FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-98-108
 CPI QUICKLINE:         (202) 606-6994      TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN
 FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL                 THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED
     INFORMATION:       (202) 606-7828      UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (EST)
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      Thursday, March 19, 1998
 INTERNET ADDRESS:    
     http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
 
                                     
                   CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  FEBRUARY 1998
 
     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2
 percent in February before seasonal adjustment to a level of 161.9 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today. For the 12-month period ended in February, the CPI-U has
 increased 1.4 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) rose 0.1 percent in February, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The
 February 1998 CPI-W level of 158.5 was 1.1 percent higher than the index
 in February 1997.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
     
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent in
 February after being unchanged in January.  The food index, which advanced
 0.3 percent in January, was unchanged in February.  Grocery store food
 prices declined 0.1 percent after increasing 0.4 percent in January,
 reflecting a sharp turnaround in the index for fruits and vegetables.  The
 energy index declined sharply for the third consecutive month--down 2.2
 percent in February.  The index for petroleum-based energy decreased 3.3
 percent, and the index for energy services declined 1.2 percent.
 Excluding food and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent, following an
 increase of 0.2 percent in January.  Larger advances in shelter costs and
 tobacco prices, coupled with an upturn in the index for apparel, were
 responsible for the larger February increase.
     

 Table A.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category                 1997              1998   3-mos. ended  ended
                     Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.   Feb. '98    Feb.
                                                                      '98.
                   
 All Items            .2    .2   .2   .1   .1   .0   .1      .5       1.4
  Food and beverages  .3    .1   .2   .2   .1   .3   .0     1.3       1.8
  Housing             .1    .3   .3   .3   .1   .1   .1     1.0       1.9
  Apparel            -.5    .2   .1   .1   .2  -.5   .2     -.9        .0
  Transportation      .6    .3   .0  -.6  -.3  -.3  -.4    -4.1      -1.9
  Medical care        .2    .2   .2   .3   .3   .1   .3     3.1       2.8
  Recreation           -     -    -    -    -   .3   .3       -       1.5
  Education and                                                         
    communication      -     -    -    -    -   .0  -.1       -       2.4
  Other goods and                                                     
    services          .5    .3   .7   .4   .4   .4   .8     6.8       5.6
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy            1.5    .9  -.2   .0 -1.8 -2.4 -2.2   -22.9      -8.8
   Food               .3    .1   .3   .1   .0   .3   .0     1.3       1.9
   All Items less                                                       
     food and energy  .1    .2   .2   .1   .2   .2   .3     2.8       2.3
   
     
     The food and beverages index was unchanged in February.  The index for
 grocery store food prices, which rose 0.4 percent in January, declined 0.1
 percent in February, due to a sharp turnaround in the index for fruits and
 vegetables--down 0.8 percent in February after registering a 2.9 percent
 increase in January.  The index for fresh vegetables fell 7.2 percent, more
 than offsetting a 5.8 percent rise in the index for fresh fruits.  (Prior
 to seasonal adjustment, fresh vegetable prices declined 10.0 percent, while
 fresh fruit prices were virtually unchanged.)  The index for processed
 fruits and vegetables fell 0.7 percent.  Among the other major grocery
 store food groups, the indexes for dairy and related products and for
 meats, poultry, fish, and eggs also declined-down 0.4 and 0.1 percent,
 respectively.  Within the latter group, prices for beef declined 0.6
 percent, while the indexes for pork and poultry each increased 0.1 percent.
 The other three major groups--cereal and bakery products, nonalcoholic
 beverages, and other food at home--each registered a small increase.  The
 other two components of the food and beverage index--food away from home
 and alcoholic beverages--rose 0.3 and declined 0.1 percent, respectively.

     The housing component rose 0.1 percent in February, the same as  in
 January.  Shelter costs rose 0.3 percent.  Within shelter, the index for
 rent rose 0.1 percent, owners' equivalent rent increased 0.3 percent, and
 the cost of lodging away from home increased 0.5 percent.  The index for
 fuels and utilities, which decreased 1.2 percent in January, fell 0.9
 percent in February.  The index for household fuels declined 1.3 percent,
 reflecting decreases in the indexes for fuel oil (3.0 percent), natural gas
 (1.5 percent), and electricity (1.2 percent).  The index for household
 furnishings and operation increased 0.3 percent in February.

     The transportation component declined for the fourth consecutive
 month, down 0.4 percent in February.  For the second consecutive month, a
 sharp drop in the index for motor fuels more than offset a large increase
 in the index for public transportation.  The index for gasoline fell 3.4
 percent in February and has declined 10.8 percent in the last five months.
 As of February, gasoline prices were 21.3 percent lower than their peak
 level of November 1990.  The index for new and used vehicle prices was
 unchanged; the index for new vehicles declined 0.1 percent, and used car
 and truck prices rose 0.2 percent.  (As of February, about 85 percent of
 the new vehicle sample was represented by 1998 models.)  Public
 transportation costs rose 1.4 percent in February.  The index for airline
 fares increased substantially for the second consecutive month, up 3.2
 percent in February, following a 2.7 percent rise in January.  The index
 for other intercity transportation also rose substantially in February-up
 1.5 percent.

     The index for apparel increased 0.2 percent in February, following a
 0.5 percent decline in January.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, apparel
 prices rose 1.6 percent, reflecting the introduction of higher priced
 spring-summer wear.)
     
     Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in February to a level 2.8 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--rose 0.1 percent.  The
 index for medical care services rose 0.4 percent.  Charges for professional
 services and for hospital and related services increased 0.2 and 0.5
 percent, respectively.

     Recreation costs rose 0.3 percent in February, the same as in January.
 Increases in the indexes for admissions to movies, theaters, concerts, and
 sporting events, for newspapers and magazines, and for cable television
 accounted for about three-fourths of the February advance.
     
     The index for education and communication declined 0.1 percent in
 February.  A 0.3 percent increase in education costs was more than offset
 by a 0.4 percent decrease in communication costs.  Within the communication
 category, declines in the indexes for personal computers and peripheral
 equipment and for cellular telephone services--down 5.8 and 0.9 percent,
 respectively--were responsible for the decrease.

     The index for other goods and services rose 0.8 percent in February.
 About three-fourths of the advance was accounted for by a 2.9 percent
 increase in the index for tobacco and smoking products.  Several cigarette
 companies raised their wholesale prices in late January.

 CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
 
      On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and
 Clerical Workers was unchanged in February.
 

 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                 Seasonally adjusted                 Un-
                                                        Compound   adjust
                                                                     ed
    Expenditure        Changes from preceding month      annual      12-
                                                          rate      mos.
      Category                1997             1998      3-mos.     ended
                                                          ended
                    Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.  Feb. '98  Feb. '98   
 All Items           .3    .2   .2   .1   .1   .0   .0     .3       1.1
  Food and beverages .3    .1   .3   .1   .0   .3   .0    1.3       1.8
  Housing            .1    .3   .3   .3   .0   .0   .1     .5       1.8
  Apparel           -.5    .2   .0   .0   .0  -.5  -.2   -2.7       -.5
  Transportation     .7    .2  -.1  -.6  -.3  -.5  -.4   -4.7      -2.4
  Medical care       .2    .2   .2   .3   .4   .2   .2    3.1       2.8
  Recreation          -     -    -    -    -   .3   .3      -       1.5
  Education and                                                        
   communication      -     -    -    -    -  -.1   .0      -       2.4
  Other goods                                                        
   and services      .4    .5   .7   .4   .4   .5  1.1    8.2       6.1
  Special Indexes                                                       
   Energy           1.7    .9  -.2  -.2 -1.9 -2.5 -2.1  -23.0      -9.1
   Food              .3    .1   .2   .2  -.1   .4  -.1    1.0       1.8
  All Items less                                                       
   food and energy   .0    .2   .2   .1   .2   .2   .2    2.4       2.1
  
 
 Consumer Price Index data for March are scheduled for release on Tuesday
 April 14, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 CPI (Old Series)
 
       For the first six months of 1998, BLS also will calculate Old
 Series CPI-U and Old Series CPI-W based on the 1982-84 expenditure pattern
 used in the CPI from 1987 through 1997.  These Old Series data are
 contained in tables 1(OS)-4(OS).  From January to February, the Old Series
 CPI-U and the Old Series CPI-W each rose 0.2 percent.  Note these series
 are not seasonally adjusted.
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
   Overview of Publication Changes
       
       Beginning in 1998, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
       introduced a new geographic area sample, a revised
       item structure and updated expenditure weights into the
       Consumer Price Index (CPI).  Approximately every ten
       years the CPI undertakes this type of revision in order
       to keep the index up-to-date.  Since World War II,
       revisions of the CPI have been introduced in 1953, 1964,
       1978, and 1987.
       
       Because the changes the CPI undergoes during each
       revision can have a major impact on our users, special
       steps are taken in order to ameliorate the effects of
       these changes.  Beginning with the release of the
       January, 1997 index, data series that are changing or
       being dropped from publication have been footnoted in
       all BLS published tables.  This provided an early
       warning to users to reconsider their use of those
       indexes and provided time for them to make changes in
       their use.  The 1998 CPI Revision contains substantial
       changes in both the items being presented and the
       frequency of local area index publication.
       
       Changes to the Item Structure
       
       Effective in 1998, there are considerable changes to
       both the items being priced and the manner in which they
       are being aggregated in the CPI.  The most notable
       change in presentation is a reconstruction of several
       major groups with a resulting change from the currently
       available seven major groups to the new total of eight.
       
       Formerly the major groups were: Food and Beverages,
       Housing, Apparel and Upkeep, Transportation, Medical
       Care, Entertainment and Other Goods and Services.  Three
       of these groups-- Food and Beverages, Transportation,
       and Medical care will remain the same.  The Apparel
       group was modified to exclude apparel upkeep products
       and services.  The Entertainment group has been slightly
       redefined into a major group called Recreation and a new
       major group, Education and Communication, has been
       formed from  past subelements of the Housing,
       Entertainment and Other Goods and Services groups.
       
       Other important changes in our item structure at lower
       levels are an expansion of our Food Away from Home
       index, a reorientation of our car and truck indexes to a
       vehicle index, and the expansion of our information
       processing equipment index.
       
       For a complete listing of the new CPI Publication
       Structure see Table X.
       
       Changes to the Geographic Structure
       
       In each revision, the CPI geographic sample is selected
       to be representative of the current demographics of the
       United States. The 1998 revision utilizes the 1990
       Census of population.  The CPI developed an updated area
       sample design, decided on new local area indexes and
       changed the frequency of publication for local area
       indexes in order to better reflect these new
       demographics.
       
       In addition to the national index, the BLS formerly
       published indexes for 29 metropolitan areas.  In 1998,
       it continues to publish indexes for all but two of
       these areas--Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY, and New Orleans,
       LA.  Due to the revised Metropolitan Area (MA)
       definitions issued by the Office of Management and
       Budget(OMB), two other areas, Washington, DC, and
       Baltimore, MD, which the BLS formerly published
       separately, constitute a new Consolidated Metropolitan
       Statistical Area.  A single index is now published for
       this consolidated area.
       
       The new publication plan for local area indexes, that
       began with the index for January, 1998, is summarized
       below:
       
            *  Monthly indexes are now published for the three
       largest metropolitan areas.  Because of sample design
       considerations, indexes for the Philadelphia and San
       Francisco areas, both formerly published monthly, are
       now published every other month following the release of
       the December 1997 index.
       
            *  Bimonthly indexes are published for the next
       11 largest areas, including Atlanta and Seattle, which
       used to have semiannual average indexes.
       
            *  Semiannual average indexes are now published for
       12 additional areas, including Pittsburgh and St. Louis,
       which formerly had bimonthly indexes.
       
            *  The BLS continues to publish separate
       indexes for the four Census regions of the United
       States.  However, beginning in 1998, there are only 
       two area size classes for metropolitan areas, instead of
       the current three: Size A - areas with a population
       greater than 1.5 million; and Size B/C - areas with less
       than 1.5 million population.  This cutoff of 1.5 million
       in population reflects a rise from the current cutoff of
       1.2 million and is important since cities in size class
       A are those for which the Bureau publishes city level
       indexes.  The B/C size class is a combination of the old
       Size B and Size C metropolitan areas.  In addition to
       the two metropolitan area size indexes for each region,
       separate Size D indexes for urban non-metropolitan areas
       continue to be published for both the Midwest and
       the South.  Separate indexes for Northeast and West
       urban nonmetropolitan areas were discontinued in 1987.
       
       The following is the full list of areas for which
       indexes are currently published, beginning in January, 1998:
       
 1. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published monthly:
 
  New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA
  Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI
  Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA

 
 2. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published bimonthly:
 
 In Odd Months (i.e. January,            In Even Months (i.e.
 March, etc.)                            February, April, etc.)
 ----------------------------            ----------------------                  

 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-          Philadelphia-Wilmington-
 ME-CT                                   Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD
 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-            San Francisco-Oakland-San
 VA-WV                                   Jose, CA
 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH  		         Atlanta, GA

 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX                   Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX
                                         
 		                         Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI
                                         
		                         Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
                                         
                                         Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA

                     
 3. Metropolitan Areas for which a local index is published  
    semiannually (In January and July)
 
 Pittsburgh, PA                          Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN 
 Kansas City, MO-KS                      Milwaukee-Racine, WI
 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI             St. Louis, MO-IL
 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL     Anchorage, AK
 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO              Honolulu, HI
 Portland-Salem, OR-WA                   San Diego, CA
    
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
       
       BLS to Maintain Current Reference Base of 1982-84-100 for
       most CPI index series
            The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) previously
       indicated its intention to change the numerical reference
       base for both the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
       Consumers (CPI-U) and the Consumer Price Index for Urban
       Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from their present
       1982-84=100 base to a 1993-95=100 base, effective with
       release of the January 1999 index in February 1999.  BLS
       also indicated that the alternate, or 1967=100 base, would
       be discontinued in 1999 as well.  This plan was initially
       described in the December 1996 Monthly Labor Review, a
       publication which contained several articles that dealt with
       the 1998 CPI Revision.
       
            The BLS has now decided not to implement this rebasing
       plan.  Instead, the BLS will maintain the reference base of
       1982-84=100 used for most items.  In addition, the 1967=100
       reference base will continue to be the alternate base for
       the All Items indexes.  This decision is based in part on
       the fact that historical data have less precision after
       rebasing.  Rebasing is simply an arithmetic transformation
       that does not substantially impact the index.  Because the
       rebased index values are smaller, however, the loss of
       precision due to rounding is more serious.  In addition,
       retaining the old index reference bases would spare users
       the inconvenience associated with conversion.
       
            Changes in the numerical reference base should not be
       confused with the plans by BLS to update the market basket
       of the CPI.  With release of the January CPI in February
       1998, the expenditure weights applied to CPI categories will
       be based on consumer spending patterns for 1993-95.
     
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
  
       A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data
            Because price data are used for different purposes by
       different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
       seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
       month.
       
            For analyzing general price trends in the economy,
       seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since they
       eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur at the
       same time and in about the same magnitude every year--such
       as price movements resulting from changing climatic
       conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays,
       and sales.
       
            The unadjusted data are of primary interest to
       consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay.
       Unadjusted data also are used extensively for escalation
       purposes.  Many collective bargaining contract agreements
       and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to
       the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.
       
            Seasonal factors used in computing the seasonally
       adjusted indexes are derived by the X-12-ARIMA Seasonal
       Adjustment Method.  The updated seasonal data at the end of
       1977 replaced data from 1967 through 1977.  Subsequent
       annual updates have replaced 5 years of seasonal data, e.g.,
       data from 1993 through 1997 were replaced at the end of
       1997.  The seasonal movement of all items and 54 other
       aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal movement
       of 73 selected components.  Each year the seasonal status of
       every series is reevaluated based upon certain statistical
       criteria.  If any of the 73 components change their seasonal
       adjustment status from seasonally adjusted to not seasonally
       adjusted, not seasonally adjusted data will be used for the
       last 5 years, but the seasonally adjusted indexes will be
       used before that period.
       
            Seasonally adjusted data, including the All items index
       levels, are subject to revision for up to five years after
       their original release.  For this reason, BLS advises
       against the use of these data in escalation agreements.
       
            Effective with the calculation of the seasonal factors
       for 1990, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has used an
       enhanced seasonal adjustment procedure called Intervention
       Analysis Seasonal Adjustment for some CPI series.
       Intervention Analysis Seasonal Adjustment allows for better
       estimates of seasonally adjusted data.  Extreme values
       and/or sharp movements which might distort the seasonal
       pattern are estimated and removed from the data prior to
       calculation of seasonal factors.  Beginning with the
       calculation of seasonal factors for 1996, X-12-ARIMA
       software was used for Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment.
       
            For the fuel oil and the motor fuels indexes, this
       procedure was used to offset the effects that extreme price
       volatility would otherwise have had on the estimates of
       seasonally adjusted data for those series.  For some women's
       apparel indexes and the girls' apparel index, the procedure
       was used to offset the effects of changes in pricing
       methodology.  For the tobacco and smoking products index,
       this procedure was used to offset the effects of increases
       in excise taxes and wholesale tobacco prices.  For some
       alcoholic beverage series, Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment was used to offset the effects of excise tax
       increases.  For the Nonalcoholic beverages index, the
       procedure was used to offset the effects of a large increase
       in coffee prices due to adverse weather.  For the Water and
       sewerage maintenance index, the procedure was used to
       account for a data collection anomaly.
       
            A description of Intervention Analysis Seasonal
       Adjustment, as well as a list of unusual events modeled and
       seasonal factors for these items may be obtained by writing
       the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
       and Price Indexes, Washington, DC 20212 or by calling Claire
       McAnaw Gallagher on (202) 606-6968.
       

 Table 1. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity
 and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Feb. 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-U                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Jan.      Feb.                                            
                                                              1998      1998     Feb.     Jan.   Nov. to Dec. to Jan. to
                                                                                 1997     1998     Dec.    Jan.    Feb. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     161.6     161.9      1.4      0.2     0.1     0.0     0.1 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     484.2     484.9        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     160.3     159.8      1.8     -0.3     0.1     0.3     0.0 
   Food ......................................     15.326     159.9     159.4      1.9     -0.3     0.0     0.3     0.0 
    Food at home .............................      9.646     161.0     160.0      1.5     -0.6    -0.1     0.4    -0.1 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.536     179.0     179.7      1.7      0.4     0.2    -0.1     0.2 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      2.629     148.3     147.5     -0.9     -0.5    -0.6    -0.3    -0.1 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.037     148.3     147.7      1.0     -0.4     0.5     0.3    -0.4 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.394     202.1     193.8      3.4     -4.1    -0.4     2.9    -0.8 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.077     134.1     134.8      4.9      0.5    -0.7    -0.2     0.1 
     Other food at home ......................      1.972     148.7     149.1      2.5      0.3     0.1     0.0     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .377     150.3     149.6      1.6     -0.5     0.4     0.5    -0.4 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .291     140.5     141.5     -0.8      0.7     0.1    -1.1     0.7 
      Other foods ............................      1.305     163.6     164.2      2.2      0.4     0.6     0.1     0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .309     100.4     100.4        -      0.0       -     0.4     0.0 
    Food away from home (1)...................      5.680     159.2     159.6      2.6      0.3     0.3     0.1     0.3 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .172     100.1     100.4        -      0.3       -     0.1     0.3 
    Alcoholic beverages ......................       .983     164.6     165.0      2.0      0.2     0.2     0.2    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     39.560     158.3     158.8      1.9      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     29.788     179.2     180.1      3.2      0.5     0.4     0.2     0.3 
    Rent of primary residence ................      6.885     169.5     169.9      3.1      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.1 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      2.327     105.1     109.3        -      4.0       -    -0.2     0.5 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     20.199     185.1     185.5      3.1      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.3 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .377     100.3     100.2        -     -0.1       -     0.3    -0.1 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      4.942     128.8     127.4     -2.7     -1.1    -1.1    -1.2    -0.9 
    Fuels ....................................      4.018     114.5     112.8     -5.4     -1.5    -2.0    -1.6    -1.3 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .261      96.4      95.2    -13.1     -1.2    -0.4    -2.1    -2.3 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.757     121.6     119.7     -4.5     -1.6    -2.2    -1.5    -1.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.831     125.6     126.1      0.7      0.4     0.0     0.2     0.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      4.944     129.8     131.9      0.0      1.6     0.2    -0.5     0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.390     129.8     130.8      2.7      0.8     0.6     0.2     0.0 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.990     120.2     124.3     -1.4      3.4    -0.4    -1.0     0.7 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .268     124.8     123.1     -3.2     -1.4    -0.2    -0.8    -1.4 
   Footwear ..................................       .895     127.4     126.6      0.2     -0.6     0.8    -0.5    -1.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     17.578     142.7     142.1     -1.9     -0.4    -0.3    -0.3    -0.4 
   Private transportation ....................     16.240     139.3     138.4     -2.5     -0.6    -0.3    -0.5    -0.6 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      7.899     100.2     100.2     -1.4      0.0       -     0.1     0.0 
     New vehicles ............................      5.063     144.4     144.4     -0.7      0.0    -0.2     0.1    -0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      1.880     148.1     148.4     -3.9      0.2     0.2     0.1     0.2 
    Motor fuel ...............................      2.995      97.8      94.1    -13.0     -3.8    -1.5    -3.7    -3.3 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      2.976      97.2      93.5    -12.9     -3.8    -1.6    -3.6    -3.4 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .560     101.3     101.4     -1.2      0.1    -0.2    -0.3     0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.603     165.0     165.5      2.7      0.3     0.5     0.2     0.3 
   Public transportation .....................      1.338     187.1     191.2      4.8      2.2    -0.2     1.6     1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      5.614     238.1     239.3      2.8      0.5     0.3     0.1     0.3 
   Medical care commodities ..................      1.222     217.6     218.4      2.1      0.4     0.5     0.2     0.1 
   Medical care services .....................      4.392     242.9     244.2      3.0      0.5     0.3     0.1     0.4 
    Professional services ....................      2.808     218.5     219.7      3.0      0.5     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.334     283.5     285.2      3.1      0.6     0.5    -0.1     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      6.145     100.3     100.7      1.5      0.4       -     0.3     0.3 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.763     100.6     101.2      2.2      0.6    -0.3     0.6     0.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.528      99.9      99.8      2.4     -0.1       -     0.0    -0.1 
   Education (2)..............................      2.615     100.3     100.4      5.0      0.1       -     0.4     0.3 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .194     245.1     246.9      4.9      0.7     0.4    -0.2     0.7 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.421     289.2     289.2      5.0      0.0     0.4     0.5     0.3 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.913      99.6      99.2     -1.3     -0.4    -0.1    -0.4    -0.4 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.706      99.6      99.1     -1.5     -0.5    -0.1    -0.4    -0.5 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.357      99.9     100.0        -      0.1       -    -0.1     0.1 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .350      46.2      44.3    -16.7     -4.1    -0.4    -2.5    -4.1 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .234      96.9      91.3        -     -5.8       -    -3.1    -5.8 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.321     231.3     233.1      5.6      0.8     0.4     0.4     0.8 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............       .894     253.8     261.2     10.0      2.9     0.7     0.7     2.9 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.427     154.6     155.0      2.3      0.3    -0.2     0.4     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .737     146.1     146.7      2.4      0.4    -0.5     0.6     0.4 
    Personal care services (1)................       .963     164.3     164.3      2.2      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.0 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.465     230.9     232.1      4.6      0.5     0.5     0.2     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     42.635     141.6     141.5     -0.2     -0.1    -0.1    -0.1    -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     16.310     160.3     159.8      1.8     -0.3     0.1     0.3     0.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     26.326     130.5     130.5     -1.6      0.0    -0.2    -0.4    -0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     14.729     132.0     132.1     -1.9      0.1    -0.1    -1.1    -0.1 
    Apparel ..................................      4.944     129.8     131.9      0.0      1.6     0.2    -0.5     0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................      9.785     138.1     137.2     -2.7     -0.7    -0.4    -1.2    -0.6 
   Durables ..................................     11.596     128.2     128.2     -1.2      0.0    -0.2     0.2    -0.2 
 Services ....................................     57.365     181.8     182.4      2.6      0.3     0.2     0.1     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     29.410     186.5     187.5      3.2      0.5     0.4     0.2     0.3 
  Transportation services ....................      6.984     187.1     187.9      2.5      0.4     0.1     0.6     0.4 
  Other services .............................     10.625     213.7     214.4      3.7      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     84.674     161.9     162.3      1.3      0.2     0.1    -0.1     0.1 
 All items less shelter ......................     70.212     156.4     156.4      0.7      0.0    -0.1    -0.1    -0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     94.386     157.3     157.5      1.3      0.1     0.0     0.0     0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     27.309     131.9     131.9     -1.4      0.0    -0.1    -0.4    -0.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................     15.712     133.9     134.1     -1.5      0.1    -0.1    -0.9    -0.1 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     10.768     139.8     138.9     -2.3     -0.6    -0.3    -1.1    -0.6 
 Nondurables .................................     31.039     146.2     146.1      0.1     -0.1    -0.1    -0.2    -0.2 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     27.955     189.9     190.1      2.0      0.1     0.0    -0.1     0.0 
 Services less medical care services .........     52.973     176.1     176.6      2.6      0.3     0.2     0.1     0.1 
 Energy ......................................      7.013     105.9     103.2     -8.8     -2.5    -1.8    -2.4    -2.2 
 All items less energy .......................     92.987     169.0     169.6      2.2      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     77.661     171.2     172.1      2.3      0.5     0.2     0.2     0.3 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     24.053     142.0     142.7      0.4      0.5     0.0     0.1     0.2 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.256      97.8      94.3    -13.2     -3.6    -1.4    -3.5    -3.3 
   Services less energy services .............     53.608     187.9     188.8      3.1      0.5     0.3     0.2     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .619    $ .618        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .207    $ .206        -        -       -       -       - 

   1    Not seasonally adjusted.
   2    Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3    Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4    Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-U                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Nov.    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.                                           
                                                 1997    1997    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                 May   Aug.   Nov.   Feb.   Aug.   Feb. 
                                                                                1997   1997   1997   1998   1997   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  161.8   161.9   161.9   162.0    1.0    2.0    2.3    0.5    1.5    1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  159.2   159.3   159.7   159.7    1.0    3.1    2.0    1.3    2.1    1.6 
   Food ......................................  158.9   158.9   159.4   159.4    0.8    3.1    2.0    1.3    1.9    1.7 
    Food at home .............................  159.5   159.3   159.9   159.7    0.3    3.6    1.3    0.5    1.9    0.9 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  178.8   179.1   179.0   179.4    1.4    2.3    1.8    1.3    1.8    1.6 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  148.6   147.7   147.3   147.2    0.5    1.4   -1.6   -3.7    0.9   -2.7 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  147.0   147.8   148.3   147.7   -2.2   -5.4   10.4    1.9   -3.8    6.1 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  191.7   190.9   196.5   194.9   -5.2   12.2    2.5    6.8    3.1    4.7 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  135.3   134.3   134.0   134.1   16.9   12.3   -4.6   -3.5   14.6   -4.0 
     Other food at home ......................  148.5   148.7   148.7   148.8    5.1    5.3   -0.3    0.8    5.2    0.3 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  148.7   149.3   150.0   149.4    1.4    1.1    2.5    1.9    1.2    2.2 
      Fats and oils ..........................  141.3   141.5   140.0   141.0   -0.6   -0.8   -0.8   -0.8   -0.7   -0.8 
      Other foods ............................  162.5   163.4   163.6   163.8   -0.2    2.8    2.8    3.2    1.3    3.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......      -   100.0   100.4   100.4      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Food away from home (1)...................  158.6   159.0   159.2   159.6    1.8    2.8    3.1    2.5    2.3    2.8 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........      -   100.0   100.1   100.4      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Alcoholic beverages ......................  164.1   164.5   164.9   164.8    2.0    2.5    1.7    1.7    2.2    1.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  158.2   158.3   158.4   158.6    1.6    2.1    3.4    1.0    1.8    2.2 
   Shelter ...................................  178.0   178.7   179.0   179.5    3.3    3.2    3.0    3.4    3.2    3.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................  168.6   169.1   169.5   169.7    3.2    3.2    3.1    2.6    3.2    2.9 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      -   100.0    99.8   100.3      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  183.9   184.5   184.9   185.5    3.2    3.4    2.7    3.5    3.3    3.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..      -   100.0   100.3   100.2      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  132.1   130.7   129.1   127.9   -5.1    1.2    6.3  -12.1   -2.0   -3.4 
    Fuels ....................................  118.4   116.0   114.2   112.7  -10.6    0.0    9.7  -17.9   -5.5   -5.1 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   96.5    96.1    94.1    91.9  -19.2  -14.0   -0.4  -17.7  -16.6   -9.5 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  126.4   123.6   121.8   120.3   -9.5    1.6   10.8  -18.0   -4.1   -4.7 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  125.4   125.4   125.7   126.1    1.6   -1.3    0.6    2.3    0.2    1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  133.0   133.2   132.5   132.7    2.4   -2.1    1.2   -0.9    0.2    0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  130.9   131.7   132.0   132.0    5.1    1.9    0.9    3.4    3.5    2.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  126.1   125.6   124.4   125.3    1.9   -5.6    3.2   -2.5   -1.9    0.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  126.0   125.8   124.8   123.1   22.4  -18.1   -4.0   -8.9    0.2   -6.5 
   Footwear ..................................  128.5   129.5   128.8   127.1    1.9    2.2    1.6   -4.3    2.1   -1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  143.9   143.5   143.0   142.4   -3.3    1.1   -1.1   -4.1   -1.1   -2.6 
   Private transportation ....................  140.7   140.3   139.6   138.8   -4.7    1.7   -1.4   -5.3   -1.5   -3.4 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      -   100.0   100.1   100.1      -      -      -      -      -      - 
     New vehicles ............................  143.7   143.4   143.6   143.5   -0.3   -0.6   -1.4   -0.6   -0.4   -1.0 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  147.6   147.9   148.1   148.4   -1.3  -13.3   -2.4    2.2   -7.5   -0.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................  105.1   103.5    99.7    96.4  -23.0   10.8   -4.8  -29.2   -7.6  -17.9 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  104.7   103.0    99.3    95.9  -23.1   11.7   -5.2  -29.6   -7.3  -18.3 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  101.5   101.3   101.0   101.1   -1.9    0.4   -1.6   -1.6   -0.8   -1.6 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  163.9   164.7   165.0   165.5    2.8    2.5    1.5    4.0    2.6    2.7 
   Public transportation .....................  186.1   185.8   188.8   191.4   12.1   -5.4    1.7   11.9    3.0    6.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  237.1   237.9   238.2   238.9    3.3    2.1    2.7    3.1    2.7    2.9 
   Medical care commodities ..................  216.4   217.4   217.8   218.0    3.4    0.4    1.5    3.0    1.9    2.2 
   Medical care services .....................  241.6   242.4   242.6   243.5    3.3    2.4    3.0    3.2    2.8    3.1 
    Professional services ....................  217.5   218.1   218.7   219.2    4.0    2.6    2.2    3.2    3.3    2.7 
    Hospital and related services ............  281.5   282.8   282.6   284.0    3.2    2.0    3.6    3.6    2.6    3.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      -   100.0   100.3   100.6      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  100.3   100.0   100.6   101.2   -0.4    4.5    1.2    3.6    2.0    2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      -   100.0   100.0    99.9      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Education (2)..............................      -   100.0   100.4   100.7      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  242.8   243.8   243.2   244.9    6.0    7.1    3.2    3.5    6.5    3.3 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   285.6   286.8   288.1   289.0    5.5    5.6    4.5    4.8    5.5    4.7 
   Communication (1) (2)......................  100.1   100.0    99.6    99.2    0.4   -3.1    1.2   -3.5   -1.4   -1.2 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................  100.1   100.0    99.6    99.1    0.0   -3.1    1.2   -3.9   -1.6   -1.4 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      -   100.0    99.9   100.0      -      -      -      -      -      - 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   47.6    47.4    46.2    44.3  -16.9  -19.0   -4.9  -25.0  -17.9  -15.5 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................      -   100.0    96.9    91.3      -      -      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  229.9   230.8   231.8   233.7    5.7    4.3    5.6    6.8    5.0    6.2 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  250.3   252.1   253.8   261.2    8.2    2.8   10.9   18.6    5.5   14.7 
   Personal care (1)..........................  154.3   154.0   154.6   155.0    2.9   -0.3    4.8    1.8    1.3    3.3 
    Personal care products (1)................  146.1   145.3   146.1   146.7    2.3   -1.7    7.4    1.7    0.3    4.5 
    Personal care services (1)................  163.5   163.9   164.3   164.3    4.0    1.0    2.0    2.0    2.5    2.0 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  230.1   231.2   231.6   231.6    5.3    7.5    2.8    2.6    6.4    2.7 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.3   142.1   141.9   141.8   -0.8    0.9    1.1   -1.4    0.0   -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................  159.2   159.3   159.7   159.7    1.0    3.1    2.0    1.3    2.1    1.6 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  132.0   131.8   131.3   131.0   -2.4   -0.3    0.0   -3.0   -1.3   -1.5 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  134.8   134.6   133.1   133.0   -4.4    1.5    0.9   -5.2   -1.5   -2.2 
    Apparel ..................................  133.0   133.2   132.5   132.7    2.4   -2.1    1.2   -0.9    0.2    0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  140.7   140.2   138.5   137.7   -6.1    4.1   -0.3   -8.3   -1.1   -4.4 
   Durables ..................................  127.9   127.7   128.0   127.8   -0.9   -2.8   -1.2   -0.3   -1.8   -0.8 
 Services ....................................  181.4   181.7   181.9   182.3    2.7    2.7    3.1    2.0    2.7    2.6 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  185.6   186.3   186.6   187.1    3.1    3.1    3.3    3.3    3.1    3.3 
  Transportation services ....................  185.7   185.9   187.1   187.8    4.7    0.7    1.1    4.6    2.6    2.8 
  Other services .............................  212.7   213.5   214.0   214.4    4.3    4.1    2.5    3.2    4.2    2.9 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  162.2   162.3   162.2   162.3    1.3    1.8    2.3    0.2    1.5    1.2 
 All items less shelter ......................  156.9   156.8   156.7   156.6    0.3    1.8    1.8   -0.8    1.0    0.5 
 All items less medical care .................  157.4   157.4   157.4   157.5    0.8    2.1    2.3    0.3    1.4    1.3 
 Commodities less food .......................  133.5   133.3   132.8   132.6   -2.1   -0.3    0.3   -2.7   -1.2   -1.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................  136.5   136.3   135.1   135.0   -4.0    1.5    0.9   -4.3   -1.3   -1.8 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  142.1   141.7   140.2   139.4   -5.0    3.7    0.0   -7.4   -0.7   -3.8 
 Nondurables .................................  147.2   147.1   146.8   146.5   -2.2    2.5    1.9   -1.9    0.1    0.0 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  190.0   190.0   189.9   189.9    2.4    1.9    3.7   -0.2    2.2    1.7 
 Services less medical care services .........  175.8   176.1   176.3   176.5    2.8    2.6    3.5    1.6    2.7    2.5 
 Energy ......................................  111.3   109.3   106.7   104.3  -16.1    4.5    2.9  -22.9   -6.4  -10.9 
 All items less energy .......................  168.6   168.9   169.2   169.6    2.4    1.9    2.2    2.4    2.2    2.3 
  All items less food and energy .............  171.0   171.4   171.7   172.2    2.6    1.7    2.1    2.8    2.2    2.5 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  142.5   142.5   142.6   142.9    1.1   -1.4    1.1    1.1   -0.1    1.1 
    Energy commodities .......................  104.3   102.8    99.2    95.9  -22.5    7.5   -4.1  -28.5   -8.7  -17.2 
   Services less energy services .............  187.0   187.6   188.0   188.6    3.3    2.8    2.8    3.5    3.1    3.1 

   1    Not seasonally adjusted.
   2    Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3    Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   4    Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-U                       ng                                  Feb.1998 from--      Jan.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.                                           
                                                 (1)   1997   1997   1998   1998   Feb.   Dec.   Jan.   Jan.   Nov.   Dec. 
                                                                                   1997   1997   1998   1997   1997   1997 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    161.5  161.3  161.6  161.9    1.4    0.4    0.2    1.6    0.1    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    168.5  168.4  168.8  169.1    1.3    0.4    0.2    1.6    0.2    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    169.3  169.1  169.5  170.1    1.4    0.6    0.4    1.6    0.1    0.2 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.3  101.3  101.6  101.4    1.2    0.1   -0.2    1.6    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    157.7  157.3  157.6  158.0    1.3    0.4    0.3    1.4   -0.1    0.2 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    158.4  158.1  158.5  158.9    1.5    0.5    0.3    1.6    0.1    0.3 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.3  101.0  101.2  101.6    1.4    0.6    0.4    1.2   -0.1    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    153.7  153.0  152.9  152.7    0.4   -0.2   -0.1    0.5   -0.5   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    157.8  157.3  157.6  157.8    1.1    0.3    0.1    1.2   -0.1    0.2 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    156.4  156.3  156.6  156.7    1.0    0.3    0.1    1.1    0.1    0.2 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    101.9  101.3  101.5  101.6    1.0    0.3    0.1    1.2   -0.4    0.2 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    157.1  157.0  157.5  157.9    1.5    0.6    0.3    1.7    0.3    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    162.8  162.8  163.0  163.2    1.9    0.2    0.1    2.1    0.1    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    162.8  163.1  163.3  163.6    2.2    0.3    0.2    2.3    0.3    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.4  102.0  102.3  102.3    1.5    0.3    0.0    1.9   -0.1    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    145.8  145.7  146.0  146.4    1.6    0.5    0.3    1.7    0.1    0.2 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    101.7  101.4  101.6  101.7    1.2    0.3    0.1    1.4   -0.1    0.2 
   D .........................................   M    157.8  157.5  157.7  157.8    1.0    0.2    0.1    1.2   -0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    162.9  162.8  162.8  163.1    1.2    0.2    0.2    1.5   -0.1    0.0 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    160.7  161.2  161.0  161.1    1.2   -0.1    0.1    1.2    0.2   -0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    172.0  171.9  172.1  172.7    1.5    0.5    0.3    1.8    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    169.4      -  171.2      -      -      -      -    2.1    1.1      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    157.1      -  158.2      -      -      -      -    2.9    0.7      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  152.5  152.1      -      -      -      -      -      -   -0.3 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1    100.5      -  101.0      -      -      -      -    0.6    0.5      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  159.4      -  159.5      -    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  157.1      -  158.5    2.0    0.9      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  145.6      -  146.1    1.1    0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    159.5  159.3      -  160.2      -    0.6      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    166.4  166.4      -  167.0    0.7    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    162.6  162.6      -  163.2    3.4    0.4      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  165.0      -  166.5      -    0.9      -      -      -      - 

   1    Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2    Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3    Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4    The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5    Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6    In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7    Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): U.S. city average, by expenditure
 category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                   Unadjusted                           
                                                 Relative   Unadjusted indexes percent change to   Seasonally adjusted  
                                               importance,                      Feb. 1998 from-    percent change from- 
                     CPI-W                       December                                                               
                                                   1997       Jan.      Feb.                                            
                                                              1998      1998     Feb.     Jan.   Nov. to Dec. to Jan. to
                                                                                 1997     1998     Dec.    Jan.    Feb. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................    100.000     158.4     158.5      1.1      0.1     0.1     0.0     0.0 
 All items (1967=100) ........................          -     471.9     472.2        -        -       -       -       - 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     159.6     159.2      1.8     -0.3     0.0     0.3     0.0 
   Food ......................................     16.861     159.3     158.8      1.8     -0.3    -0.1     0.4    -0.1 
    Food at home .............................     10.785     159.9     158.9      1.3     -0.6    -0.2     0.4    -0.1 
     Cereals and bakery products .............      1.678     178.8     179.4      1.7      0.3     0.2    -0.2     0.3 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........      3.125     148.0     147.2     -0.8     -0.5    -0.5    -0.3    -0.1 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........      1.135     147.9     147.4      1.0     -0.3     0.5     0.3    -0.3 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................      1.447     200.9     192.4      3.4     -4.2    -0.7     3.6    -1.1 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................      1.215     132.9     133.6      4.4      0.5    -0.8    -0.2     0.1 
     Other food at home ......................      2.185     148.1     148.5      2.4      0.3     0.1     0.1     0.1 
      Sugar and sweets .......................       .420     150.2     149.5      1.6     -0.5     0.5     0.5    -0.5 
      Fats and oils ..........................       .332     140.4     141.4     -0.6      0.7     0.1    -0.9     0.6 
      Other foods ............................      1.432     163.6     164.1      2.3      0.3     0.5     0.3     0.1 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......       .344     100.5     100.5        -      0.0       -     0.5     0.0 
    Food away from home (1)...................      6.076     159.3     159.6      2.5      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.2 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........       .212     100.1     100.3        -      0.2       -     0.1     0.2 
    Alcoholic beverages ......................      1.042     163.6     163.9      1.7      0.2     0.2     0.2    -0.1 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................     36.450     154.8     155.1      1.8      0.2     0.0     0.0     0.1 
   Shelter ...................................     27.033     173.9     174.6      3.1      0.4     0.3     0.3     0.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................      8.347     169.2     169.6      3.2      0.2     0.2     0.3     0.1 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      1.346     104.8     108.6        -      3.6       -     0.1     0.0 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................     17.016     168.7     169.1      3.1      0.2     0.3     0.2     0.4 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..       .324     100.4     100.2        -     -0.2       -     0.4    -0.2 
   Fuels and utilities .......................      5.053     128.6     127.1     -2.8     -1.2    -1.1    -1.2    -0.9 
    Fuels ....................................      4.143     113.9     112.2     -5.3     -1.5    -2.1    -1.6    -1.2 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................       .229      96.2      95.1    -13.1     -1.1    -0.4    -2.1    -2.2 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............      3.914     121.0     119.2     -4.5     -1.5    -2.3    -1.5    -1.2 
   Household furnishings and operations ......      4.365     124.1     124.7      0.8      0.5     0.0     0.2     0.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................      5.300     128.7     130.4     -0.5      1.3     0.0    -0.5    -0.2 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................      1.503     129.4     130.1      2.3      0.5     0.4     0.2    -0.2 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................      1.985     118.5     122.3     -2.0      3.2    -0.6    -0.9     0.3 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........       .337     125.3     123.1     -3.9     -1.8    -0.5    -0.9    -1.8 
   Footwear ..................................      1.082     128.4     127.4      0.2     -0.8     0.7    -0.5    -1.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................     19.847     141.7     140.9     -2.4     -0.6    -0.3    -0.5    -0.4 
   Private transportation ....................     18.790     139.3     138.4     -2.8     -0.6    -0.3    -0.6    -0.6 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      9.285     100.1     100.2     -1.7      0.1       -     0.1     0.0 
     New vehicles ............................      5.304     145.6     145.5     -0.8     -0.1    -0.2     0.1    -0.1 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................      3.162     149.7     149.9     -3.7      0.1     0.2     0.1     0.1 
    Motor fuel ...............................      3.682      97.6      94.1    -13.0     -3.6    -1.5    -3.6    -3.1 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................      3.658      97.1      93.6    -12.9     -3.6    -1.6    -3.6    -3.2 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........       .694     100.7     100.9     -0.7      0.2    -0.1    -0.1     0.1 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....      1.664     166.0     166.5      2.7      0.3     0.5     0.1     0.3 
   Public transportation .....................      1.057     184.7     187.9      4.2      1.7     0.0     0.9     1.2 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................      4.591     237.4     238.7      2.8      0.5     0.4     0.2     0.2 
   Medical care commodities ..................       .906     214.7     215.4      1.9      0.3     0.4     0.2     0.0 
   Medical care services .....................      3.684     242.5     244.0      3.0      0.6     0.4     0.1     0.3 
    Professional services ....................      2.372     219.8     221.0      3.1      0.5     0.3     0.2     0.4 
    Hospital and related services ............      1.097     279.6     281.4      3.2      0.6     0.4     0.0     0.5 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      5.969     100.3     100.7      1.5      0.4       -     0.3     0.3 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................      1.968     100.5     101.2      2.4      0.7    -0.3     0.5     0.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      5.396     100.0      99.8      2.4     -0.2       -    -0.1     0.0 
   Education (2)..............................      2.402     100.3     100.4      5.1      0.1       -     0.3     0.4 
    Educational books and supplies ...........       .192     247.5     249.4      5.3      0.8     0.4    -0.3     0.9 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare       2.211     283.5     283.5      5.2      0.0     0.5     0.3     0.4 
   Communication (1) (2)......................      2.994      99.7      99.3     -1.0     -0.4    -0.1    -0.3    -0.4 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................      2.841      99.6      99.3     -1.1     -0.3    -0.1    -0.4    -0.3 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      2.547      99.9     100.0        -      0.1       -    -0.1     0.1 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)       .294      47.7      45.8    -15.2     -4.0    -0.8    -2.5    -4.0 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................       .191      96.6      91.1        -     -5.7       -    -3.4    -5.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................      4.544     228.2     230.6      6.1      1.1     0.4     0.5     1.1 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............      1.300     253.6     261.1     10.2      3.0     0.7     0.8     3.0 
   Personal care (1)..........................      3.244     154.5     155.0      2.4      0.3    -0.3     0.4     0.3 
    Personal care products (1)................       .832     147.0     147.6      2.4      0.4    -0.7     0.6     0.4 
    Personal care services (1)................       .964     164.5     164.5      2.3      0.0     0.2     0.2     0.0 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........      1.226     229.8     231.1      4.3      0.6     0.5     0.2     0.0 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................     47.234     141.4     141.3     -0.4     -0.1    -0.1    -0.1    -0.1 
  Food and beverages .........................     17.903     159.6     159.2      1.8     -0.3     0.0     0.3     0.0 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........     29.331     130.5     130.5     -1.8      0.0    -0.2    -0.4    -0.2 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......     15.928     131.5     131.5     -2.2      0.0    -0.3    -1.0    -0.2 
    Apparel ..................................      5.300     128.7     130.4     -0.5      1.3     0.0    -0.5    -0.2 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................     10.628     137.6     136.7     -2.9     -0.7    -0.4    -1.4    -0.4 
   Durables ..................................     13.403     127.7     127.7     -1.4      0.0     0.0     0.2    -0.1 
 Services ....................................     52.766     178.7     179.1      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.2 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................     26.708     167.4     168.1      3.1      0.4     0.4     0.2     0.2 
  Transportation services ....................      6.824     184.9     185.3      2.2      0.2     0.2     0.5     0.3 
  Other services .............................     10.006     210.5     211.2      3.8      0.3     0.3     0.2     0.2 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................     83.139     158.1     158.4      1.0      0.2     0.0    -0.1     0.0 
 All items less shelter ......................     72.967     154.2     154.1      0.4     -0.1    -0.1    -0.1    -0.1 
 All items less medical care .................     95.409     154.7     154.8      1.0      0.1     0.0    -0.1     0.1 
 Commodities less food .......................     30.373     131.8     131.8     -1.6      0.0    -0.1    -0.5    -0.2 
 Nondurables less food .......................     16.970     133.5     133.5     -1.8      0.0    -0.2    -1.0    -0.3 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........     11.670     139.2     138.3     -2.5     -0.6    -0.4    -1.5    -0.4 
 Nondurables .................................     33.831     145.9     145.6     -0.1     -0.2    -0.1    -0.1    -0.4 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............     26.057     169.1     169.2      1.8      0.1     0.0    -0.1    -0.1 
 Services less medical care services .........     49.082     173.2     173.6      2.4      0.2     0.1     0.1     0.0 
 Energy ......................................      7.825     105.0     102.4     -9.1     -2.5    -1.9    -2.5    -2.1 
 All items less energy .......................     92.175     165.8     166.3      2.0      0.3     0.2     0.2     0.2 
  All items less food and energy .............     75.315     167.5     168.2      2.1      0.4     0.2     0.2     0.2 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................     26.463     141.5     142.1      0.3      0.4     0.0     0.1     0.2 
    Energy commodities .......................      3.910      97.7      94.3    -13.2     -3.5    -1.4    -3.5    -3.0 
   Services less energy services .............     48.852     185.1     185.8      3.0      0.4     0.3     0.3     0.3 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar .....          -    $ .631    $ .631        -        -       -       -       - 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar - old                                                                          
     base ....................................          -    $ .212    $ .212        -        -       -       -       - 

   1    Not seasonally adjusted.
   2    Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3    Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4    Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 5. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Seasonally adjusted U.S. city
 average, by expenditure category and commodity and service group

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                 Seasonally adjusted indexes    Seasonally adjusted annual rate percent 
                                                                                               change for               
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                     CPI-W                                                           3 months ended--         6 months  
                                                                                                              ended--   
                                                 Nov.    Dec.    Jan.    Feb.                                           
                                                 1997    1997    1998    1998                                           
                                                                                 May   Aug.   Nov.   Feb.   Aug.   Feb. 
                                                                                1997   1997   1997   1998   1997   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                                                       
                                                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  158.6   158.7   158.7   158.7    0.8    2.1    1.8    0.3    1.4    1.0 
                                                                                                                        
  Food and beverages .........................  158.7   158.7   159.2   159.2    1.0    3.1    1.8    1.3    2.1    1.5 
   Food ......................................  158.3   158.2   158.8   158.7    0.8    3.1    2.0    1.0    1.9    1.5 
    Food at home .............................  158.6   158.3   158.9   158.7    0.3    3.4    1.3    0.3    1.8    0.8 
     Cereals and bakery products .............  178.5   178.9   178.6   179.1    1.6    1.8    2.0    1.4    1.7    1.7 
     Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........  148.2   147.4   147.0   146.8    0.5    1.4   -1.9   -3.7    0.9   -2.8 
     Dairy and related products (1)...........  146.8   147.5   147.9   147.4   -2.4   -5.7   11.1    1.6   -4.1    6.2 
     Fruits and vegetables ...................  191.1   189.7   196.5   194.4   -5.2   12.5    2.1    7.1    3.2    4.6 
     Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage                                                                                
         materials ...........................  134.0   132.9   132.7   132.8   16.0   10.7   -4.1   -3.5   13.3   -3.8 
     Other food at home ......................  147.8   147.9   148.1   148.2    5.1    4.7   -0.3    1.1    4.9    0.4 
      Sugar and sweets .......................  148.5   149.2   149.9   149.2    1.6    1.1    1.9    1.9    1.4    1.9 
      Fats and oils ..........................  141.1   141.3   140.0   140.8   -0.3   -0.6   -0.8   -0.8   -0.4   -0.8 
      Other foods ............................  162.3   163.1   163.6   163.8    0.3    3.0    2.2    3.7    1.6    3.0 
       Other miscellaneous foods (1) (2)......      -   100.0   100.5   100.5      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Food away from home (1)...................  158.6   159.0   159.3   159.6    1.3    3.1    3.1    2.5    2.2    2.8 
     Other food away from home (1) (2)........      -   100.0   100.1   100.3      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Alcoholic beverages ......................  163.2   163.6   164.0   163.8    2.0    2.5    1.2    1.5    2.2    1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Housing ....................................  154.8   154.8   154.8   155.0    1.3    2.1    3.4    0.5    1.7    2.0 
   Shelter ...................................  172.9   173.5   174.0   174.4    3.1    3.1    2.8    3.5    3.1    3.2 
    Rent of primary residence ................  168.3   168.7   169.2   169.4    3.5    3.2    3.2    2.6    3.3    2.9 
    Lodging away from home (2)................      -   100.0   100.1   100.1      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Owners' equivalent rent of primary                                                                                  
        residence (3).........................  167.6   168.1   168.5   169.1    3.0    3.2    2.7    3.6    3.1    3.1 
    Tenants' and household insurance (1) (2)..      -   100.0   100.4   100.2      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Fuels and utilities .......................  131.8   130.4   128.8   127.6   -5.4    1.6    6.6  -12.2   -2.0   -3.2 
    Fuels ....................................  117.8   115.3   113.5   112.1  -11.0    0.0   10.1  -18.0   -5.7   -5.0 
     Fuel oil and other fuels ................   96.3    95.9    93.9    91.8  -19.9  -13.3   -0.4  -17.4  -16.7   -9.3 
     Gas (piped) and electricity .............  125.9   123.0   121.1   119.7  -10.1    1.3   11.6  -18.3   -4.6   -4.5 
   Household furnishings and operations ......  123.9   123.9   124.2   124.7    1.6   -1.3    0.6    2.6    0.2    1.6 
                                                                                                                        
  Apparel ....................................  132.0   132.0   131.3   131.1    2.8   -2.1    0.6   -2.7    0.3   -1.1 
   Men's and boys' apparel ...................  130.7   131.2   131.4   131.1    4.8    1.9    0.9    1.2    3.3    1.1 
   Women's and girls' apparel ................  124.8   124.1   123.0   123.4    1.6   -5.3    1.6   -4.4   -1.9   -1.4 
   Infants' and toddlers' apparel (1).........  127.1   126.5   125.3   123.1   23.0  -17.9   -4.0  -12.0    0.5   -8.1 
   Footwear ..................................  129.6   130.5   129.9   128.0    1.3    2.2    2.2   -4.8    1.7   -1.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Transportation .............................  143.0   142.6   141.9   141.3   -4.3    1.1   -1.7   -4.7   -1.7   -3.2 
   Private transportation ....................  140.7   140.3   139.5   138.7   -5.2    1.4   -2.0   -5.6   -2.0   -3.8 
    New and used motor vehicles (2)...........      -   100.0   100.1   100.1      -      -      -      -      -      - 
     New vehicles ............................  144.9   144.6   144.7   144.6   -0.3   -0.5   -1.6   -0.8   -0.4   -1.2 
     Used cars and trucks (1).................  149.2   149.5   149.7   149.9   -1.0  -13.2   -1.9    1.9   -7.3    0.0 
    Motor fuel ...............................  104.8   103.2    99.5    96.4  -23.5   11.2   -6.2  -28.4   -7.8  -18.1 
     Gasoline (all types) ....................  104.6   102.9    99.2    96.0  -24.2   13.0   -5.9  -29.0   -7.5  -18.3 
    Motor vehicle parts and equipment ........  100.7   100.6   100.5   100.6   -2.0    1.2   -1.6   -0.4   -0.4   -1.0 
    Motor vehicle maintenance and repair .....  165.0   165.8   166.0   166.5    2.7    2.7    1.7    3.7    2.7    2.7 
   Public transportation .....................  184.1   184.1   185.8   188.1    9.9   -3.2    1.8    9.0    3.1    5.3 
                                                                                                                        
  Medical care ...............................  236.3   237.2   237.6   238.1    3.3    2.1    2.8    3.1    2.7    2.9 
   Medical care commodities ..................  213.7   214.6   215.0   214.9    3.3   -0.4    2.3    2.3    1.4    2.3 
   Medical care services .....................  241.2   242.2   242.5   243.2    3.4    2.4    2.9    3.4    2.9    3.1 
    Professional services ....................  219.0   219.6   220.0   220.8    4.0    2.8    2.6    3.3    3.4    3.0 
    Hospital and related services ............  277.7   278.9   278.8   280.3    3.1    2.2    3.5    3.8    2.7    3.7 
                                                                                                                        
  Recreation (2)..............................      -   100.0   100.3   100.6      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Video and audio (1) (2)....................  100.3   100.0   100.5   101.2    0.4    4.5    1.2    3.6    2.4    2.4 
                                                                                                                        
  Education and communication (2).............      -   100.0    99.9    99.9      -      -      -      -      -      - 
   Education (2)..............................      -   100.0   100.3   100.7      -      -      -      -      -      - 
    Educational books and supplies ...........  245.1   246.1   245.3   247.4    6.3    7.4    3.7    3.8    6.8    3.7 
    Tuition, other school fees, and childcare   279.9   281.2   282.1   283.2    5.6    5.1    5.3    4.8    5.3    5.1 
   Communication (1) (2)......................  100.1   100.0    99.7    99.3    0.8   -3.1    1.6   -3.2   -1.2   -0.8 
    Information and information processing (1)                                                                          
        (2)...................................  100.1   100.0    99.6    99.3    0.4   -3.1    1.6   -3.2   -1.4   -0.8 
     Telephone services (1) (2)...............      -   100.0    99.9   100.0      -      -      -      -      -      - 
     Information and information processing                                                                             
         other than telephone services (1) (4)   49.3    48.9    47.7    45.8  -15.3  -18.0    0.0  -25.5  -16.6  -13.7 
      Personal computers and peripheral                                                                                 
          equipment (1) (2)...................      -   100.0    96.6    91.1      -      -      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                                        
  Other goods and services ...................  226.4   227.4   228.5   230.9    5.8    3.7    6.6    8.2    4.7    7.4 
   Tobacco and smoking products ..............  249.9   251.6   253.6   261.1    8.2    3.0   10.8   19.2    5.6   14.9 
   Personal care (1)..........................  154.3   153.9   154.5   155.0    3.2   -0.5    5.1    1.8    1.3    3.4 
    Personal care products (1)................  147.1   146.1   147.0   147.6    2.2   -1.6    7.7    1.4    0.3    4.5 
    Personal care services (1)................  163.7   164.1   164.5   164.5    4.0    1.0    2.2    2.0    2.5    2.1 
    Miscellaneous personal services ..........  228.8   230.0   230.5   230.6    5.4    5.7    3.0    3.2    5.5    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                                                   
                                                                                                                        
 Commodities .................................  142.1   142.0   141.8   141.6   -1.1    0.9    0.6   -1.4   -0.1   -0.4 
  Food and beverages .........................  158.7   158.7   159.2   159.2    1.0    3.1    1.8    1.3    2.1    1.5 
  Commodities less food and beverages ........  132.0   131.7   131.2   130.9   -2.7   -0.3   -0.3   -3.3   -1.5   -1.8 
   Nondurables less food and beverages .......  134.6   134.2   132.9   132.6   -4.6    1.5    0.6   -5.8   -1.6   -2.7 
    Apparel ..................................  132.0   132.0   131.3   131.1    2.8   -2.1    0.6   -2.7    0.3   -1.1 
    Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                                                               
        apparel ..............................  140.6   140.1   138.1   137.5   -6.9    4.4   -0.3   -8.5   -1.4   -4.5 
   Durables ..................................  127.3   127.3   127.5   127.4   -0.9   -3.4   -1.9    0.3   -2.2   -0.8 
 Services ....................................  178.4   178.6   178.8   179.1    2.5    2.8    3.2    1.6    2.7    2.4 
  Rent of shelter (3).........................  166.6   167.2   167.6   167.9    3.2    3.2    2.9    3.2    3.2    3.0 
  Transportation services ....................  183.5   183.8   184.7   185.2    3.6    1.5    0.9    3.8    2.6    2.3 
  Other services .............................  209.5   210.2   210.7   211.2    4.4    3.7    2.9    3.3    4.1    3.1 
                                                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                                                         
                                                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................  158.4   158.4   158.3   158.3    0.5    1.8    2.0   -0.3    1.2    0.9 
 All items less shelter ......................  154.8   154.6   154.5   154.4   -0.3    1.6    1.8   -1.0    0.7    0.4 
 All items less medical care .................  154.9   154.9   154.8   154.9    0.5    1.8    2.1    0.0    1.2    1.0 
 Commodities less food .......................  133.5   133.3   132.7   132.4   -2.6   -0.3    0.0   -3.3   -1.5   -1.6 
 Nondurables less food .......................  136.3   136.0   134.7   134.3   -3.7    1.5    0.6   -5.7   -1.2   -2.6 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........  142.3   141.8   139.7   139.2   -6.3    4.3    1.4   -8.4   -1.1   -3.6 
 Nondurables .................................  146.8   146.7   146.5   145.9   -1.4    2.8    0.8   -2.4    0.7   -0.8 
 Services less rent of shelter (3)............  169.3   169.3   169.1   169.0    1.9    2.4    3.4   -0.7    2.2    1.3 
 Services less medical care services .........  173.0   173.2   173.4   173.4    2.4    2.6    3.3    0.9    2.5    2.1 
 Energy ......................................  110.8   108.7   106.0   103.8  -17.3    5.2    2.2  -23.0   -6.7  -11.3 
 All items less energy .......................  165.4   165.7   166.0   166.3    2.5    1.7    2.0    2.2    2.1    2.1 
  All items less food and energy .............  167.4   167.7   168.0   168.4    2.7    1.2    2.2    2.4    1.9    2.3 
   Commodities less food and energy                                                                                     
       commodities ...........................  142.0   142.0   142.1   142.4    1.4   -1.7    0.8    1.1   -0.1    1.0 
    Energy commodities .......................  104.3   102.8    99.2    96.2  -23.3    8.8   -5.6  -27.6   -8.7  -17.3 
   Services less energy services .............  184.4   184.9   185.4   185.9    3.4    2.9    2.6    3.3    3.1    3.0 

   1    Not seasonally adjusted.
   2    Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
   3    Indexes on a December 1984=100 base
   4    Indexes on a December 1988=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 6. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W): Selected areas, all items index 

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                All items                                  
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to    Percent change to 
                     CPI-W                       ng                                  Feb.1998 from--      Jan.1998 from--  
                                               sched-                                                                      
                                                 ule   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.                                           
                                                 (1)   1997   1997   1998   1998   Feb.   Dec.   Jan.   Jan.   Nov.   Dec. 
                                                                                   1997   1997   1998   1997   1997   1997 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                           
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    158.5  158.2  158.4  158.5    1.1    0.2    0.1    1.3   -0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
            Region and area size(2)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Northeast urban .............................   M    165.7  165.5  165.7  165.9    1.0    0.2    0.1    1.3    0.0    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    165.5  165.2  165.4  165.8    1.2    0.4    0.2    1.4   -0.1    0.1 
   Size B/C  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)..........   M    101.1  101.1  101.3  101.1    1.0    0.0   -0.2    1.3    0.2    0.2 
                                                                                                                           
 Midwest urban (4)............................   M    154.0  153.7  153.9  154.2    1.2    0.3    0.2    1.2   -0.1    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    153.8  153.6  153.9  154.2    1.2    0.4    0.2    1.3    0.1    0.2 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    101.2  101.0  101.1  101.4    1.3    0.4    0.3    1.1   -0.1    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    151.6  151.0  150.9  150.8    0.3   -0.1   -0.1    0.3   -0.5   -0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 South urban .................................   M    156.2  155.6  155.8  155.7    0.8    0.1   -0.1    1.0   -0.3    0.1 
   Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .............   M    154.5  154.2  154.4  154.3    0.7    0.1   -0.1    0.8   -0.1    0.1 
   Size B/C -  50,000 to 1,500,000 (3)........   M    101.7  101.1  101.2  101.1    0.6    0.0   -0.1    1.0   -0.5    0.1 
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                                                   
       50,000) ...............................   M    157.5  157.5  157.6  158.0    1.4    0.3    0.3    1.5    0.1    0.1 
                                                                                                                           
 West urban ..................................   M    159.2  159.2  159.4  159.4    1.7    0.1    0.0    2.0    0.1    0.1 
   Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ............   M    157.7  157.9  158.0  158.0    1.8    0.1    0.0    2.1    0.2    0.1 
   Size B/C - 50,000 to 1,500,000 (3).........   M    102.3  101.9  102.2  102.2    1.3    0.3    0.0    1.7   -0.1    0.3 
                                                                                                                           
                 Size classes                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           
   A (5)......................................   M    144.6  144.4  144.6  144.8    1.3    0.3    0.1    1.5    0.0    0.1 
   B/C (3)....................................   M    101.5  101.2  101.3  101.3    0.9    0.1    0.0    1.2   -0.2    0.1 
   D .........................................   M    156.9  156.7  156.7  156.8    0.9    0.1    0.1    0.9   -0.1    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
            Selected local areas(6)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI ..............   M    157.2  157.3  157.3  157.4    1.0    0.1    0.1    1.3    0.1    0.0 
 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA .....   M    154.9  155.3  155.1  155.0    0.9   -0.2   -0.1    1.0    0.1   -0.1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island,                                                                                       
     NY-NJ-CT-PA .............................   M    168.0  167.7  167.7  168.2    1.2    0.3    0.3    1.6   -0.2    0.0 
                                                                                                                           
 Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT .........   1    167.8      -  169.3      -      -      -      -    1.6    0.9      - 
 Cleveland-Akron, OH .........................   1    149.1      -  150.0      -      -      -      -    2.6    0.6      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  152.7  152.2      -      -      -      -      -      -   -0.3 
 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV (7)........   1    100.4      -  100.8      -      -      -      -    0.4    0.4      - 
                                                                                                                           
 Atlanta, GA .................................   2        -  156.8      -  156.6      -   -0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI .................   2        -  151.7      -  152.9    1.7    0.8      -      -      -      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  144.5      -  144.7    0.8    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    157.0  156.8      -  157.3      -    0.3      -      -      -      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,                                                                                    
     PA-NJ-DE-MD .............................   2    165.9  165.7      -  166.1    0.7    0.2      -      -      -      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    159.5  159.4      -  159.6    3.0    0.1      -      -      -      - 
 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA ................   2        -  160.6      -  162.2      -    1.0      -      -      -      - 

   1    Areas on pricing schedule 2 (see Table 10) will appear next month. 
   2    Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
   3    Indexes on a December 1996=100 base.
   4    The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is composed of the same
 geographic entities.
   5    Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   6    In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in Tables 34 and 39 of the 
 January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK; Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley,
 CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, WI; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem,
 OR-WA; St. Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
   7    Indexes on a November 1996=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 1(OS).  Old Series 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    percent change
                                               importan-     indexes            to      
                Item and group                    ce,                    Feb. 1998 from-
                                                December                                
                                                  1997     Jan.    Feb.                 
                                                           1998    1998    Feb.    Jan. 
                                                                           1997    1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                       
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  100.000   161.6   162.0     1.5     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................        -   484.2   485.2       -       - 
                                                                                        
   Food and beverages ........................   17.465   160.3   159.8     1.8     -.3 
     Food ....................................   15.886   159.9   159.3     1.8     -.4 
       Food at home ..........................    9.964   161.1   159.9     1.4     -.7 
         Cereals and bakery products .........    1.476   179.0   179.5     1.6      .3 
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......    2.921   148.1   147.2    -1.1     -.6 
         Dairy products ......................    1.218   148.1   147.9     1.2     -.1 
         Fruits and vegetables ...............    1.982   200.5   193.8     3.4    -3.3 
         Other food at home ..................    2.366   148.9   149.5     2.8      .4 
           Sugar and sweets ..................     .332   150.3   149.5     1.6     -.5 
           Fats and oils .....................     .241   140.6   141.8     -.6      .9 
           Nonalcoholic beverages ............     .747   134.4   135.1     5.1      .5 
           Other prepared food ...............    1.046   163.7   164.4     2.4      .4 
       Food away from home ...................    5.923   159.2   159.6     2.6      .3 
     Alcoholic beverages .....................    1.578   164.5   164.9     1.9      .2 
                                                                                        
   Housing ...................................   41.469   158.2   158.8     1.9      .4 
     Shelter .................................   28.640   179.1   180.1     3.2      .6 
       Renters' costs (1).....................    8.169   188.9   191.5     3.3     1.4 
         Rent, residential ...................    5.810   169.5   169.9     3.1      .2 
         Other renters' costs ................    2.359   225.9   235.2     3.9     4.1 
       Homeowners' costs (1)..................   20.269   184.7   185.1     3.1      .2 
         Owners' equivalent rent (1)..........   19.881   185.1   185.4     3.1      .2 
         Household insurance (1)..............     .388   167.7   167.3     2.1     -.2 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............     .202   146.0   146.0     2.6      .0 
         Maintenance and repair services .....     .126   154.4   154.7     4.2      .2 
         Maintenance and repair commodities ..     .076   134.4   134.0      .1     -.3 
     Fuel and other utilities ................    7.015   129.3   128.5    -1.9     -.6 
       Fuels .................................    3.769   114.4   112.7    -5.5    -1.5 
         Fuel oil and other household fuel                                              
     commodities .............................     .368    96.4    95.3   -13.0    -1.1 
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy                                            
     services)................................    3.401   121.5   119.5    -4.6    -1.6 
       Other utilities and public services ...    3.246   163.4   164.1     2.4      .4 
     Household furnishings and operation .....    5.814   125.3   125.9      .6      .5 
       Housefurnishings ......................    3.232   109.8   110.1    -1.0      .3 
       Housekeeping supplies .................    1.090   143.2   145.3     2.0     1.5 
       Housekeeping services .................    1.492   154.0   154.3     2.9      .2 
                                                                                        
   Apparel and upkeep ........................    5.291   129.7   131.6     -.2     1.5 
     Apparel commodities .....................    4.748   125.6   127.6     -.5     1.6 
       Men's and boys' apparel ...............    1.292   129.4   130.7     2.7     1.0 
       Women's and girls' apparel.............    2.072   119.6   123.0    -2.5     2.8 
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel ........     .182   124.4   122.8    -3.5    -1.3 
       Footwear ..............................     .719   127.3   126.9      .5     -.3 
       Other apparel commodities .............     .484   144.3   146.4     -.3     1.5 
     Apparel services ........................     .543   164.3   164.8     1.6      .3 
                                                                                        
   Transportation ............................   16.620   142.7   142.1    -1.9     -.4 
     Private transportation ..................   15.054   139.3   138.3    -2.5     -.7 
       New vehicles ..........................    4.829   144.4   144.3     -.8     -.1 
         New cars ............................    3.842   141.8   141.6     -.9     -.1 
       Used cars .............................    1.195   148.1   148.3    -4.0      .1 
       Motor fuel ............................    2.925    97.8    94.1   -13.0    -3.8 
         Gasoline ............................        -    97.2    93.5   -12.9    -3.8 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............    1.546   164.9   165.5     2.7      .4 
       Other private transportation ..........    4.560   180.0   179.6     1.4     -.2 
         Other private transportation                                                   
     commodities .............................     .574   104.2   104.3    -1.0      .1 
         Other private transportation services                                          
     .........................................    3.986   198.0   197.4     1.7     -.3 
     Public transportation ...................    1.566   187.0   191.1     4.8     2.2 
                                                                                        
   Medical care ..............................    7.426   238.0   239.4     2.9      .6 
     Medical care commodities ................    1.280   217.4   218.4     2.1      .5 
     Medical care services ...................    6.145   242.8   244.3     3.0      .6 
       Professional medical services .........    3.518   218.4   219.7     3.0      .6 
                                                                                        
   Entertainment .............................    4.339   163.4   164.0     1.4     0.4 
     Entertainment commodities ...............    1.924   144.3   144.6      .2      .2 
     Entertainment services ..................    2.415   185.4   186.4     2.4      .5 
                                                                                        
   Other goods and services ..................    7.390   231.2   233.2     5.7      .9 
     Tobacco and smoking products ............    1.688   253.8   261.3    10.1     3.0 
     Personal care ...........................    1.152   154.7   155.0     2.3      .2 
       Toilet goods and personal care                                                   
     appliances ..............................     .589   146.2   147.0     2.6      .5 
       Personal care services ................     .564   164.3   164.1     2.1     -.1 
     Personal and educational expenses .......    4.550   267.0   267.6     4.9      .2 
       School books and supplies .............     .273   244.9   247.1     5.0      .9 
       Personal and educational services .....    4.277   268.9   269.4     4.9      .2 
                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                   
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  100.000   161.6   162.0     1.5      .2 
   Commodities ...............................   42.255   141.7   141.6     -.1     -.1 
     Food and beverages ......................   17.465   160.3   159.8     1.8     -.3 
     Commodities less food and beverages .....   24.791   130.4   130.7    -1.4      .2 
       Nondurables less food and beverages ...   14.865   132.0   132.4    -1.6      .3 
         Apparel commodities .................    4.748   125.6   127.6     -.5     1.6 
         Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                          
     apparel .................................   10.117   138.2   138.0    -2.1     -.1 
       Durables ..............................    9.926   128.2   128.3    -1.2      .1 
   Services ..................................   57.745   181.8   182.4     2.6      .3 
     Rent of shelter (1)......................   28.016   186.4   187.4     3.2      .5 
     Household services less rent of shelter                                            
     (1)......................................    8.687   145.2   144.6     -.3     -.4 
     Transportation services .................    7.097   187.4   188.1     2.6      .4 
     Medical care services ...................    6.145   242.8   244.3     3.0      .6 
     Other services ..........................    7.799   213.7   214.2     3.6      .2 
                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                         
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................   84.114   161.9   162.4     1.4      .3 
 All items less shelter ......................   71.360   156.5   156.6      .8      .1 
 All items less homeowners' costs (1).........   79.731   162.1   162.4     1.0      .2 
 All items less medical care .................   92.574   157.3   157.6     1.4      .2 
 Commodities less food .......................   26.369   131.8   132.1    -1.3      .2 
 Nondurables less food .......................   16.443   134.0   134.5    -1.2      .4 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........   11.695   140.0   139.8    -1.6     -.1 
 Nondurables .................................   32.329   146.3   146.3      .3      .0 
 Services less rent of shelter (1)............   29.728   190.0   190.3     2.1      .2 
 Services less medical care services .........   51.599   176.1   176.7     2.6      .3 
 Energy ......................................    6.695   105.8   103.1    -8.8    -2.6 
 All items less energy .......................   93.305   169.0   169.6     2.2      .4 
   All items less food and energy ............   77.419   171.2   172.2     2.3      .6 
     Commodities less food and energy                                                   
     commodities .............................   23.076   142.0   143.0      .6      .7 
       Energy commodities ....................    3.293    97.8    94.5   -13.0    -3.4 
     Services less energy services ...........   54.343   187.9   188.8     3.1      .5 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:                                               
     1982-84=$1.00 ...........................        -  $ .619  $ .617       -       - 
     1967=$1.00 ..............................        -  $ .207  $ .206       -       - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 2(OS).  Old Series 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    percent change
                                               importan-     indexes            to      
                Item and group                    ce,                    Feb. 1998 from-
                                                December                                
                                                  1997     Jan.    Feb.                 
                                                           1998    1998    Feb.    Jan. 
                                                                           1997    1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                        
             Expenditure category                                                       
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  100.000   158.4   158.7     1.2     0.2 
 All items (1967=100) ........................        -   472.0   472.6       -       - 
                                                                                        
   Food and beverages ........................   19.434   159.6   159.1     1.7     -.3 
     Food ....................................   17.739   159.3   158.7     1.7     -.4 
       Food at home ..........................   11.309   159.9   158.7     1.2     -.8 
         Cereals and bakery products .........    1.689   178.7   179.2     1.6      .3 
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ......    3.441   147.8   146.9    -1.0     -.6 
         Dairy products ......................    1.358   147.8   147.6     1.1     -.1 
         Fruits and vegetables ...............    2.100   198.9   192.0     3.2    -3.5 
         Other food at home ..................    2.722   148.3   148.8     2.6      .3 
           Sugar and sweets ..................     .376   150.2   149.4     1.5     -.5 
           Fats and oils .....................     .277   140.3   141.4     -.6      .8 
           Nonalcoholic beverages ............     .863   133.1   133.9     4.6      .6 
           Other prepared food ...............    1.206   163.5   164.2     2.4      .4 
       Food away from home ...................    6.430   159.2   159.6     2.5      .3 
     Alcoholic beverages .....................    1.695   163.5   163.8     1.7      .2 
                                                                                        
   Housing ...................................   39.037   154.8   155.2     1.8      .3 
     Shelter .................................   26.305   173.9   174.7     3.1      .5 
       Renters' costs (1).....................    8.250   164.7   166.3     3.4     1.0 
         Rent, residential ...................    6.686   169.2   169.6     3.2      .2 
         Other renters' costs ................    1.564   225.2   234.2     4.1     4.0 
       Homeowners' costs (1)..................   17.864   168.4   168.7     3.1      .2 
         Owners' equivalent rent (1)..........   17.538   168.7   169.0     3.0      .2 
         Household insurance (1)..............     .327   152.1   151.8     2.2     -.2 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............     .191   143.7   143.8     2.2      .1 
         Maintenance and repair services .....     .107   155.3   155.8     3.7      .3 
         Maintenance and repair commodities ..     .084   129.0   128.7      .3     -.2 
     Fuel and other utilities ................    7.274   129.1   128.4    -1.8     -.5 
       Fuels .................................    3.875   113.9   112.1    -5.4    -1.6 
         Fuel oil and other household fuel                                              
     commodities .............................     .338    96.3    95.2   -13.0    -1.1 
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy                                            
     services)................................    3.537   121.0   119.1    -4.6    -1.6 
       Other utilities and public services ...    3.399   164.3   165.1     2.6      .5 
     Household furnishings and operation .....    5.458   123.7   124.5      .6      .6 
       Housefurnishings ......................    3.171   108.5   108.9     -.8      .4 
       Housekeeping supplies .................    1.130   144.0   146.1     2.1     1.5 
       Housekeeping services .................    1.157   157.1   157.3     2.9      .1 
                                                                                        
   Apparel and upkeep ........................    5.311   128.5   130.1     -.8     1.2 
     Apparel commodities .....................    4.801   124.6   126.4    -0.9     1.4 
       Men's and boys' apparel ...............    1.298   129.1   130.4     2.5     1.0 
       Women's and girls' apparel.............    2.019   117.8   121.1    -3.0     2.8 
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel ........     .233   125.0   123.3    -3.7    -1.4 
       Footwear ..............................     .800   128.3   127.3      .1     -.8 
       Other apparel commodities .............     .450   141.1   143.4    -1.6     1.6 
     Apparel services ........................     .510   163.5   163.9     1.6      .2 
                                                                                        
   Transportation ............................   18.597   141.7   140.9    -2.4     -.6 
     Private transportation ..................   17.389   139.3   138.2    -2.9     -.8 
       New vehicles ..........................    4.781   145.6   145.5     -.8     -.1 
         New cars ............................    3.439   141.3   141.2     -.9     -.1 
       Used cars .............................    2.179   149.7   149.9    -3.7      .1 
       Motor fuel ............................    3.608    97.6    94.0   -13.1    -3.7 
         Gasoline ............................        -    97.0    93.5   -13.0    -3.6 
       Maintenance and repairs ...............    1.634   166.0   166.5     2.7      .3 
       Other private transportation ..........    5.188   175.2   174.7     1.2     -.3 
         Other private transportation                                                   
     commodities .............................     .727   103.6   103.6     -.7      .0 
         Other private transportation services                                          
     .........................................    4.460   193.5   192.9     1.5     -.3 
     Public transportation ...................    1.208   184.6   188.2     4.4     2.0 
                                                                                        
   Medical care ..............................    6.331   237.4   238.8     2.9      .6 
     Medical care commodities ................    1.054   214.7   215.6     2.0      .4 
     Medical care services ...................    5.276   242.6   244.0     3.0      .6 
       Professional medical services .........    3.020   219.8   221.1     3.2      .6 
                                                                                        
   Entertainment .............................    4.006   160.7   161.2     1.3     0.3 
     Entertainment commodities ...............    2.005   143.0   143.1      .0      .1 
     Entertainment services ..................    2.001   185.8   186.8     2.5      .5 
                                                                                        
   Other goods and services ..................    7.285   228.2   230.8     6.2     1.1 
     Tobacco and smoking products ............    2.237   253.6   261.3    10.3     3.0 
     Personal care ...........................    1.116   154.5   155.0     2.4      .3 
       Toilet goods and personal care                                                   
     appliances ..............................     .612   146.9   147.8     2.5      .6 
       Personal care services ................     .504   164.5   164.4     2.2     -.1 
     Personal and educational expenses .......    3.932   262.4   263.1     4.9      .3 
       School books and supplies .............     .241   247.0   249.4     5.3     1.0 
       Personal and educational services .....    3.692   263.9   264.6     4.9      .3 
                                                                                        
          Commodity and service group                                                   
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items ...................................  100.000   158.4   158.7     1.2      .2 
   Commodities ...............................   46.401   141.4   141.4     -.3      .0 
     Food and beverages ......................   19.434   159.6   159.1     1.7     -.3 
     Commodities less food and beverages .....   26.967   130.4   130.6    -1.7      .2 
       Nondurables less food and beverages ...   15.915   131.5   131.9    -1.9      .3 
         Apparel commodities .................    4.801   124.6   126.4     -.9     1.4 
         Nondurables less food, beverages, and                                          
     apparel .................................   11.114   137.8   137.5    -2.3     -.2 
       Durables ..............................   11.052   127.7   127.8    -1.3      .1 
   Services ..................................   53.599   178.8   179.3     2.5      .3 
     Rent of shelter (1)......................   25.761   167.4   168.2     3.2      .5 
     Household services less rent of shelter                                            
     (1)......................................    8.554   133.3   132.8     -.4     -.4 
     Transportation services .................    7.302   185.0   185.4     2.3      .2 
     Medical care services ...................    5.276   242.6   244.0     3.0      .6 
     Other services ..........................    6.706   210.4   211.1     3.7      .3 
                                                                                        
                Special indexes                                                         
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 All items less food .........................   82.261   158.2   158.5     1.1      .2 
 All items less shelter ......................   73.695   154.3   154.3      .5      .0 
 All items less homeowners' costs (1).........   82.136   148.3   148.4      .7      .1 
 All items less medical care .................   93.669   154.7   154.9     1.1      .1 
 Commodities less food .......................   28.662   131.7   132.0    -1.5      .2 
 Nondurables less food .......................   17.610   133.5   133.9    -1.5      .3 
 Nondurables less food and apparel ...........   12.809   139.4   139.2    -1.8     -.1 
 Nondurables .................................   35.349   145.9   145.8      .1     -.1 
 Services less rent of shelter (1)............   27.838   169.2   169.4     1.9      .1 
 Services less medical care services .........   48.322   173.3   173.7     2.4     0.2 
 Energy ......................................    7.483   105.0   102.3    -9.2    -2.6 
 All items less energy .......................   92.517   165.8   166.4     2.1      .4 
   All items less food and energy ............   74.778   167.6   168.4     2.2      .5 
     Commodities less food and energy                                                   
     commodities .............................   24.717   141.4   142.4      .5      .7 
       Energy commodities ....................    3.946    97.7    94.4   -13.1    -3.4 
     Services less energy services ...........   50.062   185.1   185.9     3.0      .4 
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:                                               
     1982-84=$1.00 ...........................        -  $ .631  $ .630       -       - 
     1967=$1.00 ..............................        -  $ .212  $ .212       -       - 

   1 Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 3(OS) Old Series Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Selected areas, all
 items index

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 ng                                  Feb.1998 from--  
                     Area                      sched-                                                 
                                                 ule                                                  
                                                 (1)   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan. 
                                                       1997   1997   1998   1998   1997   1997   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                      
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    161.5  161.3  161.6  162.0    0.3    0.4    0.2 
                                                                                                      
             Selected local areas                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI ..........   M    162.9  162.8  162.5  163.0     .1     .1     .3 
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...........   M    160.7  161.2  161.0  161.2     .3     .0     .1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT    M    172.0  171.9  172.1  172.8     .5     .5     .4 
                                                                                                      
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH.................   1    169.4      -  171.0      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ..................   1    157.1      -  158.0      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  152.5  152.2      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                      
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .......................   2        -  157.1      -  158.7      -    1.0      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  145.6      -  146.5      -     .6      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    159.5  159.3      -  160.6     .7     .8      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD    2    166.4  166.4      -  167.4     .6     .6      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    162.6  162.6      -  163.5     .6     .6      - 
                                                                                                      
             Region and area size                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Northeast urban .............................   M    168.5  168.4  168.8  169.2     .4     .5     .2 
 Midwest urban (2)............................   M    157.7  157.3  157.6  158.1     .3     .5     .3 
 South urban .................................   M    157.8  157.3  157.7  157.9     .1     .4     .1 
 West urban ..................................   M    162.8  162.8  163.0  163.3     .3     .3     .2 
                                                                                                      
            Population size classes                                                                   
                                                                                                      
 A (3)........................................   M    145.8  145.7  146.0  146.4     .4     .5     .3 
 D ...........................................   M    157.8  157.5  157.9  158.0     .1     .3     .1 
                                                                                                      
 Region/Population size class cross                                                                   
     classifications                                                                                  
                                                                                                      
 Northeast Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .....   M    169.3  169.1  169.5  170.1     .5     .6     .4 
 Midwest Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ......   M    158.4  158.1  158.3  158.8     .3     .4     .3 
 South Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .........   M    156.4  156.3  156.7  156.8     .3     .3     .1 
 West Size A   - More than 1,500,000 .........   M    162.8  163.1  163.2  163.6     .5     .3     .2 
 Midwest Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                        
     50,000) .................................   M    153.7  153.0  153.0  153.1    -.4     .1     .1 
 South Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                          
     50,000) .................................   M    157.1  157.0  157.7  158.0     .6     .6     .2 

   1    The 'All items' index size B/C is on a December 1996=100 base.
   2    The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is
 composed of the same geographic entities.
   3    Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

 Table 4(OS) Old Series Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W):
 Selected areas, all items index

 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
                                               Prici-           Indexes             Percent change to 
                                                 ng                                  Feb.1998 from--  
                     Area                      sched-                                                 
                                                 ule                                                  
                                                 (1)   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan. 
                                                       1997   1997   1998   1998   1997   1997   1998 
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                      
 U.S. city average ...........................   M    158.5  158.2  158.4  158.7    0.1    0.3    0.2 
                                                                                                      
             Selected local areas                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI ..........   M    157.2  157.3  156.8  157.2     .0    -.1     .3 
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ...........   M    154.9  155.3  155.1  155.2     .2    -.1     .1 
 New York-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT    M    168.0  167.7  167.7  168.3     .2     .4     .4 
                                                                                                      
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH.................   1    167.8      -  169.5      -      -      -      - 
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH ..................   1    149.1      -  149.9      -      -      -      - 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX .......................   1        -  152.7  152.2      -      -      -      - 
                                                                                                      
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI .......................   2        -  151.7      -  153.0      -     .9      - 
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX ..............   2        -  144.5      -  145.1      -     .4      - 
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ...................   2    157.0  156.8      -  157.8     .5     .6      - 
 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD    2    165.9  165.7      -  166.3     .2     .4      - 
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA ..........   2    159.5  159.4      -  160.1     .4     .4      - 
                                                                                                      
             Region and area size                                                                     
                                                                                                      
 Northeast urban .............................   M    165.7  165.5  165.8  166.1     .2     .4     .2 
 Midwest urban (2)............................   M    154.0  153.7  153.9  154.3     .2     .4     .3 
 South urban .................................   M    156.2  155.6  155.8  155.8    -.3     .1     .0 
 West urban ..................................   M    159.2  159.2  159.3  159.4     .1     .1     .1 
                                                                                                      
            Population size classes                                                                   
                                                                                                      
 A (3)........................................   M    144.6  144.4  144.6  144.8     .1     .3     .1 
 D ...........................................   M    156.9  156.7  156.8  156.8    -.1     .1     .0 
                                                                                                      
 Region/Population size class cross                                                                   
     classifications                                                                                  
                                                                                                      
 Northeast Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .....   M    165.5  165.2  165.4  165.9     .2     .4     .3 
 Midwest Size A   - More than 1,500,000 ......   M    153.8  153.6  153.7  154.2     .3     .4     .3 
 South Size A -  More than 1,500,000 .........   M    154.5  154.2  154.4  154.3    -.1     .1    -.1 
 West Size A   - More than 1,500,000 .........   M    157.7  157.9  157.9  158.1     .3     .1     .1 
 Midwest Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                        
     50,000) .................................   M    151.6  151.0  151.0  151.0    -.4     .0     .0 
 South Size D -  Nonmetropolitan  (less than                                                          
     50,000) .................................   M    157.5  157.5  157.7  158.0     .3     .3     .2 

   1    The 'All items' index size B/C is on a December 1996=100 base.
   2    The 'North Central' region has been renamed the 'Midwest' region by the Census Bureau.  It is
 composed of the same geographic entities.
   3    Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
   -    Data not available.
 NOTE:  Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.