FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-98-420
 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:                          Friday, October 16,1998
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
 
                                     
                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  SEPTEMBER 1998
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.1
 percent in September, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 163.6
 (1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
 Labor reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in September, the CPI-
 U has increased 1.5 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also rose 0.1 percent in September, prior to seasonal adjustment.
 The September 1998 CPI-W level of 160.2 was 1.2 percent higher than the
 index in September 1997.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
     
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U was unchanged in September,
 following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the preceding two months.
 In September, the food index was unchanged.  Prices for food at home fell
 0.2 percent, as declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables and for
 meats, poultry, fish, and eggs more than offset another sharp increase in
 prices for dairy products.  The energy index, which declined 1.0 percent
 in August, fell 1.3 percent in September.  The index for petroleum-based
 energy decreased 2.1 percent, and the index for energy services fell 0.8
 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U increased 0.2 percent in
 September, the same as in July and August.  Larger increases in the
 indexes for shelter and for cigarettes were offset by declines in the
 indexes for apparel and for public transportation.

 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
                     Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug. Sep.   Sep. `98   Sep.`98
 All Items            .0    .2   .3   .1   .2   .2   .0    1.5       1.5
  Food and beverages  .0    .1   .5   .1   .2   .3   .0    2.3       2.0
  Housing             .2    .4   .3   .1   .2   .1   .2    2.3       2.4
  Apparel            -.2   -.1   .4   .2  -.3  1.1  -.7     .0        .5
  Transportation     -.5   -.1   .1  -.3   .3   .0  -.4    -.6      -2.5
  Medical care        .3    .4   .3   .4   .2   .4   .3    3.5       3.6
  Recreation          .4    .0   .0   .1   .0   .1   .1     .8       1.4
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .3    .3   .3   .1   .0  -.5   .0   -2.0       1.2
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         -.3   1.0   .7   .0   .7   .1   .9    6.9       5.4
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy           -1.2   -.1   .3  -.7   .0 -1.0 -1.3   -8.7      -9.8
   Food               .0    .1   .6   .1   .2   .2   .0    2.0       2.0
   All Items less                                                       
    food and energy   .1    .3   .2   .1   .2   .2   .2    2.3       2.5
 
 
 Beginning with release of data for January 1999, the BLS will change the
 treatment of mandated pollution control measures in the CPI.  See page 5
 for more details.  See pages 7-9 for prior announcements of other
 methodological changes to be introduced with data for January 1999.
 
      Consumer prices rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of
 1.5 percent in the third quarter.  This followed increases of 0.2 and 2.5
 percent rate in the first and second quarters, respectively, and brings
 the year-to-date annual rate to 1.4 percent.  This compares with an
 increase of 1.7 percent for all of 1997.  Energy prices, which fell 3.4
 percent in 1997, have continued to act as a moderating influence,
 declining at a 10.9 percent SAAR though the first 9 months of 1998.  The
 index for petroleum-based energy fell at an 18.0 percent annual rate, and
 energy services, at a 4.8 percent SAAR.  The food index has risen at a 2.1
 percent SAAR thus far in 1997, following a 1.5 percent increase for all of
 1997.  Grocery store food prices, which advanced 1.0 percent in 1997, have
 risen at a 1.8 percent rate thus far in 1998.  A further decline in the
 index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs and a sharp downturn in coffee
 prices helped to partially offset the effect of larger increases in each
 of the other major grocery store food groups.
      
       Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 2.3 percent SAAR
 in the third quarter, following increases of 2.4 and 2.6 percent,
 respectively, in the first two quarters of 1998.  The 2.4 percent SAAR in
 the first nine months of 1998 compares with a 2.2 percent rise for all of
 1997.  An acceleration in the index for medical care, which had
 decelerated each year since 1990, coupled with a sharp increase in tobacco
 prices, accounted for the larger rate of advance thus far in 1998.  The
 rates for selected groups for the last four and three-quarter years are
 shown below.
     
                         
                                  Percent change 
                    
                                                     SAAR 9 months
                       12 months ended in December   ended in Sep.
                   
                       1994   1995   1996   1997      1998
 All Items              2.7    2.5    3.3    1.7       1.4
    Food and            
     beverages          2.7    2.1    4.2    1.6       2.0
    Housing             2.2    3.0    2.9    2.4       2.3
    Apparel            -1.6     .1    -.2    1.0        .0
    Transportation      3.8    1.5    4.4   -1.4      -2.2
    Medical care        4.9    3.9    3.0    2.8       3.7
    Recreation          1.4    2.8    3.0    1.5       1.7
    Education and                                 
     communication      3.3    4.0    3.4    3.0        .5
    Other goods and                               
     services           4.2    4.3    3.6    5.2       5.9
 Special indexes                                  
    Energy              2.2   -1.3    8.6   -3.4     -10.9
     Energy commodities 5.2   -3.3   13.8   -6.9     -18.0
     Energy services    -.6     .8    3.8     .2      -4.8
    All items less      
     energy             2.6    2.9    2.9    2.1       2.4
     Food               2.9    2.1    4.3    1.5       2.1
     All Items less                                
      food and energy   2.6    3.0    2.6    2.2       2.4
     
      The food and beverages index was unchanged in September.  The index
 for food at home declined 0.2 percent in September, following a 0.3
 percent rise in August.  The index for dairy products rose 1.6 percent in
 September, the same as in August.  In September, this increase was more
 than offset by declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables and for
 meats, poultry, fish, and eggs--down 2.0 and 0.7 percent, respectively.
 Within the latter group, prices for beef, pork, fish and seafood, and eggs
 each declined in September, more than offsetting a 0.3 percent rise in
 poultry prices.  Prices for each of the major fruit and vegetable groups
 fell in September.  The indexes for fresh fruits and for fresh vegetables
 declined 3.6 and 1.5 percent, respectively; prices for processed fruits
 and vegetables dropped 0.3 percent.  Among the other major grocery store
 food groups, the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for
 nonalcoholic beverages were unchanged and the index for other food at home
 rose 0.3 percent in September.  The increase in the latter group was due
 to a 10.2 percent increase in butter prices. The other two components of
 the food and beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--
 each rose 0.4 percent.
      
      The housing component rose 0.2 percent in September.  Shelter costs
 rose 0.5 percent, following an increase of 0.3 percent in August.  Within
 shelter, the indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent each rose
 0.3 percent; the cost of lodging away from home increased 2.8 percent.
 (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from home
 declined 2.7 percent.)  Partially offsetting the larger increase in
 shelter costs were declines in the indexes for fuel and utilities and for
 household furnishings and operation.  The index for fuels and utilities
 declined 0.6 percent in September, reflecting decreases in all three major
 household fuels.   The indexes for electricity and for natural gas
 declined 0.8 and 0.6 percent, respectively, and fuel oil prices fell 1.9
 percent. The index for household furnishings and operations declined 0.3
 percent in September, following a 0.2 percent drop in August.
     
      The transportation component declined 0.4 percent in September.  The
 index for motor fuel, which declined 1.6 percent in August, fell 2.0
 percent in September.  Gasoline prices have fallen 11.6 percent thus far
 in 1998 and are 24.7 percent lower than their peak level in November 1990.
 The index for new and used vehicle prices rose 0.1 percent.  The index for
 new vehicles, which increased 0.3 percent in August, declined 0.1 percent
 in September.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle prices fell 0.4
 percent.)  The index for used cars and trucks increased 0.5 percent.
 Public transportation costs, which increased 2.2 percent in August,
 declined 1.6 percent in September, reflecting a drop in airline fares.
 
      The index for apparel fell 0.7 percent in September, following a 1.1
 percent rise in August.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices
 rose 1.5 percent, reflecting the introduction of higher priced fall-winter
 wear.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in September to a level 3.6
 percent above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--
 prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased
 0.6 percent.  The index for medical care services rose 0.2 percent.
 Charges for professional services rose 0.3 percent, while those for
 hospital and related services were unchanged.
 
      The index for recreation costs rose 0.1 percent in September.  A 0.8
 percent increases in the index for cable television was largely offset by
 declines in the indexes for sporting goods, for televisions, and for pets,
 pet products and services.
     
      The index for education and communication was unchanged in September,
 following a 0.5 percent decline in August.  Education costs were unchanged
 as a 0.3 percent decline in the index for college tuition was offset by a
 1.2- percent increase in the index for educational books and supplies.
 (Prior to seasonal adjustment, college tuition cost and educational books
 and supplies each rose 1.8 percent in September.)  The index for
 communication also was unchanged as a 0.3 percent increase in the index
 for telephone services was offset by a 2.4 percent decline in the index
 for information processing costs.  Within the latter group, the index for
 personal computers and peripheral equipment declined 3.7 percent.
 
      The index for other goods and services rose 0.9 percent in September,
 following an increase of 0.1 percent in August.  The advance largely was
 attributable to a sharp acceleration in the index for tobacco and smoking
 products, which rose 3.3 percent after increasing 0.1 percent in August.

 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 0.1 percent in September.

 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                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                    Mar. Apr. May  June July Aug. Sep.   Sep.`98   Sep.`98
                                                                     
 All Items          -.1    .3   .3   .1   .2   .1   .1    1.3       1.2
  Food and beverages .0    .0   .6   .1   .3   .2   .0    2.3       1.9
  Housing            .3    .3   .3   .1   .2   .1   .2    1.8       2.2
  Apparel           -.5    .2   .3   .3  -.4   .9  -.5     .3       -.1
  Transportation    -.6    .0   .1  -.1   .2  -.1  -.4   -1.4      -2.8
  Medical care       .3    .4   .3   .5   .2   .3   .3    3.5       3.6
  Recreation         .3    .1  -.2   .1  -.1   .2   .0     .4       1.0
  Education and                                                        
   communication     .4    .2   .4   .1   .1  -.5   .1   -1.2       1.4
  Other goods and                                                    
   services         -.6   1.4   .8  -.1   .9   .2  1.3    9.5       6.6
 Special Indexes                                                       
  Energy           -1.3   -.2   .3  -.6  -.1 -1.1 -1.4   -9.8     -10.3
  Food               .0    .1   .6   .1   .3   .3  -.1    2.3       1.9
  All Items less                                                       
    food and energy  .1    .4   .2   .1   .2   .2   .2    2.4       2.3
 
 Consumer Price Index data for October are scheduled for release on
 Tuesday, November 17, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Changing the Treatment of Mandated
 Pollution Control Measures in the
 Consumer Price Index
  
      Beginning in 1999, modifications to goods and services made
 solely for purposes of meeting air pollution standards, and that do
 not otherwise provide direct value to consumers, will no longer be
 treated as quality improvements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
 Price increases associated with such modifications will be reflected
 as increases in the index.
      
      The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently undertook to
 explain more precisely the relationship between the CPI and a
 complete measure of changes in consumers' living costs.  As part of
 this activity the BLS reviewed the treatment of pollution control
 measures in the CPI. The new policy for treating pollution control
 measures is a direct result of that review.
 
      BLS has stated that the proper objective of the CPI is to
 approximate changes in the cost of living of U.S. consumers /1.  The
 CPI is intended to approximate a particular subindex of a complete
 cost-of-living index, a subindex that is limited to prices of market
 goods and services and is conditional upon the levels of other
 determinants of changes in living costs, such as the environment,
 crime level, and numerous government-provided goods and services.
 The choice of this index definition recognizes that not all
 important living cost determinants can be reliably measured and also
 provides users of the CPI with a clear specification of its scope
 and limitations.
 
      Given the current definition, changes in air quality, as well
 as in other important environmental factors, are beyond the scope of
 the CPI and thus properly cannot be included in its construction.  A
 more complete explanation of the relationship between the CPI and a
 comprehensive measure of changes in living costs is contained in
 "The Treatment of Mandated Pollution Control Measures in the CPI." /2
 
      The new policy for the treatment of air pollution measures will
 become effective with CPI data for January 1999.  The new practice
 will have its most significant effect on the motor fuel and new and
 used motor vehicle components of the index.  In the vehicle indexes,
 the policy will apply to all vehicle models introduced on or after
 January 1, 1999.  Since most of the 1999 model-year vehicles will be
 introduced before that date, the old practice will be used for the
 1998-to-1999 model-year changeover in most cases.
 
      Historically, quality adjustments for anti-pollution
 measures have been made to the new car (or new vehicle) component of
 the CPI since 1969 (automobile model year 1970), with their
 estimated dollar effect published annually. Since 1988, these data
 have also been utilized to make quality adjustments in the used car
 component.  In addition, beginning in late 1994, quality adjustments
 were made for the introduction of reformulated gasoline, which was
 required in selected areas for compliance with the Clean Air Act
 Amendment of 1990.  Available information is not sufficient to make
 possible a complete accounting of the impacts of this policy in all
 years. The estimates presented below should be viewed, therefore, as
 approximations rather than as precise values.  In adherence with
 standard policy, the official CPI historical data will not be
 revised to be consistent with the new practice.  For the period from
 December 1968 through December 1997, the new car component of the
 CPI-U rose 174.2 percent. BLS estimates that not adjusting for anti-
 pollution measures would have resulted in an increase of 230.2
 percent over this period.  Quality adjustments for light trucks have
 been made since they were introduced into the CPI in 1983. For the
 period from December 1983 through December 1997, this index rose
 51.4 percent, but with the quality adjustments for anti-pollution
 measures factored back into the index, it would have risen by an
 estimated 55.1 percent in this period. The CPI used car index rose
 27.2 percent between December 1987 and December 1997; with the
 quality adjustments for anti-pollution measures factored back into
 the index, it would have risen approximately 28.8 percent in that 10-
 year period.  The motor fuel component, whose index rose 7.5 percent
 between December 1993 and December 1997, would have increased by an
 estimated 15.4 percent over that period if adjustment for
 environmental quality change had not been made. BLS estimates that
 the aggregate effect of these component changes on the CPI-U All
 Items index would have increased the percentage change over the
 period from December 1968 to December 1997 from 354.4 percent to
 357.7 percent.  Past experience, however, is not necessarily an
 indicator of the future impact of this policy change.
      
 For additional information on these changes, write to
      Bureau of Labor Statistics
      Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes
      2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3130
      Washington, DC 20212
 
 or send e-mail to Jackman_P@bls.gov, or telephone Patrick Jackman at
 (202) 606-6950, or obtain the information on the internet at:
 http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm.

 _____________________ 
 /1 "Measurement Issues in the Consumer Price Index," paper
 prepared in response to a letter from Representative Jim
 Saxton, Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, June 1997.
 Paper available by contacting BLS or on the internet at:
 http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
 
 /2 Paper available by contacting BLS or on the internet at:
 http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm

 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
  
 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 Index
 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 or by calling (202) 606-7000.

               Arithmetic Mean (Laspeyres) Formula
     
 1.  Selected shelter services:
 
 A) Rent of primary       B) Owners' equivalent     C) Housing at school,
 residence                rent of primary           excluding board
                          residence
                                                    
                                              
 2.  Selected utilities and government charges:
 
 A) Electricity           C) Residential water and  E) Telephone services,
                          sewerage maintenance      local charges
                                                   
 B) Utility natural gas   D) State and local        F) Cable television
 service                  registration, license,
                          and motor vehicle
                          property tax
                                                   
                                                   
 3.  Selected medical care services:

 A) Physicians' services  C) Eyeglasses and eye     E) Hospital services
                          care
 B) Dental services       D) Services by other      F) Nursing homes and
                          medical professionals     Adult daycare
     
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

      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
 component1. 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.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 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,                      Sep. 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Aug.      Sep.                                            
                                                              1998      1998     Sep.     Aug.   June to July to Aug. to
                                                                                 1997     1998     July    Aug.    Sep. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     163.4     163.6      1.5      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.0 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     489.6     490.1        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     161.4     161.5      2.0      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.0 
   Food ......................................     15.326     161.0     161.1      2.0      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.0 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     161.4     161.2      1.6     -0.1     0.3     0.3    -0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.536     182.7     181.9      2.1     -0.4     0.1     0.5     0.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.629     148.2     147.5     -1.1     -0.5     0.5     0.3    -0.7 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.037     150.5     152.9      6.6      1.6     0.1     1.6     1.6 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.394     195.9     193.5      2.9     -1.2     0.3    -0.4    -2.0 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.077     132.0     132.2     -3.3      0.2     0.0    -0.7     0.0 
     Other food at home ......................      1.972     152.1     152.2      2.2      0.1     0.3     0.7     0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     150.2     150.8      1.5      0.4    -0.7     0.6     0.3 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .291     149.7     152.4      7.3      1.8     2.6     2.0     1.9 
      Other foods ............................      1.305     166.9     166.3      2.7     -0.4     0.1     0.5    -0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .309     103.5     103.6        -      0.1     0.1     0.9     0.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.680     161.5     162.1      2.7      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.4 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .172     102.3     102.7        -      0.4     0.6     0.7     0.4 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .983     165.7     166.3      1.7      0.4     0.3     0.0     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.560     161.5     161.5      2.4      0.0     0.2     0.1     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     29.788     183.3     183.4      3.5      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.5 
    Rent of primary residence ................      6.885     172.8     173.4      3.3      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.327     112.9     109.8        -     -2.7    -0.7     0.7     2.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     20.199     188.5     189.2      3.3      0.4     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .377      99.2      99.2        -      0.0     0.2    -0.1     0.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.942     130.6     130.0     -1.6     -0.5     0.0    -0.4    -0.6 
    Fuels ....................................      4.018     115.9     115.2     -3.8     -0.6     0.0    -0.4    -0.8 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .261      86.7      85.9     -8.3     -0.9    -0.3    -0.7    -1.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.757     124.0     123.3     -3.7     -0.6     0.0    -0.4    -0.8 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.831     126.8     126.5      0.9     -0.2     0.3    -0.2    -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.944     131.6     133.6      0.5      1.5    -0.3     1.1    -0.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.390     130.6     131.1     -0.2      0.4     0.2     0.3    -1.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.990     123.8     127.8      1.4      3.2    -0.9     1.9    -0.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .268     124.4     124.9     -1.4      0.4    -2.2     2.0     0.4 
   Footwear ..................................       .895     127.7     128.6      0.9      0.7     0.1     0.7    -0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.578     141.2     140.7     -2.5     -0.4     0.3     0.0    -0.4 
   Private transportation ....................     16.240     137.4     137.0     -2.8     -0.3     0.2    -0.2    -0.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.899      99.9      99.8      0.5     -0.1     0.4     0.2     0.1 
     New vehicles ............................      5.063     142.8     142.3     -0.3     -0.4     0.5     0.3    -0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.880     151.1     151.9      2.5      0.5     0.3    -0.1     0.5 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.995      91.6      90.0    -17.7     -1.7     0.0    -1.6    -2.0 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.976      91.1      89.5    -18.0     -1.8    -0.2    -1.5    -2.0 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .560     101.2     101.2     -0.5      0.0     0.1     0.0     0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.603     167.3     168.3      2.9      0.6     0.2     0.2     0.5 
   Public transportation .....................      1.338     192.2     190.2      2.3     -1.0     1.0     2.2    -1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.614     243.5     243.9      3.6      0.2     0.2     0.4     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.222     223.1     224.0      4.0      0.4     0.0     0.6     0.6 
   Medical care services .....................      4.392     248.2     248.4      3.5      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Professional services ....................      2.808     223.3     223.7      3.4      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.3 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.334     289.5     289.2      3.5     -0.1     0.6     0.3     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.145     101.3     101.3      1.4      0.0     0.0     0.1     0.1 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.763     101.2     101.4      1.5      0.2    -0.1     0.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.528     100.1     100.9      1.2      0.8     0.0    -0.5     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.615     102.6     104.3      4.7      1.7     0.3     0.4     0.0 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .194     249.1     253.7      5.1      1.8     0.4    -0.3     1.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.421     295.8     300.9      4.7      1.7     0.3     0.4    -0.1 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.913      97.9      97.9     -1.9      0.0    -0.3    -1.2     0.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.706      97.7      97.7     -2.1      0.0    -0.3    -1.3     0.0 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.357     100.4     100.7        -      0.3     0.1    -1.1     0.3 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .350      37.6      36.7    -24.3     -2.4    -3.7    -3.8    -2.4 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .234      71.1      68.5        -     -3.7    -6.0    -5.5    -3.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.321     238.0     240.4      5.4      1.0     0.7     0.1     0.9 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       .894     273.7     283.5     15.0      3.6     2.6     0.1     3.3 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.427     157.1     157.5      3.1      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     148.5     149.1      3.8      0.4    -0.1    -0.4     0.4 
    Personal care services (1)................       .963     166.6     167.1      2.6      0.3     0.5     0.3     0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.465     235.7     236.2      3.4      0.2     0.3     0.4     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.635     141.7     141.8     -0.2      0.1     0.2     0.1    -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     161.4     161.5      2.0      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     26.326     130.0     130.2     -1.5      0.2     0.1     0.0    -0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.729     131.9     132.6     -2.1      0.5     0.1    -0.1    -0.3 
    Apparel ..................................      4.944     131.6     133.6      0.5      1.5    -0.3     1.1    -0.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.785     137.1     137.1     -3.4      0.0     0.1    -0.4    -0.2 
   Durables ..................................     11.596     127.2     126.8     -0.6     -0.3     0.3     0.0    -0.3 
 Services ....................................     57.365     185.3     185.5      2.7      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     29.410     190.8     191.0      3.6      0.1     0.1     0.4     0.5 
  Transportation services ....................      6.984     187.8     187.3      1.4     -0.3     0.2     0.4    -0.3 
  Other services .............................     10.625     217.6     219.0      3.2      0.6     0.1     0.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.674     163.9     164.1      1.4      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.212     157.4     157.6      0.6      0.1     0.2     0.1    -0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     94.386     159.0     159.2      1.3      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.0 
 Commodities less food .......................     27.309     131.4     131.6     -1.4      0.2     0.2     0.0    -0.3 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.712     133.9     134.6     -1.9      0.5     0.2    -0.1    -0.3 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.768     138.9     138.9     -2.9      0.0     0.1    -0.3    -0.1 
 Nondurables .................................     31.039     146.8     147.1      0.0      0.2     0.2     0.0     0.0 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     27.955     192.7     193.0      1.8      0.2     0.3     0.0     0.0 
 Services less medical care services .........     52.973     179.5     179.6      2.6      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      7.013     103.8     102.7     -9.8     -1.1     0.0    -1.0    -1.3 
 All items less energy .......................     92.987     171.2     171.6      2.4      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     77.661     173.8     174.2      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.053     142.7     143.2      0.8      0.4     0.1     0.2    -0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.256      91.3      89.8    -16.6     -1.6    -0.1    -1.4    -2.1 
   Services less energy services .............     53.608     191.5     191.8      3.1      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .612    $ .611        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .204    $ .204        -        -       -       -       - 

   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--   
                                                 June    July    Aug.    Sep.                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Dec.   Mar.   June   Sep.   Mar.   Sep. 
                                                                                1997   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  163.0   163.3   163.6   163.6    1.5    0.2    2.5    1.5    0.9    2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  160.8   161.2   161.7   161.7    1.8    1.0    2.8    2.3    1.4    2.5 
   Food ......................................  160.6   161.0   161.4   161.4    1.5    1.3    3.0    2.0    1.4    2.5 
    Food at home .............................  160.8   161.3   161.8   161.4    1.0    0.5    3.3    1.5    0.8    2.4 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  181.0   181.2   182.1   182.1    1.8    2.3    2.0    2.5    2.0    2.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.9   147.6   148.1   147.1   -3.2   -2.9    0.8    0.5   -3.1    0.7 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  148.1   148.2   150.5   152.9   12.5    1.6   -0.8   13.6    6.9    6.2 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  201.4   202.0   201.1   197.0    1.9    4.5   18.6   -8.5    3.2    4.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  133.0   133.0   132.1   132.1   -6.6   -1.8   -2.1   -2.7   -4.2   -2.4 
     Other food at home ......................  150.4   150.9   152.0   152.5   -0.5    1.6    3.0    5.7    0.5    4.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  150.3   149.3   150.2   150.7    2.4    3.8   -1.1    1.1    3.1    0.0 
      Fats and oils ..........................  143.3   147.0   149.9   152.7   -2.0    0.9    4.3   28.9   -0.6   16.0 
      Other foods ............................  165.5   165.7   166.5   166.4    3.2    1.5    3.7    2.2    2.4    2.9 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  102.5   102.6   103.5   103.6      -    6.1    4.0    4.4      -    4.2 
    Food away from home (1)...................  160.7   161.1   161.5   162.1    3.1    2.3    2.0    3.5    2.7    2.8 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  101.0   101.6   102.3   102.7      -    1.2    2.8    6.9      -    4.8 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  165.3   165.8   165.8   166.5    2.2    0.5    1.5    2.9    1.3    2.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  160.1   160.4   160.6   161.0    2.6    1.5    3.1    2.3    2.0    2.7 
   Shelter ...................................  181.6   181.9   182.4   183.3    3.9    2.7    3.8    3.8    3.3    3.8 
    Rent of primary residence ................  171.8   172.2   172.8   173.4    3.1    2.9    3.6    3.8    3.0    3.7 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  101.4   100.7   101.4   104.2      -   -0.4    6.1   11.5      -    8.8 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  187.6   188.1   188.5   189.0    3.3    3.1    3.7    3.0    3.2    3.4 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..   99.1    99.3    99.2    99.2      -    1.2   -4.7    0.4      -   -2.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  128.3   128.3   127.8   127.0    0.0   -7.1    0.0   -4.0   -3.6   -2.0 
    Fuels ....................................  112.9   112.9   112.4   111.5   -1.7   -9.6   -0.7   -4.9   -5.8   -2.8 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   90.6    90.3    89.7    88.2   -0.4  -14.9   -7.2  -10.2   -7.9   -8.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  120.6   120.6   120.1   119.1   -1.9   -9.4    0.0   -4.9   -5.7   -2.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  126.6   127.0   126.8   126.4    0.6    2.6    1.3   -0.6    1.6    0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  133.2   132.8   134.2   133.2    1.2   -2.1    2.1    0.0   -0.5    1.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.7   131.9   132.3   130.6    2.5    3.4   -3.3   -3.3    2.9   -3.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  127.2   126.0   128.4   127.7   -0.9   -0.6    5.9    1.6   -0.8    3.7 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  124.7   122.0   124.4   124.9   -2.8   -4.4    1.0    0.6   -3.6    0.8 
   Footwear ..................................  128.4   128.5   129.4   128.9    5.8  -10.1    7.5    1.6   -2.5    4.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  141.3   141.7   141.7   141.1   -3.3   -4.9   -1.1   -0.6   -4.1   -0.8 
   Private transportation ....................  137.9   138.2   137.9   137.5   -3.3   -6.4   -0.3   -1.2   -4.9   -0.7 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.1   100.5   100.7   100.8      -    0.4    0.0    2.8      -    1.4 
     New vehicles ............................  142.7   143.4   143.9   143.7   -1.9    0.8   -2.8    2.8   -0.6    0.0 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  150.9   151.3   151.1   151.9   -0.8   -1.6   10.1    2.7   -1.2    6.3 
    Motor fuel ...............................   92.1    92.1    90.6    88.8  -14.7  -34.8   -3.8  -13.6  -25.4   -8.8 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   91.5    91.3    89.9    88.1  -15.7  -35.0   -4.3  -14.1  -26.0   -9.3 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  101.2   101.3   101.3   101.3   -2.0   -0.8    0.4    0.4   -1.4    0.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  166.6   167.0   167.3   168.1    3.5    2.5    2.2    3.7    3.0    2.9 
   Public transportation .....................  188.2   190.1   194.2   191.0   -1.9   14.3   -7.9    6.1    5.9   -1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  242.3   242.8   243.7   244.4    3.4    2.9    4.6    3.5    3.2    4.0 
   Medical care commodities ..................  221.6   221.7   223.1   224.5    3.0    1.3    6.6    5.3    2.1    6.0 
   Medical care services .....................  246.8   247.4   248.2   248.6    3.5    3.2    4.2    2.9    3.4    3.6 
    Professional services ....................  222.3   222.6   223.3   224.0    2.6    3.5    4.2    3.1    3.1    3.7 
    Hospital and related services ............  286.7   288.5   289.5   289.5    4.4    2.6    3.0    4.0    3.5    3.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.1   101.1   101.2   101.3      -    4.1    0.4    0.8      -    0.6 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.2   101.1   101.2   101.4    0.4    5.7   -0.8    0.8    3.0    0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.9   100.9   100.4   100.4      -    0.8    2.8   -2.0      -    0.4 
   Education (2)..............................  102.6   102.9   103.3   103.3      -    4.9    5.6    2.8      -    4.2 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  249.8   250.8   250.1   253.2    4.7    4.2    5.8    5.6    4.4    5.7 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   294.3   295.3   296.4   296.1    5.3    5.0    5.6    2.5    5.2    4.0 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.4    99.1    97.9    97.9    0.8   -2.8    0.4   -5.9   -1.0   -2.8 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.3    99.0    97.7    97.7    0.8   -2.8    0.0   -6.3   -1.0   -3.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  101.4   101.5   100.4   100.7      -    1.6    4.0   -2.7      -    0.6 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   40.6    39.1    37.6    36.7   -8.8  -29.7  -23.4  -33.2  -19.9  -28.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   80.0    75.2    71.1    68.5      -  -38.1  -33.8  -46.2      -  -40.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  236.9   238.5   238.7   240.9    5.9    3.9    6.9    6.9    4.9    6.9 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  266.9   273.8   274.2   283.2    9.8    3.5   21.3   26.8    6.6   24.0 
   Personal care (1)..........................  156.8   157.0   157.1   157.5    3.4    4.0    3.4    1.8    3.7    2.6 
    Personal care products (1)................  149.2   149.1   148.5   149.1    4.5    5.6    5.3   -0.3    5.1    2.5 
    Personal care services (1)................  165.3   166.1   166.6   167.1    2.7    2.0    1.5    4.4    2.3    2.9 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  234.2   234.8   235.7   236.5    4.6    2.1    3.1    4.0    3.4    3.6 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  141.8   142.1   142.2   142.0   -0.3   -2.2    1.4    0.6   -1.3    1.0 
  Food and beverages .........................  160.8   161.2   161.7   161.7    1.8    1.0    2.8    2.3    1.4    2.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.6   130.7   130.7   130.4   -1.5   -4.5    0.9   -0.6   -3.0    0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.6   132.7   132.6   132.2   -1.5   -8.3    2.8   -1.2   -5.0    0.8 
    Apparel ..................................  133.2   132.8   134.2   133.2    1.2   -2.1    2.1    0.0   -0.5    1.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  137.5   137.6   137.1   136.8   -3.9  -10.7    3.6   -2.0   -7.3    0.7 
   Durables ..................................  127.4   127.8   127.8   127.4   -1.6    0.3   -1.2    0.0   -0.6   -0.6 
 Services ....................................  184.1   184.4   184.8   185.2    2.9    2.2    3.1    2.4    2.6    2.8 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  189.3   189.5   190.3   191.2    4.0    2.8    3.7    4.1    3.4    3.9 
  Transportation services ....................  187.5   187.8   188.6   188.0    0.6    5.0   -1.5    1.1    2.8   -0.2 
  Other services .............................  217.5   217.8   218.1   218.6    3.6    3.2    4.3    2.0    3.4    3.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  163.3   163.6   163.8   163.9    1.5    0.2    2.2    1.5    0.9    1.9 
 All items less shelter ......................  157.2   157.5   157.6   157.4    0.8   -0.8    1.8    0.5    0.0    1.2 
 All items less medical care .................  158.3   158.6   158.9   158.9    1.5    0.3    2.0    1.5    0.9    1.8 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.1   132.3   132.3   131.9   -1.2   -4.1    0.6   -0.6   -2.7    0.0 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.5   134.8   134.6   134.2   -1.2   -7.1    2.1   -0.9   -4.2    0.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  139.2   139.3   138.9   138.7   -3.0  -10.0    3.5   -1.4   -6.6    1.0 
 Nondurables .................................  146.7   147.0   147.0   147.0    0.5   -3.2    2.2    0.8   -1.4    1.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  191.9   192.4   192.4   192.4    2.1    1.3    2.8    1.0    1.7    1.9 
 Services less medical care services .........  178.3   178.7   178.9   179.3    3.0    2.1    3.0    2.3    2.5    2.6 
 Energy ......................................  102.5   102.5   101.5   100.2   -7.7  -21.1   -1.9   -8.7  -14.7   -5.4 
 All items less energy .......................  170.9   171.3   171.7   171.9    2.2    2.1    2.6    2.4    2.2    2.5 
  All items less food and energy .............  173.5   173.8   174.2   174.5    2.4    2.4    2.6    2.3    2.4    2.5 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.2   143.4   143.7   143.6    0.6    0.8    1.1    1.1    0.7    1.1 
    Energy commodities .......................   91.9    91.8    90.5    88.6  -13.2  -33.3   -4.2  -13.6  -23.9   -9.0 
   Services less energy services .............  190.5   190.9   191.4   191.9    3.3    3.0    3.2    3.0    3.1    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                                  Sep.1998 from--      Aug.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   June   July   Aug.   Sep.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998   Sep.   July   Aug.   Aug.   June   July 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    163.0  163.2  163.4  163.6    1.5    0.2    0.1    1.6    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    169.6  169.9  170.5  170.6    1.3    0.4    0.1    1.6    0.5    0.4 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    170.4  170.7  171.4  171.7    1.5    0.6    0.2    1.8    0.6    0.4 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.9  102.0  102.2  102.2    0.9    0.2    0.0    1.0    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    159.5  159.8  159.5  159.9    1.5    0.1    0.3    1.5    0.0   -0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    160.8  161.2  161.0  161.4    2.0    0.1    0.2    1.9    0.1   -0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.2  102.2  102.0  102.2    1.0    0.0    0.2    1.1   -0.2   -0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    153.3  153.5  153.3  154.0    0.4    0.3    0.5    0.5    0.0   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    159.1  159.3  159.5  159.5    1.3    0.1    0.0    1.5    0.3    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    158.4  158.5  158.9  158.8    1.5    0.2   -0.1    1.9    0.3    0.3 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.3  102.4  102.5  102.5    1.0    0.1    0.0    1.1    0.2    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.0  160.0  160.2  160.1    1.9    0.1   -0.1    2.4    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    164.2  164.3  164.8  165.1    1.9    0.5    0.2    2.0    0.4    0.3 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    165.0  165.1  165.6  165.9    2.2    0.5    0.2    2.4    0.4    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.3  102.3  102.5  102.7    0.9    0.4    0.2    1.0    0.2    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    147.5  147.7  148.1  148.2    1.8    0.3    0.1    2.1    0.4    0.3 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.2  102.3  102.4  102.4    1.0    0.1    0.0    1.1    0.2    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    159.2  159.3  159.4  159.7    1.5    0.3    0.2    1.7    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    166.0  166.5  165.4  165.3    2.0   -0.7   -0.1    1.8   -0.4   -0.7 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    162.2  162.1  162.6  162.6    1.3    0.3    0.0    1.8    0.2    0.3 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    173.1  173.6  174.2  174.4    1.6    0.5    0.1    2.0    0.6    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  170.7      -  172.1    2.6    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  159.9      -  161.5    2.7    1.0      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  154.2      -  154.5      -    0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1        -  102.8      -  102.9    1.5    0.1      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    162.0      -  161.9      -      -      -      -      -   -0.1      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    159.4      -  160.5      -      -      -      -    2.3    0.7      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    146.4      -  147.4      -      -      -      -    1.4    0.7      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    160.2      -  160.8      -      -      -      -      -    0.4      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    168.0      -  168.6      -      -      -      -    1.1    0.4      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    165.5      -  166.6      -      -      -      -    3.3    0.7      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    167.5      -  168.5      -      -      -      -      -    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.

 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,                      Sep. 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Aug.      Sep.                                            
                                                              1998      1998     Sep.     Aug.   June to July to Aug. to
                                                                                 1997     1998     July    Aug.    Sep. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     160.0     160.2      1.2      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     476.5     477.2        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     160.7     160.8      1.9      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.0 
   Food ......................................     16.861     160.4     160.4      1.9      0.0     0.3     0.3    -0.1 
    Food at home .............................     10.785     160.4     160.2      1.6     -0.1     0.3     0.3    -0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.678     182.5     181.8      2.3     -0.4     0.1     0.5     0.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.125     147.9     147.1     -1.1     -0.5     0.5     0.3    -0.7 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.135     150.1     152.6      6.6      1.7     0.1     1.6     1.7 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.447     194.9     192.5      2.7     -1.2     0.5    -0.6    -2.0 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.215     130.7     130.9     -3.2      0.2     0.2    -0.7    -0.1 
     Other food at home ......................      2.185     151.5     151.7      2.4      0.1     0.5     0.7     0.2 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     150.3     150.6      1.5      0.2    -0.6     0.7     0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .332     149.3     151.9      7.2      1.7     2.5     1.9     1.7 
      Other foods ............................      1.432     166.8     166.3      2.8     -0.3     0.4     0.4    -0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .344     103.5     103.7        -      0.2     0.3     0.7     0.2 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.076     161.4     162.0      2.7      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.4 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .212     102.2     102.8        -      0.6     0.5     0.7     0.6 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.042     164.6     165.1      1.5      0.3     0.4     0.0     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.450     157.7     157.8      2.2      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     27.033     177.6     177.9      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.4 
    Rent of primary residence ................      8.347     172.4     173.0      3.3      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.346     112.8     109.8        -     -2.7    -1.1     0.5     2.7 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     17.016     171.8     172.4      3.2      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .324      99.4      99.4        -      0.0     0.1     0.0     0.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      5.053     130.6     130.0     -1.4     -0.5     0.1    -0.5    -0.6 
    Fuels ....................................      4.143     115.6     114.9     -3.7     -0.6     0.0    -0.6    -0.9 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .229      87.0      86.2     -7.7     -0.9    -0.3    -0.8    -1.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.914     123.6     122.9     -3.7     -0.6     0.1    -0.7    -0.8 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.365     125.2     124.9      0.8     -0.2     0.4    -0.2    -0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.300     129.9     132.0     -0.1      1.6    -0.4     0.9    -0.5 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.503     129.9     130.7     -0.4      0.6     0.2    -0.1    -1.0 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.985     121.3     125.5      0.7      3.5    -1.0     1.9    -0.1 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .337     125.0     125.8     -1.9      0.6    -2.2     1.9     0.6 
   Footwear ..................................      1.082     128.4     129.3      0.8      0.7    -0.2     0.9    -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.847     140.2     139.6     -2.8     -0.4     0.2    -0.1    -0.4 
   Private transportation ....................     18.790     137.6     137.1     -3.0     -0.4     0.1    -0.3    -0.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.285     100.2     100.1      0.7     -0.1     0.4     0.2     0.0 
     New vehicles ............................      5.304     144.0     143.4     -0.4     -0.4     0.4     0.3    -0.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.162     152.4     153.2      2.3      0.5     0.3    -0.2     0.5 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.682      91.7      90.1    -17.5     -1.7    -0.2    -1.6    -2.1 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.658      91.2      89.6    -17.9     -1.8    -0.2    -1.6    -2.0 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .694     100.5     100.5     -0.3      0.0     0.1    -0.1     0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.664     168.4     169.4      3.0      0.6     0.2     0.2     0.5 
   Public transportation .....................      1.057     188.9     186.5      1.6     -1.3     0.9     1.8    -1.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.591     242.8     243.2      3.6      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .906     219.9     220.8      3.9      0.4     0.1     0.5     0.7 
   Medical care services .....................      3.684     248.0     248.2      3.5      0.1     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Professional services ....................      2.372     224.8     225.3      3.4      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.4 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.097     285.6     285.3      3.5     -0.1     0.6     0.4     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.969     101.1     101.0      1.0     -0.1    -0.1     0.2     0.0 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.968     101.1     101.3      1.4      0.2    -0.1     0.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.396     100.3     101.1      1.4      0.8     0.1    -0.5     0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.402     102.6     104.3      4.7      1.7     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .192     251.3     255.9      4.9      1.8     0.4    -0.4     1.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.211     289.9     294.9      4.8      1.7     0.3     0.4     0.0 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.994      98.4      98.5     -1.3      0.1    -0.2    -1.2     0.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.841      98.3      98.4     -1.4      0.1    -0.3    -1.2     0.1 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.547     100.5     100.8        -      0.3     0.1    -1.0     0.3 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .294      38.9      38.2    -22.8     -1.8    -3.8    -3.2    -1.8 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191      71.2      69.0        -     -3.1    -6.4    -4.3    -3.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.544     236.2     239.4      6.6      1.4     0.9     0.2     1.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.300     273.7     283.7     15.3      3.7     2.7     0.3     3.4 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.244     157.2     157.7      3.3      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .832     149.6     150.1      3.7      0.3    -0.1    -0.3     0.3 
    Personal care services (1)................       .964     167.0     167.4      2.7      0.2     0.5     0.4     0.2 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.226     234.9     236.0      3.8      0.5     0.3     0.5     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     47.234     141.5     141.7     -0.3      0.1     0.2     0.1    -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     160.7     160.8      1.9      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     29.331     130.0     130.3     -1.7      0.2     0.2    -0.1    -0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.928     131.3     132.1     -2.5      0.6     0.4    -0.5    -0.2 
    Apparel ..................................      5.300     129.9     132.0     -0.1      1.6    -0.4     0.9    -0.5 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.628     136.6     136.6     -3.7      0.0     0.1    -0.4    -0.3 
   Durables ..................................     13.403     127.0     126.7     -0.4     -0.2     0.5    -0.1    -0.2 
 Services ....................................     52.766     181.9     182.2      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     26.708     171.0     171.3      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.5 
  Transportation services ....................      6.824     185.1     184.7      1.3     -0.2     0.2     0.2    -0.3 
  Other services .............................     10.006     214.3     215.7      3.2      0.7     0.1     0.0     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.139     159.8     160.0      1.0      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.967     155.1     155.3      0.5      0.1     0.2     0.1    -0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     95.409     156.1     156.3      1.0      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.0 
 Commodities less food .......................     30.373     131.4     131.7     -1.5      0.2     0.2    -0.1    -0.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.970     133.3     134.0     -2.3      0.5     0.1    -0.3    -0.2 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.670     138.3     138.4     -3.1      0.1     0.2    -0.2    -0.2 
 Nondurables .................................     33.831     146.3     146.7     -0.2      0.3     0.3     0.0    -0.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     26.057     171.5     171.8      1.8      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.1 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.082     176.3     176.6      2.4      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      7.825     102.9     101.8    -10.3     -1.1    -0.1    -1.1    -1.4 
 All items less energy .......................     92.175     167.8     168.3      2.2      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     75.315     169.8     170.3      2.3      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.463     142.2     142.8      0.9      0.4     0.2     0.1     0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.910      91.5      90.0    -16.7     -1.6    -0.2    -1.6    -2.1 
   Services less energy services .............     48.852     188.4     188.8      3.0      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .625    $ .624        -        -       -       -       - 
 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--   
                                                 June    July    Aug.    Sep.                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Dec.   Mar.   June   Sep.   Mar.   Sep. 
                                                                                1997   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  159.6   159.9   160.0   160.1    1.3   -0.3    2.5    1.3    0.5    1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  160.2   160.7   161.1   161.1    1.5    1.3    2.5    2.3    1.4    2.4 
   Food ......................................  159.8   160.3   160.8   160.7    1.3    1.3    2.8    2.3    1.3    2.5 
    Food at home .............................  159.8   160.3   160.8   160.4    0.8    0.8    3.1    1.5    0.8    2.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  180.8   181.0   181.9   182.0    2.3    2.0    2.2    2.7    2.1    2.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.6   147.3   147.8   146.7   -2.9   -3.0    0.8    0.3   -2.9    0.5 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  147.7   147.8   150.1   152.6   12.6    1.6   -1.1   13.9    7.0    6.2 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  200.5   201.6   200.4   196.4    0.4    6.3   17.4   -7.9    3.3    4.0 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  131.7   131.9   131.0   130.9   -6.4   -1.5   -2.1   -2.4   -4.0   -2.3 
     Other food at home ......................  149.7   150.4   151.5   151.8   -0.8    2.2    2.7    5.7    0.7    4.2 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  150.2   149.3   150.3   150.4    2.4    4.1   -1.3    0.5    3.3   -0.4 
      Fats and oils ..........................  143.1   146.7   149.5   152.1   -1.7    0.3    4.9   27.6   -0.7   15.7 
      Other foods ............................  165.3   165.9   166.6   166.5    2.7    2.0    3.5    2.9    2.4    3.2 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  102.5   102.8   103.5   103.7      -    7.4    2.8    4.8      -    3.8 
    Food away from home (1)...................  160.8   161.1   161.4   162.0    3.1    2.3    2.3    3.0    2.7    2.6 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  101.0   101.5   102.2   102.8      -    1.2    2.8    7.3      -    5.0 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  164.1   164.7   164.7   165.2    2.0    0.0    1.2    2.7    1.0    2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  156.5   156.8   156.9   157.2    2.4    1.6    2.9    1.8    2.0    2.3 
   Shelter ...................................  176.4   176.8   177.2   177.9    3.3    3.0    3.7    3.4    3.2    3.6 
    Rent of primary residence ................  171.5   172.0   172.4   173.0    3.1    3.1    3.6    3.5    3.1    3.6 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  101.9   100.8   101.3   104.0      -    0.4    7.4    8.5      -    7.9 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  170.9   171.4   171.8   172.2    2.9    3.4    3.3    3.1    3.1    3.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..   99.3    99.4    99.4    99.4      -    2.0   -4.7    0.4      -   -2.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  128.0   128.1   127.4   126.6    0.3   -7.2    0.0   -4.3   -3.5   -2.2 
    Fuels ....................................  112.4   112.4   111.7   110.7   -1.7   -9.4   -0.4   -5.9   -5.6   -3.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   91.1    90.8    90.1    88.5    0.4  -13.4   -5.9  -10.9   -6.8   -8.5 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  120.0   120.1   119.3   118.4   -1.9   -9.4    0.0   -5.2   -5.7   -2.6 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  125.0   125.5   125.2   124.7    0.6    2.9    0.6   -1.0    1.8   -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  131.5   131.0   132.2   131.6    0.0   -4.5    3.1    0.3   -2.3    1.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.4   131.6   131.5   130.2    1.5    2.2   -1.5   -3.6    1.8   -2.6 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  124.6   123.4   125.7   125.6   -2.8   -3.5    5.3    3.2   -3.2    4.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  125.4   122.7   125.0   125.8   -5.5   -6.2    2.9    1.3   -5.8    2.1 
   Footwear ..................................  129.0   128.8   130.0   129.6    6.4  -11.4    7.8    1.9   -2.9    4.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  140.4   140.7   140.5   139.9   -3.6   -6.0    0.0   -1.4   -4.8   -0.7 
   Private transportation ....................  138.0   138.2   137.8   137.4   -3.9   -6.7    0.3   -1.7   -5.3   -0.7 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.3   100.7   100.9   100.9      -    0.0    1.2    2.4      -    1.8 
     New vehicles ............................  144.0   144.6   145.1   144.8   -2.2    0.8   -2.5    2.2   -0.7   -0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  152.3   152.7   152.4   153.2   -0.5   -1.9    9.7    2.4   -1.2    6.0 
    Motor fuel ...............................   92.4    92.2    90.7    88.8  -15.4  -33.2   -3.8  -14.7  -24.8   -9.4 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   91.7    91.5    90.0    88.2  -16.0  -34.1   -4.2  -14.4  -25.6   -9.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.6   100.7   100.6   100.6   -1.2   -0.4    0.4    0.0   -0.8    0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  167.7   168.1   168.5   169.3    3.5    2.2    2.4    3.9    2.8    3.1 
   Public transportation .....................  185.5   187.2   190.6   187.4   -0.6   10.4   -6.6    4.2    4.7   -1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  241.6   242.1   242.9   243.7    3.4    2.7    4.8    3.5    3.1    4.1 
   Medical care commodities ..................  218.5   218.7   219.9   221.5    2.8    0.9    6.5    5.6    1.9    6.0 
   Medical care services .....................  246.6   247.2   248.0   248.5    3.7    3.0    4.3    3.1    3.4    3.7 
    Professional services ....................  223.9   224.1   224.6   225.5    3.0    3.1    4.8    2.9    3.1    3.8 
    Hospital and related services ............  282.8   284.5   285.6   285.6    4.3    2.8    2.9    4.0    3.5    3.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  100.9   100.8   101.0   101.0      -    3.6    0.0    0.4      -    0.2 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.1   101.0   101.1   101.3    0.4    5.7   -1.2    0.8    3.0   -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  101.0   101.1   100.6   100.7      -    1.2    2.8   -1.2      -    0.8 
   Education (2)..............................  102.6   102.9   103.2   103.4      -    4.9    5.6    3.2      -    4.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  252.4   253.3   252.3   255.3    4.5    4.3    6.1    4.7    4.4    5.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   288.5   289.4   290.5   290.6    5.6    5.1    5.4    2.9    5.3    4.2 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.8    99.6    98.4    98.5    0.8   -2.0    1.2   -5.1   -0.6   -2.0 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.8    99.5    98.3    98.4    0.8   -2.0    1.2   -5.5   -0.6   -2.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  101.4   101.5   100.5   100.8      -    1.6    4.0   -2.3      -    0.8 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   41.8    40.2    38.9    38.2   -4.8  -29.6  -24.2  -30.2  -18.1  -27.3 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   79.5    74.4    71.2    69.0      -  -39.2  -34.3  -43.3      -  -38.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  234.3   236.3   236.7   239.7    6.2    3.9    8.4    9.5    5.1    9.0 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  266.6   273.7   274.5   283.7    9.4    3.7   21.6   28.2    6.5   24.9 
   Personal care (1)..........................  156.8   157.0   157.2   157.7    3.5    4.2    3.4    2.3    3.8    2.8 
    Personal care products (1)................  150.3   150.1   149.6   150.1    3.9    5.9    5.8   -0.5    4.9    2.6 
    Personal care services (1)................  165.6   166.4   167.0   167.4    2.7    2.0    1.7    4.4    2.3    3.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  233.1   233.7   234.9   236.2    4.5    2.3    3.1    5.4    3.4    4.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  141.6   141.9   142.0   141.8   -0.3   -3.1    2.0    0.6   -1.7    1.3 
  Food and beverages .........................  160.2   160.7   161.1   161.1    1.5    1.3    2.5    2.3    1.4    2.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.5   130.7   130.6   130.3   -2.1   -5.1    1.5   -0.6   -3.6    0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  131.9   132.4   131.8   131.5   -2.3   -8.9    2.5   -1.2   -5.7    0.6 
    Apparel ..................................  131.5   131.0   132.2   131.6    0.0   -4.5    3.1    0.3   -2.3    1.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  136.9   137.1   136.5   136.1   -3.6  -11.7    3.3   -2.3   -7.8    0.4 
   Durables ..................................  127.0   127.6   127.5   127.2   -1.2    0.0   -0.9    0.6   -0.6   -0.2 
 Services ....................................  180.9   181.2   181.5   181.9    2.7    2.3    2.9    2.2    2.5    2.6 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  169.8   170.1   170.5   171.3    3.4    2.7    3.6    3.6    3.0    3.6 
  Transportation services ....................  185.3   185.6   186.0   185.5    0.9    3.8   -0.4    0.4    2.3    0.0 
  Other services .............................  214.2   214.5   214.6   215.3    3.5    3.5    4.2    2.1    3.5    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  159.2   159.5   159.6   159.7    1.0   -0.5    2.6    1.3    0.3    1.9 
 All items less shelter ......................  154.9   155.2   155.3   155.1    0.3   -1.3    2.1    0.5   -0.5    1.3 
 All items less medical care .................  155.7   156.0   156.1   156.1    1.0   -0.5    2.6    1.0    0.3    1.8 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.0   132.2   132.1   131.9   -1.5   -5.3    1.5   -0.3   -3.4    0.6 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.0   134.2   133.8   133.5   -1.7   -8.3    2.7   -1.5   -5.1    0.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  138.2   138.5   138.2   137.9   -1.7  -12.1    2.6   -0.9   -7.0    0.9 
 Nondurables .................................  146.3   146.7   146.7   146.6   -0.5   -3.2    2.2    0.8   -1.9    1.5 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  170.8   171.1   171.2   171.3    2.4    0.9    2.6    1.2    1.7    1.9 
 Services less medical care services .........  175.4   175.7   176.0   176.3    2.6    2.1    3.0    2.1    2.3    2.5 
 Energy ......................................  101.9   101.8   100.7    99.3   -8.7  -21.2   -1.9   -9.8  -15.2   -6.0 
 All items less energy .......................  167.6   168.0   168.3   168.6    2.2    1.7    2.9    2.4    2.0    2.7 
  All items less food and energy .............  169.7   170.1   170.4   170.7    2.2    1.9    2.9    2.4    2.0    2.6 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  142.7   143.0   143.2   143.3    0.6    0.0    2.0    1.7    0.3    1.8 
    Energy commodities .......................   92.4    92.2    90.7    88.8  -14.2  -32.1   -3.8  -14.7  -23.7   -9.4 
   Services less energy services .............  187.9   188.2   188.6   189.1    2.9    3.3    3.3    2.6    3.1    2.9 

   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                                  Sep.1998 from--      Aug.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   June   July   Aug.   Sep.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998   Sep.   July   Aug.   Aug.   June   July 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    159.7  159.8  160.0  160.2    1.2    0.3    0.1    1.4    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    166.5  166.6  167.1  167.4    1.1    0.5    0.2    1.3    0.4    0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    166.3  166.5  167.1  167.5    1.3    0.6    0.2    1.6    0.5    0.4 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.5  101.5  101.7  101.8    0.7    0.3    0.1    0.7    0.2    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    155.7  155.9  155.6  156.0    1.4    0.1    0.3    1.3   -0.1   -0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    156.2  156.5  156.4  156.7    1.8    0.1    0.2    1.8    0.1   -0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.9  101.9  101.7  101.9    0.8    0.0    0.2    0.9   -0.2   -0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    151.3  151.7  151.4  152.2    0.5    0.3    0.5    0.3    0.1   -0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    157.1  157.2  157.5  157.5    1.0    0.2    0.0    1.3    0.3    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    155.9  156.1  156.3  156.3    1.2    0.1    0.0    1.5    0.3    0.1 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    101.8  101.9  102.1  102.1    0.8    0.2    0.0    1.0    0.3    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.4  160.4  160.6  160.6    1.8    0.1    0.0    2.3    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    160.3  160.3  160.7  160.9    1.5    0.4    0.1    1.7    0.2    0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    159.3  159.3  159.7  160.0    1.8    0.4    0.2    2.0    0.3    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.1  102.1  102.3  102.5    0.7    0.4    0.2    0.8    0.2    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    146.0  146.2  146.4  146.6    1.5    0.3    0.1    1.7    0.3    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    101.8  101.9  101.9  102.0    0.7    0.1    0.1    0.8    0.1    0.0 
   D .........................................   M    158.1  158.3  158.3  158.7    1.3    0.3    0.3    1.5    0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    160.2  160.6  159.6  159.6    2.0   -0.6    0.0    1.9   -0.4   -0.6 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    156.1  155.9  156.1  156.1    0.9    0.1    0.0    1.4    0.0    0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    168.8  169.1  169.7  169.9    1.3    0.5    0.1    1.8    0.5    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  168.8      -  169.9    2.2    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  152.1      -  153.3    2.7    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  154.0      -  154.3      -    0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1        -  102.5      -  102.7    1.3    0.2      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    159.3      -  159.1      -      -      -      -      -   -0.1      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    154.0      -  155.1      -      -      -      -    2.3    0.7      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    145.1      -  146.1      -      -      -      -    0.8    0.7      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    157.6      -  158.0      -      -      -      -      -    0.3      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    167.4      -  167.9      -      -      -      -    1.2    0.3      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    161.7      -  162.7      -      -      -      -    2.9    0.6      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    162.8      -  163.8      -      -      -      -      -    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.