FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 691-7000      USDL-00-269
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 691-6994      TRANSMISSION OF
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 MATERIAL IN THIS
 INFORMATION:           (202) 691-5200      RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 691-5902      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EDT)
 INTERNET ADDRESS:      		    Friday, September 15, 2000
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
 
                                     
                    CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  AUGUST 2000
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
 0.1 percent in August, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 172.7
 (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
 increased 3.4 percent.
      
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) declined 0.1 percent in August, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The
 August level of 169.2 was 3.3 percent higher than the index in August
 1999.
      
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U declined 0.1 percent in
 August after increasing 0.2 percent in July. The energy index, which rose
 0.1 percent in July, fell 2.9 percent in August.  The indexes for
 petroleum-based energy and for energy services declined 5.5 and 0.2
 percent, respectively.  The food index rose 0.2 percent in August.  The
 index for food at home increased 0.3 percent after advancing 0.7 percent
 in July, with each of the major food at home groups except fruits and
 vegetables contributing to the deceleration.  Excluding food and energy,
 the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in August, the same as in each of the previous
 four months.
     

 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                 Un-
                                                          Compound   adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate   12-mos.
      Category                      2000                3-mos. ended   ended
                     Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   Aug. '00   Aug. '00
 All Items            .5    .7   .0   .1   .6   .2  -.1    3.1       3.4
  Food and beverages  .4    .1   .1   .5   .1   .5   .2    3.6       2.7
  Housing             .5    .4   .1   .2   .5   .4   .2    4.4       3.5
  Apparel             .2    .3  -.5  -.2  -.6 -1.0   .2   -5.7      -1.7
  Transportation     1.3   2.5  -.7  -.5  1.8  -.3 -1.1    1.8       5.1
  Medical care        .4    .5   .3   .3   .4   .3   .4    4.7       4.2
  Recreation          .0    .4   .0   .3   .3   .3   .1    2.7       1.7
  Education and                                                         
    communication    -.5    .0   .0   .1  -.1   .6   .2    2.8       1.6
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .8    .5  1.4  -.6  -.2  1.0  -.3    2.1       5.4
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy            4.6   4.9 -1.9 -1.9  5.6   .1 -2.9   10.7      13.1
   Food               .4    .1   .1   .5   .1   .5   .2    3.4       2.7
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .2    .4   .2   .2   .2   .2   .2    2.5       2.5


 See page 4 for a note on the use of hedonic models to adjust prices of
 selected products in the CPI for changes in quality.
      
      
      During the first eight months of 2000, the CPI-U rose at a 3.4
 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an
 increase of 2.7 percent for all of 1999.  Energy costs have increased at a
 14.3 percent annual rate in the first eight months of 2000 after advancing
 13.4 percent in all of 1999.  Food costs, which rose 1.9 percent in 1999,
 have risen at a 2.8 percent SAAR thus far this year.  Excluding food and
 energy, the CPI-U has advanced at a 2.6 percent rate compared with a 1.9
 percent rise for all of 1999.
      
      The food and beverages index increased 0.2 percent in August.  The
 index for food at home, which rose 0.7 percent in July, increased 0.3
 percent in August.  Each of the major food at home groups except fruits
 and vegetables contributed to the deceleration in August.  The index for
 fruits and vegetables rose 1.2 percent in August, following a 1.0 percent
 rise in July.  Over the past 12 months, however, fruit and vegetable
 prices have risen only 0.2 percent.  In August, within the fruits and
 vegetables group, the indexes for fresh fruits and fresh vegetables rose
 0.5 and 2.3 percent, respectively.  The index for processed fruits and
 vegetables rose 0.5 percent.  Among the other major food at home groups,
 the indexes for cereal and bakery products and for dairy products each
 increased 0.3 percent.  The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose
 0.2 percent in August.  Meat prices continue to advance; the indexes for
 beef and for pork rose 0.5 and 0.8 percent, respectively, in August and
 are up 8.4 and 9.8 percent in the past 12 months.  Poultry prices turned
 down in August, declining 0.3 percent, and have risen only 1.8 percent
 since August 1999.  The index for other food at home rose 0.1 percent in
 August, while the index for nonalcoholic beverages declined 0.3 percent.
 The other two components of the food and beverages index--food away from
 home and alcoholic beverages--each increased 0.2 percent in August.
      
      The index for housing increased 0.2 percent in August, following a
 0.4 percent rise in July.  The index for fuels and utilities, which rose
 sharply in both June and July, turned down in August.  Each of the three
 principal household fuels failed to advance in August.  The index for fuel
 oil decreased 0.1 percent in August, following a 20.5 percent rise over
 the past seven months.  The index for natural gas, which rose 20.1 percent
 in the first seven months of 2000, declined 0.7 percent in August.  The
 index for electricity was unchanged in August after increasing 1.9 percent
 in the first seven months of the year.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment,
 charges for electricity fell 0.4 percent in August after increasing 9.4
 percent in the first seven months of 2000.)   Shelter costs, which rose
 0.2 percent in July, increased 0.3 percent in August.  Within shelter, the
 indexes for rent and for owners' equivalent rent each rose 0.3 percent,
 while the index for lodging away from home was unchanged.  The index for
 household furnishings and operations, which advanced 0.5 percent in July,
 rose 0.1 percent in August.
      
      The transportation component declined for the second consecutive
 month, down 1.1 percent in August.  The index for gasoline fell 6.0
 percent, following a 2.0 percent decrease in July. Despite the recent
 declines, gasoline prices have advanced 11.2 percent since December after
 advancing 30.1 percent in all of 1999.  The index for new vehicles, which
 rose 0.2 percent in July, declined 0.2 percent in August.  The index for
 used cars and trucks fell 0.1 percent.  Public transportation costs
 increased 0.9 percent, largely as a result of a 1.5 percent rise in
 airline fares.  Airline fares have risen 11.3 percent thus far in 2000.
      
      The index for apparel rose 0.2 percent in August, its first monthly
 increase since March.  Price increases associated with the introduction of
 fall-winter wear more than offset price declines on spring-summer
 clothing.
      
      Medical care costs rose 0.4 percent in August to a level 4.2 percent
 higher than a year ago.  In August, the index for medical care commodities-
 -prescription and nonprescription drugs and medical supplies--rose 0.3
 percent.  The index for medical care services rose 0.4 percent.  Charges
 for professional services and for hospital and related services increased
 0.4 and 0.8 percent, respectively.
      
      The index for recreation costs increased 0.1 percent in August,
 following increases of 0.3 percent in each of the preceding three months.
 Smaller increases in the indexes for admissions to movies, theaters,
 concerts, and sporting events and for club membership dues and fees for
 participant sports were largely responsible for the moderation.
      
      
      The index for education and communication rose 0.2 percent in August,
 following a 0.6 percent rise in July.  Educational costs declined 0.2
 percent, partially offsetting a 0.4 percent increase in the index for
 communication.  The index for tuition, other school fees, and child care
 declined 0.2 percent.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, this index rose 1.2
 percent.)  Within the index for communication, the index for telephone
 services rose 0.7 percent, as a 2.0 percent rise in local charges more
 than offset a 0.7 percent decrease in long distance charges.
      
      The index for other goods and services decreased 0.3 percent in
 August, following a 1.0 percent rise in July.  Cigarette prices, which
 rose 3.2 percent in July, declined 1.7 percent.
      
 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
      
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers declined 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                      2000                3-mos. ended   ended
                     Feb. Mar. Apr.  May June July Aug.   Aug. '00   Aug. '00
 All Items            .5    .7   .0   .1   .6   .2  -.1    2.6       3.3
  Food and beverages  .4    .2   .1   .5   .1   .5   .2    3.4       2.9
  Housing             .6    .2   .2   .2   .5   .5   .1    4.2       3.3
  Apparel             .1    .2  -.5  -.2  -.5 -1.2   .1   -6.1      -1.9
  Transportation     1.3   2.6  -.8  -.5  2.0  -.5 -1.3    1.1       5.0
  Medical care        .4    .5   .4   .3   .4   .3   .4    4.7       4.3
  Recreation         -.1    .4   .0   .4   .3   .1   .1    2.0       1.4
  Education and                                                         
    communication    -.5   -.1   .0   .2  -.3   .6   .2    2.0       1.5
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .9    .6  1.8 -1.0  -.3  1.2  -.4    2.0       6.2
 Special Indexes                                                        
  Energy             4.5   5.5 -2.4 -1.9  6.2  -.5 -3.4    8.9      13.1
  Food                .4    .2   .1   .5   .1   .5   .2    3.2       2.8
  All Items less                                                        
    food and energy   .2    .3   .2   .2   .1   .2   .1    1.8       2.4


     Consumer Price Index data for September are scheduled for release on
 Wednesday, October 18, 2000, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).

 __________________________________________________________________________      
     
     
 Extending  the use of hedonic models  to
 adjust prices for changes in quality
 
   The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is continuing to expand the use  in
 the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of quality adjustments derived from hedonic
 models.   As  first  announced at the time of the July 2000  CPI  release,
 effective  with the CPI for October 2000, BLS will extend hedonic  quality
 adjustment to Washing machines and Clothes dryers.  These items  are  both
 part of the Major appliances stratum.

   A  hedonic  model  decomposes  the price  of  a  consumer  product  into
 implicit prices for each of its important features and components, thereby
 providing  an  estimate of the value of each feature  and  component.  BLS
 plans  to extend this method to additional items in the CPI.  As BLS  does
 so,  it will give CPI users notice at least three months before the  first
 use  of hedonic quality adjustment for each additional item and will  have
 detailed  papers on the models to be employed available  by  the  time  of
 first use.

   The  relative importance (share of weight), as of December 1999, of  the
 Major  appliances  stratum was 0.205 percent in  the  CPI  for  all  Urban
 Consumers (CPI-U) and 0.236 percent in the CPI for Urban Wage Earners  and
 Clerical  Workers (CPI-W). Within Major appliances, Washing  machines  are
 estimated  to represent 18 percent of the weight and Clothes dryers  about
 13 percent.

   The  hedonic models that BLS analysts developed for Washing machines and
 Clothes  dryers use observations collected for the CPI, supplemented  with
 additional  observations  that  the BLS collected  specifically  for  this
 purpose.  Papers  describing  this work are in  preparation  and  will  be
 available before release of the October 2000 CPI.

   Additional work on hedonic quality adjustment is underway at BLS.
 
  For more 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

 or  contact  Paul  Liegey  either by telephone at  (202) 691-5394  or  by
 electronic mail at Liegey_P@bls.gov.

 __________________________________________________________________________ 


       Facilities for Sensory Impaired
     
	    Information from this release will be made available to
       sensory impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:
       202-691-5200, Federal Relay Services:  1-800-877-8339.  For
       a recorded message of Summary CPI data, call (202) 691-5200.

 __________________________________________________________________________
       

       Brief Explanation of the CPI

            The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the
       average change in prices over time in a market basket of
       goods and services.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics
       publishes CPIs for two population groups:  (1) a CPI for All
       Urban Consumers (CPI-U) which covers approximately 87
       percent of the total population and (2) a CPI for Urban Wage
       Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which covers 32 percent
       of the total population.  The CPI-U includes, in addition to
       wage earners and clerical workers, groups such as
       professional, managerial, and technical workers, the self-
       employed, short-term workers, the unemployed, and retirees
       and others not in the labor force.
       
            The CPI is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter,
       and fuels, transportation fares, charges for doctors' and
       dentists' services, drugs, and other goods and services that
       people buy for day-to-day living.  Prices are collected in
       87 urban areas across the country from about 50,000 housing
       units and approximately 23,000 retail establishments-
       department stores, supermarkets, hospitals, filling
       stations, and other types of stores and service
       establishments.  All taxes directly associated with the
       purchase and use of items are included in the index.  Prices
       of fuels and a few other items are obtained every month in
       all 87 locations.  Prices of most other commodities and
       services are collected every month in the three largest
       geographic areas and every other month in other areas.
       Prices of most goods and services are obtained by personal
       visits or telephone calls of the Bureau's trained
       representatives.
       
            In calculating the index, price changes for the various
       items in each location are averaged together with weights
       which represent their importance in the spending of the
       appropriate population group.  Local data are then combined
       to obtain a U.S. city average.  Separate indexes are also
       published by size of city, by region of the country, for
       cross-classifications of regions and population-size
       classes, and for 26 local areas.  Area indexes do not
       measure differences in the level of prices among cities,
       they only measure the average change in prices for each area
       since the base period.
       
            The index measures price change from a designed
       reference date-1982-84 which equals 100.0.  An increase of
       16.5 percent, for example, is shown as 116.5.  This change
       can also be expressed in dollars as follows:  the price of a
       base period market basket of goods and services in the CPI
       has risen from $10 in 1982-84 to $11.65.
       
            For further details visit the CPI home page on the
       Internet at http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm or contact our
       CPI Information and Analysis Section on (202) 691-7000.
       
 __________________________________________________________________________            
            
            
       Calculating Index Changes
       
            Movements of the indexes from one month to another are
       usually expressed as percent changes rather than changes in index 
       points, because index point changes are affected by the level of 
       the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are 
       not.  The example below illustrates the computation of index point 
       and percent changes.
       
            Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods are expressed 
       as annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula 
       for compound growth rates.  These data indicate what the percent 
       change would be if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month 
       period.
       
         
                    Index Point Change
       
       CPI   					115.7
       Less previous index    			111.2
       Equals index point change  		4.5
       
       
                    Percent Change
       
       Index point difference			4.5
       Divided by the previous index		111.2
       Equals					0.040
       Results multiplied by one hundred	0.040x100
       Equals percent change			4.0
       
       
 _________________________________________________________________________    
            
 
       A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data

            Because price data are used for different purposes by
       different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
       seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
       month.
       
            For analyzing general price trends in the economy,
       seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since they
       eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the
       same time and in about the same magnitude every year--such
       as price movements resulting from changing climatic
       conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays,
       and sales.
       
            The unadjusted data are of primary interest to
       consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay.
       Unadjusted data also are used extensively for escalation
       purposes.  Many collective bargaining contract agreements
       and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to
       the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.
       
            Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally
       adjusted indexes are derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal
       Adjustment Method.  The updated seasonal data at the end of
       1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977.  Subsequent
       annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g.,
       data from 1995 through 1999 were replaced at the end of
       1999.  The seasonal movement of all items and 54 other
       aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal movement
       of 73 selected components.  Each year the seasonal status of
       every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical
       criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their seasonal
       adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally
       adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used for the
       last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be
       used before that period.
       
            Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index
       levels, are subject to revision for up to five years after
       their original release.  For this reason, BLS advises
       against the use of these data in escalation agreements.
       
            Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors
       for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an
       enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention
       Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series.
       Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better
       estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  Extreme values
       and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal
       pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to
       calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning with the
       calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA
       software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment.
       
            For the fuel oil and the motor fuels indexes, this
       procedure was used to offset the effects that extreme price
       volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of
       seasonally adjusted data for those series.  For the
       breakfast cereal index, the procedure was used to offset the
       effects of price-cutting among cereal manufacturers.  For
       the educational books and supplies index, the procedure was
       used to account for greater than normal sale prices on
       educational reference books.  For some alcoholic beverage
       series, Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment was used
       to offset the effects of increased brewer's costs along with
       increased demand for specialty beers.  For the nonalcoholic
       beverages index, the procedure was used to offset the
       effects of a large increase in coffee prices due to adverse
       weather.  For the fats and oils series, the procedure was
       used to account for lower domestic butter stocks, lower cold
       storage supplies, and anticipation of a bumper soybean crop.
       For the new trucks index, the procedure was applied to
       account for loyalty rebates offered to customers by American
       automakers.   For the water and sewerage maintenance index, 
       the procedure was used to account for a data collection anomaly.
       
            A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment, as well as a list of unusual events modeled and
       seasonal factors for these items may be obtained by writing
       the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
       and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire
       McAnaw Gallagher on (202) 691-6968 or sending e-mail to
       Gallagher_C@BLS.GOV.
    

 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Aug. 2000 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1999       July      Aug.                                            
                                                              2000      2000     Aug.     July    May to June to July to
                                                                                 1999     2000     June    July    Aug. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     172.6     172.7      3.4      0.1     0.6     0.2    -0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     517.2     517.2        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.302     168.7     169.2      2.7      0.3     0.1     0.5     0.2 
   Food ......................................     15.315     168.1     168.7      2.7      0.4     0.1     0.5     0.2 
    Food at home .............................      9.603     168.3     168.9      2.9      0.4     0.1     0.7     0.3 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.534     189.6     189.9      2.7      0.2    -0.7     1.0     0.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.543     155.8     156.8      5.6      0.6     0.5     0.5     0.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.090     160.5     161.0      2.9      0.3    -0.1     0.6     0.3 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.429     201.0     202.5      0.2      0.7    -0.7     1.0     1.2 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.045     138.5     138.2      2.8     -0.2     0.4     1.0    -0.3 
     Other food at home ......................      1.962     156.6     156.9      1.8      0.2     0.4     0.2     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .373     154.1     154.6      1.2      0.3     0.2     0.3     0.4 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .288     148.1     148.9      0.2      0.5    -0.5     0.7     0.6 
      Other foods ............................      1.301     173.5     173.7      2.2      0.1     0.6     0.1    -0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .314     108.8     109.5      4.5      0.6     1.9     0.4     0.6 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.712     169.1     169.5      2.4      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .176     108.7     109.3      3.3      0.6     0.0     0.6     0.6 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................       .987     175.2     175.6      3.2      0.2     0.6     0.6     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.636     170.4     170.7      3.5      0.2     0.5     0.4     0.2 
   Shelter ...................................     30.235     193.7     194.3      3.2      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      7.036     183.5     184.2      3.5      0.4     0.2     0.4     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      2.359     122.8     123.0      5.0      0.2     1.3    -0.5     0.0 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     20.470     198.2     198.8      2.8      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .370     104.2     104.0      1.8     -0.2     0.1     0.3    -0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.722     141.3     140.9      7.2     -0.3     2.2     1.6    -0.1 
    Fuels ....................................      3.794     126.5     125.9      8.3     -0.5     2.7     1.9    -0.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .273     120.8     120.8     35.4      0.0     0.8     1.6     0.2 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.521     133.0     132.4      6.7     -0.5     2.9     2.0    -0.2 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .928     106.7     107.0      2.5      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.680     128.6     128.6      1.4      0.0    -0.1     0.5     0.1 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .910     111.1     111.5      6.2      0.4     0.5     0.5     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.684     124.5     125.3     -1.7      0.6    -0.6    -1.0     0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.335     126.4     126.8     -0.2      0.3    -0.3    -0.9    -0.3 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.879     113.9     115.6     -2.0      1.5    -0.7    -0.8     0.9 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .272     128.1     126.7     -1.2     -1.1    -0.9    -1.8    -1.1 
   Footwear ..................................       .828     120.3     120.7     -2.5      0.3    -0.5    -2.3     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.450     155.0     153.2      5.1     -1.2     1.8    -0.3    -1.1 
   Private transportation ....................     16.050     150.6     148.6      4.7     -1.3     1.9    -0.3    -1.3 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.652     100.6     100.4      0.7     -0.2     0.0     0.1    -0.1 
     New vehicles ............................      4.835     142.5     141.9      0.4     -0.4    -0.1     0.2    -0.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.888     155.3     155.2      0.9     -0.1     0.2    -0.3    -0.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.160     136.1     128.4     19.1     -5.7     8.8    -1.9    -5.9 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.140     135.4     127.7     19.1     -5.7     8.8    -2.0    -6.0 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .533     101.5     101.5      1.4      0.0     0.0     0.3    -0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair (1)..      1.622     177.2     178.2      3.5      0.6     0.3     0.2     0.6 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.400     213.7     215.7      9.4      0.9     1.0     0.5     0.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.768     261.4     262.6      4.2      0.5     0.4     0.3     0.4 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.268     238.6     239.2      2.9      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.3 
   Medical care services .....................      4.501     266.7     268.0      4.6      0.5     0.5     0.4     0.4 
    Professional services (3).................      2.867     238.3     238.9      3.8      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.4 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.386     318.1     321.3      6.6      1.0     0.8     0.6     0.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.008     103.7     103.9      1.7      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.1 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.691     101.3     101.6      0.7      0.3     0.2    -0.1     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.419     102.0     102.8      1.6      0.8    -0.1     0.6     0.2 
   Education (2)..............................      2.741     111.8     113.0      5.1      1.1     0.8     0.5    -0.2 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .196     278.1     280.2      5.9      0.8     0.5     0.5     0.4 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.544     321.7     325.4      5.0      1.2     0.8     0.5    -0.2 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.679      93.3      93.7     -2.0      0.4    -1.2     0.8     0.4 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.474      92.5      93.0     -2.1      0.5    -1.3     0.8     0.5 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.274      98.2      98.9     -0.9      0.7    -1.3     1.0     0.7 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .200      25.7      25.2    -15.4     -1.9    -2.3    -1.2    -1.9 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .106      40.3      39.5    -22.4     -2.0    -2.8    -2.2    -2.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.733     272.2     271.6      5.4     -0.2    -0.2     1.0    -0.3 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.258     400.7     394.1     12.6     -1.6    -1.3     3.1    -1.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.475     165.7     166.2      3.0      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .741     153.7     154.3      1.3      0.4     0.4     0.1     0.4 
    Personal care services (1)................       .982     178.2     179.3      4.3      0.6     0.3     0.2     0.6 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.506     252.9     253.6      4.0      0.3     0.2     0.4     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.141     149.3     148.6      2.8     -0.5     0.6     0.1    -0.5 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.302     168.7     169.2      2.7      0.3     0.1     0.5     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     25.840     137.7     136.4      2.9     -0.9     1.0    -0.3    -0.9 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.906     147.5     145.6      5.5     -1.3     2.0    -0.1    -1.6 
    Apparel ..................................      4.684     124.5     125.3     -1.7      0.6    -0.6    -1.0     0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.222     165.4     162.0      8.9     -2.1     3.0    -0.1    -2.1 
   Durables ..................................     10.934     125.2     124.7     -0.6     -0.4    -0.2    -0.1    -0.2 
 Services ....................................     57.859     196.1     196.7      3.6      0.3     0.5     0.4     0.3 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     29.865     201.7     202.3      3.2      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.2 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .370     104.2     104.0      1.8     -0.2     0.1     0.3    -0.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.521     133.0     132.4      6.7     -0.5     2.9     2.0    -0.2 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .928     106.7     107.0      2.5      0.3     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .910     111.1     111.5      6.2      0.4     0.5     0.5     0.4 
  Transportation services ....................      6.940     196.5     197.4      3.8      0.5     0.3     0.3     0.5 
  Medical care services ......................      4.501     266.7     268.0      4.6      0.5     0.5     0.4     0.4 
  Other services .............................     10.825     229.9     231.3      3.3      0.6     0.2     0.6     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.685     173.5     173.4      3.4     -0.1     0.6     0.2    -0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     69.765     166.2     166.0      3.4     -0.1     0.7     0.2    -0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     94.232     167.8     167.8      3.3      0.0     0.5     0.2    -0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     26.827     139.2     138.0      3.0     -0.9     0.9    -0.2    -0.9 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.893     149.3     147.5      5.4     -1.2     2.0    -0.3    -1.4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.209     165.7     162.6      8.4     -1.9     2.8     0.1    -1.9 
 Nondurables .................................     31.208     158.4     157.6      4.0     -0.5     1.1     0.1    -0.7 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     27.994     204.2     205.0      4.1      0.4     0.7     0.4     0.5 
 Services less medical care services .........     53.358     189.6     190.3      3.5      0.4     0.4     0.4     0.3 
 Energy ......................................      6.954     129.7     125.9     13.1     -2.9     5.6     0.1    -2.9 
 All items less energy .......................     93.046     178.5     179.0      2.6      0.3     0.1     0.3     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     77.731     181.1     181.6      2.5      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     23.393     143.8     143.7      0.5     -0.1    -0.2     0.0    -0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.433     135.0     127.9     20.3     -5.3     8.1    -1.6    -5.5 
   Services less energy services .............     54.338     202.5     203.3      3.5      0.4     0.3     0.2     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .579    $ .579        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .193    $ .193        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 May     June    July    Aug.                                           
                                                 2000    2000    2000    2000                                           
                                                                                Nov.   Feb.    May   Aug.   Feb.   Aug. 
                                                                                1999   2000   2000   2000   2000   2000 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  171.3   172.3   172.7   172.6    2.9    3.9    3.1    3.1    3.4    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  167.8   168.0   168.9   169.3    2.9    1.7    2.7    3.6    2.3    3.1 
   Food ......................................  167.5   167.6   168.5   168.9    3.0    1.7    2.9    3.4    2.3    3.2 
    Food at home .............................  167.3   167.4   168.5   169.0    3.2    1.2    3.2    4.1    2.2    3.6 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  188.4   187.0   188.8   189.3    3.1    0.2    5.7    1.9    1.6    3.8 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  154.5   155.3   156.0   156.3    4.1    4.1    9.6    4.7    4.1    7.1 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  159.6   159.5   160.5   161.0   22.4   -8.7   -3.2    3.6    5.7    0.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  203.2   201.8   203.8   206.3   -2.9    0.2   -2.1    6.2   -1.4    2.0 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  137.0   137.5   138.9   138.5   -0.9    9.2   -1.4    4.5    4.0    1.5 
     Other food at home ......................  155.7   156.3   156.6   156.7    0.0    0.3    3.9    2.6    0.1    3.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  153.4   153.7   154.1   154.7    1.6    1.8   -1.8    3.4    1.7    0.8 
      Fats and oils ..........................  147.6   146.9   147.9   148.8   -6.1   -4.0    8.3    3.3   -5.1    5.7 
      Other foods ............................  172.2   173.2   173.4   173.2    1.2    0.7    4.8    2.3    0.9    3.6 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  106.4   108.4   108.8   109.5   -3.4   10.0    0.0   12.2    3.1    5.9 
    Food away from home (1)...................  168.3   168.6   169.1   169.5    2.2    2.7    1.7    2.9    2.4    2.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  108.1   108.1   108.7   109.3    4.2    3.8    0.7    4.5    4.0    2.6 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  173.4   174.4   175.4   175.8    2.6    3.1    1.4    5.7    2.8    3.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  168.0   168.9   169.5   169.8    2.7    3.7    2.9    4.4    3.2    3.6 
   Shelter ...................................  191.9   192.6   192.9   193.4    2.8    2.8    3.6    3.2    2.8    3.4 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  182.5   182.9   183.7   184.2    3.6    3.6    2.9    3.8    3.6    3.3 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  110.3   111.7   111.1   111.1    3.1   -1.9   16.4    2.9    0.6    9.4 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  197.4   197.9   198.2   198.8    2.3    3.1    2.7    2.9    2.7    2.8 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  103.8   103.9   104.2   104.0   -0.4    1.2    5.6    0.8    0.4    3.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  133.4   136.3   138.5   138.3    5.7   10.8   -1.5   15.5    8.2    6.7 
    Fuels ....................................  117.1   120.3   122.6   122.4    6.5   12.8   -2.7   19.4    9.6    7.8 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................  121.4   122.4   124.4   124.6   40.1  315.3  -47.9   11.0  141.3  -24.0 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  122.7   126.2   128.7   128.4    4.7    0.7    3.7   19.9    2.7   11.5 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  106.1   106.2   106.4   106.6    2.3    3.1    2.7    1.9    2.7    2.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  128.0   127.9   128.5   128.6   -0.3    1.6    2.5    1.9    0.6    2.2 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  110.1   110.6   111.1   111.5    3.1   10.2    6.4    5.2    6.6    5.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  129.7   128.9   127.6   127.8    4.7   -3.9   -1.5   -5.7    0.3   -3.7 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  130.5   130.1   128.9   128.5    7.0    0.3   -1.8   -6.0    3.6   -3.9 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  120.9   120.0   119.1   120.2    5.3   -8.1   -1.6   -2.3   -1.6   -2.0 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  131.7   130.5   128.1   126.7   14.1    1.5   -4.1  -14.3    7.6   -9.4 
   Footwear ..................................  124.9   124.3   121.4   121.9   -1.0   -5.0    6.0   -9.3   -3.0   -1.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  152.5   155.3   154.9   153.2    3.9    9.3    5.4    1.8    6.6    3.6 
   Private transportation ....................  148.4   151.2   150.7   148.8    3.4    9.5    5.0    1.1    6.4    3.0 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  101.2   101.2   101.3   101.2    2.8   -3.5    3.6    0.0   -0.4    1.8 
     New vehicles ............................  143.2   143.0   143.3   143.0    0.8   -1.7    2.6   -0.6   -0.4    1.0 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  155.4   155.7   155.3   155.2    6.1   -7.7    6.4   -0.5   -1.0    2.9 
    Motor fuel ...............................  125.7   136.7   134.1   126.2    8.2   63.9   12.0    1.6   33.2    6.7 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  125.0   136.0   133.3   125.3    8.6   64.9   11.3    1.0   33.8    6.0 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  101.4   101.4   101.7   101.6    2.8   -1.2    3.2    0.8    0.8    2.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair (1)..  176.3   176.8   177.2   178.2    3.5    3.7    2.5    4.4    3.6    3.5 
   Public transportation (1)..................  210.4   212.6   213.7   215.7   10.8    4.0   12.7   10.5    7.3   11.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  259.6   260.6   261.5   262.6    3.4    4.2    4.6    4.7    3.8    4.6 
   Medical care commodities ..................  237.3   237.7   238.2   239.0    3.5    2.1    3.1    2.9    2.8    3.0 
   Medical care services .....................  264.4   265.6   266.7   267.8    3.3    4.7    5.0    5.2    4.0    5.1 
    Professional services (3).................  236.6   237.6   238.0   238.9    3.3    4.7    3.5    3.9    4.0    3.7 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  314.1   316.6   318.4   321.0    4.5    6.2    6.8    9.1    5.3    7.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  102.9   103.2   103.5   103.6   -0.8    1.6    2.8    2.7    0.4    2.8 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.2   101.4   101.3   101.5   -1.6   -0.4    3.6    1.2   -1.0    2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  102.4   102.3   102.9   103.1    2.4    0.8    0.4    2.8    1.6    1.6 
   Education (2)..............................  112.2   113.1   113.7   113.5    3.4    7.2    4.8    4.7    5.2    4.7 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  277.6   278.9   280.4   281.6  -14.4   36.7    1.7    5.9    8.2    3.8 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   321.7   324.4   326.0   325.4    4.9    5.1    5.1    4.7    5.0    4.9 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   93.7    92.6    93.3    93.7    1.3   -4.9   -4.2    0.0   -1.9   -2.1 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   93.0    91.8    92.5    93.0    1.3   -4.9   -4.6    0.0   -1.9   -2.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   98.5    97.2    98.2    98.9    3.2   -4.7   -3.6    1.6   -0.8   -1.0 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   26.6    26.0    25.7    25.2  -19.8   -8.2  -13.7  -19.4  -14.2  -16.6 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   42.4    41.2    40.3    39.5  -27.3  -15.2  -21.9  -24.7  -21.5  -23.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  270.8   270.3   272.9   272.2    8.8    5.7    5.3    2.1    7.3    3.7 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  393.5   388.5   400.7   394.1   24.5   15.1   11.4    0.6   19.7    5.9 
   Personal care (1)..........................  165.1   165.4   165.7   166.2    3.5    2.5    3.2    2.7    3.0    3.0 
    Personal care products (1)................  153.0   153.6   153.7   154.3    2.7   -1.8    1.1    3.4    0.4    2.2 
    Personal care services (1)................  177.3   177.9   178.2   179.3    4.7    4.0    3.9    4.6    4.4    4.3 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  251.2   251.8   252.9   253.6    4.3    3.1    4.6    3.9    3.7    4.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  148.7   149.6   149.7   149.0    2.8    5.3    2.5    0.8    4.0    1.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  167.8   168.0   168.9   169.3    2.9    1.7    2.7    3.6    2.3    3.1 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  137.2   138.6   138.2   136.9    3.0    7.4    2.1   -0.9    5.2    0.6 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  146.0   148.9   148.7   146.3    5.9   12.8    2.8    0.8    9.3    1.8 
    Apparel ..................................  129.7   128.9   127.6   127.8    4.7   -3.9   -1.5   -5.7    0.3   -3.7 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  160.2   165.0   164.9   161.5    7.5   20.5    4.9    3.3   13.8    4.1 
   Durables ..................................  125.8   125.6   125.5   125.2   -0.6   -1.9    2.3   -1.9   -1.3    0.2 
 Services ....................................  194.0   194.9   195.7   196.2    3.0    3.0    3.8    4.6    3.0    4.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  200.1   200.8   201.3   201.7    2.5    3.1    3.7    3.2    2.8    3.5 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  103.8   103.9   104.2   104.0   -0.4    1.2    5.6    0.8    0.4    3.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  122.7   126.2   128.7   128.4    4.7    0.7    3.7   19.9    2.7   11.5 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  106.1   106.2   106.4   106.6    2.3    3.1    2.7    1.9    2.7    2.3 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  110.1   110.6   111.1   111.5    3.1   10.2    6.4    5.2    6.6    5.8 
  Transportation services ....................  195.7   196.3   196.8   197.8    3.6    2.5    4.6    4.4    3.1    4.5 
  Medical care services ......................  264.4   265.6   266.7   267.8    3.3    4.7    5.0    5.2    4.0    5.1 
  Other services .............................  229.1   229.6   230.9   231.7    3.4    2.5    2.8    4.6    3.0    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  171.9   173.0   173.3   173.2    3.1    4.1    3.3    3.1    3.6    3.2 
 All items less shelter ......................  164.8   165.9   166.3   166.1    3.3    4.0    3.0    3.2    3.6    3.1 
 All items less medical care .................  166.3   167.2   167.6   167.5    3.0    3.7    3.2    2.9    3.4    3.1 
 Commodities less food .......................  138.9   140.2   139.9   138.6    3.0    7.3    2.3   -0.9    5.1    0.7 
 Nondurables less food .......................  147.7   150.7   150.3   148.2    5.8   12.0    2.8    1.4    8.9    2.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  160.8   165.3   165.4   162.3    6.8   19.4    4.3    3.8   13.0    4.1 
 Nondurables .................................  157.2   159.0   159.2   158.1    3.7    7.2    2.8    2.3    5.5    2.6 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  201.3   202.7   203.6   204.6    3.1    2.9    3.9    6.7    3.0    5.3 
 Services less medical care services .........  187.6   188.4   189.1   189.7    2.9    2.6    3.9    4.6    2.7    4.2 
 Energy ......................................  119.9   126.6   126.7   123.0    7.6   33.6    3.8   10.7   19.9    7.2 
 All items less energy .......................  178.3   178.5   179.0   179.3    2.8    1.8    3.2    2.3    2.3    2.7 
  All items less food and energy .............  180.9   181.2   181.6   182.0    2.7    1.8    3.2    2.5    2.3    2.8 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  145.0   144.7   144.7   144.6    2.2   -1.1    2.0   -1.1    0.6    0.4 
    Energy commodities .......................  125.2   135.4   133.2   125.9   10.3   78.4    4.3    2.3   40.3    3.3 
   Services less energy services .............  201.2   201.9   202.4   203.1    3.1    3.1    3.7    3.8    3.1    3.7 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Aug.2000 from--      July2000 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule    May   June   July   Aug.                                           
                                                 (1)   2000   2000   2000   2000   Aug.   June   July   July    May   June 
                                                                                   1999   2000   2000   1999   2000   2000 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    171.3  172.3  172.6  172.7    3.4    0.2    0.1    3.5    0.8    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    178.2  178.8  179.6  179.7    3.2    0.5    0.1    3.6    0.8    0.4 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    179.0  179.6  180.4  180.7    3.2    0.6    0.2    3.4    0.8    0.4 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    107.3  107.6  108.1  107.8    3.4    0.2   -0.3    4.0    0.7    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    167.4  169.5  168.7  168.1    3.0   -0.8   -0.4    3.6    0.8   -0.5 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    169.0  171.2  170.3  169.9    3.1   -0.8   -0.2    3.5    0.8   -0.5 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    106.9  108.3  107.6  107.0    2.7   -1.2   -0.6    3.6    0.7   -0.6 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    161.4  163.1  163.1  162.4    3.0   -0.4   -0.4    3.8    1.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    166.6  167.4  167.9  167.9    3.3    0.3    0.0    3.5    0.8    0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    165.9  167.1  167.8  167.8    3.6    0.4    0.0    4.0    1.1    0.4 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    107.1  107.6  107.7  107.7    3.2    0.1    0.0    3.3    0.6    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    167.0  166.9  167.6  167.7    2.4    0.5    0.1    3.1    0.4    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    173.9  174.3  175.2  175.8    3.7    0.9    0.3    3.7    0.7    0.5 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    175.4  175.7  176.7  177.6    4.2    1.1    0.5    4.0    0.7    0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    107.3  107.6  108.1  108.3    2.9    0.7    0.2    3.1    0.7    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    155.4  156.3  156.7  156.9    3.5    0.4    0.1    3.7    0.8    0.3 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    107.1  107.7  107.8  107.7    3.1    0.0   -0.1    3.5    0.7    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    166.8  167.4  167.7  167.6    2.8    0.1   -0.1    3.3    0.5    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    173.5  175.8  174.4  173.5    2.5   -1.3   -0.5    3.0    0.5   -0.8 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    171.1  170.9  171.7  172.2    3.5    0.8    0.3    3.6    0.4    0.5 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    181.3  181.9  182.7  183.0    3.0    0.6    0.2    3.1    0.8    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    181.6      -  183.2      -      -      -      -    4.5    0.9      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    166.4      -  168.1      -      -      -      -    3.3    1.0      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    163.2      -  166.2      -      -      -      -    5.0    1.8      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    106.7      -  108.4      -      -      -      -    3.6    1.6      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  171.1      -  171.9    3.6    0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  170.8      -  170.0    3.5   -0.5      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  154.0      -  154.3    3.6    0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  168.0      -  168.4    3.8    0.2      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  176.4      -  177.4    2.5    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  179.0      -  181.7    4.7    1.5      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  179.1      -  180.2    3.9    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 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Aug. 2000 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1999       July      Aug.                                            
                                                              2000      2000     Aug.     July    May to June to July to
                                                                                 1999     2000     June    July    Aug. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     169.3     169.2      3.3     -0.1     0.6     0.2    -0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     504.4     503.9        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.879     168.0     168.6      2.9      0.4     0.1     0.5     0.2 
   Food ......................................     16.832     167.6     168.1      2.8      0.3     0.1     0.5     0.2 
    Food at home .............................     10.725     167.3     167.9      3.1      0.4     0.1     0.6     0.2 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.676     189.2     189.5      2.5      0.2    -0.9     1.1     0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.022     155.4     156.5      5.6      0.7     0.5     0.4     0.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.195     160.5     160.9      3.1      0.2     0.1     0.7     0.2 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.479     200.0     201.5      0.1      0.8    -0.7     0.8     0.9 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.180     137.5     137.4      3.2     -0.1     0.4     1.0    -0.1 
     Other food at home ......................      2.173     156.0     156.2      1.8      0.1     0.3     0.2     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .415     154.2     154.4      1.2      0.1     0.3     0.4     0.1 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .329     147.9     148.6      0.2      0.5    -0.5     0.7     0.5 
      Other foods ............................      1.429     173.5     173.6      2.3      0.1     0.5     0.0    -0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .347     108.4     109.0      4.4      0.6     1.8     0.4     0.6 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.107     169.1     169.5      2.4      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .217     108.8     109.6      3.6      0.7    -0.1     0.4     0.7 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................      1.047     174.4     174.7      3.3      0.2     0.6     0.6     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.452     166.1     166.3      3.3      0.1     0.5     0.5     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     27.425     187.5     188.0      3.1      0.3     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............      8.523     183.1     183.7      3.5      0.3     0.3     0.4     0.3 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............      1.364     123.1     122.5      4.9     -0.5     1.4    -0.3    -0.6 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................     17.221     180.4     180.9      2.7      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .318     104.4     104.2      1.9     -0.2     0.1     0.3    -0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.825     141.0     140.4      6.8     -0.4     2.3     1.5    -0.2 
    Fuels ....................................      3.911     125.7     125.0      7.9     -0.6     2.8     1.8    -0.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .240     120.1     120.1     34.5      0.0     0.8     1.6     0.3 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........      3.671     132.5     131.8      6.5     -0.5     3.0     1.8    -0.3 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................       .914     106.6     107.0      2.5      0.4     0.1     0.2     0.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.202     125.7     125.7      0.8      0.0    -0.1     0.3     0.1 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............       .401     111.9     112.2      6.5      0.3     0.5     0.5     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.026     123.6     124.0     -1.9      0.3    -0.5    -1.2     0.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.450     126.6     126.8     -0.3      0.2    -0.3    -1.0    -0.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.875     112.2     113.2     -2.4      0.9    -0.4    -0.8     0.4 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .345     129.8     128.4     -0.9     -1.1    -1.0    -1.7    -1.1 
   Footwear ..................................       .997     120.9     121.5     -2.3      0.5    -0.3    -2.4     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.716     154.4     152.3      5.0     -1.4     2.0    -0.5    -1.3 
   Private transportation ....................     18.628     151.6     149.3      4.8     -1.5     2.1    -0.5    -1.5 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.030     101.1     100.9      0.7     -0.2     0.0     0.0     0.0 
     New vehicles ............................      5.063     143.7     143.1      0.4     -0.4    -0.1     0.1    -0.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.170     156.6     156.5      0.8     -0.1     0.2    -0.3    -0.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.896     136.2     128.0     18.7     -6.0     9.5    -2.5    -6.1 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.872     135.5     127.3     18.6     -6.1     9.4    -2.6    -6.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .661     100.8     100.7      1.1     -0.1    -0.1     0.3    -0.2 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair (1)..      1.687     178.7     179.6      3.5      0.5     0.3     0.2     0.5 
   Public transportation (1)..................      1.088     206.9     208.7      8.4      0.9     0.8     0.7     0.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.711     260.6     261.7      4.3      0.4     0.4     0.3     0.4 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .934     234.2     234.6      2.7      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.4 
   Medical care services .....................      3.776     266.6     267.9      4.6      0.5     0.5     0.4     0.4 
    Professional services (3).................      2.425     240.3     240.9      4.0      0.2     0.3     0.3     0.3 
    Hospital and related services (3).........      1.139     314.2     317.1      6.7      0.9     0.9     0.5     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.787     102.7     102.9      1.4      0.2     0.3     0.1     0.1 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.882     100.9     101.3      0.6      0.4     0.2    -0.3     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.300     102.2     103.0      1.5      0.8    -0.3     0.6     0.2 
   Education (2)..............................      2.519     112.1     113.2      5.1      1.0     0.7     0.4    -0.1 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .192     281.5     283.6      6.1      0.7     0.6     0.5     0.5 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.327     316.2     319.2      5.0      0.9     0.8     0.3    -0.1 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.781      94.3      94.8     -1.8      0.5    -1.2     0.7     0.5 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.631      93.9      94.4     -1.8      0.5    -1.4     1.0     0.5 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.462      98.4      99.1     -0.8      0.7    -1.3     1.0     0.7 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)       .169      26.6      26.1    -15.3     -1.9    -1.8    -1.5    -1.9 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .086      39.8      39.1    -22.7     -1.8    -2.6    -2.2    -1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      5.129     277.9     276.8      6.2     -0.4    -0.3     1.2    -0.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........      1.836     400.9     394.2     12.4     -1.7    -1.3     3.1    -1.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.293     165.5     166.1      2.8      0.4     0.2     0.1     0.4 
    Personal care products (1)................       .835     154.1     155.0      1.2      0.6     0.4     0.1     0.6 
    Personal care services (1)................       .984     178.6     179.7      4.4      0.6     0.3     0.2     0.6 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.266     252.2     253.0      3.8      0.3     0.2     0.5     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     46.879     150.1     149.3      3.1     -0.5     0.8    -0.1    -0.6 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.879     168.0     168.6      2.9      0.4     0.1     0.5     0.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     29.000     139.2     137.7      3.2     -1.1     1.2    -0.4    -1.1 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     16.279     149.7     147.2      6.1     -1.7     2.4    -0.3    -1.9 
    Apparel ..................................      5.026     123.6     124.0     -1.9      0.3    -0.5    -1.2     0.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     11.253     168.7     164.6      9.6     -2.4     3.6    -0.3    -2.4 
   Durables ..................................     12.721     125.6     125.2     -0.4     -0.3    -0.2    -0.2    -0.1 
 Services ....................................     53.121     192.2     192.8      3.5      0.3     0.5     0.4     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................     27.107     180.6     181.1      3.1      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.3 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....       .318     104.4     104.2      1.9     -0.2     0.1     0.3    -0.2 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............      3.671     132.5     131.8      6.5     -0.5     3.0     1.8    -0.3 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................       .914     106.6     107.0      2.5      0.4     0.1     0.2     0.2 
  Household operations (1) (2)................       .401     111.9     112.2      6.5      0.3     0.5     0.5     0.3 
  Transportation services ....................      6.751     193.0     193.8      3.4      0.4     0.2     0.3     0.5 
  Medical care services ......................      3.776     266.6     267.9      4.6      0.5     0.5     0.4     0.4 
  Other services .............................     10.181     225.9     227.3      3.2      0.6     0.1     0.6     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.168     169.6     169.2      3.4     -0.2     0.7     0.1    -0.2 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.575     164.3     163.9      3.3     -0.2     0.7     0.2    -0.2 
 All items less medical care .................     95.289     165.1     164.9      3.3     -0.1     0.6     0.2    -0.2 
 Commodities less food .......................     30.047     140.6     139.1      3.2     -1.1     1.1    -0.4    -1.1 
 Nondurables less food .......................     17.326     151.2     148.9      5.8     -1.5     2.2    -0.3    -1.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     12.300     168.7     164.9      9.1     -2.3     3.2    -0.2    -2.1 
 Nondurables .................................     34.158     159.4     158.3      4.4     -0.7     1.2     0.1    -0.8 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............     26.014     181.3     181.9      3.9      0.3     0.7     0.6     0.4 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.345     186.0     186.6      3.4      0.3     0.4     0.4     0.3 
 Energy ......................................      7.807     130.1     125.7     13.1     -3.4     6.2    -0.5    -3.4 
 All items less energy .......................     92.193     174.9     175.3      2.5      0.2     0.1     0.3     0.1 
  All items less food and energy .............     75.361     176.8     177.2      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     25.911     144.5     144.2      0.6     -0.2    -0.2     0.0    -0.1 
    Energy commodities .......................      4.136     135.4     127.7     19.6     -5.7     8.9    -2.3    -5.8 
   Services less energy services .............     49.450     198.8     199.5      3.3      0.4     0.2     0.4     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1982-84=$1.00) .........................          -    $ .591    $ .591        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar                                                                                
     (1967=$1.00) ............................          -    $ .198    $ .198        -        -       -       -       - 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 May     June    July    Aug.                                           
                                                 2000    2000    2000    2000                                           
                                                                                Nov.   Feb.    May   Aug.   Feb.   Aug. 
                                                                                1999   2000   2000   2000   2000   2000 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  168.0   169.0   169.3   169.1    3.5    3.9    3.2    2.6    3.7    2.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  167.3   167.5   168.4   168.7    3.0    1.9    2.9    3.4    2.5    3.2 
   Food ......................................  166.9   167.0   167.8   168.2    3.0    2.0    3.2    3.2    2.5    3.2 
    Food at home .............................  166.5   166.6   167.6   167.9    3.7    1.2    3.9    3.4    2.5    3.7 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  188.2   186.6   188.6   188.9    2.4    1.1    5.3    1.5    1.7    3.4 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  154.2   155.0   155.6   155.9    4.4    3.8    9.9    4.5    4.1    7.2 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  159.3   159.4   160.5   160.9   23.9   -9.8   -2.7    4.1    5.7    0.6 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  203.0   201.6   203.2   205.0   -2.1   -0.4   -0.6    4.0   -1.3    1.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  136.1   136.7   138.0   137.8   -0.6    9.9   -1.5    5.1    4.5    1.8 
     Other food at home ......................  155.1   155.6   155.9   156.0    0.3    0.5    4.2    2.3    0.4    3.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  153.1   153.6   154.2   154.4    1.6    2.1   -2.3    3.4    1.8    0.5 
      Fats and oils ..........................  147.5   146.7   147.7   148.5   -6.3   -3.3    8.6    2.7   -4.8    5.6 
      Other foods ............................  172.4   173.3   173.3   173.1    1.2    0.9    5.5    1.6    1.1    3.6 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......  106.1   108.0   108.4   109.0   -3.8   11.3   -0.4   11.4    3.5    5.3 
    Food away from home (1)...................  168.3   168.6   169.1   169.5    2.4    2.7    1.7    2.9    2.6    2.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........  108.5   108.4   108.8   109.6    3.8    3.8    2.6    4.1    3.8    3.4 
   Alcoholic beverages .......................  172.5   173.6   174.6   175.1    2.6    3.1    1.4    6.2    2.9    3.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  163.8   164.6   165.4   165.5    2.8    3.5    2.7    4.2    3.1    3.5 
   Shelter ...................................  186.3   186.8   187.3   187.6    2.7    3.1    3.5    2.8    2.9    3.2 
    Rent of primary residence (3).............  182.0   182.5   183.2   183.7    3.4    3.6    2.9    3.8    3.5    3.3 
    Lodging away from home (2) (3)............  110.3   111.8   111.5   110.8    3.8   -2.6   17.7    1.8    0.6    9.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3) (4).....................  179.8   180.1   180.5   180.9    2.5    3.2    2.7    2.5    2.9    2.6 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..  104.0   104.1   104.4   104.2    0.0    1.2    5.6    0.8    0.6    3.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  132.6   135.7   137.7   137.4    5.4    9.2   -0.9   15.3    7.3    6.9 
    Fuels ....................................  116.0   119.3   121.4   121.1    6.2   10.6   -1.7   18.8    8.4    8.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................  120.8   121.8   123.7   124.1   38.9  285.9  -45.0   11.4  131.6  -21.8 
     Gas (piped) and electricity (3)..........  121.9   125.6   127.8   127.4    4.8    1.0    2.7   19.3    2.9   10.7 
    Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                
        services (2)..........................  106.1   106.2   106.4   106.6    2.3    3.1    2.7    1.9    2.7    2.3 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  125.3   125.2   125.6   125.7   -0.3    0.0    2.3    1.3   -0.2    1.8 
    Household operations (1) (2)..............  110.8   111.3   111.9   112.2    3.5    8.9    8.4    5.2    6.2    6.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  128.4   127.8   126.3   126.4    4.1   -3.3   -1.8   -6.1    0.3   -4.0 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  130.6   130.2   128.9   128.6    6.7   -0.3   -1.2   -6.0    3.1   -3.6 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  118.6   118.1   117.1   117.6    4.0   -7.0   -3.3   -3.3   -1.7   -3.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  133.4   132.0   129.8   128.4   15.3    1.2   -3.8  -14.2    8.0   -9.1 
   Footwear ..................................  125.5   125.1   122.1   122.6   -1.3   -4.4    5.9   -8.9   -2.8   -1.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  151.8   154.9   154.2   152.2    3.9    9.9    5.2    1.1    6.9    3.1 
   Private transportation ....................  149.0   152.2   151.4   149.2    4.0   10.1    4.7    0.5    7.0    2.6 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........  101.7   101.7   101.7   101.7    2.8   -3.9    4.0    0.0   -0.6    2.0 
     New vehicles ............................  144.4   144.3   144.5   144.2    0.8   -1.7    2.5   -0.6   -0.4    1.0 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  156.8   157.1   156.6   156.5    5.5   -7.2    6.4   -0.8   -1.0    2.7 
    Motor fuel ...............................  125.6   137.5   134.0   125.8    9.8   64.2    9.8    0.6   34.2    5.1 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  125.0   136.7   133.2   125.0    9.8   64.6    9.8    0.0   34.5    4.8 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.8   100.7   101.0   100.8    2.8   -1.2    2.8    0.0    0.8    1.4 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair (1)..  177.8   178.3   178.7   179.6    3.7    3.5    2.7    4.1    3.6    3.4 
   Public transportation (1)..................  203.9   205.5   206.9   208.7    9.7    3.7   10.7    9.8    6.7   10.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  258.6   259.7   260.6   261.6    3.6    3.8    4.8    4.7    3.7    4.7 
   Medical care commodities ..................  232.7   233.0   233.7   234.6    3.2    1.0    3.3    3.3    2.1    3.3 
   Medical care services .....................  264.4   265.6   266.6   267.6    3.6    4.6    5.2    4.9    4.1    5.0 
    Professional services (3).................  238.6   239.4   240.1   240.9    3.5    5.1    3.6    3.9    4.3    3.8 
    Hospital and related services (3).........  310.1   312.9   314.5   316.7    4.5    6.1    7.0    8.8    5.3    7.9 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................  102.1   102.4   102.5   102.6   -1.2    1.2    3.2    2.0    0.0    2.6 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  101.0   101.2   100.9   101.2   -2.0   -0.4    4.1    0.8   -1.2    2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............  102.7   102.4   103.0   103.2    2.4    1.2    0.4    2.0    1.8    1.2 
   Education (2)..............................  112.6   113.4   113.9   113.8    3.0    7.5    5.5    4.3    5.2    4.9 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  280.8   282.4   283.8   285.1  -17.0   41.0    2.2    6.3    8.2    4.2 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   316.4   318.9   320.0   319.6    4.8    5.2    5.8    4.1    5.0    4.9 
   Communication (1) (2)......................   94.7    93.6    94.3    94.8    1.7   -4.9   -4.1    0.4   -1.7   -1.9 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................   94.3    93.0    93.9    94.4    2.1   -5.3   -4.1    0.4   -1.7   -1.9 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............   98.7    97.4    98.4    99.1    3.7   -4.7   -3.6    1.6   -0.6   -1.0 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (5)   27.5    27.0    26.6    26.1  -18.1   -9.2  -14.5  -18.9  -13.8  -16.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................   41.8    40.7    39.8    39.1  -26.2  -19.0  -22.1  -23.4  -22.7  -22.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  275.7   274.8   278.2   277.1   10.7    6.6    5.6    2.0    8.6    3.8 
   Tobacco and smoking products (1)...........  393.7   388.7   400.9   394.2   24.6   15.0   11.0    0.5   19.7    5.6 
   Personal care (1)..........................  164.9   165.3   165.5   166.1    3.5    2.2    2.5    2.9    2.9    2.7 
    Personal care products (1)................  153.4   154.0   154.1   155.0    2.4   -2.1    0.5    4.2    0.1    2.4 
    Personal care services (1)................  177.7   178.3   178.6   179.7    5.2    4.0    3.7    4.6    4.6    4.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  250.7   251.2   252.4   253.2    4.3    2.6    4.3    4.0    3.5    4.2 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  149.3   150.5   150.4   149.5    3.6    5.3    2.7    0.5    4.5    1.6 
  Food and beverages .........................  167.3   167.5   168.4   168.7    3.0    1.9    2.9    3.4    2.5    3.2 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  138.4   140.0   139.5   137.9    3.6    7.3    2.9   -1.4    5.5    0.7 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  147.6   151.2   150.7   147.9    6.8   13.9    3.3    0.8   10.3    2.1 
    Apparel ..................................  128.4   127.8   126.3   126.4    4.1   -3.3   -1.8   -6.1    0.3   -4.0 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  162.9   168.7   168.2   164.1    8.5   22.3    5.3    3.0   15.2    4.1 
   Durables ..................................  126.3   126.0   125.7   125.6    0.0   -1.9    2.9   -2.2   -1.0    0.3 
 Services ....................................  190.2   191.1   191.9   192.3    3.3    2.8    3.4    4.5    3.0    4.0 
  Rent of shelter (4).........................  179.4   179.9   180.2   180.7    3.0    2.7    3.6    2.9    2.9    3.3 
  Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)....  104.0   104.1   104.4   104.2    0.0    1.2    5.6    0.8    0.6    3.1 
  Gas (piped) and electricity (3).............  121.9   125.6   127.8   127.4    4.8    1.0    2.7   19.3    2.9   10.7 
  Water and sewer and trash collection                                                                                  
      services (2)............................  106.1   106.2   106.4   106.6    2.3    3.1    2.7    1.9    2.7    2.3 
  Household operations (1) (2)................  110.8   111.3   111.9   112.2    3.5    8.9    8.4    5.2    6.2    6.7 
  Transportation services ....................  192.4   192.8   193.3   194.2    3.2    2.6    3.8    3.8    2.9    3.8 
  Medical care services ......................  264.4   265.6   266.6   267.6    3.6    4.6    5.2    4.9    4.1    5.0 
  Other services .............................  225.2   225.5   226.8   227.6    3.3    2.4    2.7    4.3    2.8    3.5 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  167.9   169.1   169.3   168.9    3.5    4.2    3.4    2.4    3.8    2.9 
 All items less shelter ......................  162.8   164.0   164.3   163.9    3.3    4.3    3.0    2.7    3.8    2.9 
 All items less medical care .................  163.7   164.7   165.1   164.7    3.3    4.0    3.0    2.5    3.7    2.7 
 Commodities less food .......................  140.0   141.6   141.1   139.6    3.6    7.2    2.9   -1.1    5.4    0.9 
 Nondurables less food .......................  149.3   152.6   152.2   149.5    6.7   12.8    3.6    0.5    9.7    2.0 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  163.2   168.5   168.1   164.5    7.9   19.8    5.8    3.2   13.7    4.5 
 Nondurables .................................  158.0   159.9   160.0   158.8    4.3    8.0    3.4    2.0    6.1    2.7 
 Services less rent of shelter (4)............  178.6   179.8   180.8   181.6    3.0    2.3    3.9    6.9    2.7    5.4 
 Services less medical care services .........  184.1   184.9   185.7   186.2    2.7    2.7    3.8    4.6    2.7    4.2 
 Energy ......................................  120.2   127.7   127.1   122.8    8.0   34.5    4.1    8.9   20.5    6.5 
 All items less energy .......................  174.8   174.9   175.4   175.6    2.8    1.6    3.3    1.8    2.2    2.6 
  All items less food and energy .............  176.9   177.1   177.5   177.7    3.0    1.6    3.0    1.8    2.3    2.4 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  145.6   145.3   145.3   145.1    2.8   -1.1    2.2   -1.4    0.8    0.4 
    Energy commodities .......................  125.4   136.6   133.4   125.7   11.1   73.3    5.3    1.0   38.8    3.1 
   Services less energy services .............  198.1   198.5   199.2   199.7    3.1    2.9    3.7    3.3    3.0    3.5 

   1 Not seasonally adjusted.
   2 Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3 This index series was calculated using a Laspeyres estimator.  All other item stratum index series converted to a
 geometric means estimator in January, 1999.
   4 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   5 Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Aug.2000 from--      July2000 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule    May   June   July   Aug.                                           
                                                 (1)   2000   2000   2000   2000   Aug.   June   July   July    May   June 
                                                                                   1999   2000   2000   1999   2000   2000 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    168.1  169.1  169.3  169.2    3.3    0.1   -0.1    3.7    0.7    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    175.3  175.8  176.6  176.5    3.3    0.4   -0.1    3.8    0.7    0.5 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    175.0  175.5  176.4  176.5    3.2    0.6    0.1    3.6    0.8    0.5 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    106.9  107.2  107.6  107.3    3.4    0.1   -0.3    4.1    0.7    0.4 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban ...............................   M    163.8  166.1  165.0  164.2    3.0   -1.1   -0.5    3.7    0.7   -0.7 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    164.5  166.8  165.7  165.2    3.1   -1.0   -0.3    3.6    0.7   -0.7 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    107.0  108.6  107.6  106.8    2.7   -1.7   -0.7    3.7    0.6   -0.9 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    160.0  161.7  161.6  160.9    3.1   -0.5   -0.4    4.0    1.0   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    164.9  165.7  166.2  166.0    3.4    0.2   -0.1    3.8    0.8    0.3 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    163.7  164.9  165.6  165.4    3.7    0.3   -0.1    4.2    1.2    0.4 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    107.0  107.4  107.6  107.5    3.4    0.1   -0.1    3.6    0.6    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    167.9  168.0  168.5  168.6    2.7    0.4    0.1    3.4    0.4    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    169.6  169.9  170.7  171.2    3.6    0.8    0.3    3.6    0.6    0.5 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    169.3  169.6  170.6  171.2    3.9    0.9    0.4    4.0    0.8    0.6 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    107.1  107.4  107.9  108.0    2.8    0.6    0.1    3.1    0.7    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (4)......................................   M    154.0  155.0  155.3  155.3    3.5    0.2    0.0    3.8    0.8    0.2 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    107.0  107.6  107.6  107.3    3.1   -0.3   -0.3    3.6    0.6    0.0 
   D .........................................   M    166.1  166.8  166.9  166.7    2.8   -0.1   -0.1    3.5    0.5    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(5)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    167.9  170.2  168.7  167.8    2.6   -1.4   -0.5    3.2    0.5   -0.9 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    164.4  164.2  164.9  165.2    3.4    0.6    0.2    3.6    0.3    0.4 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    176.9  177.4  178.2  178.4    3.0    0.6    0.1    3.3    0.7    0.5 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    180.5      -  182.2      -      -      -      -    5.1    0.9      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    158.9      -  160.4      -      -      -      -    3.6    0.9      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1    163.1      -  166.2      -      -      -      -    5.2    1.9      - 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (6)........   1    106.6      -  108.2      -      -      -      -    3.7    1.5      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  168.7      -  169.4    3.8    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  165.6      -  164.4    3.6   -0.7      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  153.0      -  153.0    3.4    0.0      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2        -  165.7      -  165.7    3.6    0.0      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2        -  176.0      -  177.0    2.5    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2        -  175.2      -  177.7    4.5    1.4      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  174.4      -  175.3    3.9    0.5      -      -      -      - 

   1 Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3 Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4 Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   5 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   6 Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   - Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.