FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-99-41
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
 INFORMATION:           (202) 606-7828      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:                          Friday, February 19, 1999
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm                                  
  

                  CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  JANUARY 1999
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2
 percent in January, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 164.3 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in January, the CPI-U has
 increased 1.7 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also rose 0.2 percent in January, prior to seasonal adjustment.
 The January level of 161.0 was 1.6 percent higher than the index in
 January 1998.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
     
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent in
 January, the same as in December.  The food index advanced 0.5 percent in
 January after increasing 0.1 percent in December.  The index for food at
 home, which was unchanged in December, rose 0.5 percent in January,
 largely as a result of increases in the indexes for fruits and vegetables
 and for dairy products.  The energy index, which declined 1.1 percent in
 December, fell 0.2 percent in January.  The index for petroleum-based
 energy was unchanged, while the index for energy services decreased 0.4 
 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U increased 0.1 percent in 
 January, following a 0.3 percent rise in December, as a result of 
 deceleration in the indexes for shelter, cigarettes, and apparel.
 

 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                    1998             1999 3-mos. ended  ended
                     July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.   Jan.'99   Jan.'99
 All Items            .2    .1   .1   .2   .2   .1   .1    1.7       1.7
  Food and beverages  .2    .3   .0   .5   .2   .1   .4    2.7       2.2
  Housing             .2    .2   .2   .2   .3   .1  -.1    1.5       2.2
  Apparel            -.3   1.0  -.6   .0  -.1  -.6 -1.1   -7.0      -1.5
  Transportation      .3   -.1  -.4   .1  -.1  -.4  -.1   -2.5      -1.6
  Medical care        .2    .4   .3   .2   .2   .3   .3    3.3       3.6
  Recreation         -.1    .2   .1  -.2   .1   .1   .4    2.4       1.4
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .1   -.5   .1   .1   .3  -.2   .3    1.6       1.0
  Other goods and                                                    
    services          .5    .2   .9   .3  -.3  4.2  2.0   25.7      10.4
 Special indexes:                                                       
  Energy             -.2  -1.0 -1.2   .1  -.3 -1.1  -.2   -6.2      -7.4
  Food                .3    .2   .1   .5   .1   .1   .5    2.7       2.3
  All items less                                                        
   food and energy    .2    .2   .2   .2   .1   .3   .1    2.1       2.4
 
      Note:  Seasonal factors have been recalculated to reflect
 developments during 1998.  For this reason, some of the seasonally
 adjusted figures above and elsewhere in this report differ from those
 previously published.
 
 As previously announced, effective with release of data for January 1999,
 the BLS has introduced a new formula for calculating the basic components
 of the CPI.  See page 4 for more details.  See pages 5-10 for announcements
 of other methodological changes introduced with data for January 1999.
        
      The food and beverages index rose 0.4 percent in January. The index
 for food at home, which was unchanged in December, increased 0.5 percent
 in January, largely as a result of increases in the indexes for fruits and
 vegetables and for dairy products.  The index for fruits and vegetables,
 which was unchanged in December, rose 2.2 percent in January. The index
 for fresh fruits increased 3.7 percent, reflecting a 13.6 percent increase
 in prices for citrus fruits.  The index for fresh vegetables increased 0.8
 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, fresh vegetable prices increased
 5.7 percent.)  The index for processed fruits and vegetables rose 2.1
 percent in January after registering declines in each of the preceding
 four months.  The index for dairy products increased 2.3 percent in
 January and has risen 8.8 percent in the last six months.  Partially
 offsetting these increases was a 0.8 percent decrease in the index for
 meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.  Meat prices declined again in January;
 pork prices fell 1.5 percent, and the index for beef and veal dropped 1.0
 percent.   Poultry prices declined 0.5 percent in January. The indexes for
 fish and seafood and for eggs also declined, down 1.8 and 0.6 percent,
 respectively.  Among the other major grocery store food groups, the
 indexes for cereal and bakery products and nonalcoholic beverages rose 0.8
 and 0.5 percent, respectively, while the index for other food at home
 declined 0.2 percent.  The other two components of the food and beverage
 index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--rose 0.3 and 0.1
 percent, respectively, in January.
      
      The housing component declined 0.1 percent in January.  Shelter
 costs, which increased 0.2 percent in December, were unchanged in January.
 Within shelter, the indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent rose
 0.2 and 0.1 percent, respectively, while the cost of lodging away from
 home declined 1.8 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the cost of
 lodging while away from home increased 3.2 percent.)  The index for fuels
 and utilities declined 0.2 percent in January, the same as in December.
 The index for household fuels fell 0.4 percent, reflecting small declines
 in each of the three major household fuel indexes.  The index for natural
 gas fell 0.5 percent, and the indexes for fuel oil and for electricity
 each declined 0.3 percent.  The index for household furnishings and
 operations was unchanged in January.
      
      The transportation component declined for the third consecutive
 month, down 0.1 percent in January.  The index for new and used vehicle
 prices declined 0.4 percent in January.  The index for new vehicles rose
 0.1 percent.  (As of January, over 80 percent of the new vehicle sample
 was represented by 1999 models.)  The index for used cars and trucks
 decreased 1.6 percent. The index for gasoline rose 0.1 percent in January.
 (Prior to seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 1.4 percent; as of
 January, gasoline prices were 28.9 percent lower than their peak level in
 November 1990.)  Public transportation costs increased 1.1 percent in
 January, reflecting a 1.8 percent rise in airline fares.
 
      The index for apparel decreased 1.1 percent in January, following a
 0.6 percent drop in December.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel
 prices fell 2.1 percent, reflecting post-holiday discounting.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in January to a level 3.6 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--was virtually
 unchanged.  The index for medical care services rose 0.4 percent.  Charges
 for professional services and for hospital and related services increased
 0.3 and 0.6 percent, respectively.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the
 indexes for professional services and hospital and related services rose
 0.5 and 1.0 percent, respectively.)
 
      The index for recreation costs increased 0.4 percent in January,
 following increases of 0.1 percent in each of the two preceding months.
 In January, the indexes for admissions to sporting events and for fees for
 lessons or instructions rose 1.0 and 1.5 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for education and communication, which declined 0.2 percent
 in December, increased 0.3 percent in January.  Educational costs rose 0.3
 percent, and the index for communication increased 0.2 percent.  Within
 the latter group, increase in the indexes for postage and for telephone
 services--up 3.0 and 0.4 percent, respectively--were partially offset by a
 2.9 percent decline in the index for information and information
 processing other than telephone services.  The indexes for personal
 computers and peripheral equipment and for computer software and
 accessories fell 4.4 and 2.0 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for other goods and services increased 2.0 percent in
 January, following a 4.2 percent rise in December.  The index for tobacco
 and smoking products, which increased 18.5 percent in December, rose 6.6
 percent in January, reflecting in part a 50 cent a pack tax increase on
 cigarettes in California.  Tobacco accounted for 85 percent of the January
 advance in the other goods and services component.
 
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers increased 0.2 percent in January.

 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                    1998             1999 3-mos. ended  ended
                     July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.   Jan.'99   Jan.'99
 All Items            .2    .1   .1   .2   .2   .2   .2    2.3       1.6
  Food and beverages  .3    .2   .1   .4   .2   .1   .4    2.7       2.2
  Housing             .2    .1   .2   .2   .3   .2   .0    1.8       2.1
  Apparel            -.3    .8  -.3   .4  -.1  -.5 -1.1   -6.5      -1.2
  Transportation      .1   -.2  -.4   .2  -.1  -.5  -.1   -2.8      -1.8
  Medical care        .2    .4   .3   .2   .2   .2   .3    3.2       3.5
  Recreation          .0    .1   .1  -.3   .1   .1   .4    2.4        .9
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .0   -.5   .2   .1   .3  -.2   .3    1.6       1.2
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .7    .2  1.3   .2  -.5  5.8  2.5   35.6      13.6
 Special indexes                                                       
  Energy             -.2  -1.3 -1.1   .2  -.4 -1.3  -.1   -7.0      -7.6
  Food                .3    .2   .1   .4   .2   .0   .5    2.8       2.2
  All items less                                                         
    food and energy   .2    .2   .2   .1   .2   .4   .1    2.8       2.4
 
  
     Consumer Price Index data for February are scheduled for release on
 Thursday, March 18, 1999, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
     
 _________________________________________________________________________

     
 CPI (Old Series)
 
     For the first six months of 1999, BLS will also calculate Old Series
 CPI-U and Old Series CPI-W based on the former method of calculating the
 elementary aggregates, that is, employing an arithmetic mean in all index
 categories.  These old series data are contained in tables 1 (LAS)-4 (LAS).
 From December 1998 to January 1999, the Old Series CPI-U and the Old Series
 CPI-W rose 0.3 and 0.2 percent, respectively.  These series are not
 seasonally adjusted.  (The unadjusted CPI-U and CPI-W using the new method
 of calculating the elementary aggregates each rose 0.2 percent in January.)

 ___________________________________________________________________________ 
 

 Consumer Price Index Formula Changed
     
     On April 16, 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its
 decision to use a new formula for calculating the basic components of the
 Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer Price
 Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).  This change is
 effective with data for January 1999.
     The new formula, the geometric mean estimator, will be used in index
 categories that comprise approximately 61 percent of total consumer
 spending represented by the CPI-U.  The remaining index categories, which
 are shown in the table below, will continue to be calculated as they have
 been. Based upon BLS research, it is expected that planned use of the new
 formula will reduce the annual rate of increase in the CPI by approximately
 0.2 percentage point per year.
     The geometric mean estimator has been introduced in both the CPI-U and
 the CPI-W effective with data for January 1999, in accord with the past
 practice of introducing methodological changes at the beginning of a
 calendar year. BLS will continue to publish "overlap" CPI-U and CPI-W
 series using the former calculation method for the first six months of
 1999.  These indexes will not be published regularly for months subsequent
 to June 1999, but will be available upon request.
     Additional information on this change was published in the April 1998
 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet
 (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm).  This information also may be obtained
 by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
 and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E., Room 3615, Washington, D.C.
 20212 or by calling (202) 606-7000.
     
               Arithmetic Mean (Laspeyres) Formula
     
 1.  Selected shelter services:

 A) Rent of primary       B) Owners' equivalent     C) Housing at school,
 residence                rent of primary           excluding board
                          residence
                                                   
                                                   
 2.  Selected utilities and government charges:

 A) Electricity           C) Residential water and  E)  Telephone services,
                          sewerage maintenance      local charges
                                                   
 B) Utility natural gas   D) State and local        F) Cable television
 service                  registration, license,
                          and motor vehicle
                          property tax
                                                   
                                                   
 3.  Selected medical care services:

 A) Physicians' services  C) Eyeglasses and eye     E) Hospital services
                          care
 B) Dental services       D) Services by other      F) Nursing homes and
                          medical professionals     adult daycare
 
 ___________________________________________________________________________

  
 Revision of the CPI Housing Sample and Estimation Process
     
     BLS has implemented the housing portion of the ongoing CPI revision
 process effective with the index for January 1999.  This part of the CPI
 revision is directed at the major shelter indexes, "rent of primary
 residence" and "owners' equivalent rent of primary residence."  The CPI has
 shifted to an improved estimation method for homeowner shelter costs and
 has introduced a new housing unit sample based on the 1990 decennial
 census.
     The new estimator for "owners' equivalent rent of primary residence"
 employs the same rental observations that form the basis of the revised
 "rent of primary residence" index. Those observations are weighted to
 reflect the total urban stock of owner-occupied and renter-occupied
 housing, respectively.  The former CPI estimated the change in the implicit
 rents of a sample of owner-occupied units from the rent change of rental
 units matched specifically to them.  Among other advantages, the new method
 does not require selection of an owner-occupied sample.
     The new sample provides a current set of rental housing units that, as
 noted above, are the basis of both the "rent of primary residence" and
 "owners' equivalent rent of primary residence" indexes.  The decennial
 census provided information that BLS has used to select small geographic
 areas (called segments) within the CPI's 87 pricing areas that represent
 the urban United States.  The segment selection process utilizes random
 sampling so that the housing sample represents all varieties and locations
 of the housing stock throughout each CPI pricing area.  Segments have been
 selected for the initial sample.  Augmentation segments also will be
 supplied to replenish the current sample.  The CPI will use another sample
 augmentation process to bring housing units constructed since the decennial
 census into the CPI housing sample.
     Additional information on these and other changes to the housing
 component of the CPI can be found in the December 1996 Monthly Labor Review
 article, "Revision of the CPI Housing Sample and Estimators."  For
 additional information, write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division
 of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE, Room 3615,
 Washington, DC 20212-0001 or telephone Frank Ptacek at 202-606-6991 ext.
 278, or send e-mail to Ptacek_F@bls.gov

 ___________________________________________________________________________     
 
    
 Improvements to CPI Procedures for Handling Refunds for Utilities
     
     Effective with the calculation of the index for January 1999, the
 Consumer Price Index (CPI) has changed its treatment of refunds for
 electricity, natural gas, or other utility services when the refunds are
 based on earlier periods' utility consumption amounts.  The change affects
 both the price indexes and the average prices computed by the CPI program.
     
     Prior to January 1999, the CPI utility indexes reflect refunds that
 appear on current period bills but that were based on past period utility
 consumption.  Generally these refunds resulted from the rollback of
 temporary rate increases, lower than anticipated energy costs, or a
 reevaluation of rates with respect to actual costs. The former practice
 made these indexes rather volatile and did not reflect the actual current
 price (for example, what a new customer would pay) for a utility service
 such as electricity.
     
     Under the newly implemented procedure, the CPI will disregard any
 refund for past excess charges when it appears on residential customer
 bills as a separate refund credit that is subtracted from the charges for
 current billing period's usage. The movement of the CPI utility indexes
 will reflect all changes in rates-generally in the month they are
 effective. The CPI utility indexes will continue to reflect current period
 credits that are based on current period consumption, such as those
 associated with purchased gas or fuel adjustments.
     
     For additional information on this change, write to the Bureau of
 Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, 2
 Massachusetts Ave., NE., Room 3615, Washington, DC 20212-0001; or telephone
 Bob Adkins at (202) 606-6985 ext. 264, or send e-mail to Adkins_B@bls.gov
     
 ___________________________________________________________________________     


 Using a Hedonic Model to Adjust Television Prices in the Consumer
 Price Index for Changes in Quality
     
     Effective with the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for
 January 1999, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has introduced an
 improvement in the way in which it calculates the television stratum of the
 CPI.
     As of December 1998, televisions constituted 0.201 percent in the
 Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (the CPI-U) and 0.240 percent
 in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (the CPI-W).
     Bureau of Labor Statistics researchers developed a regression
 procedure, called a hedonic model, that decomposes the price of television
 sets into implicit prices for each important feature and component 1/. This
 model uses television observations collected for the CPI and provides an
 estimate of the value of each of the significant features and components of
 the sets for which prices are collected. This yields a mechanism for
 replacing obsolete televisions in the CPI sample with current ones,
 allowing the CPI to capture the price change that may occur as new models
 replace old ones in the market place without counting the value of quality
 improvements as price increases.
     The CPI has used similar hedonic methods to adjust apparel prices for
 many years.  In January 1998, the CPI began using a similar approach for
 personal computers.  In the coming years, BLS plans to extend the method to
 additional CPI items.
      Starting with the CPI for January 1999, when a television model in
 the CPI sample improves in some way, the value of that change, as derived
 from the regression estimates, will be deducted from the observed price
 change for that product.  (Conversely, if a model deteriorates, the value
 of the difference will be added to the price.)

     For additional information on these changes, write to
               Bureau of Labor Statistics
               Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes
               2 Massachusetts Ave. NE., Room 3260
               Washington, DC 20212-0001
     or telephone Tim LaFleur at (202) 606-6982 ext. 253
     or send e-mail to LaFleur_T@bls.gov
     
 _______________________________

 1/ Brent R. Moulton, Timothy J. LaFleur, and Karin E. Moses,
 "Research on Improved Quality Adjustment in the CPI: The Case
 of Televisions," presented to the Conference of the Ottawa
 Group, April 1998.
     
 __________________________________________________________________________

     
 Treatment of Mandated Pollution Control Measures in the
 Consumer Price Index Changed
   
   
     Beginning in January 1999, modifications to goods and services made
 solely for purposes of meeting air pollution standards, and that do not
 otherwise provide direct value to consumers, will no longer be treated as
 quality improvements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).  Price increases
 associated with such modifications will be reflected as increases in the
 index.
     
     The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently undertook to explain
 more precisely the relationship between the CPI and a complete measure of
 changes in consumers' living costs.  As part of this activity, the BLS
 reviewed the treatment of pollution control measures in the CPI. The new
 policy for treating pollution control measures is a direct result of that
 review.
     
     BLS has stated that the proper objective of the CPI is to approximate
 changes in the cost of living of U.S. consumers 1/.  The CPI is intended to
 approximate a particular subindex of a complete cost-of-living index, a
 subindex that is limited to prices of market goods and services and is
 conditional upon the levels of other determinants of changes in living
 costs, such as the environment, crime level, and numerous government-
 provided goods and services.  The choice of this index definition
 recognizes that not all important living cost determinants can be reliably
 measured and also provides users of the CPI with a clear specification of
 its scope and limitations.
     
     Given the current definition, changes in air quality, as well as in
 other important environmental factors, are beyond the scope of the CPI and
 thus properly cannot be included in its construction.  A more complete
 explanation of the relationship between the CPI and a comprehensive measure
 of changes in living costs is contained in "The Treatment of Mandated
 Pollution Control Measures in the CPI" 2/.
     
     The new policy for the treatment of air pollution measures has become
 effective with CPI data for January 1999.  The new practice likely will
 have its most significant effect on the motor fuel and new and used motor
 vehicle components of the index.  In the vehicle indexes, the policy will
 apply to all vehicle models introduced on or after January 1, 1999.  Since
 most of the 1999 model-year vehicles will be introduced before that date,
 the old practice was used for the 1998-to-1999 model-year changeover in
 most cases.
     
     Historically, quality adjustments for anti-pollution measures have
 been made to the new car (or new vehicle) component of the CPI since 1969
 (automobile model year 1970), with their estimated dollar effect published
 annually. Since 1988, these data also have been utilized to make quality
 adjustments in the used car component.  In addition, beginning in late
 1994, quality adjustments were made for the introduction of reformulated
 gasoline, which was required in selected areas for compliance with the
 Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990.  Available information is not sufficient
 to make possible a complete accounting of the impacts of this policy in all
 years. The estimates presented below should be viewed, therefore, as
 approximations rather than as precise values.  In adherence with standard
 policy, the official CPI historical data will not be revised to be
 consistent with the new practice.  For the period from December 1968
 through December 1997, the new car component of the CPI-U 
 rose 174.2 percent. BLS estimates that not adjusting for anti-pollution 
 measures would have resulted in an increase of 230.2 percent 
 over this period.  Quality adjustments for light trucks have been
 made since they were introduced into the CPI in 1983. For the period from
 December 1983 through December 1997, this index rose 51.4 percent, but with
 the quality adjustments for anti-pollution measures factored back into the
 index, it would have risen by an estimated 55.1 percent in this period. The
 CPI used car index rose 27.2 percent between December 1987 and December
 1997; with the quality adjustments for anti-pollution measures factored
 back into the index, it would have risen approximately 28.8 percent in that
 10-year period.  The motor fuel component, whose index rose 7.5 percent
 between December 1993 and December 1997, would have increased by an
 estimated 15.4 percent over that period if adjustment for environmental
 quality change had not been made. BLS estimates that the aggregate effect
 of these component changes on the CPI-U All Items index would have
 increased the percentage change over the period from December 1968 to
 December 1997 from 354.4 percent to 357.7 percent.  Past experience,
 however, is not necessarily an indicator of the future impact of this
 policy change.
     
          For additional information on these changes, write to
               Bureau of Labor Statistics
               Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes
               2 Massachusetts Ave. NE., Room 3130
               Washington, DC 20212
 
 or send e-mail to Jackman_P@bls.gov, or telephone Patrick Jackman at (202)
 606-6950, or obtain the information on the internet at:
 http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm.

 _______________________________

 1/ "Measurement Issues in the Consumer Price Index," paper prepared in
 response to a letter from Representative Jim Saxton, Chairman of the Joint
 Economic Committee, June 1997.  Paper available by contacting BLS or on the
 internet at: http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm

 2/ Paper available by contacting BLS or on the internet at:
 http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm

 ___________________________________________________________________________     

       
 BLS to Maintain Current Reference Base of 1982-84=100 for Most CPI
 Index Series

     
     The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) previously indicated its
 intention to change the numerical reference base for both 
 the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) 
 and the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W) from their present 1982-84=100 base to a 1993-95=100 base,
 effective with release of the January 1999 index in February 1999.  BLS
 also indicated that the alternate, or 1967=100 base, would be discontinued
 in 1999 as well.  This plan was initially described in the December 1996
 Monthly Labor Review, a publication which contained several articles that
 dealt with the 1998 CPI Revision.
     
     In 1997, the BLS decided not to implement this rebasing plan.
 Instead, the BLS will maintain the reference base of 1982-84=100 used for
 most items.  In addition, the 1967=100 reference base will continue to be
 the alternate base for the All Items indexes.  This decision was based in
 part on the fact that historical data have less precision after rebasing.
 Rebasing is simply an arithmetic transformation that does not substantially
 impact the index.  Because the rebased index values are smaller, however,
 the loss of precision due to rounding is more serious.  In addition,
 retaining the old index reference bases will spare users the inconvenience
 associated with conversion.
     
     Changes in the numerical reference base should not be confused with
 the updating of the CPI's market basket.  Since release of the January 1999
 CPI, the expenditure weights applied to CPI categories have been based on
 consumer spending patterns for 1993-95.

 ___________________________________________________________________________     
       

       
       A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data


            Because price data are used for different purposes by
       different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
       seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
       month.
       
            For analyzing general price trends in the economy,
       seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since they
       eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the
       same time and in about the same magnitude every year--such
       as price movements resulting from changing climatic
       conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays,
       and sales.
       
            The unadjusted data are of primary interest to
       consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay.
       Unadjusted data also are used extensively for escalation
       purposes.  Many collective bargaining contract agreements
       and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to
       the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.
       
            Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally
       adjusted indexes are derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal
       Adjustment Method.  The updated seasonal data at the end of
       1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977.  Subsequent
       annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g.,
       data from 1994 through 1998 were replaced at the end of
       1998.  The seasonal movement of all items and 54 other
       aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal movement
       of 73 selected components.  Each year the seasonal status of
       every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical
       criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their seasonal
       adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally
       adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used for the
       last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be
       used before that period.
       
            Seasonally adjusted data, including 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.
       
            Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors
       for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an
       enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention
       Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series.
       Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better
       estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  Extreme values
       and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal
       pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to
       calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning with the
       calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA
       software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment.
       
            For the fuel oil and the motor fuels indexes, this
       procedure was used to offset the effects that extreme price
       volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of
       seasonally adjusted data for those series.  For some women's
       apparel indexes and the girls' apparel index, the procedure
       was used to offset the effects of changes in pricing
       methodology.  For the tobacco and smoking products index,
       this procedure was used to offset the effects wholesale
       tobacco prices and legal fees passed on to consumers.  For
       some alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis
       Seasonal Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise
       tax increases.  For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the
       procedure was used to offset the effects of a large increase
       in coffee prices due to adverse weather.  The procedure was
       used to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions
       affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the Water and
       sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to
       account for a data collection anomaly.
       
            A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment, as well as a list of unusual events modeled and
       seasonal factors for these items may be obtained by writing
       the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
       and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire
       McAnaw Gallagher on (202) 606-6968 or sending e-mail to
       Gallagher_C@BLS.GOV.
 

 
 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Jan. 1999 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1998       Dec.      Jan.                                            
                                                              1998      1999     Jan.     Dec.   Oct. to Nov. to Dec. to
                                                                                 1998     1998     Nov.    Dec.    Jan. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     163.9     164.3      1.7      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     491.0     492.3        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.408     162.7     163.9      2.2      0.7     0.2     0.1     0.4 
   Food ......................................     15.422     162.3     163.6      2.3      0.8     0.1     0.1     0.5 
    Food at home .............................      9.691     162.6     164.3      2.0      1.0     0.1     0.0     0.5 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.544     182.3     184.2      2.9      1.0     0.2     0.1     0.8 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.569     147.3     146.4     -1.3     -0.6    -0.2    -0.3    -0.8 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.088     157.6     161.2      8.7      2.3     0.6     1.1     2.3 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.440     200.7     208.6      3.2      3.9    -0.6     0.0     2.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.049     131.7     133.5     -0.4      1.4     0.4    -0.2     0.5 
     Other food at home ......................      2.002     152.4     153.0      2.9      0.4     0.7    -0.4    -0.2 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     150.1     151.7      0.9      1.1     0.3     0.2    -0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .309     151.9     150.5      7.1     -0.9    -0.2    -1.9    -2.0 
      Other foods ............................      1.316     166.9     167.7      2.5      0.5     1.1    -0.2     0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .320     104.9     104.1      3.7     -0.8     1.3     0.1    -0.8 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.730     163.0     163.5      2.7      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .175     103.3     103.5      3.4      0.2     0.6     0.0     0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .986     167.2     167.6      1.8      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.828     161.3     161.8      2.2      0.3     0.3     0.1    -0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     30.283     184.0     184.7      3.1      0.4     0.3     0.2     0.0 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      7.007     174.9     175.3      3.4      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      2.376     103.8     107.1      1.9      3.2     1.0    -1.0    -1.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.529     190.7     191.0      3.2      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .371      99.9      99.7     -0.6     -0.2     0.2     0.0    -0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.735     126.6     126.2     -2.0     -0.3     0.3    -0.2    -0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      3.801     111.4     110.9     -3.1     -0.4     0.3    -0.2    -0.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .227      86.1      86.6    -10.2      0.6    -0.9    -2.0    -0.1 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.574     118.9     118.3     -2.7     -0.5     0.4    -0.1    -0.4 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.810     126.6     126.8      1.0      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.831     130.7     127.9     -1.5     -2.1    -0.1    -0.6    -1.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.358     130.3     128.1     -1.3     -1.7    -0.4    -0.5    -0.5 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.939     122.4     117.7     -2.1     -3.8    -0.4    -0.6    -1.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .272     129.6     130.0      4.2      0.3     0.8    -1.3     0.3 
   Footwear ..................................       .876     127.5     125.6     -1.4     -1.5     0.5    -0.6    -0.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     16.999     140.7     140.4     -1.6     -0.2    -0.1    -0.4    -0.1 
   Private transportation ....................     15.653     137.2     136.7     -1.9     -0.4    -0.1    -0.4    -0.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.843     100.9     100.6      0.4     -0.3     0.3    -0.1    -0.4 
     New vehicles ............................      4.983     144.1     144.4      0.0      0.2     0.0     0.1     0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.914     153.1     150.6      1.7     -1.6     0.7    -0.6    -1.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.493      86.2      85.0    -13.1     -1.4    -1.3    -2.5     0.0 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.476      85.7      84.5    -13.1     -1.4    -1.2    -2.6     0.1 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .549     101.2     101.2     -0.1      0.0    -0.2    -0.1    -0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.624     169.6     169.8      2.9      0.1     0.4     0.2     0.1 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.346     188.4     190.4      1.8      1.1    -1.3     0.5     1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.713     245.2     246.6      3.6      0.6     0.2     0.3     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.252     225.6     225.9      3.8      0.1     0.3     0.4     0.0 
   Medical care services .....................      4.461     249.6     251.3      3.5      0.7     0.2     0.2     0.4 
    Professional services (3).................      2.854     224.6     225.8      3.3      0.5     0.2     0.2     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.354     291.4     294.4      3.8      1.0     0.2     0.2     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.120     101.2     101.7      1.4      0.5     0.1     0.1     0.4 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.748     100.7     101.4      0.8      0.7    -0.3     0.2     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.478     100.7     100.9      1.0      0.2     0.3    -0.2     0.3 
   Education (2)..............................      2.694     104.7     105.0      4.7      0.3     0.5     0.4     0.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .203     257.3     258.4      5.4      0.4     0.2     0.4    -0.7 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.492     301.7     302.4      4.6      0.2     0.4     0.4     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.783      97.1      97.3     -2.3      0.2     0.0    -0.7     0.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.580      96.9      96.9     -2.7      0.0     0.0    -0.7     0.0 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.327     100.3     100.7      0.8      0.4     0.4    -0.8     0.4 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .253      34.8      33.8    -26.8     -2.9    -2.2    -1.4    -2.9 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .148      64.2      61.4    -36.6     -4.4    -2.8    -2.1    -4.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.624     250.3     255.4     10.4      2.0    -0.3     4.2     2.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.159     331.2     354.2     39.6      6.9    -1.2    18.5     6.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.465     158.3     158.9      2.8      0.4    -0.1     0.2     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .742     148.7     149.9      2.6      0.8    -0.4    -0.1     0.8 
    Personal care services (1)................       .973     168.3     168.8      2.7      0.3     0.1     0.4     0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.491     237.8     238.9      3.5      0.5     0.3     0.4     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.109     142.2     142.5      0.6      0.2    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.408     162.7     163.9      2.2      0.7     0.2     0.1     0.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     25.702     130.2     129.9     -0.5     -0.2    -0.2     0.2     0.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.345     132.1     131.8     -0.2     -0.2    -0.4     0.4     0.2 
    Apparel ..................................      4.831     130.7     127.9     -1.5     -2.1    -0.1    -0.6    -1.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.514     137.8     138.8      0.5      0.7    -0.4     0.8     0.9 
   Durables ..................................     11.356     127.4     127.1     -0.9     -0.2     0.2    -0.2    -0.3 
 Services ....................................     57.891     185.7     186.3      2.5      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.1 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.912     191.5     192.3      3.1      0.4     0.3     0.2     0.0 
  Transportation services ....................      6.963     188.4     188.8      0.9      0.2    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Other services .............................     10.768     219.5     220.5      3.2      0.5     0.4     0.1     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.578     164.2     164.5      1.6      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     69.717     157.8     158.1      1.1      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.3 
 All items less medical care .................     94.287     159.4     159.8      1.6      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     26.688     131.7     131.4     -0.4     -0.2    -0.2     0.3     0.0 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.331     134.2     133.9      0.0     -0.2    -0.2     0.3     0.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.500     139.7     140.7      0.6      0.7    -0.3     0.7     0.9 
 Nondurables .................................     30.753     147.5     147.9      1.2      0.3    -0.1     0.2     0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.979     192.8     193.3      1.8      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.1 
 Services less medical care services .........     53.429     179.8     180.3      2.4      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.0 
 Energy ......................................      6.294      98.9      98.1     -7.4     -0.8    -0.3    -1.1    -0.2 
 All items less energy .......................     93.706     172.3     172.9      2.3      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.284     174.8     175.3      2.4      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     23.967     143.9     143.7      1.2     -0.1    -0.1     0.6     0.0 
    Energy commodities .......................      2.720      86.3      85.2    -12.9     -1.3    -1.2    -2.5     0.0 
   Services less energy services .............     54.316     192.5     193.2      2.8      0.4     0.3     0.2     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .610    $ .608        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .204    $ .203        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Jan.                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1999                                           
                                                                                Apr.   July   Oct.   Jan.   July   Jan. 
                                                                                1998   1998   1998   1999   1998   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  163.9   164.2   164.4   164.6    1.2    2.0    1.5    1.7    1.6    1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  162.4   162.7   162.8   163.5    0.0    3.0    3.3    2.7    1.5    3.0 
   Food ......................................  162.2   162.4   162.5   163.3    0.0    3.3    3.3    2.7    1.6    3.0 
    Food at home .............................  162.5   162.7   162.7   163.5   -1.0    3.6    3.5    2.5    1.3    3.0 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  182.4   182.7   182.9   184.4    2.3    2.5    2.7    4.5    2.4    3.6 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  147.4   147.1   146.7   145.5   -1.9    1.6    0.3   -5.1   -0.1   -2.4 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  155.0   155.9   157.6   161.2    0.5   -0.8   19.7   17.0   -0.1   18.3 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  201.7   200.4   200.4   204.8   -7.1   13.1    1.6    6.3    2.5    3.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  132.6   133.1   132.8   133.4   -2.7   -0.3   -1.2    2.4   -1.5    0.6 
     Other food at home ......................  152.7   153.8   153.2   152.9    1.6    4.9    4.6    0.5    3.3    2.5 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  150.6   151.0   151.3   151.1    0.0   -0.3    2.7    1.3   -0.1    2.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................  156.4   156.1   153.2   150.2    0.9   20.2   27.8  -14.9   10.1    4.3 
      Other foods ............................  165.9   167.7   167.4   167.6    2.5    3.2    0.2    4.2    2.8    2.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  103.5   104.8   104.9   104.1    5.3    3.6    3.6    2.3    4.4    2.9 
    Food away from home (1)...................  162.3   162.6   163.0   163.5    2.5    2.3    3.0    3.0    2.4    3.0 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  102.7   103.3   103.3   103.5    2.0    4.0    4.4    3.2    3.0    3.8 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  166.7   167.1   167.5   167.6    0.5    2.2    2.2    2.2    1.3    2.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  161.3   161.8   162.0   161.9    2.8    2.0    2.3    1.5    2.4    1.9 
   Shelter ...................................  183.7   184.3   184.6   184.6    3.4    2.9    4.0    2.0    3.2    3.0 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  173.8   174.4   174.9   175.3    3.1    3.3    3.8    3.5    3.2    3.6 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  103.8   104.8   103.8   101.9    4.5   -0.4   11.6   -7.1    2.0    1.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  189.6   190.0   190.6   190.8    3.5    3.3    3.2    2.6    3.4    2.9 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..   99.7    99.9    99.9    99.7    0.4   -4.3    1.6    0.0   -2.0    0.8 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  126.8   127.2   127.0   126.8   -1.2   -2.2   -4.6    0.0   -1.7   -2.3 
    Fuels ....................................  111.1   111.4   111.2   110.8   -2.4   -2.8   -6.2   -1.1   -2.6   -3.7 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   87.4    86.6    84.9    84.8  -11.0   -6.0  -12.2  -11.4   -8.5  -11.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  118.7   119.2   119.1   118.6   -1.6   -2.9   -5.8   -0.3   -2.3   -3.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  126.7   126.9   127.0   127.0    2.9    1.0   -0.9    1.0    1.9    0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  133.2   133.1   132.3   130.8    0.0    0.0    1.5   -7.0    0.0   -2.8 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  132.1   131.6   131.0   130.3    0.0   -0.3    0.3   -5.3   -0.2   -2.6 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  125.8   125.3   124.6   122.2    2.9    0.3    0.3  -11.0    1.6   -5.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  130.2   131.3   129.6   130.0    5.9  -13.8   29.7   -0.6   -4.4   13.5 
   Footwear ..................................  128.4   129.0   128.2   127.1   -7.5    6.5   -0.3   -4.0   -0.8   -2.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  141.3   141.1   140.6   140.4   -2.8    0.0   -1.4   -2.5   -1.4   -2.0 
   Private transportation ....................  137.8   137.7   137.1   136.8   -4.0    0.3   -1.2   -2.9   -1.9   -2.0 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.7   101.0   100.9   100.5    0.4    1.2    0.8   -0.8    0.8    0.0 
     New vehicles ............................  143.3   143.3   143.4   143.5    0.3   -0.8   -0.3    0.6   -0.3    0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  153.0   154.0   153.1   150.6    0.3    8.6    4.6   -6.1    4.4   -0.9 
    Motor fuel ...............................   89.8    88.6    86.4    86.4  -22.7   -4.2  -10.0  -14.3  -14.0  -12.2 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   89.3    88.2    85.9    86.0  -23.1   -4.7   -9.7  -14.0  -14.4  -11.9 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  101.4   101.2   101.1   101.0   -1.6    2.0    0.8   -1.6    0.2   -0.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  168.7   169.3   169.6   169.8    2.2    2.9    4.1    2.6    2.6    3.4 
   Public transportation (1)..................  189.9   187.4   188.4   190.4   14.2   -2.9   -4.3    1.1    5.3   -1.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  244.9   245.4   246.1   246.9    3.7    3.7    3.7    3.3    3.7    3.5 
   Medical care commodities ..................  224.6   225.3   226.1   226.2    3.5    3.9    5.1    2.9    3.7    4.0 
   Medical care services .....................  249.2   249.7   250.3   251.3    3.8    3.6    3.1    3.4    3.7    3.3 
    Professional services (3).................  224.5   224.9   225.4   226.1    3.7    3.5    3.5    2.9    3.6    3.2 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  290.4   291.0   291.7   293.5    4.2    3.7    3.1    4.3    3.9    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.0   101.1   101.2   101.6    2.4    0.4    0.4    2.4    1.4    1.4 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.4   101.1   101.3   101.7    0.0    0.4    1.6    1.2    0.2    1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.6   100.9   100.7   101.0    1.6    2.0   -1.2    1.6    1.8    0.2 
   Education (2)..............................  103.8   104.3   104.7   105.0    5.3    4.4    3.9    4.7    4.8    4.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  256.6   257.2   258.2   256.4    8.7    4.3    9.4   -0.3    6.4    4.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   297.6   298.8   300.0   301.2    5.1    4.6    3.6    4.9    4.8    4.2 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   97.8    97.8    97.1    97.3   -1.2   -0.8   -5.1   -2.0   -1.0   -3.6 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   97.6    97.6    96.9    96.9   -1.6   -0.8   -5.5   -2.8   -1.2   -4.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.7   101.1   100.3   100.7    2.4    4.0   -3.1    0.0    3.2   -1.6 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   36.1    35.3    34.8    33.8  -26.3  -30.3  -27.3  -23.2  -28.4  -25.3 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   67.5    65.6    64.2    61.4  -36.2  -43.1  -35.1  -31.5  -39.8  -33.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  241.7   240.9   251.0   255.9    5.8    5.7    5.7   25.7    5.8   15.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  283.7   280.2   331.9   353.9   15.2   17.7   15.8  142.2   16.4   67.4 
   Personal care (1)..........................  158.1   158.0   158.3   158.9    3.4    2.9    2.8    2.0    3.1    2.4 
    Personal care products (1)................  149.4   148.8   148.7   149.9    3.3    5.0    0.8    1.3    4.1    1.1 
    Personal care services (1)................  167.5   167.6   168.3   168.8    2.2    2.2    3.4    3.1    2.2    3.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  237.2   237.8   238.8   239.4    2.8    3.7    3.8    3.8    3.2    3.8 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.3   142.2   142.5   142.8   -1.1    1.1    0.8    1.4    0.0    1.1 
  Food and beverages .........................  162.4   162.7   162.8   163.5    0.0    3.0    3.3    2.7    1.5    3.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.5   130.2   130.5   130.6   -1.5    0.0   -0.6    0.3   -0.8   -0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.8   132.3   132.8   133.0   -3.6    2.1    0.3    0.6   -0.7    0.5 
    Apparel ..................................  133.2   133.1   132.3   130.8    0.0    0.0    1.5   -7.0    0.0   -2.8 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  137.4   136.9   138.0   139.3   -4.8    1.8    0.0    5.6   -1.6    2.8 
   Durables ..................................  127.2   127.4   127.2   126.8   -0.3   -0.3   -1.6   -1.3   -0.3   -1.4 
 Services ....................................  185.5   186.0   186.3   186.5    3.1    2.4    2.2    2.2    2.8    2.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  191.6   192.1   192.5   192.5    3.3    3.0    4.3    1.9    3.1    3.1 
  Transportation services ....................  187.9   187.8   188.1   188.4    3.5   -0.2   -0.6    1.1    1.6    0.2 
  Other services .............................  218.8   219.6   219.8   220.8    4.2    3.2    1.8    3.7    3.7    2.8 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  164.1   164.3   164.6   164.7    1.7    1.5    1.5    1.5    1.6    1.5 
 All items less shelter ......................  157.7   157.8   158.0   158.4    0.5    1.3    0.8    1.8    0.9    1.3 
 All items less medical care .................  159.2   159.4   159.7   159.9    1.3    1.8    1.5    1.8    1.5    1.6 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.1   131.8   132.2   132.2   -1.5    0.3   -0.6    0.3   -0.6   -0.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.8   134.5   134.9   135.1   -3.2    1.8    0.6    0.9   -0.7    0.7 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  139.3   138.9   139.9   141.1   -4.8    2.0    0.3    5.3   -1.4    2.7 
 Nondurables .................................  147.6   147.5   147.8   148.3   -1.9    3.3    1.4    1.9    0.7    1.6 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  192.4   192.8   193.3   193.5    2.3    2.1    0.4    2.3    2.2    1.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  179.6   180.0   180.5   180.5    2.8    2.5    2.3    2.0    2.6    2.1 
 Energy ......................................  100.4   100.1    99.0    98.8  -11.5   -3.4   -7.9   -6.2   -7.5   -7.1 
 All items less energy .......................  172.2   172.5   173.0   173.2    2.4    2.1    2.4    2.3    2.3    2.4 
  All items less food and energy .............  174.8   175.0   175.6   175.7    2.8    2.1    2.3    2.1    2.5    2.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.6   143.5   144.4   144.4    1.1    0.8    0.8    2.2    1.0    1.5 
    Energy commodities .......................   89.5    88.4    86.2    86.2  -21.8   -4.2  -10.4  -14.0  -13.5  -12.2 
   Services less energy services .............  192.3   192.8   193.1   193.4    3.7    2.6    3.0    2.3    3.1    2.6 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Jan.1999 from--      Dec.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1999   Jan.   Nov.   Dec.   Dec.   Oct.   Nov. 
                                                                                   1998   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    164.0  164.0  163.9  164.3    1.7    0.2    0.2    1.6   -0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    171.3  171.2  171.2  171.4    1.5    0.1    0.1    1.7   -0.1    0.0 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    172.3  172.2  172.2  172.5    1.8    0.2    0.2    1.8   -0.1    0.0 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    102.6  102.6  102.5  102.6    1.0    0.0    0.1    1.2   -0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    160.1  160.1  159.8  160.4    1.8    0.2    0.4    1.6   -0.2   -0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    161.4  161.3  161.0  161.6    2.0    0.2    0.4    1.8   -0.2   -0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.4  102.4  102.3  102.6    1.4    0.2    0.3    1.3   -0.1   -0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    154.3  154.7  155.0  155.5    1.7    0.5    0.3    1.3    0.5    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    159.8  159.6  159.6  159.9    1.5    0.2    0.2    1.5   -0.1    0.0 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    159.0  158.6  158.3  158.9    1.5    0.2    0.4    1.3   -0.4   -0.2 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.8  102.8  102.8  102.9    1.4    0.1    0.1    1.5    0.0    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    159.8  160.0  160.4  160.8    2.1    0.5    0.2    2.2    0.4    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    165.5  165.8  165.8  166.4    2.1    0.4    0.4    1.8    0.2    0.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    166.3  166.5  166.5  167.3    2.4    0.5    0.5    2.1    0.1    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    103.0  103.5  103.4  103.6    1.3    0.1    0.2    1.4    0.4   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    148.5  148.5  148.4  148.9    2.0    0.3    0.3    1.9   -0.1   -0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.7  102.8  102.7  102.9    1.3    0.1    0.2    1.3    0.0   -0.1 
   D .........................................   M    159.7  159.9  160.2  160.6    1.8    0.4    0.2    1.7    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    165.7  165.4  165.1  166.1    2.0    0.4    0.6    1.4   -0.4   -0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    163.2  163.4  163.5  164.2    2.0    0.5    0.4    1.4    0.2    0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    174.8  174.7  174.7  175.0    1.7    0.2    0.2    1.6   -0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  173.3      -  174.1    1.7    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  160.8      -  160.6    1.5   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  154.0      -  155.0    1.9    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  102.4      -  102.8    1.8    0.4      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    162.0      -  161.6      -      -      -      -    1.4   -0.2      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    161.0      -  161.2      -      -      -      -    2.6    0.1      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    148.5      -  146.1      -      -      -      -    0.3   -1.6      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    161.1      -  161.1      -      -      -      -    1.1    0.0      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    170.3      -  169.0      -      -      -      -    1.6   -0.8      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    167.2      -  167.4      -      -      -      -    3.0    0.1      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    169.3      -  169.4      -      -      -      -    2.7    0.1      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Jan. 1999 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1998       Dec.      Jan.                                            
                                                              1998      1999     Jan.     Dec.   Oct. to Nov. to Dec. to
                                                                                 1998     1998     Nov.    Dec.    Jan. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     160.7     161.0      1.6      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     478.6     479.7        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     18.011     161.9     163.1      2.2      0.7     0.2     0.1     0.4 
   Food ......................................     16.966     161.5     162.8      2.2      0.8     0.2     0.0     0.5 
    Food at home .............................     10.832     161.3     163.1      2.0      1.1     0.1    -0.1     0.6 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.689     182.0     184.0      2.9      1.1     0.2     0.1     0.8 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.055     146.9     146.0     -1.4     -0.6    -0.2    -0.3    -0.8 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.193     157.4     161.1      8.9      2.4     0.6     1.2     2.4 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.492     199.0     207.3      3.2      4.2    -0.6    -0.1     2.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.184     130.4     132.5     -0.3      1.6     0.4    -0.3     0.6 
     Other food at home ......................      2.220     151.7     152.4      2.9      0.5     0.8    -0.4    -0.2 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     150.0     151.8      1.1      1.2     0.3     0.3    -0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .354     151.2     150.1      6.9     -0.7    -0.2    -1.9    -1.8 
      Other foods ............................      1.446     166.7     167.7      2.5      0.6     1.1    -0.2     0.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .355     104.9     104.2      3.7     -0.7     1.5     0.0    -0.7 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.133     163.0     163.5      2.6      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .216     103.4     103.6      3.5      0.2     0.6     0.0     0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.045     166.2     166.5      1.8      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.685     157.8     158.1      2.1      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.0 
   Shelter ...................................     27.496     178.8     179.3      3.1      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.500     174.6     174.9      3.4      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      1.379     104.0     107.1      2.2      3.0     1.2    -0.7    -2.1 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     17.296     173.7     173.9      3.1      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .320     100.3     100.1     -0.3     -0.2     0.3     0.0    -0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.850     126.4     126.0     -2.0     -0.3     0.4    -0.2    -0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      3.928     110.9     110.4     -3.1     -0.5     0.4    -0.2    -0.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .201      86.6      87.1     -9.5      0.6    -0.9    -2.1     0.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.727     118.4     117.7     -2.7     -0.6     0.4    -0.2    -0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.339     124.8     125.0      0.7      0.2     0.2     0.1    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.199     129.8     127.1     -1.2     -2.1    -0.1    -0.5    -1.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.474     130.2     128.1     -1.0     -1.6    -0.7    -0.5    -0.7 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.948     121.0     116.4     -1.8     -3.8    -0.1    -0.4    -1.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .344     130.9     130.8      4.4     -0.1     1.3    -1.4    -0.1 
   Footwear ..................................      1.057     128.2     126.1     -1.8     -1.6     0.4    -0.5    -0.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.166     139.6     139.1     -1.8     -0.4    -0.1    -0.5    -0.1 
   Private transportation ....................     18.109     137.1     136.5     -2.0     -0.4     0.0    -0.5    -0.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.250     101.1     100.6      0.5     -0.5     0.4    -0.2    -0.5 
     New vehicles ............................      5.224     145.3     145.5     -0.1      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.216     154.3     151.8      1.4     -1.6     0.6    -0.6    -1.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.066      86.0      85.0    -12.9     -1.2    -1.3    -2.7     0.2 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.045      85.5      84.5    -13.0     -1.2    -1.5    -2.7     0.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .682     100.5     100.6     -0.1      0.1    -0.2    -0.2     0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.690     170.9     171.2      3.1      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.2 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.056     185.1     186.8      1.1      0.9    -1.1     0.5     0.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.672     244.4     245.8      3.5      0.6     0.2     0.2     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .926     222.1     222.4      3.6      0.1     0.3     0.4     0.0 
   Medical care services .....................      3.746     249.4     251.0      3.5      0.6     0.2     0.2     0.4 
    Professional services (3).................      2.415     226.2     227.3      3.4      0.5     0.1     0.3     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.114     287.4     290.4      3.9      1.0     0.2     0.2     0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.925     100.8     101.2      0.9      0.4     0.1     0.1     0.4 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.951     100.7     101.3      0.8      0.6    -0.1     0.1     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.361     100.9     101.2      1.2      0.3     0.3    -0.2     0.3 
   Education (2)..............................      2.478     104.7     105.1      4.8      0.4     0.4     0.4     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .200     259.7     260.8      5.4      0.4     0.3     0.4    -0.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.278     295.8     296.6      4.6      0.3     0.4     0.4     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.883      97.8      98.1     -1.6      0.3     0.1    -0.7     0.3 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.733      97.7      97.8     -1.8      0.1     0.1    -0.7     0.1 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.519     100.4     100.8      0.9      0.4     0.4    -0.8     0.4 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .213      36.0      35.0    -26.6     -2.8    -2.1    -1.6    -2.8 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .120      64.0      61.1    -36.7     -4.5    -3.3    -2.0    -4.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.981     252.6     259.2     13.6      2.6    -0.5     5.8     2.5 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.694     332.0     354.5     39.8      6.8    -1.3    18.7     6.4 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.287     158.3     159.1      3.0      0.5    -0.1     0.1     0.5 
    Personal care products (1)................       .838     149.6     150.7      2.5      0.7    -0.4    -0.1     0.7 
    Personal care services (1)................       .975     168.6     169.1      2.8      0.3     0.1     0.4     0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.253     237.4     239.1      4.0      0.7     0.2     0.4     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     46.764     142.3     142.5      0.8      0.1     0.0     0.3     0.2 
  Food and beverages .........................     18.011     161.9     163.1      2.2      0.7     0.2     0.1     0.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     28.753     130.6     130.4     -0.1     -0.2    -0.2     0.5     0.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.564     132.1     132.0      0.4     -0.1    -0.4     0.7     0.4 
    Apparel ..................................      5.199     129.8     127.1     -1.2     -2.1    -0.1    -0.5    -1.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.365     137.9     139.2      1.2      0.9    -0.5     1.4     1.2 
   Durables ..................................     13.189     127.4     126.9     -0.6     -0.4     0.1    -0.1    -0.4 
 Services ....................................     53.236     182.5     183.0      2.4      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.1 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     27.175     172.2     172.7      3.2      0.3     0.3     0.3     0.0 
  Transportation services ....................      6.800     186.1     186.4      0.8      0.2     0.0     0.1     0.1 
  Other services .............................     10.144     216.1     217.1      3.1      0.5     0.3     0.0     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.034     160.4     160.5      1.5      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.504     155.6     155.9      1.1      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.2 
 All items less medical care .................     95.328     156.8     157.1      1.6      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
 Commodities less food .......................     29.798     132.0     131.8      0.0     -0.2    -0.2     0.5     0.1 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.609     134.1     134.1      0.4      0.0    -0.3     0.5     0.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.410     139.7     140.9      1.2      0.9    -0.4     1.3     0.9 
 Nondurables .................................     33.575     147.3     147.8      1.3      0.3    -0.1     0.3     0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     26.061     171.5     171.9      1.7      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.1 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.490     176.9     177.3      2.4      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.1 
 Energy ......................................      6.994      97.8      97.0     -7.6     -0.8    -0.4    -1.3    -0.1 
 All items less energy .......................     93.006     169.3     169.8      2.4      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     76.040     171.3     171.6      2.4      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.531     144.1     144.0      1.8     -0.1     0.1     0.8     0.0 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.267      86.2      85.2    -12.8     -1.2    -1.3    -2.6     0.2 
   Services less energy services .............     49.509     189.7     190.3      2.8      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .622    $ .621        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .209    $ .208        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Jan.                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1999                                           
                                                                                Apr.   July   Oct.   Jan.   July   Jan. 
                                                                                1998   1998   1998   1999   1998   1999 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  160.4   160.7   161.0   161.3    1.0    1.8    1.5    2.3    1.4    1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  161.8   162.1   162.2   162.9    0.0    3.0    3.0    2.7    1.5    2.9 
   Food ......................................  161.4   161.7   161.7   162.5   -0.3    3.3    3.0    2.8    1.5    2.9 
    Food at home .............................  161.4   161.6   161.5   162.4   -1.3    3.6    3.3    2.5    1.1    2.9 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  182.1   182.5   182.6   184.0    2.3    2.9    2.2    4.2    2.6    3.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  147.0   146.7   146.2   145.1   -1.9    1.4    0.3   -5.1   -0.3   -2.4 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  154.6   155.5   157.4   161.1    0.8   -1.1   19.7   17.9   -0.1   18.8 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  201.3   200.1   199.9   205.0   -8.6   13.4    2.0    7.6    1.8    4.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  131.4   131.9   131.5   132.3   -2.7    0.3   -1.5    2.8   -1.2    0.6 
     Other food at home ......................  151.9   153.1   152.5   152.2    1.6    4.9    4.0    0.8    3.3    2.4 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  150.4   150.9   151.3   151.2    0.3   -0.3    2.2    2.1    0.0    2.2 
      Fats and oils ..........................  155.8   155.5   152.6   149.8    0.3   19.9   27.2  -14.5    9.6    4.3 
      Other foods ............................  165.7   167.6   167.2   167.5    2.5    3.2   -0.2    4.4    2.8    2.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  103.3   104.9   104.9   104.2    4.9    4.4    2.0    3.5    4.6    2.7 
    Food away from home (1)...................  162.3   162.6   163.0   163.5    2.3    2.3    3.0    3.0    2.3    3.0 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  102.8   103.4   103.4   103.6    2.0    3.6    5.2    3.1    2.8    4.2 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  165.5   166.0   166.5   166.7    0.2    2.2    2.0    2.9    1.2    2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  157.5   157.9   158.2   158.2    2.6    2.1    2.1    1.8    2.3    1.9 
   Shelter ...................................  178.3   178.9   179.2   179.3    3.3    2.8    3.9    2.3    3.0    3.1 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  173.4   174.0   174.5   174.9    2.6    3.8    3.5    3.5    3.2    3.5 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  103.6   104.8   104.1   101.9    5.3   -2.0   12.9   -6.4    1.6    2.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  172.7   173.1   173.5   173.8    3.6    2.9    3.3    2.6    3.2    2.9 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  100.0   100.3   100.3   100.1    0.4   -4.3    2.4    0.4   -2.0    1.4 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  126.5   127.0   126.8   126.5   -1.5   -1.5   -4.9    0.0   -1.5   -2.5 
    Fuels ....................................  110.4   110.8   110.6   110.3   -2.8   -2.5   -6.6   -0.4   -2.6   -3.5 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   87.9    87.1    85.3    85.3   -9.0   -5.5  -11.8  -11.3   -7.3  -11.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  118.1   118.6   118.4   118.1   -2.6   -2.0   -6.2    0.0   -2.3   -3.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  125.0   125.2   125.3   125.2    3.3    0.3   -1.3    0.6    1.8   -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  132.1   132.0   131.4   129.9   -1.5    0.0    3.4   -6.5   -0.8   -1.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  132.4   131.5   130.9   130.0    0.9   -0.3    2.5   -7.1    0.3   -2.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  124.1   124.0   123.5   121.1   -0.3    0.3    2.6   -9.3    0.0   -3.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  131.0   132.7   130.9   130.8    5.2  -12.6   29.9   -0.6   -4.1   13.6 
   Footwear ..................................  129.0   129.5   128.8   127.7   -8.6    5.8    0.3   -4.0   -1.7   -1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  140.2   140.1   139.4   139.2   -3.3    0.3   -1.4   -2.8   -1.5   -2.1 
   Private transportation ....................  137.7   137.7   137.0   136.7   -4.2    0.6   -1.4   -2.9   -1.9   -2.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.9   101.3   101.1   100.6    0.0    2.0    1.2   -1.2    1.0    0.0 
     New vehicles ............................  144.3   144.6   144.7   144.8    0.3   -1.1   -0.6    1.4   -0.4    0.4 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  154.2   155.2   154.3   151.8   -0.5    8.8    4.0   -6.1    4.0   -1.2 
    Motor fuel ...............................   89.9    88.7    86.3    86.5  -22.0   -4.2  -10.4  -14.3  -13.6  -12.4 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   89.5    88.2    85.8    86.0  -22.5   -4.2   -9.7  -14.7  -13.8  -12.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.8   100.6   100.4   100.4   -1.6    1.6    1.2   -1.6    0.0   -0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  170.0   170.6   170.9   171.2    1.9    3.4    4.3    2.9    2.7    3.6 
   Public transportation (1)..................  186.3   184.2   185.1   186.8   12.2   -2.9   -5.0    1.1    4.4   -2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  244.0   244.6   245.2   245.9    3.8    3.7    3.3    3.2    3.7    3.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................  221.2   221.8   222.6   222.6    3.4    3.6    4.8    2.6    3.5    3.7 
   Medical care services .....................  249.0   249.5   250.1   251.0    3.8    3.8    3.1    3.3    3.8    3.2 
    Professional services (3).................  226.1   226.4   227.0   227.7    3.7    3.7    3.6    2.9    3.7    3.2 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  286.6   287.1   287.6   289.9    3.8    4.0    3.1    4.7    3.9    3.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  100.6   100.7   100.8   101.2    2.0    0.0   -0.4    2.4    1.0    1.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.2   101.1   101.2   101.6    0.8   -0.4    1.2    1.6    0.2    1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.8   101.1   100.9   101.2    2.0    2.0   -0.8    1.6    2.0    0.4 
   Education (2)..............................  103.9   104.3   104.7   105.1    5.7    4.4    4.3    4.7    5.0    4.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  258.7   259.4   260.5   259.0    8.6    3.9    9.0    0.5    6.2    4.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   291.9   293.1   294.2   295.5    5.2    4.6    3.9    5.0    4.9    4.5 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   98.4    98.5    97.8    98.1   -0.8    0.4   -4.7   -1.2   -0.2   -3.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   98.3    98.4    97.7    97.8   -0.4    0.0   -4.7   -2.0   -0.2   -3.4 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.8   101.2   100.4   100.8    2.4    4.0   -2.7    0.0    3.2   -1.4 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   37.4    36.6    36.0    35.0  -26.9  -31.0  -25.1  -23.3  -29.0  -24.2 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   67.5    65.3    64.0    61.1  -37.2  -44.0  -32.2  -32.9  -40.7  -32.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  240.3   239.2   253.0   259.3    7.4    6.7    6.9   35.6    7.0   20.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  283.8   280.1   332.6   353.8   17.1   16.4   15.8  141.5   16.8   67.2 
   Personal care (1)..........................  158.3   158.1   158.3   159.1    3.7    2.9    3.4    2.0    3.3    2.7 
    Personal care products (1)................  150.4   149.8   149.6   150.7    3.9    4.7    0.8    0.8    4.3    0.8 
    Personal care services (1)................  167.8   168.0   168.6   169.1    2.5    2.2    3.4    3.1    2.3    3.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  236.9   237.4   238.4   239.5    2.8    3.5    5.2    4.5    3.2    4.8 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.2   142.2   142.6   142.9   -1.4    1.7    0.8    2.0    0.1    1.4 
  Food and beverages .........................  161.8   162.1   162.2   162.9    0.0    3.0    3.0    2.7    1.5    2.9 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.5   130.3   130.9   131.0   -1.8    0.3   -0.3    1.5   -0.8    0.6 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.4   131.9   132.8   133.3   -4.2    2.1    0.9    2.7   -1.1    1.8 
    Apparel ..................................  132.1   132.0   131.4   129.9   -1.5    0.0    3.4   -6.5   -0.8   -1.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  137.0   136.3   138.2   139.8   -5.1    1.8    0.3    8.4   -1.7    4.3 
   Durables ..................................  127.2   127.3   127.2   126.7   -0.3    0.6   -0.9   -1.6    0.2   -1.3 
 Services ....................................  182.1   182.6   182.9   183.1    3.2    2.2    2.0    2.2    2.7    2.1 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  171.8   172.3   172.8   172.8    3.6    2.6    4.1    2.3    3.1    3.2 
  Transportation services ....................  185.5   185.5   185.7   185.9    2.8    0.0   -0.4    0.9    1.4    0.2 
  Other services .............................  215.6   216.3   216.4   217.4    4.0    3.2    2.1    3.4    3.6    2.7 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  159.9   160.1   160.5   160.7    1.3    1.5    1.3    2.0    1.4    1.6 
 All items less shelter ......................  155.4   155.5   155.9   156.2    0.0    1.6    0.8    2.1    0.8    1.4 
 All items less medical care .................  156.5   156.7   157.0   157.3    0.8    1.8    1.5    2.1    1.3    1.8 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.1   131.9   132.5   132.6   -2.1    0.6   -0.3    1.5   -0.8    0.6 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.4   134.0   134.7   135.3   -3.8    2.1    0.9    2.7   -0.9    1.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  138.8   138.2   140.0   141.3   -4.8    1.8    0.6    7.4   -1.6    3.9 
 Nondurables .................................  147.2   147.1   147.6   148.1   -1.6    3.1    1.4    2.5    0.7    1.9 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  171.3   171.6   171.9   172.1    2.1    1.9    0.7    1.9    2.0    1.3 
 Services less medical care services .........  176.5   177.0   177.4   177.5    2.8    2.3    2.1    2.3    2.6    2.2 
 Energy ......................................   99.7    99.3    98.0    97.9  -12.2   -3.1   -8.4   -7.0   -7.8   -7.7 
 All items less energy .......................  168.9   169.2   169.7   170.1    1.9    2.4    2.4    2.9    2.2    2.6 
  All items less food and energy .............  170.9   171.3   171.9   172.1    2.6    2.1    2.1    2.8    2.4    2.5 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.3   143.4   144.6   144.6    0.8    1.4    1.1    3.7    1.1    2.4 
    Energy commodities .......................   89.8    88.6    86.3    86.5  -21.1   -4.6  -10.4  -13.9  -13.3  -12.2 
   Services less energy services .............  189.5   190.0   190.3   190.6    3.5    2.6    2.8    2.3    3.0    2.6 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Jan.1999 from--      Dec.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1999   Jan.   Nov.   Dec.   Dec.   Oct.   Nov. 
                                                                                   1998   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    160.6  160.7  160.7  161.0    1.6    0.2    0.2    1.6    0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    168.1  168.2  168.2  168.4    1.6    0.1    0.1    1.6    0.1    0.0 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    168.1  168.2  168.2  168.5    1.9    0.2    0.2    1.8    0.1    0.0 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    102.2  102.2  102.3  102.4    1.1    0.2    0.1    1.2    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    156.2  156.2  156.0  156.6    1.8    0.3    0.4    1.5   -0.1   -0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    156.7  156.7  156.5  157.1    2.1    0.3    0.4    1.9   -0.1   -0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.1  102.1  102.0  102.3    1.2    0.2    0.3    1.0   -0.1   -0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    152.4  152.9  153.3  153.6    1.8    0.5    0.2    1.5    0.6    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    157.8  157.7  157.8  157.9    1.3    0.1    0.1    1.4    0.0    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    156.6  156.2  156.0  156.4    1.3    0.1    0.3    1.2   -0.4   -0.1 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.4  102.4  102.5  102.5    1.3    0.1    0.0    1.4    0.1    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.4  160.6  160.8  161.1    2.2    0.3    0.2    2.1    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    161.5  161.8  161.8  162.4    1.9    0.4    0.4    1.6    0.2    0.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    160.5  160.7  160.8  161.6    2.3    0.6    0.5    1.8    0.2    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.8  103.3  103.3  103.4    1.2    0.1    0.1    1.4    0.5    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    147.0  147.0  146.9  147.4    1.9    0.3    0.3    1.7   -0.1   -0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.4  102.4  102.5  102.6    1.3    0.2    0.1    1.3    0.1    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    158.9  159.1  159.2  159.6    1.9    0.3    0.3    1.6    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    160.0  159.9  159.6  160.5    2.0    0.4    0.6    1.5   -0.3   -0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    156.8  157.0  157.2  157.8    1.7    0.5    0.4    1.2    0.3    0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    170.5  170.5  170.5  170.8    1.8    0.2    0.2    1.7    0.0    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  171.5      -  172.2    1.7    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  152.8      -  152.7    1.8   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  153.8      -  154.6    1.6    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  102.2      -  102.7    1.9    0.5      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    159.2      -  158.8      -      -      -      -    1.3   -0.3      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    155.7      -  155.9      -      -      -      -    2.8    0.1      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    146.9      -  144.8      -      -      -      -    0.2   -1.4      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    158.6      -  158.7      -      -      -      -    1.2    0.1      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    169.3      -  168.5      -      -      -      -    1.7   -0.5      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    163.4      -  163.7      -      -      -      -    2.7    0.2      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    164.9      -  164.9      -      -      -      -    2.7    0.0      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 1(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U-XL): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                     Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative        Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                                importance,       indexes         Jan. 1999 from-  
                     CPI-U                       December                                          
                                                   1998                                            
                                                               Dec.      Jan.      Jan.      Dec.  
                                                               1998      1999      1998      1998  
                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                   
             Expenditure category                                                                  
                                                                                                   
 All items ...................................     100.000     163.9     164.4       1.7       0.3 
 All items (1967=100) ........................           -     491.0     492.5         -         - 
                                                                                                   
  Food and beverages .........................      16.408     162.7     163.9       2.2       0.7 
   Food ......................................      15.422     162.3     163.6       2.3       0.8 
    Food at home .............................       9.691     162.6     164.3       2.0       1.0 
     Cereals and bakery products .............       1.544     182.3     183.9       2.7       0.9 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........       2.569     147.3     146.7      -1.1      -0.4 
     Dairy and related products ..............       1.088     157.6     161.1       8.6       2.2 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................       1.440     200.7     208.4       3.1       3.8 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                           
         materials ...........................       1.049     131.7     133.4      -0.5       1.3 
     Other food at home ......................       2.002     152.4     152.9       2.8       0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................        .377     150.1     151.6       0.9       1.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................        .309     151.9     150.4       7.0      -1.0 
      Other foods ............................       1.316     166.9     167.6       2.4       0.4 
       Other miscellaneous foods  (1).........        .320     104.9     104.2       3.8      -0.7 
    Food away from home ......................       5.730     163.0     163.6       2.8       0.4 
     Other food away from home  (1)...........        .175     103.3     103.5       3.4       0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................        .986     167.2     167.6       1.8       0.2 
                                                                                                   
  Housing ....................................      39.828     161.3     161.9       2.3       0.4 
   Shelter ...................................      30.283     184.0     184.8       3.1       0.4 
    Rent of primary residence ................       7.007     174.9     175.3       3.4       0.2 
    Lodging away from home (1)................       2.376     103.8     107.7       2.5       3.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                             
        residence (2).........................      20.529     190.7     191.0       3.2       0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance  (1).....        .371      99.9      99.7      -0.6      -0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................       4.735     126.6     126.2      -2.0      -0.3 
    Fuels ....................................       3.801     111.4     110.9      -3.1      -0.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................        .227      86.1      86.6     -10.2       0.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............       3.574     118.9     118.3      -2.7      -0.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......       4.810     126.6     126.9       1.0       0.2 
                                                                                                   
  Apparel ....................................       4.831     130.7     128.6      -0.9      -1.6 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................       1.358     130.3     128.5      -1.0      -1.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................       1.939     122.4     118.8      -1.2      -2.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............        .272     129.6     130.7       4.7       0.8 
   Footwear ..................................        .876     127.5     125.8      -1.3      -1.3 
                                                                                                   
  Transportation .............................      16.999     140.7     140.4      -1.6      -0.2 
   Private transportation ....................      15.653     137.2     136.7      -1.9      -0.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (1)...........       7.843     100.9     100.6       0.4      -0.3 
     New vehicles ............................       4.983     144.1     144.4       0.0       0.2 
     Used cars and trucks ....................       1.914     153.1     150.7       1.8      -1.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................       2.493      86.2      85.0     -13.1      -1.4 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................       2.476      85.7      84.5     -13.1      -1.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........        .549     101.2     101.2      -0.1       0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....       1.624     169.6     169.8       2.9       0.1 
   Public transportation .....................       1.346     188.4     189.9       1.5       0.8 
                                                                                                   
  Medical care ...............................       5.713     245.2     246.6       3.6       0.6 
   Medical care commodities ..................       1.252     225.6     226.0       3.9       0.2 
   Medical care services .....................       4.461     249.6     251.3       3.5       0.7 
    Professional services ....................       2.854     224.6     225.8       3.3       0.5 
    Hospital and related services ............       1.354     291.4     294.4       3.8       1.0 
                                                                                                   
  Recreation (1)..............................       6.120     101.2     101.7       1.4       0.5 
   Video and audio  (1).......................       1.748     100.7     101.3       0.7       0.6 
                                                                                                   
  Education and communication (1).............       5.478     100.7     101.0       1.1       0.3 
   Education (1)..............................       2.694     104.7     105.0       4.7       0.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........        .203     257.3     258.4       5.4       0.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare        2.492     301.7     302.4       4.6       0.2 
   Communication  (1).........................       2.783      97.1      97.4      -2.2       0.3 
    Information and information processing                                                         
        (1)...................................       2.580      96.9      97.0      -2.6       0.1 
     Telephone services  (1)..................       2.327     100.3     100.7       0.8       0.4 
     Information and information processing                                                        
         other than telephone services  (3)...        .253      34.8      33.9     -26.6      -2.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                            
          equipment  (1)......................        .148      64.2      61.6     -36.4      -4.0 
                                                                                                   
  Other goods and services ...................       4.624     250.3     255.1      10.3       1.9 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       1.159     331.2     352.9      39.0       6.6 
   Personal care .............................       3.465     158.3     158.9       2.8       0.4 
    Personal care products ...................        .742     148.7     149.4       2.3       0.5 
    Personal care services ...................        .973     168.3     168.8       2.7       0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........       1.491     237.8     239.1       3.6       0.5 
                                                                                                   
          Commodity and service group                                                              
                                                                                                   
 Commodities .................................      42.109     142.2     142.5       0.6       0.2 
  Food and beverages .........................      16.408     162.7     163.9       2.2       0.7 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........      25.702     130.2     130.0      -0.4      -0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......      14.345     132.1     132.0       0.0      -0.1 
    Apparel ..................................       4.831     130.7     128.6      -0.9      -1.6 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                          
        apparel ..............................       9.514     137.8     138.8       0.5       0.7 
   Durables ..................................      11.356     127.4     127.1      -0.9      -0.2 
 Services ....................................      57.891     185.7     186.4       2.5       0.4 
  Rent of shelter (2).........................      29.912     191.5     192.4       3.2       0.5 
  Transportation services ....................       6.963     188.4     188.8       0.9       0.2 
  Other services .............................      10.768     219.5     220.6       3.2       0.5 
                                                                                                   
                Special indexes                                                                    
                                                                                                   
 All items less food .........................      84.578     164.2     164.6       1.7       0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................      69.717     157.8     158.2       1.2       0.3 
 All items less medical care .................      94.287     159.4     159.9       1.7       0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................      26.688     131.7     131.5      -0.3      -0.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................      15.331     134.2     134.1       0.1      -0.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........      10.500     139.7     140.6       0.6       0.6 
 Nondurables .................................      30.753     147.5     148.0       1.2       0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (2)............      27.979     192.8     193.4       1.8       0.3 
 Services less medical care services .........      53.429     179.8     180.4       2.4       0.3 
 Energy ......................................       6.294      98.9      98.1      -7.4      -0.8 
 All items less energy .......................      93.706     172.3     173.0       2.4       0.4 
  All items less food and energy .............      78.284     174.8     175.4       2.5       0.3 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                
       commodities ...........................      23.967     143.9     143.9       1.3       0.0 
    Energy commodities .......................       2.720      86.3      85.2     -12.9      -1.3 
   Services less energy services .............      54.316     192.5     193.3       2.9       0.4 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................           -    $ .610    $ .608         -         - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1967=$1.00) ............................           -    $ .204    $ .203         -         - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 Index is on a December 1982=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W-XL): U.S.
 city average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                     Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative        Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                                importance,       indexes         Jan. 1999 from-  
                     CPI-W                       December                                          
                                                   1998                                            
                                                               Dec.      Jan.      Jan.      Dec.  
                                                               1998      1999      1998      1998  
                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                   
             Expenditure category                                                                  
                                                                                                   
 All items ...................................     100.000     160.7     161.1       1.7       0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................           -     478.6     479.8         -         - 
                                                                                                   
  Food and beverages .........................      18.011     161.9     163.1       2.2       0.7 
   Food ......................................      16.966     161.5     162.8       2.2       0.8 
    Food at home .............................      10.832     161.3     163.1       2.0       1.1 
     Cereals and bakery products .............       1.689     182.0     183.7       2.7       0.9 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........       3.055     146.9     146.3      -1.1      -0.4 
     Dairy and related products ..............       1.193     157.4     161.0       8.9       2.3 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................       1.492     199.0     207.2       3.1       4.1 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                           
         materials ...........................       1.184     130.4     132.3      -0.5       1.5 
     Other food at home ......................       2.220     151.7     152.3       2.8       0.4 
      Sugar and sweets .......................        .420     150.0     151.6       0.9       1.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................        .354     151.2     150.0       6.8      -0.8 
      Other foods ............................       1.446     166.7     167.5       2.4       0.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods  (1).........        .355     104.9     104.2       3.7      -0.7 
    Food away from home ......................       6.133     163.0     163.5       2.6       0.3 
     Other food away from home  (1)...........        .216     103.4     103.6       3.5       0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       1.045     166.2     166.5       1.8       0.2 
                                                                                                   
  Housing ....................................      36.685     157.8     158.1       2.1       0.2 
   Shelter ...................................      27.496     178.8     179.4       3.2       0.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................       8.500     174.6     174.9       3.4       0.2 
    Lodging away from home (1)................       1.379     104.0     107.7       2.8       3.6 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                             
        residence (2).........................      17.296     173.7     173.9       3.1       0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance  (1).....        .320     100.3     100.1      -0.3      -0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................       4.850     126.4     126.0      -2.0      -0.3 
    Fuels ....................................       3.928     110.9     110.4      -3.1      -0.5 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................        .201      86.6      87.1      -9.5       0.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............       3.727     118.4     117.7      -2.7      -0.6 
   Household furnishings and operations ......       4.339     124.8     125.0       0.7       0.2 
                                                                                                   
  Apparel ....................................       5.199     129.8     127.8      -0.7      -1.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................       1.474     130.2     128.4      -0.8      -1.4 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................       1.948     121.0     117.4      -0.9      -3.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............        .344     130.9     131.5       4.9       0.5 
   Footwear ..................................       1.057     128.2     126.3      -1.6      -1.5 
                                                                                                   
  Transportation .............................      19.166     139.6     139.1      -1.8      -0.4 
   Private transportation ....................      18.109     137.1     136.6      -1.9      -0.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (1)...........       9.250     101.1     100.6       0.5      -0.5 
     New vehicles ............................       5.224     145.3     145.5      -0.1       0.1 
     Used cars and trucks ....................       3.216     154.3     151.9       1.5      -1.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................       3.066      86.0      85.0     -12.9      -1.2 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................       3.045      85.5      84.5     -13.0      -1.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........        .682     100.5     100.6      -0.1       0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....       1.690     170.9     171.1       3.1       0.1 
   Public transportation .....................       1.056     185.1     186.3       0.9       0.6 
                                                                                                   
  Medical care ...............................       4.672     244.4     245.8       3.5       0.6 
   Medical care commodities ..................        .926     222.1     222.6       3.7       0.2 
   Medical care services .....................       3.746     249.4     251.0       3.5       0.6 
    Professional services ....................       2.415     226.2     227.3       3.4       0.5 
    Hospital and related services ............       1.114     287.4     290.4       3.9       1.0 
                                                                                                   
  Recreation (1)..............................       5.925     100.8     101.3       1.0       0.5 
   Video and audio  (1).......................       1.951     100.7     101.2       0.7       0.5 
                                                                                                   
  Education and communication (1).............       5.361     100.9     101.2       1.2       0.3 
   Education (1)..............................       2.478     104.7     105.1       4.8       0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........        .200     259.7     260.8       5.4       0.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare        2.278     295.8     296.6       4.6       0.3 
   Communication  (1).........................       2.883      97.8      98.1      -1.6       0.3 
    Information and information processing                                                         
        (1)...................................       2.733      97.7      97.8      -1.8       0.1 
     Telephone services  (1)..................       2.519     100.4     100.8       0.9       0.4 
     Information and information processing                                                        
         other than telephone services  (3)...        .213      36.0      35.1     -26.4      -2.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                            
          equipment  (1)......................        .120      64.0      61.3     -36.5      -4.2 
                                                                                                   
  Other goods and services ...................       4.981     252.6     258.7      13.4       2.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       1.694     332.0     353.1      39.2       6.4 
   Personal care .............................       3.287     158.3     159.0       2.9       0.4 
    Personal care products ...................        .838     149.6     150.2       2.2       0.4 
    Personal care services ...................        .975     168.6     169.1       2.8       0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........       1.253     237.4     239.3       4.1       0.8 
                                                                                                   
          Commodity and service group                                                              
                                                                                                   
 Commodities .................................      46.764     142.3     142.6       0.8       0.2 
  Food and beverages .........................      18.011     161.9     163.1       2.2       0.7 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........      28.753     130.6     130.5       0.0      -0.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......      15.564     132.1     132.2       0.5       0.1 
    Apparel ..................................       5.199     129.8     127.8      -0.7      -1.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                          
        apparel ..............................      10.365     137.9     139.1       1.1       0.9 
   Durables ..................................      13.189     127.4     126.9      -0.6      -0.4 
 Services ....................................      53.236     182.5     183.1       2.5       0.3 
  Rent of shelter (2).........................      27.175     172.2     172.7       3.2       0.3 
  Transportation services ....................       6.800     186.1     186.4       0.8       0.2 
  Other services .............................      10.144     216.1     217.2       3.2       0.5 
                                                                                                   
                Special indexes                                                                    
                                                                                                   
 All items less food .........................      83.034     160.4     160.6       1.6       0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................      72.504     155.6     156.0       1.2       0.3 
 All items less medical care .................      95.328     156.8     157.2       1.6       0.3 
 Commodities less food .......................      29.798     132.0     131.9       0.1      -0.1 
 Nondurables less food .......................      16.609     134.1     134.2       0.5       0.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........      11.410     139.7     140.8       1.1       0.8 
 Nondurables .................................      33.575     147.3     147.9       1.4       0.4 
 Services less rent of shelter (2)............      26.061     171.5     171.9       1.7       0.2 
 Services less medical care services .........      49.490     176.9     177.3       2.4       0.2 
 Energy ......................................       6.994      97.8      97.0      -7.6      -0.8 
 All items less energy .......................      93.006     169.3     169.9       2.5       0.4 
  All items less food and energy .............      76.040     171.3     171.7       2.5       0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                
       commodities ...........................      26.531     144.1     144.1       1.8       0.0 
    Energy commodities .......................       3.267      86.2      85.2     -12.8      -1.2 
   Services less energy services .............      49.509     189.7     190.4       2.9       0.4 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................           -    $ .622    $ .621         -         - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                           
     (1967=$1.00) ............................           -    $ .209    $ .208         -         - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   2 Index is on a December 1984=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U-XL): Selected areas, all items index
 using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
                                                                    Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 Pricing                                 Jan.1999 from--  
                     CPI-U                      schedule                                                  
                                                   (1)                                                    
                                                           Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec. 
                                                           1998   1998   1998   1999   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                          
 U.S. city average ...........................     M      164.0  164.0  163.9  164.4    0.2    0.2    0.3 
                                                                                                          
            Region and area size(2)                                                                       
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Northeast urban .............................     M      171.3  171.2  171.2  171.6    0.2    0.2    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      172.3  172.2  172.2  172.6    0.2    0.2    0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........     M      102.6  102.6  102.5  102.8    0.2    0.2    0.3 
                                                                                                          
 Midwest urban ...............................     M      160.1  160.1  159.8  160.4    0.2    0.2    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      161.4  161.3  161.0  161.6    0.1    0.2    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      102.4  102.4  102.3  102.6    0.2    0.2    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      154.3  154.7  155.0  155.6    0.8    0.6    0.4 
                                                                                                          
 South urban .................................     M      159.8  159.6  159.6  160.0    0.1    0.3    0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      159.0  158.6  158.3  158.9   -0.1    0.2    0.4 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........     M      102.8  102.8  102.8  102.9    0.1    0.1    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      159.8  160.0  160.4  160.9    0.7    0.6    0.3 
                                                                                                          
 West urban ..................................     M      165.5  165.8  165.8  166.5    0.6    0.4    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      166.3  166.5  166.5  167.3    0.6    0.5    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      103.0  103.5  103.4  103.7    0.7    0.2    0.3 
                                                                                                          
                 Size classes                                                                             
                                                                                                          
   A (4)......................................     M      148.5  148.5  148.4  148.9    0.3    0.3    0.3 
   B/C (3)....................................     M      102.7  102.8  102.7  103.0    0.3    0.2    0.3 
   D .........................................     M      159.7  159.9  160.2  160.6    0.6    0.4    0.2 
                                                                                                          
             Selected local areas                                                                         
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............     M      165.7  165.4  165.1  166.0    0.2    0.4    0.5 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....     M      163.2  163.4  163.5  164.2    0.6    0.5    0.4 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                      
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................     M      174.8  174.7  174.7  175.2    0.2    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                          
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........     1          -  173.3      -  174.1      -    0.5      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................     1          -  160.8      -  160.6      -   -0.1      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................     1          -  154.0      -  155.2      -    0.8      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (5)........     1          -  102.4      -  102.8      -    0.4      - 
                                                                                                          
 Atlanta, GA .................................     2      162.0      -  161.6      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................     2      161.0      -  161.2      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............     2      148.5      -  146.1      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................     2      161.1      -  161.1      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                   
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................     2      170.3      -  169.0      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........     2      167.2      -  167.4      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................     2      169.3      -  169.4      -      -      -      - 

   1 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas;  
   most other goods and services priced as indicated:                      
        M - Every month.                                                   
         1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.            
         2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.          
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4(LAS).  Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W-XL): Selected
 areas, all items index using a Laspeyres Estimator

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
                                                                    Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 Pricing                                 Jan.1999 from--  
                     CPI-W                      schedule                                                  
                                                   (1)                                                    
                                                           Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec. 
                                                           1998   1998   1998   1999   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                          
 U.S. city average ...........................     M      160.6  160.7  160.7  161.1    0.3    0.2    0.2 
                                                                                                          
            Region and area size(2)                                                                       
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Northeast urban .............................     M      168.1  168.2  168.2  168.5    0.2    0.2    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      168.1  168.2  168.2  168.5    0.2    0.2    0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........     M      102.2  102.2  102.3  102.5    0.3    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                          
 Midwest urban ...............................     M      156.2  156.2  156.0  156.6    0.3    0.3    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      156.7  156.7  156.5  157.1    0.3    0.3    0.4 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      102.1  102.1  102.0  102.3    0.2    0.2    0.3 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      152.4  152.9  153.3  153.7    0.9    0.5    0.3 
                                                                                                          
 South urban .................................     M      157.8  157.7  157.8  158.0    0.1    0.2    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............     M      156.6  156.2  156.0  156.5   -0.1    0.2    0.3 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........     M      102.4  102.4  102.5  102.5    0.1    0.1    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                  
       50,000) ...............................     M      160.4  160.6  160.8  161.2    0.5    0.4    0.2 
                                                                                                          
 West urban ..................................     M      161.5  161.8  161.8  162.5    0.6    0.4    0.4 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............     M      160.5  160.7  160.8  161.6    0.7    0.6    0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........     M      102.8  103.3  103.3  103.5    0.7    0.2    0.2 
                                                                                                          
                 Size classes                                                                             
                                                                                                          
   A (4)......................................     M      147.0  147.0  146.9  147.4    0.3    0.3    0.3 
   B/C (3)....................................     M      102.4  102.4  102.5  102.6    0.2    0.2    0.1 
   D .........................................     M      158.9  159.1  159.2  159.6    0.4    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                          
             Selected local areas                                                                         
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............     M      160.0  159.9  159.6  160.5    0.3    0.4    0.6 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....     M      156.8  157.0  157.2  157.9    0.7    0.6    0.4 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                      
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................     M      170.5  170.5  170.5  170.9    0.2    0.2    0.2 
                                                                                                          
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........     1          -  171.5      -  172.2      -    0.4      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................     1          -  152.8      -  152.8      -    0.0      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................     1          -  153.8      -  154.8      -    0.7      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (5)........     1          -  102.2      -  102.7      -    0.5      - 
                                                                                                          
 Atlanta, GA .................................     2      159.2      -  158.8      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................     2      155.7      -  155.9      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............     2      146.9      -  144.8      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................     2      158.6      -  158.7      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                   
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................     2      169.3      -  168.5      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........     2      163.4      -  163.7      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................     2      164.9      -  164.9      -      -      -      - 

   1 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas;  
   most other goods and services priced as indicated:                      
        M - Every month.                                                   
         1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.            
         2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.          
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.