.3   160.7   160.9   161.4     3.6     3.6     2.5     2.8      3.6       2.7
         Household insurance 1/ ...............   146.3   146.4   146.7   147.4    -1.6     2.5     3.1     3.0       .4       3.1
       Maintenance and repairs 2/ .............   136.8   137.5   137.5   137.9     3.0     -.6     3.9     3.3      1.2       3.6
         Maintenance and repair services 2/ ...   145.9   146.8   146.7   148.2     4.3      .6     3.6     6.5      2.4       5.0
         Maintenance and repair commodities 2/    125.0   125.5   125.6   124.8     1.0    -2.2     4.6     -.6      -.6       2.0
     Fuel and other utilities .................   126.5   126.8   126.5   127.0     2.0     2.6     6.9     1.6      2.3       4.2
       Fuels ..................................   113.7   113.4   112.5   113.5     2.6     3.3     9.3     -.7      2.9       4.2
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ......................   100.7    98.9    95.0    93.6    -3.1    39.4    24.7   -25.4     16.2      -3.5
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).........................   120.6   120.4   119.8   121.1     3.1      .3     8.4     1.7      1.7       5.0
       Other utilities and public services 2/ .   156.1   157.5   158.2   158.0     1.3     2.4     3.4     5.0      1.8       4.2
     Household furnishings and operation ......   123.1   122.8   123.0   123.1     2.7     1.3      .7      .0      2.0        .3
       Housefurnishings .......................   110.2   109.7   109.9   109.7     1.8      .0     -.4    -1.8       .9      -1.1
       Housekeeping supplies ..................   141.7   141.2   140.9   141.6     4.7     4.7     2.6     -.3      4.7       1.1
       Housekeeping services ..................   149.5   150.1   150.6   151.4     3.9     1.6     1.9     5.2      2.7       3.5
 
   Apparel and upkeep .........................   131.6   131.8   131.0   131.0     1.2     2.8     -.9    -1.8      2.0      -1.4
     Apparel commodities ......................   128.6   128.7   127.8   127.8     1.6     2.8     -.9    -2.5      2.2      -1.7
       Men's and boys' apparel ................   128.0   128.0   127.2   127.0     1.3     4.2     2.9    -3.1      2.7       -.2
       Women's and girls' apparel .............   124.9   125.3   124.0   124.1    -2.2     6.5    -7.9    -2.5      2.1      -5.3
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 2/ ......   134.8   131.5   130.1   126.8    33.7    -1.5     7.8   -21.7     14.8      -8.1
       Footwear ...............................   127.5   127.5   128.1   128.4     4.5    -5.5     7.2     2.9      -.6       5.0
       Other apparel commodities ..............   150.7   151.4   150.2   151.5      .5      .5     1.1     2.1       .5       1.6
     Apparel services 2/.......................   158.2   158.8   159.0   159.3    -1.3     3.4     1.5     2.8      1.0       2.2
 
   Transportation .............................   143.3   144.1   143.3   142.7    -1.4     3.8     9.5    -1.7      1.2       3.7
     Private transportation ...................   141.4   142.2   141.3   140.7    -1.4     4.8     9.0    -2.0      1.6       3.4
       New vehicles ...........................   143.9   144.2   144.7   145.0     2.0     1.4     2.0     3.1      1.7       2.5
         New cars .............................   140.3   140.4   140.9   141.3     1.2     1.4     1.7     2.9      1.3       2.3
       Used cars ..............................   160.3   158.9   157.2   156.8     -.8     7.6     1.3    -8.5      3.3      -3.7
       Motor fuel .............................   109.9   112.6   109.0   106.1   -13.5    16.5    39.1   -13.1       .4       9.9
         Gasoline .............................   109.7   112.2   108.6   105.9   -14.2    17.0    38.6   -13.2       .2       9.7
       Maintenance and repairs ................   158.0   158.3   158.8   159.1     2.6     3.6     1.5     2.8      3.1       2.2
       Other private transportation ...........   168.5   168.7   169.3   170.0     3.7     -.7     2.2     3.6      1.4       2.9
         Other private transportation
             commodities ......................   104.2   104.0   104.5   104.0      .8     -.8      .0     -.8       .0       -.4
         Other private transportation
             services .........................   184.7   185.1   185.6   186.6     4.0     -.7     2.6     4.2      1.7       3.4
     Public transportation ....................   176.3   178.8   181.0   180.0    -1.8   -12.4    16.8     8.7     -7.2      12.6
 
   Medical care ...............................   226.3   227.0   227.6   228.3     4.1     4.2     2.9     3.6      4.1       3.2
     Medical care commodities .................   206.8   207.1   208.0   208.5     2.6     4.4     2.4     3.3      3.5       2.8
     Medical care services ....................   230.5   231.3   231.9   232.6     4.4     4.1     2.8     3.7      4.2       3.3
       Professional medical services ..........   207.9   208.6   208.8   209.7     3.6     4.0     3.3     3.5      3.8       3.4
 
   Entertainment ..............................   155.8   156.4   156.9   156.9     3.5     4.5     2.9     2.9      4.0       2.9
     Entertainment commodities ................   141.4   141.7   141.9   141.8     2.9     4.7     3.2     1.1      3.8       2.1
     Entertainment services ...................   176.6   177.7   178.4   178.7     3.8     4.5     2.5     4.8      4.1       3.7
 
   Other goods and services ...................   211.1   211.9   212.2   213.1     5.6     2.9     4.3     3.8      4.2       4.1
     Tobacco and smoking products .............   230.8   231.9   232.1   233.0     5.4    -1.0     4.3     3.9      2.1       4.1
     Personal care 2/ .........................   149.6   150.3   149.6   150.0     5.0     1.1     1.3     1.1      3.0       1.2
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 2/ ......................   144.7   146.0   144.6   145.0     5.1    -1.9      .8      .8      1.5        .8
       Personal care services 2/ ..............   155.7   155.8   156.0   156.2     5.1     4.5     2.1     1.3      4.8       1.7
     Personal and educational expenses ........   241.1   241.8   242.8   243.9     5.8     5.6     5.3     4.7      5.7       5.0
       School books and supplies ..............   226.3   226.2   226.4   226.8     6.9     9.1     4.9      .9      8.0       2.9
       Personal and educational services ......   242.5   243.2   244.2   245.4     5.8     5.4     5.5     4.9      5.6       5.2
 
          Commodity and service group
 
 All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.7     2.7     4.3     2.4      2.7       3.3
   Commodities ................................   139.8   140.1   140.0   140.0     1.5     3.3     5.0      .6      2.4       2.8
     Food and beverages .......................   151.8   151.9   153.0   153.6     3.5     1.3     4.1     4.8      2.4       4.4
     Commodities less food and beverages ......   132.4   132.8   132.0   131.6      .0     4.4     6.0    -2.4      2.2       1.7
       Nondurables less food and beverages ....   134.1   134.8   133.4   132.8    -1.2     7.3     9.5    -3.8      3.0       2.6
         Apparel commodities ..................   128.6   128.7   127.8   127.8     1.6     2.8     -.9    -2.5      2.2      -1.7
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ......................   140.1   140.8   139.1   138.1    -3.0     8.4    16.3    -5.6      2.6       4.8
       Durables ...............................   129.3   129.1   129.1   129.1      .9     2.2      .9     -.6      1.6        .2
   Services ...................................   170.2   170.7   171.1   171.8     3.2     2.7     3.6     3.8      2.9       3.7
     Rent of shelter 1/ .......................   159.0   159.4   159.8   160.4     3.1     3.6     2.8     3.6      3.4       3.2
     Household services less rent
         of shelter 1/ ........................   129.6   130.3   130.2   130.8     2.2     1.3     5.1     3.8      1.7       4.4
     Transportation services ..................   176.5   177.3   178.1   178.6     2.8    -1.8     4.4     4.8       .5       4.6
     Medical care services ....................   230.5   231.3   231.9   232.6     4.4     4.1     2.8     3.7      4.2       3.3
     Other services ...........................   197.0   197.8   198.5   199.2     4.5     4.9     4.0     4.5      4.7       4.2
 
                Special indexes
 
 All items less food ..........................   153.7   154.2   154.1   154.3     2.4     3.2     4.3     1.6      2.8       2.9
 All items less shelter .......................   150.5   150.9   151.0   151.2     2.2     2.5     4.9     1.9      2.3       3.4
 All items less homeowners' costs 1/ ..........   144.3   144.7   144.7   145.0     2.3     2.6     4.9     2.0      2.4       3.4
 All items less medical care ..................   150.0   150.4   150.5   150.8     2.5     2.7     4.4     2.2      2.6       3.3
 Commodities less food ........................   133.6   134.0   133.2   132.8      .3     4.4     5.9    -2.4      2.3       1.7
 Nondurables less food ........................   135.3   135.9   134.7   134.1     -.9     6.9     8.7    -3.5      2.9       2.4
 Nondurables less food and apparel ............   140.4   141.3   139.9   138.9    -1.5     7.7    13.2    -4.2      3.0       4.2
 Nondurables ..................................   143.2   143.4   143.3   143.3      .9     4.4     6.7      .3      2.6       3.4
 Services less rent of shelter 1/ .............   161.3   162.0   162.3   163.1     3.6     1.8     3.8     4.5      2.7       4.2
 Services less medical care services ..........   164.9   165.5   165.8   166.6     3.3     2.2     3.5     4.2      2.7       3.8
 Energy .......................................   111.4   112.6   110.3   109.3    -5.6     9.6    23.4    -7.3      1.7       6.9
 All items less energy ........................   159.6   159.9   160.3   160.7     3.1     2.3     3.1     2.8      2.7       2.9
   All items less food and energy .............   161.8   162.2   162.4   162.8     2.8     2.8     2.5     2.5      2.8       2.5
     Commodities less food and energy
         commodities ..........................   141.0   141.0   140.8   140.9     2.3     2.3     1.4     -.3      2.3        .6
       Energy commodities .....................   109.3   111.6   108.0   105.2   -12.5    18.0    37.7   -14.2      1.6       8.7
     Services less energy services ............   175.8   176.5   176.9   177.5     3.3     2.6     3.2     3.9      2.9       3.6
 
 
 
    1/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
    2/     Not seasonally adjusted.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 
 
Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Selected areas, all items index
 
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                                                 Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                  Area                     Pricing                                       July 1996 from-         June 1996 from-
                                          schedule    Apr.     May    June    July    July     May    June    June    Apr.     May
                                             1/       1996    1996    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996
 
 
 
U.S. city average ......................      M        156.3   156.6   156.7   157.0     3.0     0.3     0.2     2.8     0.3     0.1
 
        Region and area size 2/
 
Northeast urban.........................      M        162.9   163.0   163.1   163.4     2.6      .2      .2     2.6      .1      .1
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        163.6   163.6   163.8   164.1     2.7      .3      .2     2.6      .1      .1
  Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        160.6   161.0   160.9   161.8     2.7      .5      .6     2.8      .2     -.1
  Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 ..........      M        161.3   160.9   161.0   161.5     2.3      .4      .3     2.4     -.2      .1
 
North Central urban ....................      M        152.3   152.7   152.9   153.2     3.0      .3      .2     2.8      .4      .1
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        152.9   153.2   153.5   153.7     2.8      .3      .1     2.7      .4      .2
  Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        151.2   151.6   152.0   152.4     3.0      .5      .3     2.9      .5      .3
  Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 ..........      M        153.9   154.7   154.1   154.6     3.3     -.1      .3     2.8      .1     -.4
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        149.0   149.2   149.8   150.4     3.0      .8      .4     3.0      .5      .4
 
South urban ............................      M        153.2   153.5   154.0   154.0     3.2      .3      .0     3.3      .5      .3
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        152.4   152.7   153.2   153.2     3.0      .3      .0     3.0      .5      .3
  Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        155.6   155.9   156.3   156.7     3.4      .5      .3     3.3      .4      .3
  Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 ..........      M        153.1   153.2   153.8   153.7     3.6      .3     -.1     3.6      .5      .4
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        152.4   152.9   153.0   152.5     3.0     -.3     -.3     3.5      .4      .1
 
West urban .............................      M        157.1   157.6   157.5   157.9     2.9      .2      .3     2.5      .3     -.1
  Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        157.3   157.6   157.3   158.0     2.6      .3      .4     2.1      .0     -.2
  Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 ..........      M        162.2   162.4   162.4   162.4     3.6      .0      .0     3.7      .1      .0
 
Size classes
  A 3/ .................................      M        141.1   141.3   141.4   141.7     2.8      .3      .2     2.5      .2      .1
  B ....................................      M        156.1   156.6   156.9   157.4     3.1      .5      .3     3.2      .5      .2
  C ....................................      M        156.3   156.4   156.5   156.8     3.3      .3      .2     3.1      .1      .1
  D ....................................      M        153.0   153.5   153.7   153.7     3.1      .1      .0     3.2      .5      .1
 
          Selected local areas
 
Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        156.4   156.9   157.6   157.7     2.7      .5      .1     2.7      .8      .4
Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        157.7   157.5   156.7   157.6     2.0      .1      .6     1.2     -.6     -.5
N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        166.0   166.4   166.5   166.7     2.7      .2      .1     2.7      .3      .1
Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD ..      M        162.1   161.8   162.3   162.8     2.5      .6      .3     2.5      .1      .3
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .....      M        153.9   155.1   155.2   155.9     2.9      .5      .5     2.3      .8      .1
 
Baltimore, MD ..........................      1         -      153.9    -      155.7     2.8     1.2    -       -       -       -
Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1         -      161.8    -      162.0     2.7      .1    -       -       -       -
Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1         -      151.8    -      152.1     2.7      .2    -       -       -       -
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1         -      152.6    -      152.4     2.8     -.1    -       -       -       -
St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........      1         -      148.1    -      149.9     3.0     1.2    -       -       -       -
Washington, DC-MD-VA ...................      1         -      159.0    -      160.1     2.6      .7    -       -       -       -
 
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2        148.5    -      149.4    -       -       -       -        3.5      .6    -
Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2        152.3    -      151.9    -       -       -       -        2.4     -.3    -
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2        143.1    -      142.8    -       -       -       -        2.1     -.2    -
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ...........      2        152.8    -      153.2    -       -       -       -        2.7      .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 1986=100 base.
   -      Data not available.
   NOTE:  Local area CPI 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.
 
 
Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Selected areas, all items index
 
(1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
 
                                                                 Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                  Area                     Pricing                                       July 1996 from-         June 1996 from-
                                          schedule    Apr.     May    June    July    July     May    June    June    Apr.     May
                                             1/       1996    1996    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996
 
 
 
U.S. city average ......................      M        153.6   154.0   154.1   154.3     2.9     0.2     0.1     2.8     0.3     0.1
 
        Region and area size 2/
 
Northeast urban.........................      M        160.3   160.6   160.6   160.9     2.7      .2      .2     2.7      .2      .0
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        160.0   160.2   160.4   160.5     2.8      .2      .1     2.8      .3      .1
  Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        158.5   158.9   158.7   159.7     2.8      .5      .6     2.7      .1     -.1
  Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 ..........      M        162.9   162.7   162.5   162.9     2.3      .1      .2     2.3     -.2     -.1
 
North Central urban ....................      M        149.0   149.4   149.5   149.8     3.0      .3      .2     2.7      .3      .1
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        149.0   149.3   149.6   149.7     2.8      .3      .1     2.7      .4      .2
  Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        147.3   147.8   148.0   148.3     2.9      .3      .2     2.6      .5      .1
  Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 ..........      M        151.3   152.1   151.5   151.9     3.3     -.1      .3     2.8      .1     -.4
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        147.1   147.3   148.0   148.5     3.0      .8      .3     3.0      .6      .5
 
South urban ............................      M        151.8   152.1   152.6   152.6     3.2      .3      .0     3.2      .5      .3
  Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        150.6   151.0   151.6   151.6     3.0      .4      .0     3.0      .7      .4
  Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 .......      M        151.9   152.3   152.6   152.9     3.4      .4      .2     3.2      .5      .2
  Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 ..........      M        153.0   153.1   153.7   153.6     3.4      .3     -.1     3.4      .5      .4
  Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
            (less than 50,000) .........      M        152.9   153.5   153.6   152.8     3.0     -.5     -.5     3.7      .5      .1
 
West urban .............................      M        154.2   154.7   154.5   154.9     2.9      .1      .3     2.5      .2     -.1
  Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        152.9   153.2   152.9   153.4     2.6      .1      .3     2.1      .0     -.2
  Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 ..........      M        159.1   159.4   159.2   159.3     3.6     -.1      .1     3.5      .1     -.1
 
Size classes
  A 3/ .................................      M        140.2   140.4   140.6   140.8     2.8      .3      .1     2.6      .3      .1
  B ....................................      M        153.3   153.8   154.0   154.4     3.1      .4      .3     3.1      .5      .1
  C ....................................      M        155.4   155.7   155.7   155.8     3.2      .1      .1     3.0      .2      .0
  D ....................................      M        152.4   152.8   153.1   153.0     3.1      .1     -.1     3.3      .5      .2
 
          Selected local areas
 
Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        151.5   151.9   152.6   152.7     2.7      .5      .1     2.8      .7      .5
Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        152.4   152.3   151.5   152.3     2.0      .0      .5     1.2     -.6     -.5
N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        162.2   162.8   162.8   162.8     2.8      .0      .0     2.8      .4      .0
Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD ..      M        161.3   161.3   161.7   162.1     2.3      .5      .2     2.3      .2      .2
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA .....      M        151.9   153.0   152.9   153.4     2.7      .3      .3     2.2      .7     -.1
 
Baltimore, MD ..........................      1         -      152.8    -      154.6     2.7     1.2    -       -       -       -
Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1         -      160.8    -      160.9     2.7      .1    -       -       -       -
Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1         -      144.0    -      144.3     2.9      .2    -       -       -       -
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1         -      151.0    -      150.8     2.9     -.1    -       -       -       -
St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL ........      1         -      147.4    -      149.0     2.6     1.1    -       -       -       -
Washington, DC-MD-VA ...................      1         -      156.7    -      157.6     2.7      .6    -       -       -       -
 
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2        148.6    -      149.6    -       -       -       -        3.6      .7    -
Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2        147.6    -      147.1    -       -       -       -        2.4     -.3    -
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2        142.3    -      142.2    -       -       -       -        1.9     -.1    -
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA ...........      2        146.5    -      146.9    -       -       -       -        2.7      .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 1986=100 base.
   -      Data not available.
   NOTE:  Local area CPI 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.