FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-97-127
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
     INFORMATION:       (202) 606-7828      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      Tuesday, April 15, 1997
 INTERNET ADDRESS:    http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
                                     
                     CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  MARCH 1997
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3
 percent before seasonal adjustment in March to a level of 160.0 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in March, the CPI-U
 increased 2.8 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) rose 0.1 percent in March, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The
 March 1997 CPI-W level of 157.0 was 2.7 percent higher than the index in
 March 1996.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent in March,
 following an increase of 0.3 percent in  February.  The food index, which
 advanced 0.3 percent in February, was unchanged in March.  Grocery store
 food prices decreased 0.2 percent, reflecting declines in the indexes for
 meats, poultry, fish and eggs, and for dairy products.  The energy index
 registered its first decrease since August, declining 1.7 percent.  The
 index for petroleum-based energy fell 2.2 percent, and the index for
 energy services declined 1.3 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-
 U rose 0.2 percent, the same as in February.  Airline fares increased 4.5
 percent in March, following declines of 3.2 and 2.6 percent in January and
 February, respectively.  This advance was essentially offset by a downturn
 in the index for apparel and upkeep and a smaller increase in shelter
 costs.

 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               1996             1997      3-mos. ended  ended
                     Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.  Jan. Feb. Mar.  Mar. '97   Mar. '97
 All Items            .3    .3   .3   .3   .1   .3   .1      1.8       2.8
  Food and beverages  .5    .5   .4   .0  -.2   .3   .0       .5       3.3
  Housing             .2    .3   .3   .2   .3   .3   .0      2.3       2.8
  Apparel and upkeep  .5    .2   .3   .1   .4   .2  -.3      1.2       -.2
  Transportation      .5    .3   .3   .6  -.2  -.1   .1      -.8       2.6
  Medical care        .3    .2   .3   .2   .2   .2   .4      3.0       3.0
  Entertainment       .1    .3   .2   .3   .0   .2   .2      1.5       2.3
  Other goods                                                           
   and services       .1    .3   .4   .1   .4   .5   .5      5.4       3.9
 Special Indexes:                                                       
  Energy              .2   1.1  1.2  1.5   .8   .3 -1.7     -2.8       4.8
  Food                .5    .5   .4   .0  -.3   .3   .0       .3       3.3
  All items less                                                        
   food and energy    .3    .2   .2   .2   .1   .2   .2      2.4       2.5


     For the first three months of 1997, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.8
 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an
 increase of 3.3 percent in all of 1996.  Changes in the food and energy
 components, which had accelerated in 1996 after acting as moderating
 influences throughout most of the preceding five years, were largely
 responsible for the deceleration thus far in 1997.  Grocery store food
 prices declined at a 1.3 percent SAAR in the first three months, reflecting
 price decreases for meats and dairy products, groups which had risen
 substantially in 1996.  The energy index, which increased 8.6 percent in
 1996, declined at a 2.8 percent SAAR in the first quarter of 1997.
 Petroleum-based energy costs decreased  at a 8.0 percent SAAR, while
 charges for energy services increased at a 3.3 percent annual rate.

     The CPI-U excluding food and energy advanced at a 2.4 percent SAAR in
 the first three months of 1997, about the same rate as the 2.6 percent rise
 for all of 1996.   The rates for selected groups during the past eight and
 1/4 years are shown below.

                                                                 SAAR                                                                
                           Percent change 12 months                3
                              ended in December                 months
                                                                 ended
                                                                in March
                1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996   1997
                                                                
 All Items       4.6   6.1   3.1   2.9   2.7   2.7   2.5   3.3   1.8
  Food and 
   beverages     5.5   5.3   2.5   1.6   2.7   2.7   2.1   4.2    .5
  Housing        3.9   4.5   3.4   2.6   2.7   2.2   3.0   2.9   2.3
  Apparel and
   upkeep        1.0   5.1   3.4   1.4    .9  -1.6    .1   -.2   1.2
  Transportation 4.0  10.4  -1.5   3.0   2.4   3.8   1.5   4.4   -.8
  Medical care   8.5   9.6   7.9   6.6   5.4   4.9   3.9   3.0   3.0
  Entertainment  5.1   4.3   3.9   2.8   2.8   2.3   3.3   2.9   1.5
  Other goods                                                   
   and services  8.2   7.6   8.0   6.5   2.7   4.2   4.3   3.6   5.4

 Special Indexes                                                                
  Energy        5.1   18.1  -7.4  2.0   -1.4   2.2  -1.3   8.6  -2.8
  Food          5.6    5.3   1.9  1.5    2.9   2.9   2.1   4.3    .3
  All items                                                     
   less food
   and energy   4.4    5.2   4.4   3.3   3.2   2.6   3.0   2.6   2.4


     The food and beverage index was unchanged in March.  The index for
 grocery store food prices, which increased 0.5 percent in February, fell
 0.2 percent in March.  The downturn in March reflects declines in the
 indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for dairy products, coupled
 with a sharp deceleration in the index for fruits and vegetables.  The
 index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs declined for the third consecutive
 month--down 0.9 percent in March.  Price declines were registered for beef,
 pork, poultry, and eggs; prices for fish and seafood increased 1.3 percent.
 The 0.1 percent decrease in the index for dairy products was the fifth
 consecutive month that this component did not increase.  During the last
 five months, the index for dairy products fell 2.1 percent after
 registering increases totaling 8.5 percent in the preceding five-month
 period.  The index for fruits and vegetables, which increased 3.0 percent
 in February, rose 0.1 percent in March.  The index for fresh vegetable
 prices, which increased  8.9 percent in February, declined 1.8 in March.
 The index for fresh fruits increased 1.4 percent.  The indexes for cereal
 and bakery products and for other food at home rose 0.3 and 0.1 percent,
 respectively.  The other two components of the food and beverage index--
 restaurant meals and alcoholic beverages-- increased 0.3 percent and
 declined 0.1 percent, respectively.
 
     The housing component, which rose 0.3 percent in February, was
 unchanged in March.  Each of the three major  housing groups--shelter, fuel
 and other utilities, and household furnishings and operations--contributed
 to the moderation.  Shelter costs increased 0.2 percent, following a 0.3
 percent rise in February.  In March, within shelter, renters' costs rose
 0.3 percent; homeowners' costs, 0.2 percent; and maintenance and repair
 costs, 0.1 percent.  The index for fuel and other utilities turned down in
 March, declining 0.8 percent after increasing  0.3 percent in February.
 The index for household fuels fell 1.5 percent, reflecting a sharp declines
 in prices for fuel oil and natural gas--down 3.6 and 4.2 percent,
 respectively.  Prior to the March decline, charges for natural gas had
 increased 17.3 percent in the preceding 11-month period.  Charges for
 electricity rose 0.2 percent in March.  The index for household furnishings
 and operation, which increased 0.2 percent in February, was unchanged in
 March.

     The transportation component, which declined in each of the first two
 months of 1997, rose 0.1 percent in March.  Public transportation costs
 rose 2.2 percent in March.  The index for airline fares, which fell 3.2
 percent in January and 2.6 percent in February, rose 4.5 percent in March,
 reflecting, in part, the reimposition of the 10 percent federal tax on
 airline fares effective March 7.  The index for gasoline, which was
 unchanged in February, declined 2.1 percent in March.  As of March, the
 index for gasoline prices was 7.3 percent below its peak level of December
 1990.   New vehicle purchase costs advanced somewhat more in March than in
 recent months; the index for new vehicle prices rose 0.1 percent, and
 automobile finance charges increased 1.2 percent. The index for used cars
 increased 1.2 percent in March.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, used car
 prices were unchanged.) 

     The index for apparel and upkeep turned down in March, declining 0.3
 percent after registering increases in each of the six preceding months.
 (Prior to seasonal adjustment, clothing prices rose 2.2 percent in March,
 reflecting the continued introduction of higher-priced spring-summer wear.)

     Medical care costs rose 0.4 percent in March to a level 3.0 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.5 percent.
 The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent.  Charges for
 professional services and hospital and related services increased 0.5 and
 0.2 percent, respectively.

     Entertainment costs rose 0.2 percent in March, the same as in
 February.  Increases in the indexes for  club memberships and for fees for
 participant sports--up 0.7 and 1.1 percent, respectively--were largely
 responsible for the March advance.

     The index for other goods and services rose 0.5 percent in March,
 principally as a result of increases in the indexes for tobacco and smoking
 products and for personal expenses, in particular personal financial
 services.

 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers rose 0.1 percent in March.

 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                 Seasonally adjusted                 
                                                        Compound     Un-
                                                                   adjust
    Expenditure        Changes from preceding month      annual      ed
                                                          rate       12-
      Category             1996              1997        3-mos.     mos.
                                                          ended     ended
                    Sep.  Oct.  Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.  Mar. Mar. '97 Mar.'97
 All Items           .3    .4   .3    .3   .1   .2   .1    1.5       2.7
  Food and
   beverages         .4    .5   .4    .1  -.2   .2   .1     .3       3.3
  Housing            .1    .3   .3    .2   .3   .2   .1    2.4       2.7
  Apparel and
   upkeep            .5    .2   .3    .1   .4   .4  -.3    1.8       -.1
  Transportation     .4    .4   .3    .6   .0   .0  -.1    -.3       2.3
  Medical care       .3    .2   .3    .2   .2   .2   .3    2.8       3.0
  Entertainment      .1    .3   .3    .3   .0   .1   .1    1.0       2.2
  Other goods                                                          
   and services      .2    .3   .4    .0   .6   .4   .5    5.9       3.9
 Special Indexes:                                                      
  Energy             .1   1.2  1.4   1.5   .9   .3 -1.8   -2.8       4.6
  Food               .4    .6   .3    .1  -.3   .3   .1     .3       3.3
  All items less                                                       
   food and energy   .2    .2   .2    .2   .2   .2   .2    2.5       2.4
 
 
 
 
     After seasonal adjustment, the level of the CPI-U for All Items  was
 159.9 in March; the seasonally adjusted CPI-W for All Items was 157.0.
 
     Beginning with January 1997 data, BLS is reporting the level of the
 seasonally adjusted U.S. City Average All Items CPI-U and CPI-W in this
 monthly news release.  Effective with the release of January 1998 data in
 February 1998, the seasonally adjusted All Items indexes will be fully
 integrated into the releases, appearing in tables 2 and 5 and in the text
 where relevant.
 
     Like other seasonally adjusted CPI data, the All Items index levels
 are subject to revision for up to five years after their original release.
 For this reason, BLS advises against the use of these data in escalation
 agreements.
 
      Consumer Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on
 Thursday, May 15, 1997, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
 A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data
       
            Because price data are used for different purposes by
       different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
       seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
       month.
       
            For analyzing general price trends in the economy,
       seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since they
       eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the
       same time and in about the same magnitude every year--such
       as price movements resulting from changing climatic
       conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays,
       and sales.
       
            The unadjusted data are of primary interest to
       consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay.
       Unadjusted data also are used extensively for escalation
       purposes.  Many collective bargaining contract agreements
       and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to
       the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.
       
            Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally
       adjusted indexes are derived by the X-11-ARIMA Seasonal
       Adjustment Method (1988).  The updated seasonal data at the
       end of 1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977.
       Subsequent annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal
       data, e.g., data from 1992 through 1996 were replaced at the
       end of 1996.  The seasonal movement of all items and 47
       other aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal
       movement of 60 selected components.  Each year the seasonal
       status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain
       statistical criteria.  If any of the 60 components change
       their seasonal adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to
       not seasonally adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will
       be used for the last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted
       indexes will be used before that period.
       
            Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors
       for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an
       enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention
       Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series.
       Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better
       estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  Extreme values
       and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal
       pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to
       calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning with the
       calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA
       software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment.
       
            For the fuel oil and the motor fuels indexes, this
       procedure was used to offset the effects that extreme price
       volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of
       seasonally adjusted data for those series.  For some women's
       apparel indexes and the girls' apparel index, the procedure
       was used to offset the effects of changes in pricing
       methodology.  For the tobacco and smoking products index,
       this procedure was used to offset the effects of increases
       in excise taxes and wholesale tobacco prices.  For some
       alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise tax
       increases.  For the nonalcoholic beverages index, the
       procedure was used to offset the effects of a large increase
       in coffee prices due to adverse weather.  For the water and
       sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to
       account for a data collection anomaly.
       
            A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment, as well as a list of unusual events modeled and
       seasonal factors for these items, may be obtained by writing
       the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
       and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire
       McAnaw Gallagher on (202) 606-6968.
          Over-the-month percent changes in the U.S. City Average
       Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for All
       Items and for All Items less food and energy, seasonally
       adjusted, using former and recalculated seasonal factors for
       1996.
                                     
                                 All Items
                                     
    1996         Former     Recalculated     Differen
                                                ce
                                                 
 January            .4            .4             .0
 February           .2            .3             .1
 March              .4            .3             -.1
 April              .4            .3             -.1
 May                .3            .3             .0
 June               .1            .1             .0
 July               .3            .3             .0
 August             .1            .2             .1
 September          .3            .3             .0
 October            .3            .3             .0
 November           .3            .3             .0
 December           .3            .3             .0
                                                 
                                     
                                     
                      All Items less food and energy
       
    1996         Former     Recalculated     Differen
                                                ce
                                                 
 January            .3            .2               -.1
 February           .2            .2             .0
 March              .3            .2               -.1
 April              .1            .2             .1
 May                .2            .2             .0
 June               .2            .2             .0
 July               .3            .2               -.1
 August             .1            .1             .0
 September          .3            .3             .0
 October            .2            .2             .0
 November           .2            .2             .0
 December           .1            .2             .1
                                                 
       
 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service
 group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                               Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                              importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                               December     Feb.      Mar.       Mar. 1997 from-     Dec. to    Jan. to    Feb. to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Mar. 1996  Feb. 1997     Jan.       Feb.       Mar.

             Expenditure category

 All items ..................................   100.000     159.6     160.0        2.8        0.3        0.1        0.3        0.1
 All items (1967=100) .......................      -        478.2     479.3        -          -          -          -          -

   Food and beverages .......................    17.484     156.9     157.1        3.3         .1        -.2         .3         .0
     Food ...................................    15.913     156.5     156.6        3.3         .1        -.3         .3         .0
       Food at home .........................    10.040     157.7     157.7        3.4         .0        -.6         .5        -.2
         Cereals and bakery products ........     1.479     176.7     176.7        2.7         .0        -.2         .1         .3
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.002     148.8     147.8        3.6        -.7        -.4        -.2        -.9
         Dairy products 1/ ..................     1.245     146.2     146.1        6.9        -.1        -.5       -1.1        -.1
         Fruits and vegetables 2/ ...........     1.974     187.4     189.3        3.0        1.0       -2.0        3.0         .1
         Other food at home .................     2.340     145.4     145.5        2.2         .1         .1         .2         .1
           Sugar and sweets .................      .331     147.2     146.3        2.8        -.6         .6         .0        -.6
           Fats and oils ....................      .246     142.7     142.4        1.6        -.2        -.1         .1        -.1
           Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .724     128.5     129.5        -.2         .8         .2        -.5        1.3
           Other prepared food ..............     1.039     160.6     160.3        3.7        -.2        -.1         .8        -.4
       Food away from home ..................     5.873     155.6     156.0        3.2         .3         .3         .2         .3
     Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.571     161.8     162.1        3.0         .2         .2         .2        -.1

   Housing 2/ ...............................    41.203     155.8     155.9        2.8         .1         .3         .3         .0
     Shelter ................................    28.194     174.6     175.2        3.0         .3         .3         .3         .2
       Renters' costs 3/ 4/..................     7.994     185.3     186.8        3.5         .8         .6         .3         .3
         Rent, residential ..................     5.731     164.8     165.1        2.8         .2         .2         .1         .3
         Other renters' costs 4/ ............     2.263     226.4     231.7        5.5        2.3        1.4         .9         .3
       Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...............    20.000     179.5     179.8        2.7         .2         .2         .3         .2
         Owners' equivalent rent 3/ .........    19.616     179.9     180.1        2.7         .1         .2         .3         .1
         Household insurance 3/ 4/ ..........      .383     163.8     163.3        2.6        -.3         .2         .9        -.5
       Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........      .200     142.3     142.4        3.6         .1         .0         .6         .1
         Maintenance and repair
             services 1/ 4/ .................      .123     148.4     148.4        3.2         .0         .1         .1         .0
         Maintenance and repair
             commodities 1/ 4/ ..............      .077     133.9     134.3        4.1         .3        -.1        1.1         .3
     Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............     7.102     131.0     129.9        3.8        -.8         .7         .3        -.8
       Fuels ................................     3.878     119.2     117.2        4.7       -1.7        1.0         .5       -1.5
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ....................      .424     109.6     105.5        6.2       -3.7       -1.2       -1.9       -3.3
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).......................     3.453     125.3     123.4        4.4       -1.5        1.4         .7       -1.3
       Other utilities and public
           services 4/ ......................     3.224     160.2     160.5        2.6         .2         .3         .0         .1
     Household furnishings and operation 2/ .     5.908     125.2     125.4         .6         .2        -.2         .2         .0
       Housefurnishings 4/ ..................     3.332     111.2     111.1        -.5        -.1        -.4         .2        -.3
       Housekeeping supplies ................     1.093     142.5     142.8        1.3         .2         .4         .1         .0
       Housekeeping services 4/ .............     1.482     149.9     150.6        2.7         .5        -.5         .1         .5

   Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.330     131.9     134.5        -.2        2.0         .4         .2        -.3
     Apparel commodities 4/ .................     4.786     128.2     131.0        -.5        2.2         .5         .2        -.4
       Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.280     127.3     129.2         .1        1.5        1.0        -.9        -.2
       Women's and girls' apparel............     2.102     126.1     130.1         .2        3.2         .6         .7        -.6
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ....      .186     127.2     129.7       -2.7        2.0         .8        -.5        2.0
       Footwear .............................      .718     126.3     127.0        -.9         .6        -.8         .2        -.4
       Other apparel commodities 4/..........      .500     146.9     149.5       -3.4        1.8         .1         .7        -.3
     Apparel services 1/ 4/ .................      .545     162.2     162.4        2.2         .1         .1         .3         .1

   Transportation ...........................    17.140     144.8     144.9        2.6         .1        -.2        -.1         .1
     Private transportation .................    15.499     141.9     141.5        2.3        -.3         .1         .2        -.2
       New vehicles .........................     4.955     145.4     145.4        1.3         .0        -.2         .0         .1
         New cars ...........................     3.952     142.9     142.9        1.0         .0        -.2         .0         .1
       Used cars ............................     1.278     154.4     154.4       -1.8         .0         .1         .5        1.2
       Motor fuel ...........................     3.171     108.1     106.4        4.9       -1.6         .6         .0       -2.1
         Gasoline ...........................      -        107.4     105.8        4.6       -1.5         .7         .0       -2.1
       Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.533     161.2     161.5        2.9         .2         .4        -.1         .2
       Other private transportation 4/.......     4.562     177.1     177.4        2.8         .2        -.1         .5         .3
         Other private transportation
             commodities 4/..................      .589     105.4     105.1        -.2        -.3        -.2         .3        -.3
         Other private transportation
             services 4/ ....................     3.973     194.1     194.5        3.3         .2        -.1         .6         .4
     Public transportation ..................     1.642     182.4     188.1        5.1        3.1       -2.9       -2.0        2.2

   Medical care .............................     7.346     232.7     233.4        3.0         .3         .2         .2         .4
     Medical care commodities ...............     1.273     213.9     214.7        2.8         .4         .2         .3         .5
     Medical care services ..................     6.073     237.1     237.7        3.0         .3         .2         .2         .3
       Professional medical services ........     3.472     213.2     214.2        3.7         .5         .4         .1         .5

   Entertainment 4/ .........................     4.352     161.8     162.1        2.3         .2         .0         .2         .2
     Entertainment commodities 4/ ...........     1.957     144.3     144.5        1.3         .1        -.3         .1         .0
     Entertainment services 4/ ..............     2.395     182.1     182.7        3.2         .3         .2         .3         .3

   Other goods and services 2/ ..............     7.145     220.7     221.4        3.9         .3         .4         .5         .5
     Tobacco and smoking products ...........     1.601     237.4     238.2        3.2         .3         .4         .6         .4
     Personal care 1/ .......................     1.145     151.5     151.8        1.6         .2         .7        -.1         .2
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 1/ ....................      .588     143.3     143.6        -.3         .2         .6        -.2         .2
       Personal care services 1/ ............      .557     160.7     161.2        3.8         .3         .9         .0         .3
     Personal and educational expenses 4/ ...     4.398     255.0     255.8        4.8         .3         .3         .6         .5
       School books and supplies ............      .264     235.3     235.4        4.5         .0        -.1         .4         .3
       Personal and educational services 4/ .     4.134     256.7     257.6        4.8         .4         .4         .6         .5





 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service
 group - Continued

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                               Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                              importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                               December     Feb.      Mar.       Mar. 1997 from-     Dec. to    Jan. to    Feb. to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Mar. 1996  Feb. 1997     Jan.       Feb.       Mar.

         Commodity and service group

 All items ..................................   100.000     159.6     160.0        2.8         .3         .1         .3         .1
   Commodities ..............................    42.873     141.8     142.0        2.0         .1         .0         .2        -.2
     Food and beverages .....................    17.484     156.9     157.1        3.3         .1        -.2         .3         .0
     Commodities less food and beverages ....    25.389     132.6     132.9        1.2         .2         .2         .1        -.3
       Nondurables less food and beverages ..    15.147     134.6     135.0        1.8         .3         .1         .3        -.8
         Apparel commodities 4/ .............     4.786     128.2     131.0        -.5        2.2         .5         .2        -.4
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ....................    10.362     141.0     140.2        2.9        -.6         .3         .1        -.6
       Durables .............................    10.242     129.8     129.9         .3         .1        -.2         .1         .0
   Services .................................    57.127     177.7     178.2        3.2         .3         .2         .2         .2
     Rent of shelter 3/ .....................    27.577     181.6     182.3        3.0         .4         .3         .3         .3
     Household services less rent of
         shelter 3/ 4/.......................     8.698     145.0     144.3        3.4        -.5         .6         .4        -.3
     Transportation services ................     7.148     183.4     184.9        3.6         .8        -.7        -.1         .8
     Medical care services ..................     6.073     237.1     237.7        3.0         .3         .2         .2         .3
     Other services .........................     7.631     206.7     207.3        4.1         .3         .3         .4         .4

               Special indexes

 All items less food ........................    84.087     160.2     160.6        2.6         .2         .2         .2         .1
 All items less shelter .....................    71.806     155.3     155.6        2.6         .2         .1         .2         .0
 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/......    80.000     160.8     161.2        2.7         .2         .1         .2         .1
 All items less medical care ................    92.654     155.5     155.9        2.8         .3         .1         .3         .0
 Commodities less food ......................    26.960     133.8     134.1        1.3         .2         .1         .1        -.2
 Nondurables less food ......................    16.718     136.2     136.6        1.9         .3         .1         .2        -.7
 Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    11.932     142.1     141.4        3.0        -.5         .1         .1        -.7
 Nondurables ................................    32.631     145.9     146.2        2.6         .2         .1         .3        -.4
 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........    29.550     186.4     186.7        3.5         .2         .1         .2         .3
 Services less medical care services ........    51.054     172.2     172.7        3.3         .3         .2         .2         .3
 Energy .....................................     7.049     113.1     111.2        4.8       -1.7         .8         .3       -1.7
 All items less energy ......................    92.951     165.9     166.5        2.6         .4         .1         .2         .2
   All items less food and energy ...........    77.038     168.3     169.0        2.5         .4         .1         .2         .2
     Commodities less food and
         energy commodities .................    23.364     142.2     143.0         .8         .6         .1         .1         .1
       Energy commodities ...................     3.596     108.6     106.6        5.1       -1.8         .4        -.2       -2.2
     Services less energy services ..........    53.674     183.1     183.8        3.2         .4         .1         .3         .3
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
   1982-84=$1.00 1/ .........................      -        $.626     $.625       -2.6        -.2        -.5        -.3        -.2
   1967=$1.00 1/ ............................      -         .209      .209        -          -          -          -          -


    1/     Not seasonally adjusted.
    2/     This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
    3/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
    4/     This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
           See Table X for a comparable index series.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


  Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
  commodity and service group

  (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                                   Seasonally adjusted indexes             Seasonally adjusted annual rate
                                                                                                 percent change for
                                                                                         3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                  Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    June    Sept.   Dec.    Mar.     Sept.     Mar.
                                                  1996    1997    1997    1997    1996    1996    1996    1997     1996      1997

               Expenditure category

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.9     3.1     3.3     1.8      3.0       2.5

    Food and beverages .........................   156.6   156.3   156.8   156.8     4.3     5.0     3.4      .5      4.7       1.9
      Food .....................................   156.4   156.0   156.5   156.5     4.3     5.3     3.4      .3      4.8       1.8
        Food at home ...........................   157.7   156.7   157.5   157.2     5.1     6.4     3.6    -1.3      5.7       1.2
          Cereals and bakery products ..........   176.6   176.3   176.4   177.0     3.3     2.6     3.9      .9      2.9       2.4
          Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   149.3   148.7   148.4   147.1     5.8     9.5     5.8    -5.8      7.6       -.1
          Dairy products 1/ ....................   148.6   147.8   146.2   146.1     9.4    21.3     5.3    -6.6     15.2       -.8
          Fruits and vegetables 2/..............   185.9   182.2   187.7   187.8     6.5     1.3      .6     4.2      3.9       2.4
          Other food at home ...................   144.4   144.5   144.8   145.0     2.3     2.3     2.2     1.7      2.3       2.0
            Sugar and sweets ...................   146.0   146.9   146.9   146.0     4.6     4.8     1.9      .0      4.7       1.0
            Fats and oils ......................   142.0   141.9   142.1   142.0     3.2     3.5      .3      .0      3.3        .1
            Nonalcoholic beverages .............   127.7   127.9   127.3   129.0    -1.8    -1.9     -.9     4.1     -1.8       1.6
            Other prepared food ................   159.6   159.4   160.6   160.0     5.0     4.2     4.9     1.0      4.6       2.9
        Food away from home ....................   154.9   155.3   155.6   156.0     2.9     3.2     3.4     2.9      3.1       3.1
      Alcoholic beverages ......................   161.1   161.4   161.8   161.6     3.4     3.6     3.6     1.2      3.5       2.4

    Housing 2/ .................................   154.7   155.2   155.6   155.6     2.4     3.2     3.2     2.3      2.8       2.8
      Shelter ..................................   172.9   173.4   174.0   174.3     2.6     3.1     2.8     3.3      2.9       3.1
        Renters' costs 3/ 4/....................   181.7   182.8   183.4   183.9     3.0     3.6     2.7     4.9      3.3       3.8
          Rent, residential ....................   164.0   164.4   164.6   165.1     3.0     2.7     2.7     2.7      2.9       2.7
          Other renters' costs 4/ ..............   218.0   221.1   223.1   223.7     2.5     6.5     2.2    10.9      4.5       6.5
        Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................   178.6   179.0   179.5   179.8     2.5     2.8     2.7     2.7      2.6       2.7
          Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ...........   179.0   179.3   179.9   180.1     2.5     2.7     3.0     2.5      2.6       2.7
          Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............   162.5   162.9   164.3   163.5     3.0     4.3      .7     2.5      3.7       1.6
        Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ..........   141.5   141.5   142.3   142.4     3.8     3.2     4.7     2.6      3.5       3.6
          Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/    148.0   148.2   148.4   148.4     2.2     8.0     1.6     1.1      5.1       1.4
          Maintenance and repair
              commodities 1/ 4/ ................   132.6   132.5   133.9   134.3     6.0    -4.2     9.9     5.2       .8       7.6
      Fuel and other utilities 2/...............   130.3   131.2   131.6   130.5     2.9     5.1     6.1      .6      4.0       3.3
        Fuels ..................................   117.6   118.8   119.4   117.6     2.2     7.3     9.0      .0      4.7       4.4
          Fuel oil and other household fuel
              commodities ......................   109.5   108.2   106.1   102.6    -2.9    13.1    50.9   -22.9      4.8       7.8
          Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
              services).........................   123.6   125.3   126.2   124.6     3.0     6.5     4.7     3.3      4.7       4.0
        Other utilities and public services 4/ .   159.6   160.0   160.0   160.2     3.4     2.6     3.1     1.5      3.0       2.3
      Household furnishings and operation 2/ ...   125.2   124.9   125.1   125.1     1.0     1.3     1.0     -.3      1.1        .3
        Housefurnishings 4/ ....................   111.4   111.0   111.2   110.9     -.4      .0      .4    -1.8      -.2       -.7
        Housekeeping supplies ..................   141.7   142.3   142.5   142.5      .6     1.4      .9     2.3      1.0       1.6
        Housekeeping services 4/ ...............   150.3   149.6   149.7   150.5     3.9     3.8     3.0      .5      3.9       1.8

    Apparel and upkeep .........................   131.8   132.3   132.6   132.2    -2.4    -2.1     2.5     1.2     -2.3       1.8
      Apparel commodities 4/ ...................   128.0   128.6   128.8   128.3    -2.8    -2.5     2.2      .9     -2.6       1.6
        Men's and boys' apparel ................   128.2   129.5   128.3   128.0     -.9    -2.2     3.8     -.6     -1.6       1.6
        Women's and girls' apparel .............   124.9   125.7   126.6   125.8    -3.5    -4.1     5.6     2.9     -3.8       4.3
        Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ......   126.9   127.9   127.2   129.7   -12.0     7.3   -13.0     9.1     -2.8      -2.6
        Footwear ...............................   127.4   126.4   126.7   126.2     -.9     -.6     2.2    -3.7      -.8       -.8
        Other apparel commodities 4/............   146.7   146.8   147.9   147.5    -4.9    -1.3    -9.0     2.2     -3.1      -3.6
      Apparel services 1/ 4/ ...................   161.5   161.7   162.2   162.4     2.0     1.8     2.8     2.2      1.9       2.5

    Transportation .............................   145.7   145.4   145.3   145.4     4.0     2.0     5.4     -.8      3.0       2.2
      Private transportation ...................   142.3   142.4   142.7   142.4     3.2     1.4     4.6      .3      2.3       2.4
        New vehicles ...........................   144.7   144.4   144.4   144.6     2.3     3.7     -.6     -.3      3.0       -.4
          New cars .............................   142.2   141.9   141.9   142.0     2.0     3.7    -1.4     -.6      2.9      -1.0
        Used cars ..............................   155.0   155.1   155.8   157.7   -10.5      .5    -3.8     7.2     -5.2       1.5
        Motor fuel .............................   111.1   111.8   111.8   109.5     8.3    -5.9    25.8    -5.6      1.0       9.0
          Gasoline .............................   110.5   111.3   111.3   109.0     7.9    -6.6    25.5    -5.3       .4       9.0
        Maintenance and repairs ................   160.7   161.3   161.2   161.5     2.6     4.6     2.5     2.0      3.6       2.3
        Other private transportation 4/.........   175.3   175.2   176.1   176.7     4.5     3.7      .0     3.2      4.1       1.6
          Other private transportation
              commodities 4/....................   105.0   104.8   105.1   104.8     1.1     -.8     -.8     -.8       .2       -.8
          Other private transportation
              services 4/ ......................   192.1   192.0   193.1   193.9     5.0     4.3      .2     3.8      4.6       2.0
      Public transportation ....................   191.2   185.6   181.9   185.9    14.3     6.0    13.1   -10.6     10.1        .5

    Medical care ...............................   231.5   231.9   232.3   233.2     3.4     2.8     2.8     3.0      3.1       2.9
      Medical care commodities .................   212.4   212.8   213.5   214.5     3.7     1.9     1.7     4.0      2.8       2.9
      Medical care services ....................   235.6   236.0   236.4   237.2     3.3     3.0     2.9     2.7      3.2       2.8
        Professional medical services ..........   211.6   212.4   212.7   213.7     3.1     3.9     3.5     4.0      3.5       3.8
    Entertainment 4/ ...........................   161.1   161.1   161.4   161.7     2.6     1.8     3.3     1.5      2.2       2.4
      Entertainment commodities 4/ .............   144.4   144.0   144.2   144.2     1.4     1.4     2.5     -.6      1.4       1.0
      Entertainment services 4/ ................   180.8   181.1   181.6   182.1     3.7     2.3     3.9     2.9      3.0       3.4

    Other goods and services 2/.................   219.4   220.3   221.3   222.3     3.6     3.6     3.2     5.4      3.6       4.3
      Tobacco and smoking products .............   235.3   236.2   237.6   238.5     1.9     3.5     1.9     5.6      2.7       3.7
      Personal care 1/ .........................   150.5   151.6   151.5   151.8      .5     3.2     -.8     3.5      1.9       1.3
        Toilet goods and personal care
            appliances 1/ ......................   142.8   143.6   143.3   143.6     -.3     3.4    -6.2     2.3      1.5      -2.1
        Personal care services 1/ ..............   159.2   160.7   160.7   161.2     1.6     3.4     5.2     5.1      2.5       5.2
      Personal and educational expenses 4/ .....   252.7   253.5   255.0   256.3     5.2     3.8     4.6     5.8      4.5       5.2
        School books and supplies ..............   232.5   232.2   233.2   234.0     4.0     6.3     5.3     2.6      5.2       4.0
        Personal and educational services 4/ ...   254.1   255.0   256.5   257.8     5.1     3.6     4.5     6.0      4.4       5.2








  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 - Continued

  (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                                   Seasonally adjusted indexes             Seasonally adjusted annual rate
                                                                                                 percent change for
                                                                                         3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                  Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    June    Sept.   Dec.    Mar.     Sept.     Mar.
                                                  1996    1997    1997    1997    1996    1996    1996    1997     1996      1997

           Commodity and service group

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.9     3.1     3.3     1.8      3.0       2.5
    Commodities ................................   141.8   141.8   142.1   141.8     2.0     2.3     3.8      .0      2.2       1.9
      Food and beverages .......................   156.6   156.3   156.8   156.8     4.3     5.0     3.4      .5      4.7       1.9
      Commodities less food and beverages ......   132.8   133.0   133.1   132.7      .6      .3     4.0     -.3       .5       1.8
        Nondurables less food and beverages ....   135.2   135.3   135.7   134.6     2.4     -.9     7.8    -1.8       .8       2.9
          Apparel commodities 4/ ...............   128.0   128.6   128.8   128.3    -2.8    -2.5     2.2      .9     -2.6       1.6
          Nondurables less food, beverages,
              and apparel ......................   141.8   142.2   142.3   141.4     3.8     -.9    10.8    -1.1      1.5       4.7
        Durables ...............................   129.7   129.5   129.6   129.6      .0     1.2      .0     -.3       .6       -.2
    Services ...................................   176.8   177.2   177.6   178.0     3.5     3.5     3.2     2.7      3.5       3.0
      Rent of shelter 3/ .......................   180.3   180.8   181.3   181.8     3.0     3.0     2.9     3.4      3.0       3.2
      Household services less rent
          of shelter 3/ 4/......................   144.3   145.1   145.7   145.2     3.8     4.0     3.4     2.5      3.9       3.0
      Transportation services ..................   184.1   182.9   182.7   184.1     6.5     4.7     3.6      .0      5.6       1.8
      Medical care services ....................   235.6   236.0   236.4   237.2     3.3     3.0     2.9     2.7      3.2       2.8
      Other services ...........................   205.4   206.1   206.9   207.8     4.3     3.0     4.2     4.8      3.6       4.5

                 Special indexes

  All items less food ..........................   159.6   159.9   160.2   160.3     2.6     2.6     3.6     1.8      2.6       2.7
  All items less shelter .......................   155.1   155.2   155.5   155.5     2.9     2.9     3.7     1.0      2.9       2.4
  All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........   160.3   160.5   160.8   160.9     2.8     3.1     3.6     1.5      3.0       2.5
  All items less medical care ..................   154.9   155.1   155.5   155.5     2.9     2.9     3.4     1.6      2.9       2.5
  Commodities less food ........................   134.1   134.2   134.4   134.1      .9      .6     4.0      .0       .8       2.0
  Nondurables less food ........................   136.7   136.8   137.1   136.2     2.7     -.9     7.7    -1.5       .9       3.0
  Nondurables less food and apparel ............   142.8   142.9   143.1   142.1     3.5     2.0     8.6    -1.9      2.8       3.2
  Nondurables ..................................   146.0   146.1   146.5   145.9     3.1     2.0     5.4     -.3      2.5       2.5
  Services less rent of shelter 3/ .............   185.7   185.9   186.2   186.7     3.8     4.0     3.7     2.2      3.9       3.0
  Services less medical care services ..........   171.3   171.7   172.0   172.5     3.4     3.6     3.3     2.8      3.5       3.1
  Energy .......................................   113.7   114.6   114.9   112.9     4.9     1.1    16.2    -2.8      3.0       6.3
  All items less energy ........................   165.4   165.5   165.9   166.2     2.7     3.2     2.5     1.9      3.0       2.2
    All items less food and energy .............   167.7   167.9   168.3   168.7     2.5     2.7     2.4     2.4      2.6       2.4
      Commodities less food and energy
          commodities ..........................   141.9   142.0   142.2   142.3      .0     1.1      .9     1.1       .6       1.0
        Energy commodities .....................   111.1   111.5   111.3   108.8     7.1    -4.1    28.7    -8.0      1.4       8.8
      Services less energy services ............   182.2   182.4   182.9   183.4     3.4     3.4     3.1     2.7      3.4       2.9


     1/     Not seasonally adjusted.
     2/     This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
     3/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
     4/     This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
            See Table X for a comparable index series.
     -      Data not available.
     NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Selected areas, all items index

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                                                  Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                   Area                     Pricing                                       Mar. 1997 from-         Feb. 1997 from-
                                           schedule    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    Mar.    Jan.    Feb.    Feb.    Dec.    Jan.
                                              1/       1996    1997    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997    1996    1996    1997



 U.S. city average ......................      M        158.6   159.1   159.6   160.0     2.8     0.6     0.3     3.0     0.6     0.3

         Region and area size 2/

 Northeast urban.........................      M        165.7   166.2   166.9   167.3     2.8      .7      .2     2.9      .7      .4
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        166.2   166.8   167.7   168.1     2.7      .8      .2     2.9      .9      .5
   Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        164.3   164.2   164.2   164.8     2.9      .4      .4     3.1     -.1      .0
   Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 3/........      M        164.6   164.7   165.3   165.6     3.0      .5      .2     2.9      .4      .4

 North Central urban ....................      M        155.3   155.5   155.9   155.9     2.8      .3      .0     3.4      .4      .3
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        155.5   156.0   156.5   156.6     2.6      .4      .1     3.2      .6      .3
   Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        154.5   154.3   154.4   154.6     2.8      .2      .1     3.3     -.1      .1
   Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 3/........      M        157.7   157.8   158.3   158.1     3.3      .2     -.1     3.9      .4      .3
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        151.9   152.2   152.1   152.1     3.0     -.1      .0     3.5      .1     -.1

 South urban ............................      M        155.1   155.7   156.1   156.5     2.7      .5      .3     3.0      .6      .3
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        154.0   154.9   155.2   155.4     2.6      .3      .1     3.1      .8      .2
   Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        158.2   158.5   158.9   159.7     3.0      .8      .5     3.1      .4      .3
   Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 3/........      M        154.4   155.0   155.6   155.7     2.3      .5      .1     2.8      .8      .4
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        154.4   154.8   155.5   156.0     2.9      .8      .3     3.6      .7      .5

 West urban .............................      M        158.7   159.6   160.1   160.8     2.8      .8      .4     2.8      .9      .3
   Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        158.7   159.6   160.1   160.9     2.7      .8      .5     2.7      .9      .3
   Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 3/........      M        163.9   164.9   165.4   166.3     3.0      .8      .5     2.9      .9      .3

 Size classes
   A 4/ .................................      M        142.9   143.6   144.1   144.4     2.6      .6      .2     2.9      .8      .3
   B 3/ .................................      M        159.0   159.2   159.5   160.1     3.0      .6      .4     3.1      .3      .2
   C 3/ .................................      M        158.6   159.1   159.6   159.8     2.8      .4      .1     3.1      .6      .3
   D ....................................      M        155.5   155.9   156.2   156.4     2.8      .3      .1     3.4      .5      .2

           Selected local areas

 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        159.7   160.4   161.1   161.0     3.0      .4     -.1     3.8      .9      .4
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        158.3   159.1   159.2   159.8     1.6      .4      .4     1.9      .6      .1
 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        168.5   169.1   170.1   170.7     2.5      .9      .4     2.7      .9      .6
 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton,
 PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ .........................      M        164.3   165.1   165.8   166.1     2.5      .6      .2     2.9      .9      .4
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ ..      M        156.0   157.0   157.9   159.2     4.1     1.4      .8     3.1     1.2      .6

 Baltimore, MD 6/ .......................      1         -      155.8    -      157.1     2.7      .8    -       -       -       -
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1         -      167.7    -      168.1     3.3      .2    -       -       -       -
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1         -      153.8    -      155.4     3.0     1.0    -       -       -       -
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1         -      158.1    -      158.5     4.0      .3    -       -       -       -
 St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ .....      1         -      151.5    -      152.2     2.2      .5    -       -       -       -
 Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................      1         -      161.6    -      161.9     2.2      .2    -       -       -       -

 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2        150.0    -      150.7    -       -       -       -        3.1      .5    -
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2        154.3    -      155.4    -       -       -       -        2.7      .7    -
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2        143.6    -      144.5    -       -       -       -        2.1      .6    -
 Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........      2        155.4    -      156.2    -       -       -       -        3.4      .5    -


    1/     Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as
           indicated:
             M - Every month.
             1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.
             2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.
    2/     Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
    3/     Starting in January, 1998, a new Size Class B/C will be introduced, composed of current
           Size Class B and Size Class C cities.  There will be no individual Size Class B or Size Class C.
    4/     Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
    5/     Indexes for the cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco will no longer be published on a monthly
           basis starting in January, 1998.  Beginning in February, 1998 they will be published on a
           bi-monthly basis.
    6/     Indexes for the cities of Washington and Baltimore will no longer be published separately after December, 1997.
           Beginning in January, 1998 the two cities will be published as a Washington-Baltimore
           combined metropolitan area.
    7/     Indexes for the cities of Pittsburgh and St. Louis will no longer be published on a bi-monthly
           basis after December, 1997.  Beginning in July, 1998 they will be published semi-annually, each
           January and July.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than
           the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error.  As a
           result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are
           similar.  Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average
           CPI for use in their escalator clauses.


 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
 commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                               Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                              importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                               December     Feb.      Mar.       Mar. 1997 from-     Dec. to    Jan. to    Feb. to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Mar. 1996  Feb. 1997     Jan.       Feb.       Mar.

             Expenditure category

 All items ..................................   100.000     156.8     157.0        2.7        0.1        0.1        0.2        0.1
 All items (1967=100) .......................      -        467.0     467.8        -          -          -          -          -

   Food and beverages .......................    19.436     156.4     156.5        3.3         .1        -.2         .2         .1
     Food ...................................    17.749     156.0     156.1        3.3         .1        -.3         .3         .1
       Food at home .........................    11.387     156.8     156.7        3.4        -.1        -.6         .3        -.1
         Cereals and bakery products ........     1.688     176.4     176.4        2.8         .0        -.1        -.1         .4
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.535     148.4     147.4        3.6        -.7        -.5        -.3        -.8
         Dairy products 1/ ..................     1.387     146.0     145.8        6.7        -.1        -.6       -1.1        -.1
         Fruits and vegetables 2/ ...........     2.086     186.1     188.2        3.0        1.1       -1.7        2.7         .3
         Other food at home .................     2.691     145.0     145.1        2.1         .1         .0         .2         .1
           Sugar and sweets .................      .373     147.2     146.2        2.7        -.7         .5         .2        -.7
           Fats and oils ....................      .282     142.3     142.2        1.6        -.1        -.3         .1         .1
           Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .841     128.0     128.9        -.2         .7         .0        -.4        1.1
           Other prepared food ..............     1.194     160.4     160.1        3.7        -.2        -.1         .7        -.5
       Food away from home ..................     6.362     155.7     156.0        3.2         .2         .3         .2         .3
     Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.687     161.1     161.5        3.0         .2         .1         .1         .1

   Housing 2/ ...............................    38.747     152.4     152.5        2.7         .1         .3         .2         .1
     Shelter ................................    25.867     169.4     169.9        2.9         .3         .2         .3         .2
       Renters' costs 3/ 4/..................     8.079     160.9     161.9        3.1         .6         .4         .3         .3
         Rent, residential ..................     6.580     164.4     164.7        2.7         .2         .2         .1         .2
         Other renters' costs 4/ ............     1.499     224.9     229.9        4.7        2.2        1.3         .6         .3
       Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...............    17.599     163.7     163.9        2.7         .1         .2         .3         .2
         Owners' equivalent rent 3/ .........    17.277     164.0     164.3        2.8         .2         .2         .3         .2
         Household insurance 3/ 4/ ..........      .322     148.5     148.1        1.5        -.3         .4         .7        -.3
       Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........      .189     140.7     140.9        3.4         .1         .0         .4         .1
         Maintenance and repair
             services 1/ 4/ .................      .105     150.3     150.3        3.1         .0        -.1         .2         .0
         Maintenance and repair
             commodities 1/ 4/ ..............      .084     128.3     128.7        3.7         .3         .2         .8         .3
     Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............     7.344     130.7     129.6        3.7        -.8         .8         .3        -.8
       Fuels ................................     3.979     118.5     116.5        4.5       -1.7        1.1         .5       -1.4
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ....................      .391     109.4     105.3        6.3       -3.7       -1.2       -2.0       -3.5
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).......................     3.588     124.8     122.9        4.2       -1.5        1.4         .7       -1.2
       Other utilities and public
           services 4/ ......................     3.365     160.9     161.2        2.7         .2         .3         .1         .1
     Household furnishings and operation 2/ .     5.536     123.7     123.9         .6         .2        -.2         .1         .0
       Housefurnishings 4/ ..................     3.261     109.8     109.8        -.4         .0        -.5         .1        -.1
       Housekeeping supplies ................     1.129     143.1     143.5        1.6         .3         .4         .1         .1
       Housekeeping services 4/ .............     1.145     152.9     153.3        2.5         .3        -.3         .1         .3

   Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.348     131.1     133.8        -.1        2.1         .4         .4        -.3
     Apparel commodities 4/ .................     4.838     127.6     130.5        -.3        2.3         .5         .4        -.3
       Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.286     127.2     128.8        -.1        1.3         .9        -.9        -.2
       Women's and girls' apparel............     2.053     124.8     129.2         .5        3.5         .6        1.1        -.4
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ....      .240     128.1     130.7       -3.0        2.0         .3        -.3        2.0
       Footwear .............................      .799     127.2     127.9        -.7         .6        -.7         .1        -.5
       Other apparel commodities 4/..........      .461     145.7     149.5       -2.7        2.6         .4        1.0        -.9
     Apparel services 1/ 4/ .................      .510     161.3     161.5        2.1         .1         .2         .3         .1

   Transportation ...........................    19.190     144.4     144.2        2.3        -.1         .0         .0        -.1
     Private transportation .................    17.934     142.4     141.9        2.2        -.4         .1         .1        -.1
       New vehicles .........................     4.893     146.7     146.6        1.5        -.1        -.1        -.1         .2
         New cars ...........................     3.533     142.5     142.5        1.1         .0        -.2        -.1         .2
       Used cars ............................     2.320     155.7     155.7       -1.6         .0         .1         .4        1.3
       Motor fuel ...........................     3.921     108.2     106.3        4.8       -1.8         .6        -.1       -2.2
         Gasoline ...........................      -        107.5     105.7        4.4       -1.7         .5        -.2       -2.2
       Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.616     162.1     162.5        2.9         .2         .4        -.2         .4
       Other private transportation 4/.......     5.185     172.6     172.8        2.8         .1         .1         .4         .3
         Other private transportation
             commodities 4/..................      .742     104.3     104.1        -.3        -.2        -.2         .1         .0
         Other private transportation
             services 4/ ....................     4.442     190.0     190.2        3.3         .1         .2         .5         .3
     Public transportation ..................     1.256     180.3     185.1        4.5        2.7       -2.7       -2.2        1.7

   Medical care .............................     6.251     232.1     232.8        3.0         .3         .2         .2         .3
     Medical care commodities ...............     1.047     211.4     212.1        2.7         .3         .1         .4         .3
     Medical care services ..................     5.204     236.8     237.4        3.0         .3         .2         .0         .4
       Professional medical services ........     2.973     214.3     215.4        3.8         .5         .2         .2         .5

   Entertainment 4/ .........................     4.015     159.2     159.6        2.2         .3         .0         .1         .1
     Entertainment commodities 4/ ...........     2.036     143.1     143.4        1.2         .2        -.3         .1         .0
     Entertainment services 4/ ..............     1.979     182.2     182.8        3.3         .3         .2         .1         .4

   Other goods and services 2/ ..............     7.012     217.4     218.0        3.9         .3         .6         .4         .5
     Tobacco and smoking products ...........     2.117     237.0     237.7        3.0         .3         .6         .5         .4
     Personal care 1/ .......................     1.107     151.4     151.6        1.5         .1         .8        -.1         .1
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 1/ ....................      .610     144.2     144.3        -.2         .1         .6        -.1         .1
       Personal care services 1/ ............      .497     160.8     161.2        3.9         .2         .9         .0         .2
     Personal and educational expenses 4/ ...     3.788     250.8     251.6        5.1         .3         .5         .6         .5
       School books and supplies ............      .232     236.9     237.1        4.8         .1        -.1         .3         .3
       Personal and educational services 4/ .     3.556     252.3     253.0        5.0         .3         .6         .6         .5





 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 - Continued

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                               Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                              importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                               December     Feb.      Mar.       Mar. 1997 from-     Dec. to    Jan. to    Feb. to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Mar. 1996  Feb. 1997     Jan.       Feb.       Mar.

         Commodity and service group

 All items ..................................   100.000     156.8     157.0        2.7         .1         .1         .2         .1
   Commodities ..............................    47.057     141.8     142.0        2.1         .1         .0         .2        -.1
     Food and beverages .....................    19.436     156.4     156.5        3.3         .1        -.2         .2         .1
     Commodities less food and beverages ....    27.621     132.9     133.1        1.3         .2         .2         .2        -.3
       Nondurables less food and beverages ..    16.215     134.5     134.8        2.0         .2         .1         .2        -.7
         Apparel commodities 4/ .............     4.838     127.6     130.5        -.3        2.3         .5         .4        -.3
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ....................    11.377     140.8     139.9        3.1        -.6         .3         .1        -.8
       Durables .............................    11.407     129.5     129.6         .2         .1        -.1         .1         .0
   Services .................................    52.943     174.9     175.2        3.2         .2         .2         .2         .2
     Rent of shelter 3/ .....................    25.329     163.0     163.5        2.9         .3         .4         .2         .2
     Household services less rent of
         shelter 3/ 4/.......................     8.553     133.3     132.6        3.3        -.5         .7         .4        -.4
     Transportation services ................     7.314     181.3     182.3        3.3         .6        -.3        -.1         .6
     Medical care services ..................     5.204     236.8     237.4        3.0         .3         .2         .0         .4
     Other services .........................     6.542     203.5     204.1        4.2         .3         .4         .3         .4

               Special indexes

 All items less food ........................    82.251     156.8     157.1        2.5         .2         .2         .2         .1
 All items less shelter .....................    74.133     153.5     153.7        2.6         .1         .1         .1         .0
 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/......    82.401     147.3     147.5        2.6         .1         .1         .2         .0
 All items less medical care ................    93.749     153.2     153.5        2.7         .2         .1         .2         .0
 Commodities less food ......................    29.308     134.0     134.2        1.4         .1         .1         .1        -.3
 Nondurables less food ......................    17.901     136.0     136.4        2.1         .3         .1         .3        -.9
 Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    13.064     141.8     141.1        3.1        -.5         .1         .2        -.8
 Nondurables ................................    35.651     145.7     146.0        2.7         .2         .1         .2        -.3
 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........    27.613     166.2     166.3        3.5         .1         .2         .3         .2
 Services less medical care services ........    47.738     169.6     169.9        3.2         .2         .3         .2         .2
 Energy .....................................     7.901     112.7     110.7        4.6       -1.8         .9         .3       -1.8
 All items less energy ......................    92.099     163.0     163.5        2.5         .3         .1         .2         .2
   All items less food and energy ...........    74.350     164.8     165.5        2.4         .4         .2         .2         .2
     Commodities less food and
         energy commodities .................    24.996     141.7     142.5         .8         .6         .1         .2         .1
       Energy commodities ...................     4.312     108.6     106.5        4.9       -1.9         .4        -.3       -2.3
     Services less energy services ..........    49.354     180.4     181.0        3.1         .3         .2         .2         .3
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
   1982-84=$1.00 1/ .........................      -        $.638     $.637       -2.6        -.2        -.2        -.3        -.2
   1967=$1.00 1/ ............................      -         .214      .214        -          -          -          -          -


    1/     Not seasonally adjusted.
    2/     This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
    3/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
    4/     This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
           See Table X for a comparable index series.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.


  Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
  commodity and service group

  (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                                   Seasonally adjusted indexes             Seasonally adjusted annual rate
                                                                                                 percent change for
                                                                                         3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                  Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    June    Sept.   Dec.    Mar.     Sept.     Mar.
                                                  1996    1997    1997    1997    1996    1996    1996    1997     1996      1997

               Expenditure category

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.6     2.6     3.9     1.5      2.6       2.7

    Food and beverages .........................   156.3   156.0   156.3   156.4     4.0     5.1     3.9      .3      4.5       2.1
      Food .....................................   155.9   155.5   155.9   156.0     4.3     5.1     3.9      .3      4.7       2.1
        Food at home ...........................   156.9   156.0   156.5   156.3     5.1     6.4     3.7    -1.5      5.8       1.0
          Cereals and bakery products ..........   176.3   176.2   176.0   176.7     3.5     2.3     4.2      .9      2.9       2.5
          Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   149.1   148.3   147.9   146.7     5.8     9.5     6.4    -6.3      7.6       -.1
          Dairy products 1/ ....................   148.5   147.6   146.0   145.8     9.4    20.6     5.9    -7.1     14.9       -.8
          Fruits and vegetables 2/..............   185.0   181.8   186.7   187.2     6.5     1.5     -.4     4.8      4.0       2.2
          Other food at home ...................   144.1   144.1   144.4   144.5     2.6     2.3     2.5     1.1      2.4       1.8
            Sugar and sweets ...................   145.9   146.6   146.9   145.9     4.6     4.5     1.9      .0      4.6       1.0
            Fats and oils ......................   141.8   141.4   141.6   141.8     3.5     2.3     1.1      .0      2.9        .6
            Nonalcoholic beverages .............   127.4   127.4   126.9   128.3    -1.5    -1.6     -.6     2.9     -1.5       1.1
            Other prepared food ................   159.5   159.3   160.4   159.6     4.8     4.2     5.4      .3      4.5       2.8
        Food away from home ....................   154.9   155.4   155.7   156.2     2.9     2.9     4.0     3.4      2.9       3.7
      Alcoholic beverages ......................   160.6   160.8   160.9   161.0     2.8     4.1     3.8     1.0      3.5       2.4

    Housing 2/ .................................   151.4   151.9   152.2   152.3     2.7     2.7     3.2     2.4      2.7       2.8
      Shelter ..................................   168.2   168.6   169.1   169.5     2.9     2.7     2.9     3.1      2.8       3.0
        Renters' costs 3/ 4/....................   158.9   159.6   160.0   160.4     3.1     2.8     2.8     3.8      3.0       3.3
          Rent, residential ....................   163.7   164.1   164.3   164.7     3.0     2.5     3.0     2.5      2.8       2.7
          Other renters' costs 4/ ..............   217.6   220.5   221.8   222.4     3.0     5.0     2.0     9.1      4.0       5.5
        Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................   162.9   163.2   163.7   164.1     2.8     2.5     3.0     3.0      2.6       3.0
          Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ...........   163.2   163.5   164.0   164.4     2.8     2.5     3.0     3.0      2.6       3.0
          Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............   147.3   147.9   148.9   148.4     1.9     2.8    -1.3     3.0      2.3        .8
        Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ..........   140.1   140.1   140.7   140.9     3.6     1.5     6.2     2.3      2.5       4.2
          Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/    150.1   150.0   150.3   150.3     2.5     7.6     1.9      .5      5.0       1.2
          Maintenance and repair
              commodities 1/ 4/ ................   127.1   127.3   128.3   128.7     4.9    -6.2    11.8     5.1      -.8       8.4
      Fuel and other utilities 2/...............   129.8   130.8   131.2   130.2     2.6     4.8     6.1     1.2      3.7       3.6
        Fuels ..................................   116.8   118.1   118.7   117.0     1.8     6.9     8.7      .7      4.3       4.6
          Fuel oil and other household fuel
              commodities ......................   109.5   108.2   106.0   102.3    -3.3    13.6    52.1   -23.8      4.8       7.6
          Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
              services).........................   123.1   124.8   125.7   124.2     2.4     6.1     5.0     3.6      4.2       4.3
        Other utilities and public services 4/ .   160.1   160.6   160.7   160.9     3.4     2.6     3.1     2.0      3.0       2.5
      Household furnishings and operation 2/ ...   123.8   123.5   123.6   123.6     1.0     1.0     1.3     -.6      1.0        .3
        Housefurnishings 4/ ....................   110.2   109.7   109.8   109.7     -.4      .0     1.1    -1.8      -.2       -.4
        Housekeeping supplies ..................   142.3   142.9   143.1   143.2      .9     1.7     1.1     2.6      1.3       1.8
        Housekeeping services 4/ ...............   153.0   152.5   152.6   153.0     3.8     3.5     2.7      .0      3.6       1.3

    Apparel and upkeep .........................   130.8   131.3   131.8   131.4    -2.1    -2.4     2.2     1.8     -2.3       2.0
      Apparel commodities 4/ ...................   127.4   128.0   128.5   128.1    -2.5    -2.8     1.9     2.2     -2.6       2.1
        Men's and boys' apparel ................   128.0   129.2   128.1   127.8    -2.2    -1.9     4.5     -.6     -2.0       1.9
        Women's and girls' apparel .............   123.7   124.5   125.9   125.4    -2.5    -5.7     5.3     5.6     -4.1       5.5
        Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ......   128.1   128.5   128.1   130.7   -13.0     7.3   -12.4     8.4     -3.4      -2.6
        Footwear ...............................   128.5   127.6   127.7   127.0     -.3      .0     2.2    -4.6      -.2      -1.2
        Other apparel commodities 4/............   145.7   146.3   147.7   146.3     -.5    -2.6    -9.3     1.7     -1.6      -4.0
      Apparel services 1/ 4/ ...................   160.5   160.8   161.3   161.5     2.0     1.8     2.0     2.5      1.9       2.3

    Transportation .............................   145.2   145.2   145.2   145.1     2.9     1.4     5.7     -.3      2.1       2.7
      Private transportation ...................   142.8   143.0   143.2   143.0     2.3     1.1     5.2      .6      1.7       2.9
        New vehicles ...........................   145.8   145.7   145.6   145.9     2.2     3.6     -.3      .3      2.9        .0
          New cars .............................   141.9   141.6   141.5   141.8     1.7     4.0    -1.1     -.3      2.9       -.7
        Used cars ..............................   156.3   156.4   157.1   159.1   -10.4      .8    -3.5     7.4     -5.0       1.8
        Motor fuel .............................   111.4   112.1   112.0   109.5     8.3    -6.2    27.7    -6.6       .8       9.2
          Gasoline .............................   111.0   111.6   111.4   109.0     7.1    -6.3    27.8    -7.0       .2       9.0
        Maintenance and repairs ................   161.5   162.2   161.9   162.5     2.6     4.6     2.3     2.5      3.6       2.4
        Other private transportation 4/.........   170.9   171.1   171.8   172.3     4.4     3.8     -.5     3.3      4.1       1.4
          Other private transportation
              commodities 4/....................   104.1   103.9   104.0   104.0      .4     -.8     -.4     -.4      -.2       -.4
          Other private transportation
              services 4/ ......................   187.8   188.1   189.0   189.6     5.1     4.6     -.4     3.9      4.9       1.7
      Public transportation ....................   189.1   184.0   179.9   182.9    10.7     6.6    15.0   -12.5      8.6        .3

    Medical care ...............................   230.8   231.2   231.6   232.4     3.4     2.8     2.8     2.8      3.1       2.8
      Medical care commodities .................   209.9   210.1   211.0   211.7     3.5     1.9     1.9     3.5      2.7       2.7
      Medical care services ....................   235.4   235.9   236.0   236.9     3.3     3.0     3.1     2.6      3.2       2.8
        Professional medical services ..........   213.0   213.5   213.9   215.0     3.1     4.1     3.8     3.8      3.6       3.8
    Entertainment 4/ ...........................   158.8   158.8   159.0   159.2     2.6     1.8     3.3     1.0      2.2       2.2
      Entertainment commodities 4/ .............   143.3   142.9   143.1   143.1     1.1     1.4     2.6     -.6      1.3       1.0
      Entertainment services 4/ ................   181.0   181.4   181.6   182.3     4.1     2.5     3.8     2.9      3.3       3.4

    Other goods and services 2/.................   215.6   216.8   217.7   218.7     3.3     3.4     3.0     5.9      3.4       4.4
      Tobacco and smoking products .............   234.8   236.1   237.2   238.2     1.7     2.8     1.9     5.9      2.3       3.9
      Personal care 1/ .........................   150.4   151.6   151.4   151.6      .8     3.2    -1.1     3.2      2.0       1.1
        Toilet goods and personal care
            appliances 1/ ......................   143.5   144.4   144.2   144.3      .0     3.1    -5.9     2.2      1.5      -1.9
        Personal care services 1/ ..............   159.4   160.8   160.8   161.2     2.1     3.1     5.7     4.6      2.6       5.2
      Personal and educational expenses 4/ .....   247.9   249.2   250.6   251.8     4.9     4.0     4.6     6.4      4.5       5.5
        School books and supplies ..............   234.2   234.0   234.8   235.6     3.4     7.1     6.0     2.4      5.2       4.2
        Personal and educational services 4/ ...   249.2   250.6   252.0   253.3     4.9     3.8     4.6     6.7      4.4       5.7








  Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and
  commodity and service group - Continued

  (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                                   Seasonally adjusted indexes             Seasonally adjusted annual rate
                                                                                                 percent change for
                                                                                         3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                  Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    June    Sept.   Dec.    Mar.     Sept.     Mar.
                                                  1996    1997    1997    1997    1996    1996    1996    1997     1996      1997

           Commodity and service group

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.6     2.6     3.9     1.5      2.6       2.7
    Commodities ................................   141.9   141.9   142.2   142.0     2.0     2.0     4.3      .3      2.0       2.3
      Food and beverages .......................   156.3   156.0   156.3   156.4     4.0     5.1     3.9      .3      4.5       2.1
      Commodities less food and beverages ......   133.1   133.3   133.5   133.1      .6      .0     4.6      .0       .3       2.3
        Nondurables less food and beverages ....   135.2   135.4   135.7   134.7     2.8    -1.2     8.4    -1.5       .8       3.3
          Apparel commodities 4/ ...............   127.4   128.0   128.5   128.1    -2.5    -2.8     1.9     2.2     -2.6       2.1
          Nondurables less food, beverages,
              and apparel ......................   141.8   142.2   142.4   141.2     3.5    -1.2    12.1    -1.7      1.2       5.0
        Durables ...............................   129.4   129.3   129.4   129.4     -.3     1.9     -.9      .0       .8       -.5
    Services ...................................   173.9   174.3   174.7   175.1     3.3     3.3     3.3     2.8      3.3       3.0
      Rent of shelter 3/ .......................   161.9   162.5   162.9   163.2     2.8     3.0     2.5     3.3      2.9       2.9
      Household services less rent
          of shelter 3/ 4/......................   132.6   133.5   134.0   133.4     3.1     4.1     3.4     2.4      3.6       2.9
      Transportation services ..................   181.4   180.8   180.6   181.6     5.3     5.0     2.7      .4      5.2       1.6
      Medical care services ....................   235.4   235.9   236.0   236.9     3.3     3.0     3.1     2.6      3.2       2.8
      Other services ...........................   202.1   203.0   203.7   204.6     4.1     3.3     4.3     5.0      3.7       4.7

                 Special indexes

  All items less food ..........................   156.2   156.5   156.8   156.9     2.4     2.1     3.9     1.8      2.2       2.9
  All items less shelter .......................   153.3   153.5   153.7   153.7     2.7     2.7     4.0     1.0      2.7       2.5
  All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........   146.9   147.1   147.4   147.4     2.8     2.5     3.9     1.4      2.7       2.6
  All items less medical care ..................   152.8   153.0   153.3   153.3     2.7     3.0     3.8     1.3      2.8       2.5
  Commodities less food ........................   134.4   134.6   134.8   134.4      .6      .3     4.6      .0       .5       2.3
  Nondurables less food ........................   136.7   136.9   137.3   136.1     2.1      .3     7.7    -1.7      1.2       2.9
  Nondurables less food and apparel ............   142.6   142.8   143.1   141.9     3.2     1.7     9.2    -1.9      2.5       3.5
  Nondurables ..................................   145.9   146.0   146.3   145.8     3.1     2.0     6.0     -.3      2.6       2.8
  Services less rent of shelter 3/ .............   165.4   165.7   166.2   166.5     3.8     4.3     3.5     2.7      4.0       3.1
  Services less medical care services ..........   168.6   169.1   169.4   169.7     3.4     3.4     3.1     2.6      3.4       2.9
  Energy .......................................   113.6   114.6   114.9   112.8     5.3      .0    17.5    -2.8      2.6       6.9
  All items less energy ........................   162.5   162.6   162.9   163.3     2.5     2.8     2.8     2.0      2.7       2.4
    All items less food and energy .............   164.3   164.6   164.9   165.3     2.2     2.5     2.2     2.5      2.4       2.3
      Commodities less food and energy
          commodities ..........................   141.5   141.6   141.9   142.1     -.6     1.1      .9     1.7       .3       1.3
        Energy commodities .....................   111.5   112.0   111.7   109.1     7.5    -4.8    29.6    -8.3      1.2       9.0
      Services less energy services ............   179.6   180.0   180.3   180.9     3.5     3.2     2.9     2.9      3.3       2.9


     1/     Not seasonally adjusted.
     2/     This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
     3/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
     4/     This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
            See Table X for a comparable index series.
     -      Data not available.
     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: Selected areas, all items index

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)

                                                                  Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                   Area                     Pricing                                       Mar. 1997 from-         Feb. 1997 from-
                                           schedule    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    Mar.    Jan.    Feb.    Feb.    Dec.    Jan.
                                              1/       1996    1997    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997    1996    1996    1997



 U.S. city average ......................      M        155.9   156.3   156.8   157.0     2.7     0.4     0.1     3.0     0.6     0.3

         Region and area size 2/

 Northeast urban.........................      M        163.2   163.5   164.2   164.5     2.7      .6      .2     3.0      .6      .4
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        162.6   163.1   163.9   164.2     2.6      .7      .2     3.0      .8      .5
   Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        162.0   162.0   161.9   162.6     2.8      .4      .4     3.2     -.1     -.1
   Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 3/........      M        166.3   166.3   166.8   167.0     3.0      .4      .1     3.0      .3      .3

 North Central urban ....................      M        151.9   152.1   152.4   152.4     2.8      .2      .0     3.3      .3      .2
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        151.5   151.9   152.3   152.3     2.5      .3      .0     3.1      .5      .3
   Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        150.7   150.5   150.5   150.5     2.7      .0      .0     3.3     -.1      .0
   Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 3/........      M        155.1   155.2   155.6   155.3     3.3      .1     -.2     3.9      .3      .3
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        150.3   150.5   150.3   150.1     3.0     -.3     -.1     3.7      .0     -.1

 South urban ............................      M        153.7   154.2   154.5   154.8     2.7      .4      .2     3.0      .5      .2
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        152.3   153.1   153.2   153.4     2.6      .2      .1     3.0      .6      .1
   Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        154.5   154.7   155.0   155.6     3.0      .6      .4     3.1      .3      .2
   Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 3/........      M        154.5   154.9   155.5   155.5     2.3      .4      .0     2.8      .6      .4
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        155.0   155.3   155.8   156.1     2.6      .5      .2     3.6      .5      .3

 West urban .............................      M        155.4   156.3   156.8   157.4     2.6      .7      .4     2.7      .9      .3
   Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        153.8   154.7   155.2   155.9     2.5      .8      .5     2.6      .9      .3
   Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 3/........      M        160.7   161.7   162.1   163.1     3.1      .9      .6     2.9      .9      .2

 Size classes
   A 4/ .................................      M        141.9   142.5   143.0   143.2     2.5      .5      .1     3.0      .8      .4
   B 3/ .................................      M        156.2   156.3   156.5   157.0     2.9      .4      .3     3.1      .2      .1
   C 3/ .................................      M        157.9   158.2   158.7   158.8     2.8      .4      .1     3.1      .5      .3
   D ....................................      M        154.9   155.3   155.4   155.4     2.6      .1      .0     3.4      .3      .1

           Selected local areas

 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        154.6   155.3   155.9   155.6     2.8      .2     -.2     3.8      .8      .4
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        152.7   153.6   153.6   154.2     1.5      .4      .4     1.8      .6      .0
 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        164.7   165.1   166.2   166.6     2.5      .9      .2     2.8      .9      .7
 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton,
 PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ .........................      M        163.6   164.4   164.9   165.3     2.5      .5      .2     2.7      .8      .3
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ ..      M        153.1   154.1   155.0   156.2     3.6     1.4      .8     3.0     1.2      .6

 Baltimore, MD 6/ .......................      1         -      154.6    -      155.9     2.7      .8    -       -       -       -
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1         -      166.6    -      166.8     3.2      .1    -       -       -       -
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1         -      146.2    -      147.5     3.1      .9    -       -       -       -
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1         -      156.0    -      156.2     3.9      .1    -       -       -       -
 St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ .....      1         -      150.6    -      151.1     2.1      .3    -       -       -       -
 Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................      1         -      158.9    -      159.1     2.4      .1    -       -       -       -

 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2        150.2    -      150.8    -       -       -       -        3.4      .4    -
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2        149.4    -      150.3    -       -       -       -        2.6      .6    -
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2        143.0    -      143.6    -       -       -       -        2.0      .4    -
 Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........      2        148.8    -      149.6    -       -       -       -        3.4      .5    -


    1/     Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as
           indicated:
             M - Every month.
             1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.
             2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.
    2/     Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
    3/     Starting in January, 1998, a new Size Class B/C will be introduced, composed of current
           Size Class B and Size Class C cities.  There will be no individual Size Class B or Size Class C.
    4/     Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
    5/     Indexes for the cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco will no longer be published on a monthly
           basis starting in January, 1998.  Beginning in February, 1998 they will be published on a
           bi-monthly basis.
    6/     Indexes for the cities of Washington and Baltimore will no longer be published separately after December, 1997.
           Beginning in January, 1998 the two cities will be published as a Washington-Baltimore
           combined metropolitan area.
    7/     Indexes for the cities of Pittsburgh and St. Louis will no longer be published on a bi-monthly
           basis after December, 1997.  Beginning in July, 1998 they will be published semi-annually, each
           January and July.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than
           the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error.  As a
           result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are
           similar.  Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average
           CPI for use in their escalator clauses.