FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-98-382
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
     INFORMATION:       (202) 606-7828      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:                          Thursday, September 17, 1998
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm  
 
                                      
                    CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  AUGUST 1998
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.1
 percent in August, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 163.4 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in August, the CPI-U has
 increased 1.6 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also rose 0.1 percent in August, prior to seasonal adjustment.
 The August 1998 CPI-W level of 160.0 was 1.4 percent higher than the index
 in August 1997.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
     
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in August,
 the same as in July.  In August the food index increased 0.2 percent for
 the second consecutive month.  Prices for food at home advanced 0.3
 percent as a sharp increase in prices for dairy products was partially
 offset by a decline in the index for fruits and vegetables.  The energy
 index, which was unchanged in July, declined 1.0 percent in August.  The
 index for petroleum-based energy decreased 1.4 percent, and the index for
 energy services fell 0.4 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U
 increased 0.2 percent in August, the same as in July.  An upturn in the
 index for apparel, reflecting the introduction of fall-winter wear, was
 largely offset by smaller increases in the indexes for cigarettes and
 airline fares, coupled with a decline in the index for telephone services.

 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                           Seasonally adjusted         Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                      1998                3-mos. ended  ended
                                                      
                     Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   Aug. `98  Aug. `98
                                                                    
 All Items            .1    .0   .2   .3   .1   .2   .2    1.7       1.6
  Food and beverages  .0    .0   .1   .5   .1   .2   .3    2.8       2.1
  Housing             .1    .2   .4   .3   .1   .2   .1    1.8       2.5
  Apparel             .2   -.2  -.1   .4   .2  -.3  1.1    4.0       1.2
  Transportation     -.4   -.5  -.1   .1  -.3   .3   .0     .0      -1.8
  Medical care        .3    .3   .4   .3   .4   .2   .4    3.9       3.5
  Recreation          .3    .4   .0   .0   .1   .0   .1     .8       1.3
  Education and                                                         
    communication    -.1    .3   .3   .3   .1   .0  -.5   -1.6       1.5
  Other goods and                                                     
      services        .8   -.3  1.0   .7   .0   .7   .1    2.9       5.4
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy           -2.2  -1.2  -.1   .3  -.7   .0 -1.0   -6.4      -7.7
   Food               .0    .0   .1   .6   .1   .2   .2    2.5       2.2
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .3    .1   .3   .2   .1   .2   .2    2.1       2.5
 
 Beginning with release of data for January 1999, the BLS will introduce a
 new formula for calculating the basic components of the CPI.  See page 4
 for more details.  See pages 5 and 6 for announcements on methodological
 changes concerning utility rebates and hedonic quality adjustment for
 televisions.
      
      During the first eight months of 1998, the CPI-U rose at a 1.6
 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an
 increase of 1.7 percent for all of 1997.  Declines in energy costs have
 continued to act as a moderating influence on overall consumer price index
 movements thus far in 1998, decreasing at a 10.5 percent annual rate after
 declining 3.4 percent in all of 1997.  Food costs, which rose 1.5 percent
 in 1997, have risen at a 2.4 percent SAAR in the first eight months of
 1998.  Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U has advanced at a 2.5 percent
 rate thus far in 1998, compared with a 2.2 percent rise for all of 1997.
      
      The food and beverages index rose 0.3 percent in August.  The index
 for food at home increased 0.3 percent in August, the same as in July.  A
 1.6 percent increase in the index for dairy products accounted for almost
 half of the August food at home advance.  The indexes for other food at
 home--reflecting a 5.3 percent  increase in butter prices--and cereal and
 bakery products rose 0.7 and 0.5 percent , respectively.  On the other
 hand, prices for fruits and vegetables and for non-alcoholic beverages
 turned down in August, and the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs
 moderated.  The index for fruits and vegetables, which rose 0.3 percent in
 July, declined 0.4 percent in August.  The indexes for fresh fruits and
 for fresh vegetables declined 0.5 and 1.0 percent, respectively, more than
 offsetting a 0.5 percent increase in the index for processed fruits and
 vegetables.   (Prior to seasonal adjustment, prices for fresh fruits rose
 0.5 percent, while fresh vegetable prices fell 3.9 percent.)  The index
 for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.3 percent in August, following a
 0.5 percent increase in July.  A 0.3 percent decline in meat prices was
 more than offset by increases in prices for poultry, eggs, and fish and
 seafood. Prices for poultry and for fish and seafood rose 1.5 and 1.2
 percent, respectively, and the index for eggs rose 1.0 percent. The other
 two components of the food and beverage index--food away from home and
 alcoholic beverages--rose 0.2 percent and were unchanged, respectively.
      
      The housing component rose 0.1 percent in August.  Shelter costs rose
 0.3 percent, following increases of 0.2 percent in each of the preceding
 two months.  Within shelter, the index for rent rose 0.3 percent; owners'
 equivalent rent, 0.2 percent; and the cost of lodging away from home, 0.7
 percent.  The index for fuels and utilities, which was unchanged in July,
 declined 0.4 percent in August.   The indexes for electricity and for fuel
 oil each declined 0.9 percent, more than offsetting a 0.4 percent rise in
 the index for natural gas.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, charges for
 natural gas declined 0.5 percent.)  The index for household furnishings
 and operations declined 0.2 percent in August.
      
      The transportation component was unchanged in August, following a 0.3
 percent rise in July.  The index for motor fuel, which was unchanged in
 July, declined 1.6 percent in August.  Gasoline prices have fallen 10.1
 percent thus far in 1998 and are 23.3 percent lower than their peak level
 in November 1990.  The index for new and used vehicle prices rose 0.2
 percent.  The index for new vehicles, which increased 0.5 percent in July,
 rose 0.3 percent in August.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, new vehicle
 prices rose 0.1 percent.)  The index for used cars and trucks fell 0.1
 percent.  Public transportation costs increased 2.2 percent in August.
 The index for airline fares, which typically declines in August, increased
 0.2 percent.
 
      The index for apparel rose 1.1 percent in August, following a 0.3
 percent decline in July.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel prices
 rose 1.5 percent, reflecting the introduction of higher priced fall-winter
 wear.)
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.4 percent in August to a level 3.5 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.6 percent.
 The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent.  Charges for
 professional services and for hospital and related services each increased
 0.3 percent.
 
      The index for recreation costs rose 0.1 percent in August.  Increases
 in the indexes for admissions to sporting events, for club membership dues
 and fees for participant sports, and for books were partially offset by
 declines in the indexes for sporting goods and for other recreational
 goods.
      
      The index for education and communication declined 0.5 percent in
 August.  A 0.4 percent increase in education costs was more than offset by
 a decline in the index for information processing costs.  Within the
 latter group, the indexes for telephone services and for personal
 computers and peripheral equipment declined 1.1 and 5.5 percent,
 respectively.
  
      The index for other goods and services, which rose 0.7 percent in
 July, increased 0.1 percent in August.  The deceleration largely was
 attributable to moderation in the index for tobacco and smoking products,
 which rose 0.1 percent in August after increasing 2.6 percent in July.
 
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers increased 0.1 percent in August.

 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                           Seasonally adjusted         Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                      1998                3-mos. ended  ended
                                                            
                     Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   Aug.`98   Aug. `98
 All Items            .0   -.1   .3   .3   .1   .2   .1    1.3       1.4
  Food and beverages  .0    .0   .0   .6   .1   .3   .2    2.5       2.0
  Housing             .1    .3   .3   .3   .1   .2   .1    1.5       2.3
  Apparel            -.2   -.5   .2   .3   .3  -.4   .9    3.4        .4
  Transportation     -.4   -.6   .0   .1  -.1   .2  -.1    -.3      -2.2
  Medical care        .2    .3   .4   .3   .5   .2   .3    4.1       3.5
  Recreation          .3    .3   .1  -.2   .1  -.1   .2     .8       1.0
  Education and                                                         
    communication     .0    .4   .2   .4   .1   .1  -.5   -1.2       1.8
  Other goods and                                                     
    services         1.1   -.6  1.4   .8  -.1   .9   .2    3.6       6.3
 Special Indexes                                                        
  Energy            -2.1  -1.3  -.2   .3  -.6  -.1 -1.1   -6.8      -8.3
  Food               -.1    .0   .1   .6   .1   .3   .3    2.8       2.1
  All Items less                                                        
    food and energy   .2    .1   .4   .2   .1   .2   .2    2.1       2.3
 
  
 Consumer Price Index data for September are scheduled for release on
 Friday, October 16, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Planned change in the Consumer Price Index Formula
      
      On April 16, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its decision to
 use a new formula for calculating the basic components of the Consumer
 Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer Price Index
 for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).  This change will
 become effective with data for January 1999.
     The new formula, the geometric mean estimator, will be used in index
 categories that comprise approximately 61 percent of total consumer
 spending represented by the CPI-U.  The remaining index categories, which
 are shown in the table below, will continue to be calculated as they are
 currently. Based upon BLS research, it is expected that planned use of the
 new formula will reduce the annual rate of increase in the CPI by
 approximately 0.2 percentage point per year.
      The geometric mean estimator will be introduced in both the CPI-U and
 the CPI-W effective with data for January 1999, in accord with the past
 practice of introducing methodological changes at the beginning of a
 calendar year. BLS will continue to publish "overlap" CPI-U and CPI-W
 series using the current calculation method for the first six months of
 1999.  These indexes will not be published regularly for months subsequent
 to June 1999, but will be available upon request.
      Additional information on this change was published in the April
 1998 CPI Detailed Report and is available on the Internet
 (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm).  This information may also be obtained
 by writing to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
 and Price Indexes, 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Room 3615 Washington, D.C.
 20212-0001 or by calling (202) 606-7000.

 Arithmetic Mean (Laspeyres) Formula
      
 1.  Selected shelter services:

 A) Rent of primary       B) Owners' equivalent     C) Housing at school,
 residence                rent of primary           excluding board
                          residence
                                                   
                                                   
 2.  Selected utilities and government charges:

 A) Electricity           C) Residential water and  E)  Telephone services,
                          sewerage maintenance      local charges
                                                   
 B) Utility natural gas   D) State and local        F) Cable television
 service                  registration, license,
                          and motor vehicle
                          property tax
                                                   
                                                   
 3.  Selected medical care services:

 A) Physicians' services  C) Eyeglasses and eye     E) Hospital services
                          care
 B) Dental services       D) Services by other      F) Nursing homes and
                          medical professionals     adult daycare

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 Improvements to CPI Procedures for Handling Refunds for Utilities
   
   Effective with the calculation of the index for January 1999,  the
 Consumer Price Index (CPI) will change its treatment of refunds  for
 electricity, natural gas, or other utility services when the refunds
 are  based  on  earlier periods' utility consumption  amounts.   The
 change  will  affect both the price indexes and the  average  prices
 computed by the CPI program.
   
   Under  the  current  practice,  the CPI  utility  indexes  reflect
 refunds  that appear on current period bills but that are  based  on
 past  period  utility consumption.  Generally these  refunds  result
 from   the   rollback  of  temporary  rate  increases,  lower   than
 anticipated energy costs, or a reevaluation of rates with respect to
 actual  costs.  The  current  practice makes  these  indexes  rather
 volatile  and do not reflect the actual current price (for  example,
 what  a  new  customer  would pay) for a  utility  service  such  as
 electricity.
   
   Under  the  new procedure, the CPI will disregard any  refund  for
 past excess charges when it appears on residential customer bills as
 a  separate  refund credit that is subtracted from the  charges  for
 current  billing  period's usage. The movement of  the  CPI  utility
 indexes  will  reflect all changes in rates-generally in  the  month
 they are effective. The CPI utility indexes will continue to reflect
 current period credits that are based on current period consumption,
 such as those associated with purchased gas or fuel adjustments.
   
   For additional information on this change, write to the Bureau  of
 Labor  Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes,  2
 Massachusetts  Ave.  NE, Room 3615, Washington,  DC  20212-0001;  or
 telephone  Bob Adkins at (202) 606-6985 ext. 264, or send e-mail  to
 Adkins_B@bls.gov
   
 --------------------------------------------------------------------  
  
 Using  a  hedonic model to adjust television prices in the  Consumer
 Price Index for changes in quality
 
   Effective  with the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)  for
 January 1999, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will introduce an
 improvement in the way in which it calculates the Television stratum
 of the CPI.
   As  of December 1997, Televisions constituted 0.215 percent in the
 Consumer  Price Index for all Urban Consumers (the CPI-U) and  0.256
 percent  in  the  Consumer Price Index for Urban  Wage  Earners  and
 Clerical Workers (the CPI-W).
   Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics researchers developed  a  regression
 procedure,  called  a hedonic model, that decomposes  the  price  of
 television sets into implicit prices for each important feature  and
 component /1.  This model uses Television observations  collected  for
 the  CPI  and  provides  an estimate of the value  of  each  of  the
 significant features and components of the sets for which prices are
 collected.   This   yields  a  mechanism  for   replacing   obsolete
 televisions in the CPI sample with current ones, allowing the CPI to
 capture  the  price change that may occur as new models replace  old
 ones  in  the  market place without counting the  value  of  quality
 improvements as price increases.
   The  CPI has used similar hedonic methods to adjust apparel prices
 for  many  years.   In January 1998, the CPI began using  a  similar
 approach for Personal Computers.  In the coming years, BLS plans  to
 extend the method to additional CPI items.
     Starting with the CPI for January 1999, when a television  model
 in the CPI sample improves in some way, the value of that change, as
 derived  from  the regression estimates, will be deducted  from  the
 observed  price change for that product.  (Conversely,  if  a  model
 deteriorates,  the  value of the difference will  be  added  to  the
 price.)
   For additional information on these changes, write to
	 Bureau of Labor Statistics
	 Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes
	 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Room 3260
	 Washington, DC 20212-0001
 or telephone Tim LaFleur at (202) 606-6982 ext. 253,
 or send e-mail to LaFleur_T@bls.gov

         /1 Brent R. Moulton, Timothy J. LaFleur, and Karin E. Moses,
         "Research on Improved Quality Adjustment in the CPI: The Case
         of Televisions," presented to the Conference of the Ottawa
         Group, April 1998.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 BLS to Maintain Current Reference Base of 1982-84=100 for most CPI
 index series

      The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) previously indicated its
 intention to change the numerical reference base for both the
 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the
 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) from their present 1982-84=100 base to a 1993-95=100 base,
 effective with release of the January 1999 index in February 1999.
 BLS also indicated that the alternate, or 1967=100 base, would be
 discontinued in 1999 as well.  This plan was initially described
 in the December 1996 Monthly Labor Review, a publication which
 contained several articles that dealt with the 1998 CPI Revision.
 
      The BLS has now decided not to implement this rebasing plan.
 Instead, the BLS will maintain the reference base of 1982-84=100
 used for most items.  In addition, the 1967=100 reference base
 will continue to be the alternate base for the All Items indexes.
 This decision is based in part on the fact that historical data
 have less precision after rebasing.  Rebasing is simply an
 arithmetic transformation that does not substantially impact the
 index.  Because the rebased index values are smaller, however, the
 loss of precision due to rounding is more serious.  In addition,
 retaining the old index reference bases would spare users the
 inconvenience associated with conversion.
 
      Changes in the numerical reference base should not be
 confused with the plans by BLS to update the market basket of the
 CPI.  Since release of the January CPI in February 1998, the
 expenditure weights applied to CPI categories have been based on
 consumer spending patterns for 1993-95.

 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,                      Aug. 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       July      Aug.                                            
                                                              1998      1998     Aug.     July    May to June to July to
                                                                                 1997     1998     June    July    Aug. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     163.2     163.4      1.6      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     488.8     489.6        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     160.9     161.4      2.1      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.3 
   Food ......................................     15.326     160.5     161.0      2.2      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.2 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     160.8     161.4      1.8      0.4     0.1     0.3     0.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.536     181.8     182.7      2.3      0.5     0.3     0.1     0.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.629     146.9     148.2     -0.6      0.9     0.0     0.5     0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.037     148.2     150.5      5.0      1.6     0.0     0.1     1.6 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.394     198.2     195.9      4.6     -1.2    -1.0     0.3    -0.4 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.077     132.3     132.0     -3.4     -0.2     0.4     0.0    -0.7 
     Other food at home ......................      1.972     151.1     152.1      2.3      0.7     0.8     0.3     0.7 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     149.9     150.2      1.6      0.2     0.9    -0.7     0.6 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .291     147.6     149.7      5.9      1.4     1.6     2.6     2.0 
      Other foods ............................      1.305     165.9     166.9      3.2      0.6     0.6     0.1     0.5 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .309     102.6     103.5        -      0.9     1.1     0.1     0.9 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.680     161.1     161.5      2.6      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .172     101.6     102.3        -      0.7     0.4     0.6     0.7 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .983     165.6     165.7      1.5      0.1     0.4     0.3     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.560     161.2     161.5      2.5      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     29.788     182.6     183.3      3.3      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................      6.885     172.2     172.8      3.3      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.327     111.7     112.9        -      1.1    -0.7    -0.7     0.7 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     20.199     188.0     188.5      3.2      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .377      99.3      99.2        -     -0.1    -0.5     0.2    -0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.942     131.3     130.6     -0.6     -0.5    -0.4     0.0    -0.4 
    Fuels ....................................      4.018     116.8     115.9     -2.3     -0.8    -0.5     0.0    -0.4 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .261      87.8      86.7     -7.3     -1.3    -1.2    -0.3    -0.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.757     124.9     124.0     -2.1     -0.7    -0.4     0.0    -0.4 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.831     127.2     126.8      1.3     -0.3     0.2     0.3    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.944     129.6     131.6      1.2      1.5     0.2    -0.3     1.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.390     129.4     130.6      1.3      0.9     0.2     0.2     0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.990     120.6     123.8      2.9      2.7     0.6    -0.9     1.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .268     122.0     124.4     -2.3      2.0    -1.7    -2.2     2.0 
   Footwear ..................................       .895     127.0     127.7      1.1      0.6     1.5     0.1     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.578     141.8     141.2     -1.8     -0.4    -0.3     0.3     0.0 
   Private transportation ....................     16.240     138.0     137.4     -2.4     -0.4    -0.1     0.2    -0.2 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.899      99.9      99.9      0.4      0.0    -0.1     0.4     0.2 
     New vehicles ............................      5.063     142.7     142.8     -0.1      0.1    -0.3     0.5     0.3 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.880     151.3     151.1      1.8     -0.1     0.6     0.3    -0.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.995      93.7      91.6    -14.9     -2.2    -1.0     0.0    -1.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.976      93.2      91.1    -15.2     -2.3    -0.9    -0.2    -1.5 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .560     101.1     101.2     -0.6      0.1     0.5     0.1     0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.603     166.8     167.3      2.4      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.2 
   Public transportation .....................      1.338     192.0     192.2      4.8      0.1    -1.1     1.0     2.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.614     242.7     243.5      3.5      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.4 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.222     222.2     223.1      3.5      0.4     0.2     0.0     0.6 
   Medical care services .....................      4.392     247.4     248.2      3.5      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.3 
    Professional services ....................      2.808     222.8     223.3      3.2      0.2     0.5     0.1     0.3 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.334     288.2     289.5      3.8      0.5     0.3     0.6     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.145     101.1     101.3      1.3      0.2     0.1     0.0     0.1 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.763     101.1     101.2      1.2      0.1     0.0    -0.1     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.528     100.0     100.1      1.5      0.1     0.1     0.0    -0.5 
   Education (2)..............................      2.615     101.0     102.6      4.9      1.6     0.3     0.3     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .194     249.0     249.1      3.8      0.0     0.0     0.4    -0.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.421     291.1     295.8      4.9      1.6     0.3     0.3     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.913      99.1      97.9     -1.9     -1.2     0.0    -0.3    -1.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.706      99.0      97.7     -2.1     -1.3     0.0    -0.3    -1.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.357     101.5     100.4        -     -1.1     0.3     0.1    -1.1 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .350      39.1      37.6    -22.0     -3.8    -2.2    -3.7    -3.8 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .234      75.2      71.1        -     -5.5    -3.3    -6.0    -5.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.321     237.8     238.0      5.4      0.1     0.0     0.7     0.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       .894     273.2     273.7     12.4      0.2    -0.6     2.6     0.1 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.427     157.0     157.1      3.0      0.1     0.1     0.1     0.1 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     149.1     148.5      3.5     -0.4    -0.1    -0.1    -0.4 
    Personal care services (1)................       .963     166.1     166.6      2.4      0.3    -0.1     0.5     0.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.465     235.1     235.7      3.1      0.3     0.4     0.3     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.635     141.6     141.7      0.2      0.1    -0.1     0.2     0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     160.9     161.4      2.1      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.3 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     26.326     130.1     130.0     -1.0     -0.1    -0.1     0.1     0.0 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.729     131.8     131.9     -1.4      0.1    -0.1     0.1    -0.1 
    Apparel ..................................      4.944     129.6     131.6      1.2      1.5     0.2    -0.3     1.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.785     138.0     137.1     -2.6     -0.7     0.0     0.1    -0.4 
   Durables ..................................     11.596     127.5     127.2     -0.4     -0.2     0.0     0.3     0.0 
 Services ....................................     57.365     184.9     185.3      2.8      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     29.410     190.1     190.8      3.3      0.4     0.2     0.1     0.4 
  Transportation services ....................      6.984     187.8     187.8      1.9      0.0    -0.2     0.2     0.4 
  Other services .............................     10.625     216.9     217.6      3.3      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.674     163.6     163.9      1.6      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.212     157.3     157.4      1.0      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     94.386     158.7     159.0      1.5      0.2     0.0     0.2     0.2 
 Commodities less food .......................     27.309     131.5     131.4     -0.9     -0.1    -0.1     0.2     0.0 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.712     133.8     133.9     -1.2      0.1    -0.1     0.2    -0.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.768     139.7     138.9     -2.3     -0.6     0.1     0.1    -0.3 
 Nondurables .................................     31.039     146.4     146.8      0.5      0.3    -0.1     0.2     0.0 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     27.955     192.6     192.7      2.1      0.1     0.1     0.3     0.0 
 Services less medical care services .........     52.973     179.0     179.5      2.7      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.1 
 Energy ......................................      7.013     105.2     103.8     -7.7     -1.3    -0.7     0.0    -1.0 
 All items less energy .......................     92.987     170.8     171.2      2.3      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     77.661     173.3     173.8      2.5      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.053     142.4     142.7      1.1      0.2     0.0     0.1     0.2 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.256      93.3      91.3    -14.0     -2.1    -1.0    -0.1    -1.4 
   Services less energy services .............     53.608     190.9     191.5      3.1      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .613    $ .612        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .205    $ .204        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 May     June    July    Aug.                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Nov.   Feb.    May   Aug.   Feb.   Aug. 
                                                                                1997   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  162.9   163.0   163.3   163.6    2.3    0.5    2.2    1.7    1.4    2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  160.6   160.8   161.2   161.7    2.0    1.3    2.3    2.8    1.6    2.5 
   Food ......................................  160.4   160.6   161.0   161.4    2.0    1.3    2.5    2.5    1.7    2.5 
    Food at home .............................  160.7   160.8   161.3   161.8    1.3    0.5    2.5    2.8    0.9    2.6 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  180.5   181.0   181.2   182.1    1.8    1.3    2.5    3.6    1.6    3.0 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.9   146.9   147.6   148.1   -1.6   -3.7   -0.8    3.3   -2.7    1.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  148.1   148.1   148.2   150.5   10.4    1.9    1.1    6.6    6.1    3.8 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  203.5   201.4   202.0   201.1    2.5    6.8   18.9   -4.6    4.7    6.5 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  132.5   133.0   133.0   132.1   -4.6   -3.5   -4.7   -1.2   -4.0   -3.0 
     Other food at home ......................  149.2   150.4   150.9   152.0   -0.3    0.8    1.1    7.7    0.3    4.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  149.0   150.3   149.3   150.2    2.5    1.9   -1.1    3.3    2.2    1.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................  141.1   143.3   147.0   149.9   -0.8   -0.8    0.3   27.4   -0.8   13.0 
      Other foods ............................  164.5   165.5   165.7   166.5    2.8    3.2    1.7    5.0    3.0    3.3 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  101.4   102.5   102.6   103.5      -      -    4.0    8.5      -    6.3 
    Food away from home (1)...................  160.6   160.7   161.1   161.5    3.1    2.5    2.5    2.3    2.8    2.4 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  100.6   101.0   101.6   102.3      -      -    0.8    6.9      -    3.8 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  164.7   165.3   165.8   165.8    1.7    1.7   -0.2    2.7    1.7    1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  159.9   160.1   160.4   160.6    3.4    1.0    3.3    1.8    2.2    2.5 
   Shelter ...................................  181.3   181.6   181.9   182.4    3.0    3.4    4.1    2.4    3.2    3.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................  171.3   171.8   172.2   172.8    3.1    2.6    3.8    3.5    2.9    3.7 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  102.1   101.4   100.7   101.4      -      -    7.4   -2.7      -    2.2 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  187.2   187.6   188.1   188.5    2.7    3.5    3.7    2.8    3.1    3.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..   99.6    99.1    99.3    99.2      -      -   -2.4   -1.6      -   -2.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  128.8   128.3   128.3   127.8    6.3  -12.1    2.8   -3.1   -3.4   -0.2 
    Fuels ....................................  113.5   112.9   112.9   112.4    9.7  -17.9    2.9   -3.8   -5.1   -0.5 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   91.7    90.6    90.3    89.7   -0.4  -17.7   -0.9   -8.4   -9.5   -4.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  121.1   120.6   120.6   120.1   10.8  -18.0    2.7   -3.3   -4.7   -0.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  126.4   126.6   127.0   126.8    0.6    2.3    1.0    1.3    1.4    1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  132.9   133.2   132.8   134.2    1.2   -0.9    0.6    4.0    0.2    2.3 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.5   131.7   131.9   132.3    0.9    3.4   -1.5    2.5    2.2    0.5 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  126.5   127.2   126.0   128.4    3.2   -2.5    3.9    6.1    0.3    5.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  126.9   124.7   122.0   124.4   -4.0   -8.9   12.9   -7.7   -6.5    2.1 
   Footwear ..................................  126.5   128.4   128.5   129.4    1.6   -4.3   -1.9    9.5   -1.4    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  141.7   141.3   141.7   141.7   -1.1   -4.1   -2.0    0.0   -2.6   -1.0 
   Private transportation ....................  138.1   137.9   138.2   137.9   -1.4   -5.3   -2.0   -0.6   -3.4   -1.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.2   100.1   100.5   100.7      -      -    0.4    2.0      -    1.2 
     New vehicles ............................  143.2   142.7   143.4   143.9   -1.4   -0.6   -0.8    2.0   -1.0    0.6 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  150.0   150.9   151.3   151.1   -2.4    2.2    4.4    3.0   -0.1    3.7 
    Motor fuel ...............................   93.0    92.1    92.1    90.6   -4.8  -29.2  -13.4   -9.9  -17.9  -11.7 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   92.3    91.5    91.3    89.9   -5.2  -29.6  -14.2  -10.0  -18.3  -12.1 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.7   101.2   101.3   101.3   -1.6   -1.6   -1.6    2.4   -1.6    0.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  165.9   166.6   167.0   167.3    1.5    4.0    1.0    3.4    2.7    2.2 
   Public transportation .....................  190.2   188.2   190.1   194.2    1.7   11.9   -2.5    8.7    6.7    2.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  241.4   242.3   242.8   243.7    2.7    3.1    4.3    3.9    2.9    4.1 
   Medical care commodities ..................  221.2   221.6   221.7   223.1    1.5    3.0    6.0    3.5    2.2    4.7 
   Medical care services .....................  245.7   246.8   247.4   248.2    3.0    3.2    3.7    4.1    3.1    3.9 
    Professional services ....................  221.3   222.3   222.6   223.3    2.2    3.2    3.9    3.7    2.7    3.8 
    Hospital and related services ............  285.9   286.7   288.5   289.5    3.6    3.6    2.7    5.1    3.6    3.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  101.0   101.1   101.1   101.2      -      -    1.6    0.8      -    1.2 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.2   101.2   101.1   101.2    1.2    3.6    0.0    0.0    2.4    0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.8   100.9   100.9   100.4      -      -    3.7   -1.6      -    1.0 
   Education (2)..............................  102.3   102.6   102.9   103.3      -      -    6.5    4.0      -    5.2 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  249.9   249.8   250.8   250.1    3.2    3.5    8.4    0.3    3.3    4.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   293.5   294.3   295.3   296.4    4.5    4.8    6.4    4.0    4.7    5.2 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.4    99.4    99.1    97.9    1.2   -3.5    0.8   -5.9   -1.2   -2.6 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.3    99.3    99.0    97.7    1.2   -3.9    0.8   -6.3   -1.4   -2.8 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  101.1   101.4   101.5   100.4      -      -    4.5   -2.7      -    0.8 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   41.5    40.6    39.1    37.6   -4.9  -25.0  -23.0  -32.6  -15.5  -28.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   82.7    80.0    75.2    71.1      -      -  -32.7  -45.4      -  -39.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  237.0   236.9   238.5   238.7    5.6    6.8    5.8    2.9    6.2    4.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  268.4   266.9   273.8   274.2   10.9   18.6   11.5    8.9   14.7   10.2 
   Personal care (1)..........................  156.6   156.8   157.0   157.1    4.8    1.8    4.2    1.3    3.3    2.7 
    Personal care products (1)................  149.3   149.2   149.1   148.5    7.4    1.7    7.3   -2.1    4.5    2.5 
    Personal care services (1)................  165.4   165.3   166.1   166.6    2.0    2.0    2.7    2.9    2.0    2.8 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  233.3   234.2   234.8   235.7    2.8    2.6    3.0    4.2    2.7    3.6 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  141.9   141.8   142.1   142.2    1.1   -1.4    0.3    0.8   -0.1    0.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  160.6   160.8   161.2   161.7    2.0    1.3    2.3    2.8    1.6    2.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.7   130.6   130.7   130.7    0.0   -3.0   -0.9    0.0   -1.5   -0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.7   132.6   132.7   132.6    0.9   -5.2   -0.9   -0.3   -2.2   -0.6 
    Apparel ..................................  132.9   133.2   132.8   134.2    1.2   -0.9    0.6    4.0    0.2    2.3 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  137.5   137.5   137.6   137.1   -0.3   -8.3   -0.6   -1.2   -4.4   -0.9 
   Durables ..................................  127.4   127.4   127.8   127.8   -1.2   -0.3   -1.2    1.3   -0.8    0.0 
 Services ....................................  183.9   184.1   184.4   184.8    3.1    2.0    3.6    2.0    2.6    2.8 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  189.0   189.3   189.5   190.3    3.3    3.3    4.1    2.8    3.3    3.4 
  Transportation services ....................  187.8   187.5   187.8   188.6    1.1    4.6    0.0    1.7    2.8    0.9 
  Other services .............................  216.8   217.5   217.8   218.1    2.5    3.2    4.6    2.4    2.9    3.5 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  163.2   163.3   163.6   163.8    2.3    0.2    2.2    1.5    1.2    1.9 
 All items less shelter ......................  157.1   157.2   157.5   157.6    1.8   -0.8    1.3    1.3    0.5    1.3 
 All items less medical care .................  158.3   158.3   158.6   158.9    2.3    0.3    2.0    1.5    1.3    1.8 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.2   132.1   132.3   132.3    0.3   -2.7   -1.2    0.3   -1.2   -0.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.7   134.5   134.8   134.6    0.9   -4.3   -0.9   -0.3   -1.8   -0.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  139.1   139.2   139.3   138.9    0.0   -7.4   -0.9   -0.6   -3.8   -0.7 
 Nondurables .................................  146.8   146.7   147.0   147.0    1.9   -1.9    0.8    0.5    0.0    0.7 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  191.7   191.9   192.4   192.4    3.7   -0.2    3.8    1.5    1.7    2.7 
 Services less medical care services .........  178.0   178.3   178.7   178.9    3.5    1.6    3.4    2.0    2.5    2.7 
 Energy ......................................  103.2   102.5   102.5   101.5    2.9  -22.9   -4.2   -6.4  -10.9   -5.3 
 All items less energy .......................  170.7   170.9   171.3   171.7    2.2    2.4    2.6    2.4    2.3    2.5 
  All items less food and energy .............  173.3   173.5   173.8   174.2    2.1    2.8    2.6    2.1    2.5    2.3 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  143.2   143.2   143.4   143.7    1.1    1.1    0.8    1.4    1.1    1.1 
    Energy commodities .......................   92.8    91.9    91.8    90.5   -4.1  -28.5  -12.3   -9.6  -17.2  -10.9 
   Services less energy services .............  190.2   190.5   190.9   191.4    2.8    3.5    3.4    2.5    3.1    3.0 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Aug.1998 from--      July1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule    May   June   July   Aug.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998   Aug.   June   July   July    May   June 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    162.8  163.0  163.2  163.4    1.6    0.2    0.1    1.7    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    169.4  169.6  169.9  170.5    1.6    0.5    0.4    1.4    0.3    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    170.2  170.4  170.7  171.4    1.8    0.6    0.4    1.5    0.3    0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.8  101.9  102.0  102.2    1.0    0.3    0.2    1.0    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    159.4  159.5  159.8  159.5    1.5    0.0   -0.2    2.0    0.3    0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    160.5  160.8  161.2  161.0    1.9    0.1   -0.1    2.5    0.4    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.3  102.2  102.2  102.0    1.1   -0.2   -0.2    1.6   -0.1    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    153.4  153.3  153.5  153.3    0.5    0.0   -0.1    0.6    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    158.8  159.1  159.3  159.5    1.5    0.3    0.1    1.5    0.3    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    157.7  158.4  158.5  158.9    1.9    0.3    0.3    1.7    0.5    0.1 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    102.2  102.3  102.4  102.5    1.1    0.2    0.1    1.1    0.2    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    159.3  160.0  160.0  160.2    2.4    0.1    0.1    2.3    0.4    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    164.3  164.2  164.3  164.8    2.0    0.4    0.3    2.0    0.0    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    165.0  165.0  165.1  165.6    2.4    0.4    0.3    2.4    0.1    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.4  102.3  102.3  102.5    1.0    0.2    0.2    1.0   -0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    147.3  147.5  147.7  148.1    2.1    0.4    0.3    2.0    0.3    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    102.2  102.2  102.3  102.4    1.1    0.2    0.1    1.2    0.1    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    158.8  159.2  159.3  159.4    1.7    0.1    0.1    1.7    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    165.6  166.0  166.5  165.4    1.8   -0.4   -0.7    3.0    0.5    0.3 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    162.3  162.2  162.1  162.6    1.8    0.2    0.3    1.6   -0.1   -0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    173.0  173.1  173.6  174.2    2.0    0.6    0.3    1.6    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    170.9      -  170.7      -      -      -      -    2.2   -0.1      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    159.2      -  159.9      -      -      -      -    2.3    0.4      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    153.0      -  154.2      -      -      -      -      -    0.8      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1    101.5      -  102.8      -      -      -      -    1.7    1.3      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  162.0      -  161.9      -   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  159.4      -  160.5    2.3    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  146.4      -  147.4    1.4    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  160.2      -  160.8      -    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  168.0      -  168.6    1.1    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  165.5      -  166.6    3.3    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  167.5      -  168.5      -    0.6      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Aug. 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       July      Aug.                                            
                                                              1998      1998     Aug.     July    May to June to July to
                                                                                 1997     1998     June    July    Aug. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     159.8     160.0      1.4      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     476.0     476.5        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     160.2     160.7      2.0      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.2 
   Food ......................................     16.861     159.8     160.4      2.1      0.4     0.1     0.3     0.3 
    Food at home .............................     10.785     159.7     160.4      1.8      0.4     0.1     0.3     0.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.678     181.6     182.5      2.4      0.5     0.3     0.1     0.5 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.125     146.6     147.9     -0.6      0.9     0.1     0.5     0.3 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.135     147.8     150.1      5.0      1.6    -0.1     0.1     1.6 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.447     197.3     194.9      4.3     -1.2    -1.2     0.5    -0.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.215     131.2     130.7     -3.3     -0.4     0.4     0.2    -0.7 
     Other food at home ......................      2.185     150.5     151.5      2.4      0.7     0.7     0.5     0.7 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     149.9     150.3      1.7      0.3     0.9    -0.6     0.7 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .332     147.3     149.3      5.7      1.4     1.4     2.5     1.9 
      Other foods ............................      1.432     165.9     166.8      3.2      0.5     0.5     0.4     0.4 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .344     102.8     103.5        -      0.7     1.0     0.3     0.7 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.076     161.1     161.4      2.5      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .212     101.5     102.2        -      0.7     0.4     0.5     0.7 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.042     164.5     164.6      1.3      0.1     0.3     0.4     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.450     157.6     157.7      2.3      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     27.033     177.0     177.6      3.1      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................      8.347     171.8     172.4      3.2      0.3     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.346     111.9     112.8        -      0.8    -0.2    -1.1     0.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     17.016     171.2     171.8      3.2      0.4     0.2     0.3     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .324      99.4      99.4        -      0.0    -0.4     0.1     0.0 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      5.053     131.5     130.6     -0.5     -0.7    -0.3     0.1    -0.5 
    Fuels ....................................      4.143     116.6     115.6     -2.1     -0.9    -0.4     0.0    -0.6 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .229      88.2      87.0     -6.7     -1.4    -1.0    -0.3    -0.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.914     124.6     123.6     -2.1     -0.8    -0.4     0.1    -0.7 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.365     125.6     125.2      1.2     -0.3     0.0     0.4    -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.300     128.2     129.9      0.4      1.3     0.3    -0.4     0.9 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.503     129.1     129.9      0.9      0.6     0.2     0.2    -0.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.985     118.6     121.3      1.4      2.3     0.5    -1.0     1.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .337     122.7     125.0     -2.6      1.9    -1.6    -2.2     1.9 
   Footwear ..................................      1.082     127.4     128.4      0.9      0.8     1.5    -0.2     0.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.847     140.8     140.2     -2.2     -0.4    -0.1     0.2    -0.1 
   Private transportation ....................     18.790     138.2     137.6     -2.5     -0.4    -0.1     0.1    -0.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.285     100.2     100.2      0.6      0.0     0.0     0.4     0.2 
     New vehicles ............................      5.304     143.9     144.0     -0.2      0.1    -0.3     0.4     0.3 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.162     152.7     152.4      1.7     -0.2     0.7     0.3    -0.2 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.682      93.9      91.7    -14.9     -2.3    -0.9    -0.2    -1.6 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.658      93.4      91.2    -15.2     -2.4    -0.9    -0.2    -1.6 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .694     100.5     100.5     -0.5      0.0     0.6     0.1    -0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.664     168.0     168.4      2.6      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.2 
   Public transportation .....................      1.057     188.7     188.9      4.0      0.1    -0.8     0.9     1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.591     242.1     242.8      3.5      0.3     0.5     0.2     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .906     219.1     219.9      3.5      0.4     0.2     0.1     0.5 
   Medical care services .....................      3.684     247.2     248.0      3.5      0.3     0.5     0.2     0.3 
    Professional services ....................      2.372     224.4     224.8      3.3      0.2     0.5     0.1     0.2 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.097     284.3     285.6      3.8      0.5     0.3     0.6     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.969     100.9     101.1      1.0      0.2     0.1    -0.1     0.2 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.968     101.0     101.1      1.1      0.1     0.0    -0.1     0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.396     100.2     100.3      1.8      0.1     0.1     0.1    -0.5 
   Education (2)..............................      2.402     101.1     102.6      5.1      1.5     0.3     0.3     0.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .192     251.3     251.3      3.9      0.0    -0.1     0.4    -0.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.211     285.3     289.9      5.2      1.6     0.3     0.3     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.994      99.6      98.4     -1.3     -1.2     0.1    -0.2    -1.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.841      99.5      98.3     -1.4     -1.2     0.1    -0.3    -1.2 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.547     101.5     100.5        -     -1.0     0.2     0.1    -1.0 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .294      40.2      38.9    -21.1     -3.2    -1.9    -3.8    -3.2 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191      74.4      71.2        -     -4.3    -2.9    -6.4    -4.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.544     236.0     236.2      6.3      0.1    -0.1     0.9     0.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.300     273.4     273.7     12.6      0.1    -0.6     2.7     0.3 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.244     157.0     157.2      3.1      0.1     0.1     0.1     0.1 
    Personal care products (1)................       .832     150.1     149.6      3.6     -0.3    -0.1    -0.1    -0.3 
    Personal care services (1)................       .964     166.4     167.0      2.6      0.4    -0.1     0.5     0.4 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.226     233.9     234.9      3.4      0.4     0.3     0.3     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     47.234     141.5     141.5      0.1      0.0     0.0     0.2     0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     160.2     160.7      2.0      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     29.331     130.3     130.0     -1.2     -0.2    -0.1     0.2    -0.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.928     131.4     131.3     -1.9     -0.1    -0.2     0.4    -0.5 
    Apparel ..................................      5.300     128.2     129.9      0.4      1.3     0.3    -0.4     0.9 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.628     137.7     136.6     -3.0     -0.8    -0.2     0.1    -0.4 
   Durables ..................................     13.403     127.3     127.0     -0.3     -0.2     0.0     0.5    -0.1 
 Services ....................................     52.766     181.6     181.9      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     26.708     170.4     171.0      3.1      0.4     0.3     0.2     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.824     185.2     185.1      1.6     -0.1    -0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Other services .............................     10.006     213.7     214.3      3.3      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.139     159.7     159.8      1.3      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.967     155.0     155.1      0.8      0.1     0.0     0.2     0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     95.409     156.0     156.1      1.2      0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     30.373     131.6     131.4     -1.1     -0.2    -0.1     0.2    -0.1 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.970     133.4     133.3     -1.7     -0.1    -0.1     0.1    -0.3 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.670     139.3     138.3     -2.5     -0.7    -0.3     0.2    -0.2 
 Nondurables .................................     33.831     146.1     146.3      0.2      0.1    -0.1     0.3     0.0 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     26.057     171.5     171.5      2.0      0.0     0.1     0.2     0.1 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.082     176.0     176.3      2.5      0.2     0.2     0.2     0.2 
 Energy ......................................      7.825     104.5     102.9     -8.3     -1.5    -0.6    -0.1    -1.1 
 All items less energy .......................     92.175     167.4     167.8      2.2      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     75.315     169.4     169.8      2.3      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.463     142.0     142.2      1.0      0.1     0.0     0.2     0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.910      93.7      91.5    -14.2     -2.3    -0.8    -0.2    -1.6 
   Services less energy services .............     48.852     187.9     188.4      3.0      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00)..........................          -    $ .626    $ .625        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .210    $ .210        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 May     June    July    Aug.                                           
                                                 1998    1998    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                Nov.   Feb.    May   Aug.   Feb.   Aug. 
                                                                                1997   1998   1998   1998   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  159.5   159.6   159.9   160.0    1.8    0.3    2.0    1.3    1.0    1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  160.1   160.2   160.7   161.1    1.8    1.3    2.3    2.5    1.5    2.4 
   Food ......................................  159.7   159.8   160.3   160.8    2.0    1.0    2.5    2.8    1.5    2.7 
    Food at home .............................  159.7   159.8   160.3   160.8    1.3    0.3    2.5    2.8    0.8    2.7 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  180.3   180.8   181.0   181.9    2.0    1.4    2.7    3.6    1.7    3.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  146.5   146.6   147.3   147.8   -1.9   -3.7   -0.8    3.6   -2.8    1.4 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  147.8   147.7   147.8   150.1   11.1    1.6    1.1    6.4    6.2    3.7 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  203.0   200.5   201.6   200.4    2.1    7.1   18.9   -5.0    4.6    6.3 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  131.2   131.7   131.9   131.0   -4.1   -3.5   -4.7   -0.6   -3.8   -2.7 
     Other food at home ......................  148.6   149.7   150.4   151.5   -0.3    1.1    1.1    8.0    0.4    4.5 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  148.9   150.2   149.3   150.3    1.9    1.9   -0.8    3.8    1.9    1.5 
      Fats and oils ..........................  141.1   143.1   146.7   149.5   -0.8   -0.8    0.9   26.0   -0.8   12.7 
      Other foods ............................  164.5   165.3   165.9   166.6    2.2    3.7    1.7    5.2    3.0    3.4 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  101.5   102.5   102.8   103.5      -      -    4.0    8.1      -    6.1 
    Food away from home (1)...................  160.6   160.8   161.1   161.4    3.1    2.5    2.5    2.0    2.8    2.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  100.6   101.0   101.5   102.2      -      -    1.2    6.5      -    3.8 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  163.6   164.1   164.7   164.7    1.2    1.5   -0.5    2.7    1.4    1.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  156.3   156.5   156.8   156.9    3.4    0.5    3.4    1.5    2.0    2.5 
   Shelter ...................................  176.0   176.4   176.8   177.2    2.8    3.5    3.7    2.8    3.2    3.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................  171.0   171.5   172.0   172.4    3.2    2.6    3.8    3.3    2.9    3.6 
    Lodging away from home (2)................  102.1   101.9   100.8   101.3      -      -    8.2   -3.1      -    2.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  170.6   170.9   171.4   171.8    2.7    3.6    3.6    2.8    3.1    3.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..   99.7    99.3    99.4    99.4      -      -   -2.0   -1.2      -   -1.6 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  128.4   128.0   128.1   127.4    6.6  -12.2    2.5   -3.1   -3.2   -0.3 
    Fuels ....................................  112.8   112.4   112.4   111.7   10.1  -18.0    2.5   -3.8   -5.0   -0.7 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   92.0    91.1    90.8    90.1   -0.4  -17.4    0.9   -8.0   -9.3   -3.7 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  120.5   120.0   120.1   119.3   11.6  -18.3    2.7   -3.9   -4.5   -0.7 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  125.0   125.0   125.5   125.2    0.6    2.6    1.0    0.6    1.6    0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  131.1   131.5   131.0   132.2    0.6   -2.7    0.0    3.4   -1.1    1.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  131.1   131.4   131.6   131.5    0.9    1.2    0.0    1.2    1.1    0.6 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  124.0   124.6   123.4   125.7    1.6   -4.4    2.0    5.6   -1.4    3.8 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  127.4   125.4   122.7   125.0   -4.0  -12.0   14.7   -7.3   -8.1    3.1 
   Footwear ..................................  127.1   129.0   128.8   130.0    2.2   -4.8   -2.8    9.4   -1.4    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  140.6   140.4   140.7   140.5   -1.7   -4.7   -2.0   -0.3   -3.2   -1.1 
   Private transportation ....................  138.1   138.0   138.2   137.8   -2.0   -5.6   -1.7   -0.9   -3.8   -1.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  100.3   100.3   100.7   100.9      -      -    0.8    2.4      -    1.6 
     New vehicles ............................  144.4   144.0   144.6   145.1   -1.6   -0.8   -0.6    2.0   -1.2    0.7 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  151.3   152.3   152.7   152.4   -1.9    1.9    3.8    2.9    0.0    3.4 
    Motor fuel ...............................   93.2    92.4    92.2    90.7   -6.2  -28.4  -12.6  -10.3  -18.1  -11.5 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................   92.5    91.7    91.5    90.0   -5.9  -29.0  -13.8  -10.4  -18.3  -12.1 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.0   100.6   100.7   100.6   -1.6   -0.4   -2.4    2.4   -1.0    0.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  167.0   167.7   168.1   168.5    1.7    3.7    1.2    3.6    2.7    2.4 
   Public transportation .....................  187.0   185.5   187.2   190.6    1.8    9.0   -2.3    7.9    5.3    2.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  240.5   241.6   242.1   242.9    2.8    3.1    4.1    4.1    2.9    4.1 
   Medical care commodities ..................  218.1   218.5   218.7   219.9    2.3    2.3    6.1    3.3    2.3    4.7 
   Medical care services .....................  245.4   246.6   247.2   248.0    2.9    3.4    3.7    4.3    3.1    4.0 
    Professional services ....................  222.7   223.9   224.1   224.6    2.6    3.3    3.5    3.5    3.0    3.5 
    Hospital and related services ............  282.0   282.8   284.5   285.6    3.5    3.8    2.4    5.2    3.7    3.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  100.8   100.9   100.8   101.0      -      -    0.8    0.8      -    0.8 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.1   101.1   101.0   101.1    1.2    3.6   -0.4    0.0    2.4   -0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  100.9   101.0   101.1   100.6      -      -    4.1   -1.2      -    1.4 
   Education (2)..............................  102.3   102.6   102.9   103.2      -      -    6.5    3.6      -    5.0 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  252.6   252.4   253.3   252.3    3.7    3.8    8.7   -0.5    3.7    4.0 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   287.5   288.5   289.4   290.5    5.3    4.8    6.2    4.2    5.1    5.2 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   99.7    99.8    99.6    98.4    1.6   -3.2    1.6   -5.1   -0.8   -1.8 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   99.7    99.8    99.5    98.3    1.6   -3.2    1.6   -5.5   -0.8   -2.0 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............  101.2   101.4   101.5   100.5      -      -    4.9   -2.7      -    1.0 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   42.6    41.8    40.2    38.9    0.0  -25.5  -25.2  -30.5  -13.7  -27.9 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   81.9    79.5    74.4    71.2      -      -  -34.7  -42.9      -  -38.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  234.6   234.3   236.3   236.7    6.6    8.2    6.6    3.6    7.4    5.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  268.3   266.6   273.7   274.5   10.8   19.2   11.5    9.6   14.9   10.5 
   Personal care (1)..........................  156.7   156.8   157.0   157.2    5.1    1.8    4.5    1.3    3.4    2.9 
    Personal care products (1)................  150.5   150.3   150.1   149.6    7.7    1.4    8.1   -2.4    4.5    2.7 
    Personal care services (1)................  165.7   165.6   166.4   167.0    2.2    2.0    3.0    3.2    2.1    3.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  232.3   233.1   233.7   234.9    3.0    3.2    3.0    4.6    3.1    3.8 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  141.6   141.6   141.9   142.0    0.6   -1.4    0.0    1.1   -0.4    0.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  160.1   160.2   160.7   161.1    1.8    1.3    2.3    2.5    1.5    2.4 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  130.6   130.5   130.7   130.6   -0.3   -3.3   -0.9    0.0   -1.8   -0.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  132.2   131.9   132.4   131.8    0.6   -5.8   -1.2   -1.2   -2.7   -1.2 
    Apparel ..................................  131.1   131.5   131.0   132.2    0.6   -2.7    0.0    3.4   -1.1    1.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  137.2   136.9   137.1   136.5   -0.3   -8.5   -0.9   -2.0   -4.5   -1.4 
   Durables ..................................  127.0   127.0   127.6   127.5   -1.9    0.3   -1.2    1.6   -0.8    0.2 
 Services ....................................  180.6   180.9   181.2   181.5    3.2    1.6    3.4    2.0    2.4    2.7 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  169.3   169.8   170.1   170.5    2.9    3.2    3.4    2.9    3.0    3.1 
  Transportation services ....................  185.5   185.3   185.6   186.0    0.9    3.8    0.6    1.1    2.3    0.9 
  Other services .............................  213.6   214.2   214.5   214.6    2.9    3.3    4.6    1.9    3.1    3.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  159.1   159.2   159.5   159.6    2.0   -0.3    2.0    1.3    0.9    1.6 
 All items less shelter ......................  154.9   154.9   155.2   155.3    1.8   -1.0    1.3    1.0    0.4    1.2 
 All items less medical care .................  155.6   155.7   156.0   156.1    2.1    0.0    1.8    1.3    1.0    1.6 
 Commodities less food .......................  132.1   132.0   132.2   132.1    0.0   -3.3   -0.9    0.0   -1.6   -0.5 
 Nondurables less food .......................  134.1   134.0   134.2   133.8    0.6   -5.7   -0.6   -0.9   -2.6   -0.7 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  138.6   138.2   138.5   138.2    1.4   -8.4   -1.7   -1.1   -3.6   -1.4 
 Nondurables .................................  146.4   146.3   146.7   146.7    0.8   -2.4    1.4    0.8   -0.8    1.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  170.7   170.8   171.1   171.2    3.4   -0.7    4.1    1.2    1.3    2.6 
 Services less medical care services .........  175.0   175.4   175.7   176.0    3.3    0.9    3.7    2.3    2.1    3.0 
 Energy ......................................  102.5   101.9   101.8   100.7    2.2  -23.0   -4.9   -6.8  -11.3   -5.9 
 All items less energy .......................  167.4   167.6   168.0   168.3    2.0    2.2    2.7    2.2    2.1    2.4 
  All items less food and energy .............  169.5   169.7   170.1   170.4    2.2    2.4    2.6    2.1    2.3    2.4 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  142.7   142.7   143.0   143.2    0.8    1.1    0.8    1.4    1.0    1.1 
    Energy commodities .......................   93.1    92.4    92.2    90.7   -5.6  -27.6  -12.3   -9.9  -17.3  -11.1 
   Services less energy services .............  187.5   187.9   188.2   188.6    2.6    3.3    3.5    2.4    3.0    2.9 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Aug.1998 from--      July1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule    May   June   July   Aug.                                           
                                                 (1)   1998   1998   1998   1998   Aug.   June   July   July    May   June 
                                                                                   1997   1998   1998   1997   1998   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    159.5  159.7  159.8  160.0    1.4    0.2    0.1    1.5    0.2    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    166.4  166.5  166.6  167.1    1.3    0.4    0.3    1.2    0.1    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    166.1  166.3  166.5  167.1    1.6    0.5    0.4    1.3    0.2    0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.5  101.5  101.5  101.7    0.7    0.2    0.2    0.7    0.0    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    155.6  155.7  155.9  155.6    1.3   -0.1   -0.2    1.8    0.2    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    155.9  156.2  156.5  156.4    1.8    0.1   -0.1    2.4    0.4    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.1  101.9  101.9  101.7    0.9   -0.2   -0.2    1.4   -0.2    0.0 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    151.3  151.3  151.7  151.4    0.3    0.1   -0.2    0.7    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    156.7  157.1  157.2  157.5    1.3    0.3    0.2    1.2    0.3    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    155.3  155.9  156.1  156.3    1.5    0.3    0.1    1.4    0.5    0.1 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    101.8  101.8  101.9  102.1    1.0    0.3    0.2    0.9    0.1    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    159.6  160.4  160.4  160.6    2.3    0.1    0.1    2.4    0.5    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    160.3  160.3  160.3  160.7    1.7    0.2    0.2    1.7    0.0    0.0 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    159.4  159.3  159.3  159.7    2.0    0.3    0.3    2.0   -0.1    0.0 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.2  102.1  102.1  102.3    0.8    0.2    0.2    0.8   -0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    145.8  146.0  146.2  146.4    1.7    0.3    0.1    1.8    0.3    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    101.9  101.8  101.9  101.9    0.8    0.1    0.0    1.0    0.0    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    157.8  158.1  158.3  158.3    1.5    0.1    0.0    1.6    0.3    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    159.9  160.2  160.6  159.6    1.9   -0.4   -0.6    2.9    0.4    0.2 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    156.2  156.1  155.9  156.1    1.4    0.0    0.1    1.4   -0.2   -0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    168.6  168.8  169.1  169.7    1.8    0.5    0.4    1.5    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    168.9      -  168.8      -      -      -      -    1.8   -0.1      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    151.2      -  152.1      -      -      -      -    2.6    0.6      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    152.8      -  154.0      -      -      -      -      -    0.8      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1    101.3      -  102.5      -      -      -      -    1.4    1.2      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  159.3      -  159.1      -   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  154.0      -  155.1    2.3    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  145.1      -  146.1    0.8    0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  157.6      -  158.0      -    0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  167.4      -  167.9    1.2    0.3      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  161.7      -  162.7    2.9    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  162.8      -  163.8      -    0.6      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.