FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-97-322
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
     INFORMATION:       (202) 606-7828      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      Tuesday, September 16, 1997
 INTERNET ADDRESS:    http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
                                     
                    CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  AUGUST 1997
 
           The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose
 0.2 percent before seasonal adjustment in August to a level of 160.8 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in August, the CPI-U
 increased 2.2 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also rose 0.2 percent  in August, prior to seasonal adjustment.
 The August 1997 CPI-W level of 157.8 was 2.1 percent higher than the index
 in August 1996.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in August,
 the same as in July.  The food index increased 0.4 percent in August.
 Grocery store food prices, which rose 0.3 percent in July, increased 0.6
 percent in August, reflecting a larger increase in prices for fresh fruits
 and vegetables.  The energy index, which had exerted a moderating effect
 on the CPI-U throughout most of 1997, increased 1.7 percent in August.
 The index for petroleum-based energy rose 4.3 percent, while the index for
 energy services fell 0.8 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U
 rose 0.1 percent, following an increase of 0.2 percent in July.  The
 smaller advance in August reflects declines in the indexes for apparel and
 upkeep and for airline fares.

 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                      1997                3-mos. ended  ended
                     Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   Aug.'97   Aug.'97
 All Items            .3    .1   .1   .1   .1   .2   .2    2.0       2.2
  Food and beverages  .3    .0  -.2   .4   .2   .3   .4    3.9       2.5
  Housing             .3    .0   .2   .1   .3   .2   .1    2.1       2.3
  Apparel and upkeep  .2   -.3   .9   .1  -.2   .2 -1.0   -4.1       1.5
  Transportation     -.1    .1  -.4  -.8  -.3   .1   .6    1.7        .7
  Medical care        .2    .4   .3   .3   .2   .0   .2    1.7       2.6
  Entertainment       .2    .2   .1   .2   .5   .1   .2    3.2       2.4
  Other goods                                                           
   and services       .5    .5   .8   .2   .2   .3   .6    4.3       4.3
 Special Indexes:                                                       
  Energy              .3  -1.7 -1.5 -2.4   .0  -.1  1.7    6.4        .8
  Food                .3    .0  -.2   .4   .2   .3   .4    3.9       2.5
  All items less                                                        
   food and energy    .2    .2   .3   .2   .1   .2   .1    1.4       2.3
      
       For the first eight months of 1997, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.6
 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an
 increase of 3.3 percent in all of 1996.  The energy and food components
 have    been largely responsible for the moderation thus far in 1997.  The
 energy index has declined at a 4.6 percent SAAR, while food prices have
 risen at a 1.8 percent annual rate.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U
 has risen at a 2.2 percent SAAR in the first eight months of 1997,
 following a 2.6 percent increase in all of 1996.
 
      The food and beverage index rose 0.4 percent in August.  The index
 for grocery store food prices, which rose 0.3 percent in July, increased
 0.6 percent in August.  The index for fresh fruits and vegetables rose 4.0
 percent in August, following an increase of 0.9 percent in July.  The
 index for processed fruits and vegetables rose 0.3 percent in August.
 Advances in the indexes for dairy products and for cereal and bakery
 products also contributed to the larger increase in August.  The 0.1
 percent rise in the index for dairy products followed a 0.6 percent
 decrease in July and was the first advance in this component since October
 1996.  During this nine-month period, dairy product prices fell 4.0
 percent.  The index for cereal and bakery products, which rose 0.1 percent
 in July, increased 0.2 percent in August.  Acceleration in these grocery
 store food groups was partially offset by the deceleration in the indexes
 for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for other food at home, both of
 which rose 0.1 percent in August.  Within the former group, poultry prices
 fell 1.5 percent, and the indexes for beef and for pork were virtually
 unchanged.  The moderation in the index for other food at home reflects a
 decline in prices for sugar and sweets and a notably smaller increase in
 coffee prices, which rose 0.6 percent in August following increases
 totaling 23.5 percent in the preceding five months.  The other two
 components of the food and beverage index--restaurant meals and alcoholic
 beverages--increased 0.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively.
 
      The housing component rose 0.1 percent in August after increasing 0.2
 percent in July.  Shelter costs rose 0.2 percent.  Within shelter,
 renters' costs increased 0.2 percent; homeowners' costs, 0.3 percent;  and
 maintenance and repair costs, 0.1 percent.  The index for fuel and other
 utilities, which rose 0.2 percent in July, declined 0.5 percent in August.
 The index for household fuels declined 0.8 percent, reflecting price
 decreases for fuel oil, natural gas, and electricity.  A 0.2 percent
 decline in the index for other utilities and public services was
 attributable to a decline in the index for telephone services; charges for
 interstate toll calls fell 5.0 percent in August.  The index for household
 furnishings and operation, which declined 0.2 percent in July, fell 0.3
 percent in August.
 
      The transportation component, which rose 0.1 percent in July,
 increased 0.6 percent in August.  A sharp upturn in gasoline prices more
 than offset declines in the costs of public transportation and of new
 vehicle purchase. The index for gasoline, which had declined in each of
 the preceding five months, rose 5.4 percent in August.  New vehicle
 purchase costs declined in August; the index for new vehicle prices
 decreased 0.1 percent  and automobile finance charges dropped 1.0 percent.
 (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices declined 0.5 percent.)
 The index for used cars declined 0.8 percent.  Public transportation costs
 turned down in August.  The index for airline fares, which rose 2.3
 percent in July, declined 4.7 percent in August.
 
      The index for apparel and upkeep declined 1.0 percent in August,
 reflecting the somewhat slower introduction of higher-priced fall-winter
 wear this August than in recent years.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
 apparel commodity prices fell 0.2 percent, reflecting seasonal price
 declines for spring-summer wear.)
 
      Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in August to a level 2.6 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--decreased 0.1 percent.
 The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent.  Charges for
 professional services and for hospital and related services increased 0.3
 and 0.2 percent, respectively.
      
      Entertainment costs, which increased 0.1 percent in July, rose 0.2
 percent in August.  Increases in the indexes for reading materials and for
 admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events--up 0.9 and
 1.3 percent, respectively--more than offset declines in the indexes for
 club memberships and for fees for participant sports.
 
      The index for other goods and services rose 0.6 percent in August,
 following an increase of 0.3 percent in July.  Advances of 0.7 percent
 each in the indexes for tuition and other school fees, for school books
 and supplies, and for tobacco and smoking products, coupled with a 1.6
 percent rise in legal fees, accounted for the August rise.

 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 August.

 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                      1997                3-mos. ended  ended
                     Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   Aug. '97  Aug. '97
 All Items            .2    .1   .0   .0   .1   .2   .2    2.1       2.1
  Food and beverages  .2    .1  -.2   .4   .2   .3   .4    3.6       2.5
  Housing             .2    .1   .1   .1   .3   .2   .0    1.8       2.3
  Apparel and upkeep  .4   -.3  1.0   .2  -.3   .2 -1.0   -4.1       1.5
  Transportation      .0   -.1  -.6 -1.0  -.4   .1   .7    1.7        .5
  Medical care        .2    .3   .3   .3   .2   .1   .2    1.7       2.7
  Entertainment       .1    .1   .1   .1   .5   .1   .4    4.1       2.3
  Other goods                                                           
   and services       .4    .5  1.0   .1   .0   .3   .5    2.9       4.3
 Special Indexes:                                                       
  Energy              .3  -1.8 -1.9 -2.4    0  -.2  2.0    7.6       1.0
  Food                .3    .1  -.2   .3   .3   .3   .3    3.6       2.4
  All items less                                                        
   food and energy    .2    .2   .3   .2   .1   .2   .0    1.0       2.2
 
 
 
     After seasonal adjustment, the level of the CPI-U for All Items was
 160.9 in August; the seasonally        adjusted CPI-W for All Items was
 157.8.
 
     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 September are scheduled for release on
 Thursday, October 16, 1997, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).

     Effective with the release of data for January 1998, the Bureau of
 Labor Statistics (BLS) will introduce an improved quality adjustment
 technique in the new stratum of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) called
 Personal Computers and Peripheral Equipment.
     
     Currently, personal computers are part of the Information Processing
 Equipment stratum.  As previously announced, beginning with the CPI for
 January 1998, Information Processing Equipment will become an
 expenditure class entitled Information and Information Processing Other
 Than Telephone Services.  Personal Computers and Peripheral Equipment
 will be one of four strata in that expenditure class.
     
     Analysts in the Producer Price Index (PPI) program have developed
 and implemented a regression procedure, called a hedonic model, that
 decomposes the price of personal computers into implicit prices for each
 important feature and component of the computer.  This model, which has
 been used in the PPI since 1991, provides a way to estimate the value of
 changes or improvements.  The CPI has used similar hedonic methods to
 adjust apparel prices for many years.
     
     Starting with the CPI for January 1998, when a personal computer or
 selected item of peripheral equipment, such as a modem, in the CPI
 sample improves in some way, a regression-based quality adjustment will
 be made.  The value of the improvement, as derived from the PPI
 regression estimates, will be deducted from the observed price change
 for the product.  (Conversely, if a model deteriorates, the value of the
 difference will be added to the price.)
     
     Additional information on these changes will be published in the
 June 1997 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet (at
 http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm).  This information can also be
 obtained by writing to Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer
 Prices and Price Indexes, Room 3260,
 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20212 or by telephoning  Joseph
 Chelena
 at (202) 606-6982 ext. 255.
 
 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     July      Aug.       Aug. 1997 from-      May to    June to    July to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Aug. 1996  July 1997     June       July       Aug.
 
             Expenditure category
 
 All items ..................................   100.000     160.5     160.8        2.2        0.2        0.1        0.2        0.2
 All items (1967=100) .......................      -        480.7     481.6        -          -          -          -          -
 
   Food and beverages .......................    17.484     157.5     158.1        2.5         .4         .2         .3         .4
     Food ...................................    15.913     157.0     157.6        2.5         .4         .2         .3         .4
       Food at home .........................    10.040     157.7     158.5        2.4         .5         .2         .3         .6
         Cereals and bakery products ........     1.479     178.3     178.6        2.1         .2         .4         .1         .2
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.002     148.2     149.1        2.4         .6         .1         .5         .1
         Dairy products 1/ ..................     1.245     143.3     143.4        -.8         .1        -.9        -.6         .1
+                       _
         Fruits and vegetables 2/ ...........     1.974     184.6     187.3        2.9        1.5         .3         .5        2.8
+                              _
         Other food at home .................     2.340     148.6     148.7        3.8         .1         .7         .6         .1
           Sugar and sweets .................      .331     149.2     147.8        2.2        -.9         .5         .5        -.8
           Fats and oils ....................      .246     141.4     141.4         .4         .0        -.3        -.3         .4
           Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .724     136.3     136.7        6.4         .3        1.2        1.6         .0
           Other prepared food ..............     1.039     161.3     161.8        3.5         .3         .6         .1         .2
       Food away from home ..................     5.873     157.1     157.4        2.8         .2         .2         .3         .2
     Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.571     162.9     163.2        2.7         .2         .1         .3         .3
 
   Housing 2/ ...............................    41.203     157.5     157.6        2.3         .1         .3         .2         .1
+          _
     Shelter ................................    28.194     177.0     177.5        3.0         .3         .2         .2         .2
       Renters' costs 3/ 4/..................     7.994     188.4     189.1        3.1         .4         .3        -.1         .2
+                     _  _
         Rent, residential ..................     5.731     166.8     167.3        3.0         .3         .2         .2         .3
         Other renters' costs 4/ ............     2.263     232.6     233.9        3.5         .6         .5        -.7         .0
+                             _
       Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...............    20.000     181.7     182.2        2.9         .3         .2         .4         .3
+                        _  _
         Owners' equivalent rent 3/ .........    19.616     182.1     182.6        3.0         .3         .2         .4         .3
+                                _
         Household insurance 3/ 4/ ..........      .383     165.7     166.3        2.5         .4         .1         .0         .4
+                            _  _
       Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........      .200     145.4     145.5        4.2         .1         .1        1.5         .1
+                              _  _
         Maintenance and repair
             services 1/ 4/ .................      .123     153.8     154.4        5.0         .4         .1        2.5         .4
+                     _  _
         Maintenance and repair
             commodities 1/ 4/ ..............      .077     133.7     133.1        2.7        -.4         .0        -.3        -.4
+                        _  _
     Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............     7.102     132.1     131.4        1.5        -.5         .6         .2        -.5
+                             _
       Fuels ................................     3.878     119.6     118.6         .6        -.8         .8         .0        -.8
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ....................      .424      94.7      93.5        1.4       -1.3        -.7       -1.9        -.7
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).......................     3.453     127.8     126.7         .5        -.9        1.0         .2        -.8
       Other utilities and public
           services 4/ ......................     3.224     162.4     162.1        2.6        -.2         .4         .5        -.2
+                   _
     Household furnishings and operation 2/ .     5.908     125.6     125.2         .3        -.3         .0        -.2        -.3
+                                        _
       Housefurnishings 4/ ..................     3.332     110.7     110.2       -1.0        -.5        -.2        -.6        -.5
+                       _
       Housekeeping supplies ................     1.093     144.0     142.9        1.3        -.8         .1         .7        -.6
       Housekeeping services 4/ .............     1.482     152.1     152.6        2.7         .3         .3         .2         .4
+                            _
 
   Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.330     130.2     130.0        1.5        -.2        -.2         .2       -1.0
     Apparel commodities 4/ .................     4.786     126.2     125.9        1.4        -.2        -.3         .1       -1.0
+                        _
       Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.280     128.0     128.9        2.1         .7        -.6         .5         .1
       Women's and girls' apparel............     2.102     121.1     120.3        1.9        -.7        -.1        -.5       -2.0
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ....      .186     131.3     127.3        1.8       -3.0        -.7       -1.2       -3.0
+                                     _
       Footwear .............................      .718     125.9     126.3        1.3         .3       -1.0        1.0         .6
       Other apparel commodities 4/..........      .500     146.9     145.8       -2.3        -.7         .5         .4       -1.2
+                                _
     Apparel services 1/ 4/ .................      .545     163.5     163.6        2.1         .1         .2         .2         .1
+                     _  _
 
   Transportation ...........................    17.140     143.7     143.8         .7         .1        -.3         .1         .6
     Private transportation .................    15.499     140.1     140.8         .6         .5        -.3         .1         .9
       New vehicles .........................     4.955     143.7     143.0         .1        -.5         .0         .1        -.1
         New cars ...........................     3.952     141.1     140.4        -.2        -.5        -.1         .1        -.1
       Used cars ............................     1.278     149.9     148.5       -5.2        -.9       -1.8       -1.1        -.8
       Motor fuel ...........................     3.171     103.9     107.6        1.1        3.6       -1.1        -.2        4.9
         Gasoline ...........................      -        103.5     107.4        1.2        3.8        -.9        -.4        5.4
       Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.533     162.9     163.3        3.0         .2         .4         .2         .1
       Other private transportation 4/.......     4.562     177.5     177.4        1.9        -.1         .1         .5        -.1
+                                   _
         Other private transportation
             commodities 4/..................      .589     105.3     104.8         .0        -.5         .1         .7        -.6
+                        _
         Other private transportation
             services 4/ ....................     3.973     194.5     194.5        2.2         .0         .1         .5         .0
+                     _
     Public transportation ..................     1.642     189.4     183.4        1.1       -3.2        -.6         .5       -1.9
 
   Medical care .............................     7.346     234.8     235.2        2.6         .2         .2         .0         .2
     Medical care commodities ...............     1.273     216.0     215.5        2.1        -.2         .1        -.1        -.1
     Medical care services ..................     6.073     239.2     239.8        2.7         .3         .2         .1         .3
       Professional medical services ........     3.472     215.9     216.3        3.4         .2         .2         .1         .3
 
   Entertainment 4/ .........................     4.352     162.6     163.0        2.4         .2         .5         .1         .2
+                _
     Entertainment commodities 4/ ...........     1.957     143.8     144.6        1.0         .6         .2        -.1         .6
+                              _
     Entertainment services 4/ ..............     2.395     184.5     184.3        3.5        -.1         .8         .2         .1
+                           _
 
   Other goods and services 2/ ..............     7.145     223.5     225.7        4.3        1.0         .2         .3         .6
+                           _
     Tobacco and smoking products ...........     1.601     242.0     243.4        4.3         .6        -.9         .4         .7
     Personal care 1/ .......................     1.145     152.6     152.5        1.3        -.1         .1        -.1        -.1
+                  _
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 1/ ....................      .588     143.7     143.5       -1.0        -.1         .1        -.3        -.1
+                     _
       Personal care services 1/ ............      .557     162.5     162.7        4.0         .1         .2        -.1         .1
+                             _
     Personal and educational expenses 4/ ...     4.398     258.0     261.6        5.2        1.4         .6         .3         .7
+                                      _
       School books and supplies ............      .264     237.7     240.0        5.4        1.0         .9         .4         .7
       Personal and educational services 4/ .     4.134     259.8     263.5        5.2        1.4         .6         .4         .7
+                                        _
 
         Commodity and service group
 
 All items ..................................   100.000     160.5     160.8        2.2         .2         .1         .2         .2
   Commodities ..............................    42.873     141.0     141.4        1.4         .3        -.1         .1         .4
     Food and beverages .....................    17.484     157.5     158.1        2.5         .4         .2         .3         .4
     Commodities less food and beverages ....    25.389     131.0     131.3         .6         .2        -.3        -.2         .3
       Nondurables less food and beverages ..    15.147     132.9     133.8        1.7         .7        -.3         .0         .6
         Apparel commodities 4/ .............     4.786     126.2     125.9        1.4        -.2        -.3         .1       -1.0
+                            _
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ....................    10.362     139.3     140.8        1.7        1.1        -.6        -.1        1.5
       Durables .............................    10.242     128.3     127.7        -.9        -.5        -.2        -.3        -.3
   Services .................................    57.127     180.1     180.3        2.9         .1         .3         .3         .1
     Rent of shelter 3/ .....................    27.577     184.1     184.7        3.0         .3         .3         .2         .3
+                    _
     Household services less rent of
         shelter 3/ 4/.......................     8.698     147.5     146.9        1.7        -.4         .6         .3        -.5
+                _  _
     Transportation services ................     7.148     185.6     184.3        2.0        -.7         .0         .4        -.4
     Medical care services ..................     6.073     239.2     239.8        2.7         .3         .2         .1         .3
     Other services .........................     7.631     209.1     210.7        4.4         .8         .6         .3         .4
 
               Special indexes
 
 All items less food ........................    84.087     161.1     161.3        2.2         .1         .1         .2         .1
 All items less shelter .....................    71.806     155.6     155.9        2.0         .2         .1         .1         .2
 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/......    80.000     161.3     161.6        2.1         .2         .1         .1         .2
+                                 _  _
 All items less medical care ................    92.654     156.3     156.6        2.2         .2         .1         .2         .2
 Commodities less food ......................    26.960     132.3     132.6         .7         .2        -.3        -.1         .3
 Nondurables less food ......................    16.718     134.7     135.5        1.7         .6        -.4         .0         .5
 Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    11.932     140.8     142.1        1.9         .9        -.3         .1        1.6
 Nondurables ................................    32.631     145.4     146.1        2.1         .5         .1         .2         .5
 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........    29.550     188.8     188.7        2.7        -.1         .4         .3        -.2
+                              _  _
 Services less medical care services ........    51.054     174.6     174.8        2.9         .1         .3         .3         .1
 Energy .....................................     7.049     111.4     112.5         .8        1.0         .0        -.1        1.7
 All items less energy ......................    92.951     167.0     167.3        2.4         .2         .1         .2         .1
   All items less food and energy ...........    77.038     169.5     169.6        2.3         .1         .1         .2         .1
     Commodities less food and
         energy commodities .................    23.364     141.5     141.2         .6        -.2        -.2        -.1        -.3
       Energy commodities ...................     3.596     103.1     106.2        1.1        3.0       -1.1        -.4        4.3
     Services less energy services ..........    53.674     185.4     185.8        3.0         .2         .3         .3         .2
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
   1982-84=$1.00 1/ .........................      -        $.623     $.622       -2.2        -.2        -.2        -.2        -.2
+                _
   1967=$1.00 1/ ............................      -         .208      .208        -          -          -          -          -
+             _
 
+
 
    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-
                                                   May    June    July    Aug.    Nov.    Feb.     May    Aug.     Feb.      Aug.
                                                  1997    1997    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997    1997     1997      1997
 
               Expenditure category
 
  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        3.6     2.5     0.8     2.0      3.1       1.4
 
    Food and beverages .........................   157.1   157.4   157.9   158.6     5.3      .5      .8     3.9      2.9       2.3
      Food .....................................   156.8   157.1   157.6   158.3     5.3      .3      .8     3.9      2.7       2.3
        Food at home ...........................   157.4   157.7   158.2   159.2     6.0     -.8     -.3     4.7      2.6       2.2
          Cereals and bakery products ..........   176.9   177.6   177.7   178.0     4.4      .2     1.1     2.5      2.3       1.8
          Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   148.5   148.6   149.3   149.4     7.0      .0      .3     2.4      3.5       1.4
          Dairy products 1/ ....................   145.4   144.1   143.3   143.4    13.6    -8.1    -2.2    -5.4      2.2      -3.8
+                        _
          Fruits and vegetables 2/..............   184.7   185.3   186.2   191.4     6.4    -2.1    -6.2    15.3      2.1       4.0
+                               _
          Other food at home ...................   146.7   147.7   148.6   148.7     2.5     2.2     5.4     5.6      2.4       5.5
            Sugar and sweets ...................   147.4   148.1   148.8   147.6     2.2     4.8     1.4      .5      3.5       1.0
            Fats and oils ......................   141.8   141.4   141.0   141.5     2.3      .8     -.8     -.8      1.6       -.8
            Nonalcoholic beverages .............   133.3   134.9   137.1   137.1    -4.3     -.6    20.2    11.9     -2.5      16.0
            Other prepared food ................   160.1   161.0   161.2   161.5     7.6     3.8    -1.2     3.5      5.7       1.1
        Food away from home ....................   156.3   156.6   157.1   157.4     4.0     2.6     1.8     2.8      3.3       2.3
      Alcoholic beverages ......................   162.3   162.4   162.9   163.4     3.8     3.0     1.2     2.7      3.4       2.0
 
    Housing 2/ .................................   156.1   156.5   156.8   156.9     3.2     3.1     1.3     2.1      3.2       1.7
+           _
      Shelter ..................................   175.4   175.8   176.2   176.6     2.8     3.3     3.3     2.8      3.1       3.0
        Renters' costs 3/ 4/....................   184.8   185.4   185.3   185.7     3.1     4.3     3.1     2.0      3.7       2.5
+                      _  _
          Rent, residential ....................   166.1   166.5   166.8   167.3     2.7     2.5     3.7     2.9      2.6       3.3
          Other renters' costs 4/ ..............   224.0   225.2   223.7   223.8     3.9     8.9     1.6     -.4      6.4        .6
+                              _
        Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................   180.9   181.2   181.9   182.4     2.7     2.7     3.2     3.4      2.7       3.3
+                         _  _
          Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ...........   181.3   181.6   182.3   182.8     2.7     2.9     3.1     3.4      2.8       3.2
+                                 _
          Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............   165.0   165.1   165.1   165.7     7.1     -.5     1.7     1.7      3.2       1.7
+                             _  _
        Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ..........   143.2   143.3   145.4   145.5     4.1     3.4     2.6     6.6      3.8       4.5
+                               _  _
          Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/    149.9   150.0   153.8   154.4     1.4     2.2     4.1    12.6      1.8       8.2
+                                         _  _
          Maintenance and repair
              commodities 1/ 4/ ................   134.1   134.1   133.7   133.1     8.6     4.9      .6    -2.9      6.7      -1.2
+                         _  _
      Fuel and other utilities 2/...............   129.4   130.2   130.5   129.9     5.1     6.3    -6.5     1.6      5.7      -2.6
+                              _
        Fuels ..................................   115.4   116.3   116.3   115.4     7.2     9.6   -12.7      .0      8.4      -6.6
          Fuel oil and other household fuel
              commodities ......................   100.0    99.3    97.4    96.7    54.7    -1.1   -21.1   -12.6     23.7     -16.9
          Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
              services).........................   122.3   123.5   123.8   122.8     3.0    10.5   -11.8     1.6      6.7      -5.3
        Other utilities and public services 4/ .   160.8   161.5   162.3   162.0     3.3     2.0     2.0     3.0      2.7       2.5
+                                           _
      Household furnishings and operation 2/ ...   125.7   125.7   125.5   125.1     1.0      .3     1.9    -1.9       .6        .0
+                                         _
        Housefurnishings 4/ ....................   111.5   111.3   110.6   110.1      .0      .0     1.1    -4.9       .0      -2.0
+                        _
        Housekeeping supplies ..................   142.9   143.0   144.0   143.1     1.4     2.3     1.1      .6      1.8        .8
        Housekeeping services 4/ ...............   151.3   151.8   152.1   152.7     3.3     -.5     4.3     3.8      1.3       4.0
+                             _
 
    Apparel and upkeep .........................   133.6   133.3   133.5   132.2     4.4     2.8     3.1    -4.1      3.6       -.6
      Apparel commodities 4/ ...................   129.9   129.5   129.6   128.3     4.8     2.5     3.5    -4.8      3.7       -.8
+                         _
        Men's and boys' apparel ................   130.5   129.7   130.4   130.5     3.5    -1.5     7.0      .0       .9       3.5
        Women's and girls' apparel .............   127.5   127.4   126.8   124.3     6.7     8.7     2.9    -9.7      7.7      -3.6
        Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ......   133.8   132.9   131.3   127.3     5.2     1.6    22.4   -18.1      3.4        .2
+                                      _
        Footwear ...............................   127.3   126.0   127.3   128.1     1.6     -.9     1.9     2.5       .3       2.2
        Other apparel commodities 4/............   145.6   146.3   146.9   145.2     2.2    -4.2    -6.1    -1.1     -1.1      -3.6
+                                 _
      Apparel services 1/ 4/ ...................   162.9   163.2   163.5   163.6     1.5     3.3     1.7     1.7      2.4       1.7
+                      _  _
 
    Transportation .............................   143.6   143.2   143.3   144.2     4.8     1.4    -4.6     1.7      3.1      -1.5
      Private transportation ...................   140.3   139.9   140.0   141.2     3.8     3.4    -6.6     2.6      3.6      -2.1
        New vehicles ...........................   144.3   144.3   144.4   144.3     1.4     -.6     -.3      .0       .4       -.1
          New cars .............................   141.8   141.7   141.8   141.7      .3     -.6     -.3     -.3      -.1       -.3
        Used cars ..............................   153.7   150.9   149.2   148.0    -1.3      .5    -5.3   -14.0      -.4      -9.8
        Motor fuel .............................   102.5   101.4   101.2   106.2    13.6    13.1   -29.3    15.2     13.4      -9.8
          Gasoline .............................   101.8   100.9   100.5   105.9    12.8    13.6   -30.0    17.1     13.2      -9.5
        Maintenance and repairs ................   162.2   162.8   163.2   163.4     4.1     2.3     2.5     3.0      3.2       2.7
        Other private transportation 4/.........   177.0   177.2   178.1   178.0     1.4     1.8     2.1     2.3      1.6       2.2
+                                    _
          Other private transportation
              commodities 4/....................   104.8   104.9   105.6   105.0      .4      .0    -1.1      .8       .2       -.2
+                         _
          Other private transportation
              services 4/ ......................   194.4   194.5   195.5   195.5     1.7     2.1     2.7     2.3      1.9       2.5
+                      _
      Public transportation ....................   188.4   187.2   188.1   184.5    13.8   -13.3    15.1    -8.0      -.7       2.9
 
    Medical care ...............................   234.5   234.9   235.0   235.5     3.0     2.3     3.8     1.7      2.6       2.8
      Medical care commodities .................   215.8   216.0   215.8   215.5     1.9     2.7     4.4     -.6      2.3       1.9
      Medical care services ....................   238.5   239.0   239.2   239.8     3.1     2.2     3.6     2.2      2.7       2.9
        Professional medical services ..........   215.0   215.5   215.7   216.3     3.9     2.9     4.4     2.4      3.4       3.4
    Entertainment 4/ ...........................   162.1   162.9   163.0   163.4     2.5     2.0     1.7     3.2      2.3       2.5
+                 _
      Entertainment commodities 4/ .............   143.8   144.1   143.9   144.7     1.7      .6    -1.1     2.5      1.1        .7
+                               _
      Entertainment services 4/ ................   183.3   184.7   185.0   185.1     3.4     3.1     3.8     4.0      3.3       3.9
+                            _
 
    Other goods and services 2/.................   224.5   224.9   225.6   226.9     3.4     3.9     5.9     4.3      3.6       5.1
+                            _
      Tobacco and smoking products .............   242.9   240.6   241.5   243.2     5.1     2.7     9.2      .5      3.9       4.8
      Personal care 1/ .........................   152.6   152.8   152.6   152.5     1.9      .8     2.9     -.3      1.3       1.3
+                   _
        Toilet goods and personal care
            appliances 1/ ......................   144.1   144.2   143.7   143.5     -.8    -3.8     2.3    -1.7     -2.3        .3
+                      _
        Personal care services 1/ ..............   162.3   162.6   162.5   162.7     5.5     5.4     4.0     1.0      5.4       2.5
+                              _
      Personal and educational expenses 4/ .....   258.4   260.0   260.9   262.8     3.2     5.3     5.4     7.0      4.3       6.2
+                                       _
        School books and supplies ..............   236.6   238.7   239.6   241.2     5.0     3.0     6.0     8.0      4.0       7.0
        Personal and educational services 4/ ...   259.9   261.4   262.4   264.3     3.1     5.5     5.4     6.9      4.3       6.2
+                                         _
 
           Commodity and service group
 
  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        3.6     2.5      .8     2.0      3.1       1.4
    Commodities ................................   141.5   141.3   141.4   141.9     4.7     1.7    -1.7     1.1      3.2       -.3
      Food and beverages .......................   157.1   157.4   157.9   158.6     5.3      .5      .8     3.9      2.9       2.3
      Commodities less food and beverages ......   132.0   131.6   131.4   131.8     4.3     2.1    -3.3     -.6      3.2      -1.9
        Nondurables less food and beverages ....   133.9   133.5   133.5   134.3     6.8     4.2    -5.2     1.2      5.5      -2.1
          Apparel commodities 4/ ...............   129.9   129.5   129.6   128.3     4.8     2.5     3.5    -4.8      3.7       -.8
+                             _
          Nondurables less food, beverages,
              and apparel ......................   139.3   138.4   138.2   140.3     6.5     6.1    -8.2     2.9      6.3      -2.8
        Durables ...............................   129.3   129.0   128.6   128.2      .6      .0     -.9    -3.4       .3      -2.1
    Services ...................................   178.8   179.3   179.8   180.0     3.2     3.0     2.7     2.7      3.1       2.7
      Rent of shelter 3/ .......................   182.8   183.3   183.6   184.1     2.7     3.1     3.4     2.9      2.9       3.1
+                     _
      Household services less rent
          of shelter 3/ 4/......................   144.6   145.5   145.9   145.2     3.4     4.8    -3.0     1.7      4.1       -.7
+                    _  _
      Transportation services ..................   185.0   185.0   185.8   185.1     4.9    -1.5     5.1      .2      1.7       2.6
      Medical care services ....................   238.5   239.0   239.2   239.8     3.1     2.2     3.6     2.2      2.7       2.9
      Other services ...........................   209.3   210.5   211.1   211.9     3.4     4.4     4.7     5.1      3.9       4.9
 
                 Special indexes
 
  All items less food ..........................   160.5   160.7   161.0   161.2     3.3     2.8      .8     1.8      3.1       1.3
  All items less shelter .......................   155.5   155.6   155.8   156.1     4.0     2.1      .0     1.6      3.0        .8
  All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........   160.9   161.1   161.3   161.6     3.8     2.3      .2     1.8      3.1       1.0
+                                  _  _
  All items less medical care ..................   155.7   155.9   156.2   156.5     3.7     2.6      .5     2.1      3.2       1.3
  Commodities less food ........................   133.4   133.0   132.9   133.3     4.0     2.4    -2.9     -.3      3.2      -1.6
  Nondurables less food ........................   135.7   135.2   135.2   135.9     6.8     3.9    -4.0      .6      5.3      -1.7
  Nondurables less food and apparel ............   140.1   139.7   139.8   142.0     7.1     3.7    -8.1     5.5      5.4      -1.5
  Nondurables ..................................   145.4   145.5   145.8   146.5     5.4     2.8    -3.0     3.1      4.1        .0
  Services less rent of shelter 3/ .............   187.3   188.0   188.6   188.3     3.8     2.4     2.4     2.2      3.1       2.3
+                               _
  Services less medical care services ..........   173.1   173.6   174.2   174.3     3.3     2.8     2.6     2.8      3.1       2.7
  Energy .......................................   108.5   108.5   108.4   110.2    10.3    10.8   -20.5     6.4     10.5      -8.0
  All items less energy ........................   167.0   167.2   167.5   167.7     3.5     1.7     2.7     1.7      2.6       2.2
    All items less food and energy .............   169.5   169.7   170.0   170.1     2.9     2.2     2.9     1.4      2.5       2.2
      Commodities less food and energy
          commodities ..........................   142.8   142.5   142.4   142.0     2.0     1.1     1.7    -2.2      1.6       -.3
        Energy commodities .....................   102.4   101.3   100.9   105.2    17.6    11.5   -28.3    11.4     14.5     -10.7
      Services less energy services ............   184.5   185.0   185.5   185.8     3.1     2.7     3.5     2.8      2.9       3.2
 
+
 
     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                                       Aug. 1997 from-         July 1997 from-
                                           schedule     May    June    July    Aug.    Aug.    June    July    July     May    June
                                              1/       1997    1997    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997
+                                             _
 
 
 
 U.S. city average ......................      M        160.1   160.3   160.5   160.8     2.2     0.3     0.2     2.2     0.2     0.1
 
         Region and area size 2/
+                             _
 
 Northeast urban.........................      M        166.8   167.0   167.6   167.8     2.3      .5      .1     2.6      .5      .4
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        167.5   167.7   168.2   168.4     2.2      .4      .1     2.5      .4      .3
   Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        164.7   165.2   165.9   166.2     2.5      .6      .2     2.5      .7      .4
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 3/........      M        165.2   165.6   166.4   166.8     3.1      .7      .2     3.0      .7      .5
+                              _
 
 North Central urban ....................      M        156.3   156.7   156.6   157.2     2.5      .3      .4     2.2      .2     -.1
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        157.0   157.3   157.3   158.0     2.6      .4      .4     2.3      .2      .0
   Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        155.4   155.7   155.8   156.3     2.3      .4      .3     2.2      .3      .1
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 3/........      M        158.3   158.7   158.5   158.8     2.7      .1      .2     2.5      .1     -.1
+                              _
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        152.2   152.6   152.6   152.6     1.5      .0      .0     1.5      .3      .0
 
 South urban ............................      M        156.6   157.0   157.0   157.1     1.9      .1      .1     1.9      .3      .0
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        155.5   155.8   155.8   155.9     1.8      .1      .1     1.7      .2      .0
   Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        159.7   160.4   160.5   160.8     2.5      .2      .2     2.4      .5      .1
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 3/........      M        156.1   156.4   156.0   156.1     1.4     -.2      .1     1.5     -.1     -.3
+                              _
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        156.0   156.3   156.4   156.4     2.5      .1      .0     2.6      .3      .1
 
 West urban .............................      M        161.1   161.0   161.1   161.5     2.2      .3      .2     2.0      .0      .1
   Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        161.1   161.1   161.3   161.7     2.3      .4      .2     2.1      .1      .1
   Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 3/........      M        166.5   166.0   166.1   166.8     2.6      .5      .4     2.3     -.2      .1
+                              _
 
 Size classes
   A 4/ .................................      M        144.5   144.6   144.8   145.1     2.3      .3      .2     2.2      .2      .1
+    _
   B 3/ .................................      M        160.4   160.7   160.9   161.2     2.3      .3      .2     2.2      .3      .1
+    _
   C 3/ .................................      M        160.0   160.2   160.1   160.5     2.2      .2      .2     2.1      .1     -.1
+    _
   D ....................................      M        156.4   156.6   156.7   156.8     1.8      .1      .1     2.0      .2      .1
 
           Selected local areas
 
 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        161.1   161.7   161.7   162.5     2.8      .5      .5     2.5      .4      .0
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        159.5   159.4   159.5   159.7     1.5      .2      .1     1.2      .0      .1
 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        169.9   170.3   170.8   170.8     2.2      .3      .0     2.5      .5      .3
 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton,
 PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ .........................      M        166.0   166.1   166.4   166.8     2.0      .4      .2     2.2      .2      .2
+            _
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ ..      M        159.8   160.0   160.6   161.2     3.6      .8      .4     3.0      .5      .4
+                                   _
 
 Baltimore, MD 6/ .......................      1        155.5    -      156.9    -       -       -       -         .8      .9    -
+              _
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1        166.7    -      167.1    -       -       -       -        3.1      .2    -
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1        155.6    -      156.3    -       -       -       -        2.8      .4    -
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1        157.9    -      157.9    -       -       -       -        3.6      .0    -
 St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ .....      1        152.1    -      153.3    -       -       -       -        2.3      .8    -
+                                _
 Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................      1        162.1    -      162.9    -       -       -       -        1.7      .5    -
+                     _
 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2         -      151.4    -      151.2     1.1     -.1    -       -       -       -
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2         -      155.0    -      156.9     2.8     1.2    -       -       -       -
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2         -      144.8    -      145.4     1.8      .4    -       -       -       -
 Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........      2         -      157.4    -      157.5     2.5      .1    -       -       -       -
+                             _
 
+
 
    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     July      Aug.       Aug. 1997 from-      May to    June to    July to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Aug. 1996  July 1997     June       July       Aug.
 
             Expenditure category
 
 All items ..................................   100.000     157.5     157.8        2.1        0.2        0.1        0.2        0.2
 All items (1967=100) .......................      -        469.0     470.0        -          -          -          -          -
 
   Food and beverages .......................    19.436     157.0     157.6        2.5         .4         .2         .3         .4
     Food ...................................    17.749     156.6     157.1        2.4         .3         .3         .3         .3
       Food at home .........................    11.387     156.9     157.6        2.3         .4         .3         .3         .4
         Cereals and bakery products ........     1.688     177.9     178.2        1.9         .2         .4         .0         .1
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.535     148.0     148.8        2.4         .5         .1         .5         .0
         Dairy products 1/ ..................     1.387     143.0     143.0        -.9         .0        -.9        -.6         .0
+                       _
         Fruits and vegetables 2/ ...........     2.086     184.0     186.9        2.8        1.6         .5         .5        2.6
+                              _
         Other food at home .................     2.691     147.9     148.0        3.6         .1         .5         .6         .0
           Sugar and sweets .................      .373     149.2     147.8        2.3        -.9         .3         .5        -.8
           Fats and oils ....................      .282     141.1     141.2         .4         .1        -.2        -.6         .6
           Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .841     134.9     135.2        5.6         .2        1.1        1.5        -.1
           Other prepared food ..............     1.194     161.2     161.6        3.4         .2         .4         .2         .2
       Food away from home ..................     6.362     157.1     157.4        2.8         .2         .3         .3         .2
     Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.687     162.2     162.5        2.7         .2         .1         .2         .4
 
   Housing 2/ ...............................    38.747     154.1     154.2        2.3         .1         .3         .2         .0
+          _
     Shelter ................................    25.867     171.7     172.3        3.0         .3         .2         .2         .2
       Renters' costs 3/ 4/..................     8.079     163.7     164.3        3.1         .4         .3        -.1         .3
+                     _  _
         Rent, residential ..................     6.580     166.5     167.0        3.0         .3         .3         .2         .3
         Other renters' costs 4/ ............     1.499     232.9     234.2        3.4         .6         .6       -1.1         .3
+                             _
       Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...............    17.599     165.7     166.2        3.0         .3         .2         .4         .1
+                        _  _
         Owners' equivalent rent 3/ .........    17.277     166.0     166.5        3.0         .3         .2         .4         .2
+                                _
         Household insurance 3/ 4/ ..........      .322     150.3     150.9        2.0         .4         .1         .1         .4
+                            _  _
       Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........      .189     143.6     143.8        4.2         .1         .0        1.3         .1
+                              _  _
         Maintenance and repair
             services 1/ 4/ .................      .105     155.9     156.5        5.0         .4         .1        2.6         .4
+                     _  _
         Maintenance and repair
             commodities 1/ 4/ ..............      .084     128.3     128.0        3.1        -.2         .0        -.2        -.2
+                        _  _
     Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............     7.344     131.9     131.2        1.5        -.5         .6         .2        -.5
+                             _
       Fuels ................................     3.979     119.1     118.1         .5        -.8         .9         .0        -.8
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ....................      .391      94.5      93.2        1.2       -1.4        -.7       -1.8        -.6
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).......................     3.588     127.3     126.2         .4        -.9        1.0         .2        -.7
       Other utilities and public
           services 4/ ......................     3.365     163.2     162.9        2.8        -.2         .4         .6        -.1
+                   _
     Household furnishings and operation 2/ .     5.536     124.1     123.7         .3        -.3        -.1        -.1        -.3
+                                        _
       Housefurnishings 4/ ..................     3.261     109.5     109.1        -.8        -.4        -.2        -.5        -.5
+                       _
       Housekeeping supplies ................     1.129     144.4     143.4        1.1        -.7        -.1         .6        -.7
       Housekeeping services 4/ .............     1.145     154.7     155.2        2.6         .3         .5         .2         .4
+                            _
 
   Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.348     129.8     129.4        1.5        -.3        -.3         .2       -1.0
     Apparel commodities 4/ .................     4.838     126.1     125.7        1.5        -.3        -.3         .2       -1.1
+                        _
       Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.286     128.0     128.8        2.5         .6        -.5         .8         .0
       Women's and girls' apparel............     2.053     120.6     119.6        1.9        -.8         .0        -.4       -2.1
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ....      .240     132.0     128.4        1.3       -2.7        -.8       -1.3       -2.7
+                                     _
       Footwear .............................      .799     126.8     127.3        1.0         .4        -.9         .9         .7
       Other apparel commodities 4/..........      .461     146.8     145.7       -1.4        -.7         .3         .6       -1.7
+                                _
     Apparel services 1/ 4/ .................      .510     162.6     162.7        1.9         .1         .2         .2         .1
+                     _  _
 
   Transportation ...........................    19.190     142.9     143.3         .5         .3        -.4         .1         .7
     Private transportation .................    17.934     140.4     141.1         .4         .5        -.3        -.1         .9
       New vehicles .........................     4.893     144.9     144.3         .2        -.4         .0         .1        -.2
         New cars ...........................     3.533     140.7     140.0        -.2        -.5        -.1         .1        -.1
       Used cars ............................     2.320     151.4     149.9       -5.0       -1.0       -1.7       -1.2        -.7
       Motor fuel ...........................     3.921     104.0     107.7        1.3        3.6        -.9        -.4        5.0
         Gasoline ...........................      -        103.6     107.6        1.5        3.9        -.8        -.4        5.5
       Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.616     164.0     164.2        2.9         .1         .4         .3         .1
       Other private transportation 4/.......     5.185     172.8     172.7        1.8        -.1         .2         .5         .0
+                                   _
         Other private transportation
             commodities 4/..................      .742     104.4     104.0         .0        -.4         .1         .6        -.5
+                        _
         Other private transportation
             services 4/ ....................     4.442     190.2     190.1        2.0        -.1         .2         .5         .1
+                     _
     Public transportation ..................     1.256     186.2     181.6        1.2       -2.5        -.7         .9       -1.6
 
   Medical care .............................     6.251     234.2     234.6        2.7         .2         .2         .1         .2
     Medical care commodities ...............     1.047     213.3     212.5        1.9        -.4         .0         .0        -.2
     Medical care services ..................     5.204     238.9     239.5        2.7         .3         .2         .1         .3
       Professional medical services ........     2.973     217.2     217.7        3.5         .2         .2         .1         .3
 
   Entertainment 4/ .........................     4.015     160.1     160.6        2.3         .3         .5         .1         .4
+                _
     Entertainment commodities 4/ ...........     2.036     142.7     143.5         .9         .6         .1         .0         .6
+                              _
     Entertainment services 4/ ..............     1.979     184.8     184.9        3.7         .1         .8         .2         .1
+                           _
 
   Other goods and services 2/ ..............     7.012     220.3     222.1        4.3         .8         .0         .3         .5
+                           _
     Tobacco and smoking products ...........     2.117     241.7     243.0        4.3         .5        -.9         .5         .6
     Personal care 1/ .......................     1.107     152.4     152.4        1.3         .0         .1        -.2         .0
+                  _
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 1/ ....................      .610     144.6     144.4        -.8        -.1         .0        -.3        -.1
+                     _
       Personal care services 1/ ............      .497     162.6     162.8        4.0         .1         .2        -.1         .1
+                             _
     Personal and educational expenses 4/ ...     3.788     253.6     256.8        5.2        1.3         .4         .3         .6
+                                      _
       School books and supplies ............      .232     240.1     241.9        5.7         .7        1.1         .4         .4
       Personal and educational services 4/ .     3.556     255.0     258.3        5.1        1.3         .4         .3         .6
+                                        _
 
         Commodity and service group
 
 All items ..................................   100.000     157.5     157.8        2.1         .2         .1         .2         .2
   Commodities ..............................    47.057     141.0     141.4        1.3         .3        -.1         .1         .4
     Food and beverages .....................    19.436     157.0     157.6        2.5         .4         .2         .3         .4
     Commodities less food and beverages ....    27.621     131.3     131.6         .5         .2        -.4        -.2         .4
       Nondurables less food and beverages ..    16.215     132.9     133.9        1.7         .8        -.4         .1         .8
         Apparel commodities 4/ .............     4.838     126.1     125.7        1.5        -.3        -.3         .2       -1.1
+                            _
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ....................    11.377     139.1     140.8        1.9        1.2        -.6        -.2        1.8
       Durables .............................    11.407     128.0     127.4       -1.2        -.5        -.5        -.3        -.3
   Services .................................    52.943     177.1     177.4        2.8         .2         .3         .3         .1
     Rent of shelter 3/ .....................    25.329     165.3     165.8        3.0         .3         .3         .2         .2
+                    _
     Household services less rent of
         shelter 3/ 4/.......................     8.553     135.5     135.0        1.7        -.4         .6         .3        -.4
+                _  _
     Transportation services ................     7.314     182.9     182.1        2.1        -.4         .1         .5        -.2
     Medical care services ..................     5.204     238.9     239.5        2.7         .3         .2         .1         .3
     Other services .........................     6.542     205.9     207.4        4.4         .7         .5         .2         .4
 
               Special indexes
 
 All items less food ........................    82.251     157.5     157.8        2.1         .2         .1         .1         .2
 All items less shelter .....................    74.133     153.6     153.9        1.8         .2         .1         .1         .3
 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/......    82.401     147.6     147.9        1.9         .2         .1         .1         .2
+                                 _  _
 All items less medical care ................    93.749     153.8     154.2        2.1         .3         .1         .1         .3
 Commodities less food ......................    29.308     132.5     132.9         .7         .3        -.4        -.1         .4
 Nondurables less food ......................    17.901     134.7     135.6        1.9         .7        -.3         .1         .7
 Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    13.064     140.4     141.9        1.9        1.1        -.3         .1        1.8
 Nondurables ................................    35.651     145.3     146.0        2.1         .5         .0         .3         .6
 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........    27.613     168.2     168.2        2.7         .0         .3         .3         .0
+                              _  _
 Services less medical care services ........    47.738     171.8     172.0        2.8         .1         .4         .4        -.1
 Energy .....................................     7.901     110.8     112.2        1.0        1.3         .0        -.2        2.0
 All items less energy ......................    92.099     164.0     164.2        2.2         .1         .1         .2         .1
   All items less food and energy ...........    74.350     165.9     166.0        2.2         .1         .1         .2         .0
     Commodities less food and
         energy commodities .................    24.996     141.1     140.8         .6        -.2        -.3         .0        -.4
       Energy commodities ...................     4.312     103.4     106.7        1.3        3.2        -.9        -.5        4.5
     Services less energy services ..........    49.354     182.6     183.0        3.0         .2         .3         .3         .2
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
   1982-84=$1.00 1/ .........................      -        $.635     $.634       -2.0        -.2        -.2         .0        -.2
+                _
   1967=$1.00 1/ ............................      -         .213      .213        -          -          -          -          -
+             _
 
+
 
    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-
                                                   May    June    July    Aug.    Nov.    Feb.     May    Aug.     Feb.      Aug.
                                                  1997    1997    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997    1997     1997      1997
 
               Expenditure category
 
  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        3.9     2.3     0.3     2.1      3.1       1.2
 
    Food and beverages .........................   156.7   157.0   157.5   158.1     5.3      .3     1.0     3.6      2.7       2.3
      Food .....................................   156.2   156.6   157.1   157.6     5.3      .3      .8     3.6      2.7       2.2
        Food at home ...........................   156.6   157.0   157.5   158.2     6.4    -1.3      .3     4.1      2.5       2.2
          Cereals and bakery products ..........   176.7   177.4   177.4   177.5     4.2      .0     1.6     1.8      2.1       1.7
          Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   148.2   148.3   149.1   149.1     6.8     -.3      .8     2.5      3.2       1.6
          Dairy products 1/ ....................   145.1   143.8   143.0   143.0    14.3    -8.3    -2.4    -5.7      2.4      -4.1
+                        _
          Fruits and vegetables 2/..............   184.1   185.0   186.0   190.9     6.0    -2.7    -5.5    15.6      1.5       4.5
+                               _
          Other food at home ...................   146.2   147.0   147.9   147.9     2.3     2.2     5.1     4.7      2.3       4.9
            Sugar and sweets ...................   147.5   147.9   148.7   147.5     2.0     5.3     1.6      .0      3.6        .8
            Fats and oils ......................   141.6   141.3   140.5   141.3     2.3      .3      .0     -.8      1.3       -.4
            Nonalcoholic beverages .............   132.2   133.7   135.7   135.6    -4.0     -.6    17.8    10.7     -2.3      14.2
            Other prepared food ................   160.0   160.7   161.0   161.4     7.6     3.6    -1.0     3.5      5.6       1.3
        Food away from home ....................   156.2   156.6   157.1   157.4     3.7     2.9     1.3     3.1      3.3       2.2
      Alcoholic beverages ......................   161.7   161.8   162.2   162.8     4.1     2.3     2.0     2.7      3.2       2.4
 
    Housing 2/ .................................   152.7   153.1   153.4   153.4     3.0     2.9     1.3     1.8      3.0       1.6
+           _
      Shelter ..................................   170.5   170.9   171.3   171.6     2.7     3.1     3.4     2.6      2.9       3.0
        Renters' costs 3/ 4/....................   161.5   162.0   161.9   162.4     2.8     3.3     3.8     2.2      3.1       3.0
+                      _  _
          Rent, residential ....................   165.7   166.2   166.5   167.0     2.7     2.5     3.5     3.2      2.6       3.3
          Other renters' costs 4/ ..............   224.3   225.7   223.3   223.9     2.4     7.4     4.6     -.7      4.9       1.9
+                              _
        Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................   164.9   165.3   165.9   166.1     2.5     3.0     3.0     2.9      2.7       3.0
+                         _  _
          Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ...........   165.3   165.6   166.2   166.5     2.5     3.0     3.2     2.9      2.7       3.1
+                                 _
          Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............   149.4   149.6   149.7   150.3     6.7    -2.4     1.3     2.4      2.0       1.9
+                             _  _
        Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ..........   141.7   141.7   143.6   143.8     5.6     2.3     2.9     6.1      4.0       4.5
+                               _  _
          Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/    151.9   152.0   155.9   156.5     2.4     1.1     4.3    12.7      1.8       8.4
+                                         _  _
          Maintenance and repair
              commodities 1/ 4/ ................   128.6   128.6   128.3   128.0    10.0     3.8      .9    -1.9      6.9       -.5
+                         _  _
      Fuel and other utilities 2/...............   129.0   129.8   130.1   129.5     5.4     6.0    -6.5     1.6      5.7      -2.6
+                              _
        Fuels ..................................   114.6   115.6   115.6   114.7     7.2     9.3   -13.1      .3      8.2      -6.6
          Fuel oil and other household fuel
              commodities ......................    99.6    98.9    97.1    96.5    54.2     -.8   -22.1   -11.9     23.7     -17.1
          Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
              services).........................   121.7   122.9   123.1   122.2     3.3    10.1   -12.1     1.7      6.7      -5.5
        Other utilities and public services 4/ .   161.5   162.1   163.0   162.8     3.8     2.0     2.0     3.3      2.9       2.6
+                                           _
      Household furnishings and operation 2/ ...   124.2   124.1   124.0   123.6      .7      .3     2.0    -1.9       .5        .0
+                                         _
        Housefurnishings 4/ ....................   110.2   110.0   109.5   109.0     -.4      .0     1.5    -4.3      -.2      -1.5
+                        _
        Housekeeping supplies ..................   143.7   143.6   144.4   143.4     1.1     2.3     1.7     -.8      1.7        .4
        Housekeeping services 4/ ...............   153.9   154.6   154.9   155.5     2.9      .0     3.5     4.2      1.5       3.8
+                             _
 
    Apparel and upkeep .........................   132.9   132.5   132.8   131.5     4.1     3.4     3.4    -4.1      3.7       -.5
      Apparel commodities 4/ ...................   129.6   129.2   129.4   128.0     4.2     3.5     3.5    -4.8      3.8       -.8
+                         _
        Men's and boys' apparel ................   130.1   129.4   130.4   130.4     4.2    -1.2     6.4      .9      1.4       3.6
        Women's and girls' apparel .............   126.7   126.7   126.2   123.6     4.7    10.8     2.6    -9.4      7.7      -3.6
        Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ......   134.9   133.8   132.0   128.4     3.2     1.3    23.0   -17.9      2.2        .5
+                                      _
        Footwear ...............................   128.2   127.0   128.1   129.0     1.3    -1.6     1.6     2.5      -.2       2.0
        Other apparel commodities 4/............   145.8   146.2   147.1   144.6     8.1    -5.0    -5.0    -3.3      1.4      -4.2
+                                 _
      Apparel services 1/ 4/ ...................   161.9   162.2   162.6   162.7     1.0     3.3     1.5     2.0      2.1       1.7
+                      _  _
 
    Transportation .............................   142.8   142.3   142.4   143.4     4.6     2.5    -6.4     1.7      3.5      -2.5
      Private transportation ...................   140.5   140.1   140.0   141.3     4.0     3.4    -7.3     2.3      3.7      -2.6
        New vehicles ...........................   145.6   145.6   145.7   145.4     1.7     -.5      .0     -.5       .6       -.3
          New cars .............................   141.5   141.3   141.4   141.3      .3     -.6      .0     -.6      -.1       -.3
        Used cars ..............................   155.1   152.5   150.6   149.5    -1.5     1.0    -5.0   -13.7      -.3      -9.4
        Motor fuel .............................   102.5   101.6   101.2   106.3    14.9    13.1   -29.9    15.7     14.0      -9.9
          Gasoline .............................   101.8   101.0   100.6   106.1    14.1    13.2   -30.3    18.0     13.6      -9.3
        Maintenance and repairs ................   163.2   163.8   164.3   164.4     4.1     1.5     3.3     3.0      2.8       3.1
        Other private transportation 4/.........   172.5   172.8   173.6   173.6     1.4     1.4     1.6     2.6      1.4       2.1
+                                    _
          Other private transportation
              commodities 4/....................   103.9   104.0   104.6   104.1      .0     -.8     -.4      .8      -.4        .2
+                         _
          Other private transportation
              services 4/ ......................   189.9   190.2   191.1   191.2     1.5     1.9     1.9     2.8      1.7       2.3
+                      _
      Public transportation ....................   184.9   183.6   185.3   182.3    13.0   -12.1    11.6    -5.5      -.3       2.7
 
    Medical care ...............................   233.7   234.1   234.3   234.7     3.0     2.3     3.7     1.7      2.6       2.7
      Medical care commodities .................   213.1   213.1   213.0   212.5     2.1     2.9     4.0    -1.1      2.5       1.4
      Medical care services ....................   238.2   238.7   238.9   239.5     3.1     2.1     3.8     2.2      2.6       3.0
        Professional medical services ..........   216.3   216.8   217.0   217.7     4.1     2.9     4.6     2.6      3.5       3.6
    Entertainment 4/ ...........................   159.4   160.2   160.3   161.0     2.3     1.8     1.0     4.1      2.0       2.5
+                 _
      Entertainment commodities 4/ .............   142.5   142.7   142.7   143.6     1.7      .6    -1.7     3.1      1.1        .7
+                               _
      Entertainment services 4/ ................   183.6   185.1   185.4   185.6     3.2     2.7     4.5     4.4      2.9       4.5
+                            _
 
    Other goods and services 2/.................   221.1   221.0   221.6   222.7     3.6     4.1     6.4     2.9      3.9       4.6
+                            _
      Tobacco and smoking products .............   242.4   240.1   241.2   242.7     4.9     2.9     9.1      .5      3.9       4.7
      Personal care 1/ .........................   152.6   152.7   152.4   152.4     2.4      .3     3.2     -.5      1.3       1.3
+                   _
        Toilet goods and personal care
            appliances 1/ ......................   145.0   145.0   144.6   144.4     -.5    -3.3     2.2    -1.6     -1.9        .3
+                      _
        Personal care services 1/ ..............   162.4   162.7   162.6   162.8     5.7     5.4     4.0     1.0      5.6       2.5
+                              _
      Personal and educational expenses 4/ .....   254.1   255.2   256.0   257.5     3.5     6.1     5.7     5.5      4.8       5.6
+                                       _
        School books and supplies ..............   238.5   241.1   242.1   243.1     5.7     2.9     6.5     7.9      4.3       7.2
        Personal and educational services 4/ ...   255.5   256.6   257.3   258.8     3.3     6.3     5.7     5.3      4.8       5.5
+                                         _
 
           Commodity and service group
 
  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        3.9     2.3      .3     2.1      3.1       1.2
    Commodities ................................   141.4   141.2   141.3   141.9     4.4     2.0    -2.2     1.4      3.2       -.4
      Food and beverages .......................   156.7   157.0   157.5   158.1     5.3      .3     1.0     3.6      2.7       2.3
      Commodities less food and beverages ......   132.1   131.6   131.4   131.9     4.0     3.1    -4.1     -.6      3.5      -2.4
        Nondurables less food and beverages ....   133.7   133.2   133.3   134.3     7.2     4.2    -5.8     1.8      5.7      -2.1
          Apparel commodities 4/ ...............   129.6   129.2   129.4   128.0     4.2     3.5     3.5    -4.8      3.8       -.8
+                             _
          Nondurables less food, beverages,
              and apparel ......................   138.9   138.0   137.7   140.2     7.5     6.7    -9.5     3.8      7.1      -3.1
        Durables ...............................   129.1   128.5   128.1   127.7      .6      .0     -.9    -4.3       .3      -2.6
    Services ...................................   175.8   176.3   176.8   176.9     3.1     3.0     2.5     2.5      3.0       2.5
      Rent of shelter 3/ .......................   164.2   164.7   165.0   165.3     2.5     3.3     3.2     2.7      2.9       3.0
+                     _
      Household services less rent
          of shelter 3/ 4/......................   132.8   133.6   134.0   133.4     3.4     5.2    -3.5     1.8      4.3       -.9
+                    _  _
      Transportation services ..................   182.3   182.4   183.4   183.0     3.8     -.7     3.8     1.5      1.6       2.7
      Medical care services ....................   238.2   238.7   238.9   239.5     3.1     2.1     3.8     2.2      2.6       3.0
      Other services ...........................   206.1   207.2   207.6   208.4     3.2     4.9     4.8     4.5      4.0       4.7
 
                 Special indexes
 
  All items less food ..........................   156.9   157.0   157.2   157.5     3.4     2.9      .3     1.5      3.1        .9
  All items less shelter .......................   153.4   153.5   153.7   154.1     4.3     2.1     -.8     1.8      3.2        .5
  All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........   147.3   147.4   147.6   147.9     3.9     2.5     -.3     1.6      3.2        .7
+                                  _  _
  All items less medical care ..................   153.3   153.5   153.7   154.1     3.8     2.4      .0     2.1      3.1       1.0
  Commodities less food ........................   133.5   133.0   132.9   133.4     4.0     3.0    -3.8     -.3      3.5      -2.1
  Nondurables less food ........................   135.1   134.7   134.9   135.9     7.4     4.5    -6.3     2.4      5.9      -2.0
  Nondurables less food and apparel ............   139.6   139.2   139.3   141.8     7.4     4.6    -9.4     6.5      6.0      -1.8
  Nondurables ..................................   145.2   145.2   145.6   146.5     5.4     2.5    -3.0     3.6      3.9        .3
  Services less rent of shelter 3/ .............   166.8   167.3   167.8   167.8     4.0     2.9     1.5     2.4      3.5       1.9
+                               _
  Services less medical care services ..........   170.4   171.0   171.6   171.5     3.2     2.9     2.4     2.6      3.0       2.5
  Energy .......................................   108.0   108.0   107.8   110.0    11.1    11.2   -21.9     7.6     11.1      -8.3
  All items less energy ........................   163.9   164.1   164.4   164.6     3.3     1.5     2.5     1.7      2.4       2.1
    All items less food and energy .............   166.1   166.2   166.5   166.5     2.5     2.2     2.9     1.0      2.3       1.9
      Commodities less food and energy
          commodities ..........................   142.4   142.0   142.0   141.5     2.0     1.1     1.4    -2.5      1.6       -.6
        Energy commodities .....................   102.5   101.6   101.1   105.7    17.5    11.9   -29.1    13.1     14.7     -10.5
      Services less energy services ............   181.9   182.4   182.9   183.2     3.0     2.5     3.6     2.9      2.7       3.2
 
+
 
     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                                       Aug. 1997 from-         July 1997 from-
                                           schedule     May    June    July    Aug.    Aug.    June    July    July     May    June
                                              1/       1997    1997    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997
+                                             _
 
 
 
 U.S. city average ......................      M        157.2   157.4   157.5   157.8     2.1     0.3     0.2     2.1     0.2     0.1
 
         Region and area size 2/
+                             _
 
 Northeast urban.........................      M        164.1   164.3   164.7   164.9     2.2      .4      .1     2.4      .4      .2
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        163.8   164.0   164.3   164.5     2.2      .3      .1     2.4      .3      .2
   Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        162.3   162.8   163.5   163.7     2.3      .6      .1     2.4      .7      .4
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 3/........      M        166.9   167.1   167.5   167.8     2.8      .4      .2     2.8      .4      .2
+                              _
 
 North Central urban ....................      M        152.8   153.1   153.1   153.6     2.5      .3      .3     2.2      .2      .0
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        152.7   152.9   152.9   153.6     2.5      .5      .5     2.1      .1      .0
   Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        151.5   151.7   151.9   152.3     2.4      .4      .3     2.4      .3      .1
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 3/........      M        155.6   156.0   155.7   156.1     2.8      .1      .3     2.5      .1     -.2
+                              _
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        150.2   150.8   150.7   150.9     1.6      .1      .1     1.5      .3     -.1
 
 South urban ............................      M        155.1   155.4   155.3   155.5     1.8      .1      .1     1.8      .1     -.1
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        153.6   153.9   153.9   154.0     1.7      .1      .1     1.5      .2      .0
   Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        155.7   156.1   156.2   156.5     2.2      .3      .2     2.2      .3      .1
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 3/........      M        156.0   156.2   155.7   155.9     1.3     -.2      .1     1.4     -.2     -.3
+                              _
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        156.3   156.5   156.6   157.0     2.5      .3      .3     2.5      .2      .1
 
 West urban .............................      M        157.8   157.5   157.6   158.0     2.0      .3      .3     1.7     -.1      .1
   Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        156.1   156.0   156.2   156.5     2.0      .3      .2     1.8      .1      .1
   Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 3/........      M        163.2   162.7   162.9   163.5     2.5      .5      .4     2.3     -.2      .1
+                              _
 
 Size classes
   A 4/ .................................      M        143.3   143.5   143.6   143.9     2.1      .3      .2     2.0      .2      .1
+    _
   B 3/ .................................      M        157.3   157.6   157.8   158.0     2.2      .3      .1     2.2      .3      .1
+    _
   C 3/ .................................      M        159.1   159.2   159.1   159.4     2.2      .1      .2     2.1      .0     -.1
+    _
   D ....................................      M        155.6   155.7   155.8   156.0     1.8      .2      .1     1.8      .1      .1
 
           Selected local areas
 
 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        155.5   156.0   156.0   156.7     2.5      .4      .4     2.2      .3      .0
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        154.0   153.8   153.8   154.0     1.4      .1      .1     1.0     -.1      .0
 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        166.0   166.2   166.6   166.7     2.1      .3      .1     2.3      .4      .2
 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton,
 PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ .........................      M        165.2   165.3   165.5   165.9     1.8      .4      .2     2.1      .2      .1
+            _
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ ..      M        156.8   157.0   157.5   158.1     3.3      .7      .4     2.7      .4      .3
+                                   _
 
 Baltimore, MD 6/ .......................      1        154.3    -      155.6    -       -       -       -         .6      .8    -
+              _
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1        165.6    -      165.8    -       -       -       -        3.0      .1    -
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1        147.8    -      148.2    -       -       -       -        2.7      .3    -
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1        155.6    -      155.5    -       -       -       -        3.1     -.1    -
 St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ .....      1        151.2    -      152.5    -       -       -       -        2.3      .9    -
+                                _
 Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................      1        159.7    -      160.2    -       -       -       -        1.6      .3    -
+                     _
 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2         -      151.4    -      151.1     1.1     -.2    -       -       -       -
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2         -      149.8    -      151.6     2.4     1.2    -       -       -       -
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2         -      144.1    -      144.9     1.9      .6    -       -       -       -
 Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........      2         -      150.8    -      151.0     2.6      .1    -       -       -       -
+                             _
 
+
 
    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.