FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-99-11
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
     INFORMATION:       (202) 606-7828      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:                          Thursday, January 14, 1999
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm  
 
                                     
                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  DECEMBER 1998
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined 0.1
 percent in December, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The December
 1998 CPI-U level of 163.9 (1982-84=100) was 1.6 percent higher than the
 index in December 1997.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) was unchanged in December, prior to seasonal adjustment, remaining
 at a level of 160.7.  For the 12-month period ended in December, the CPI-W
 has increased 1.6 percent.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
     
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent in
 December, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the preceding two
 months.  The food index was unchanged in December after advancing 0.1
 percent in November.  The index for food at home, which increased 0.2
 percent in November, declined 0.2 percent in December, reflecting further
 decreases in the indexes for fruits and vegetables and for meats, poultry,
 fish, and eggs and a downturn in the index for other food at home.  The
 energy index, which was unchanged in November, fell 1.4 percent in
 December.  The index for petroleum-based energy declined 2.9 percent, and
 the index for energy services decreased 0.3 percent.  Excluding food and
 energy, the CPI-U increased 0.3 percent in December, following increases
 of 0.2 percent in each of the preceding four months. Three-fourths of 
 the December rise in the index for all items less food and energy was 
 accounted for by a 18.8 percent rise in the index for cigarettes,
 reflecting the pass-through to retail of the 45-cents-a-pack wholesale
 price increase announced by major tobacco companies in late November.
 
 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                      1998                3-mos. ended  ended
                      June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.   Dec. `98  Dec. '98
 
 All Items            .1    .2   .2   .0   .2   .2   .1    2.2       1.6
  Food and beverages  .1    .2   .3   .0   .5   .2   .0    2.7       2.3
  Housing             .1    .2   .1   .2   .2   .3   .1    2.5       2.3
  Apparel             .2   -.3  1.1  -.7   .1   .0  -.8   -3.0       -.7
  Transportation     -.3    .3   .0  -.4   .3   .0  -.4    -.6      -1.7
  Medical care        .4    .2   .4   .3   .2   .2   .3    2.6       3.4
  Recreation          .1    .0   .1   .1  -.3   .2   .0    -.4       1.2
  Education and                                                         
   communication      .1    .0  -.5   .0   .2   .2  -.1    1.2        .7
  Other goods and                                                     
   services           .0    .7   .1   .9   .3  -.3  4.2   18.0       8.8
 Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy            -.7    .0 -1.0 -1.3   .9   .0 -1.4   -2.0      -8.8
   Food               .1    .2   .2   .0   .6   .1   .0    2.8       2.3
   All Items less                                                       
    food and energy   .1    .2   .2   .2   .2   .2   .3    2.5       2.4
  
 As previously announced, effective with release of data for January 1999,
 the BLS will introduce a new formula for calculating the basic components
 of the CPI.  See page 5 for more details.  See pages 6-10 for
 announcements of other methodological changes to be introduced with data
 for January 1999.
    
      For the 12-month period ended in December 1998, the CPI-U rose 1.6
 percent.  This compares with an advance of 1.7 percent in 1997 and was the
 smallest annual increase since a 1.1 percent rise in 1986.  The energy
 component, which generally has acted as a moderating influence on the
 overall change in consumer prices since the early 1980's, registered its
 largest annual decline--down 8.8 percent in 1998--since a 19.7 percent
 drop in 1986.  Petroleum-based energy costs fell 15.1 percent, and charges
 for energy services decreased 3.3 percent.  The food index rose 2.3
 percent in 1998.  Grocery store food prices rose 2.1 percent after
 advancing 1.0 percent in 1997.  Each of the six major grocery store food
 groups accelerated in 1998, relative to 1997, except for the index for
 nonalcoholic beverages, which declined 1.1 percent after increasing 4.9
 percent in 1997.  This group's decline was due to the sharp deceleration
 in coffee prices, which fell 8.8 percent in 1998 after increasing 16.9
 percent in 1997.  The index for dairy products showed the sharpest
 acceleration, advancing 6.6 percent in 1998 after declining 0.5 percent in
 the previous year.
 
      The CPI-U excluding food and energy advanced 2.4 percent in 1998,
 following an increase of 2.2 percent in 1997.  The slightly larger
 increase in 1998 than in the preceding year was attributable to the sharp
 rise in tobacco prices--up 31.8 percent--which accounted for 15 percent of
 the annual increase in the index for all items less food and energy. The
 rates for selected groups during the past five years are shown below.

                         
                                Percent change
                           12 months ended in December
                                               
                      1994   1995   1996   1997      1998
 All Items             2.7    2.5    3.3    1.7       1.6
   Food and beverages  2.7    2.1    4.2    1.6       2.3
   Housing             2.2    3.0    2.9    2.4       2.3
   Apparel            -1.6     .1    -.2    1.0       -.7
   Transportation      3.8    1.5    4.4   -1.4      -1.7
   Medical care        4.9    3.9    3.0    2.8       3.4
   Recreation          1.4    2.8    3.0    1.5       1.2
   Education and                                          
      communication    3.3    4.0    3.4    3.0        .7
   Other goods and                                        
      services         4.2    4.3    3.6    5.2       8.8
 Special indexes                                           
      Energy           2.2   -1.3    8.6   -3.4      -8.8
        Energy           
          commodities  5.2   -3.3   13.8   -6.9     -15.1
        Energy          
          services     -.6     .8    3.8     .2      -3.3
      All items less      
        energy         2.6    2.9    2.9    2.1       2.4
          Food         2.9    2.1    4.3    1.5       2.3
          All Items                                           
            food and 
              energy   2.6    3.0    2.6    2.2       2.4
                                                     
     
      The food and beverages index was unchanged in December. The index for
 food at home, which rose 0.2 percent in November, declined 0.2 percent in
 December, reflecting further decreases in the indexes for fruits and
 vegetables and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and a downturn in the
 index for other food at home.  The index for fruits and vegetables
 declined 0.9 percent in December, the same as in November.  In December,
 the index for fresh vegetables fell 3.1 percent, more than offsetting a
 0.9 percent rise in the index for fresh fruits.  The index for processed
 fruits and vegetables declined for the fourth consecutive month--down 0.3
 percent in December.  Despite registering declines in the last two months,
 the index for fruits and vegetables rose 4.9 percent in 1998 after
 advancing 2.2 percent in 1997.  The index for meats, poultry, fish, and
 eggs declined 0.3 percent in December to a level 0.7 percent below a year
 ago, its second consecutive annual decrease.  The index for pork declined
 0.3 percent in December and 5.8 percent in the last 12 months.  The index
 for beef rose 0.3 in December to a level 0.1 percent above a year ago.
 Poultry prices declined 0.2 percent in December, but rose 2.6 percent in
 1998.  The index for other food at home declined 0.3 percent in December,
 reflecting a sharp drop in prices for fats and oils.  Within this group,
 butter prices fell 9.7 percent in December, but were up 31.7 percent over
 the year.  The index for nonalcoholic beverages declined 0.3 percent in
 December and 1.1 percent over the last 12 months after increasing 4.9
 percent in all of 1997.  Coffee prices fell 8.8 percent in 1998 after
 increasing 16.9 percent in 1997.  The indexes for dairy products and for
 cereal and bakery products rose 1.1 and 0.1 percent, respectively, in
 December and 6.6 percent and 2.2 percent in all of 1998.  The other two
 components of the food and beverage index--food away from home and
 alcoholic beverages--rose 0.2 and 0.4 percent, respectively, in December.
 During the last 12 months, these groups increased 2.5 and 2.0 percent,
 respectively.
      
      The housing component rose 0.1 percent in December.  Shelter costs
 rose 0.2 percent, bringing the annual increase to 3.3 percent in 1998.
 Within shelter, the indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent each
 rose 0.3 percent in December, while the cost of lodging away from home
 decreased 1.4 percent.  The index for fuels and utilities declined 0.2
 percent in December.  The index for household fuels fell 0.4 percent,
 reflecting declines in the indexes for fuel oil and for natural gas--down
 2.2 and 1.1 percent, respectively.  Charges for electricity were
 unchanged.  For the 12-month period ended in December, prices for fuel oil
 fell 15.2 percent and charges for natural gas and for electricity declined
 3.5 and 3.2 percent, respectively. Among other utilities, the index for
 water and sewerage treatment rose 0.4 percent in December and 2.7 percent
 in the last 12 months.  The index for garbage and trash collection
 increased 0.3 percent in December and 2.8 percent over the year.  The
 index for household furnishings and operations increased 0.2 percent in
 December and 1.2 percent in all of 1998.
      
      The transportation component declined 0.4 percent in December and 1.7
 percent in all of 1998.  Falling gasoline prices were responsible for both
 the one-month and 12-month decline in transportation costs.  The index for
 gasoline fell 2.9 percent in December, bringing the decline over the last
 12 months to 15.4 percent.  As of December, gasoline prices were 27.9
 percent lower than their peak level in November 1990.  The index for new
 and used vehicle prices was unchanged in December.  The index for new
 vehicles rose 0.1 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle
 prices rose 0.4 percent.)  As of December, over 70 percent of the new
 vehicle sample was represented by 1999 models.  The 1999 models will
 continue to be phased in, with appropriate adjustments for quality change,
 over the next several months as they replace old models at dealerships.
 (For a report on quality changes for the 1999 vehicles represented in the
 Producer Price Index sample, see news release USDL-98-457, dated Nov. 13,
 1998.)  The index for used cars and trucks decreased 0.6 percent.  For the
 12-month period ended in December, new vehicle prices were unchanged,
 while used car and truck prices rose 3.5 percent.  Public transportation
 costs, which had declined in each of the preceding three months, increased
 1.2 percent in December, reflecting a 1.0 percent rise in airline fares.
 
      The index for apparel decreased 0.8 percent in December.  (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, apparel prices fell 3.2 percent, reflecting pre-
 holiday discounting.)  During the 12-month period ended in December,
 apparel prices fell 0.7 percent, following a 1.0 percent rise in all of
 1997.
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in December to a level 3.4
 percent above a year ago.  The 1998 increase follows a 2.8 percent rise in
 1997 and represents the first acceleration in the annual increase since
 1990, when the medical care component advanced 9.6 percent.  In December,
 the index for medical care commodities--prescription drugs,
 nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.5 percent.  The
 index for medical care services rose 0.2 percent.  Charges for
 professional services and for hospital and related services each increased
 0.2 percent in December and 3.3 and 3.2 percent, respectively, in 1998.
       
      The index for recreation costs was unchanged in December, but
 advanced 1.2 percent in all of 1998.  During the last 12 months, cable
 television costs increased 6.9 percent, and club membership dues and
 admissions to sporting events each rose 5.0 percent.   These increases
 were partially offset by declines in prices for toys, photographic
 equipment, televisions, and other video equipment.
      
      The index for education and communication declined 0.1 percent in
 December, as a 0.5 percent rise in educational costs was more than offset
 by a 0.7 percent decrease in the index for communication.  Within the
 latter group, the indexes for telephone services and for information and
 information processing other than telephone services declined 0.8 and 1.4
 percent, respectively.   During the 12 months ended in December, education
 costs rose 4.7 percent, with college tuition costs up 3.9 percent.
 Communication costs declined 2.9 percent during that period, reflecting a
 35.8 percent decrease in the index for personal computers and peripheral
 equipment.
 
      The index for other goods and services increased 4.2 percent in
 December, reflecting a 18.3 percent increase in the index for tobacco and
 smoking products.  For the 12 months ended in December, the index for
 tobacco and smoking products increased 31.8 percent.
 
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers increased 0.2 percent in December.
 
 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                 Seasonally adjusted                   Un-
                                                        Compound    adjusted                                                                     
    Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate   12-mos.
     Category                      1998                3-mos. ended   ended
                                      
                    June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.  Dec. `98    Dec.`98                                                       
 All Items           .1    .2   .1   .1   .3   .1   .2    2.5       1.6
  Food and beverages .1    .3   .2   .0   .5   .2  -.1    2.5       2.1
  Housing            .1    .2   .1   .2   .2   .3   .1    2.6       2.2
  Apparel            .3   -.4   .9  -.5   .4   .1  -.6    -.6       -.4
  Transportation    -.1    .2  -.1  -.4   .4   .0  -.6    -.6      -2.0
  Medical care       .5    .2   .3   .3   .2   .2   .3    2.7       3.3
  Recreation         .1   -.1   .2   .0  -.3   .1   .0    -.8        .8
  Education and                                                        
   communication     .1    .1  -.5   .1   .1   .3  -.2     .8        .9
  Other goods and                                                    
   services         -.1    .9   .2  1.3   .3  -.5  5.8   24.3      11.3
 Special Indexes                                                       
  Energy            -.6   -.1 -1.1 -1.4  1.0  -.1 -1.5   -2.4      -9.2
  Food               .1    .3   .3  -.1   .5   .2  -.1    2.5       2.2
  All Items less                                                       
   food and energy   .1    .2   .2   .2   .2   .2   .4    3.1       2.5


     Consumer Price Index data for January are scheduled for release on
 Friday, Feb. 19, 1999, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
     
 _________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 Planned Change in the Consumer Price Index Formula
      
      On April 16, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its decision to
 use a new formula for calculating the basic components of the Consumer
 Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer Price Index
 for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).  This change will
 become effective with data for January 1999.
     The new formula, the geometric mean estimator, will be used in index
 categories that comprise approximately 61 percent of total consumer
 spending represented by the CPI-U.  The remaining index categories, which
 are shown in the table below, will continue to be calculated as they are
 currently. Based upon BLS research, it is expected that planned use of the
 new formula will reduce the annual rate of increase in the CPI by
 approximately 0.2 percentage point per year.
      The geometric mean estimator will be introduced in both the CPI-U and
 the CPI-W effective with data for January 1999, in accord with the past
 practice of introducing methodological changes at the beginning of a
 calendar year. BLS will continue to publish "overlap" CPI-U and CPI-W
 series using the current calculation method for the first six months of
 1999.  These indexes will not be published regularly for months subsequent
 to June 1999, but will be available upon request.
      Additional information on this change will be published in the April
 1998 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet
 (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm).  This information may also be obtained
 by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
 and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Room 3615 Washington, D.C.
 20212 or by calling (202) 606-7000.
 
               Arithmetic Mean (Laspeyres) Formula
     
 1.  Selected shelter services:

 A) Rent of primary       B) Owners' equivalent     C) Housing at school,
 residence                rent of primary           excluding board
                          residence
                                                   
                                                   
 2.  Selected utilities and government charges:

 A) Electricity           C) Residential water and  E)  Telephone services,
                          sewerage maintenance      local charges
                                                   
 B) Utility natural gas   D) State and local        F) Cable television
 service                  registration, license,
                          and motor vehicle
                          property tax
                                                   
                                                   
 3.  Selected medical care services:

 A) Physicians' services  C) Eyeglasses and eye     E) Hospital services
                          care
 B) Dental services       D) Services by other      F) Nursing homes and
                          medical professionals     Adult daycare
     
 __________________________________________________________________________

 Changing the Treatment of Mandated Pollution Control Measures in
 the Consumer Price Index
 
 
      Beginning  in 1999, modifications to goods and services  made  solely
 for purposes of meeting air pollution standards, and that do not otherwise
 provide  direct value to consumers, will no longer be treated  as  quality
 improvements   in  the  Consumer  Price  Index  (CPI).   Price   increases
 associated with such modifications will be reflected as increases  in  the
 index.
      
      The  Bureau  of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently undertook to  explain
 more precisely the relationship between the CPI and a complete measure  of
 changes  in  consumers' living costs.  As part of this  activity  the  BLS
 reviewed the treatment of pollution control measures in the CPI.  The  new
 policy for treating pollution control measures is a direct result of  that
 review.
 
      BLS has stated that the proper objective of the CPI is to approximate
 changes in the cost of living of U.S. consumers /1.  The CPI is intended  to
 approximate  a particular subindex of a complete cost-of-living  index,  a
 subindex  that  is limited to prices of market goods and services  and  is
 conditional  upon  the levels of other determinants of changes  in  living
 costs,  such  as  the  environment, crime level, and numerous  government-
 provided  goods  and  services.   The  choice  of  this  index  definition
 recognizes that not all important living cost determinants can be reliably
 measured and also provides users of the CPI with a clear specification  of
 its scope and limitations.
 
       Given the current definition, changes in air quality, as well as  in
 other important environmental factors, are beyond the scope of the CPI and
 thus  properly  cannot be included in its construction.  A  more  complete
 explanation  of  the  relationship between the  CPI  and  a  comprehensive
 measure  of  changes  in living costs is contained in  "The  Treatment  of
 Mandated Pollution Control Measures in the CPI." /2
 
       The  new  policy  for the treatment of air pollution  measures  will
 become  effective with CPI data for January 1999.  The new  practice  will
 have  its most significant effect on the motor fuel and new and used motor
 vehicle components of the index.  In the vehicle indexes, the policy  will
 apply to all vehicle models introduced on or after January 1, 1999.  Since
 most  of the 1999 model-year vehicles will be introduced before that date,
 the  old  practice will be used for the 1998-to-1999 model-year changeover
 in most cases.
 
       Historically,  quality adjustments for anti-pollution  measures
 have  been made to the new car (or new vehicle) component of the CPI since
 1969  (automobile  model  year 1970), with their estimated  dollar  effect
 published annually. Since 1988, these data have also been utilized to make
 quality adjustments in the used car component.  In addition, beginning  in
 late  1994,  quality  adjustments  were  made  for  the  introduction   of
 reformulated gasoline, which was required in selected areas for compliance
 with  the Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990.  Available information  is  not
 sufficient to make possible a complete accounting of the impacts of this
 policy  in  all  years. The estimates presented below  should  be  viewed,
 therefore, as approximations rather than as precise values.  In  adherence
 with standard policy, the official CPI historical data will not be revised
 to be consistent with the new practice.  For the period from December 1968
 through December 1997, the new car component  of  the  CPI-U  rose  174.2 
 percent.  BLS  estimates  that  not adjusting  for anti-pollution
 measures would have resulted in an  increase of  230.2 percent over
 this period.  Quality adjustments for light  trucks have  been made 
 since they were introduced into the CPI in 1983.  For  the
 period  from  December 1983 through December 1997, this  index  rose  51.4
 percent,  but  with  the  quality adjustments for anti-pollution  measures
 factored  back  into the index, it would have risen by an  estimated  55.1
 percent  in this period. The CPI used car index rose 27.2 percent  between
 December  1987 and December 1997; with the quality adjustments  for  anti-
 pollution  measures  factored back into the index,  it  would  have  risen
 approximately  28.8  percent  in  that 10-year  period.   The  motor  fuel
 component, whose index rose 7.5 percent between December 1993 and December
 1997,  would have increased by an estimated 15.4 percent over that  period
 if  adjustment  for environmental quality change had not  been  made.  BLS
 estimates  that  the aggregate effect of these component  changes  on  the
 CPI-U All Items index would have increased the percentage change over  the
 period  from  December 1968 to December 1997 from 354.4 percent  to  357.7
 percent.  Past experience, however, is not necessarily an indicator of the
 future impact of this policy change.
     
 For additional information on these changes, write to
          Bureau of Labor Statistics
          Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes
          2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3130
          Washington, DC 20212

 or send e-mail to Jackman_P@bls.gov, or telephone Patrick Jackman at (202)
 606-6950, or obtain the information on the internet at:
 http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm.

 __________________________________ 
 /1 "Measurement Issues in the Consumer Price Index," paper prepared in
 response to a letter from Representative Jim Saxton, Chairman of the Joint
 Economic Committee, June 1997.  Paper available by contacting BLS or on
 the internet at: http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
 
 /2 Paper available by contacting BLS or on the internet at:
 http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm

 __________________________________________________________________________

      Improvements to CPI Procedures for 
      Handling Refunds for Utilities

        
        Effective  with  the  calculation of the  index  for  January
      1999,  the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will change its treatment
      of  refunds  for  electricity, natural gas,  or  other  utility
      services when the refunds are based on earlier periods' utility
      consumption  amounts.  The change will affect  both  the  price
      indexes and the average prices computed by the CPI program.
        
        Under  the current practice, the CPI utility indexes  reflect
      refunds that appear on current period bills but that are  based
      on  past  period utility consumption.  Generally these  refunds
      result  from  the  rollback of temporary rate increases,  lower
      than  anticipated energy costs, or a reevaluation of rates with
      respect  to  actual  costs. The current  practice  makes  these
      indexes  rather volatile and do not reflect the actual  current
      price  (for  example,  what a new customer  would  pay)  for  a
      utility service such as electricity.
        
        Under  the  new procedure, the CPI will disregard any  refund
      for past excess charges when it appears on residential customer
      bills  as a separate refund credit that is subtracted from  the
      charges for current billing period's usage. The movement of the
      CPI utility indexes will reflect all changes in rates-generally
      in  the month they are effective. The CPI utility indexes  will
      continue  to reflect current period credits that are  based  on
      current  period  consumption, such  as  those  associated  with
      purchased gas or fuel adjustments.
        
        For  additional  information on this  change,  write  to  the
      Bureau  of  Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer  Prices  and
      Price  Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3615, Washington,
      DC  20212-0001; or telephone Bob Adkins at (202) 606-6985  ext.
      264, or send e-mail to Adkins_B@bls.gov

 ________________________________________________________________________     
       
      Using  a  hedonic  model  to adjust television  prices  in  the
      Consumer Price Index for changes in quality

      
        Effective with the release of the Consumer Price Index  (CPI)
      for  January  1999, the Bureau of Labor Statistics  (BLS)  will
      introduce an improvement in the way in which it calculates  the
      Television stratum of the CPI.
        As  of  December 1997, Televisions constituted 0.215  percent
      in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (the CPI-U)
      and  0.256  percent in the Consumer Price Index for Urban  Wage
      Earners and Clerical Workers (the CPI-W).
        Bureau   of   Labor   Statistics  researchers   developed   a
      regression  procedure, called a hedonic model, that  decomposes
      the  price  of  television sets into implicit prices  for  each
      important  feature and component /1. This model  uses  Television
      observations collected for the CPI and provides an estimate  of
      the value of each of the significant features and components of
      the  sets  for  which  prices  are  collected.  This  yields  a
      mechanism for replacing obsolete televisions in the CPI  sample
      with current ones, allowing the CPI to capture the price change
      that  may occur as new models replace old ones in the  market
      place  without  counting the value of quality  improvements  as
      price increases.
        The  CPI  has used similar hedonic methods to adjust  apparel
      prices for many years.  In January 1998, the CPI began using  a
      similar approach for Personal Computers.  In the coming  years,
      BLS plans to extend the method to additional CPI items.
        Starting  with the CPI for January 1999, when a  television
      model in the CPI sample improves in some way, the value of that
      change,  as  derived  from the regression  estimates,  will  be
      deducted  from  the  observed price change  for  that  product.
      (Conversely,  if  a  model  deteriorates,  the  value  of   the
      difference will be added to the price.)
        For additional information on these changes, write to
      Bureau of Labor Statistics
      Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes
      2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3260
      Washington, DC 20212-0001
      or telephone Tim LaFleur at (202) 606-6982 ext. 253,
      or send e-mail to LaFleur_T@bls.gov
     
      ________________________
      /1 Brent R. Moulton, Timothy J. LaFleur, and Karin E. Moses,
      "Research on Improved Quality Adjustment in the CPI: The Case
      of Televisions," presented to the Conference of the Ottawa
      Group, April 1998.
       
 __________________________________________________________________________
 
 Revision of the CPI Housing Sample and Estimation Process

 
      BLS will implement the housing portion of the ongoing CPI revision
 process beginning with the index for January 1999.  This part of the CPI
 revision is directed at the major shelter indexes, "rent of primary
 residence" and "owners' equivalent rent of primary residence."  The CPI
 will shift to an improved estimation method for homeowner shelter costs
 and will use a new housing unit sample based on the 1990 decennial census.
 
      The new estimator for "owners' equivalent rent of primary residence"
 will employ the same rental observations that form the basis of the
 revised "rent of primary residence" index. Those observations will be
 weighted to reflect the total urban stock of owner-occupied and renter-
 occupied housing, respectively.  The current CPI estimates the change in
 the implicit rents of a sample of owner-occupied units from the rent
 change of rental units matched specifically to them.  Among other
 advantages, the new method will not require selection of an owner-occupied
 sample.
 
      The new sample will provide a current set of rental housing units
 that, as noted above, will be the basis of both the "rent of primary
 residence" and "owners' equivalent rent of primary residence" indexes.
 The decennial census provided information that BLS has used to select
 small geographic areas (called segments) within the CPI's 87 pricing areas
 that represent the urban United States.  The segment selection process
 utilizes random sampling so that the housing sample will represent all
 varieties and locations of the housing stock throughout each CPI pricing
 area.  Segments have been selected for the initial sample.  Augmentation
 segments also will be supplied to replenish the current sample.  The CPI
 will use another sample augmentation process to bring housing units
 constructed since the decennial census into the CPI housing sample.
 
      Additional information on these and other changes to the housing
 component of the CPI can be found in the December 1996 Monthly Labor
 Review article, "Revision of the CPI Housing Sample and Estimators."  For
 additional information, write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division
 of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE, Room 3615,
 Washington, DC 20212-0001 or telephone Frank Ptacek at 202-606-6991 ext.
 278, or send e-mail to Ptacek_F@bls.gov
 
 __________________________________________________________________________      
       
       BLS to Maintain Current Reference Base of 1982-84=100 for
       most CPI index series

       
            The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) previously
       indicated its intention to change the numerical reference
       base for both the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
       Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer Price Index for Urban
       Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from their present
       1982-84=100 base to a 1993-95=100 base, effective with
       release of the January 1999 index in February 1999.  BLS
       also indicated that the alternate, or 1967=100 base, would
       be discontinued in 1999 as well.  This plan was initially
       described in the December 1996 Monthly Labor Review, a
       publication which contained several articles that dealt with
       the 1998 CPI Revision.
       
            The BLS has now decided not to implement this rebasing
       plan.  Instead, the BLS will maintain the reference base of
       1982-84=100 used for most items.  In addition, the 1967=100
       reference base will continue to be the alternate base for
       the All Items indexes.  This decision is based in part on
       the fact that historical data have less precision after
       rebasing.  Rebasing is simply an arithmetic transformation
       that does not substantially impact the index.  Because the
       rebased index values are smaller, however, the loss of
       precision due to rounding is more serious.  In addition,
       retaining the old index reference bases would spare users
       the inconvenience associated with conversion.
       
            Changes in the numerical reference base should not be
       confused with the updating of the CPI's the market basket.
       With release of the January CPI in February 1998, the
       expenditure weights applied to CPI categories are based on
       consumer spending patterns for 1993-95.
    
 ______________________________________________________________________ 
       
       Recalculated Seasonally Adjusted Indexes to be Available on
       February 17, 1999
       
       
            Each year with the release of the January CPI, seasonal
       adjustment factors are recalculated to reflect price
       movements from the just-completed calendar year.  This
       routine annual recalculation may result in revisions to
       seasonally adjusted indexes for the previous 5 years.  BLS
       will make available recalculated seasonally adjusted
       indexes, as well as recalculated seasonal adjustment
       factors, for the period January 1994 through December 1998,
       on Wednesday, February 17, 1999.  This date is two working
       days before the scheduled release of the January 1999 CPI on
       Friday, February 19, 1999.
       
            The revised indexes and seasonal factors will be
       available on the Internet.  The address is
       http://stats.bls.gov.  Select Data, then select FTP Site,
       then select special requests, then select cpi.  The revised
       seasonal data will be in the file REVSEAS_1998.CPI.
       
            For further information please contact Claire Gallagher
       or Richard Kerr at (202) 606-6968, or send e-mail to 
       Gallagher_C@bls.gov
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Dec. 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Nov.      Dec.                                            
                                                              1998      1998     Dec.     Nov.   Sep. to Oct. to Nov. to
                                                                                 1997     1998     Oct.    Nov.    Dec. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     164.0     163.9      1.6     -0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     491.3     491.0        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     162.5     162.7      2.3      0.1     0.5     0.2     0.0 
   Food ......................................     15.326     162.1     162.3      2.3      0.1     0.6     0.1     0.0 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     162.5     162.6      2.1      0.1     0.7     0.2    -0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.536     182.1     182.3      2.2      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.629     147.9     147.3     -0.7     -0.4     0.2    -0.2    -0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.037     155.9     157.6      6.6      1.1     1.4     0.6     1.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.394     198.8     200.7      4.9      1.0     3.2    -0.9    -0.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.077     132.7     131.7     -1.1     -0.8     0.4     0.5    -0.3 
     Other food at home ......................      1.972     152.7     152.4      3.2     -0.2     0.1     0.7    -0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     149.6     150.1      1.5      0.3    -0.1     0.3     0.3 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .291     155.1     151.9      8.3     -2.1     2.6    -0.3    -1.9 
      Other foods ............................      1.305     166.7     166.9      2.5      0.1    -0.4     1.1    -0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .309     104.8     104.9      4.9      0.1    -0.1     1.3     0.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.680     162.6     163.0      2.5      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .172     103.3     103.3      3.3      0.0     0.0     0.6     0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .983     166.8     167.2      2.0      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.560     161.3     161.3      2.3      0.0     0.2     0.3     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     29.788     184.0     184.0      3.3      0.0     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................      6.885     174.5     174.9      3.4      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.327     106.3     103.8      3.8     -2.4    -0.3     1.3    -1.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     20.199     190.3     190.7      3.2      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .377      99.9      99.9     -0.1      0.0     0.5     0.2     0.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.942     126.5     126.6     -2.6      0.1    -0.2     0.6    -0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      4.018     111.4     111.4     -3.8      0.0    -0.4     0.8    -0.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .261      86.8      86.1    -11.4     -0.8    -0.8    -0.9    -1.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.757     118.9     118.9     -3.3      0.0    -0.3     0.8    -0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.831     126.6     126.6      1.2      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.944     135.0     130.7     -0.7     -3.2     0.1     0.0    -0.8 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.390     134.1     130.3     -0.7     -2.8     1.2    -0.2    -0.9 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.990     127.5     122.4     -1.0     -4.0    -1.5    -0.5    -0.8 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .268     131.3     129.6      3.0     -1.3     4.2     0.8    -1.3 
   Footwear ..................................       .895     130.4     127.5     -0.5     -2.2    -0.2     0.8    -0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.578     141.5     140.7     -1.7     -0.6     0.3     0.0    -0.4 
   Private transportation ....................     16.240     138.0     137.2     -2.0     -0.6     0.4     0.0    -0.5 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.899     100.7     100.9      0.9      0.2    -0.1     0.2     0.0 
     New vehicles ............................      5.063     143.5     144.1      0.0      0.4    -0.3     0.0     0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.880     154.0     153.1      3.5     -0.6     0.7     0.7    -0.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.995      89.7      86.2    -15.4     -3.9     2.6    -1.0    -3.0 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.976      89.2      85.7    -15.4     -3.9     2.7    -0.9    -2.9 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .560     101.4     101.2     -0.2     -0.2     0.2    -0.2    -0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.603     169.5     169.6      3.0      0.1     0.4     0.5     0.1 
   Public transportation .....................      1.338     187.4     188.4      2.2      0.5    -1.3    -0.5     1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.614     244.7     245.2      3.4      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.222     224.5     225.6      4.1      0.5     0.1     0.2     0.5 
   Medical care services .....................      4.392     249.3     249.6      3.2      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Professional services ....................      2.808     224.4     224.6      3.3      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.334     290.8     291.4      3.2      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.145     101.3     101.2      1.2     -0.1    -0.3     0.2     0.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.763     100.8     100.7      0.7     -0.1    -0.3    -0.3    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.528     101.0     100.7      0.7     -0.3     0.2     0.2    -0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.615     104.6     104.7      4.7      0.1     0.5     0.4     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .194     257.1     257.3      6.0      0.1     1.4     0.3     0.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.421     301.4     301.7      4.6      0.1     0.4     0.4     0.5 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.913      97.8      97.1     -2.9     -0.7    -0.1     0.0    -0.7 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.706      97.6      96.9     -3.1     -0.7    -0.1     0.0    -0.7 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.357     101.1     100.3      0.3     -0.8     0.0     0.4    -0.8 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .350      35.3      34.8    -26.6     -1.4    -1.6    -2.2    -1.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .234      65.6      64.2    -35.8     -2.1    -1.5    -2.8    -2.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.321     240.5     250.3      8.8      4.1     0.3    -0.3     4.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       .894     281.3     331.2     31.8     17.7     0.3    -1.1    18.3 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.427     158.0     158.3      2.8      0.2     0.4    -0.1     0.2 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     148.8     148.7      2.3     -0.1     0.2    -0.4    -0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................       .963     167.6     168.3      2.7      0.4     0.2     0.1     0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.465     237.2     237.8      3.4      0.3     0.3     0.3     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.635     142.5     142.2      0.4     -0.2     0.4    -0.1     0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     162.5     162.7      2.3      0.1     0.5     0.2     0.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     26.326     130.6     130.2     -0.8     -0.3     0.2    -0.2     0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.729     132.9     132.1     -1.0     -0.6     0.6    -0.5     0.6 
    Apparel ..................................      4.944     135.0     130.7     -0.7     -3.2     0.1     0.0    -0.8 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.785     136.8     137.8     -1.2      0.7     0.6    -0.4     1.1 
   Durables ..................................     11.596     127.4     127.4     -0.5      0.0    -0.2     0.2    -0.2 
 Services ....................................     57.365     185.6     185.7      2.6      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     29.410     191.5     191.5      3.3      0.0     0.2     0.3     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.984     188.3     188.4      1.3      0.1    -0.2     0.1     0.3 
  Other services .............................     10.625     219.5     219.5      3.0      0.0     0.1     0.3     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.674     164.3     164.2      1.5     -0.1     0.2     0.1     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.212     157.9     157.8      0.9     -0.1     0.3     0.1     0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     94.386     159.5     159.4      1.5     -0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     27.309     132.1     131.7     -0.7     -0.3     0.3    -0.2     0.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.712     135.0     134.2     -0.8     -0.6     0.5    -0.2     0.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.768     138.8     139.7     -0.9      0.6     0.6    -0.3     0.9 
 Nondurables .................................     31.039     147.8     147.5      0.7     -0.2     0.5    -0.1     0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     27.955     192.7     192.8      1.7      0.1     0.0     0.3     0.3 
 Services less medical care services .........     52.973     179.7     179.8      2.5      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      7.013     100.5      98.9     -8.8     -1.6     0.9     0.0    -1.4 
 All items less energy .......................     92.987     172.3     172.3      2.4      0.0     0.2     0.1     0.3 
  All items less food and energy .............     77.661     174.8     174.8      2.4      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.3 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.053     143.8     143.9      1.3      0.1     0.0    -0.1     0.6 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.256      89.6      86.3    -15.1     -3.7     2.4    -1.0    -2.9 
   Services less energy services .............     53.608     192.4     192.5      3.0      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .610    $ .610        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .204    $ .204        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   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. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Sep.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec.                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Mar.   June   Sep.   Dec.   June   Dec. 
                                                                                1998   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  163.6   164.0   164.3   164.5    0.2    2.5    1.5    2.2    1.4    1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  161.7   162.5   162.8   162.8    1.0    2.8    2.3    2.7    1.9    2.5 
   Food ......................................  161.4   162.3   162.5   162.5    1.3    3.0    2.0    2.8    2.2    2.4 
    Food at home .............................  161.4   162.6   162.9   162.6    0.5    3.3    1.5    3.0    1.9    2.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  182.1   182.4   182.8   183.0    2.3    2.0    2.5    2.0    2.1    2.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  147.1   147.4   147.1   146.7   -2.9    0.8    0.5   -1.1   -1.1   -0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  152.9   155.0   155.9   157.6    1.6   -0.8   13.6   12.9    0.4   13.2 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  197.0   203.3   201.5   199.7    4.5   18.6   -8.5    5.6   11.3   -1.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  132.1   132.6   133.3   132.9   -1.8   -2.1   -2.7    2.4   -1.9   -0.2 
     Other food at home ......................  152.5   152.7   153.8   153.4    1.6    3.0    5.7    2.4    2.3    4.0 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  150.7   150.5   151.0   151.4    3.8   -1.1    1.1    1.9    1.3    1.5 
      Fats and oils ..........................  152.7   156.6   156.2   153.2    0.9    4.3   28.9    1.3    2.6   14.3 
      Other foods ............................  166.4   165.8   167.7   167.6    1.5    3.7    2.2    2.9    2.6    2.6 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  103.6   103.5   104.8   104.9    6.1    4.0    4.4    5.1    5.1    4.7 
    Food away from home (1)...................  162.1   162.3   162.6   163.0    2.3    2.0    3.5    2.2    2.1    2.9 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  102.7   102.7   103.3   103.3    1.2    2.8    6.9    2.4    2.0    4.6 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  166.5   166.7   167.1   167.7    0.5    1.5    2.9    2.9    1.0    2.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  161.0   161.3   161.8   162.0    1.5    3.1    2.3    2.5    2.3    2.4 
   Shelter ...................................  183.3   183.7   184.2   184.6    2.7    3.8    3.8    2.9    3.3    3.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................  173.4   173.9   174.3   174.9    2.9    3.6    3.8    3.5    3.2    3.6 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  104.2   103.9   105.2   103.7   -0.4    6.1   11.5   -1.9    2.8    4.6 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  189.0   189.6   189.9   190.5    3.1    3.7    3.0    3.2    3.4    3.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..   99.2    99.7    99.9    99.9    1.2   -4.7    0.4    2.9   -1.8    1.6 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  127.0   126.8   127.6   127.3   -7.1    0.0   -4.0    0.9   -3.6   -1.6 
    Fuels ....................................  111.5   111.1   112.0   111.5   -9.6   -0.7   -4.9    0.0   -5.3   -2.5 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   88.2    87.5    86.7    85.1  -14.9   -7.2  -10.2  -13.3  -11.1  -11.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  119.1   118.8   119.8   119.5   -9.4    0.0   -4.9    1.4   -4.8   -1.8 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  126.4   126.6   126.8   127.0    2.6    1.3   -0.6    1.9    1.9    0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  133.2   133.3   133.3   132.2   -2.1    2.1    0.0   -3.0    0.0   -1.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  130.6   132.2   132.0   130.8    3.4   -3.3   -3.3    0.6    0.0   -1.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  127.7   125.8   125.2   124.2   -0.6    5.9    1.6  -10.5    2.6   -4.7 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  124.9   130.2   131.3   129.6   -4.4    1.0    0.6   15.9   -1.7    8.0 
   Footwear ..................................  128.9   128.6   129.6   128.8  -10.1    7.5    1.6   -0.3   -1.7    0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  141.1   141.5   141.5   140.9   -4.9   -1.1   -0.6   -0.6   -3.0   -0.6 
   Private transportation ....................  137.5   138.1   138.1   137.4   -6.4   -0.3   -1.2   -0.3   -3.4   -0.7 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.8   100.7   100.9   100.9    0.4    0.0    2.8    0.4    0.2    1.6 
     New vehicles ............................  143.7   143.2   143.2   143.4    0.8   -2.8    2.8   -0.8   -1.0    1.0 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  151.9   153.0   154.0   153.1   -1.6   10.1    2.7    3.2    4.1    2.9 
    Motor fuel ...............................   88.8    91.1    90.2    87.5  -34.8   -3.8  -13.6   -5.7  -20.8   -9.7 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   88.1    90.5    89.7    87.1  -35.0   -4.3  -14.1   -4.5  -21.1   -9.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  101.3   101.5   101.3   101.1   -0.8    0.4    0.4   -0.8   -0.2   -0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  168.1   168.7   169.5   169.6    2.5    2.2    3.7    3.6    2.3    3.6 
   Public transportation .....................  191.0   188.6   187.6   189.9   14.3   -7.9    6.1   -2.3    2.6    1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  244.4   244.9   245.3   246.0    2.9    4.6    3.5    2.6    3.7    3.1 
   Medical care commodities ..................  224.5   224.7   225.2   226.3    1.3    6.6    5.3    3.2    3.9    4.3 
   Medical care services .....................  248.6   249.2   249.6   250.1    3.2    4.2    2.9    2.4    3.7    2.7 
    Professional services ....................  224.0   224.4   224.9   225.3    3.5    4.2    3.1    2.3    3.9    2.7 
    Hospital and related services ............  289.5   290.5   291.1   291.7    2.6    3.0    4.0    3.1    2.8    3.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.3   101.0   101.2   101.2    4.1    0.4    0.8   -0.4    2.2    0.2 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.4   101.1   100.8   100.7    5.7   -0.8    0.8   -2.7    2.4   -1.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.4   100.6   100.8   100.7    0.8    2.8   -2.0    1.2    1.8   -0.4 
   Education (2)..............................  103.3   103.8   104.2   104.7    4.9    5.6    2.8    5.5    5.3    4.1 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  253.2   256.8   257.6   258.3    4.2    5.8    5.6    8.3    5.0    6.9 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   296.1   297.4   298.5   299.9    5.0    5.6    2.5    5.2    5.3    3.8 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   97.9    97.8    97.8    97.1   -2.8    0.4   -5.9   -3.2   -1.2   -4.6 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   97.7    97.6    97.6    96.9   -2.8    0.0   -6.3   -3.2   -1.4   -4.8 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.7   100.7   101.1   100.3    1.6    4.0   -2.7   -1.6    2.8   -2.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   36.7    36.1    35.3    34.8  -29.7  -23.4  -33.2  -19.2  -26.6  -26.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   68.5    67.5    65.6    64.2  -38.1  -33.8  -46.2  -22.8  -36.0  -35.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  240.9   241.7   241.0   251.1    3.9    6.9    6.9   18.0    5.4   12.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  283.2   284.0   280.8   332.2    3.5   21.3   26.8   89.3   12.1   54.9 
   Personal care (1)..........................  157.5   158.1   158.0   158.3    4.0    3.4    1.8    2.0    3.7    1.9 
    Personal care products (1)................  149.1   149.4   148.8   148.7    5.6    5.3   -0.3   -1.1    5.4   -0.7 
    Personal care services (1)................  167.1   167.5   167.6   168.3    2.0    1.5    4.4    2.9    1.7    3.7 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  236.5   237.3   237.9   239.0    2.1    3.1    4.0    4.3    2.6    4.1 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.0   142.5   142.4   142.6   -2.2    1.4    0.6    1.7   -0.4    1.1 
  Food and beverages .........................  161.7   162.5   162.8   162.8    1.0    2.8    2.3    2.7    1.9    2.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.4   130.7   130.5   130.7   -4.5    0.9   -0.6    0.9   -1.8    0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.2   133.0   132.4   133.2   -8.3    2.8   -1.2    3.1   -2.9    0.9 
    Apparel ..................................  133.2   133.3   133.3   132.2   -2.1    2.1    0.0   -3.0    0.0   -1.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  136.8   137.6   137.0   138.5  -10.7    3.6   -2.0    5.1   -3.8    1.5 
   Durables ..................................  127.4   127.2   127.4   127.2    0.3   -1.2    0.0   -0.6   -0.5   -0.3 
 Services ....................................  185.2   185.5   186.0   186.3    2.2    3.1    2.4    2.4    2.7    2.4 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  191.2   191.5   192.1   192.5    2.8    3.7    4.1    2.7    3.2    3.4 
  Transportation services ....................  188.0   187.7   187.9   188.4    5.0   -1.5    1.1    0.9    1.7    1.0 
  Other services .............................  218.6   218.8   219.5   219.8    3.2    4.3    2.0    2.2    3.8    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  163.9   164.2   164.4   164.7    0.2    2.2    1.5    2.0    1.2    1.7 
 All items less shelter ......................  157.4   157.8   158.0   158.1   -0.8    1.8    0.5    1.8    0.5    1.1 
 All items less medical care .................  158.9   159.3   159.6   159.8    0.3    2.0    1.5    2.3    1.1    1.9 
 Commodities less food .......................  131.9   132.3   132.1   132.3   -4.1    0.6   -0.6    1.2   -1.8    0.3 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.2   134.9   134.6   135.1   -7.1    2.1   -0.9    2.7   -2.6    0.9 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  138.7   139.5   139.1   140.4  -10.0    3.5   -1.4    5.0   -3.5    1.7 
 Nondurables .................................  147.0   147.8   147.7   148.1   -3.2    2.2    0.8    3.0   -0.5    1.9 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  192.4   192.4   192.9   193.4    1.3    2.8    1.0    2.1    2.0    1.6 
 Services less medical care services .........  179.3   179.5   180.1   180.5    2.1    3.0    2.3    2.7    2.5    2.5 
 Energy ......................................  100.2   101.1   101.1    99.7  -21.1   -1.9   -8.7   -2.0  -12.1   -5.4 
 All items less energy .......................  171.9   172.3   172.5   173.0    2.1    2.6    2.4    2.6    2.4    2.5 
  All items less food and energy .............  174.5   174.8   175.1   175.6    2.4    2.6    2.3    2.5    2.5    2.4 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.6   143.6   143.5   144.3    0.8    1.1    1.1    2.0    1.0    1.5 
    Energy commodities .......................   88.6    90.7    89.8    87.2  -33.3   -4.2  -13.6   -6.2  -20.1  -10.0 
   Services less energy services .............  191.9   192.3   192.8   193.1    3.0    3.2    3.0    2.5    3.1    2.7 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Dec.1998 from--      Nov.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Sep.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998   Dec.   Oct.   Nov.   Nov.   Sep.   Oct. 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    163.6  164.0  164.0  163.9    1.6   -0.1   -0.1    1.5    0.2    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    170.6  171.3  171.2  171.2    1.7   -0.1    0.0    1.6    0.4   -0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    171.7  172.3  172.2  172.2    1.8   -0.1    0.0    1.7    0.3   -0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    102.2  102.6  102.6  102.5    1.2   -0.1   -0.1    1.3    0.4    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    159.9  160.1  160.1  159.8    1.6   -0.2   -0.2    1.5    0.1    0.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    161.4  161.4  161.3  161.0    1.8   -0.2   -0.2    1.8   -0.1   -0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.2  102.4  102.4  102.3    1.3   -0.1   -0.1    1.1    0.2    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    154.0  154.3  154.7  155.0    1.3    0.5    0.2    0.7    0.5    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    159.5  159.8  159.6  159.6    1.5   -0.1    0.0    1.1    0.1   -0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    158.8  159.0  158.6  158.3    1.3   -0.4   -0.2    1.4   -0.1   -0.3 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.5  102.8  102.8  102.8    1.5    0.0    0.0    0.9    0.3    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.1  159.8  160.0  160.4    2.2    0.4    0.3    1.8   -0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    165.1  165.5  165.8  165.8    1.8    0.2    0.0    1.8    0.4    0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    165.9  166.3  166.5  166.5    2.1    0.1    0.0    2.3    0.4    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.7  103.0  103.5  103.4    1.4    0.4   -0.1    1.1    0.8    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    148.2  148.5  148.5  148.4    1.9   -0.1   -0.1    1.9    0.2    0.0 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.4  102.7  102.8  102.7    1.3    0.0   -0.1    1.1    0.4    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    159.7  159.7  159.9  160.2    1.7    0.3    0.2    1.3    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    165.3  165.7  165.4  165.1    1.4   -0.4   -0.2    1.5    0.1   -0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    162.6  163.2  163.4  163.5    1.4    0.2    0.1    1.7    0.5    0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    174.4  174.8  174.7  174.7    1.6   -0.1    0.0    1.6    0.2   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    172.1      -  173.3      -      -      -      -    2.3    0.7      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    161.5      -  160.8      -      -      -      -    2.4   -0.4      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    154.5      -  154.0      -      -      -      -      -   -0.3      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1    102.9      -  102.4      -      -      -      -    1.9   -0.5      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  162.0      -  161.6    1.4   -0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  161.0      -  161.2    2.6    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  148.5      -  146.1    0.3   -1.6      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  161.1      -  161.1    1.1    0.0      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  170.3      -  169.0    1.6   -0.8      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  167.2      -  167.4    3.0    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  169.3      -  169.4    2.7    0.1      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Dec. 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Nov.      Dec.                                            
                                                              1998      1998     Dec.     Nov.   Sep. to Oct. to Nov. to
                                                                                 1997     1998     Oct.    Nov.    Dec. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     160.7     160.7      1.6      0.0     0.3     0.1     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     478.6     478.6        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     161.7     161.9      2.1      0.1     0.5     0.2    -0.1 
   Food ......................................     16.861     161.4     161.5      2.2      0.1     0.5     0.2    -0.1 
    Food at home .............................     10.785     161.3     161.3      2.0      0.0     0.7     0.1    -0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.678     181.9     182.0      2.2      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.125     147.6     146.9     -0.7     -0.5     0.2    -0.2    -0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.135     155.5     157.4      6.7      1.2     1.3     0.6     1.2 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.447     197.6     199.0      4.7      0.7     3.3    -0.9    -1.0 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.215     131.4     130.4     -1.0     -0.8     0.3     0.5    -0.3 
     Other food at home ......................      2.185     152.0     151.7      3.1     -0.2     0.1     0.7    -0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     149.5     150.0      1.6      0.3    -0.1     0.3     0.5 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .332     154.4     151.2      8.0     -2.1     2.6    -0.4    -1.9 
      Other foods ............................      1.432     166.6     166.7      2.5      0.1    -0.5     1.1    -0.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .344     104.9     104.9      4.9      0.0    -0.4     1.5     0.0 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.076     162.6     163.0      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .212     103.4     103.4      3.4      0.0     0.0     0.6     0.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.042     165.7     166.2      1.9      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.450     157.7     157.8      2.2      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     27.033     178.6     178.8      3.3      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................      8.347     174.1     174.6      3.4      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.4 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.346     106.6     104.0      4.0     -2.4     0.3     1.2    -1.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     17.016     173.4     173.7      3.2      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .324     100.3     100.3      0.3      0.0     0.6     0.3     0.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      5.053     126.4     126.4     -2.5      0.0    -0.2     0.7    -0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      4.143     110.9     110.9     -3.7      0.0    -0.2     0.7    -0.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .229      87.4      86.6    -10.7     -0.9    -0.7    -0.7    -1.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.914     118.3     118.4     -3.3      0.1    -0.3     0.8    -0.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.365     124.8     124.8      1.0      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.300     134.0     129.8     -0.4     -3.1     0.4     0.1    -0.6 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.503     134.0     130.2     -0.4     -2.8     1.7    -0.3    -1.0 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.985     125.9     121.0     -0.4     -3.9    -1.2    -0.3    -0.2 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .337     132.7     130.9      3.5     -1.4     4.1     1.3    -1.4 
   Footwear ..................................      1.082     130.9     128.2     -0.8     -2.1    -0.2     0.6    -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.847     140.6     139.6     -2.0     -0.7     0.4     0.0    -0.6 
   Private transportation ....................     18.790     138.2     137.1     -2.1     -0.8     0.5     0.0    -0.7 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.285     101.1     101.1      1.1      0.0     0.0     0.4    -0.2 
     New vehicles ............................      5.304     144.7     145.3      0.0      0.4    -0.4     0.1     0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.162     155.2     154.3      3.2     -0.6     0.7     0.6    -0.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.682      89.7      86.0    -15.4     -4.1     2.6    -1.1    -3.1 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.658      89.2      85.5    -15.5     -4.1     2.8    -1.0    -3.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .694     100.7     100.5     -0.3     -0.2     0.2    -0.1    -0.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.664     170.8     170.9      3.1      0.1     0.5     0.4     0.1 
   Public transportation .....................      1.057     184.2     185.1      1.4      0.5    -1.2    -0.4     1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.591     244.0     244.4      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .906     221.1     222.1      3.7      0.5    -0.1     0.2     0.5 
   Medical care services .....................      3.684     249.1     249.4      3.2      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Professional services ....................      2.372     225.9     226.2      3.3      0.1     0.3     0.1     0.2 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.097     286.9     287.4      3.1      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.969     100.8     100.8      0.8      0.0    -0.3     0.1     0.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.968     100.8     100.7      0.7     -0.1    -0.3    -0.2    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.396     101.2     100.9      0.9     -0.3     0.1     0.3    -0.2 
   Education (2)..............................      2.402     104.6     104.7      4.7      0.1     0.5     0.3     0.6 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .192     259.5     259.7      5.9      0.1     1.5     0.3     0.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.211     295.4     295.8      4.6      0.1     0.4     0.4     0.5 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.994      98.5      97.8     -2.2     -0.7    -0.1     0.1    -0.7 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.841      98.4      97.7     -2.3     -0.7    -0.1     0.1    -0.7 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.547     101.2     100.4      0.4     -0.8     0.0     0.4    -0.8 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .294      36.6      36.0    -26.4     -1.6    -2.1    -2.1    -1.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191      65.3      64.0    -36.0     -2.0    -2.2    -3.3    -2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.544     239.2     252.6     11.3      5.6     0.3    -0.5     5.8 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.300     281.4     332.0     32.3     18.0     0.2    -1.2    18.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.244     158.1     158.3      2.9      0.1     0.4    -0.1     0.1 
    Personal care products (1)................       .832     149.8     149.6      2.4     -0.1     0.2    -0.4    -0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................       .964     168.0     168.6      2.7      0.4     0.2     0.1     0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.226     236.9     237.4      3.7      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     47.234     142.4     142.3      0.5     -0.1     0.4     0.0     0.2 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     161.7     161.9      2.1      0.1     0.5     0.2    -0.1 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     29.331     130.9     130.6     -0.5     -0.2     0.3    -0.1     0.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.928     132.5     132.1     -0.8     -0.3     0.8    -0.5     0.9 
    Apparel ..................................      5.300     134.0     129.8     -0.4     -3.1     0.4     0.1    -0.6 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.628     136.3     137.9     -1.0      1.2     0.9    -0.7     1.6 
   Durables ..................................     13.403     127.4     127.4     -0.1      0.0    -0.1     0.2    -0.2 
 Services ....................................     52.766     182.4     182.5      2.4      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     26.708     172.0     172.2      3.4      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.824     186.1     186.1      1.2      0.0    -0.1     0.1     0.2 
  Other services .............................     10.006     216.2     216.1      3.0      0.0     0.1     0.3     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.139     160.4     160.4      1.5      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.967     155.7     155.6      0.9     -0.1     0.3     0.1     0.2 
 All items less medical care .................     95.409     156.8     156.8      1.5      0.0     0.3     0.1     0.2 
 Commodities less food .......................     30.373     132.2     132.0     -0.4     -0.2     0.3    -0.1     0.4 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.970     134.5     134.1     -0.7     -0.3     0.7    -0.3     0.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.670     138.2     139.7     -0.7      1.1     1.0    -0.4     1.5 
 Nondurables .................................     33.831     147.4     147.3      0.8     -0.1     0.5     0.0     0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     26.057     171.4     171.5      1.6      0.1     0.0     0.2     0.2 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.082     176.8     176.9      2.4      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      7.825      99.6      97.8     -9.2     -1.8     1.0    -0.1    -1.5 
 All items less energy .......................     92.175     169.1     169.3      2.5      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.4 
  All items less food and energy .............     75.315     171.1     171.3      2.5      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.4 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.463     143.6     144.1      1.8      0.3     0.1     0.0     0.8 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.910      89.7      86.2    -15.2     -3.9     2.4    -1.1    -3.0 
   Services less energy services .............     48.852     189.6     189.7      2.9      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .622    $ .622        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .209    $ .209        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   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 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Sep.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec.                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Mar.   June   Sep.   Dec.   June   Dec. 
                                                                                1998   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  160.1   160.6   160.8   161.1   -0.3    2.5    1.3    2.5    1.1    1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  161.1   161.9   162.2   162.1    1.3    2.5    2.3    2.5    1.9    2.4 
   Food ......................................  160.7   161.5   161.8   161.7    1.3    2.8    2.3    2.5    2.0    2.4 
    Food at home .............................  160.4   161.5   161.7   161.4    0.8    3.1    1.5    2.5    1.9    2.0 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  182.0   182.1   182.6   182.8    2.0    2.2    2.7    1.8    2.1    2.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.7   147.0   146.7   146.3   -3.0    0.8    0.3   -1.1   -1.1   -0.4 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  152.6   154.6   155.5   157.4    1.6   -1.1   13.9   13.2    0.3   13.6 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  196.4   202.9   201.1   199.0    6.3   17.4   -7.9    5.4   11.7   -1.5 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  130.9   131.3   132.0   131.6   -1.5   -2.1   -2.4    2.2   -1.8   -0.2 
     Other food at home ......................  151.8   152.0   153.1   152.6    2.2    2.7    5.7    2.1    2.4    3.9 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  150.4   150.2   150.7   151.5    4.1   -1.3    0.5    3.0    1.3    1.7 
      Fats and oils ..........................  152.1   156.1   155.5   152.6    0.3    4.9   27.6    1.3    2.6   13.7 
      Other foods ............................  166.5   165.7   167.6   167.2    2.0    3.5    2.9    1.7    2.7    2.3 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  103.7   103.3   104.9   104.9    7.4    2.8    4.8    4.7    5.1    4.7 
    Food away from home (1)...................  162.0   162.3   162.6   163.0    2.3    2.3    3.0    2.5    2.3    2.8 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  102.8   102.8   103.4   103.4    1.2    2.8    7.3    2.4    2.0    4.8 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  165.2   165.5   166.0   166.7    0.0    1.2    2.7    3.7    0.6    3.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  157.2   157.5   158.0   158.2    1.6    2.9    1.8    2.6    2.2    2.2 
   Shelter ...................................  177.9   178.4   178.9   179.3    3.0    3.7    3.4    3.2    3.4    3.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................  173.0   173.5   173.9   174.6    3.1    3.6    3.5    3.8    3.3    3.6 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  104.0   104.3   105.6   104.0    0.4    7.4    8.5    0.0    3.8    4.2 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  172.2   172.7   173.0   173.5    3.4    3.3    3.1    3.1    3.4    3.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..   99.4   100.0   100.3   100.3    2.0   -4.7    0.4    3.7   -1.4    2.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  126.6   126.4   127.3   127.1   -7.2    0.0   -4.3    1.6   -3.6   -1.4 
    Fuels ....................................  110.7   110.5   111.3   111.1   -9.4   -0.4   -5.9    1.5   -5.0   -2.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   88.5    87.9    87.3    85.6  -13.4   -5.9  -10.9  -12.5   -9.8  -11.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  118.4   118.1   119.1   119.0   -9.4    0.0   -5.2    2.0   -4.8   -1.7 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  124.7   124.9   125.1   125.2    2.9    0.6   -1.0    1.6    1.8    0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  131.6   132.1   132.2   131.4   -4.5    3.1    0.3   -0.6   -0.8   -0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  130.2   132.4   132.0   130.7    2.2   -1.5   -3.6    1.5    0.3   -1.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  125.6   124.1   123.7   123.4   -3.5    5.3    3.2   -6.8    0.8   -1.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  125.8   131.0   132.7   130.9   -6.2    2.9    1.3   17.2   -1.7    9.0 
   Footwear ..................................  129.6   129.4   130.2   129.5  -11.4    7.8    1.9   -0.3   -2.3    0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  139.9   140.5   140.5   139.7   -6.0    0.0   -1.4   -0.6   -3.1   -1.0 
   Private transportation ....................  137.4   138.1   138.1   137.2   -6.7    0.3   -1.7   -0.6   -3.3   -1.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.9   100.9   101.3   101.1    0.0    1.2    2.4    0.8    0.6    1.6 
     New vehicles ............................  144.8   144.2   144.4   144.6    0.8   -2.5    2.2   -0.6   -0.8    0.8 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  153.2   154.2   155.2   154.3   -1.9    9.7    2.4    2.9    3.8    2.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................   88.8    91.1    90.1    87.3  -33.2   -3.8  -14.7   -6.6  -19.8  -10.7 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   88.2    90.7    89.8    86.9  -34.1   -4.2  -14.4   -5.8  -20.6  -10.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.6   100.8   100.7   100.3   -0.4    0.4    0.0   -1.2    0.0   -0.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  169.3   170.2   170.8   170.9    2.2    2.4    3.9    3.8    2.3    3.9 
   Public transportation .....................  187.4   185.2   184.4   186.8   10.4   -6.6    4.2   -1.3    1.5    1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  243.7   244.1   244.6   245.3    2.7    4.8    3.5    2.7    3.7    3.1 
   Medical care commodities ..................  221.5   221.3   221.8   222.8    0.9    6.5    5.6    2.4    3.7    4.0 
   Medical care services .....................  248.5   249.1   249.6   250.1    3.0    4.3    3.1    2.6    3.7    2.9 
    Professional services ....................  225.5   226.2   226.4   226.9    3.1    4.8    2.9    2.5    4.0    2.7 
    Hospital and related services ............  285.6   286.7   287.2   287.7    2.8    2.9    4.0    3.0    2.8    3.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.0   100.7   100.8   100.8    3.6    0.0    0.4   -0.8    1.8   -0.2 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.3   101.0   100.8   100.7    5.7   -1.2    0.8   -2.3    2.2   -0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.7   100.8   101.1   100.9    1.2    2.8   -1.2    0.8    2.0   -0.2 
   Education (2)..............................  103.4   103.9   104.2   104.8    4.9    5.6    3.2    5.5    5.3    4.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  255.3   259.1   260.0   260.7    4.3    6.1    4.7    8.7    5.2    6.7 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   290.6   291.7   292.8   294.3    5.1    5.4    2.9    5.2    5.3    4.1 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   98.5    98.4    98.5    97.8   -2.0    1.2   -5.1   -2.8   -0.4   -4.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   98.4    98.3    98.4    97.7   -2.0    1.2   -5.5   -2.8   -0.4   -4.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.8   100.8   101.2   100.4    1.6    4.0   -2.3   -1.6    2.8   -2.0 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   38.2    37.4    36.6    36.0  -29.6  -24.2  -30.2  -21.1  -26.9  -25.8 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   69.0    67.5    65.3    64.0  -39.2  -34.3  -43.3  -26.0  -36.8  -35.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  239.7   240.4   239.3   253.1    3.9    8.4    9.5   24.3    6.2   16.7 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  283.7   284.3   280.8   333.0    3.7   21.6   28.2   89.8   12.3   56.0 
   Personal care (1)..........................  157.7   158.3   158.1   158.3    4.2    3.4    2.3    1.5    3.8    1.9 
    Personal care products (1)................  150.1   150.4   149.8   149.6    5.9    5.8   -0.5   -1.3    5.8   -0.9 
    Personal care services (1)................  167.4   167.8   168.0   168.6    2.0    1.7    4.4    2.9    1.8    3.7 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  236.2   236.8   237.4   238.6    2.3    3.1    5.4    4.1    2.7    4.8 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  141.8   142.4   142.4   142.7   -3.1    2.0    0.6    2.6   -0.6    1.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  161.1   161.9   162.2   162.1    1.3    2.5    2.3    2.5    1.9    2.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.3   130.7   130.6   131.1   -5.1    1.5   -0.6    2.5   -1.8    0.9 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  131.5   132.6   132.0   133.2   -8.9    2.5   -1.2    5.3   -3.4    2.0 
    Apparel ..................................  131.6   132.1   132.2   131.4   -4.5    3.1    0.3   -0.6   -0.8   -0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  136.1   137.3   136.4   138.6  -11.7    3.3   -2.3    7.6   -4.5    2.5 
   Durables ..................................  127.2   127.1   127.4   127.1    0.0   -0.9    0.6   -0.3   -0.5    0.2 
 Services ....................................  181.9   182.2   182.7   183.0    2.3    2.9    2.2    2.4    2.6    2.3 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  171.3   171.8   172.4   172.7    2.7    3.6    3.6    3.3    3.1    3.4 
  Transportation services ....................  185.5   185.4   185.6   185.9    3.8   -0.4    0.4    0.9    1.6    0.6 
  Other services .............................  215.3   215.5   216.2   216.4    3.5    4.2    2.1    2.1    3.8    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  159.7   160.0   160.3   160.7   -0.5    2.6    1.3    2.5    1.0    1.9 
 All items less shelter ......................  155.1   155.5   155.7   156.0   -1.3    2.1    0.5    2.3    0.4    1.4 
 All items less medical care .................  156.1   156.6   156.8   157.1   -0.5    2.6    1.0    2.6    1.0    1.8 
 Commodities less food .......................  131.9   132.3   132.2   132.7   -5.3    1.5   -0.3    2.4   -1.9    1.1 
 Nondurables less food .......................  133.5   134.5   134.1   135.2   -8.3    2.7   -1.5    5.2   -2.9    1.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  137.9   139.3   138.7   140.8  -12.1    2.6   -0.9    8.7   -5.0    3.8 
 Nondurables .................................  146.6   147.3   147.3   147.7   -3.2    2.2    0.8    3.0   -0.5    1.9 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  171.3   171.3   171.6   172.0    0.9    2.6    1.2    1.6    1.8    1.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  176.3   176.4   177.0   177.4    2.1    3.0    2.1    2.5    2.6    2.3 
 Energy ......................................   99.3   100.3   100.2    98.7  -21.2   -1.9   -9.8   -2.4  -12.1   -6.2 
 All items less energy .......................  168.6   168.9   169.2   169.8    1.7    2.9    2.4    2.9    2.3    2.6 
  All items less food and energy .............  170.7   171.0   171.3   172.0    1.9    2.9    2.4    3.1    2.4    2.7 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.3   143.4   143.4   144.6    0.0    2.0    1.7    3.7    1.0    2.7 
    Energy commodities .......................   88.8    90.9    89.9    87.2  -32.1   -3.8  -14.7   -7.0  -19.2  -10.9 
   Services less energy services .............  189.1   189.5   190.0   190.3    3.3    3.3    2.6    2.6    3.3    2.6 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Dec.1998 from--      Nov.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Sep.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998   Dec.   Oct.   Nov.   Nov.   Sep.   Oct. 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    160.2  160.6  160.7  160.7    1.6    0.1    0.0    1.4    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    167.4  168.1  168.2  168.2    1.6    0.1    0.0    1.5    0.5    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    167.5  168.1  168.2  168.2    1.8    0.1    0.0    1.6    0.4    0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.8  102.2  102.2  102.3    1.2    0.1    0.1    1.1    0.4    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    156.0  156.2  156.2  156.0    1.5   -0.1   -0.1    1.4    0.1    0.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    156.7  156.7  156.7  156.5    1.9   -0.1   -0.1    1.9    0.0    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.9  102.1  102.1  102.0    1.0   -0.1   -0.1    0.9    0.2    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    152.2  152.4  152.9  153.3    1.5    0.6    0.3    0.9    0.5    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    157.5  157.8  157.7  157.8    1.4    0.0    0.1    1.0    0.1   -0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    156.3  156.6  156.2  156.0    1.2   -0.4   -0.1    1.1   -0.1   -0.3 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.1  102.4  102.4  102.5    1.4    0.1    0.1    0.7    0.3    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.6  160.4  160.6  160.8    2.1    0.2    0.1    2.0    0.0    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    160.9  161.5  161.8  161.8    1.6    0.2    0.0    1.6    0.6    0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    160.0  160.5  160.7  160.8    1.8    0.2    0.1    1.9    0.4    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.5  102.8  103.3  103.3    1.4    0.5    0.0    1.0    0.8    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    146.6  147.0  147.0  146.9    1.7   -0.1   -0.1    1.7    0.3    0.0 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.0  102.4  102.4  102.5    1.3    0.1    0.1    0.9    0.4    0.0 
   D .........................................   M    158.7  158.9  159.1  159.2    1.6    0.2    0.1    1.4    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    159.6  160.0  159.9  159.6    1.5   -0.3   -0.2    1.7    0.2   -0.1 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    156.1  156.8  157.0  157.2    1.2    0.3    0.1    1.4    0.6    0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    169.9  170.5  170.5  170.5    1.7    0.0    0.0    1.5    0.4    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    169.9      -  171.5      -      -      -      -    2.2    0.9      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    153.3      -  152.8      -      -      -      -    2.5   -0.3      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    154.3      -  153.8      -      -      -      -      -   -0.3      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1    102.7      -  102.2      -      -      -      -    1.8   -0.5      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  159.2      -  158.8    1.3   -0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  155.7      -  155.9    2.8    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  146.9      -  144.8    0.2   -1.4      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  158.6      -  158.7    1.2    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  169.3      -  168.5    1.7   -0.5      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  163.4      -  163.7    2.7    0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  164.9      -  164.9    2.7    0.0      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7 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 1A. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                              Annual      Annual     Percent  
                           CPI-U                             average     average      change  
                                                               1997        1998     from 1997 
                                                                                     to 1998  
                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                              
                   Expenditure category                                                       
                                                                                              
 All items ...............................................      160.5       163.0         1.6 
 All items (1967=100) ....................................      480.8       488.3           - 
                                                                                              
  Food and beverages .....................................      157.7       161.1         2.2 
   Food ..................................................      157.3       160.7         2.2 
    Food at home .........................................      158.1       161.1         1.9 
     Cereals and bakery products .........................      177.6       181.1         2.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......................      148.5       147.3         -.8 
     Dairy and related products ..........................      145.5       150.8         3.6 
     Fruits and vegetables ...............................      187.5       198.2         5.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .......      133.4       133.0         -.3 
     Other food at home ..................................      147.3       150.8         2.4 
      Sugar and sweets ...................................      147.8       150.2         1.6 
      Fats and oils ......................................      141.7       146.9         3.7 
      Other foods ........................................      161.2       165.5         2.7 
       Other miscellaneous foods  (1).....................          -       102.6           - 
    Food away from home ..................................      157.0       161.1         2.6 
     Other food away from home  (1).......................          -       101.6           - 
   Alcoholic beverages ...................................      162.8       165.7         1.8 
                                                                                              
  Housing ................................................      156.8       160.4         2.3 
   Shelter ...............................................      176.3       182.1         3.3 
    Rent of primary residence ............................      166.7       172.1         3.2 
    Lodging away from home (1)............................          -       109.0           - 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (2)......      181.9       187.8         3.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance  (1).................          -        99.8           - 
   Fuels and utilities ...................................      130.8       128.5        -1.8 
    Fuels ................................................      117.9       113.7        -3.6 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ............................       99.8        90.0        -9.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .........................      125.1       121.2        -3.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ..................      125.4       126.6         1.0 
                                                                                              
  Apparel ................................................      132.9       133.0          .1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...............................      130.1       131.8         1.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ............................      126.1       126.0         -.1 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ........................      129.0       126.1        -2.2 
   Footwear ..............................................      127.6       128.0          .3 
                                                                                              
  Transportation .........................................      144.3       141.6        -1.9 
   Private transportation ................................      141.0       137.9        -2.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (1).......................      100.5       100.1         -.4 
     New vehicles ........................................      144.3       143.4         -.6 
     Used cars and trucks ................................      151.1       150.6         -.3 
    Motor fuel ...........................................      106.2        92.2       -13.2 
     Gasoline (all types) ................................      105.8        91.6       -13.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ....................      101.9       101.1         -.8 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .................      162.7       167.1         2.7 
   Public transportation .................................      186.7       190.3         1.9 
                                                                                              
  Medical care ...........................................      234.6       242.1         3.2 
   Medical care commodities ..............................      215.3       221.8         3.0 
   Medical care services .................................      239.1       246.8         3.2 
    Professional services ................................      215.4       222.2         3.2 
    Hospital and related services ........................      278.4       287.5         3.3 
                                                                                              
  Recreation (1)..........................................       99.6       101.1         1.5 
   Video and audio  (1)...................................       99.4       101.1         1.7 
                                                                                              
  Education and communication (1).........................       98.4       100.3         1.9 
   Education (1)..........................................       97.3       102.1         4.9 
    Educational books and supplies .......................      238.4       250.8         5.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............      280.4       294.2         4.9 
   Communication  (1).....................................      100.3        98.7        -1.6 
    Information and information processing  (1)...........      100.4        98.5        -1.9 
     Telephone services  (1)..............................          -       100.7           - 
     Information and information processing other than                                        
         telephone services  (3)..........................       50.1        39.9       -20.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral equipment  (1)....          -        78.2           - 
                                                                                              
  Other goods and services ...............................      224.8       237.7         5.7 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..........................      243.7       274.8        12.8 
   Personal care .........................................      152.7       156.7         2.6 
    Personal care products ...............................      144.2       148.3         2.8 
    Personal care services ...............................      162.4       166.0         2.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ......................      226.1       234.7         3.8 
                                                                                              
                Commodity and service group                                                   
                                                                                              
 Commodities .............................................      141.8       141.9          .1 
  Food and beverages .....................................      157.7       161.1         2.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ....................      132.2       130.5        -1.3 
   Nondurables less food and beverages ...................      134.6       132.6        -1.5 
    Apparel ..............................................      132.9       133.0          .1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........      140.6       137.4        -2.3 
   Durables ..............................................      128.7       127.6         -.9 
 Services ................................................      179.4       184.2         2.7 
  Rent of shelter (2).....................................      183.4       189.6         3.4 
  Transportation services ................................      185.0       187.9         1.6 
  Other services .........................................      209.6       216.9         3.5 
                                                                                              
                      Special indexes                                                         
                                                                                              
 All items less food .....................................      161.1       163.4         1.4 
 All items less shelter ..................................      155.9       157.2          .8 
 All items less medical care .............................      156.3       158.6         1.5 
 Commodities less food ...................................      133.4       132.0        -1.0 
 Nondurables less food ...................................      136.3       134.6        -1.2 
 Nondurables less food and apparel .......................      141.8       139.2        -1.8 
 Nondurables .............................................      146.4       146.9          .3 
 Services less rent of shelter (2)........................      188.1       191.8         2.0 
 Services less medical care services .....................      173.9       178.4         2.6 
 Energy ..................................................      111.5       102.9        -7.7 
 All items less energy ...................................      167.1       170.9         2.3 
  All items less food and energy .........................      169.5       173.4         2.3 
   Commodities less food and energy commodities ..........      142.3       143.2          .6 
    Energy commodities ...................................      105.7        92.1       -12.9 
   Services less energy services .........................      185.0       190.6         3.0 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00) .     $ .600      $ .600           - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ....     $ .200      $ .200           - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.

 Table 4A. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                              
                                                                                              
                                                              Annual      Annual     Percent  
                           CPI-W                             average     average      change  
                                                               1997        1998     from 1997 
                                                                                     to 1998  
                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                              
                   Expenditure category                                                       
                                                                                              
 All items ...............................................      157.6       159.7         1.3 
 All items (1967=100) ....................................      469.3       475.6           - 
                                                                                              
  Food and beverages .....................................      157.2       160.4         2.0 
   Food ..................................................      156.8       160.0         2.0 
    Food at home .........................................      157.2       160.0         1.8 
     Cereals and bakery products .........................      177.3       180.9         2.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......................      148.2       147.0         -.8 
     Dairy and related products ..........................      145.2       150.4         3.6 
     Fruits and vegetables ...............................      186.6       197.0         5.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials .......      132.3       131.8         -.4 
     Other food at home ..................................      146.8       150.2         2.3 
      Sugar and sweets ...................................      147.7       150.1         1.6 
      Fats and oils ......................................      141.4       146.5         3.6 
      Other foods ........................................      161.1       165.4         2.7 
       Other miscellaneous foods  (1).....................          -       102.6           - 
    Food away from home ..................................      157.0       161.1         2.6 
     Other food away from home  (1).......................          -       101.6           - 
   Alcoholic beverages ...................................      162.1       164.6         1.5 
                                                                                              
  Housing ................................................      153.4       156.7         2.2 
   Shelter ...............................................      171.2       176.6         3.2 
    Rent of primary residence ............................      166.3       171.7         3.2 
    Lodging away from home (1)............................          -       109.0           - 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence (2)......      165.8       171.1         3.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance  (1).................          -       100.0           - 
   Fuels and utilities ...................................      130.5       128.4        -1.6 
    Fuels ................................................      117.3       113.3        -3.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ............................       99.6        90.3        -9.3 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .........................      124.6       120.8        -3.0 
   Household furnishings and operations ..................      123.9       125.0          .9 
                                                                                              
  Apparel ................................................      132.1       131.6         -.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...............................      129.9       131.4         1.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ............................      124.9       123.9         -.8 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ........................      130.1       126.7        -2.6 
   Footwear ..............................................      128.5       128.7          .2 
                                                                                              
  Transportation .........................................      143.6       140.5        -2.2 
   Private transportation ................................      141.3       138.0        -2.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (1).......................      100.7       100.3         -.4 
     New vehicles ........................................      145.5       144.6         -.6 
     Used cars and trucks ................................      152.6       152.0         -.4 
    Motor fuel ...........................................      106.2        92.2       -13.2 
     Gasoline (all types) ................................      105.8        91.7       -13.3 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ....................      101.0       100.5         -.5 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .................      163.7       168.2         2.7 
   Public transportation .................................      184.2       187.1         1.6 
                                                                                              
  Medical care ...........................................      234.0       241.4         3.2 
   Medical care commodities ..............................      212.6       218.6         2.8 
   Medical care services .................................      238.8       246.6         3.3 
    Professional services ................................      216.7       223.7         3.2 
    Hospital and related services ........................      274.7       283.6         3.2 
                                                                                              
  Recreation (1)..........................................       99.7       100.9         1.2 
   Video and audio  (1)...................................       99.4       101.1         1.7 
                                                                                              
  Education and communication (1).........................       98.5       100.4         1.9 
   Education (1)..........................................       97.2       102.1         5.0 
    Educational books and supplies .......................      240.4       253.1         5.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare ............      274.6       288.5         5.1 
   Communication  (1).....................................      100.2        99.1        -1.1 
    Information and information processing  (1)...........      100.3        99.0        -1.3 
     Telephone services  (1)..............................          -       100.7           - 
     Information and information processing other than                                        
         telephone services  (3)..........................       51.1        41.2       -19.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral equipment  (1)....          -        77.9           - 
                                                                                              
  Other goods and services ...............................      221.6       236.1         6.5 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..........................      243.3       274.8        12.9 
   Personal care .........................................      152.6       156.8         2.8 
    Personal care products ...............................      145.1       149.3         2.9 
    Personal care services ...............................      162.5       166.3         2.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ......................      225.2       234.0         3.9 
                                                                                              
                Commodity and service group                                                   
                                                                                              
 Commodities .............................................      141.8       141.8          .0 
  Food and beverages .....................................      157.2       160.4         2.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages ....................      132.4       130.6        -1.4 
   Nondurables less food and beverages ...................      134.5       132.1        -1.8 
    Apparel ..............................................      132.1       131.6         -.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ........      140.4       137.0        -2.4 
   Durables ..............................................      128.4       127.3         -.9 
 Services ................................................      176.5       181.0         2.5 
  Rent of shelter (2).....................................      164.7       170.1         3.3 
  Transportation services ................................      182.6       185.4         1.5 
  Other services .........................................      206.4       213.7         3.5 
                                                                                              
                      Special indexes                                                         
                                                                                              
 All items less food .....................................      157.6       159.5         1.2 
 All items less shelter ..................................      154.0       155.0          .6 
 All items less medical care .............................      154.0       155.8         1.2 
 Commodities less food ...................................      133.6       132.0        -1.2 
 Nondurables less food ...................................      136.2       134.1        -1.5 
 Nondurables less food and apparel .......................      141.6       138.7        -2.0 
 Nondurables .............................................      146.2       146.5          .2 
 Services less rent of shelter (2)........................      167.6       170.7         1.8 
 Services less medical care services .....................      171.2       175.4         2.5 
 Energy ..................................................      111.1       102.1        -8.1 
 All items less energy ...................................      164.1       167.6         2.1 
  All items less food and energy .........................      166.0       169.6         2.2 
   Commodities less food and energy commodities ..........      141.9       142.7          .6 
    Energy commodities ...................................      105.9        92.3       -12.8 
   Services less energy services .........................      182.2       187.7         3.0 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1982-84=$1.00)..     $ .600      $ .600           - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar (1967=$1.00) ....     $ .200      $ .200           - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.