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                     CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  MARCH 2003
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
 0.6 percent in March, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The March
 level of 184.2 (1982-84=100) was 3.0 percent higher than in March 2002.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also increased 0.6 percent in March, prior to seasonal adjustment.
 The March level of 180.3 was 3.2 percent higher than in March 2002.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in March,
 following an increase of 0.6 percent in February.  Energy costs again rose
 sharply--up 4.6 percent in March--and accounted for over 90 percent of the
 advance in the overall CPI-U.  Within energy, the index for petroleum-
 based energy advanced 4.3 percent and the index for energy services
 increased 5.0 percent.  The index for food rose 0.2 percent in March,
 following a 0.7 percent rise in February.  The index for food at home,
 which increased 0.9 percent in February, rose 0.1 percent in March.  The
 moderation was largely as the result of a markedly smaller increase in the
 index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.  The index for all items less
 food and energy was unchanged in March after increasing 0.1 percent in
 both January and February.
      
 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               2002             2003      3-mos. ended  ended
                     Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.   Mar. '03  Mar. '03
 All Items            .2    .2   .1   .1   .3   .6   .3    5.2       3.0
  Food and beverages  .2    .1   .2   .2  -.2   .6   .2    2.5       1.5
  Housing             .2    .3   .1   .2   .4   .3   .4    4.2       2.9
  Apparel            -.2   -.2  -.2  -.2  -.9  -.2  -.4   -5.7      -3.6
  Transportation      .2    .5  -.2  -.3  1.1  2.0  1.0   17.6       7.0
  Medical care        .3    .6   .5   .4   .1   .1   .2    1.7       4.3
  Recreation          .1    .2   .0   .2   .2   .3   .1    2.3       1.2
  Education and                                                         
    communication    -.1    .0   .0   .2   .5   .2  -.1    2.2       2.6
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .4   -.5   .1   .1   .2   .3  -.1    2.0       3.1
  Special Indexes                                                        
   Energy             .4   1.4  -.5  -.4  4.0  5.9  4.6   76.5      23.4
   Food               .2    .1   .2   .2  -.2   .7   .2    2.7       1.4
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .2    .1   .1   .2   .1   .1   .0     .8       1.7

      
      For the first three months of 2003, consumer prices increased at a
 seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 5.2 percent.  This compares with
 an increase of 2.4 percent for all of 2002.  The index for energy, which
 rose 10.7 percent in 2002, accelerated in the first quarter of 2003,
 advancing at a 76.5 percent SAAR and accounting for about 80 percent of
 the first quarter advance in the overall CPI-U.  Petroleum-based energy
 costs increased at a 125.0 percent annual rate and charges for energy
 services rose at a 37.4 percent annual rate.  The food index rose at a 2.7
 percent SAAR in the first quarter of 2003.  The index for grocery store
 food prices increased at a 3.0 percent annual rate, as price increases for
 cereal and bakery products and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs--up at
 annual rates of 9.6 and 6.8 percent, respectively--were only partially
 offset by declines in the indexes for fruits and vegetables, dairy
 products, and nonalcoholic beverages.
      
       Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U advanced at a 0.8 percent SAAR
 in the first quarter, following a 1.9 percent rise in all of 2002.
 Smaller increases in the indexes for shelter and medical care, coupled
 with a larger decrease in the index for apparel, were largely responsible
 for the deceleration.  The annual rates for selected groups for the last
 seven and 1/4 years are shown below.
      


                             Percentage change 12 months              SAAR 3
                             ended in December                        mos. ended        
                     						      in March                   
                       	 1996   1997   1998   1999   2000  2001  2002  2003
 All items                3.3    1.7    1.6    2.7    3.4   1.6   2.4   5.2
  Food and beverages      4.2    1.6    2.3    2.0    2.8   2.8   1.5   2.5
  Housing                 2.9    2.4    2.3    2.2    4.3   2.9   2.4   4.2
  Apparel                -0.2    1.0   -0.7    -.5   -1.8  -3.2  -1.8  -5.7
  Transportation    	  4.4   -1.4   -1.7    5.4    4.1  -3.8   3.8  17.6
  Medical care            3.0    2.8    3.4    3.7    4.2   4.7   5.0   1.7
  Recreation              3.0    1.5    1.2     .8    1.7   1.5   1.1   2.3
  Education and
   communication          3.4    3.0    0.7    1.6    1.3   3.2   2.2   2.2
  Other goods and
   services               3.6    5.2    8.8    5.1    4.2   4.5   3.3   2.0                                                      

 Special indexes                                                        
  Energy                  8.6   -3.4   -8.8   13.4   14.2 -13.0  10.7  76.5
   Energy commodities    13.8   -6.9  -15.1   29.5   15.7 -24.5  23.7 125.0
   Energy services        3.8    0.2   -3.3    1.2   12.7  -1.5    .4  37.4
  All items less energy   2.9    2.1    2.4    2.0    2.6   2.8   1.8   1.1
   Food                   4.3    1.5    2.3    1.9    2.8   2.8   1.5   2.7
  All items less food                       
   and energy		  2.6    2.2    2.4    1.9    2.6   2.7   1.9   0.8

     
      The food and beverages index rose 0.2 percent in March.  The index
 for food at home, which advanced 0.9 percent in February, increased 0.1
 percent in March.  While most major grocery store food groups contributed
 to the moderation, the index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs, which was
 unchanged in March after increasing 2.0 percent in February, accounted for
 about two-thirds of the deceleration.  The index for beef and veal rose
 1.2 percent in March, following a 3.3 percent rise in February.  The
 indexes for pork and for other meats, which increased 1.1 and 1.7 percent,
 respectively, in February, declined 0.8 and 1.2 percent in March.  Poultry
 prices rose 0.1 percent in March after advancing 1.2 percent in February.
 The index for fruits and vegetables rose 0.1 percent in March, following a
 0.8 percent increase in February.  The indexes for fresh fruits and for
 fresh vegetables were each virtually unchanged, while the index for
 processed fruits and vegetables increased 0.9 percent.  (Prior to seasonal
 adjustment, fresh fruit prices rose 0.4 percent, while prices for fresh
 vegetables and for processed fruits and vegetables each declined 0.1
 percent.)  The index for dairy products, which increased 0.5 percent in
 February, declined 0.1 percent in March.  The index for nonalcoholic
 beverages--down 0.1 percent--declined for the third consecutive month, but
 by less than in February.  The remaining two major grocery store food
 groups--cereals and bakery products and other food at home--increased 0.4
 percent and were unchanged, respectively.  The other two components of the
 food and beverage index--food away from home and alcoholic beverages--
 increased 0.2 and 0.6 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for housing rose 0.4 percent in March.  Shelter costs were
 virtually unchanged for the second consecutive month.  Within shelter, the
 indexes for rent and owners' equivalent rent increased 0.2 and 0.1
 percent, respectively, while the index for lodging away from home fell 1.3
 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, the index for lodging away from
 home rose 1.8 percent.)  The index for fuels and utilities rose 4.4
 percent in March.  The index for fuel oil increased 9.8 percent in March,
 and prices for fuel oil were 60.0 percent higher than in March 2002.  The
 index for natural gas rose 14.8 percent, bringing the increase in the past
 12 months to 34.6 percent.  The index for electricity increased 0.8
 percent in March, accounting for all of its increase in the last 12
 months.  The index for household furnishings and operations declined 0.5
 percent in March, reflecting price declines in all major categories.
      
      The transportation index rose 1.0 percent in March, following
 increases of 1.1 and 2.0 percent in the preceding two months.  The index
 for gasoline, which rose 6.6 and 9.9 percent in January and February,
 respectively, increased 4.1 percent in March.  (Prior to seasonal
 adjustment, gasoline prices rose 5.5 percent in March.)  As of March, the
 price of gasoline was 1.0 percent higher than its previous peak level of
 May 2001.  The index for new vehicles increased 0.2 percent in March, but
 during the last 12 months it has fallen 1.0 percent.   The index for used
 cars and trucks rose 0.6 percent in March, but this index has declined 2.4
 percent in the last 12 months.  Airline fares increased for the second
 consecutive month--up 1.9 percent in March--but are 1.8 percent lower than
 a year ago.
      
      The index for apparel declined 0.4 percent in March.  (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, apparel prices rose 2.5 percent, reflecting the
 introduction of spring-summer apparel wear.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.2 percent in March to a level 4.3 percent
 higher than a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--
 prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--rose 0.4
 percent.  The index for medical care services rose 0.1 percent in March.
 Charges for professional services and for hospital and related services
 increased 0.1 and 0.2 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for recreation rose 0.1 percent in March.  Increases in the
 indexes for club membership dues and fees for participant sports, for
 newspapers and magazines, and for toys more than offset declines in the
 indexes for video and audio, for sporting goods, for photography, and for
 admissions to sporting events.
      
      The index for education and communication decreased 0.1 percent in
 March.  Educational costs rose 0.5 percent, while the index for
 communication costs fell 0.7 percent.  Within the latter group, the index
 for telephone services declined 0.8 percent, reflecting a 2.4 percent
 decrease in long distance charges.  The index for personal computers and
 peripheral equipment declined 0.5 percent.
      
      The index for other goods and services declined 0.1 percent in March.
 A 1.2 percent drop in the index for tobacco and smoking products was
 partially offset by a 0.3 percent increase in the index for personal care.
 Within the latter group, the index for legal services increased sharply
 for the third consecutive month--up 1.1 percent in Marchfor .
      
 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 0.5 percent in March.


 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               2002             2003      3-mos. ended  ended
                     Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.   Mar. '03  Mar. '03
 All Items           .2    .2   .1   .1   .3   .7   .5     6.2       3.2
  Food and beverages .2    .1   .3   .2  -.1   .6   .2     2.7       1.4
  Housing            .2    .3   .2   .2   .4   .3   .6     5.0       3.2
  Apparel           -.2   -.3  -.2  -.2 -1.0  -.2  -.2    -5.5      -3.5
  Transportation     .2    .5  -.3  -.3  1.2  2.2  1.1    19.9       7.4
  Medical care       .3    .6   .5   .4   .1   .1   .2     1.7       4.5
  Recreation        -.1    .2   .0   .3   .1   .2   .0     1.1        .8
  Education and                                                         
    communication   -.1   -.1   .0   .2   .4   .2  -.2     1.5       2.3
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         .6   -.9   .0   .0   .2   .3  -.3      .7       3.5
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy            .4   1.6  -.6  -.6  4.2  6.1  4.6    78.6      24.0
   Food              .2    .1   .3   .2  -.2   .7   .1     2.5       1.3
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy .1    .1   .1   .2   .1   .1   .1     0.9       1.7


 Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
 
      The C-CPI-U increased 0.6 percent in March on a not seasonally
 adjusted basis.  The March level of 107.8 (December 1999=100) was 2.6
 percent higher than in March 2002.  Table 7 contains the most recent
 indexes for all items and the component series that are published.   Data
 will be published monthly in the CPI Detailed Report and are available on
 the CPI home page:  http://www.bls.gov/cpi/.  Please note that the indexes
 for the post-2001 period are subject to revision.
 
 
     Consumer Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on
 Friday, May 16, 2003, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
       
       
 _________________________________________________________________________      
       

 Facilities for Sensory Impaired

      Information from this release will be made available to sensory
 impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200, Federal
 Relay Services:  1-800-877-8339.  For a recorded message of Summary CPI
 data, call (202) 691-5200.
 
 ___________________________________________________________________________
 

 Brief Explanation of the CPI
 
     The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in
 prices over time of goods and services purchased by households.  The
 Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPIs for two population groups:  (1)
 the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which covers
 households of wage earners and clerical workers that comprise
 approximately 32 percent of the total population and (2) the CPI for All
 Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-
 U), which cover approximately 87 percent of the total population and
 include in addition to wage earners and clerical worker households,
 groups such as professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-
 employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees and others not
 in the labor force.
 
      The CPIs are based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, and fuels,
 transportation fares, charges for doctors' and dentists' services, drugs,
 and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living.
 Prices are collected in 87 urban areas across the country from about
 50,000 housing units and approximately 23,000 retail establishments-
 department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling stations, and other
 types of stores and service establishments.  All taxes directly associated
 with the purchase and use of items are included in the index.  Prices of
 fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in all 87 locations.
 Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
 the three largest geographic areas and every other month in other areas.
 Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal visits or
 telephone calls of the Bureau's trained representatives.
 
      In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each
 location are averaged together with weights, which represent their
 importance in the spending of the appropriate population group.  Local
 data are then combined to obtain a U.S. city average.  For the CPI-U and
 CPI-W separate indexes are also published by size of city, by region of
 the country, for cross-classifications of regions and population-size
 classes, and for 27 local areas.  Area indexes do not measure differences
 in the level of prices among cities, they only measure the average change
 in prices for each area since the base period.  For the C-CPI-U data are
 issued only at the national level.  It is important to note that the CPI-U
 and CPI-W are considered final when released, but the C-CPI-U is issued in
 preliminary form and subject to two annual revisions.
 
      The index measures price change from a designed reference date.  For
 the CPI-U and the CPI-W the reference base is 1982-84 equals 100.0. The
 reference base for the C-CPI-U is December 1999 equals 100.
 An increase of 16.5 percent from the reference base, for example, is shown
 as 116.5.  This change can also be expressed in dollars as follows:  the
 price of a base period market basket of goods and services in the CPI has
 risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65.
 
      For further details visit the CPI home page on the Internet at
 http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ or contact our CPI Information and Analysis
 Section on (202) 691-7000.
  
 ___________________________________________________________________________ 
 
  
       Calculating Index Changes
       
            Movements of the indexes from one month to another are
       usually expressed as percent changes rather than changes in index 
       points, because index point changes are affected by the level of 
       the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are 
       not.  The example below illustrates the computation of index point 
       and percent changes.
       
            Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods are expressed 
       as annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula 
       for compound growth rates.  These data indicate what the percent 
       change would be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month 
       period.
       
         
                    Index Point Change
       
       CPI   					115.7
       Less previous index    			111.2
       Equals index point change  		4.5
       
       
                    Percent Change
       
       Index point difference			4.5
       Divided by the previous index		111.2
       Equals					0.040
       Results multiplied by one hundred	0.040 x 100
       Equals percent change			4.0

 ___________________________________________________________________________


 Regions Defined
 
 The states in the four regions shown in Tables 3 and 6 are listed below.
 
 The Northeast--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,
 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

 The Midwest--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
 Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

 The South--Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
 Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
 Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of
 Columbia.

 The West--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana,
 Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

 _________________________________________________________________________


 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 1998 through 2002 were replaced at the end of 2002.  In January
 2002, dependently seasonally adjusted series were revised for January 1987-
 December 2001 as a result of a change in the aggregation weights for
 dependently adjusted series. For further information, please see
 "Aggregation of Dependently Adjusted Seasonally Adjusted Series," in the
 October 2001 issue of the CPI Detailed Report.
   
   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.  Note: 44 of
 the 73 components are seasonally adjusted for 2003.
   
   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, natural gas, motor fuels, and educational books and
 supplies 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 the Nonalcoholic
 beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a large
 increase in coffee prices due to adverse weather.  The procedure was used
 to account for unusual butter fat supply reductions and decreases in milk
 supply affecting the Fats and oils series.  For the Water and sewerage
 maintenance index, the procedure was used to account for a data collection
 anomaly and dry weather in California.  It was used to offset an increase
 in demand due to warmer than expected weather and increased rates to
 conserve supplies for Electricity.  For New vehicles, New cars, and New
 trucks, the procedure was used to offset the effects of a model changeover
 combined with financing incentives.
 
   For a complete list of series that used Intervention Analysis
 Seasonal Adjustment, a list of unusual events modeled for them, or for a
 description of intervention analysis please write to the Bureau of Labor
 Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes, Washington, DC
 20212 or by calling Daniel Chow on (202) 691-6968 or sending e-mail to
 Chow_Dan@BLS.GOV.  If you have general questions about the CPI, please
 call our information staff at (202) 691-7000.



 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,                      Mar. 2003 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   2002       Feb.      Mar.                                            
                                                              2003      2003     Mar.     Feb.   Dec. to Jan. to Feb. to
                                                                                 2002     2003     Jan.    Feb.    Mar. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     183.1     184.2      3.0      0.6     0.3     0.6     0.3 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     548.5     551.8        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     15.583     178.9     179.2      1.5      0.2    -0.2     0.6     0.2 
   Food ......................................     14.554     178.3     178.6      1.4      0.2    -0.2     0.7     0.2 
    Food at home .............................      8.338     177.6     177.7      0.8      0.1    -0.2     0.9     0.1 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.281     201.8     202.1      2.6      0.1     1.0     0.9     0.4 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.222     164.7     164.8      1.2      0.1    -0.3     2.0     0.0 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........       .876     167.2     167.1     -1.4     -0.1    -0.5     0.5    -0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.234     223.3     223.6     -1.0      0.1    -1.2     0.8     0.1 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................       .954     140.8     140.3      0.1     -0.4    -0.5    -0.4    -0.1 
     Other food at home ......................      1.771     162.2     162.6      1.7      0.2     0.0     0.4     0.0 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .314     161.8     162.5      3.4      0.4    -0.4     0.9     0.6 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .252     158.7     157.5      0.7     -0.8     1.0     2.0    -0.8 
      Other foods ............................      1.205     177.9     178.6      1.5      0.4    -0.1    -0.1     0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .287     110.5     110.1      2.1     -0.4    -0.5     0.7    -0.4 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.216     180.7     181.0      2.2      0.2    -0.1     0.4     0.2 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .388     120.2     120.4      3.5      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.3 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.029     185.9     186.6      2.2      0.4     0.3    -0.2     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     40.854     183.2     184.3      2.9      0.6     0.4     0.3     0.4 
   Shelter ...................................     31.728     211.6     212.1      2.5      0.2     0.3     0.0     0.0 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      6.467     203.7     204.1      3.0      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      2.654     117.6     119.7     -1.8      1.8     0.1    -1.8    -1.3 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     22.243     218.7     218.9      2.9      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .365     114.1     114.0      6.7     -0.1     1.4     0.2    -0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.469     148.3     154.5     10.2      4.2     1.4     2.0     4.4 
    Fuels ....................................      3.604     131.9     138.5     11.9      5.0     1.8     2.4     5.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .205     156.3     169.0     49.8      8.1     7.1    14.2     9.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.399     136.9     143.5      9.8      4.8     1.5     1.6     5.0 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .864     115.0     115.9      3.2      0.8     0.0     0.3     0.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.658     127.7     127.1     -1.2     -0.5     0.2     0.2    -0.5 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .820     122.0     121.6      2.3     -0.3     0.8     1.0    -0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.220     120.6     123.6     -3.6      2.5    -0.9    -0.2    -0.4 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.065     117.3     121.0     -3.4      3.2    -1.3    -0.1     1.9 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.738     112.4     117.2     -3.4      4.3    -1.2     0.1    -0.7 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............       .193     122.3     124.1     -4.5      1.5    -3.0     0.7     0.0 
   Footwear ..................................       .853     119.8     119.8     -3.0      0.0     0.7    -0.6    -2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.293     158.9     161.0      7.0      1.3     1.1     2.0     1.0 
   Private transportation ....................     16.121     155.3     157.3      7.5      1.3     1.2     2.2     1.1 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      8.170      98.0      98.0     -1.6      0.0    -0.5    -0.1     0.3 
     New vehicles ............................      4.864     139.2     139.3     -1.0      0.1    -0.9    -0.1     0.2 
     Used cars and trucks ....................      2.025     148.4     148.5     -2.4      0.1     0.2     0.4     0.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.119     140.4     148.1     37.5      5.5     6.6     9.8     4.0 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.091     139.7     147.4     37.6      5.5     6.6     9.9     4.1 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .416     108.2     107.9      1.3     -0.3     0.7     0.4    -0.3 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.418     194.5     194.3      3.1     -0.1     0.1     0.2     0.0 
   Public transportation .....................      1.172     203.6     206.1     -0.9      1.2    -0.6    -0.4     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.961     293.7     294.2      4.3      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.387     260.4     261.4      2.9      0.4     0.2     0.0     0.4 
   Medical care services .....................      4.574     302.3     302.6      4.7      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
    Professional services (3).................      2.808     258.8     259.1      2.9      0.1     0.0     0.1     0.1 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.451     388.2     388.7      8.2      0.1     0.4     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.943     107.2     107.4      1.2      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.1 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.638     103.8     103.7      0.8     -0.1    -0.4     0.0    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.798     109.7     109.4      2.6     -0.3     0.5     0.2    -0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.835     131.0     131.1      6.3      0.1     0.6     0.5     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .236     332.8     333.2      6.0      0.1     1.0     0.7     0.5 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.599     376.3     376.5      6.3      0.1     0.6     0.5     0.5 
   Communication (2)..........................      2.963      91.9      91.3     -0.8     -0.7     0.2    -0.1    -0.7 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.765      90.1      89.5     -1.4     -0.7     0.3    -0.2    -0.7 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.273     100.5      99.7      0.6     -0.8     0.5     0.1    -0.8 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .492      16.9      16.8    -10.6     -0.6    -0.6    -1.2    -0.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .210      19.1      19.0    -17.7     -0.5    -1.0    -2.1    -0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.350     297.5     297.3      3.1     -0.1     0.2     0.3    -0.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........       .992     472.7     467.2      7.8     -1.2     0.0     0.1    -1.2 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.358     176.7     177.2      1.8      0.3     0.3     0.5     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .680     153.3     153.3     -1.2      0.0    -0.3     0.2     0.0 
    Personal care services (1)................       .897     190.9     191.7      2.3      0.4     0.4     0.2     0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.573     280.4     281.4      3.1      0.4     0.2     0.5     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     40.822     152.0     153.1      2.5      0.7     0.3     1.1     0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................     15.583     178.9     179.2      1.5      0.2    -0.2     0.6     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     25.239     136.4     138.0      3.2      1.2     0.7     1.3     0.6 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     13.824     151.2     154.5      7.6      2.2     0.9     2.5     0.8 
    Apparel ..................................      4.220     120.6     123.6     -3.6      2.5    -0.9    -0.2    -0.4 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.604     174.1     177.8     13.0      2.1     1.6     3.8     2.8 
   Durables ..................................     11.416     119.7     119.5     -2.1     -0.2    -0.2     0.1    -0.2 
 Services ....................................     59.178     214.0     215.1      3.4      0.5     0.3     0.2     0.4 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     31.364     220.3     220.9      2.5      0.3     0.3     0.0     0.0 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .365     114.1     114.0      6.7     -0.1     1.4     0.2    -0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.399     136.9     143.5      9.8      4.8     1.5     1.6     5.0 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .864     115.0     115.9      3.2      0.8     0.0     0.3     0.5 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .820     122.0     121.6      2.3     -0.3     0.8     1.0    -0.3 
  Transportation services ....................      6.722     213.4     214.2      3.3      0.4     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Medical care services ......................      4.574     302.3     302.6      4.7      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
  Other services .............................     11.071     252.4     252.6      3.7      0.1     0.4     0.4     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     85.446     183.9     185.2      3.3      0.7     0.4     0.6     0.4 
 All items less shelter ......................     68.272     174.0     175.3      3.3      0.7     0.3     0.9     0.5 
 All items less medical care .................     94.039     177.3     178.4      2.9      0.6     0.3     0.6     0.4 
 Commodities less food .......................     26.268     138.3     139.8      3.1      1.1     0.7     1.3     0.6 
 Nondurables less food .......................     14.853     153.3     156.5      7.3      2.1     0.8     2.3     0.9 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.633     174.4     177.7     12.0      1.9     1.6     3.3     2.3 
 Nondurables .................................     29.406     165.3     167.2      4.4      1.1     0.6     1.3     0.7 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.815     222.8     224.4      4.5      0.7     0.3     0.5     0.8 
 Services less medical care services .........     54.604     206.4     207.4      3.3      0.5     0.3     0.2     0.4 
 Energy ......................................      6.723     135.4     142.6     23.4      5.3     4.0     5.9     4.6 
 All items less energy .......................     93.277     189.7     190.2      1.7      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.0 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.724     192.5     193.0      1.7      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.0 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     22.945     142.1     142.6     -1.4      0.4    -0.3    -0.1    -0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.324     142.1     150.1     38.2      5.6     6.6    10.2     4.3 
   Services less energy services .............     55.779     221.9     222.4      3.0      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.0 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .546    $ .543        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .182    $ .181        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.                                           
                                                 2002    2003    2003    2003                                           
                                                                                June   Sep.   Dec.   Mar.   Sep.   Mar. 
                                                                                2002   2002   2002   2003   2002   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  181.6   182.2   183.3   183.9    2.9    2.5    1.6    5.2    2.7    3.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  178.0   177.7   178.8   179.1    0.0    1.1    2.3    2.5    0.6    2.4 
   Food ......................................  177.3   177.0   178.2   178.5   -0.2    1.1    2.1    2.7    0.5    2.4 
    Food at home .............................  176.3   175.9   177.4   177.6   -2.0    0.5    2.1    3.0   -0.8    2.5 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  198.1   200.0   201.8   202.7    1.0    1.0   -0.8    9.6    1.0    4.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  162.3   161.8   165.0   165.0   -1.9   -2.7    3.0    6.8   -2.3    4.9 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  167.3   166.4   167.2   167.1   -3.3   -4.0    2.4   -0.5   -3.6    1.0 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  223.3   220.6   222.3   222.6   -9.9    3.5    4.6   -1.2   -3.4    1.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  140.7   140.0   139.5   139.3   -2.6    6.8    0.6   -3.9    2.0   -1.7 
     Other food at home ......................  161.7   161.7   162.4   162.4    2.0    0.5    2.5    1.7    1.3    2.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  160.3   159.7   161.1   162.1    5.2    1.8    2.3    4.6    3.5    3.4 
      Fats and oils ..........................  154.2   155.8   158.9   157.7   -4.3    0.0   -1.8    9.4   -2.2    3.6 
      Other foods ............................  178.5   178.4   178.3   178.4    2.8    0.2    3.2   -0.2    1.5    1.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  110.2   109.7   110.5   110.1    4.5    2.6    1.8   -0.4    3.6    0.7 
    Food away from home (1)...................  180.1   179.9   180.7   181.0    2.5    2.3    2.0    2.0    2.4    2.0 
     Other food away from home (2)............  119.6   119.9   120.3   120.7    5.6    0.3    4.5    3.7    2.9    4.1 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  185.3   185.8   185.5   186.6    2.2    1.3    2.6    2.8    1.8    2.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  182.2   182.9   183.4   184.1    2.5    2.2    2.5    4.2    2.4    3.3 
   Shelter ...................................  210.8   211.4   211.5   211.4    2.9    3.1    2.7    1.1    3.0    1.9 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  202.3   203.1   203.5   203.9    3.1    2.6    3.0    3.2    2.8    3.1 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  118.9   119.0   116.9   115.4    1.4    1.4    1.7  -11.3    1.4   -5.0 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  217.7   218.3   218.7   218.9    3.2    3.2    2.8    2.2    3.2    2.5 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  112.3   113.9   114.1   114.0    3.8    8.4    8.6    6.2    6.1    7.4 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  145.3   147.4   150.3   156.9    2.8    1.7    3.4   36.0    2.3   18.6 
    Fuels ....................................  128.7   131.0   134.1   141.1    3.2    1.3    3.2   44.5    2.2   22.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................  123.0   131.7   150.4   163.9   21.7   15.8   13.4  215.3   18.7   89.1 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  135.6   137.6   139.8   146.8    2.4    0.3    3.0   37.4    1.4   18.9 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  114.7   114.7   115.0   115.6    2.5    2.9    3.9    3.2    2.7    3.6 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  127.4   127.6   127.8   127.1   -0.3   -2.2   -1.6   -0.9   -1.2   -1.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  119.9   120.8   122.0   121.6   -0.3    3.1    0.7    5.8    1.4    3.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  122.9   121.8   121.6   121.1   -5.3   -0.3   -2.6   -5.7   -2.8   -4.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  119.7   118.2   118.1   120.4  -10.8   -1.3   -3.3    2.4   -6.2   -0.5 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  114.9   113.5   113.6   112.8   -4.1    0.7   -2.7   -7.1   -1.7   -5.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............  125.3   121.5   122.4   122.4   -5.2    0.6   -4.0   -8.9   -2.3   -6.5 
   Footwear ..................................  121.4   122.3   121.6   118.7   -2.3   -1.0    0.0   -8.6   -1.6   -4.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  154.5   156.2   159.3   160.9    7.4    3.4    0.0   17.6    5.4    8.5 
   Private transportation ....................  150.5   152.3   155.6   157.3    7.9    3.8    0.0   19.3    5.8    9.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   98.3    97.8    97.7    98.0   -2.4    0.8   -3.6   -1.2   -0.8   -2.4 
     New vehicles ............................  139.8   138.6   138.4   138.7   -2.0    1.2   -0.3   -3.1   -0.4   -1.7 
     Used cars and trucks ....................  147.9   148.2   148.8   149.7   -2.8   -1.6   -9.6    5.0   -2.2   -2.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................  122.1   130.2   143.0   148.7   46.8    9.7    0.7  120.0   26.9   48.8 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  121.5   129.5   142.3   148.1   46.6    9.8    1.0  120.8   26.9   49.3 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  107.0   107.8   108.2   107.9    0.8    2.7   -1.5    3.4    1.7    0.9 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  193.5   193.7   194.1   194.1    3.9    2.3    4.7    1.2    3.1    2.9 
   Public transportation .....................  206.5   205.3   204.4   205.5    2.9   -6.0    1.6   -1.9   -1.6   -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  292.3   292.6   293.0   293.5    4.5    4.9    6.1    1.7    4.7    3.9 
   Medical care commodities ..................  260.0   260.5   260.4   261.4    3.0    3.3    3.1    2.2    3.2    2.7 
   Medical care services .....................  300.6   300.8   301.4   301.7    4.9    5.3    7.1    1.5    5.1    4.2 
    Professional services (3).................  258.0   258.0   258.3   258.6    2.4    3.5    4.6    0.9    3.0    2.8 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  383.9   385.3   386.7   387.5    9.0    8.6   11.5    3.8    8.8    7.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  106.7   106.9   107.2   107.3    0.4    0.8    1.5    2.3    0.6    1.9 
   Video and audio (2)........................  103.8   103.4   103.4   103.3    1.2   -0.4    4.4   -1.9    0.4    1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  109.0   109.5   109.7   109.6    2.3    5.3    0.7    2.2    3.8    1.5 
   Education (2)..............................  129.4   130.2   130.9   131.5    6.3    7.2    5.1    6.7    6.7    5.9 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  324.8   327.9   330.2   331.8    7.5    3.3    4.3    8.9    5.4    6.6 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   372.0   374.4   376.3   378.0    6.3    7.6    4.9    6.6    7.0    5.7 
   Communication (2)..........................   91.8    92.0    91.9    91.3   -0.9    3.1   -3.0   -2.2    1.1   -2.6 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   90.0    90.3    90.1    89.5   -0.9    0.4   -3.1   -2.2   -0.2   -2.6 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   99.9   100.4   100.5    99.7    0.4    3.7   -0.8   -0.8    2.0   -0.8 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   17.2    17.1    16.9    16.8   -8.2  -12.4  -12.8   -9.0  -10.4  -10.9 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   19.7    19.5    19.1    19.0   -8.4  -24.0  -24.0  -13.5  -16.6  -18.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  295.8   296.5   297.5   297.3    8.4    3.6   -1.6    2.0    6.0    0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  472.5   472.4   472.7   467.2   35.3   16.7  -10.5   -4.4   25.6   -7.5 
   Personal care (1)..........................  175.4   175.9   176.7   177.2    1.9    0.0    1.1    4.2    0.9    2.6 
    Personal care products (1)................  153.4   153.0   153.3   153.3    0.8   -2.5   -2.6   -0.3   -0.9   -1.4 
    Personal care services (1)................  189.9   190.6   190.9   191.7    2.2    1.9    1.5    3.8    2.0    2.7 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  277.8   278.4   279.8   280.8    3.4    1.3    3.4    4.4    2.4    3.9 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  150.0   150.5   152.2   152.8    2.4    1.1   -0.8    7.7    1.8    3.4 
  Food and beverages .........................  178.0   177.7   178.8   179.1    0.0    1.1    2.3    2.5    0.6    2.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  134.0   134.9   136.7   137.5    3.6    1.2   -2.6   10.9    2.4    3.9 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  148.1   149.5   153.2   154.5    1.1    5.4    6.2   18.4    3.2   12.1 
    Apparel ..................................  122.9   121.8   121.6   121.1   -5.3   -0.3   -2.6   -5.7   -2.8   -4.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  165.0   167.7   174.0   178.8   14.4    3.7   -0.5   37.9    8.9   17.1 
   Durables ..................................  119.7   119.5   119.6   119.4   -1.6   -1.6   -4.2   -1.0   -1.6   -2.6 
 Services ....................................  212.9   213.6   214.1   214.9    3.3    3.3    3.3    3.8    3.3    3.5 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  219.4   220.0   220.1   220.2    3.0    3.0    2.4    1.5    3.0    1.9 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  112.3   113.9   114.1   114.0    3.8    8.4    8.6    6.2    6.1    7.4 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  135.6   137.6   139.8   146.8    2.4    0.3    3.0   37.4    1.4   18.9 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  114.7   114.7   115.0   115.6    2.5    2.9    3.9    3.2    2.7    3.6 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  119.9   120.8   122.0   121.6   -0.3    3.1    0.7    5.8    1.4    3.2 
  Transportation services ....................  212.4   212.7   213.2   213.7    3.9    3.7    3.3    2.5    3.8    2.9 
  Medical care services ......................  300.6   300.8   301.4   301.7    4.9    5.3    7.1    1.5    5.1    4.2 
  Other services .............................  250.3   251.3   252.3   252.6    3.5    4.6    2.9    3.7    4.1    3.3 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  182.3   183.1   184.2   184.9    3.6    2.5    1.6    5.8    3.0    3.7 
 All items less shelter ......................  172.2   172.8   174.3   175.2    2.9    2.1    1.2    7.2    2.5    4.1 
 All items less medical care .................  175.8   176.4   177.5   178.2    2.8    2.3    1.4    5.6    2.6    3.5 
 Commodities less food .......................  135.9   136.8   138.6   139.4    3.9    1.2   -2.6   10.7    2.5    3.8 
 Nondurables less food .......................  150.4   151.6   155.1   156.5    1.1    4.7    6.4   17.2    2.9   11.7 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  166.2   168.9   174.5   178.6   12.3    4.0    0.7   33.4    8.1   15.9 
 Nondurables .................................  163.0   163.9   166.1   167.2    0.8    2.5    3.8   10.7    1.6    7.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  221.2   221.8   223.0   224.7    3.6    4.3    3.5    6.5    3.9    5.0 
 Services less medical care services .........  205.3   205.9   206.4   207.2    3.2    3.4    2.8    3.8    3.3    3.3 
 Energy ......................................  125.1   130.1   137.8   144.2   20.9    5.0    2.3   76.5   12.7   34.4 
 All items less energy .......................  189.2   189.3   189.7   189.7    1.7    2.2    1.7    1.1    1.9    1.4 
  All items less food and energy .............  192.1   192.3   192.5   192.5    2.1    2.5    1.5    0.8    2.3    1.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  142.7   142.3   142.2   142.1   -1.1   -0.3   -2.5   -1.7   -0.7   -2.1 
    Energy commodities .......................  122.8   130.9   144.2   150.4   45.5   10.1    1.3  125.0   26.6   51.0 
   Services less energy services .............  220.8   221.4   221.7   221.8    3.4    3.5    3.3    1.8    3.5    2.6 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Mar.2003 from--      Feb.2003 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.                                           
                                                 (1)   2002   2003   2003   2003   Mar.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.   Dec.   Jan. 
                                                                                   2002   2003   2003   2002   2002   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    180.9  181.7  183.1  184.2    3.0    1.4    0.6    3.0    1.2    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    189.6  190.5  191.7  193.0    3.2    1.3    0.7    3.0    1.1    0.6 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    191.4  192.2  193.5  194.6    3.2    1.2    0.6    3.0    1.1    0.7 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    112.6  113.1  113.8  115.0    3.4    1.7    1.1    3.0    1.1    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    175.5  176.2  177.8  178.6    2.9    1.4    0.4    3.1    1.3    0.9 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    177.8  178.2  180.0  180.7    2.7    1.4    0.4    3.0    1.2    1.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    111.4  112.0  112.8  113.6    3.1    1.4    0.7    2.9    1.3    0.7 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    169.5  170.7  172.5  173.0    3.5    1.3    0.3    3.5    1.8    1.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    174.6  175.1  176.4  177.5    3.1    1.4    0.6    3.2    1.0    0.7 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    175.9  176.7  178.3  179.1    3.3    1.4    0.4    3.4    1.4    0.9 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    111.6  111.7  112.5  113.3    3.0    1.4    0.7    2.9    0.8    0.7 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    172.3  173.2  174.8  175.4    3.2    1.3    0.3    3.7    1.5    0.9 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    185.5  186.6  188.1  189.3    2.9    1.4    0.6    2.7    1.4    0.8 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    188.0  189.2  190.9  192.1    3.2    1.5    0.6    3.0    1.5    0.9 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    113.1  113.8  114.5  115.4    2.3    1.4    0.8    1.9    1.2    0.6 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    165.4  166.1  167.5  168.4    3.1    1.4    0.5    3.1    1.3    0.8 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    111.9  112.3  113.1  114.0    3.0    1.5    0.8    2.7    1.1    0.7 
   D .........................................   M    173.8  174.6  176.0  176.9    3.1    1.3    0.5    3.1    1.3    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    182.4  182.7  184.1  184.8    2.8    1.1    0.4    3.0    0.9    0.8 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    183.7  185.2  186.5  188.2    3.9    1.6    0.9    3.6    1.5    0.7 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    193.1  194.7  196.2  197.1    3.1    1.2    0.5    3.3    1.6    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  199.8      -  202.8    4.2    1.5      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  173.5      -  175.4    1.0    1.1      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  174.0      -  176.8    2.7    1.6      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  114.6      -  115.9    3.6    1.1      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    177.3      -  180.7      -      -      -      -    2.6    1.9      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    179.7      -  182.4      -      -      -      -    3.5    1.5      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    159.8      -  164.0      -      -      -      -    4.7    2.6      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    177.9      -  180.3      -      -      -      -    3.0    1.3      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    185.3      -  186.6      -      -      -      -    2.5    0.7      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    193.2      -  197.7      -      -      -      -    3.3    2.3      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    190.0      -  191.3      -      -      -      -    2.0    0.7      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA;
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Mar. 2003 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   2002       Feb.      Mar.                                            
                                                              2003      2003     Mar.     Feb.   Dec. to Jan. to Feb. to
                                                                                 2002     2003     Jan.    Feb.    Mar. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     179.2     180.3      3.2      0.6     0.3     0.7     0.5 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     533.7     537.1        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.072     178.3     178.5      1.4      0.1    -0.1     0.6     0.2 
   Food ......................................     16.071     177.7     177.9      1.3      0.1    -0.2     0.7     0.1 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     176.7     176.8      0.7      0.1    -0.2     0.9     0.1 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.449     201.9     202.1      2.6      0.1     1.1     0.9     0.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.773     164.5     164.8      1.3      0.2    -0.4     2.0     0.1 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........       .977     167.1     166.7     -1.5     -0.2    -0.5     0.5    -0.2 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.337     221.8     222.2     -1.2      0.2    -0.9     0.5     0.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.118     140.1     139.5     -0.1     -0.4    -0.6    -0.4    -0.3 
     Other food at home ......................      1.992     161.9     162.1      1.6      0.1    -0.1     0.6     0.0 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .337     161.3     162.1      3.2      0.5    -0.6     0.9     0.7 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .302     158.7     157.7      0.9     -0.6     0.9     1.9    -0.6 
      Other foods ............................      1.353     178.5     178.9      1.4      0.2    -0.2     0.2    -0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .308     110.9     110.5      2.0     -0.4    -0.5     0.7    -0.4 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.425     180.5     181.0      2.3      0.3    -0.1     0.4     0.3 
     Other food away from home (2)............       .278     120.4     120.7      3.3      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.001     185.7     186.8      2.5      0.6     0.3     0.0     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     38.134     178.7     179.9      3.2      0.7     0.4     0.3     0.6 
   Shelter ...................................     29.422     205.5     205.9      2.6      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.0 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.456     203.0     203.4      3.0      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      1.499     118.0     120.4     -1.5      2.0     0.0    -0.9    -1.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     19.144     198.6     198.8      2.8      0.1     0.3     0.1     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .323     113.9     113.8      6.5     -0.1     1.2     0.2    -0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.783     147.4     153.6     10.0      4.2     1.5     1.8     4.4 
    Fuels ....................................      3.902     130.5     137.0     11.6      5.0     1.7     2.2     5.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .192     155.7     167.9     49.0      7.8     6.2    14.4     8.6 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.710     136.0     142.6      9.9      4.9     1.5     1.7     5.0 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .880     115.1     116.0      3.3      0.8     0.1     0.2     0.7 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      3.929     123.5     122.8     -1.7     -0.6     0.1     0.2    -0.7 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .357     122.8     122.5      2.5     -0.2     0.7     0.9    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.638     119.4     122.5     -3.5      2.6    -1.0    -0.2    -0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.176     116.8     120.6     -3.7      3.3    -1.3    -0.1     2.0 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.801     111.0     115.9     -3.2      4.4    -1.2    -0.3    -0.5 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............       .244     123.6     125.8     -4.5      1.8    -3.3     0.9     0.1 
   Footwear ..................................      1.136     119.3     119.6     -2.6      0.3     0.5    -0.6    -1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.666     158.2     160.3      7.4      1.3     1.2     2.2     1.1 
   Private transportation ....................     18.751     155.7     157.8      7.8      1.3     1.4     2.2     1.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.568      97.9      98.0     -1.7      0.1    -0.3     0.0     0.3 
     New vehicles ............................      4.682     140.3     140.4     -1.0      0.1    -0.7    -0.4     0.3 
     Used cars and trucks ....................      3.783     149.2     149.2     -2.5      0.0     0.2     0.4     0.6 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.836     140.9     148.5     37.5      5.4     6.7     9.7     4.1 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.803     140.3     147.8     37.5      5.3     6.7     9.5     4.0 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....       .524     107.5     107.2      1.4     -0.3     0.8     0.4    -0.3 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.458     196.2     196.0      3.2     -0.1     0.2     0.3    -0.1 
   Public transportation .....................       .915     199.8     202.0     -0.5      1.1    -0.5    -0.2     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.747     293.0     293.5      4.5      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.012     255.1     256.1      2.9      0.4     0.2     0.0     0.4 
   Medical care services .....................      3.735     302.3     302.7      5.0      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
    Professional services (3).................      2.265     261.0     261.3      2.9      0.1    -0.1     0.2     0.1 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.177     384.8     385.3      8.7      0.1     0.4     0.4     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.567     105.4     105.4      0.8      0.0     0.1     0.2     0.0 
   Video and audio (2)........................      1.795     103.0     102.9      0.8     -0.1    -0.3    -0.1     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.604     109.2     108.9      2.3     -0.3     0.4     0.2    -0.2 
   Education (2)..............................      2.472     130.7     130.8      6.1      0.1     0.5     0.5     0.5 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .217     333.6     333.9      6.0      0.1     0.9     0.7     0.5 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.256     368.0     368.2      6.0      0.1     0.5     0.4     0.5 
   Communication (2)..........................      3.132      93.4      92.8     -0.5     -0.6     0.3    -0.1    -0.6 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.972      92.2      91.6     -1.1     -0.7     0.3    -0.1    -0.7 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.536     100.7      99.9      0.6     -0.8     0.6     0.0    -0.8 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .436      17.5      17.4    -10.8     -0.6    -0.6    -1.1    -0.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191      18.6      18.6    -18.4      0.0    -1.0    -2.6     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.571     306.4     305.6      3.5     -0.3     0.2     0.3    -0.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.542     474.8     469.1      8.1     -1.2     0.0     0.1    -1.2 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.030     175.7     176.1      1.4      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Personal care products (1)................       .786     154.0     153.8     -1.4     -0.1    -0.3     0.1    -0.1 
    Personal care services (1)................       .896     191.6     192.4      2.3      0.4     0.3     0.2     0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.170     279.9     281.1      3.2      0.4     0.1     0.5     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     45.066     152.8     154.0      2.8      0.8     0.5     1.1     0.5 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.072     178.3     178.5      1.4      0.1    -0.1     0.6     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     27.994     138.0     139.6      3.6      1.2     0.8     1.5     0.7 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.152     153.8     157.3      8.6      2.3     0.9     2.6     1.1 
    Apparel ..................................      4.638     119.4     122.5     -3.5      2.6    -1.0    -0.2    -0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.514     178.7     182.6     14.6      2.2     1.8     4.1     2.9 
   Durables ..................................     12.842     119.9     119.8     -2.0     -0.1    -0.2     0.1     0.0 
 Services ....................................     54.934     210.2     211.2      3.6      0.5     0.3     0.3     0.4 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.099     197.9     198.3      2.6      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.1 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .323     113.9     113.8      6.5     -0.1     1.2     0.2    -0.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.710     136.0     142.6      9.9      4.9     1.5     1.7     5.0 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .880     115.1     116.0      3.3      0.8     0.1     0.2     0.7 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .357     122.8     122.5      2.5     -0.2     0.7     0.9    -0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.706     213.2     213.9      4.0      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.3 
  Medical care services ......................      3.735     302.3     302.7      5.0      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
  Other services .............................     10.123     247.1     247.0      3.4      0.0     0.4     0.3     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.929     179.3     180.6      3.6      0.7     0.5     0.7     0.6 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.578     171.5     172.9      3.5      0.8     0.5     0.9     0.6 
 All items less medical care .................     95.253     174.2     175.4      3.2      0.7     0.4     0.7     0.5 
 Commodities less food .......................     28.995     139.7     141.4      3.6      1.2     0.7     1.4     0.7 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.153     155.8     159.2      8.3      2.2     0.7     2.5     1.2 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.514     178.7     182.3     13.4      2.0     1.8     3.8     2.6 
 Nondurables .................................     32.224     166.5     168.5      4.8      1.2     0.4     1.6     0.7 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     25.835     197.9     199.5      4.7      0.8     0.3     0.5     0.9 
 Services less medical care services .........     51.199     202.9     204.0      3.6      0.5     0.2     0.3     0.5 
 Energy ......................................      7.738     135.1     142.2     24.0      5.3     4.2     6.1     4.6 
 All items less energy .......................     92.262     185.5     185.9      1.6      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     76.191     187.5     188.0      1.7      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.967     142.6     143.1     -1.3      0.4    -0.3     0.0    -0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      4.028     142.1     150.0     38.0      5.6     6.7     9.9     4.3 
   Services less energy services .............     51.224     218.5     218.8      3.2      0.1     0.2     0.2     0.1 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .558    $ .555        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .187    $ .186        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Dec.    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.                                           
                                                 2002    2003    2003    2003                                           
                                                                                June   Sep.   Dec.   Mar.   Sep.   Mar. 
                                                                                2002   2002   2002   2003   2002   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  177.5   178.1   179.3   180.2    3.0    2.5    1.4    6.2    2.8    3.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  177.2   177.0   178.1   178.4   -0.2    1.1    2.1    2.7    0.5    2.4 
   Food ......................................  176.7   176.4   177.6   177.8   -0.5    0.9    2.3    2.5    0.2    2.4 
    Food at home .............................  175.3   175.0   176.5   176.6   -2.3    0.2    2.1    3.0   -1.0    2.5 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  197.9   200.1   201.9   202.5    1.0    1.0   -1.2    9.6    1.0    4.1 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  162.2   161.6   164.8   164.9   -1.9   -2.9    3.3    6.8   -2.4    5.0 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  167.2   166.3   167.1   166.7   -3.3   -4.0    2.7   -1.2   -3.6    0.7 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  221.7   219.7   220.7   221.4  -10.5    3.3    4.1   -0.5   -3.8    1.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  140.1   139.3   138.7   138.3   -2.9    7.5    0.3   -5.0    2.2   -2.4 
     Other food at home ......................  161.2   161.1   162.0   162.0    2.0    0.2    2.3    2.0    1.1    2.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  160.1   159.2   160.6   161.7    5.7    1.5    1.8    4.1    3.6    2.9 
      Fats and oils ..........................  154.3   155.7   158.7   157.8   -4.5    0.8   -1.5    9.4   -1.9    3.8 
      Other foods ............................  178.8   178.5   178.9   178.7    2.8   -0.4    3.4   -0.2    1.1    1.6 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  110.7   110.1   110.9   110.5    4.9    1.8    2.2   -0.7    3.4    0.7 
    Food away from home (1)...................  180.0   179.8   180.5   181.0    2.3    2.3    2.3    2.2    2.3    2.2 
     Other food away from home (2)............  120.0   120.2   120.6   120.9    5.2    0.3    4.5    3.0    2.8    3.7 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  185.0   185.5   185.5   186.8    2.7    0.7    3.1    3.9    1.7    3.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  177.7   178.4   178.9   179.9    2.5    2.1    2.7    5.0    2.3    3.9 
   Shelter ...................................  204.6   205.1   205.3   205.4    3.0    3.0    3.0    1.6    3.0    2.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  201.7   202.4   202.8   203.2    3.1    2.4    3.2    3.0    2.8    3.1 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  118.9   118.9   117.8   116.2   -1.3    2.7    1.7   -8.8    0.7   -3.7 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  197.8   198.3   198.5   198.8    3.4    3.1    2.9    2.0    3.2    2.5 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  112.3   113.7   113.9   113.8    3.8    8.4    8.2    5.5    6.1    6.8 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  144.6   146.7   149.4   156.0    2.6    1.4    3.7   35.5    2.0   18.5 
    Fuels ....................................  127.6   129.8   132.7   139.6    2.6    1.3    3.5   43.3    1.9   21.8 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................  123.0   130.6   149.4   162.2   21.4   17.5   14.5  202.4   19.4   86.1 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  134.6   136.6   138.9   145.8    1.8    0.6    3.0   37.7    1.2   19.1 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  114.7   114.8   115.0   115.8    2.9    2.9    3.6    3.9    2.9    3.7 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  123.4   123.5   123.7   122.8   -0.6   -3.2   -1.0   -1.9   -1.9   -1.4 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  120.8   121.7   122.8   122.5    0.3    2.0    2.0    5.7    1.2    3.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  122.0   120.8   120.5   120.3   -4.7   -1.0   -2.6   -5.5   -2.9   -4.0 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  119.4   117.8   117.7   120.0  -10.5   -2.0   -3.9    2.0   -6.3   -1.0 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  113.9   112.5   112.2   111.6   -2.1    0.3   -2.8   -7.8   -0.9   -5.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel ............  127.2   123.0   124.1   124.2   -2.7   -1.2   -4.6   -9.1   -2.0   -6.9 
   Footwear ..................................  121.2   121.8   121.1   119.4   -3.9   -1.0    0.3   -5.8   -2.4   -2.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  153.3   155.2   158.6   160.4    8.0    3.7   -0.8   19.9    5.8    9.1 
   Private transportation ....................  150.5   152.6   156.0   157.9    8.2    4.1   -1.1   21.2    6.1    9.5 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........   98.1    97.8    97.8    98.1   -2.8    0.4   -4.7    0.0   -1.2   -2.4 
     New vehicles ............................  140.9   139.9   139.4   139.8   -2.0    1.1   -0.3   -3.1   -0.4   -1.7 
     Used cars and trucks ....................  148.7   149.0   149.6   150.5   -3.1   -1.0  -10.1    4.9   -2.1   -2.9 
    Motor fuel ...............................  122.3   130.5   143.1   148.9   47.7   10.4   -0.3  119.7   27.7   48.0 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  121.8   130.0   142.4   148.1   48.0   10.1    0.0  118.6   27.7   47.8 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment (1).....  106.3   107.1   107.5   107.2    0.8    3.1   -1.5    3.4    1.9    0.9 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  195.1   195.4   196.0   195.8    4.1    2.3    4.9    1.4    3.2    3.1 
   Public transportation .....................  202.2   201.1   200.6   201.6    3.0   -5.4    2.0   -1.2   -1.3    0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  291.6   291.9   292.3   292.8    4.5    5.2    6.6    1.7    4.8    4.1 
   Medical care commodities ..................  254.5   255.1   255.1   256.1    2.9    3.1    3.0    2.5    3.0    2.8 
   Medical care services .....................  300.7   300.9   301.4   301.8    5.0    5.8    7.5    1.5    5.4    4.5 
    Professional services (3).................  260.3   260.0   260.5   260.8    2.2    3.7    4.9    0.8    2.9    2.8 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  380.4   381.8   383.2   384.1    9.5    8.9   12.8    3.9    9.2    8.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  105.0   105.1   105.3   105.3    0.0    0.0    1.9    1.1    0.0    1.5 
   Video and audio (2)........................  103.0   102.7   102.6   102.6    0.8   -1.2    5.2   -1.5   -0.2    1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  108.6   109.0   109.2   109.0    2.3    4.9    0.4    1.5    3.6    0.9 
   Education (2)..............................  129.2   129.9   130.5   131.1    6.6    7.2    4.5    6.0    6.9    5.2 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  326.1   328.9   331.3   333.0    6.9    3.3    5.2    8.7    5.1    6.9 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   364.2   366.1   367.6   369.4    6.5    7.6    4.4    5.8    7.0    5.1 
   Communication (2)..........................   93.2    93.5    93.4    92.8   -0.9    3.5   -2.9   -1.7    1.3   -2.3 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   92.0    92.3    92.2    91.6   -0.9    1.3   -3.0   -1.7    0.2   -2.4 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  100.1   100.7   100.7    99.9    0.0    4.1   -0.8   -0.8    2.0   -0.8 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   17.8    17.7    17.5    17.4   -8.0  -12.0  -14.3   -8.7  -10.0  -11.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   19.3    19.1    18.6    18.6   -8.5  -24.3  -25.9  -13.7  -16.8  -20.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  305.1   305.6   306.4   305.6   11.7    5.8   -3.5    0.7    8.7   -1.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  474.3   474.3   474.8   469.1   35.9   17.9  -11.1   -4.3   26.6   -7.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................  174.7   175.2   175.7   176.1    1.6    0.0    0.7    3.2    0.8    2.0 
    Personal care products (1)................  154.2   153.8   154.0   153.8    0.5   -2.5   -2.6   -1.0   -1.0   -1.8 
    Personal care services (1)................  190.7   191.3   191.6   192.4    2.1    2.1    1.5    3.6    2.1    2.5 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  277.7   277.9   279.3   280.5    3.6    1.5    3.7    4.1    2.5    3.9 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  150.6   151.3   153.0   153.8    2.7    1.3   -1.3    8.8    2.0    3.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  177.2   177.0   178.1   178.4   -0.2    1.1    2.1    2.7    0.5    2.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  135.3   136.4   138.4   139.3    4.8    1.5   -3.5   12.4    3.1    4.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  150.7   152.0   156.0   157.7    1.1    6.5    7.8   19.9    3.8   13.7 
    Apparel ..................................  122.0   120.8   120.5   120.3   -4.7   -1.0   -2.6   -5.5   -2.9   -4.0 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  168.5   171.6   178.7   183.9   16.6    5.1   -0.9   41.9   10.7   18.6 
   Durables ..................................  119.9   119.7   119.8   119.8   -1.6   -1.3   -4.9   -0.3   -1.5   -2.6 
 Services ....................................  209.0   209.7   210.3   211.2    3.4    3.4    3.5    4.3    3.4    3.9 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  197.0   197.5   197.7   197.9    2.9    2.9    2.9    1.8    2.9    2.4 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  112.3   113.7   113.9   113.8    3.8    8.4    8.2    5.5    6.1    6.8 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  134.6   136.6   138.9   145.8    1.8    0.6    3.0   37.7    1.2   19.1 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  114.7   114.8   115.0   115.8    2.9    2.9    3.6    3.9    2.9    3.7 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  120.8   121.7   122.8   122.5    0.3    2.0    2.0    5.7    1.2    3.9 
  Transportation services ....................  211.8   212.2   212.8   213.4    4.4    4.3    4.5    3.1    4.3    3.8 
  Medical care services ......................  300.7   300.9   301.4   301.8    5.0    5.8    7.5    1.5    5.4    4.5 
  Other services .............................  245.2   246.2   246.9   247.1    3.6    4.4    2.8    3.1    4.0    3.0 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  177.5   178.3   179.5   180.5    3.7    2.8    1.1    6.9    3.2    4.0 
 All items less shelter ......................  169.5   170.3   171.8   172.9    3.2    2.2    0.7    8.3    2.7    4.4 
 All items less medical care .................  172.5   173.2   174.4   175.2    3.1    2.1    1.2    6.4    2.6    3.8 
 Commodities less food .......................  137.1   138.1   140.1   141.1    4.8    1.5   -3.1   12.2    3.1    4.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................  152.8   153.9   157.8   159.7    1.1    6.4    7.4   19.3    3.7   13.2 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  169.5   172.5   179.0   183.6   14.0    4.9    0.5   37.7    9.4   17.6 
 Nondurables .................................  164.3   164.9   167.5   168.6    0.2    3.3    4.8   10.9    1.7    7.8 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  196.5   197.1   198.1   199.9    3.8    4.4    3.7    7.1    4.1    5.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  201.8   202.3   202.9   204.0    3.1    3.7    3.0    4.4    3.4    3.7 
 Energy ......................................  124.3   129.5   137.4   143.7   22.3    5.7    1.6   78.6   13.7   34.7 
 All items less energy .......................  184.9   185.0   185.4   185.5    1.5    2.2    1.3    1.3    1.9    1.3 
  All items less food and energy .............  187.1   187.3   187.4   187.5    2.0    2.4    1.3    0.9    2.2    1.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.2   142.8   142.8   142.7   -0.6    0.0   -3.3   -1.4   -0.3   -2.3 
    Energy commodities .......................  122.8   131.0   144.0   150.2   46.0   10.8    0.3  123.8   27.2   49.8 
   Services less energy services .............  217.3   217.8   218.2   218.5    3.2    3.6    3.6    2.2    3.4    2.9 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Mar.2003 from--      Feb.2003 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.                                           
                                                 (1)   2002   2003   2003   2003   Mar.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.   Dec.   Jan. 
                                                                                   2002   2003   2003   2002   2002   2003 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    177.0  177.7  179.2  180.3    3.2    1.5    0.6    3.2    1.2    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    186.6  187.2  188.6  189.8    3.7    1.4    0.6    3.5    1.1    0.7 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    187.1  187.7  189.1  190.0    3.5    1.2    0.5    3.4    1.1    0.7 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    112.7  113.2  114.0  115.2    4.0    1.8    1.1    3.5    1.2    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    171.0  171.8  173.3  174.1    3.0    1.3    0.5    3.1    1.3    0.9 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    172.4  172.9  174.6  175.4    2.8    1.4    0.5    3.1    1.3    1.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    111.0  111.7  112.5  113.1    3.1    1.3    0.5    3.0    1.4    0.7 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    167.2  168.4  170.1  170.6    3.5    1.3    0.3    3.5    1.7    1.0 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    172.0  172.5  173.9  175.0    3.2    1.4    0.6    3.1    1.1    0.8 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    173.1  174.0  175.7  176.5    3.5    1.4    0.5    3.7    1.5    1.0 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    110.8  110.9  111.7  112.5    2.9    1.4    0.7    2.8    0.8    0.7 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    172.6  173.2  174.8  175.7    3.2    1.4    0.5    3.5    1.3    0.9 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    180.8  181.5  183.2  184.7    3.2    1.8    0.8    2.9    1.3    0.9 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    181.6  182.5  184.4  185.9    3.6    1.9    0.8    3.2    1.5    1.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    112.9  113.2  114.0  115.1    2.6    1.7    1.0    2.0    1.0    0.7 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    163.7  164.3  165.8  166.8    3.4    1.5    0.6    3.3    1.3    0.9 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    111.4  111.8  112.6  113.5    3.1    1.5    0.8    2.8    1.1    0.7 
   D .........................................   M    172.5  173.2  174.7  175.6    3.2    1.4    0.5    3.2    1.3    0.9 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    176.0  176.4  178.1  179.0    3.2    1.5    0.5    3.3    1.2    1.0 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    176.7  177.8  179.6  181.6    4.5    2.1    1.1    3.9    1.6    1.0 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    188.7  189.7  191.3  192.1    3.5    1.3    0.4    3.6    1.4    0.8 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1        -  199.3      -  202.3    4.7    1.5      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1        -  165.3      -  167.1    1.8    1.1      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  173.3      -  176.5    3.0    1.8      -      -      -      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1        -  114.1      -  115.5    3.7    1.2      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2    174.6      -  178.1      -      -      -      -    2.8    2.0      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2    174.4      -  176.8      -      -      -      -    3.7    1.4      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2    158.0      -  161.7      -      -      -      -    4.8    2.3      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    175.3      -  178.0      -      -      -      -    3.3    1.5      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    184.9      -  185.9      -      -      -      -    2.5    0.5      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    189.6      -  193.7      -      -      -      -    3.7    2.2      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2    184.6      -  186.2      -      -      -      -    2.0    0.9      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Phoenix-Mesa, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA;
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 7. Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U): U.S. city average, by
 expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (December 1999=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                    Unadjusted    
                                                 Relative       Unadjusted      percent change to 
                                               importance,       indexes         Mar. 2003 from-  
                    C-CPI-U                     December                                          
                                                1999-2000                                         
                                                              Feb.      Mar.      Mar.      Feb.  
                                                              2003      2003      2002      2003  
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                  
             Expenditure category                                                                 
                                                                                                  
 All items ...................................    100.000     107.2     107.8       2.6       0.6 
  Food and beverages .........................     15.451     107.1     107.3       1.4       0.2 
   Food ......................................     14.432     107.1     107.2       1.3       0.1 
    Food at home .............................      8.335     106.1     106.2       0.8       0.1 
    Food away from home ......................      6.096     108.4     108.6       2.2       0.2 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.019     107.7     108.1       2.3       0.4 
  Housing ....................................     40.040     110.4     111.0       2.6       0.5 
   Shelter ...................................     30.643     111.9     112.2       2.4       0.3 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.376     114.3     118.5       9.3       3.7 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      5.020      97.8      97.4      -1.6      -0.4 
  Apparel ....................................      4.819      91.9      94.3      -4.1       2.6 
  Transportation .............................     17.770     106.5     107.7       6.4       1.1 
   Private transportation ....................     16.520     106.9     108.1       7.0       1.1 
   Public transportation .....................      1.250     101.1     102.3      -1.0       1.2 
  Medical care ...............................      5.563     115.0     115.2       4.2       0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.330     111.0     111.4       2.8       0.4 
   Medical care services .....................      4.233     116.3     116.4       4.5       0.1 
  Recreation .................................      6.124     103.0     103.1       0.4       0.1 
  Education and communication ................      6.068      98.2      97.8       0.7      -0.4 
   Education .................................      2.546     120.3     120.4       6.3       0.1 
   Communication .............................      3.522      84.2      83.5      -3.1      -0.8 
  Other goods and services ...................      4.164     111.4     111.3       2.7      -0.1 
                                                                                                  
          Commodity and service group                                                             
                                                                                                  
 Services ....................................     57.098     111.7     112.3       3.2       0.5 
 Commodities .................................     42.902     101.4     102.1       1.8       0.7 
  Durables ...................................     12.953      91.0      90.9      -2.7      -0.1 
 Nondurables .................................     29.949     106.0     107.2       3.9       1.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     78.851     106.1     106.4       1.2       0.3 
 Energy ......................................      6.717    R120.2     126.0      22.7       4.8 

   R Revised.
 NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
 Indexes for 2003 are initial estimates.  Indexes for 2002 are interim adjustments.