FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-98-348
 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. (EDT)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:    			    Tuesday, August 18, 1998
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm  

                                      
                     CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  JULY 1998
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.1
 percent in July, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 163.2 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in July, the CPI-U has
 increased 1.7 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also rose 0.1 percent in July, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The
 July 1998 CPI-W level of 159.8 was 1.5 percent higher than the index in
 July 1997.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
     
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in July,
 following a 0.1 percent increase in June.  Indexes for food, energy, and
 all items less food and energy each contributed to the slightly larger
 advance.  The food index, which rose 0.1 percent in June, increased 0.2
 percent in July.  Prices for food at home advanced 0.3 percent in July
 after increasing 0.1 percent in June, reflecting upturns in the indexes
 for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and for fruits and vegetables.  The
 energy index, which declined 0.7 percent in June, was unchanged in July.
 The index for petroleum-based energy decreased 0.1 percent, while the
 index for energy services was unchanged.  Excluding food and energy, the
 CPI-U increased 0.2 percent in July, following a 0.1 percent rise in June.
 The indexes for new cars, cigarettes, and airline fares each turned up in
 July after declining in June.

 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                          Seasonally adjusted          Un-
                                                         Compound   adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                       1998              3-mos. ended   ended
                               
                     Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July   July `98  July `98
                                                                    
 All Items            .0    .1   .0   .2   .3   .1   .2    2.2       1.7
  Food and beverages  .3    .0   .0   .1   .5   .1   .2    3.6       2.2
  Housing             .1    .1   .2   .4   .3   .1   .2    2.3       2.3
  Apparel            -.5    .2  -.2  -.1   .4   .2  -.3    1.2       -.5
  Transportation     -.3   -.4  -.5  -.1   .1  -.3   .3     .6      -1.3
  Medical care        .1    .3   .3   .4   .3   .4   .2    3.7       3.4
  Recreation          .3    .3   .4   .0   .0   .1   .0     .4       1.3
  Education and                                                         
     communication    .0   -.1   .3   .3   .3   .1   .0    1.6       2.1
  Other goods and                                                     
     services         .4    .8  -.3  1.0   .7   .0   .7    5.4       6.4
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy           -2.4  -2.2 -1.2  -.1   .3  -.7   .0   -1.5      -5.6
   Food               .3    .0   .0   .1   .6   .1   .2    3.8       2.2
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .2    .3   .1   .3   .2   .1   .2    2.1       2.2
 
 Beginning with release of data for January 1999, the BLS will introduce a
 new formula for calculating the basic components of the CPI.  See page 4
 for more details.  See pages 5 and 6 for announcements on methodological
 changes concerning utility rebates and hedonic quality adjustment for
 televisions.
 
      During the first seven months of 1998, the CPI-U rose at a 1.5-
 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an
 increase of 1.7 percent for all of 1997.  Declines in energy costs have
 continued to act as a moderating influence on overall consumer price index
 movements thus far in 1998, decreasing at a 10.4-percent annual rate after
 declining 3.4 percent in all of 1997.  Food costs, which rose 1.5 percent
 in 1997, have risen at a 2.3-percent SAAR in the first seven months of
 1998.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U has advanced at a 2.4-percent
 rate thus far in 1998, compared with a 2.2 percent rise for all of 1997.
      
      The food and beverages index rose 0.2 percent in July.  The index for
 food at home, which rose 0.1 percent in June, increased 0.3 percent in
 July, reflecting upturns in the indexes for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs
 and for fruits and vegetables.  The latter group rose 0.3 percent in July,
 following a 1.0 percent decline in June.  The index for fresh vegetables,
 which declined 5.5 percent in June, rose 1.3 percent in July, more than
 offsetting a 0.8 percent decrease in the index for fresh fruits.  (Prior
 to seasonal adjustment, prices for fresh vegetables fell 0.3 percent.)
 The index for processed fruits and vegetables increased  0.7 percent.  The
 index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.5 percent in July, its
 largest advance in 14 months.  The index for fish and seafood rose 1.5
 percent; poultry prices increased 0.7 percent.  The indexes for beef and
 pork advanced 0.1 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.  The index for
 other food at home increased 0.3 percent as a sharp increase in prices for
 butter and margarine was partially offset by a decline in prices for sugar
 and sweets.  Among the other three major food at home groups, the index
 for nonalcoholic beverages was unchanged, while the indexes for cereal and
 bakery products and for dairy products each increased 0.1 percent.   The
 other two components of the food and beverage index--food away from home
 and alcoholic beverages--rose 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.
      
      The housing component rose 0.2 percent in July.  Shelter costs rose
 0.2 percent, the same as in June.      Within shelter, the index for rent
 rose 0.2 percent, owners' equivalent rent increased 0.3 percent, and the
 cost of lodging away from home declined 0.7 percent.  (Prior to seasonal
 adjustment, the latter index increased 1.9 percent.)  The index for fuels
 and utilities was unchanged in July.  The indexes for natural gas and for
 fuel oil declined 0.1 and 0.6 percent, respectively, offsetting a 0.1
 percent rise in the index for electricity.  The index for household
 furnishings and operations increased 0.3 percent in July.
      
      The transportation component increased 0.3 percent in July, following
 a 0.3 percent decline in June.  Upturns in the indexes for new vehicles
 and airline fares, coupled with a smaller decline in the index for
 gasoline, accounted for the July advance.  The index for gasoline, which
 declined 0.9 percent in June, decreased 0.2 percent in July.  (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 1.2 percent in July.)  The index
 for new and used vehicle prices rose 0.4 percent.  The index for new
 vehicles, which declined 0.3 percent in June, increased 0.5 percent in
 July.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices rose 0.1
 percent.)  The index for used cars and trucks advanced 0.3 percent.
 Public transportation costs increased 1.0 percent in July.  The index for
 airline fares, which declined 2.0 percent in June, increased 3.2 percent
 in July.
 
      The index for apparel declined 0.3 percent in July.  (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, apparel prices fell 2.2 percent, reflecting seasonal
 price declines.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in July to a level 3.4 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 0.2 percent.  Charges
 for professional services and for hospital and related services increased
 0.1 and 0.6 percent, respectively.
 
      The index for recreation costs was unchanged in July.  Increases in
 prices for reading materials and  sporting goods were offset by declines
 in most other recreation groups, particularly for admissions to movies,
 theaters, and concerts.
      
      The index for education and communication was unchanged in July.  An
 increase in education costs was offset by a decline in the index for
 communication.  Within the latter group, the index for personal computers
 and peripheral equipment and for cellular telephone services declined 6.0
 and 0.2 percent, respectively.
 
      The index for other goods and services, which was virtually unchanged
 in June, rose 0.7 percent in July.  The acceleration largely was
 attributable to an upturn in the index for tobacco and smoking products,
 which increased 2.6 percent in July after declining 0.6 percent in June.
 
 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 July.

 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                        Seasonally adjusted            Un-
                                                         Compound   adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month   annual rate   12-mos.
      Category                      1998               3-mos. ended   ended
                                                              
                     Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July   July`98   July `98
 All Items            .0    .0  -.1   .3   .3   .1   .2    2.3       1.5
  Food and beverages  .3    .0   .0   .0   .6   .1   .3    3.8       2.0
  Housing             .0    .1   .3   .3   .3   .1   .2    2.3       2.3
  Apparel            -.5   -.2  -.5   .2   .3   .3  -.4     .9      -1.2
  Transportation     -.5   -.4  -.6   .0   .1  -.1   .2     .9      -1.5
  Medical care        .2    .2   .3   .4   .3   .5   .2    3.9       3.4
  Recreation          .3    .3   .3   .1  -.2   .1  -.1    -.8       1.1
  Education and                                                         
    communication    -.1    .0   .4   .2   .4   .1   .1    2.4       2.1
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .5   1.1  -.6  1.4   .8  -.1   .9    6.2       7.1
 Special Indexes                                                        
    Energy          -2.5  -2.1 -1.3  -.2   .3  -.6  -.1   -1.6      -5.7
    Food              .4   -.1   .0   .1   .6   .1   .3    3.8       2.0
    All Items less                                                        
       food and        
       energy         .2    .2   .1   .4   .2   .1   .2    2.4       2.1
 
  
 
 Consumer Price Index data for August are scheduled for release on
 Thursday, September 17, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
      Planned change in the Consumer Price Index Formula
      
      On April 16, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its decision to
 use a new formula for calculating the basic components of the Consumer
 Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer Price In3dex
 for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).  This change will
 become effective with data for January 1999.
     The new formula, the geometric mean estimator, will be used in index
 categories that comprise approximately 61 percent of total consumer
 spending represented by the CPI-U.  The remaining index categories, which
 are shown in the table below, will continue to be calculated as they are
 currently. Based upon BLS research, it is expected that planned use of the
 new formula will reduce the annual rate of increase in the CPI by
 approximately 0.2 percentage point per year.
      The geometric mean estimator will be introduced in both the CPI-U and
 the CPI-W effective with data for January 1999, in accord with the past
 practice of introducing methodological changes at the beginning of a
 calendar year. BLS will continue to publish "overlap" CPI-U and CPI-W
 series using the current calculation method for the first six months of
 1999.  These indexes will not be published regularly for months subsequent
 to June 1999, but will be available upon request.
      Additional information on this change will be published in the April
 1998 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet
 (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm).  This information may also be obtained
 by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
 and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Room 3615 Washington, D.C.
 20212-0001 or by calling (202) 606-7000.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
   Improvements to CPI Procedures for Handling Refunds for Utilities
   
   Effective with the calculation of the index for January 1999,  the
 Consumer Price Index (CPI) will change its treatment of refunds  for
 electricity, natural gas, or other utility services when the refunds
 are  based  on  earlier periods' utility consumption  amounts.   The
 change  will  affect both the price indexes and the  average  prices
 computed by the CPI program.
   
   Under  the  current  practice,  the CPI  utility  indexes  reflect
 refunds  that appear on current period bills but that are  based  on
 past  period  utility consumption.  Generally these  refunds  result
 from   the   rollback  of  temporary  rate  increases,  lower   than
 anticipated energy costs, or a reevaluation of rates with respect to
 actual  costs.  The  current  practice makes  these  indexes  rather
 volatile  and do not reflect the actual current price (for  example,
 what  a  new  customer  would pay) for a  utility  service  such  as
 electricity.
   
   Under  the  new procedure, the CPI will disregard any  refund  for
 past excess charges when it appears on residential customer bills as
 a  separate  refund credit that is subtracted from the  charges  for
 current  billing  period's usage. The movement of  the  CPI  utility
 indexes  will  reflect all changes in rates-generally in  the  month
 they are effective. The CPI utility indexes will continue to reflect
 current period credits that are based on current period consumption,
 such as those associated with purchased gas or fuel adjustments.
   
   For additional information on this change, write to the Bureau  of
 Labor  Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes,  2
 Massachusetts  Ave.  NE, Room 3615, Washington,  DC  20212-0001;  or
 telephone  Bob Adkins at (202) 606-6985 ext. 264, or send e-mail  to
 Adkins_B@bls.gov
   
 --------------------------------------------------------------------  
  
 Using  a  hedonic model to adjust television prices in the  Consumer
 Price Index for changes in quality
 
   Effective  with the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)  for
 January 1999, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will introduce an
 improvement in the way in which it calculates the Television stratum
 of the CPI.
   As  of December 1997, Televisions constituted 0.215 percent in the
 Consumer  Price Index for all Urban Consumers (the CPI-U) and  0.256
 percent  in  the  Consumer Price Index for Urban  Wage  Earners  and
 Clerical Workers (the CPI-W).
   Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics researchers developed  a  regression
 procedure,  called  a hedonic model, that decomposes  the  price  of
 television sets into implicit prices for each important feature  and
 component /1.  This model uses Television observations  collected  for
 the  CPI  and  provides  an estimate of the value  of  each  of  the
 significant features and components of the sets for which prices are
 collected.   This   yields  a  mechanism  for   replacing   obsolete
 televisions in the CPI sample with current ones, allowing the CPI to
 capture  the  price change that may occur as new models replace  old
 ones  in  the  market place without counting the  value  of  quality
 improvements as price increases.
   The  CPI has used similar hedonic methods to adjust apparel prices
 for  many  years.   In January 1998, the CPI began using  a  similar
 approach for Personal Computers.  In the coming years, BLS plans  to
 extend the method to additional CPI items.
     Starting with the CPI for January 1999, when a television  model
 in the CPI sample improves in some way, the value of that change, as
 derived  from  the regression estimates, will be deducted  from  the
 observed  price change for that product.  (Conversely,  if  a  model
 deteriorates,  the  value of the difference will  be  added  to  the
 price.)
   For additional information on these changes, write to
	 Bureau of Labor Statistics
	 Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes
	 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3260
	 Washington, DC 20212-0001
 or telephone Tim LaFleur at (202) 606-6982 ext. 253,
 or send e-mail to LaFleur_T@bls.gov

         /1 Brent R. Moulton, Timothy J. LaFleur, and Karin E. Moses,
         "Research on Improved Quality Adjustment in the CPI: The Case
         of Televisions," presented to the Conference of the Ottawa
         Group, April 1998.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Overview of Publication Changes
 
 Beginning in 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) introduced
 a new geographic area sample, a revised item structure and updated
 expenditure weights into the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
 Approximately every ten years the CPI undertakes this type of
 revision in order to keep the index up-to-date.  Since World War
 II, revisions of the CPI have been introduced in 1953, 1964, 1978,
 and 1987.
 
 Because the changes the CPI undergoes during each revision can
 have a major impact on our users, special steps were taken in
 order to ameliorate the effects of these changes.  Beginning with
 the release of the January 1997 index, data series that were to be
 changed or dropped from publication have been footnoted in all BLS
 published tables.  This provided an early warning for users to
 reconsider their use of those indexes and provided time for them
 to make changes in their use.  The 1998 CPI Revision contains
 substantial changes in both the items being presented and the
 frequency of local area index publication.
 
 Changes to the Item Structure
 
 Effective in 1998, there are considerable changes to both the
 items being priced and the manner in which they are being
 aggregated in the CPI.  The most notable change in presentation is
 a reconstruction of several major groups with a resulting change
 from the formerly available seven major groups to the new total of
 eight.
 
 Formerly the major groups were: Food and Beverages, Housing,
 Apparel and Upkeep, Transportation, Medical Care, Entertainment
 and Other Goods and Services.  Three of these groups-- Food and
 Beverages, Transportation, and Medical care remained the same.
 The Apparel group was modified to exclude apparel upkeep products
 and services.  The Entertainment group has been slightly redefined
 into a major group called Recreation and a new major group,
 Education and Communication, has been formed from  past
 subelements of the Housing, Entertainment and Other Goods and
 Services groups
 
 Other important changes in our item structure at lower levels are
 an expansion of our Food Away from Home index, a reorientation of
 our car and truck indexes to a vehicle index, and the expansion of
 our information processing equipment index.
 
 For a complete listing of the new CPI Publication Structure see
 Table X.
 
 Changes to the Geographic Structure
 
 In each revision, the CPI geographic sample is selected to be
 representative of the current demographics of the United States.
 The 1998 revision utilizes the 1990 Census of population.  The CPI
 developed an updated area sample design, decided on new local area
 indexes and changed the frequency of publication for local area
 indexes in order to better reflect these new demographics.
  
 In addition to the national index, the BLS formerly published
 indexes for 29 metropolitan areas.  In 1998, it continues to
 publish indexes for all but two of these areas--Buffalo-Niagara
 Falls, NY, and New Orleans, LA.  Due to the revised Metropolitan
 Area (MA) definitions issued by the Office of Management and
 Budget(OMB), two other areas, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD,
 which the BLS formerly published separately, constitute a new
 Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area.  A single index is now
 published for this consolidated area.
 
 The new publication plan for local area indexes, that began with
 the index for January 1998, is summarized below:
 
      *  Monthly indexes are now published for the three largest
 metropolitan areas.  Because of sample design considerations,
 indexes for the Philadelphia and San Francisco areas, both
 formerly published monthly, are now published every other month
 following the release of the December, 1997 index.
 
      *  Bimonthly indexes are published for the next 11 largest
 areas, including Atlanta and Seattle, which used to have
 semiannual average indexes.
 
      *  Semiannual average indexes are now published for 12
 additional areas, including Pittsburgh and St. Louis, which
 formerly had bimonthly indexes.
 
      *  The BLS continues to publish separate indexes for the four
 Census regions of the United States.  However, beginning in 1998,
 there are only two area size classes for metropolitan areas,
 instead of the former three: Size A - areas with a population
 greater than 1.5 million; and Size B/C - areas with less than 1.5
 million population.  This cutoff of 1.5 million in population
 reflects a rise from the former cutoff of 1.2 million and is
 important since cities in size class A are those for which the
 Bureau publishes city level indexes.  The B/C size class is a
 combination of the old Size B and Size C metropolitan areas.  In
 addition to the two metropolitan area size indexes for each
 region, separate Size D indexes for urban non-metropolitan areas
 continue to be published for both the Midwest and the South.
 Separate indexes for Northeast and West urban nonmetropolitan
 areas were discontinued in 1987.
 
 The following is the full list of areas for which indexes are
 currently published, beginning in January, 1998:

 1. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published monthly:
 
  New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA
  Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI
  Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA
 
 2. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published bimonthly:
 
 In Odd Months (i.e. January,            In Even Months (i.e.
 March, etc.)                            February, April, etc.)
 ----------------------------            ----------------------                  

 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-          Philadelphia-Wilmington-
 ME-CT                                   Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD
 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-            San Francisco-Oakland-San
 VA-WV                                   Jose, CA
 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH  		         Atlanta, GA

 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX                   Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX
                                         
 		                         Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI
                                         
		                         Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
                                         
                                         Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA
                  
 3. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published  
    semiannually (In January and July)
 
 Pittsburgh, PA                          Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN 
 Kansas City, MO-KS                      Milwaukee-Racine, WI
 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI             St. Louis, MO-IL
 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL     Anchorage, AK
 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO              Honolulu, HI
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA                   San Diego, CA

 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 BLS to Maintain Current Reference Base of 1982-84-100 for most CPI
 index series

      The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) previously indicated its
 intention to change the numerical reference base for both the
 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the
 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) from their present 1982-84=100 base to a 1993-95=100 base,
 effective with release of the January 1999 index in February 1999.
 BLS also indicated that the alternate, or 1967=100 base, would be
 discontinued in 1999 as well.  This plan was initially described
 in the December 1996 Monthly Labor Review, a publication which
 contained several articles that dealt with the 1998 CPI Revision.
 
      The BLS has now decided not to implement this rebasing plan.
 Instead, the BLS will maintain the reference base of 1982-84=100
 used for most items.  In addition, the 1967=100 reference base
 will continue to be the alternate base for the All Items indexes.
 This decision is based in part on the fact that historical data
 have less precision after rebasing.  Rebasing is simply an
 arithmetic transformation that does not substantially impact the
 index.  Because the rebased index values are smaller, however, the
 loss of precision due to rounding is more serious.  In addition,
 retaining the old index reference bases would spare users the
 inconvenience associated with conversion.
 
      Changes in the numerical reference base should not be
 confused with the plans by BLS to update the market basket of the
 CPI.  With release of the January CPI in February 1998, the
 expenditure weights applied to CPI categories will be 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 1993 through 1997 were
 replaced at the end of 1997.  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 of
 increases in excise taxes and wholesale tobacco prices.  For some
 alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis Seasonal
 Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise tax increases.
 For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the procedure was used to
 offset the effects of a large increase in coffee prices due to
 adverse weather.  For the Water and sewerage maintenance index,
 the procedure was used to account for a data collection anomaly.
 
      A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment,
 as well as a list of unusual events modeled and seasonal factors
 for these items may be obtained by writing the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes,
 Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire McAnaw Gallagher on
 (202) 606-6968.
 
 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      July 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       June      July                                            
                                                              1998      1998     July     June   Apr. to  May to June to
                                                                                 1997     1998     May     June    July 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     163.0     163.2      1.7      0.1     0.3     0.1     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     488.2     488.8        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     160.6     160.9      2.2      0.2     0.5     0.1     0.2 
   Food ......................................     15.326     160.1     160.5      2.2      0.2     0.6     0.1     0.2 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     160.5     160.8      2.0      0.2     0.8     0.1     0.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.536     181.6     181.8      2.0      0.1     0.4     0.3     0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.629     146.3     146.9     -0.9      0.4     0.3     0.0     0.5 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.037     148.1     148.2      3.4      0.1    -0.3     0.0     0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.394     198.1     198.2      7.4      0.1     5.3    -1.0     0.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.077     132.8     132.3     -2.9     -0.4    -0.5     0.4     0.0 
     Other food at home ......................      1.972     150.4     151.1      1.7      0.5    -0.1     0.8     0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     150.5     149.9      0.5     -0.4    -0.4     0.9    -0.7 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .291     143.3     147.6      4.4      3.0     0.6     1.6     2.6 
      Other foods ............................      1.305     165.6     165.9      2.9      0.2    -0.1     0.6     0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .309     102.5     102.6        -      0.1    -0.3     1.1     0.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.680     160.7     161.1      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .172     101.0     101.6        -      0.6     0.0     0.4     0.6 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .983     165.5     165.6      1.7      0.1     0.0     0.4     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.560     160.6     161.2      2.3      0.4     0.3     0.1     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     29.788     181.8     182.6      3.2      0.4     0.4     0.2     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................      6.885     171.7     172.2      3.2      0.3     0.4     0.3     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.327     109.6     111.7        -      1.9     1.0    -0.7    -0.7 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     20.199     187.4     188.0      3.2      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .377      99.1      99.3        -      0.2    -0.8    -0.5     0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.942     131.2     131.3     -0.6      0.1     0.1    -0.4     0.0 
    Fuels ....................................      4.018     116.8     116.8     -2.3      0.0     0.0    -0.5     0.0 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .261      89.5      87.8     -7.3     -1.9     0.0    -1.2    -0.3 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.757     124.7     124.9     -2.3      0.2     0.0    -0.4     0.0 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.831     126.7     127.2      1.3      0.4    -0.2     0.2     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.944     132.5     129.6     -0.5     -2.2     0.4     0.2    -0.3 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.390     131.0     129.4      1.1     -1.2    -0.4     0.2     0.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.990     125.8     120.6     -0.4     -4.1     1.0     0.6    -0.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .268     124.7     122.0     -7.1     -2.2     0.2    -1.7    -2.2 
   Footwear ..................................       .895     128.2     127.0      0.9     -0.9     0.6     1.5     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.578     141.7     141.8     -1.3      0.1     0.1    -0.3     0.3 
   Private transportation ....................     16.240     138.2     138.0     -1.5     -0.1     0.1    -0.1     0.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.899      99.7      99.9     -0.2      0.2     0.0    -0.1     0.4 
     New vehicles ............................      5.063     142.6     142.7     -0.7      0.1    -0.3    -0.3     0.5 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.880     150.9     151.3      0.9      0.3     1.2     0.6     0.3 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.995      94.8      93.7     -9.8     -1.2     0.9    -1.0     0.0 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.976      94.3      93.2    -10.0     -1.2     0.8    -0.9    -0.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .560     101.0     101.1     -1.2      0.1     0.1     0.5     0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.603     166.5     166.8      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.4     0.2 
   Public transportation .....................      1.338     188.2     192.0      1.4      2.0    -0.8    -1.1     1.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.614     242.0     242.7      3.4      0.3     0.3     0.4     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.222     222.1     222.2      2.9      0.0     0.7     0.2     0.0 
   Medical care services .....................      4.392     246.5     247.4      3.4      0.4     0.2     0.4     0.2 
    Professional services ....................      2.808     222.5     222.8      3.2      0.1     0.2     0.5     0.1 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.334     285.8     288.2      3.6      0.8     0.1     0.3     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.145     101.2     101.1      1.3     -0.1     0.0     0.1     0.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.763     101.2     101.1      1.2     -0.1    -0.2     0.0    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.528     100.1     100.0      2.1     -0.1     0.3     0.1     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.615     100.8     101.0      5.0      0.2     0.5     0.3     0.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .194     248.6     249.0      4.8      0.2     0.6     0.0     0.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.421     290.4     291.1      5.1      0.2     0.5     0.3     0.3 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.913      99.4      99.1     -1.5     -0.3     0.1     0.0    -0.3 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.706      99.3      99.0     -1.7     -0.3     0.1     0.0    -0.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.357     101.4     101.5        -      0.1     0.6     0.3     0.1 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .350      40.6      39.1    -20.4     -3.7    -3.0    -2.2    -3.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .234      80.0      75.2        -     -6.0    -4.5    -3.3    -6.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.321     236.4     237.8      6.4      0.6     0.7     0.0     0.7 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       .894     266.9     273.2     12.9      2.4     1.7    -0.6     2.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.427     156.8     157.0      2.9      0.1     0.4     0.1     0.1 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     149.2     149.1      3.8     -0.1     1.4    -0.1    -0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................       .963     165.3     166.1      2.2      0.5     0.1    -0.1     0.5 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.465     234.7     235.1      3.6      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.635     141.8     141.6      0.4     -0.1     0.4    -0.1     0.2 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     160.6     160.9      2.2      0.2     0.5     0.1     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     26.326     130.6     130.1     -0.7     -0.4     0.2    -0.1     0.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.729     133.0     131.8     -0.8     -0.9     0.7    -0.1     0.1 
    Apparel ..................................      4.944     132.5     129.6     -0.5     -2.2     0.4     0.2    -0.3 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.785     138.2     138.0     -0.9     -0.1     0.9     0.0     0.1 
   Durables ..................................     11.596     127.4     127.5     -0.6      0.1    -0.2     0.0     0.3 
 Services ....................................     57.365     184.2     184.9      2.7      0.4     0.3     0.1     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     29.410     189.3     190.1      3.3      0.4     0.4     0.2     0.1 
  Transportation services ....................      6.984     187.1     187.8      1.2      0.4    -0.2    -0.2     0.2 
  Other services .............................     10.625     216.6     216.9      3.7      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.674     163.5     163.6      1.6      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.212     157.3     157.3      1.1      0.0     0.2     0.1     0.2 
 All items less medical care .................     94.386     158.6     158.7      1.5      0.1     0.3     0.0     0.2 
 Commodities less food .......................     27.309     132.1     131.5     -0.6     -0.5     0.2    -0.1     0.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.712     134.9     133.8     -0.7     -0.8     0.7    -0.1     0.2 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.768     139.9     139.7     -0.8     -0.1     0.7     0.1     0.1 
 Nondurables .................................     31.039     146.9     146.4      0.7     -0.3     0.6    -0.1     0.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     27.955     192.1     192.6      2.0      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.3 
 Services less medical care services .........     52.973     178.4     179.0      2.5      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      7.013     105.7     105.2     -5.6     -0.5     0.3    -0.7     0.0 
 All items less energy .......................     92.987     170.5     170.8      2.3      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     77.661     173.0     173.3      2.2      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.053     142.8     142.4      0.6     -0.3     0.1     0.0     0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.256      94.5      93.3     -9.5     -1.3     0.8    -1.0    -0.1 
   Services less energy services .............     53.608     190.3     190.9      3.0      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .614    $ .613        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .205    $ .205        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Apr.    May     June    July                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Oct.   Jan.   Apr.   July   Jan.   July 
                                                                                1997   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  162.4   162.9   163.0   163.3    2.5    0.7    1.2    2.2    1.6    1.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  159.8   160.6   160.8   161.2    2.6    2.0    0.3    3.6    2.3    1.9 
   Food ......................................  159.5   160.4   160.6   161.0    2.8    1.8    0.3    3.8    2.3    2.0 
    Food at home .............................  159.4   160.7   160.8   161.3    2.6    1.5   -1.2    4.9    2.0    1.8 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  179.7   180.5   181.0   181.2    2.0    0.9    1.6    3.4    1.5    2.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.5   146.9   146.9   147.6   -2.1   -3.2   -2.2    3.0   -2.7    0.4 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  148.5   148.1   148.1   148.2    6.9    7.3    0.5   -0.8    7.1   -0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  193.3   203.5   201.4   202.0   10.0   11.8   -6.4   19.3   10.9    5.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  133.1   132.5   133.0   133.0   -1.5   -7.1   -2.7   -0.3   -4.3   -1.5 
     Other food at home ......................  149.3   149.2   150.4   150.9    0.8   -0.5    1.6    4.4    0.1    3.0 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  149.6   149.0   150.3   149.3   -1.3    4.9   -1.1   -0.8    1.8   -0.9 
      Fats and oils ..........................  140.3   141.1   143.3   147.0    2.0   -4.4    0.9   20.5   -1.3   10.3 
      Other foods ............................  164.7   164.5   165.5   165.7    3.0    3.0    2.7    2.5    3.0    2.6 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  101.7   101.4   102.5   102.6      -      -    5.3    3.6      -    4.4 
    Food away from home (1)...................  160.2   160.6   160.7   161.1    2.8    2.6    2.5    2.3    2.7    2.4 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  100.6   100.6   101.0   101.6      -      -    2.0    4.0      -    3.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  164.7   164.7   165.3   165.8    2.0    2.7   -0.5    2.7    2.3    1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  159.5   159.9   160.1   160.4    2.3    1.8    2.8    2.3    2.1    2.5 
   Shelter ...................................  180.6   181.3   181.6   181.9    3.2    3.2    3.6    2.9    3.2    3.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................  170.7   171.3   171.8   172.2    3.4    3.1    2.9    3.6    3.3    3.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  101.1   102.1   101.4   100.7      -      -    5.3   -1.6      -    1.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  186.6   187.2   187.6   188.1    2.7    3.3    3.7    3.3    3.0    3.5 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  100.4    99.6    99.1    99.3      -      -    0.4   -4.3      -   -2.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  128.7   128.8   128.3   128.3    1.2   -5.7   -1.2   -1.2   -2.3   -1.2 
    Fuels ....................................  113.5   113.5   112.9   112.9    1.0   -8.3   -2.4   -2.1   -3.7   -2.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   91.7    91.7    90.6    90.3   -4.0   -9.2   -9.8   -6.0   -6.7   -7.9 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  121.1   121.1   120.6   120.6    1.6   -8.1   -2.3   -1.6   -3.4   -2.0 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  126.7   126.4   126.6   127.0   -0.6    1.3    3.2    1.0    0.3    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  132.4   132.9   133.2   132.8   -1.2   -1.2   -0.3    1.2   -1.2    0.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  132.0   131.5   131.7   131.9    2.2    2.5    0.0   -0.3    2.3   -0.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  125.3   126.5   127.2   126.0   -2.8   -3.8    2.9    2.3   -3.3    2.6 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  126.6   126.9   124.7   122.0  -14.7   -4.4    5.9  -13.8   -9.7   -4.4 
   Footwear ..................................  125.8   126.5   128.4   128.5    4.8   -0.3   -9.0    8.9    2.2   -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  141.5   141.7   141.3   141.7    3.4   -4.6   -4.1    0.6   -0.7   -1.8 
   Private transportation ....................  137.9   138.1   137.9   138.2    3.5   -5.0   -4.8    0.9   -0.9   -2.0 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.2   100.2   100.1   100.5      -      -    0.4    1.2      -    0.8 
     New vehicles ............................  143.7   143.2   142.7   143.4   -1.1   -1.1    0.3   -0.8   -1.1   -0.3 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  148.2   150.0   150.9   151.3   -5.2    0.5    0.3    8.6   -2.4    4.4 
    Motor fuel ...............................   92.2    93.0    92.1    92.1   20.6  -24.6  -26.9   -0.4   -4.6  -14.7 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   91.6    92.3    91.5    91.3   23.1  -25.3  -27.6   -1.3   -4.1  -15.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.6   100.7   101.2   101.3   -3.8   -2.0   -1.6    2.8   -2.9    0.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  165.7   165.9   166.6   167.0    1.2    3.5    1.7    3.2    2.3    2.4 
   Public transportation .....................  191.7   190.2   188.2   190.1    4.3   -1.7    6.3   -3.3    1.3    1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  240.6   241.4   242.3   242.8    2.2    3.3    4.1    3.7    2.7    3.9 
   Medical care commodities ..................  219.7   221.2   221.6   221.7    0.4    3.6    3.5    3.7    2.0    3.6 
   Medical care services .....................  245.2   245.7   246.8   247.4    2.7    3.0    4.4    3.6    2.9    4.0 
    Professional services ....................  220.8   221.3   222.3   222.6    2.6    3.0    3.9    3.3    2.8    3.6 
    Hospital and related services ............  285.6   285.9   286.7   288.5    2.9    3.0    4.3    4.1    3.0    4.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.0   101.0   101.1   101.1      -      -    2.8    0.4      -    1.6 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.4   101.2   101.2   101.1    0.0    2.8    3.2   -1.2    1.4    1.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.5   100.8   100.9   100.9      -      -    2.0    1.6      -    1.8 
   Education (2)..............................  101.8   102.3   102.6   102.9      -      -    5.7    4.4      -    5.0 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  248.3   249.9   249.8   250.8    4.6    1.8    8.7    4.1    3.2    6.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   292.0   293.5   294.3   295.3    4.9    5.3    5.5    4.6    5.1    5.1 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.3    99.4    99.4    99.1   -2.4   -1.6   -1.2   -0.8   -2.0   -1.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.2    99.3    99.3    99.0   -2.8   -1.6   -1.6   -0.8   -2.2   -1.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.5   101.1   101.4   101.5      -      -    2.4    4.0      -    3.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   42.8    41.5    40.6    39.1   -1.6  -20.3  -26.3  -30.3  -11.5  -28.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   86.6    82.7    80.0    75.2      -      -  -36.2  -43.1      -  -39.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  235.4   237.0   236.9   238.5    6.2    5.0    6.4    5.4    5.6    5.9 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  264.0   268.4   266.9   273.8   12.2    7.1   17.1   15.7    9.6   16.4 
   Personal care (1)..........................  155.9   156.6   156.8   157.0    1.8    3.4    3.4    2.9    2.6    3.1 
    Personal care products (1)................  147.3   149.3   149.2   149.1    2.2    4.5    3.3    5.0    3.4    4.1 
    Personal care services (1)................  165.2   165.4   165.3   166.1    2.2    2.2    2.2    2.2    2.2    2.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  232.8   233.3   234.2   234.8    4.5    4.1    2.1    3.5    4.3    2.8 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  141.4   141.9   141.8   142.1    2.3   -1.1   -1.4    2.0    0.6    0.3 
  Food and beverages .........................  159.8   160.6   160.8   161.2    2.6    2.0    0.3    3.6    2.3    1.9 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.5   130.7   130.6   130.7    2.1   -3.0   -2.4    0.6   -0.5   -0.9 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  131.8   132.7   132.6   132.7    3.6   -5.8   -3.8    2.8   -1.2   -0.6 
    Apparel ..................................  132.4   132.9   133.2   132.8   -1.2   -1.2   -0.3    1.2   -1.2    0.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  136.3   137.5   137.5   137.6    7.1   -7.7   -6.2    3.9   -0.6   -1.3 
   Durables ..................................  127.7   127.4   127.4   127.8   -1.5   -0.3   -0.9    0.3   -0.9   -0.3 
 Services ....................................  183.4   183.9   184.1   184.4    2.7    2.0    3.3    2.2    2.3    2.8 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  188.2   189.0   189.3   189.5    3.3    3.3    3.5    2.8    3.3    3.1 
  Transportation services ....................  188.1   187.8   187.5   187.8    2.0    1.3    2.2   -0.6    1.6    0.7 
  Other services .............................  216.1   216.8   217.5   217.8    3.1    3.0    4.0    3.2    3.1    3.6 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  162.8   163.2   163.3   163.6    2.5    0.5    1.5    2.0    1.5    1.7 
 All items less shelter ......................  156.8   157.1   157.2   157.5    2.3   -0.3    0.3    1.8    1.0    1.0 
 All items less medical care .................  157.8   158.3   158.3   158.6    2.6    0.5    1.0    2.0    1.5    1.5 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.0   132.2   132.1   132.3    2.1   -2.7   -2.4    0.9   -0.3   -0.8 
 Nondurables less food .......................  133.8   134.7   134.5   134.8    3.3   -4.9   -3.8    3.0   -0.9   -0.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  138.1   139.1   139.2   139.3    6.4   -6.6   -5.9    3.5   -0.3   -1.3 
 Nondurables .................................  145.9   146.8   146.7   147.0    2.8   -0.5   -2.4    3.1    1.1    0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  191.2   191.7   191.9   192.4    2.1    0.6    2.8    2.5    1.4    2.7 
 Services less medical care services .........  177.6   178.0   178.3   178.7    2.8    2.1    3.0    2.5    2.4    2.7 
 Energy ......................................  102.9   103.2   102.5   102.5    9.1  -15.5  -13.5   -1.5   -4.0   -7.7 
 All items less energy .......................  170.2   170.7   170.9   171.3    2.2    1.9    2.4    2.6    2.0    2.5 
  All items less food and energy .............  172.9   173.3   173.5   173.8    1.9    2.1    2.8    2.1    2.0    2.5 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.0   143.2   143.2   143.4    0.0    0.6    1.1    1.1    0.3    1.1 
    Energy commodities .......................   92.1    92.8    91.9    91.8   17.6  -23.0  -25.7   -1.3   -4.9  -14.4 
   Services less energy services .............  189.7   190.2   190.5   190.9    2.8    2.8    3.7    2.6    2.8    3.1 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 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                                  July1998 from--      June1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Apr.    May   June   July                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998   July    May   June   June   Apr.    May 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    162.5  162.8  163.0  163.2    1.7    0.2    0.1    1.7    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    169.5  169.4  169.6  169.9    1.4    0.3    0.2    1.6    0.1    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    170.2  170.2  170.4  170.7    1.5    0.3    0.2    1.6    0.1    0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    102.1  101.8  101.9  102.0    1.0    0.2    0.1    1.3   -0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    159.0  159.4  159.5  159.8    2.0    0.3    0.2    1.8    0.3    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    160.1  160.5  160.8  161.2    2.5    0.4    0.2    2.2    0.4    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.9  102.3  102.2  102.2    1.6   -0.1    0.0    1.5    0.3   -0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    153.2  153.4  153.3  153.5    0.6    0.1    0.1    0.5    0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    158.5  158.8  159.1  159.3    1.5    0.3    0.1    1.3    0.4    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    157.6  157.7  158.4  158.5    1.7    0.5    0.1    1.7    0.5    0.4 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.0  102.2  102.3  102.4    1.1    0.2    0.1    1.0    0.3    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    159.1  159.3  160.0  160.0    2.3    0.4    0.0    2.4    0.6    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    163.6  164.3  164.2  164.3    2.0    0.0    0.1    2.0    0.4   -0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    164.2  165.0  165.0  165.1    2.4    0.1    0.1    2.4    0.5    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.2  102.4  102.3  102.3    1.0   -0.1    0.0    1.0    0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    147.0  147.3  147.5  147.7    2.0    0.3    0.1    2.0    0.3    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.0  102.2  102.2  102.3    1.2    0.1    0.1    1.2    0.2    0.0 
   D .........................................   M    158.5  158.8  159.2  159.3    1.7    0.3    0.1    1.7    0.4    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    164.8  165.6  166.0  166.5    3.0    0.5    0.3    2.7    0.7    0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    161.8  162.3  162.2  162.1    1.6   -0.1   -0.1    1.8    0.2   -0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    173.0  173.0  173.1  173.6    1.6    0.3    0.3    1.6    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  170.9      -  170.7    2.2   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  159.2      -  159.9    2.3    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  153.0      -  154.2      -    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1        -  101.5      -  102.8    1.7    1.3      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    160.8      -  162.0      -      -      -      -      -    0.7      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    159.1      -  159.4      -      -      -      -    2.8    0.2      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    146.3      -  146.4      -      -      -      -    1.1    0.1      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    160.2      -  160.2      -      -      -      -      -    0.0      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    167.1      -  168.0      -      -      -      -    1.1    0.5      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    164.6      -  165.5      -      -      -      -    3.4    0.5      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    166.4      -  167.5      -      -      -      -      -    0.7      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      July 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       June      July                                            
                                                              1998      1998     July     June   Apr. to  May to June to
                                                                                 1997     1998     May     June    July 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     159.7     159.8      1.5      0.1     0.3     0.1     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     475.6     476.0        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     159.9     160.2      2.0      0.2     0.6     0.1     0.3 
   Food ......................................     16.861     159.5     159.8      2.0      0.2     0.6     0.1     0.3 
    Food at home .............................     10.785     159.4     159.7      1.8      0.2     0.8     0.1     0.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.678     181.4     181.6      2.1      0.1     0.5     0.3     0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.125     145.9     146.6     -0.9      0.5     0.3     0.1     0.5 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.135     147.7     147.8      3.4      0.1    -0.3    -0.1     0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.447     197.1     197.3      7.2      0.1     5.2    -1.2     0.5 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.215     131.6     131.2     -2.7     -0.3    -0.5     0.4     0.2 
     Other food at home ......................      2.185     149.8     150.5      1.8      0.5     0.0     0.7     0.5 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     150.5     149.9      0.5     -0.4    -0.5     0.9    -0.6 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .332     143.1     147.3      4.4      2.9     0.8     1.4     2.5 
      Other foods ............................      1.432     165.5     165.9      2.9      0.2     0.0     0.5     0.4 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .344     102.5     102.8        -      0.3    -0.2     1.0     0.3 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.076     160.8     161.1      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .212     101.0     101.5        -      0.5     0.0     0.4     0.5 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.042     164.3     164.5      1.4      0.1    -0.1     0.3     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.450     157.0     157.6      2.3      0.4     0.3     0.1     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     27.033     176.4     177.0      3.1      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................      8.347     171.3     171.8      3.2      0.3     0.4     0.3     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.346     110.0     111.9        -      1.7     0.5    -0.2    -1.1 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     17.016     170.8     171.2      3.1      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .324      99.3      99.4        -      0.1    -0.8    -0.4     0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      5.053     131.3     131.5     -0.3      0.2    -0.1    -0.3     0.1 
    Fuels ....................................      4.143     116.5     116.6     -2.1      0.1    -0.1    -0.4     0.0 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .229      90.0      88.2     -6.7     -2.0     0.0    -1.0    -0.3 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.914     124.5     124.6     -2.1      0.1    -0.1    -0.4     0.1 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.365     125.2     125.6      1.2      0.3    -0.2     0.0     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.300     131.0     128.2     -1.2     -2.1     0.3     0.3    -0.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.503     130.7     129.1      0.9     -1.2    -0.5     0.2     0.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.985     123.4     118.6     -1.7     -3.9     0.9     0.5    -1.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .337     125.4     122.7     -7.0     -2.2     0.4    -1.6    -2.2 
   Footwear ..................................      1.082     128.8     127.4      0.5     -1.1     0.5     1.5    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.847     140.9     140.8     -1.5     -0.1     0.1    -0.1     0.2 
   Private transportation ....................     18.790     138.5     138.2     -1.6     -0.2     0.2    -0.1     0.1 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.285     100.0     100.2      0.0      0.2     0.1     0.0     0.4 
     New vehicles ............................      5.304     143.8     143.9     -0.7      0.1    -0.4    -0.3     0.4 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.162     152.3     152.7      0.9      0.3     1.2     0.7     0.3 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.682      95.0      93.9     -9.7     -1.2     0.9    -0.9    -0.2 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.658      94.5      93.4     -9.8     -1.2     0.7    -0.9    -0.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .694     100.3     100.5     -1.0      0.2     0.0     0.6     0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.664     167.6     168.0      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.4     0.2 
   Public transportation .....................      1.057     185.5     188.7      1.3      1.7    -0.7    -0.8     0.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.591     241.4     242.1      3.4      0.3     0.3     0.5     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .906     218.9     219.1      2.7      0.1     0.7     0.2     0.1 
   Medical care services .....................      3.684     246.4     247.2      3.5      0.3     0.2     0.5     0.2 
    Professional services ....................      2.372     224.1     224.4      3.3      0.1     0.3     0.5     0.1 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.097     282.0     284.3      3.6      0.8     0.2     0.3     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.969     101.0     100.9      1.1     -0.1    -0.2     0.1    -0.1 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.968     101.1     101.0      1.0     -0.1    -0.3     0.0    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.396     100.3     100.2      2.1     -0.1     0.4     0.1     0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.402     100.9     101.1      5.1      0.2     0.5     0.3     0.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .192     250.9     251.3      4.7      0.2     0.8    -0.1     0.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.211     284.7     285.3      5.1      0.2     0.4     0.3     0.3 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.994      99.8      99.6     -1.0     -0.2     0.2     0.1    -0.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.841      99.8      99.5     -1.2     -0.3     0.2     0.1    -0.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.547     101.4     101.5        -      0.1     0.7     0.2     0.1 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .294      41.8      40.2    -19.8     -3.8    -3.4    -1.9    -3.8 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191      79.5      74.4        -     -6.4    -4.8    -2.9    -6.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.544     234.0     236.0      7.1      0.9     0.8    -0.1     0.9 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.300     266.6     273.4     13.1      2.6     1.5    -0.6     2.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.244     156.8     157.0      3.0      0.1     0.5     0.1     0.1 
    Personal care products (1)................       .832     150.3     150.1      3.8     -0.1     1.4    -0.1    -0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................       .964     165.6     166.4      2.3      0.5     0.1    -0.1     0.5 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.226     233.6     233.9      3.7      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     47.234     141.7     141.5      0.4     -0.1     0.3     0.0     0.2 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     159.9     160.2      2.0      0.2     0.6     0.1     0.3 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     29.331     130.7     130.3     -0.8     -0.3     0.2    -0.1     0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.928     132.5     131.4     -1.1     -0.8     0.7    -0.2     0.4 
    Apparel ..................................      5.300     131.0     128.2     -1.2     -2.1     0.3     0.3    -0.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.628     137.8     137.7     -1.0     -0.1     1.0    -0.2     0.1 
   Durables ..................................     13.403     127.2     127.3     -0.5      0.1    -0.3     0.0     0.5 
 Services ....................................     52.766     181.1     181.6      2.5      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     26.708     169.8     170.4      3.1      0.4     0.2     0.3     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.824     184.9     185.2      1.3      0.2    -0.1    -0.1     0.2 
  Other services .............................     10.006     213.4     213.7      3.8      0.1     0.3     0.3     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.139     159.6     159.7      1.4      0.1     0.3     0.1     0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.967     155.1     155.0      0.9     -0.1     0.3     0.0     0.2 
 All items less medical care .................     95.409     155.9     156.0      1.4      0.1     0.3     0.1     0.2 
 Commodities less food .......................     30.373     132.1     131.6     -0.7     -0.4     0.2    -0.1     0.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.970     134.4     133.4     -1.0     -0.7     0.6    -0.1     0.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.670     139.4     139.3     -0.8     -0.1     0.7    -0.3     0.2 
 Nondurables .................................     33.831     146.5     146.1      0.6     -0.3     0.6    -0.1     0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     26.057     171.2     171.5      2.0      0.2     0.4     0.1     0.2 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.082     175.5     176.0      2.4      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      7.825     105.0     104.5     -5.7     -0.5     0.3    -0.6    -0.1 
 All items less energy .......................     92.175     167.2     167.4      2.1      0.1     0.3     0.1     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     75.315     169.2     169.4      2.1      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.463     142.3     142.0      0.6     -0.2     0.1     0.0     0.2 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.910      94.8      93.7     -9.4     -1.2     0.8    -0.8    -0.2 
   Services less energy services .............     48.852     187.3     187.9      2.9      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .626    $ .626        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .210    $ .210        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Apr.    May     June    July                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Oct.   Jan.   Apr.   July   Jan.   July 
                                                                                1997   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  159.0   159.5   159.6   159.9    2.6    0.5    0.8    2.3    1.5    1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  159.2   160.1   160.2   160.7    2.6    1.8    0.0    3.8    2.2    1.9 
   Food ......................................  158.8   159.7   159.8   160.3    2.3    2.0    0.0    3.8    2.2    1.9 
    Food at home .............................  158.4   159.7   159.8   160.3    2.3    1.3   -1.3    4.9    1.8    1.8 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  179.4   180.3   180.8   181.0    1.8    0.9    1.8    3.6    1.4    2.7 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.1   146.5   146.6   147.3   -2.4   -2.9   -2.4    3.3   -2.7    0.4 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  148.2   147.8   147.7   147.8    7.2    6.8    0.8   -1.1    7.0   -0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  193.0   203.0   200.5   201.6   10.0   12.7   -6.9   19.1   11.4    5.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  131.9   131.2   131.7   131.9   -1.2   -7.2   -2.4    0.0   -4.2   -1.2 
     Other food at home ......................  148.6   148.6   149.7   150.4    0.8   -0.3    1.4    4.9    0.3    3.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  149.6   148.9   150.2   149.3   -1.9    5.2   -0.8   -0.8    1.6   -0.8 
      Fats and oils ..........................  140.0   141.1   143.1   146.7    2.3   -3.9    0.0   20.6   -0.9    9.8 
      Other foods ............................  164.5   164.5   165.3   165.9    2.8    3.2    2.2    3.4    3.0    2.8 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  101.7   101.5   102.5   102.8      -      -    4.9    4.4      -    4.6 
    Food away from home (1)...................  160.2   160.6   160.8   161.1    2.8    2.8    2.3    2.3    2.8    2.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  100.6   100.6   101.0   101.5      -      -    2.0    3.6      -    2.8 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  163.7   163.6   164.1   164.7    1.5    2.7   -0.7    2.5    2.1    0.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  155.9   156.3   156.5   156.8    2.4    1.3    2.9    2.3    1.8    2.6 
   Shelter ...................................  175.4   176.0   176.4   176.8    3.1    3.3    3.3    3.2    3.2    3.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................  170.3   171.0   171.5   172.0    3.2    3.1    2.6    4.1    3.1    3.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  101.6   102.1   101.9   100.8      -      -    6.1   -3.1      -    1.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  170.0   170.6   170.9   171.4    2.7    3.1    3.6    3.3    2.9    3.5 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  100.5    99.7    99.3    99.4      -      -    0.4   -4.3      -   -2.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  128.5   128.4   128.0   128.1    1.2   -5.7   -0.9   -1.2   -2.3   -1.1 
    Fuels ....................................  112.9   112.8   112.4   112.4    1.0   -8.7   -2.1   -1.8   -3.9   -1.9 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   92.0    92.0    91.1    90.8   -4.5   -8.8   -7.9   -5.1   -6.7   -6.5 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  120.6   120.5   120.0   120.1    1.6   -8.7   -1.6   -1.6   -3.7   -1.6 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  125.3   125.0   125.0   125.5   -0.6    1.3    3.6    0.6    0.3    2.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  130.7   131.1   131.5   131.0   -1.5   -2.1   -1.8    0.9   -1.8   -0.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.7   131.1   131.4   131.6    0.9    2.2    0.9   -0.3    1.5    0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  122.9   124.0   124.6   123.4   -4.1   -4.4   -0.3    1.6   -4.2    0.7 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  126.9   127.4   125.4   122.7  -12.4   -7.3    5.2  -12.6   -9.9   -4.1 
   Footwear ..................................  126.5   127.1   129.0   128.8    6.4   -0.9  -10.1    7.5    2.7   -1.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  140.4   140.6   140.4   140.7    3.4   -5.2   -4.2    0.9   -1.0   -1.7 
   Private transportation ....................  137.8   138.1   138.0   138.2    3.5   -5.5   -4.8    1.2   -1.1   -1.9 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.2   100.3   100.3   100.7      -      -    0.4    2.0      -    1.2 
     New vehicles ............................  145.0   144.4   144.0   144.6   -0.5   -1.9    0.8   -1.1   -1.2   -0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  149.5   151.3   152.3   152.7   -5.2    0.8   -0.5    8.8   -2.2    4.0 
    Motor fuel ...............................   92.4    93.2    92.4    92.2   20.2  -24.9  -25.6   -0.9   -5.0  -14.1 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   91.9    92.5    91.7    91.5   22.1  -25.3  -26.3   -1.7   -4.5  -14.9 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.0   100.0   100.6   100.7   -3.9   -0.8   -2.0    2.8   -2.3    0.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  166.8   167.0   167.7   168.1    1.2    3.2    1.9    3.2    2.2    2.5 
   Public transportation .....................  188.4   187.0   185.5   187.2    4.4   -2.1    5.7   -2.5    1.1    1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  239.8   240.5   241.6   242.1    2.6    3.3    3.8    3.9    2.9    3.8 
   Medical care commodities ..................  216.6   218.1   218.5   218.7    0.8    3.2    3.0    3.9    2.0    3.5 
   Medical care services .....................  244.9   245.4   246.6   247.2    2.9    3.2    4.0    3.8    3.0    3.9 
    Professional services ....................  222.0   222.7   223.9   224.1    2.8    2.8    3.7    3.8    2.8    3.8 
    Hospital and related services ............  281.4   282.0   282.8   284.5    2.9    3.1    3.8    4.5    3.0    4.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.0   100.8   100.9   100.8      -      -    2.8   -0.8      -    1.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.4   101.1   101.1   101.0   -0.4    2.4    3.6   -1.6    1.0    1.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.5   100.9   101.0   101.1      -      -    2.4    2.4      -    2.4 
   Education (2)..............................  101.8   102.3   102.6   102.9      -      -    6.1    4.4      -    5.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  250.7   252.6   252.4   253.3    4.0    1.6    9.1    4.2    2.8    6.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   286.4   287.5   288.5   289.4    5.2    5.0    6.2    4.3    5.1    5.2 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.5    99.7    99.8    99.6   -2.8   -0.8   -0.8    0.4   -1.8   -0.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.5    99.7    99.8    99.5   -3.1   -1.2   -0.4    0.0   -2.2   -0.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.5   101.2   101.4   101.5      -      -    2.4    4.0      -    3.2 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   44.1    42.6    41.8    40.2    0.0  -17.8  -26.9  -31.0   -9.4  -29.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   86.0    81.9    79.5    74.4      -      -  -37.2  -44.0      -  -40.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  232.8   234.6   234.3   236.3    6.6    5.4    7.7    6.2    6.0    6.9 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  264.4   268.3   266.6   273.7   12.3    7.3   18.2   14.8    9.7   16.5 
   Personal care (1)..........................  155.9   156.7   156.8   157.0    2.4    3.2    3.7    2.9    2.8    3.3 
    Personal care products (1)................  148.4   150.5   150.3   150.1    2.2    4.5    3.9    4.7    3.3    4.3 
    Personal care services (1)................  165.5   165.7   165.6   166.4    2.2    2.5    2.5    2.2    2.4    2.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  231.8   232.3   233.1   233.7    4.5    4.5    2.3    3.3    4.5    2.8 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  141.2   141.6   141.6   141.9    2.6   -1.4   -1.7    2.0    0.6    0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................  159.2   160.1   160.2   160.7    2.6    1.8    0.0    3.8    2.2    1.9 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.3   130.6   130.5   130.7    2.5   -3.6   -2.7    1.2   -0.6   -0.8 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  131.3   132.2   131.9   132.4    3.6   -6.1   -4.7    3.4   -1.3   -0.8 
    Apparel ..................................  130.7   131.1   131.5   131.0   -1.5   -2.1   -1.8    0.9   -1.8   -0.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  135.9   137.2   136.9   137.1    7.7   -8.5   -6.2    3.6   -0.7   -1.4 
   Durables ..................................  127.4   127.0   127.0   127.6   -1.9   -0.3   -0.3    0.6   -1.1    0.2 
 Services ....................................  180.2   180.6   180.9   181.2    2.5    2.0    3.2    2.2    2.3    2.7 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  169.0   169.3   169.8   170.1    2.9    3.4    3.4    2.6    3.2    3.0 
  Transportation services ....................  185.6   185.5   185.3   185.6    1.3    1.8    2.0    0.0    1.5    1.0 
  Other services .............................  212.9   213.6   214.2   214.5    3.3    3.1    4.2    3.0    3.2    3.6 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  158.7   159.1   159.2   159.5    2.6    0.0    1.0    2.0    1.3    1.5 
 All items less shelter ......................  154.4   154.9   154.9   155.2    2.4   -0.5   -0.3    2.1    0.9    0.9 
 All items less medical care .................  155.1   155.6   155.7   156.0    2.6    0.0    0.8    2.3    1.3    1.6 
 Commodities less food .......................  131.8   132.1   132.0   132.2    2.4   -3.2   -2.7    1.2   -0.5   -0.8 
 Nondurables less food .......................  133.3   134.1   134.0   134.2    3.6   -5.7   -4.1    2.7   -1.2   -0.7 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  137.6   138.6   138.2   138.5    9.5   -8.4   -5.9    2.6    0.1   -1.7 
 Nondurables .................................  145.5   146.4   146.3   146.7    2.5   -0.8   -2.7    3.3    0.8    0.3 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  170.1   170.7   170.8   171.1    2.4    0.5    2.4    2.4    1.4    2.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  174.5   175.0   175.4   175.7    2.6    1.9    2.6    2.8    2.2    2.7 
 Energy ......................................  102.2   102.5   101.9   101.8    9.9  -16.8  -13.6   -1.6   -4.4   -7.8 
 All items less energy .......................  166.9   167.4   167.6   168.0    2.0    2.0    2.2    2.7    2.0    2.4 
  All items less food and energy .............  169.1   169.5   169.7   170.1    1.7    1.9    2.6    2.4    1.8    2.5 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  142.5   142.7   142.7   143.0    0.0    0.3    1.1    1.4    0.1    1.3 
    Energy commodities .......................   92.4    93.1    92.4    92.2   18.0  -23.9  -24.7   -0.9   -5.2  -13.6 
   Services less energy services .............  187.0   187.5   187.9   188.2    2.7    2.9    3.5    2.6    2.8    3.0 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 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                                  July1998 from--      June1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Apr.    May   June   July                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998   July    May   June   June   Apr.    May 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    159.1  159.5  159.7  159.8    1.5    0.2    0.1    1.5    0.4    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    166.3  166.4  166.5  166.6    1.2    0.1    0.1    1.3    0.1    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    166.0  166.1  166.3  166.5    1.3    0.2    0.1    1.4    0.2    0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.5  101.5  101.5  101.5    0.7    0.0    0.0    1.0    0.0    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    155.0  155.6  155.7  155.9    1.8    0.2    0.1    1.7    0.5    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    155.4  155.9  156.2  156.5    2.4    0.4    0.2    2.2    0.5    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.7  102.1  101.9  101.9    1.4   -0.2    0.0    1.3    0.2   -0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    150.9  151.3  151.3  151.7    0.7    0.3    0.3    0.3    0.3    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    156.4  156.7  157.1  157.2    1.2    0.3    0.1    1.1    0.4    0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    155.1  155.3  155.9  156.1    1.4    0.5    0.1    1.3    0.5    0.4 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    101.5  101.8  101.8  101.9    0.9    0.1    0.1    0.7    0.3    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    159.1  159.6  160.4  160.4    2.4    0.5    0.0    2.5    0.8    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    159.6  160.3  160.3  160.3    1.7    0.0    0.0    1.8    0.4    0.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    158.5  159.4  159.3  159.3    2.0   -0.1    0.0    2.1    0.5   -0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.0  102.2  102.1  102.1    0.8   -0.1    0.0    0.8    0.1   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    145.4  145.8  146.0  146.2    1.8    0.3    0.1    1.7    0.4    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    101.6  101.9  101.8  101.9    1.0    0.0    0.1    0.9    0.2   -0.1 
   D .........................................   M    157.3  157.8  158.1  158.3    1.6    0.3    0.1    1.5    0.5    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    159.0  159.9  160.2  160.6    2.9    0.4    0.2    2.7    0.8    0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    155.6  156.2  156.1  155.9    1.4   -0.2   -0.1    1.5    0.3   -0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    168.5  168.6  168.8  169.1    1.5    0.3    0.2    1.6    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  168.9      -  168.8    1.8   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  151.2      -  152.1    2.6    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  152.8      -  154.0      -    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1        -  101.3      -  102.5    1.4    1.2      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    157.7      -  159.3      -      -      -      -      -    1.0      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    153.5      -  154.0      -      -      -      -    2.8    0.3      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    144.8      -  145.1      -      -      -      -    0.7    0.2      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    157.4      -  157.6      -      -      -      -      -    0.1      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    166.5      -  167.4      -      -      -      -    1.3    0.5      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    160.8      -  161.7      -      -      -      -    3.0    0.6      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    161.9      -  162.8      -      -      -      -      -    0.6      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.