FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-97-93
 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. (EST)
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      Wednesday, March 19, 1997
 INTERNET ADDRESS:    http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
                                     
                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  FEBRUARY 1997
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3
 percent before seasonal adjustment in February to a level of 159.6 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in February, the CPI-U
 increased 3.0 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also rose 0.3 percent in February, prior to seasonal adjustment.
 The February 1997 CPI-W level of 156.8 was 3.0 percent higher than the
 index in February 1996.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in
 February, following an increase of 0.1 percent in  January.  The food
 index, which declined 0.3 percent in January, advanced 0.3 percent in
 February.  The index for grocery store food prices increased 0.5 percent,
 reflecting an 8.9 percent rise in the index for fresh vegetables.  The
 energy index--up 0.3 percent in February--continued to increase, but by
 less than in recent months.  The index for petroleum-based energy turned
 down in February, declining 0.2 percent, while the index for energy
 services rose 0.7 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.2
 percent.  This compares with a 0.1 percent rise in January, but was the
 same as the average monthly increase in all of 1996.

 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
                     Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.   Feb. '97    Feb.'97                                                                                                                                          97
 All Items            .2    .3   .3   .3   .3   .1   .3    2.5         3.0
  Food and beverages  .4    .5   .5   .4   .0  -.2   .3     .5         3.7
  Housing             .2    .2   .3   .3   .2   .3   .3    3.1         3.0
  Apparel and upkeep -.9    .5   .2   .3   .1   .4   .2    2.8          .5
  Transportation      .0    .5   .3   .3   .6  -.2  -.1    1.4         3.1
  Medical care        .2    .3   .2   .3   .2   .2   .2    2.3         2.9
  Entertainment       .2    .1   .3   .2   .3   .0   .2    2.0         2.2
  Other goods                                                           
   and services       .4    .1   .3   .4   .1   .4   .5    3.9         3.8
 Special Indexes:                                                       
  Energy             -.2    .2  1.1  1.2  1.5   .8   .3   10.8         7.8
  Food                .4    .5   .5   .4   .0  -.3   .3     .3         3.8
  All items less                                                        
   food and energy    .1    .3   .2   .2   .2   .1   .2    2.2         2.5


      The food and beverage index increased 0.3 percent in February.  The
 index for grocery store food prices, which fell 0.6 percent in January,
 increased 0.5 percent in February.  The February food advance reflects a
 sharp upturn in the index for fruits and vegetables, which rose 3.0 percent
 after declining 2.0 percent in January.  The index for fresh vegetables
 increased 8.9 percent as a result of a late January freeze in the
 Southeastern part of the country.  The index for fresh fruits increased 1.3
 percent, while the index for processed fruits and vegetables declined
 slightly.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, fresh fruit prices fell 3.2
 percent.)  The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs declined for the
 second consecutive month--down 0.2 percent in February.  In this group,
 prior to seasonal adjustment, price declines were registered for beef,
 pork, poultry, fish and seafood, and eggs.  The 1.1 percent decrease in the
 index for dairy products was the fourth consecutive month in which the
 index failed to advance after increases totaling 8.5 percent in the
 preceding five-month period.  The indexes for cereal and bakery products
 and for other food at home increased 0.1 and 0.2 percent, respectively.
 The other two components of the food and beverage index--restaurant meals
 and alcoholic beverages--each increased 0.2 percent.

     The housing component rose 0.3 percent in February.  Shelter costs
 also increased 0.3 percent.  Within shelter, renters' costs and homeowners'
 costs each rose 0.3 percent, and maintenance and repair costs increased 0.6
 percent.  The rise in renters' costs reflected a 0.9 percent increase in
 the index for other renters' costs;  residential rents rose 0.1 percent.
 The index for fuel and other utilities rose 0.3 percent in February.  The
 index for household fuels increased 0.5 percent, as a 1.6 percent decline
 in fuel oil prices partially offset increases in charges for natural gas
 and electricity of 1.2 and 0.5 percent, respectively.  For the 12-month
 period ended in February, charges for natural gas have increased 14.4
 percent.  In February, the index for other utilities and public services
 was unchanged.  The index for household furnishings and operation, which
 declined 0.2 percent in January, increased 0.2 percent in February,
 reflecting a return to regular prices after widespread sales in January.

     The transportation component, which declined 0.2 percent in January,
 fell 0.1 percent in February.   Public transportation costs fell sharply
 for the second consecutive month.  The index for airline fares, which
 increased 2.3 percent in December, fell 3.2 percent in January and 2.6
 percent in February.  The declines in early 1997 reflect, in part, the
 lapse of the 10 percent federal tax on airline fares on January 1; the tax
 was reimposed effective March 7.  The index for gasoline, which had
 advanced 6.6 percent in the preceding four months, was unchanged in
 February.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices declined 0.5
 percent in February.)   The index for gasoline prices has risen 13.3
 percent in the last 14 months, and as of February was 5.4 percent below its
 peak level of December 1990.  New vehicle purchase costs continued to show
 little change in February; the index for new vehicle prices was unchanged,
 while automobile finance charges increased 0.2 percent.  The index for used
 cars increased 0.5 percent in February.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
 used car prices fell 0.2 percent.)

     The index for apparel and upkeep increased for the sixth consecutive
 month in February--up 0.2 percent. (Prior to seasonal adjustment, clothing
 prices rose 1.9 percent in February, reflecting the introduction of higher-
 priced spring-summer wear.)

     Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in February to a level 2.9 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.3 percent.
 The index for medical care services rose 0.2 percent.  Charges for
 professional services and hospital and related services each increased 0.1
 percent.

     Entertainment costs, which were unchanged on average in January, rose
 0.2 percent in February, principally as a result of a 0.8 percent increase
 in the index for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting
 events.

     The index for other goods and services rose 0.5 percent in February.
 Increases in the indexes for tobacco  and smoking products and for personal
 expenses-up 0.6 and 0.8 percent, respectively-were largely responsible for
 the February rise in this major group.

 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers rose 0.2 percent in February.

 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                 1996              1997   3-mos. ended  ended
                     Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.   Feb. '97  Feb. '97
 All Items            .1    .3   .4   .3   .3   .1   .2    2.3       3.0
  Food and beverages  .4    .4   .5   .4   .1  -.2   .2     .3       3.8
  Housing             .2    .1   .3   .3   .2   .3   .2    2.9       3.0
  Apparel and upkeep-1.0    .5   .2   .3   .1   .4   .4    3.4        .7
  Transportation      .0    .4   .4   .3   .6   .0   .0    2.5       3.1
  Medical care        .2    .3   .2   .3   .2   .2   .2    2.3       2.9
  Entertainment       .3    .1   .3   .3   .3   .0   .1    1.8       2.1
  Other goods                                                           
   and services       .3    .2   .3   .4   .0   .6   .4    4.1       3.7
 Special Indexes:                                                       
  Energy             -.3    .1  1.2  1.4  1.5   .9   .3   11.2       8.2
  Food                .4    .4   .6   .3   .1  -.3   .3     .3       3.8
  All items less                                                        
   food and energy    .1    .2   .2   .2   .2   .2   .2    2.2       2.4
 
 
 
 
     After seasonal adjustment, the level of the CPI-U for All Items  was
 159.8 in February; the seasonally adjusted CPI-W for All Items was 156.9.
 
     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 March are scheduled for release on
 Tuesday, April 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.
          
 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     Jan.      Feb.       Feb. 1997 from-     Nov. to    Dec. to    Jan. to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Feb. 1996  Jan. 1997     Dec.       Jan.       Feb.

             Expenditure category

 All items ..................................   100.000     159.1     159.6        3.0        0.3        0.3        0.1        0.3
 All items (1967=100) .......................      -        476.7     478.2        -          -          -          -          -

   Food and beverages .......................    17.484     156.9     156.9        3.7         .0         .0        -.2         .3
     Food ...................................    15.913     156.5     156.5        3.8         .0         .0        -.3         .3
       Food at home .........................    10.040     157.9     157.7        4.2        -.1        -.1        -.6         .5
         Cereals and bakery products ........     1.479     176.5     176.7        2.7         .1         .2        -.2         .1
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.002     149.6     148.8        4.5        -.5         .6        -.4        -.2
         Dairy products 1/ ..................     1.245     147.8     146.2        6.6       -1.1        -.5        -.5       -1.1
         Fruits and vegetables 2/ ...........     1.974     187.3     187.4        5.5         .1       -1.5       -2.0        3.0
         Other food at home .................     2.340     144.8     145.4        2.5         .4         .3         .1         .2
           Sugar and sweets .................      .331     146.9     147.2        4.0         .2         .6         .6         .0
           Fats and oils ....................      .246     142.3     142.7        2.1         .3         .1        -.1         .1
           Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .724     128.3     128.5       -1.1         .2         .2         .2        -.5
           Other prepared food ..............     1.039     159.4     160.6        4.7         .8         .3        -.1         .8
       Food away from home ..................     5.873     155.3     155.6        3.1         .2         .2         .3         .2
     Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.571     161.1     161.8        3.3         .4         .3         .2         .2

   Housing 2/ ...............................    41.203     155.1     155.8        3.0         .5         .2         .3         .3
     Shelter ................................    28.194     173.6     174.6        3.1         .6         .2         .3         .3
       Renters' costs 3/ 4/..................     7.994     182.7     185.3        3.6        1.4         .1         .6         .3
         Rent, residential ..................     5.731     164.4     164.8        2.7         .2         .2         .2         .1
         Other renters' costs 4/ ............     2.263     217.3     226.4        5.7        4.2        -.2        1.4         .9
       Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...............    20.000     179.1     179.5        2.8         .2         .2         .2         .3
         Owners' equivalent rent 3/ .........    19.616     179.5     179.9        2.8         .2         .2         .2         .3
         Household insurance 3/ 4/ ..........      .383     162.6     163.8        3.3         .7       -1.2         .2         .9
       Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........      .200     141.5     142.3        3.9         .6         .3         .0         .6
         Maintenance and repair
             services 1/ 4/ .................      .123     148.2     148.4        3.8         .1         .3         .1         .1
         Maintenance and repair
             commodities 1/ 4/ ..............      .077     132.5     133.9        4.0        1.1         .2        -.1        1.1
     Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............     7.102     130.8     131.0        4.8         .2         .5         .7         .3
       Fuels ................................     3.878     119.1     119.2        6.0         .1         .8        1.0         .5
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ....................      .424     111.5     109.6       12.2       -1.7        2.9       -1.2       -1.9
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).......................     3.453     124.9     125.3        5.2         .3         .4        1.4         .7
       Other utilities and public
           services 4/ ......................     3.224     159.7     160.2        3.4         .3         .3         .3         .0
     Household furnishings and operation 2/ .     5.908     124.9     125.2         .7         .2         .2        -.2         .2
       Housefurnishings 4/ ..................     3.332     110.8     111.2        -.2         .4         .2        -.4         .2
       Housekeeping supplies ................     1.093     142.3     142.5        1.5         .1         .0         .4         .1
       Housekeeping services 4/ .............     1.482     149.6     149.9        2.5         .2         .3        -.5         .1

   Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.330     129.6     131.9         .5        1.8         .1         .4         .2
     Apparel commodities 4/ .................     4.786     125.8     128.2         .3        1.9         .0         .5         .2
       Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.280     127.0     127.3         .7         .2        -.5        1.0        -.9
       Women's and girls' apparel............     2.102     121.5     126.1        1.2        3.8         .7         .6         .7
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ....      .186     127.9     127.2       -5.4        -.5         .2         .8        -.5
       Footwear .............................      .718     125.0     126.3         .4        1.0         .3        -.8         .2
       Other apparel commodities 4/..........      .500     145.6     146.9       -1.9         .9       -1.9         .1         .7
     Apparel services 1/ 4/ .................      .545     161.7     162.2        2.3         .3         .4         .1         .3

   Transportation ...........................    17.140     145.0     144.8        3.1        -.1         .6        -.2        -.1
     Private transportation .................    15.499     141.8     141.9        3.2         .1         .6         .1         .2
       New vehicles .........................     4.955     145.4     145.4        1.3         .0         .1        -.2         .0
         New cars ...........................     3.952     143.0     142.9        1.1        -.1         .1        -.2         .0
       Used cars ............................     1.278     154.7     154.4       -2.0        -.2        -.4         .1         .5
       Motor fuel ...........................     3.171     108.6     108.1       10.1        -.5        2.5         .6         .0
         Gasoline ...........................      -        107.9     107.4        9.8        -.5        2.5         .7         .0
       Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.533     161.1     161.2        2.9         .1         .2         .4        -.1
       Other private transportation 4/.......     4.562     176.2     177.1        2.3         .5         .0        -.1         .5
         Other private transportation
             commodities 4/..................      .589     105.2     105.4         .0         .2        -.1        -.2         .3
         Other private transportation
             services 4/ ....................     3.973     193.0     194.1        2.6         .6         .0        -.1         .6
     Public transportation ..................     1.642     185.8     182.4        2.8       -1.8        1.4       -2.9       -2.0

   Medical care .............................     7.346     231.8     232.7        2.9         .4         .2         .2         .2
     Medical care commodities ...............     1.273     212.8     213.9        2.6         .5         .1         .2         .3
     Medical care services ..................     6.073     236.3     237.1        3.0         .3         .2         .2         .2
       Professional medical services ........     3.472     212.2     213.2        3.4         .5         .2         .4         .1

   Entertainment 4/ .........................     4.352     161.3     161.8        2.2         .3         .3         .0         .2
     Entertainment commodities 4/ ...........     1.957     144.2     144.3        1.3         .1         .3        -.3         .1
     Entertainment services 4/ ..............     2.395     181.3     182.1        2.9         .4         .3         .2         .3

   Other goods and services 2/ ..............     7.145     220.0     220.7        3.8         .3         .1         .4         .5
     Tobacco and smoking products ...........     1.601     236.4     237.4        3.3         .4        -.3         .4         .6
     Personal care 1/ .......................     1.145     151.6     151.5        1.5        -.1        -.5         .7        -.1
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 1/ ....................      .588     143.6     143.3        -.6        -.2       -1.3         .6        -.2
       Personal care services 1/ ............      .557     160.7     160.7        3.5         .0         .4         .9         .0
     Personal and educational expenses 4/ ...     4.398     254.0     255.0        4.6         .4         .4         .3         .6
       School books and supplies ............      .264     234.5     235.3        4.7         .3         .4        -.1         .4
       Personal and educational services 4/ .     4.134     255.8     256.7        4.6         .4         .4         .4         .6







 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) - Continued

                                               Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                              importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                               December     Jan.      Feb.       Feb. 1997 from-     Nov. to    Dec. to    Jan. to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Feb. 1996  Jan. 1997     Dec.       Jan.       Feb.

         Commodity and service group

 All items ..................................   100.000     159.1     159.6        3.0         .3         .3         .1         .3
   Commodities ..............................    42.873     141.5     141.8        2.8         .2         .2         .0         .2
     Food and beverages .....................    17.484     156.9     156.9        3.7         .0         .0        -.2         .3
     Commodities less food and beverages ....    25.389     132.1     132.6        2.1         .4         .3         .2         .1
       Nondurables less food and beverages ..    15.147     133.8     134.6        3.3         .6         .7         .1         .3
         Apparel commodities 4/ .............     4.786     125.8     128.2         .3        1.9         .0         .5         .2
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ....................    10.362     141.0     141.0        4.8         .0        1.1         .3         .1
       Durables .............................    10.242     129.7     129.8         .3         .1         .1        -.2         .1
   Services .................................    57.127     177.0     177.7        3.2         .4         .3         .2         .2
     Rent of shelter 3/ .....................    27.577     180.6     181.6        3.0         .6         .2         .3         .3
     Household services less rent of
         shelter 3/ 4/.......................     8.698     144.6     145.0        3.9         .3         .2         .6         .4
     Transportation services ................     7.148     183.5     183.4        2.7        -.1         .4        -.7        -.1
     Medical care services ..................     6.073     236.3     237.1        3.0         .3         .2         .2         .2
     Other services .........................     7.631     205.9     206.7        3.9         .4         .3         .3         .4

               Special indexes

 All items less food ........................    84.087     159.6     160.2        2.9         .4         .3         .2         .2
 All items less shelter .....................    71.806     155.0     155.3        3.0         .2         .3         .1         .2
 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/......    80.000     160.2     160.8        3.1         .4         .3         .1         .2
 All items less medical care ................    92.654     155.0     155.5        3.0         .3         .3         .1         .3
 Commodities less food ......................    26.960     133.3     133.8        2.1         .4         .4         .1         .1
 Nondurables less food ......................    16.718     135.4     136.2        3.3         .6         .7         .1         .2
 Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    11.932     142.0     142.1        4.6         .1         .7         .1         .1
 Nondurables ................................    32.631     145.5     145.9        3.5         .3         .3         .1         .3
 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........    29.550     185.9     186.4        3.4         .3         .3         .1         .2
 Services less medical care services ........    51.054     171.5     172.2        3.2         .4         .3         .2         .2
 Energy .....................................     7.049     113.3     113.1        7.8        -.2        1.5         .8         .3
 All items less energy ......................    92.951     165.3     165.9        2.7         .4         .1         .1         .2
   All items less food and energy ...........    77.038     167.5     168.3        2.5         .5         .2         .1         .2
     Commodities less food and
         energy commodities .................    23.364     141.5     142.2        1.0         .5         .1         .1         .1
       Energy commodities ...................     3.596     109.2     108.6       10.5        -.5        2.6         .4        -.2
     Services less energy services ..........    53.674     182.4     183.1        3.1         .4         .3         .1         .3
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
   1982-84=$1.00 1/ .........................      -        $.628     $.626       -2.9        -.3         .0        -.5        -.3
   1967=$1.00 1/ ............................      -         .210      .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-
                                                  Nov.    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.     May    Aug.    Nov.    Feb.     Aug.      Feb.
                                                  1996    1996    1997    1997    1996    1996    1996    1997     1996      1997

               Expenditure category

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        3.7     2.3     3.6     2.5      3.0       3.1

    Food and beverages .........................   156.6   156.6   156.3   156.8     3.2     5.9     5.3      .5      4.5       2.9
      Food .....................................   156.4   156.4   156.0   156.5     3.2     6.2     5.3      .3      4.7       2.7
        Food at home ...........................   157.8   157.7   156.7   157.5     3.5     8.4     6.0     -.8      5.9       2.6
          Cereals and bakery products ..........   176.3   176.6   176.3   176.4     4.3     2.1     4.4      .2      3.2       2.3
          Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   148.4   149.3   148.7   148.4      .0    11.4     7.0      .0      5.6       3.5
          Dairy products 1/ ....................   149.3   148.6   147.8   146.2     1.2    22.0    13.6    -8.1     11.1       2.2
          Fruits and vegetables 2/..............   188.7   185.9   182.2   187.7    10.0     7.7     6.4    -2.1      8.8       2.1
          Other food at home ...................   144.0   144.4   144.5   144.8     3.1     1.7     2.5     2.2      2.4       2.4
            Sugar and sweets ...................   145.2   146.0   146.9   146.9     4.6     4.0     2.2     4.8      4.3       3.5
            Fats and oils ......................   141.8   142.0   141.9   142.1     2.0     3.5     2.3      .8      2.8       1.6
            Nonalcoholic beverages .............   127.5   127.7   127.9   127.3      .9     -.6    -4.3     -.6       .2      -2.5
            Other prepared food ................   159.1   159.6   159.4   160.6     5.0     2.3     7.6     3.8      3.7       5.7
        Food away from home ....................   154.6   154.9   155.3   155.6     2.7     2.9     4.0     2.6      2.8       3.3
      Alcoholic beverages ......................   160.6   161.1   161.4   161.8     3.4     3.1     3.8     3.0      3.2       3.4

    Housing 2/ .................................   154.4   154.7   155.2   155.6     2.9     2.7     3.2     3.1      2.8       3.2
      Shelter ..................................   172.6   172.9   173.4   174.0     2.9     3.1     2.8     3.3      3.0       3.1
        Renters' costs 3/ 4/....................   181.5   181.7   182.8   183.4     3.0     3.9     3.1     4.3      3.4       3.7
          Rent, residential ....................   163.6   164.0   164.4   164.6     2.8     2.8     2.7     2.5      2.8       2.6
          Other renters' costs 4/ ..............   218.4   218.0   221.1   223.1     3.7     6.7     3.9     8.9      5.2       6.4
        Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................   178.3   178.6   179.0   179.5     2.8     2.8     2.7     2.7      2.8       2.7
          Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ...........   178.6   179.0   179.3   179.9     2.8     2.8     2.7     2.9      2.8       2.8
          Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............   164.5   162.5   162.9   164.3     2.3     4.6     7.1     -.5      3.4       3.2
        Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ..........   141.1   141.5   141.5   142.3     5.4     2.6     4.1     3.4      4.0       3.8
          Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/    147.6   148.0   148.2   148.4     4.8     6.8     1.4     2.2      5.8       1.8
          Maintenance and repair
              commodities 1/ 4/ ................   132.3   132.6   132.5   133.9     6.7    -3.9     8.6     4.9      1.2       6.7
      Fuel and other utilities 2/...............   129.6   130.3   131.2   131.6     4.9     2.9     5.1     6.3      3.9       5.7
        Fuels ..................................   116.7   117.6   118.8   119.4     4.3     2.1     7.2     9.6      3.2       8.4
          Fuel oil and other household fuel
              commodities ......................   106.4   109.5   108.2   106.1    20.9   -14.5    54.7    -1.1      1.7      23.7
          Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
              services).........................   123.1   123.6   125.3   126.2     3.0     4.0     3.0    10.5      3.5       6.7
        Other utilities and public services 4/ .   159.2   159.6   160.0   160.0     5.0     3.4     3.3     2.0      4.2       2.7
      Household furnishings and operation 2/ ...   125.0   125.2   124.9   125.1      .6     1.3     1.0      .3      1.0        .6
        Housefurnishings 4/ ....................   111.2   111.4   111.0   111.2     -.7      .0      .0      .0      -.4        .0
        Housekeeping supplies ..................   141.7   141.7   142.3   142.5     1.4      .9     1.4     2.3      1.1       1.8
        Housekeeping services 4/ ...............   149.9   150.3   149.6   149.7     3.3     3.9     3.3     -.5      3.6       1.3

    Apparel and upkeep .........................   131.7   131.8   132.3   132.6      .6    -5.3     4.4     2.8     -2.4       3.6
      Apparel commodities 4/ ...................   128.0   128.0   128.6   128.8      .3    -6.1     4.8     2.5     -2.9       3.7
        Men's and boys' apparel ................   128.8   128.2   129.5   128.3     1.6     -.6     3.5    -1.5       .5        .9
        Women's and girls' apparel .............   124.0   124.9   125.7   126.6     1.0   -10.4     6.7     8.7     -4.9       7.7
        Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ......   126.7   126.9   127.9   127.2   -11.4   -15.3     5.2     1.6    -13.4       3.4
        Footwear ...............................   127.0   127.4   126.4   126.7     1.0      .0     1.6     -.9       .5        .3
        Other apparel commodities 4/............   149.5   146.7   146.8   147.9     1.3    -6.5     2.2    -4.2     -2.6      -1.1
      Apparel services 1/ 4/ ...................   160.9   161.5   161.7   162.2     2.3     2.3     1.5     3.3      2.3       2.4

    Transportation .............................   144.8   145.7   145.4   145.3     7.9    -1.4     4.8     1.4      3.1       3.1
      Private transportation ...................   141.5   142.3   142.4   142.7     8.0    -2.0     3.8     3.4      2.9       3.6
        New vehicles ...........................   144.6   144.7   144.4   144.4     2.0     2.5     1.4     -.6      2.3        .4
          New cars .............................   142.1   142.2   141.9   141.9     1.7     3.2      .3     -.6      2.4       -.1
        Used cars ..............................   155.6   155.0   155.1   155.8    -3.7    -3.3    -1.3      .5     -3.5       -.4
        Motor fuel .............................   108.4   111.1   111.8   111.8    38.4   -17.6    13.6    13.1      6.8      13.4
          Gasoline .............................   107.8   110.5   111.3   111.3    37.0   -17.3    12.8    13.6      6.4      13.2
        Maintenance and repairs ................   160.3   160.7   161.3   161.2     2.6     3.1     4.1     2.3      2.8       3.2
        Other private transportation 4/.........   175.3   175.3   175.2   176.1     1.6     4.0     1.4     1.8      2.8       1.6
          Other private transportation
              commodities 4/....................   105.1   105.0   104.8   105.1     -.4      .0      .4      .0      -.2        .2
          Other private transportation
              services 4/ ......................   192.1   192.1   192.0   193.1     1.9     4.5     1.7     2.1      3.2       1.9
      Public transportation ....................   188.5   191.2   185.6   181.9     8.4     4.5    13.8   -13.3      6.4       -.7

    Medical care ...............................   231.0   231.5   231.9   232.3     3.2     2.8     3.0     2.3      3.0       2.6
      Medical care commodities .................   212.1   212.4   212.8   213.5     3.1     2.5     1.9     2.7      2.8       2.3
      Medical care services ....................   235.1   235.6   236.0   236.4     3.3     3.0     3.1     2.2      3.2       2.7
        Professional medical services ..........   211.2   211.6   212.4   212.7     3.3     3.5     3.9     2.9      3.4       3.4
    Entertainment 4/ ...........................   160.6   161.1   161.1   161.4     1.8     2.3     2.5     2.0      2.0       2.3
      Entertainment commodities 4/ .............   144.0   144.4   144.0   144.2      .8     2.0     1.7      .6      1.4       1.1
      Entertainment services 4/ ................   180.2   180.8   181.1   181.6     2.3     2.7     3.4     3.1      2.5       3.3

    Other goods and services 2/.................   219.2   219.4   220.3   221.3     4.4     3.6     3.4     3.9      4.0       3.6
      Tobacco and smoking products .............   236.0   235.3   236.2   237.6     3.9     1.6     5.1     2.7      2.7       3.9
      Personal care 1/ .........................   151.2   150.5   151.6   151.5     2.7      .5     1.9      .8      1.6       1.3
        Toilet goods and personal care
            appliances 1/ ......................   144.7   142.8   143.6   143.3     3.4     -.8     -.8    -3.8      1.3      -2.3
        Personal care services 1/ ..............   158.6   159.2   160.7   160.7     1.6     1.8     5.5     5.4      1.7       5.4
      Personal and educational expenses 4/ .....   251.7   252.7   253.5   255.0     5.0     5.1     3.2     5.3      5.1       4.3
        School books and supplies ..............   231.5   232.5   232.2   233.2     5.1     6.0     5.0     3.0      5.6       4.0
        Personal and educational services 4/ ...   253.1   254.1   255.0   256.5     5.0     5.1     3.1     5.5      5.0       4.3










  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-
                                                  Nov.    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.     May    Aug.    Nov.    Feb.     Aug.      Feb.
                                                  1996    1996    1997    1997    1996    1996    1996    1997     1996      1997

           Commodity and service group

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        3.7     2.3     3.6     2.5      3.0       3.1
    Commodities ................................   141.5   141.8   141.8   142.1     4.4      .3     4.7     1.7      2.3       3.2
      Food and beverages .......................   156.6   156.6   156.3   156.8     3.2     5.9     5.3      .5      4.5       2.9
      Commodities less food and beverages ......   132.4   132.8   133.0   133.1     5.3    -3.3     4.3     2.1       .9       3.2
        Nondurables less food and beverages ....   134.3   135.2   135.3   135.7     8.8    -5.8     6.8     4.2      1.2       5.5
          Apparel commodities 4/ ...............   128.0   128.0   128.6   128.8      .3    -6.1     4.8     2.5     -2.9       3.7
          Nondurables less food, beverages,
              and apparel ......................   140.2   141.8   142.2   142.3    13.6    -6.4     6.5     6.1      3.1       6.3
        Durables ...............................   129.6   129.7   129.5   129.6      .3      .6      .6      .0       .5        .3
    Services ...................................   176.3   176.8   177.2   177.6     3.3     3.3     3.2     3.0      3.3       3.1
      Rent of shelter 3/ .......................   179.9   180.3   180.8   181.3     3.0     3.2     2.7     3.1      3.1       2.9
      Household services less rent
          of shelter 3/ 4/......................   144.0   144.3   145.1   145.7     4.4     3.4     3.4     4.8      3.9       4.1
      Transportation services ..................   183.4   184.1   182.9   182.7     3.6     4.1     4.9    -1.5      3.9       1.7
      Medical care services ....................   235.1   235.6   236.0   236.4     3.3     3.0     3.1     2.2      3.2       2.7
      Other services ...........................   204.7   205.4   206.1   206.9     3.7     3.8     3.4     4.4      3.7       3.9

                 Special indexes

  All items less food ..........................   159.1   159.6   159.9   160.2     3.9     1.5     3.3     2.8      2.7       3.1
  All items less shelter .......................   154.7   155.1   155.2   155.5     4.0     1.8     4.0     2.1      2.9       3.0
  All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........   159.9   160.3   160.5   160.8     4.2     2.0     3.8     2.3      3.1       3.1
  All items less medical care ..................   154.5   154.9   155.1   155.5     3.8     2.1     3.7     2.6      2.9       3.2
  Commodities less food ........................   133.6   134.1   134.2   134.4     5.0    -2.7     4.0     2.4      1.1       3.2
  Nondurables less food ........................   135.8   136.7   136.8   137.1     8.4    -5.2     6.8     3.9      1.4       5.3
  Nondurables less food and apparel ............   141.8   142.8   142.9   143.1    10.6    -2.8     7.1     3.7      3.7       5.4
  Nondurables ..................................   145.5   146.0   146.1   146.5     4.9     1.1     5.4     2.8      3.0       4.1
  Services less rent of shelter 3/ .............   185.1   185.7   185.9   186.2     3.8     3.6     3.8     2.4      3.7       3.1
  Services less medical care services ..........   170.8   171.3   171.7   172.0     3.4     3.4     3.3     2.8      3.4       3.1
  Energy .......................................   112.0   113.7   114.6   114.9    18.4    -7.3    10.3    10.8      4.7      10.5
  All items less energy ........................   165.2   165.4   165.5   165.9     2.8     2.7     3.5     1.7      2.7       2.6
    All items less food and energy .............   167.4   167.7   167.9   168.3     2.7     2.2     2.9     2.2      2.5       2.5
      Commodities less food and energy
          commodities ..........................   141.8   141.9   142.0   142.2     1.1     -.3     2.0     1.1       .4       1.6
        Energy commodities .....................   108.3   111.1   111.5   111.3    36.7   -17.4    17.6    11.5      6.2      14.5
      Services less energy services ............   181.7   182.2   182.4   182.9     3.2     3.4     3.1     2.7      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 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                                       Feb. 1997 from-         Jan. 1997 from-
                                           schedule    Nov.    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Feb.    Dec.    Jan.    Jan.    Nov.    Dec.
                                              1/       1996    1996    1997    1997    1996    1996    1997    1996    1996    1996



 U.S. city average ......................      M        158.6   158.6   159.1   159.6     3.0     0.6     0.3     3.0     0.3     0.3

         Region and area size 2/

 Northeast urban.........................      M        165.4   165.7   166.2   166.9     2.9      .7      .4     3.0      .5      .3
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        166.0   166.2   166.8   167.7     2.9      .9      .5     2.8      .5      .4
   Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        163.1   164.3   164.2   164.2     3.1     -.1      .0     3.5      .7     -.1
   Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 3/........      M        164.3   164.6   164.7   165.3     2.9      .4      .4     3.1      .2      .1

 North Central urban ....................      M        155.0   155.3   155.5   155.9     3.4      .4      .3     3.5      .3      .1
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        155.3   155.5   156.0   156.5     3.2      .6      .3     3.3      .5      .3
   Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        154.5   154.5   154.3   154.4     3.3     -.1      .1     3.8     -.1     -.1
   Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 3/........      M        157.1   157.7   157.8   158.3     3.9      .4      .3     3.7      .4      .1
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        151.9   151.9   152.2   152.1     3.5      .1     -.1     3.9      .2      .2

 South urban ............................      M        155.1   155.1   155.7   156.1     3.0      .6      .3     3.0      .4      .4
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        153.8   154.0   154.9   155.2     3.1      .8      .2     3.0      .7      .6
   Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        158.2   158.2   158.5   158.9     3.1      .4      .3     3.5      .2      .2
   Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 3/........      M        154.7   154.4   155.0   155.6     2.8      .8      .4     2.6      .2      .4
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        154.6   154.4   154.8   155.5     3.6      .7      .5     3.3      .1      .3

 West urban .............................      M        159.2   158.7   159.6   160.1     2.8      .9      .3     2.8      .3      .6
   Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        159.1   158.7   159.6   160.1     2.7      .9      .3     2.7      .3      .6
   Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 3/........      M        163.9   163.9   164.9   165.4     2.9      .9      .3     3.2      .6      .6

 Size classes
   A 4/ .................................      M        142.9   142.9   143.6   144.1     2.9      .8      .3     2.9      .5      .5
   B 3/ .................................      M        158.9   159.0   159.2   159.5     3.1      .3      .2     3.4      .2      .1
   C 3/ .................................      M        158.5   158.6   159.1   159.6     3.1      .6      .3     3.0      .4      .3
   D ....................................      M        155.8   155.5   155.9   156.2     3.4      .5      .2     3.3      .1      .3

           Selected local areas

 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        159.4   159.7   160.4   161.1     3.8      .9      .4     3.8      .6      .4
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        158.4   158.3   159.1   159.2     1.9      .6      .1     2.2      .4      .5
 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        168.4   168.5   169.1   170.1     2.7      .9      .6     2.6      .4      .4
 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton,
 PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ .........................      M        164.3   164.3   165.1   165.8     2.9      .9      .4     3.0      .5      .5
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ ..      M        156.9   156.0   157.0   157.9     3.1     1.2      .6     2.7      .1      .6

 Baltimore, MD 6/ .......................      1        154.8    -      155.8    -       -       -       -        2.8      .6    -
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1        166.3    -      167.7    -       -       -       -        3.4      .8    -
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1        153.8    -      153.8    -       -       -       -        3.2      .0    -
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1        156.4    -      158.1    -       -       -       -        4.0     1.1    -
 St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ .....      1        151.4    -      151.5    -       -       -       -        2.9      .1    -
 Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................      1        161.2    -      161.6    -       -       -       -        3.1      .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     Jan.      Feb.       Feb. 1997 from-     Nov. to    Dec. to    Jan. to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Feb. 1996  Jan. 1997     Dec.       Jan.       Feb.

             Expenditure category

 All items ..................................   100.000     156.3     156.8        3.0        0.3        0.3        0.1        0.2
 All items (1967=100) .......................      -        465.7     467.0        -          -          -          -          -

   Food and beverages .......................    19.436     156.4     156.4        3.8         .0         .1        -.2         .2
     Food ...................................    17.749     156.1     156.0        3.8        -.1         .1        -.3         .3
       Food at home .........................    11.387     157.1     156.8        4.2        -.2        -.1        -.6         .3
         Cereals and bakery products ........     1.688     176.2     176.4        2.7         .1         .2        -.1        -.1
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.535     149.3     148.4        4.4        -.6         .7        -.5        -.3
         Dairy products 1/ ..................     1.387     147.6     146.0        6.6       -1.1        -.5        -.6       -1.1
         Fruits and vegetables 2/ ...........     2.086     186.1     186.1        5.4         .0       -1.6       -1.7        2.7
         Other food at home .................     2.691     144.4     145.0        2.5         .4         .3         .0         .2
           Sugar and sweets .................      .373     146.8     147.2        4.0         .3         .6         .5         .2
           Fats and oils ....................      .282     141.9     142.3        1.9         .3         .2        -.3         .1
           Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .841     127.9     128.0       -1.1         .1         .2         .0        -.4
           Other prepared food ..............     1.194     159.3     160.4        4.7         .7         .3        -.1         .7
       Food away from home ..................     6.362     155.4     155.7        3.2         .2         .2         .3         .2
     Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.687     160.4     161.1        3.2         .4         .4         .1         .1

   Housing 2/ ...............................    38.747     151.8     152.4        3.0         .4         .2         .3         .2
     Shelter ................................    25.867     168.6     169.4        2.9         .5         .2         .2         .3
       Renters' costs 3/ 4/..................     8.079     159.4     160.9        3.1         .9         .1         .4         .3
         Rent, residential ..................     6.580     164.1     164.4        2.7         .2         .2         .2         .1
         Other renters' costs 4/ ............     1.499     216.3     224.9        5.1        4.0        -.1        1.3         .6
       Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...............    17.599     163.3     163.7        2.8         .2         .2         .2         .3
         Owners' equivalent rent 3/ .........    17.277     163.7     164.0        2.8         .2         .2         .2         .3
         Household insurance 3/ 4/ ..........      .322     147.4     148.5        2.0         .7       -1.7         .4         .7
       Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........      .189     140.1     140.7        3.7         .4         .1         .0         .4
         Maintenance and repair
             services 1/ 4/ .................      .105     150.0     150.3        3.7         .2         .1        -.1         .2
         Maintenance and repair
             commodities 1/ 4/ ..............      .084     127.3     128.3        3.6         .8         .0         .2         .8
     Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............     7.344     130.5     130.7        4.9         .2         .4         .8         .3
       Fuels ................................     3.979     118.5     118.5        6.0         .0         .6        1.1         .5
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ....................      .391     111.6     109.4       12.1       -2.0        3.1       -1.2       -2.0
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).......................     3.588     124.5     124.8        5.4         .2         .3        1.4         .7
       Other utilities and public
           services 4/ ......................     3.365     160.3     160.9        3.5         .4         .1         .3         .1
     Household furnishings and operation 2/ .     5.536     123.4     123.7         .7         .2         .2        -.2         .1
       Housefurnishings 4/ ..................     3.261     109.5     109.8        -.2         .3         .4        -.5         .1
       Housekeeping supplies ................     1.129     142.8     143.1        1.7         .2         .0         .4         .1
       Housekeeping services 4/ .............     1.145     152.6     152.9        2.3         .2         .3        -.3         .1

   Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.348     128.7     131.1         .7        1.9         .1         .4         .4
     Apparel commodities 4/ .................     4.838     125.1     127.6         .5        2.0         .0         .5         .4
       Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.286     127.0     127.2         .7         .2        -.4         .9        -.9
       Women's and girls' apparel............     2.053     119.9     124.8        1.2        4.1         .8         .6        1.1
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ....      .240     128.5     128.1       -5.3        -.3         .3         .3        -.3
       Footwear .............................      .799     126.0     127.2         .7        1.0         .2        -.7         .1
       Other apparel commodities 4/..........      .461     144.6     145.7        -.8         .8       -2.6         .4        1.0
     Apparel services 1/ 4/ .................      .510     160.8     161.3        2.2         .3         .3         .2         .3

   Transportation ...........................    19.190     144.6     144.4        3.1        -.1         .6         .0         .0
     Private transportation .................    17.934     142.4     142.4        3.2         .0         .6         .1         .1
       New vehicles .........................     4.893     146.6     146.7        1.5         .1         .0        -.1        -.1
         New cars ...........................     3.533     142.7     142.5        1.1        -.1         .1        -.2        -.1
       Used cars ............................     2.320     155.9     155.7       -1.8        -.1        -.3         .1         .4
       Motor fuel ...........................     3.921     108.8     108.2       10.3        -.6        2.6         .6        -.1
         Gasoline ...........................      -        108.2     107.5        9.9        -.6        2.8         .5        -.2
       Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.616     162.0     162.1        2.9         .1         .1         .4        -.2
       Other private transportation 4/.......     5.185     171.9     172.6        2.3         .4        -.2         .1         .4
         Other private transportation
             commodities 4/..................      .742     104.2     104.3        -.3         .1        -.1        -.2         .1
         Other private transportation
             services 4/ ....................     4.442     189.0     190.0        2.7         .5        -.2         .2         .5
     Public transportation ..................     1.256     183.6     180.3        3.3       -1.8        1.8       -2.7       -2.2

   Medical care .............................     6.251     231.1     232.1        2.9         .4         .2         .2         .2
     Medical care commodities ...............     1.047     210.1     211.4        2.6         .6         .2         .1         .4
     Medical care services ..................     5.204     235.9     236.8        2.9         .4         .3         .2         .0
       Professional medical services ........     2.973     213.3     214.3        3.4         .5         .3         .2         .2

   Entertainment 4/ .........................     4.015     158.8     159.2        2.1         .3         .3         .0         .1
     Entertainment commodities 4/ ...........     2.036     142.9     143.1        1.2         .1         .3        -.3         .1
     Entertainment services 4/ ..............     1.979     181.4     182.2        3.0         .4         .3         .2         .1

   Other goods and services 2/ ..............     7.012     216.7     217.4        3.7         .3         .0         .6         .4
     Tobacco and smoking products ...........     2.117     236.1     237.0        3.1         .4        -.3         .6         .5
     Personal care 1/ .......................     1.107     151.6     151.4        1.5        -.1        -.6         .8        -.1
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 1/ ....................      .610     144.4     144.2        -.3        -.1       -1.3         .6        -.1
       Personal care services 1/ ............      .497     160.8     160.8        3.7         .0         .4         .9         .0
     Personal and educational expenses 4/ ...     3.788     249.7     250.8        4.8         .4         .4         .5         .6
       School books and supplies ............      .232     236.2     236.9        4.9         .3         .5        -.1         .3
       Personal and educational services 4/ .     3.556     251.1     252.3        4.8         .5         .4         .6         .6








 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     Jan.      Feb.       Feb. 1997 from-     Nov. to    Dec. to    Jan. to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Feb. 1996  Jan. 1997     Dec.       Jan.       Feb.

         Commodity and service group

 All items ..................................   100.000     156.3     156.8        3.0         .3         .3         .1         .2
   Commodities ..............................    47.057     141.5     141.8        2.8         .2         .3         .0         .2
     Food and beverages .....................    19.436     156.4     156.4        3.8         .0         .1        -.2         .2
     Commodities less food and beverages ....    27.621     132.4     132.9        2.2         .4         .5         .2         .2
       Nondurables less food and beverages ..    16.215     133.7     134.5        3.7         .6         .7         .1         .2
         Apparel commodities 4/ .............     4.838     125.1     127.6         .5        2.0         .0         .5         .4
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ....................    11.377     140.9     140.8        5.1        -.1        1.2         .3         .1
       Durables .............................    11.407     129.5     129.5         .2         .0         .0        -.1         .1
   Services .................................    52.943     174.2     174.9        3.2         .4         .3         .2         .2
     Rent of shelter 3/ .....................    25.329     162.3     163.0        2.9         .4         .2         .4         .2
     Household services less rent of
         shelter 3/ 4/.......................     8.553     132.9     133.3        4.1         .3         .2         .7         .4
     Transportation services ................     7.314     181.3     181.3        2.8         .0         .3        -.3        -.1
     Medical care services ..................     5.204     235.9     236.8        2.9         .4         .3         .2         .0
     Other services .........................     6.542     202.7     203.5        3.9         .4         .4         .4         .3

               Special indexes

 All items less food ........................    82.251     156.3     156.8        2.9         .3         .3         .2         .2
 All items less shelter .....................    74.133     153.2     153.5        3.1         .2         .3         .1         .1
 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/......    82.401     146.8     147.3        3.2         .3         .3         .1         .2
 All items less medical care ................    93.749     152.8     153.2        3.0         .3         .3         .1         .2
 Commodities less food ......................    29.308     133.5     134.0        2.3         .4         .4         .1         .1
 Nondurables less food ......................    17.901     135.3     136.0        3.6         .5         .7         .1         .3
 Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    13.064     141.8     141.8        4.8         .0         .8         .1         .2
 Nondurables ................................    35.651     145.4     145.7        3.7         .2         .3         .1         .2
 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........    27.613     165.7     166.2        3.6         .3         .2         .2         .3
 Services less medical care services ........    47.738     169.0     169.6        3.3         .4         .2         .3         .2
 Energy .....................................     7.901     113.0     112.7        8.2        -.3        1.5         .9         .3
 All items less energy ......................    92.099     162.5     163.0        2.6         .3         .1         .1         .2
   All items less food and energy ...........    74.350     164.1     164.8        2.4         .4         .2         .2         .2
     Commodities less food and
         energy commodities .................    24.996     141.0     141.7         .9         .5         .0         .1         .2
       Energy commodities ...................     4.312     109.4     108.6       10.4        -.7        2.7         .4        -.3
     Services less energy services ..........    49.354     179.8     180.4        3.1         .3         .2         .2         .2
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
   1982-84=$1.00 1/ .........................      -        $.640     $.638       -2.9        -.3        -.2        -.2        -.3
   1967=$1.00 1/ ............................      -         .215      .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-
                                                  Nov.    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.     May    Aug.    Nov.    Feb.     Aug.      Feb.
                                                  1996    1996    1997    1997    1996    1996    1996    1997     1996      1997

               Expenditure category

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        4.0     1.8     3.9     2.3      2.9       3.1

    Food and beverages .........................   156.2   156.3   156.0   156.3     3.5     5.9     5.3      .3      4.7       2.7
      Food .....................................   155.8   155.9   155.5   155.9     3.2     6.2     5.3      .3      4.7       2.7
        Food at home ...........................   157.0   156.9   156.0   156.5     3.8     7.9     6.4    -1.3      5.8       2.5
          Cereals and bakery products ..........   176.0   176.3   176.2   176.0     4.3     2.3     4.2      .0      3.3       2.1
          Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   148.0   149.1   148.3   147.9      .0    11.8     6.8     -.3      5.7       3.2
          Dairy products 1/ ....................   149.2   148.5   147.6   146.0     1.5    21.7    14.3    -8.3     11.1       2.4
          Fruits and vegetables 2/..............   188.0   185.0   181.8   186.7    12.0     6.7     6.0    -2.7      9.4       1.5
          Other food at home ...................   143.6   144.1   144.1   144.4     3.2     2.0     2.3     2.2      2.6       2.3
            Sugar and sweets ...................   145.0   145.9   146.6   146.9     4.9     3.7     2.0     5.3      4.3       3.6
            Fats and oils ......................   141.5   141.8   141.4   141.6     1.4     3.5     2.3      .3      2.5       1.3
            Nonalcoholic beverages .............   127.1   127.4   127.4   126.9      .9     -.6    -4.0     -.6       .2      -2.3
            Other prepared food ................   159.0   159.5   159.3   160.4     5.1     2.6     7.6     3.6      3.8       5.6
        Food away from home ....................   154.6   154.9   155.4   155.7     2.9     3.2     3.7     2.9      3.1       3.3
      Alcoholic beverages ......................   160.0   160.6   160.8   160.9     3.1     3.1     4.1     2.3      3.1       3.2

    Housing 2/ .................................   151.1   151.4   151.9   152.2     3.3     2.7     3.0     2.9      3.0       3.0
      Shelter ..................................   167.8   168.2   168.6   169.1     3.2     2.9     2.7     3.1      3.1       2.9
        Renters' costs 3/ 4/....................   158.7   158.9   159.6   160.0     2.9     3.6     2.8     3.3      3.2       3.1
          Rent, residential ....................   163.3   163.7   164.1   164.3     2.5     3.0     2.7     2.5      2.8       2.6
          Other renters' costs 4/ ..............   217.9   217.6   220.5   221.8     4.4     6.5     2.4     7.4      5.5       4.9
        Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................   162.5   162.9   163.2   163.7     3.3     2.8     2.5     3.0      3.0       2.7
          Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ...........   162.8   163.2   163.5   164.0     3.3     2.8     2.5     3.0      3.0       2.7
          Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............   149.8   147.3   147.9   148.9     1.4     2.5     6.7    -2.4      1.9       2.0
        Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ..........   139.9   140.1   140.1   140.7     5.4     1.5     5.6     2.3      3.4       4.0
          Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/    149.9   150.1   150.0   150.3     5.1     6.1     2.4     1.1      5.6       1.8
          Maintenance and repair
              commodities 1/ 4/ ................   127.1   127.1   127.3   128.3     5.6    -4.4    10.0     3.8       .5       6.9
      Fuel and other utilities 2/...............   129.3   129.8   130.8   131.2     4.5     3.2     5.4     6.0      3.9       5.7
        Fuels ..................................   116.1   116.8   118.1   118.7     4.7     2.9     7.2     9.3      3.8       8.2
          Fuel oil and other household fuel
              commodities ......................   106.2   109.5   108.2   106.0    19.0   -13.1    54.2     -.8      1.7      23.7
          Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
              services).........................   122.7   123.1   124.8   125.7     3.4     4.7     3.3    10.1      4.1       6.7
        Other utilities and public services 4/ .   159.9   160.1   160.6   160.7     5.0     3.1     3.8     2.0      4.0       2.9
      Household furnishings and operation 2/ ...   123.5   123.8   123.5   123.6      .7     1.3      .7      .3      1.0        .5
        Housefurnishings 4/ ....................   109.8   110.2   109.7   109.8     -.7      .4     -.4      .0      -.2       -.2
        Housekeeping supplies ..................   142.3   142.3   142.9   143.1     1.4     2.0     1.1     2.3      1.7       1.7
        Housekeeping services 4/ ...............   152.6   153.0   152.5   152.6     3.0     3.8     2.9      .0      3.4       1.5

    Apparel and upkeep .........................   130.7   130.8   131.3   131.8     1.2    -6.0     4.1     3.4     -2.4       3.7
      Apparel commodities 4/ ...................   127.4   127.4   128.0   128.5     1.3    -6.7     4.2     3.5     -2.8       3.8
        Men's and boys' apparel ................   128.5   128.0   129.2   128.1     1.3    -1.2     4.2    -1.2       .0       1.4
        Women's and girls' apparel .............   122.7   123.7   124.5   125.9     1.6   -11.0     4.7    10.8     -4.9       7.7
        Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ......   127.7   128.1   128.5   128.1   -10.8   -13.8     3.2     1.3    -12.3       2.2
        Footwear ...............................   128.2   128.5   127.6   127.7     1.9      .9     1.3    -1.6      1.4       -.2
        Other apparel commodities 4/............   149.6   145.7   146.3   147.7     4.1    -9.5     8.1    -5.0     -2.9       1.4
      Apparel services 1/ 4/ ...................   160.0   160.5   160.8   161.3     2.3     2.0     1.0     3.3      2.2       2.1

    Transportation .............................   144.3   145.2   145.2   145.2     8.2    -1.9     4.6     2.5      3.0       3.5
      Private transportation ...................   142.0   142.8   143.0   143.2     8.0    -2.5     4.0     3.4      2.6       3.7
        New vehicles ...........................   145.8   145.8   145.7   145.6     2.0     2.5     1.7     -.5      2.2        .6
          New cars .............................   141.7   141.9   141.6   141.5     1.4     3.2      .3     -.6      2.3       -.1
        Used cars ..............................   156.7   156.3   156.4   157.1    -3.7    -3.0    -1.5     1.0     -3.3       -.3
        Motor fuel .............................   108.6   111.4   112.1   112.0    38.4   -17.6    14.9    13.1      6.8      14.0
          Gasoline .............................   108.0   111.0   111.6   111.4    37.0   -17.4    14.1    13.2      6.4      13.6
        Maintenance and repairs ................   161.3   161.5   162.2   161.9     2.3     3.3     4.1     1.5      2.8       2.8
        Other private transportation 4/.........   171.2   170.9   171.1   171.8     1.9     4.1     1.4     1.4      3.0       1.4
          Other private transportation
              commodities 4/....................   104.2   104.1   103.9   104.0     -.8      .4      .0     -.8      -.2       -.4
          Other private transportation
              services 4/ ......................   188.1   187.8   188.1   189.0     2.4     4.8     1.5     1.9      3.6       1.7
      Public transportation ....................   185.8   189.1   184.0   179.9     9.5     4.6    13.0   -12.1      7.0       -.3

    Medical care ...............................   230.3   230.8   231.2   231.6     3.4     2.8     3.0     2.3      3.1       2.6
      Medical care commodities .................   209.5   209.9   210.1   211.0     2.9     2.3     2.1     2.9      2.6       2.5
      Medical care services ....................   234.8   235.4   235.9   236.0     3.5     3.0     3.1     2.1      3.3       2.6
        Professional medical services ..........   212.4   213.0   213.5   213.9     3.3     3.5     4.1     2.9      3.4       3.5
    Entertainment 4/ ...........................   158.3   158.8   158.8   159.0     2.1     2.6     2.3     1.8      2.3       2.0
      Entertainment commodities 4/ .............   142.9   143.3   142.9   143.1     1.1     1.7     1.7      .6      1.4       1.1
      Entertainment services 4/ ................   180.4   181.0   181.4   181.6     3.0     3.2     3.2     2.7      3.1       2.9

    Other goods and services 2/.................   215.5   215.6   216.8   217.7     4.3     3.1     3.6     4.1      3.7       3.9
      Tobacco and smoking products .............   235.5   234.8   236.1   237.2     3.9      .9     4.9     2.9      2.4       3.9
      Personal care 1/ .........................   151.3   150.4   151.6   151.4     3.0      .3     2.4      .3      1.6       1.3
        Toilet goods and personal care
            appliances 1/ ......................   145.4   143.5   144.4   144.2     3.9    -1.1     -.5    -3.3      1.4      -1.9
        Personal care services 1/ ..............   158.7   159.4   160.8   160.8     1.8     1.8     5.7     5.4      1.8       5.6
      Personal and educational expenses 4/ .....   246.9   247.9   249.2   250.6     4.8     5.1     3.5     6.1      4.9       4.8
        School books and supplies ..............   233.1   234.2   234.0   234.8     4.5     6.3     5.7     2.9      5.4       4.3
        Personal and educational services 4/ ...   248.2   249.2   250.6   252.0     4.7     5.0     3.3     6.3      4.9       4.8










  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-
                                                  Nov.    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.     May    Aug.    Nov.    Feb.     Aug.      Feb.
                                                  1996    1996    1997    1997    1996    1996    1996    1997     1996      1997

           Commodity and service group

  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        4.0     1.8     3.9     2.3      2.9       3.1
    Commodities ................................   141.5   141.9   141.9   142.2     5.0      .3     4.4     2.0      2.6       3.2
      Food and beverages .......................   156.2   156.3   156.0   156.3     3.5     5.9     5.3      .3      4.7       2.7
      Commodities less food and beverages ......   132.5   133.1   133.3   133.5     6.0    -3.6     4.0     3.1      1.1       3.5
        Nondurables less food and beverages ....   134.3   135.2   135.4   135.7    10.1    -6.1     7.2     4.2      1.7       5.7
          Apparel commodities 4/ ...............   127.4   127.4   128.0   128.5     1.3    -6.7     4.2     3.5     -2.8       3.8
          Nondurables less food, beverages,
              and apparel ......................   140.1   141.8   142.2   142.4    14.6    -7.2     7.5     6.7      3.1       7.1
        Durables ...............................   129.4   129.4   129.3   129.4     -.3      .3      .6      .0       .0        .3
    Services ...................................   173.4   173.9   174.3   174.7     3.6     3.3     3.1     3.0      3.5       3.0
      Rent of shelter 3/ .......................   161.6   161.9   162.5   162.9     3.1     3.0     2.5     3.3      3.1       2.9
      Household services less rent
          of shelter 3/ 4/......................   132.3   132.6   133.5   134.0     4.7     3.1     3.4     5.2      3.9       4.3
      Transportation services ..................   180.9   181.4   180.8   180.6     3.7     4.4     3.8     -.7      4.0       1.6
      Medical care services ....................   234.8   235.4   235.9   236.0     3.5     3.0     3.1     2.1      3.3       2.6
      Other services ...........................   201.3   202.1   203.0   203.7     3.7     4.1     3.2     4.9      3.9       4.0

                 Special indexes

  All items less food ..........................   155.7   156.2   156.5   156.8     4.3     1.0     3.4     2.9      2.6       3.1
  All items less shelter .......................   152.9   153.3   153.5   153.7     4.4     1.6     4.3     2.1      3.0       3.2
  All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........   146.5   146.9   147.1   147.4     4.3     1.7     3.9     2.5      3.0       3.2
  All items less medical care ..................   152.4   152.8   153.0   153.3     4.1     2.1     3.8     2.4      3.1       3.1
  Commodities less food ........................   133.8   134.4   134.6   134.8     5.6    -3.0     4.0     3.0      1.2       3.5
  Nondurables less food ........................   135.8   136.7   136.9   137.3     8.4    -5.2     7.4     4.5      1.4       5.9
  Nondurables less food and apparel ............   141.5   142.6   142.8   143.1    11.3    -3.4     7.4     4.6      3.7       6.0
  Nondurables ..................................   145.4   145.9   146.0   146.3     5.8     1.1     5.4     2.5      3.4       3.9
  Services less rent of shelter 3/ .............   165.0   165.4   165.7   166.2     4.1     3.5     4.0     2.9      3.8       3.5
  Services less medical care services ..........   168.2   168.6   169.1   169.4     3.5     3.4     3.2     2.9      3.4       3.0
  Energy .......................................   111.9   113.6   114.6   114.9    20.2    -8.0    11.1    11.2      5.1      11.1
  All items less energy ........................   162.3   162.5   162.6   162.9     2.8     2.8     3.3     1.5      2.8       2.4
    All items less food and energy .............   164.0   164.3   164.6   164.9     2.5     2.2     2.5     2.2      2.4       2.3
      Commodities less food and energy
          commodities ..........................   141.5   141.5   141.6   141.9     1.1     -.3     2.0     1.1       .4       1.6
        Energy commodities .....................   108.6   111.5   112.0   111.7    36.6   -17.1    17.5    11.9      6.4      14.7
      Services less energy services ............   179.2   179.6   180.0   180.3     3.5     3.4     3.0     2.5      3.5       2.7


     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                                       Feb. 1997 from-         Jan. 1997 from-
                                           schedule    Nov.    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Feb.    Dec.    Jan.    Jan.    Nov.    Dec.
                                              1/       1996    1996    1997    1997    1996    1996    1997    1996    1996    1996



 U.S. city average ......................      M        155.9   155.9   156.3   156.8     3.0     0.6     0.3     3.0     0.3     0.3

         Region and area size 2/

 Northeast urban.........................      M        163.0   163.2   163.5   164.2     3.0      .6      .4     3.0      .3      .2
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        162.6   162.6   163.1   163.9     3.0      .8      .5     2.9      .3      .3
   Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        160.7   162.0   162.0   161.9     3.2     -.1     -.1     3.5      .8      .0
   Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 3/........      M        166.0   166.3   166.3   166.8     3.0      .3      .3     3.0      .2      .0

 North Central urban ....................      M        151.7   151.9   152.1   152.4     3.3      .3      .2     3.5      .3      .1
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        151.3   151.5   151.9   152.3     3.1      .5      .3     3.3      .4      .3
   Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        150.8   150.7   150.5   150.5     3.3     -.1      .0     3.8     -.2     -.1
   Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 3/........      M        154.5   155.1   155.2   155.6     3.9      .3      .3     3.7      .5      .1
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        150.1   150.3   150.5   150.3     3.7      .0     -.1     4.0      .3      .1

 South urban ............................      M        153.7   153.7   154.2   154.5     3.0      .5      .2     3.0      .3      .3
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        152.0   152.3   153.1   153.2     3.0      .6      .1     3.0      .7      .5
   Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        154.5   154.5   154.7   155.0     3.1      .3      .2     3.4      .1      .1
   Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 3/........      M        154.7   154.5   154.9   155.5     2.8      .6      .4     2.5      .1      .3
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        155.1   155.0   155.3   155.8     3.6      .5      .3     3.3      .1      .2

 West urban .............................      M        155.9   155.4   156.3   156.8     2.7      .9      .3     2.7      .3      .6
   Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        154.3   153.8   154.7   155.2     2.6      .9      .3     2.5      .3      .6
   Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 3/........      M        160.8   160.7   161.7   162.1     2.9      .9      .2     3.3      .6      .6

 Size classes
   A 4/ .................................      M        142.0   141.9   142.5   143.0     3.0      .8      .4     2.9      .4      .4
   B 3/ .................................      M        156.0   156.2   156.3   156.5     3.1      .2      .1     3.4      .2      .1
   C 3/ .................................      M        157.7   157.9   158.2   158.7     3.1      .5      .3     3.1      .3      .2
   D ....................................      M        155.1   154.9   155.3   155.4     3.4      .3      .1     3.4      .1      .3

           Selected local areas

 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        154.4   154.6   155.3   155.9     3.8      .8      .4     3.7      .6      .5
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        152.9   152.7   153.6   153.6     1.8      .6      .0     2.1      .5      .6
 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        164.7   164.7   165.1   166.2     2.8      .9      .7     2.6      .2      .2
 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton,
 PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ .........................      M        164.0   163.6   164.4   164.9     2.7      .8      .3     2.9      .2      .5
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ ..      M        154.2   153.1   154.1   155.0     3.0     1.2      .6     2.4     -.1      .7

 Baltimore, MD 6/ .......................      1        153.6    -      154.6    -       -       -       -        2.9      .7    -
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1        165.4    -      166.6    -       -       -       -        3.4      .7    -
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1        146.2    -      146.2    -       -       -       -        3.3      .0    -
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1        154.6    -      156.0    -       -       -       -        4.0      .9    -
 St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ .....      1        150.5    -      150.6    -       -       -       -        2.8      .1    -
 Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................      1        158.7    -      158.9    -       -       -       -        3.2      .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.