FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
     Patrick C. Jackman (202) 606-7000      USDL-97-160
 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. (EDT)
 MEDIA CONTACT:         (202) 606-5902      Thursday, May 15, 1997
 INTERNET ADDRESS:    http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm
                                     
                     CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:  APRIL 1997
 
      The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
 0.1 percent before seasonal adjustment in April to a level of 160.2 (1982-
 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
 reported today.  For the 12-month period ended in April, the CPI-U
 increased 2.5 percent.
 
      The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
 (CPI-W) also rose 0.1 percent in April, prior to seasonal adjustment.  The
 April 1997 CPI-W level of 157.2 was 2.3 percent higher than the index in
 April 1996.
 
 CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
 
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent in April,
 the same as in March.  The food index, which was unchanged in March,
 declined 0.2 percent in April.  Grocery store food prices decreased 0.4
 percent, primarily reflecting a sharp drop in fruit and vegetable prices.
 The energy index declined for the second consecutive month, down 1.5
 percent in April.  The index for petroleum-based energy fell 2.4 percent,
 and the index for energy services declined 0.6 percent.  Excluding food
 and energy, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent, following increases of 0.2 percent
 in each of the two preceding months.  The larger advance in April reflects
 an upturn in the index for apparel and upkeep.
 
 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            1996              1997        3-mos. ended  ended
                     Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.   Apr. '97  Apr. '97
 All Items            .3    .3   .3   .1   .3   .1   .1    1.5        2.5
  Food and beverages  .5    .4   .0  -.2   .3   .0  -.2     .5        2.9
  Housing             .3    .3   .2   .3   .3   .0   .2    1.8        2.6
  Apparel and upkeep  .2    .3   .1   .4   .2  -.3   .9    3.4         .9
  Transportation      .3    .3   .6  -.2  -.1   .1  -.4   -1.6        1.2
  Medical care        .2    .3   .2   .2   .2   .4   .3    3.3        3.0
  Entertainment       .3    .2   .3   .0   .2   .2   .1    1.7        2.3
  Other goods                                                           
   and services       .3    .4   .1   .4   .5   .5   .8    7.1        4.4
 Special Indexes:                                                        
  Energy             1.1   1.2  1.5   .8   .3 -1.7 -1.5  -11.3         .0
  Food                .5    .4   .0  -.3   .3   .0  -.2     .5        2.8
  All items less                                                        
   food and energy    .2    .2   .2   .1   .2   .2   .3    3.1        2.7
     

 For the first four months of 1997, the CPI-U advanced at a 1.5 percent
 seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).  This compares with an increase of
 3.3 percent in all of 1996.  The food and energy components, which had
 accelerated in 1996 after acting as moderating influences throughout most
 of the preceding five years, were responsible for the deceleration thus far
 in 1997.  The food and energy indexes have declined at 0.4 and 6.5 percent
 SAARs, respectively, in the first four months of 1997.  The CPI-U excluding
 food and energy advanced at a 2.7 percent SAAR in the first four months of
 1997, about the same rate as the 2.6 percent rise for all of 1996.
      
 The food and beverage index declined 0.2 percent in April.  The index
 for grocery store food prices,  which decreased 0.2 percent in March, fell
 0.4 percent in April.  The April drop reflects small declines in the
 indexes for cereal and bakery products and for dairy products--down 0.4 and
 0.3 percent, respectively--coupled with a 3.4 percent decrease in the index
 for fruits and vegetables.  Fresh vegetable prices, which rose
 substantially earlier in the year, declined sharply in April.  (Prior to
 seasonal adjustment, fresh vegetable prices fell 5.1 percent in April after
 advancing 11.6 percent in the three-month period from December through
 March.)  The indexes for fresh fruits and for processed fruits and
 vegetables declined 1.0 and 0.6 percent, respectively, in April.  Partially
 offsetting the declines noted above, the index for meats, poultry, fish,
 and eggs rose 0.4 percent in April, following declines in each of the first
 three months of the year.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, this index
 declined 0.1 percent.)  The index for other food at home rose 1.0 percent
 in April, reflecting, in large part, a 6.8 percent increase in coffee
 prices.   Price increases of more than 1.0 percent also were recorded for
 snacks, for frozen prepared foods, and for the candy and other sweets
 components.  The other two components of the food and beverage index--
 restaurant meals and alcoholic beverages--each increased 0.1 percent in
 April.

 The housing component, which was unchanged in March, rose 0.2 percent
 in April.  Each of the three major housing groups--shelter, fuel and other
 utilities, and household furnishings and operations--contributed to the
 upturn.  Shelter costs increased 0.3 percent, following a 0.2 percent rise
 in March.  In April, within shelter, renters' costs and homeowners' costs
 each increased 0.3 percent, and maintenance and repair costs rose 0.1
 percent. The index for fuel and other utilities declined 0.2 percent in
 April after falling 0.8 percent in March.  The index for household fuels
 fell 0.8 percent, reflecting declines in prices for fuel oil and natural
 gas--down 1.8 and 3.0 percent, respectively.   The index for natural gas
 has declined 7.1 percent in the past two months after increasing 17.3
 percent in the preceding 11-month period.  Charges for electricity rose 0.5
 percent in April.  The index for household furnishings and operation, which
 was unchanged in March, increased 0.1 percent in April.

 The transportation component declined for the third time in four
 months--down 0.4 percent in April.  The index for gasoline, which declined
 2.1 percent in March, fell 2.6 percent in April.  (Prior to seasonal
 adjustment, gasoline prices dropped 0.4 percent in April.)  As of April,
 the index for gasoline was 9.7 percent below its peak level of December
 1990.  New vehicle purchase costs continued to advance very moderately; the
 index for new vehicle prices was unchanged, and automobile finance charges
 increased 0.7 percent.  During the 12-month period ended in April, new
 vehicle prices have increased 1.2 percent and automobile finance charges,
 3.0 percent.  The index for used cars decreased 1.6 percent in April.
 (Prior to seasonal adjustment, used car prices fell 0.1 percent.)  Public
 transportation costs rose 1.2 percent in April.  The index for airline
 fares, which rose 4.5 percent in March following the reimposition of the 10
 percent federal tax on airline fares effective March 7, increased 1.2
 percent in April. 

 The index for apparel and upkeep turned back up in April, advancing
 0.9 percent.  It was the largest advance in this index since a 1.1 percent
 increase in February 1993.  (Prior to seasonal adjustment, clothing prices
 rose 1.3 percent in April, reflecting a return to regular prices from heavy
 discounting in March associated with the early Easter holiday.)

 Medical care costs rose 0.3 percent in April to a level 3.0 percent
 above a year ago.  The index for medical care commodities--prescription
 drugs, nonprescription drugs, and medical supplies--increased 0.2 percent.
 The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent.  Charges for
 professional services and hospital and related services increased 0.3 and
 0.4 percent, respectively.

 Entertainment costs rose 0.1 percent in April.  Increases in the
 indexes for fees for participant sports and for admissions to movies,
 theaters, concerts, and sporting events--up 1.4 and 0.7 percent,
 respectively--were largely offset by price declines for all entertainment
 commodity groups--reading materials, sporting goods and equipment, and
 toys, hobbies, and other entertainment commodities.

 The index for other goods and services rose 0.8 percent in April.  A
 2.4 percent increase in the index for tobacco and smoking products
 accounted for two-thirds of the April advance in this major group. 

 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 April.

 Table B.  Percent changes in CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
 Workers (CPI-W)
                                   Seasonally adjusted                Un-
                                                          Compound  adjusted
     Expenditure        Changes from preceding month    annual rate  12-mos.
      Category            1996              1997        3-mos. ended  ended
                     Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.   Apr. '97  Apr. '97
 All Items            .4    .3   .3   .1   .2   .1   .0    1.0       2.3
  Food and beverages  .5    .4   .1  -.2   .2   .1  -.2     .3       2.8
  Housing             .3    .3   .2   .3   .2   .1   .1    1.6       2.6
  Apparel and upkeep  .2    .3   .1   .4   .4  -.3  1.0    4.3       1.0
  Transportation      .4    .3   .6   .0   .0  -.1  -.6   -2.7        .8
  Medical care        .2    .3   .2   .2   .2   .3   .3    3.2       3.0
  Entertainment       .3    .3   .3   .0   .1   .1   .1    1.3       2.2
  Other goods                                                           
   and services       .3    .4   .0   .6   .4   .5  1.0    7.6       4.6
 Special Indexes:                                                       
  Energy             1.2   1.4  1.5   .9   .3 -1.8 -1.9  -12.9       -.2
  Food                .6    .3   .1  -.3   .3   .1  -.2     .5       2.9
  All items less                                                        
   food and energy    .2    .2   .2   .2   .2   .2   .3    2.9       2.5
 
 
 
 
     After seasonal adjustment, the level of the CPI-U for All Items  was
 160.0 in April; the seasonally adjusted CPI-W for All Items was 157.0.
 
     Beginning with January 1997 data, BLS is reporting the level of the
 seasonally adjusted U.S. City Average All Items CPI-U and CPI-W in this
 monthly news release.  Effective with the release of January 1998 data in
 February 1998, the seasonally adjusted All Items indexes will be fully
 integrated into the releases, appearing in tables 2 and 5 and in the text
 where relevant.
 
     Like other seasonally adjusted CPI data, 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.
 
      Consumer Price Index data for May are scheduled for release on
 Tuesday, June 17, 1997, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).



 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-11-ARIMA Seasonal
       Adjustment Method (1988).  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 1992 through 1996 were replaced at the
       end of 1996.  The seasonal movement of all items and 47
       other aggregations is derived by combining the seasonal
       movement of 60 selected components.  Each year the seasonal
       status of every series is reevaluated based upon certain
       statistical criteria.  If any of the 60 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.
       
            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)
 
+
                                               Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                              importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                               December     Mar.      Apr.       Apr. 1997 from-     Jan. to    Feb. to    Mar. to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Apr. 1996  Mar. 1997     Feb.       Mar.       Apr.
 
             Expenditure category
 
 All items ..................................   100.000     160.0     160.2        2.5        0.1        0.3        0.1        0.1
 All items (1967=100) .......................      -        479.3     479.7        -          -          -          -          -
 
   Food and beverages .......................    17.484     157.1     157.1        2.9         .0         .3         .0        -.2
     Food ...................................    15.913     156.6     156.6        2.8         .0         .3         .0        -.2
       Food at home .........................    10.040     157.7     157.5        2.7        -.1         .5        -.2        -.4
         Cereals and bakery products ........     1.479     176.7     176.9        2.1         .1         .1         .3        -.4
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.002     147.8     147.7        4.2        -.1        -.2        -.9         .4
         Dairy products 1/ ..................     1.245     146.1     145.7        6.4        -.3       -1.1        -.1        -.3
+                       _
         Fruits and vegetables 2/ ...........     1.974     189.3     186.4       -1.1       -1.5        3.0         .1       -3.4
+                              _
         Other food at home .................     2.340     145.5     146.9        2.9        1.0         .2         .1        1.0
           Sugar and sweets .................      .331     146.3     147.9        4.0        1.1         .0        -.6        1.1
           Fats and oils ....................      .246     142.4     142.4        1.8         .0         .1        -.1         .0
           Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .724     129.5     131.9        1.5        1.9        -.5        1.3        1.9
           Other prepared food ..............     1.039     160.3     161.1        3.7         .5         .8        -.4         .5
       Food away from home ..................     5.873     156.0     156.2        3.0         .1         .2         .3         .1
     Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.571     162.1     162.3        2.8         .1         .2        -.1         .1
 
   Housing 2/ ...............................    41.203     155.9     155.8        2.6        -.1         .3         .0         .2
+          _
     Shelter ................................    28.194     175.2     175.3        3.1         .1         .3         .2         .3
       Renters' costs 3/ 4/..................     7.994     186.8     186.3        3.7        -.3         .3         .3         .3
+                     _  _
         Rent, residential ..................     5.731     165.1     165.5        2.9         .2         .1         .3         .2
         Other renters' costs 4/ ............     2.263     231.7     228.0        5.5       -1.6         .9         .3         .4
+                             _
       Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...............    20.000     179.8     180.2        2.8         .2         .3         .2         .3
+                        _  _
         Owners' equivalent rent 3/ .........    19.616     180.1     180.5        2.8         .2         .3         .1         .3
+                                _
         Household insurance 3/ 4/ ..........      .383     163.3     163.8        2.8         .3         .9        -.5         .4
+                            _  _
       Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........      .200     142.4     142.5        3.3         .1         .6         .1         .1
+                              _  _
         Maintenance and repair
             services 1/ 4/ .................      .123     148.4     148.9        3.5         .3         .1         .0         .3
+                     _  _
         Maintenance and repair
             commodities 1/ 4/ ..............      .077     134.3     133.6        2.8        -.5        1.1         .3        -.5
+                        _  _
     Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............     7.102     129.9     128.9        2.8        -.8         .3        -.8        -.2
+                             _
       Fuels ................................     3.878     117.2     115.3        2.1       -1.6         .5       -1.5        -.8
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ....................      .424     105.5     102.1         .0       -3.2       -1.9       -3.3       -2.1
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).......................     3.453     123.4     121.7        2.4       -1.4         .7       -1.3        -.6
       Other utilities and public
           services 4/ ......................     3.224     160.5     160.8        3.5         .2         .0         .1         .2
+                   _
     Household furnishings and operation 2/ .     5.908     125.4     125.5         .6         .1         .2         .0         .1
+                                        _
       Housefurnishings 4/ ..................     3.332     111.1     111.1        -.7         .0         .2        -.3        -.2
+                       _
       Housekeeping supplies ................     1.093     142.8     143.3        1.3         .4         .1         .0         .4
       Housekeeping services 4/ .............     1.482     150.6     151.1        3.1         .3         .1         .5         .4
+                            _
 
   Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.330     134.5     136.1         .9        1.2         .2        -.3         .9
     Apparel commodities 4/ .................     4.786     131.0     132.7         .8        1.3         .2        -.4        1.1
+                        _
       Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.280     129.2     131.4        1.9        1.7        -.9        -.2        1.8
       Women's and girls' apparel............     2.102     130.1     131.9        1.3        1.4         .7        -.6         .8
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ....      .186     129.7     133.7         .0        3.1        -.5        2.0        3.1
+                                     _
       Footwear .............................      .718     127.0     129.3         .9        1.8         .2        -.4        1.2
       Other apparel commodities 4/..........      .500     149.5     148.1       -3.5        -.9         .7        -.3        -.7
+                                _
     Apparel services 1/ 4/ .................      .545     162.4     162.6        2.4         .1         .3         .1         .1
+                     _  _
 
   Transportation ...........................    17.140     144.9     144.8        1.2        -.1        -.1         .1        -.4
     Private transportation .................    15.499     141.5     141.3         .7        -.1         .2        -.2        -.6
       New vehicles .........................     4.955     145.4     145.2        1.2        -.1         .0         .1         .0
         New cars ...........................     3.952     142.9     142.6         .9        -.2         .0         .1         .0
       Used cars ............................     1.278     154.4     154.3       -2.0        -.1         .5        1.2       -1.6
       Motor fuel ...........................     3.171     106.4     106.0       -2.4        -.4         .0       -2.1       -2.5
         Gasoline ...........................      -        105.8     105.4       -2.6        -.4         .0       -2.1       -2.6
       Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.533     161.5     161.9        3.0         .2        -.1         .2         .2
       Other private transportation 4/.......     4.562     177.4     177.3        2.5        -.1         .5         .3         .2
+                                   _
         Other private transportation
             commodities 4/..................      .589     105.1     104.7        -.4        -.4         .3        -.3        -.1
+                        _
         Other private transportation
             services 4/ ....................     3.973     194.5     194.5        2.9         .0         .6         .4         .2
+                     _
     Public transportation ..................     1.642     188.1     189.8        5.9         .9       -2.0        2.2        1.2
 
   Medical care .............................     7.346     233.4     233.8        3.0         .2         .2         .4         .3
     Medical care commodities ...............     1.273     214.7     215.2        2.7         .2         .3         .5         .2
     Medical care services ..................     6.073     237.7     238.1        3.0         .2         .2         .3         .3
       Professional medical services ........     3.472     214.2     214.7        3.7         .2         .1         .5         .3
 
   Entertainment 4/ .........................     4.352     162.1     162.2        2.3         .1         .2         .2         .1
+                _
     Entertainment commodities 4/ ...........     1.957     144.5     144.1         .9        -.3         .1         .0        -.2
+                              _
     Entertainment services 4/ ..............     2.395     182.7     183.3        3.4         .3         .3         .3         .3
+                           _
 
   Other goods and services 2/ ..............     7.145     221.4     222.7        4.4         .6         .5         .5         .8
+                           _
     Tobacco and smoking products ...........     1.601     238.2     243.2        5.5        2.1         .6         .4        2.4
     Personal care 1/ .......................     1.145     151.8     152.7        2.0         .6        -.1         .2         .6
+                  _
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 1/ ....................      .588     143.6     144.5         .2         .6        -.2         .2         .6
+                     _
       Personal care services 1/ ............      .557     161.2     162.0        4.0         .5         .0         .3         .5
+                             _
     Personal and educational expenses 4/ ...     4.398     255.8     256.0        4.7         .1         .6         .5         .3
+                                      _
       School books and supplies ............      .264     235.4     235.8        4.6         .2         .4         .3         .5
       Personal and educational services 4/ .     4.134     257.6     257.7        4.6         .0         .6         .5         .3
+                                        _
 
         Commodity and service group
 
 All items ..................................   100.000     160.0     160.2        2.5         .1         .3         .1         .1
   Commodities ..............................    42.873     142.0     142.3        1.5         .2         .2        -.2        -.1
     Food and beverages .....................    17.484     157.1     157.1        2.9         .0         .3         .0        -.2
     Commodities less food and beverages ....    25.389     132.9     133.2         .5         .2         .1        -.3         .0
       Nondurables less food and beverages ..    15.147     135.0     135.8         .8         .6         .3        -.8         .1
         Apparel commodities 4/ .............     4.786     131.0     132.7         .8        1.3         .2        -.4        1.1
+                            _
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ....................    10.362     140.2     140.6         .9         .3         .1        -.6        -.4
       Durables .............................    10.242     129.9     129.6         .1        -.2         .1         .0        -.2
   Services .................................    57.127     178.2     178.3        3.2         .1         .2         .2         .3
     Rent of shelter 3/ .....................    27.577     182.3     182.4        3.1         .1         .3         .3         .3
+                    _
     Household services less rent of
         shelter 3/ 4/.......................     8.698     144.3     143.7        2.9        -.4         .4        -.3        -.1
+                _  _
     Transportation services ................     7.148     184.9     185.4        3.6         .3        -.1         .8         .4
     Medical care services ..................     6.073     237.7     238.1        3.0         .2         .2         .3         .3
     Other services .........................     7.631     207.3     207.7        4.1         .2         .4         .4         .3
 
               Special indexes
 
 All items less food ........................    84.087     160.6     160.8        2.4         .1         .2         .1         .2
 All items less shelter .....................    71.806     155.6     155.8        2.2         .1         .2         .0         .0
 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/......    80.000     161.2     161.2        2.3         .0         .2         .1         .1
+                                 _  _
 All items less medical care ................    92.654     155.9     156.0        2.4         .1         .3         .0         .1
 Commodities less food ......................    26.960     134.1     134.4         .7         .2         .1        -.2        -.1
 Nondurables less food ......................    16.718     136.6     137.4        1.0         .6         .2        -.7         .1
 Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    11.932     141.4     141.7        1.1         .2         .1        -.7        -.4
 Nondurables ................................    32.631     146.2     146.6        1.9         .3         .3        -.4        -.1
 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........    29.550     186.7     186.8        3.4         .1         .2         .3         .3
+                              _  _
 Services less medical care services ........    51.054     172.7     172.8        3.3         .1         .2         .3         .2
 Energy .....................................     7.049     111.2     110.0         .0       -1.1         .3       -1.7       -1.5
 All items less energy ......................    92.951     166.5     166.8        2.6         .2         .2         .2         .2
   All items less food and energy ...........    77.038     169.0     169.4        2.7         .2         .2         .2         .3
     Commodities less food and
         energy commodities .................    23.364     143.0     143.5        1.1         .3         .1         .1         .3
       Energy commodities ...................     3.596     106.6     105.8       -2.1        -.8        -.2       -2.2       -2.4
     Services less energy services ..........    53.674     183.8     184.1        3.3         .2         .3         .3         .3
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
   1982-84=$1.00 1/ .........................      -        $.625     $.624       -2.5        -.2        -.3        -.2        -.2
+                _
   1967=$1.00 1/ ............................      -         .209      .208        -          -          -          -          -
+             _
 
+
 
    1/     Not seasonally adjusted.
+   _
    2/     This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
+   _
    3/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
+   _
    4/     This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
+   _
           See Table X for a comparable index series.
    -      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
                                                                                         3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                  Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    Apr.    July    Oct.    Jan.    Apr.     Oct.      Apr.
                                                  1997    1997    1997    1997    1996    1996    1997    1997     1996      1997
 
               Expenditure category
 
  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.6     3.1     2.8     1.5      2.8       2.2
 
    Food and beverages .........................   156.3   156.8   156.8   156.5     5.1     5.3      .8      .5      5.2        .6
      Food .....................................   156.0   156.5   156.5   156.2     5.4     5.3      .5      .5      5.3        .5
        Food at home ...........................   156.7   157.5   157.2   156.5     6.5     6.6    -1.3     -.5      6.5       -.9
          Cereals and bakery products ..........   176.3   176.4   177.0   176.3     3.5     2.8     2.1      .0      3.2       1.0
          Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   148.7   148.4   147.1   147.7     9.0     8.2     2.5    -2.7      8.6       -.1
          Dairy products 1/ ....................   147.8   146.2   146.1   145.7    15.4    22.2    -4.0    -5.6     18.8      -4.8
+                        _
          Fruits and vegetables 2/..............   182.2   187.7   187.8   181.5     5.6     4.4   -11.0    -1.5      5.0      -6.4
+                               _
          Other food at home ...................   144.5   144.8   145.0   146.5     1.7     2.5     2.0     5.7      2.1       3.8
            Sugar and sweets ...................   146.9   146.9   146.0   147.6     6.3     3.4     4.2     1.9      4.8       3.0
            Fats and oils ......................   141.9   142.1   142.0   142.0     1.7     4.7      .9      .3      3.2        .6
            Nonalcoholic beverages .............   127.9   127.3   129.0   131.5    -3.4    -2.2      .9    11.7     -2.8       6.2
            Other prepared food ................   159.4   160.6   160.0   160.8     4.2     4.7     2.5     3.6      4.4       3.1
        Food away from home ....................   155.3   155.6   156.0   156.2     3.2     3.4     3.2     2.3      3.3       2.7
      Alcoholic beverages ......................   161.4   161.8   161.6   161.8     2.8     4.4     3.0     1.0      3.6       2.0
 
    Housing 2/ .................................   155.2   155.6   155.6   155.9     2.9     2.6     3.4     1.8      2.8       2.6
+           _
      Shelter ..................................   173.4   174.0   174.3   174.9     3.6     2.4     2.8     3.5      3.0       3.2
        Renters' costs 3/ 4/....................   182.8   183.4   183.9   184.5     4.6     2.5     3.8     3.8      3.5       3.8
+                      _  _
          Rent, residential ....................   164.4   164.6   165.1   165.5     3.3     2.5     3.0     2.7      2.9       2.8
          Other renters' costs 4/ ..............   221.1   223.1   223.7   224.6     7.3     2.2     6.0     6.5      4.8       6.2
+                              _
        Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................   179.0   179.5   179.8   180.4     3.2     2.3     2.7     3.2      2.8       2.9
+                         _  _
          Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ...........   179.3   179.9   180.1   180.7     3.2     2.3     2.7     3.2      2.8       2.9
+                                 _
          Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............   162.9   164.3   163.5   164.2     3.8     5.1    -1.0     3.2      4.4       1.1
+                             _  _
        Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ..........   141.5   142.3   142.4   142.5     4.1     2.3     3.8     2.9      3.2       3.3
+                               _  _
          Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/    148.2   148.4   148.4   148.9     7.1     2.8     2.5     1.9      4.9       2.2
+                                         _  _
          Maintenance and repair
              commodities 1/ 4/ ................   132.5   133.9   134.3   133.6      .3     1.2     6.3     3.4       .8       4.8
+                         _  _
      Fuel and other utilities 2/...............   131.2   131.6   130.5   130.2     2.2     5.1     7.0    -3.0      3.7       1.9
+                              _
        Fuels ..................................   118.8   119.4   117.6   116.7     -.3     6.1    10.4    -6.9      2.8       1.4
          Fuel oil and other household fuel
              commodities ......................   108.2   106.1   102.6   100.4   -20.2    45.9    15.8   -25.9      7.9      -7.3
          Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
              services).........................   125.3   126.2   124.6   123.9     2.0     2.3    10.2    -4.4      2.2       2.6
        Other utilities and public services 4/ .   160.0   160.0   160.2   160.6     5.5     3.6     3.1     1.5      4.6       2.3
+                                           _
      Household furnishings and operation 2/ ...   124.9   125.1   125.1   125.2      .6     1.0      .0     1.0       .8        .5
+                                         _
        Housefurnishings 4/ ....................   111.0   111.2   110.9   110.7    -1.4      .0     -.4    -1.1      -.7       -.7
+                        _
        Housekeeping supplies ..................   142.3   142.5   142.5   143.0     -.3     1.1     2.3     2.0       .4       2.1
        Housekeeping services 4/ ...............   149.6   149.7   150.5   151.1     5.6     3.5     -.8     4.1      4.6       1.6
+                             _
 
    Apparel and upkeep .........................   132.3   132.6   132.2   133.4    -2.1     -.6     3.1     3.4     -1.4       3.2
      Apparel commodities 4/ ...................   128.6   128.8   128.3   129.7    -2.8     -.6     3.2     3.5     -1.7       3.3
+                         _
        Men's and boys' apparel ................   129.5   128.3   128.0   130.3    -1.2     -.3     6.8     2.5      -.8       4.6
        Women's and girls' apparel .............   125.7   126.6   125.8   126.8    -3.5    -1.3     6.6     3.5     -2.4       5.1
        Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ......   127.9   127.2   129.7   133.7   -21.9     9.2    -1.9    19.4     -7.6       8.3
+                                      _
        Footwear ...............................   126.4   126.7   126.2   127.7     1.6     -.6    -1.3     4.2       .5       1.4
        Other apparel commodities 4/............   146.8   147.9   147.5   146.5    -1.0    -2.6    -9.5     -.8     -1.8      -5.2
+                                 _
      Apparel services 1/ 4/ ...................   161.7   162.2   162.4   162.6     2.8     1.8     2.8     2.2      2.3       2.5
+                      _  _
 
    Transportation .............................   145.4   145.3   145.4   144.8      .0     3.4     3.1    -1.6      1.7        .7
      Private transportation ...................   142.4   142.7   142.4   141.6    -1.1     2.3     4.0    -2.2       .6        .9
        New vehicles ...........................   144.4   144.4   144.6   144.6     2.5     2.0     -.6      .6      2.3        .0
          New cars .............................   141.9   141.9   142.0   142.0     2.6     2.0    -1.4      .3      2.3       -.6
        Used cars ..............................   155.1   155.8   157.7   155.1    -4.7     -.3    -2.5      .0     -2.5      -1.3
        Motor fuel .............................   111.8   111.8   109.5   106.8   -11.5     2.3    21.0   -16.7     -4.9        .4
          Gasoline .............................   111.3   111.3   109.0   106.2   -11.2     1.1    21.6   -17.1     -5.3        .4
        Maintenance and repairs ................   161.3   161.2   161.5   161.9     2.8     4.9     2.8     1.5      3.9       2.1
        Other private transportation 4/.........   175.2   176.1   176.7   177.0     3.3     2.3      .2     4.2      2.8       2.2
+                                    _
          Other private transportation
              commodities 4/....................   104.8   105.1   104.8   104.7     -.4      .8    -1.5     -.4       .2       -.9
+                         _
          Other private transportation
              services 4/ ......................   192.0   193.1   193.9   194.3     3.9     2.5      .4     4.9      3.2       2.6
+                      _
      Public transportation ....................   185.6   181.9   185.9   188.1     8.6    15.4    -5.0     5.5     11.9        .1
 
    Medical care ...............................   231.9   232.3   233.2   233.8     3.4     2.6     2.6     3.3      3.0       3.0
      Medical care commodities .................   212.8   213.5   214.5   215.0     2.9     3.1      .8     4.2      3.0       2.5
      Medical care services ....................   236.0   236.4   237.2   237.9     3.3     2.6     2.9     3.3      3.0       3.1
        Professional medical services ..........   212.4   212.7   213.7   214.4     3.3     3.9     3.7     3.8      3.6       3.7
    Entertainment 4/ ...........................   161.1   161.4   161.7   161.8     2.8     2.5     2.0     1.7      2.7       1.9
+                 _
      Entertainment commodities 4/ .............   144.0   144.2   144.2   143.9     1.4     2.3      .6     -.3      1.8        .1
+                               _
      Entertainment services 4/ ................   181.1   181.6   182.1   182.7     4.1     2.7     3.2     3.6      3.4       3.4
+                            _
 
    Other goods and services 2/.................   220.3   221.3   222.3   224.1     3.8     3.4     3.5     7.1      3.6       5.3
+                            _
      Tobacco and smoking products .............   236.2   237.6   238.5   244.2     2.8     4.4     1.4    14.3      3.6       7.6
      Personal care 1/ .........................   151.6   151.5   151.8   152.7      .8     2.4     1.9     2.9      1.6       2.4
+                   _
        Toilet goods and personal care
            appliances 1/ ......................   143.6   143.3   143.6   144.5      .6      .6    -2.7     2.5       .6       -.1
+                      _
        Personal care services 1/ ..............   160.7   160.7   161.2   162.0     1.6     4.2     7.3     3.3      2.8       5.3
+                              _
      Personal and educational expenses 4/ .....   253.5   255.0   256.3   257.0     5.0     3.3     4.7     5.6      4.1       5.2
+                                       _
        School books and supplies ..............   232.2   233.2   234.0   235.1     3.1     7.4     2.8     5.1      5.2       3.9
        Personal and educational services 4/ ...   255.0   256.5   257.8   258.5     4.9     3.1     4.8     5.6      4.0       5.2
+                                         _
 
           Commodity and service group
 
  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.6     3.1     2.8     1.5      2.8       2.2
    Commodities ................................   141.8   142.1   141.8   141.7      .9     3.2     2.3     -.3      2.0       1.0
      Food and beverages .......................   156.3   156.8   156.8   156.5     5.1     5.3      .8      .5      5.2        .6
      Commodities less food and beverages ......   133.0   133.1   132.7   132.7    -1.8     1.8     3.4     -.9       .0       1.2
        Nondurables less food and beverages ....   135.3   135.7   134.6   134.8    -2.1     1.8     5.5    -1.5      -.1       2.0
          Apparel commodities 4/ ...............   128.6   128.8   128.3   129.7    -2.8     -.6     3.2     3.5     -1.7       3.3
+                             _
          Nondurables less food, beverages,
              and apparel ......................   142.2   142.3   141.4   140.8    -4.0     2.9     8.9    -3.9      -.6       2.3
        Durables ...............................   129.5   129.6   129.6   129.3      .3      .9     -.3     -.6       .6       -.5
    Services ...................................   177.2   177.6   178.0   178.5     3.8     3.0     3.2     3.0      3.4       3.1
      Rent of shelter 3/ .......................   180.8   181.3   181.8   182.3     3.2     2.5     3.2     3.4      2.8       3.3
+                     _
      Household services less rent
          of shelter 3/ 4/......................   145.1   145.7   145.2   145.0     4.3     3.1     4.8     -.3      3.7       2.2
+                    _  _
      Transportation services ..................   182.9   182.7   184.1   184.9     4.6     5.9     -.4     4.4      5.2       2.0
      Medical care services ....................   236.0   236.4   237.2   237.9     3.3     2.6     2.9     3.3      3.0       3.1
      Other services ...........................   206.1   206.9   207.8   208.4     4.3     3.0     4.4     4.5      3.6       4.5
 
                 Special indexes
 
  All items less food ..........................   159.9   160.2   160.3   160.6     2.1     2.8     3.1     1.8      2.4       2.4
  All items less shelter .......................   155.2   155.5   155.5   155.5     2.1     3.4     2.6      .8      2.8       1.7
  All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........   160.5   160.8   160.9   161.0     2.3     3.3     2.8     1.3      2.8       2.0
+                                  _  _
  All items less medical care ..................   155.1   155.5   155.5   155.7     2.7     3.2     2.6     1.6      2.9       2.1
  Commodities less food ........................   134.2   134.4   134.1   134.0    -1.8     2.1     3.0     -.6       .2       1.2
  Nondurables less food ........................   136.8   137.1   136.2   136.3    -1.8     1.8     5.4    -1.5       .0       1.9
  Nondurables less food and apparel ............   142.9   143.1   142.1   141.5    -1.7     4.4     6.1    -3.9      1.3       1.0
  Nondurables ..................................   146.1   146.5   145.9   145.7     1.4     3.4     3.6    -1.1      2.4       1.2
  Services less rent of shelter 3/ .............   185.9   186.2   186.7   187.2     4.5     3.5     3.1     2.8      4.0       2.9
+                               _
  Services less medical care services ..........   171.7   172.0   172.5   172.9     3.9     3.1     3.3     2.8      3.5       3.1
  Energy .......................................   114.6   114.9   112.9   111.2    -5.6     4.5    14.9   -11.3      -.7        .9
  All items less energy ........................   165.5   165.9   166.2   166.6     3.2     3.0     1.7     2.7      3.1       2.2
    All items less food and energy .............   167.9   168.3   168.7   169.2     2.7     2.4     2.2     3.1      2.6       2.7
      Commodities less food and energy
          commodities ..........................   142.0   142.2   142.3   142.7      .3     1.4      .8     2.0       .9       1.4
        Energy commodities .....................   111.5   111.3   108.8   106.2   -12.3     6.2    20.1   -17.7     -3.5       -.6
      Services less energy services ............   182.4   182.9   183.4   184.0     4.1     2.9     2.7     3.6      3.5       3.1
 
+
 
     1/     Not seasonally adjusted.
+    _
     2/     This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
+    _
     3/     Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
+    _
     4/     This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
+    _
            See Table X for a comparable index series.
     -      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: Selected areas, all items index
 
 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
+
                                                                  Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                   Area                     Pricing                                       Apr. 1997 from-         Mar. 1997 from-
                                           schedule    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    Apr.    Apr.    Feb.    Mar.    Mar.    Jan.    Feb.
                                              1/       1997    1997    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997
+                                             _
 
 
 
 U.S. city average ......................      M        159.1   159.6   160.0   160.2     2.5     0.4     0.1     2.8     0.6     0.3
 
         Region and area size 2/
+                             _
 
 Northeast urban.........................      M        166.2   166.9   167.3   167.1     2.6      .1     -.1     2.8      .7      .2
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        166.8   167.7   168.1   167.7     2.5      .0     -.2     2.7      .8      .2
   Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        164.2   164.2   164.8   165.4     3.0      .7      .4     2.9      .4      .4
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 3/........      M        164.7   165.3   165.6   165.6     2.7      .2      .0     3.0      .5      .2
+                              _
 
 North Central urban ....................      M        155.5   155.9   155.9   156.1     2.5      .1      .1     2.8      .3      .0
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        156.0   156.5   156.6   156.9     2.6      .3      .2     2.6      .4      .1
   Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        154.3   154.4   154.6   154.8     2.4      .3      .1     2.8      .2      .1
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 3/........      M        157.8   158.3   158.1   158.2     2.8     -.1      .1     3.3      .2     -.1
+                              _
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        152.2   152.1   152.1   152.1     2.1      .0      .0     3.0     -.1      .0
 
 South urban ............................      M        155.7   156.1   156.5   156.7     2.3      .4      .1     2.7      .5      .3
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        154.9   155.2   155.4   155.7     2.2      .3      .2     2.6      .3      .1
   Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        158.5   158.9   159.7   159.8     2.7      .6      .1     3.0      .8      .5
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 3/........      M        155.0   155.6   155.7   156.0     1.9      .3      .2     2.3      .5      .1
+                              _
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        154.8   155.5   156.0   156.1     2.4      .4      .1     2.9      .8      .3
 
 West urban .............................      M        159.6   160.1   160.8   161.1     2.5      .6      .2     2.8      .8      .4
   Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        159.6   160.1   160.9   161.2     2.5      .7      .2     2.7      .8      .5
   Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 3/........      M        164.9   165.4   166.3   166.5     2.7      .7      .1     3.0      .8      .5
+                              _
 
 Size classes
   A 4/ .................................      M        143.6   144.1   144.4   144.5     2.4      .3      .1     2.6      .6      .2
+    _
   B 3/ .................................      M        159.2   159.5   160.1   160.4     2.8      .6      .2     3.0      .6      .4
+    _
   C 3/ .................................      M        159.1   159.6   159.8   160.0     2.4      .3      .1     2.8      .4      .1
+    _
   D ....................................      M        155.9   156.2   156.4   156.5     2.3      .2      .1     2.8      .3      .1
 
           Selected local areas
 
 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        160.4   161.1   161.0   160.9     2.9     -.1     -.1     3.0      .4     -.1
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        159.1   159.2   159.8   159.9     1.4      .4      .1     1.6      .4      .4
 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        169.1   170.1   170.7   170.2     2.5      .1     -.3     2.5      .9      .4
 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton,
 PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ .........................      M        165.1   165.8   166.1   166.0     2.4      .1     -.1     2.5      .6      .2
+            _
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ ..      M        157.0   157.9   159.2   159.6     3.7     1.1      .3     4.1     1.4      .8
+                                   _
 
 Baltimore, MD 6/ .......................      1        155.8    -      157.1    -       -       -       -        2.7      .8    -
+              _
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1        167.7    -      168.1    -       -       -       -        3.3      .2    -
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1        153.8    -      155.4    -       -       -       -        3.0     1.0    -
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1        158.1    -      158.5    -       -       -       -        4.0      .3    -
 St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ .....      1        151.5    -      152.2    -       -       -       -        2.2      .5    -
+                                _
 Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................      1        161.6    -      161.9    -       -       -       -        2.2      .2    -
+                     _
 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2         -      150.7    -      150.6     1.4     -.1    -       -       -       -
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2         -      155.4    -      156.0     2.4      .4    -       -       -       -
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2         -      144.5    -      145.2     1.5      .5    -       -       -       -
 Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........      2         -      156.2    -      156.6     2.5      .3    -       -       -       -
+                             _
 
+
 
    1/     Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as
+   _
           indicated:
             M - Every month.
             1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.
             2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.
    2/     Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
+   _
    3/     Starting in January, 1998, a new Size Class B/C will be introduced, composed of current
+   _
           Size Class B and Size Class C cities.  There will be no individual Size Class B or Size Class C.
    4/     Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
+   _
    5/     Indexes for the cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco will no longer be published on a monthly
+   _
           basis starting in January, 1998.  Beginning in February, 1998 they will be published on a
           bi-monthly basis.
    6/     Indexes for the cities of Washington and Baltimore will no longer be published separately after December, 1997.
+   _
           Beginning in January, 1998 the two cities will be published as a Washington-Baltimore
           combined metropolitan area.
    7/     Indexes for the cities of Pittsburgh and St. Louis will no longer be published on a bi-monthly
+   _
           basis after December, 1997.  Beginning in July, 1998 they will be published semi-annually, each
           January and July.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than
           the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error.  As a
           result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are
           similar.  Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average
           CPI for use in their escalator clauses.
 
 
 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)
 
+
                                               Relative   Unadjusted indexes       Unadjusted             Seasonally adjusted
                                              importance,                       percent change to         percent change from-
                                               December     Mar.      Apr.       Apr. 1997 from-     Jan. to    Feb. to    Mar. to
                                                 1996       1997      1997    Apr. 1996  Mar. 1997     Feb.       Mar.       Apr.
 
             Expenditure category
 
 All items ..................................   100.000     157.0     157.2        2.3        0.1        0.2        0.1        0.0
 All items (1967=100) .......................      -        467.8     468.3        -          -          -          -          -
 
   Food and beverages .......................    19.436     156.5     156.5        2.8         .0         .2         .1        -.2
     Food ...................................    17.749     156.1     156.1        2.9         .0         .3         .1        -.2
       Food at home .........................    11.387     156.7     156.6        2.8        -.1         .3        -.1        -.3
         Cereals and bakery products ........     1.688     176.4     176.6        2.1         .1        -.1         .4        -.4
         Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .....     3.535     147.4     147.3        4.1        -.1        -.3        -.8         .5
         Dairy products 1/ ..................     1.387     145.8     145.4        6.3        -.3       -1.1        -.1        -.3
+                       _
         Fruits and vegetables 2/ ...........     2.086     188.2     185.2       -1.3       -1.6        2.7         .3       -3.3
+                              _
         Other food at home .................     2.691     145.1     146.4        2.8         .9         .2         .1        1.0
           Sugar and sweets .................      .373     146.2     147.9        4.0        1.2         .2        -.7        1.2
           Fats and oils ....................      .282     142.2     142.1        1.7        -.1         .1         .1        -.1
           Nonalcoholic beverages ...........      .841     128.9     131.1        1.3        1.7        -.4        1.1        1.8
           Other prepared food ..............     1.194     160.1     161.0        3.8         .6         .7        -.5         .7
       Food away from home ..................     6.362     156.0     156.2        3.0         .1         .2         .3         .0
     Alcoholic beverages ....................     1.687     161.5     161.7        2.8         .1         .1         .1         .0
 
   Housing 2/ ...............................    38.747     152.5     152.4        2.6        -.1         .2         .1         .1
+          _
     Shelter ................................    25.867     169.9     170.1        3.0         .1         .3         .2         .3
       Renters' costs 3/ 4/..................     8.079     161.9     161.8        3.3        -.1         .3         .3         .4
+                     _  _
         Rent, residential ..................     6.580     164.7     165.2        2.9         .3         .1         .2         .3
         Other renters' costs 4/ ............     1.499     229.9     226.9        5.2       -1.3         .6         .3         .7
+                             _
       Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/...............    17.599     163.9     164.3        2.8         .2         .3         .2         .2
+                        _  _
         Owners' equivalent rent 3/ .........    17.277     164.3     164.6        2.8         .2         .3         .2         .2
+                                _
         Household insurance 3/ 4/ ..........      .322     148.1     148.5        1.7         .3         .7        -.3         .4
+                            _  _
       Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ........      .189     140.9     141.0        3.1         .1         .4         .1         .1
+                              _  _
         Maintenance and repair
             services 1/ 4/ .................      .105     150.3     150.9        3.4         .4         .2         .0         .4
+                     _  _
         Maintenance and repair
             commodities 1/ 4/ ..............      .084     128.7     128.2        2.6        -.4         .8         .3        -.4
+                        _  _
     Fuel and other utilities 2/ ............     7.344     129.6     128.6        2.7        -.8         .3        -.8        -.4
+                             _
       Fuels ................................     3.979     116.5     114.7        2.1       -1.5         .5       -1.4        -.9
         Fuel oil and other household fuel
             commodities ....................      .391     105.3     101.7         .1       -3.4       -2.0       -3.5       -2.2
         Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
             services).......................     3.588     122.9     121.2        2.3       -1.4         .7       -1.2        -.8
       Other utilities and public
           services 4/ ......................     3.365     161.2     161.5        3.5         .2         .1         .1         .2
+                   _
     Household furnishings and operation 2/ .     5.536     123.9     124.0         .5         .1         .1         .0         .0
+                                        _
       Housefurnishings 4/ ..................     3.261     109.8     109.7        -.7        -.1         .1        -.1        -.3
+                       _
       Housekeeping supplies ................     1.129     143.5     143.9        1.6         .3         .1         .1         .4
       Housekeeping services 4/ .............     1.145     153.3     153.7        2.7         .3         .1         .3         .5
+                            _
 
   Apparel and upkeep .......................     5.348     133.8     135.5        1.0        1.3         .4        -.3        1.0
     Apparel commodities 4/ .................     4.838     130.5     132.3         .8        1.4         .4        -.3        1.0
+                        _
       Men's and boys' apparel ..............     1.286     128.8     131.1        1.9        1.8        -.9        -.2        1.8
       Women's and girls' apparel............     2.053     129.2     130.7         .9        1.2        1.1        -.4         .4
       Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ....      .240     130.7     134.9         .1        3.2        -.3        2.0        3.2
+                                     _
       Footwear .............................      .799     127.9     130.3        1.0        1.9         .1        -.5        1.3
       Other apparel commodities 4/..........      .461     149.5     149.3       -2.4        -.1        1.0        -.9         .4
+                                _
     Apparel services 1/ 4/ .................      .510     161.5     161.7        2.2         .1         .3         .1         .1
+                     _  _
 
   Transportation ...........................    19.190     144.2     144.2         .8         .0         .0        -.1        -.6
     Private transportation .................    17.934     141.9     141.8         .6        -.1         .1        -.1        -.8
       New vehicles .........................     4.893     146.6     146.4        1.3        -.1        -.1         .2         .1
         New cars ...........................     3.533     142.5     142.3        1.0        -.1        -.1         .2        -.1
       Used cars ............................     2.320     155.7     155.7       -1.8         .0         .4        1.3       -1.6
       Motor fuel ...........................     3.921     106.3     105.9       -2.5        -.4        -.1       -2.2       -2.7
         Gasoline ...........................      -        105.7     105.4       -2.7        -.3        -.2       -2.2       -2.7
       Maintenance and repairs ..............     1.616     162.5     162.9        3.0         .2        -.2         .4         .2
       Other private transportation 4/.......     5.185     172.8     172.8        2.5         .0         .4         .3         .2
+                                   _
         Other private transportation
             commodities 4/..................      .742     104.1     103.7        -.5        -.4         .1         .0        -.3
+                        _
         Other private transportation
             services 4/ ....................     4.442     190.2     190.3        3.0         .1         .5         .3         .3
+                     _
     Public transportation ..................     1.256     185.1     186.8        5.2         .9       -2.2        1.7        1.2
 
   Medical care .............................     6.251     232.8     233.2        3.0         .2         .2         .3         .3
     Medical care commodities ...............     1.047     212.1     212.3        2.6         .1         .4         .3         .2
     Medical care services ..................     5.204     237.4     237.9        3.1         .2         .0         .4         .3
       Professional medical services ........     2.973     215.4     216.0        3.8         .3         .2         .5         .3
 
   Entertainment 4/ .........................     4.015     159.6     159.7        2.2         .1         .1         .1         .1
+                _
     Entertainment commodities 4/ ...........     2.036     143.4     143.0         .8        -.3         .1         .0        -.4
+                              _
     Entertainment services 4/ ..............     1.979     182.8     183.6        3.7         .4         .1         .4         .5
+                           _
 
   Other goods and services 2/ ..............     7.012     218.0     219.8        4.6         .8         .4         .5        1.0
+                           _
     Tobacco and smoking products ...........     2.117     237.7     242.7        5.4        2.1         .5         .4        2.3
     Personal care 1/ .......................     1.107     151.6     152.6        2.0         .7        -.1         .1         .7
+                  _
       Toilet goods and personal care
           appliances 1/ ....................      .610     144.3     145.4         .5         .8        -.1         .1         .8
+                     _
       Personal care services 1/ ............      .497     161.2     162.1        4.1         .6         .0         .2         .6
+                             _
     Personal and educational expenses 4/ ...     3.788     251.6     251.8        4.9         .1         .6         .5         .3
+                                      _
       School books and supplies ............      .232     237.1     237.4        4.8         .1         .3         .3         .6
       Personal and educational services 4/ .     3.556     253.0     253.3        4.9         .1         .6         .5         .3
+                                        _
 
         Commodity and service group
 
 All items ..................................   100.000     157.0     157.2        2.3         .1         .2         .1         .0
   Commodities ..............................    47.057     142.0     142.2        1.4         .1         .2        -.1        -.2
     Food and beverages .....................    19.436     156.5     156.5        2.8         .0         .2         .1        -.2
     Commodities less food and beverages ....    27.621     133.1     133.4         .5         .2         .2        -.3        -.2
       Nondurables less food and beverages ..    16.215     134.8     135.6         .8         .6         .2        -.7         .0
         Apparel commodities 4/ .............     4.838     130.5     132.3         .8        1.4         .4        -.3        1.0
+                            _
         Nondurables less food, beverages,
             and apparel ....................    11.377     139.9     140.3         .9         .3         .1        -.8        -.4
       Durables .............................    11.407     129.6     129.3        -.1        -.2         .1         .0        -.3
   Services .................................    52.943     175.2     175.3        3.1         .1         .2         .2         .2
     Rent of shelter 3/ .....................    25.329     163.5     163.7        3.0         .1         .2         .2         .3
+                    _
     Household services less rent of
         shelter 3/ 4/.......................     8.553     132.6     132.0        2.8        -.5         .4        -.4        -.1
+                _  _
     Transportation services ................     7.314     182.3     182.8        3.3         .3        -.1         .6         .4
     Medical care services ..................     5.204     237.4     237.9        3.1         .2         .0         .4         .3
     Other services .........................     6.542     204.1     204.6        4.2         .2         .3         .4         .3
 
               Special indexes
 
 All items less food ........................    82.251     157.1     157.3        2.2         .1         .2         .1         .1
 All items less shelter .....................    74.133     153.7     153.8        2.1         .1         .1         .0        -.1
 All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/......    82.401     147.5     147.6        2.2         .1         .2         .0         .0
+                                 _  _
 All items less medical care ................    93.749     153.5     153.6        2.3         .1         .2         .0         .1
 Commodities less food ......................    29.308     134.2     134.6         .6         .3         .1        -.3        -.1
 Nondurables less food ......................    17.901     136.4     137.1        1.0         .5         .3        -.9        -.1
 Nondurables less food and apparel ..........    13.064     141.1     141.4        1.1         .2         .2        -.8        -.4
 Nondurables ................................    35.651     146.0     146.4        1.9         .3         .2        -.3        -.1
 Services less rent of shelter 3/ 4/ ........    27.613     166.3     166.4        3.4         .1         .3         .2         .1
+                              _  _
 Services less medical care services ........    47.738     169.9     170.0        3.2         .1         .2         .2         .2
 Energy .....................................     7.901     110.7     109.6        -.2       -1.0         .3       -1.8       -1.9
 All items less energy ......................    92.099     163.5     163.9        2.6         .2         .2         .2         .2
   All items less food and energy ...........    74.350     165.5     165.9        2.5         .2         .2         .2         .3
     Commodities less food and
         energy commodities .................    24.996     142.5     143.1        1.1         .4         .2         .1         .2
       Energy commodities ...................     4.312     106.5     105.8       -2.3        -.7        -.3       -2.3       -2.7
     Services less energy services ..........    49.354     181.0     181.3        3.2         .2         .2         .3         .3
 Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
   1982-84=$1.00 1/ .........................      -        $.637     $.636       -2.3        -.2        -.3        -.2        -.2
+                _
   1967=$1.00 1/ ............................      -         .214      .214        -          -          -          -          -
+             _
 
+
 
    1/     Not seasonally adjusted.
+   _
    2/     This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
+   _
    3/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
+   _
    4/     This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
+   _
           See Table X for a comparable index series.
    -      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): 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
                                                                                         3 months ended-           6 months ended-
                                                  Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    Apr.    July    Oct.    Jan.    Apr.     Oct.      Apr.
                                                  1997    1997    1997    1997    1996    1996    1997    1997     1996      1997
 
               Expenditure category
 
  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.4     3.1     2.9     1.0      2.8       1.9
 
    Food and beverages .........................   156.0   156.3   156.4   156.1     5.1     5.3     1.0      .3      5.2        .6
      Food .....................................   155.5   155.9   156.0   155.7     5.1     5.6      .5      .5      5.4        .5
        Food at home ...........................   156.0   156.5   156.3   155.8     6.2     6.7    -1.0     -.5      6.4       -.8
          Cereals and bakery products ..........   176.2   176.0   176.7   176.0     3.5     2.6     2.8     -.5      3.0       1.1
          Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......   148.3   147.9   146.7   147.4     9.1     8.0     2.5    -2.4      8.5        .0
          Dairy products 1/ ....................   147.6   146.0   145.8   145.4    15.8    21.2    -3.4    -5.8     18.5      -4.6
+                        _
          Fruits and vegetables 2/..............   181.8   186.7   187.2   181.0     5.4     3.7   -10.9    -1.7      4.5      -6.4
+                               _
          Other food at home ...................   144.1   144.4   144.5   145.9     1.7     2.0     2.3     5.1      1.8       3.7
            Sugar and sweets ...................   146.6   146.9   145.9   147.7     6.0     3.1     3.6     3.0      4.6       3.3
            Fats and oils ......................   141.4   141.6   141.8   141.7     1.4     4.7      .3      .9      3.0        .6
            Nonalcoholic beverages .............   127.4   126.9   128.3   130.6    -3.1    -2.5      .9    10.4     -2.8       5.6
            Other prepared food ................   159.3   160.4   159.6   160.7     4.2     4.7     2.8     3.6      4.4       3.2
        Food away from home ....................   155.4   155.7   156.2   156.2     2.9     3.7     3.4     2.1      3.3       2.7
      Alcoholic beverages ......................   160.8   160.9   161.0   161.0     2.8     4.6     3.0      .5      3.7       1.8
 
    Housing 2/ .................................   151.9   152.2   152.3   152.5     2.7     2.4     3.5     1.6      2.6       2.5
+           _
      Shelter ..................................   168.6   169.1   169.5   170.0     3.4     2.2     2.9     3.4      2.8       3.1
        Renters' costs 3/ 4/....................   159.6   160.0   160.4   161.0     4.4     2.0     3.3     3.6      3.2       3.4
+                      _  _
          Rent, residential ....................   164.1   164.3   164.7   165.2     3.5     2.2     3.0     2.7      2.9       2.8
          Other renters' costs 4/ ..............   220.5   221.8   222.4   223.9     7.5     1.3     5.8     6.3      4.4       6.1
+                              _
        Homeowners' costs 3/ 4/ ................   163.2   163.7   164.1   164.5     3.0     2.3     2.7     3.2      2.6       3.0
+                         _  _
          Owners' equivalent rent 3/ ...........   163.5   164.0   164.4   164.8     3.0     2.2     2.7     3.2      2.6       3.0
+                                 _
          Household insurance 3/ 4/ ............   147.9   148.9   148.4   149.0     2.2     3.6    -1.6     3.0      2.9        .7
+                             _  _
        Maintenance and repairs 1/ 4/ ..........   140.1   140.7   140.9   141.0     3.3     1.8     4.7     2.6      2.5       3.6
+                               _  _
          Maintenance and repair services 1/ 4/    150.0   150.3   150.3   150.9     6.5     3.6     1.3     2.4      5.0       1.9
+                                         _  _
          Maintenance and repair
              commodities 1/ 4/ ................   127.3   128.3   128.7   128.2     -.6      .0     8.3     2.9      -.3       5.5
+                         _  _
      Fuel and other utilities 2/...............   130.8   131.2   130.2   129.7     2.2     4.8     7.4    -3.3      3.5       1.9
+                              _
        Fuels ..................................   118.1   118.7   117.0   115.9      .0     6.1    10.5    -7.2      3.0       1.2
          Fuel oil and other household fuel
              commodities ......................   108.2   106.0   102.3   100.0   -19.3    45.5    17.2   -27.0      8.4      -7.5
          Gas (piped) and electricity (energy
              services).........................   124.8   125.7   124.2   123.2     2.0     2.7    10.2    -5.0      2.3       2.3
        Other utilities and public services 4/ .   160.6   160.7   160.9   161.3     5.2     3.9     3.0     1.8      4.5       2.4
+                                           _
      Household furnishings and operation 2/ ...   123.5   123.6   123.6   123.6      .0     1.0      .3      .3       .5        .3
+                                         _
        Housefurnishings 4/ ....................   109.7   109.8   109.7   109.4    -1.4      .4     -.4    -1.1      -.5       -.7
+                        _
        Housekeeping supplies ..................   142.9   143.1   143.2   143.8      .3     1.1     2.6     2.5       .7       2.6
        Housekeeping services 4/ ...............   152.5   152.6   153.0   153.7     4.3     3.2      .0     3.2      3.8       1.6
+                             _
 
    Apparel and upkeep .........................   131.3   131.8   131.4   132.7    -2.4    -1.2     3.1     4.3     -1.8       3.7
      Apparel commodities 4/ ...................   128.0   128.5   128.1   129.4    -2.8    -1.6     3.2     4.4     -2.2       3.8
+                         _
        Men's and boys' apparel ................   129.2   128.1   127.8   130.1    -1.6      .3     6.1     2.8      -.6       4.4
        Women's and girls' apparel .............   124.5   125.9   125.4   125.9    -4.1    -3.5     7.4     4.6     -3.8       6.0
        Infants' and toddlers' apparel 1/ ......   128.5   128.1   130.7   134.9   -21.7     6.8    -1.2    21.5     -8.6       9.5
+                                      _
        Footwear ...............................   127.6   127.7   127.0   128.6     2.2     -.6     -.9     3.2       .8       1.1
        Other apparel commodities 4/............   146.3   147.7   146.3   146.9     1.6    -1.3   -11.2     1.7       .1      -5.0
+                                 _
      Apparel services 1/ 4/ ...................   160.8   161.3   161.5   161.7     2.8     1.0     2.8     2.3      1.9       2.5
+                      _  _
 
    Transportation .............................   145.2   145.2   145.1   144.2     -.8     3.1     4.0    -2.7      1.1        .6
      Private transportation ...................   143.0   143.2   143.0   141.9    -1.4     2.3     4.3    -3.0       .4        .6
        New vehicles ...........................   145.7   145.6   145.9   146.0     2.8     1.9      .0      .8      2.4        .4
          New cars .............................   141.6   141.5   141.8   141.7     2.3     2.0     -.8      .3      2.1       -.3
        Used cars ..............................   156.4   157.1   159.1   156.5    -4.7      .3    -2.5      .3     -2.2      -1.1
        Motor fuel .............................   112.1   112.0   109.5   106.5   -11.5     2.7    21.8   -18.5     -4.7       -.4
          Gasoline .............................   111.6   111.4   109.0   106.1   -11.9     2.3    21.9   -18.3     -5.1       -.2
        Maintenance and repairs ................   162.2   161.9   162.5   162.8     2.8     4.9     2.8     1.5      3.8       2.1
        Other private transportation 4/.........   171.1   171.8   172.3   172.6     3.4     2.9      .0     3.6      3.1       1.8
+                                    _
          Other private transportation
              commodities 4/....................   103.9   104.0   104.0   103.7     -.4      .4    -1.1     -.8       .0      -1.0
+                         _
          Other private transportation
              services 4/ ......................   188.1   189.0   189.6   190.1     4.0     3.3      .2     4.3      3.6       2.2
+                      _
      Public transportation ....................   184.0   179.9   182.9   185.1     8.9    11.8    -1.7     2.4     10.4        .3
 
    Medical care ...............................   231.2   231.6   232.4   233.0     3.4     2.7     2.6     3.2      3.0       2.9
      Medical care commodities .................   210.1   211.0   211.7   212.1     2.9     3.1      .4     3.9      3.0       2.1
      Medical care services ....................   235.9   236.0   236.9   237.6     3.3     2.6     3.3     2.9      3.0       3.1
        Professional medical services ..........   213.5   213.9   215.0   215.7     3.3     3.9     3.6     4.2      3.6       3.9
    Entertainment 4/ ...........................   158.8   159.0   159.2   159.3     2.9     2.3     2.3     1.3      2.6       1.8
+                 _
      Entertainment commodities 4/ .............   142.9   143.1   143.1   142.5     1.4     2.0      .8    -1.1      1.7       -.1
+                               _
      Entertainment services 4/ ................   181.4   181.6   182.3   183.3     4.6     2.7     3.4     4.3      3.7       3.8
+                            _
 
    Other goods and services 2/.................   216.8   217.7   218.7   220.8     3.6     3.2     4.0     7.6      3.4       5.8
+                            _
      Tobacco and smoking products .............   236.1   237.2   238.2   243.7     2.8     3.5     2.2    13.5      3.1       7.7
      Personal care 1/ .........................   151.6   151.4   151.6   152.6     1.1     2.4     1.9     2.7      1.7       2.3
+                   _
        Toilet goods and personal care
            appliances 1/ ......................   144.4   144.2   144.3   145.4      .8     1.1    -2.7     2.8      1.0        .0
+                      _
        Personal care services 1/ ..............   160.8   160.8   161.2   162.1     1.3     4.7     7.3     3.3      3.0       5.3
+                              _
      Personal and educational expenses 4/ .....   249.2   250.6   251.8   252.6     4.9     3.5     5.6     5.6      4.2       5.6
+                                       _
        School books and supplies ..............   234.0   234.8   235.6   236.9     2.5     8.7     3.1     5.1      5.6       4.1
        Personal and educational services 4/ ...   250.6   252.0   253.3   254.1     5.0     3.1     5.8     5.7      4.1       5.7
+                                         _
 
           Commodity and service group
 
  All items ....................................    -       -       -       -        2.4     3.1     2.9     1.0      2.8       1.9
    Commodities ................................   141.9   142.2   142.0   141.7      .6     3.2     2.6     -.6      1.9       1.0
      Food and beverages .......................   156.0   156.3   156.4   156.1     5.1     5.3     1.0      .3      5.2        .6
      Commodities less food and beverages ......   133.3   133.5   133.1   132.8    -2.1     1.8     3.7    -1.5      -.2       1.1
        Nondurables less food and beverages ....   135.4   135.7   134.7   134.7    -2.1     1.8     6.1    -2.1      -.1       2.0
          Apparel commodities 4/ ...............   128.0   128.5   128.1   129.4    -2.8    -1.6     3.2     4.4     -2.2       3.8
+                             _
          Nondurables less food, beverages,
              and apparel ......................   142.2   142.4   141.2   140.7    -4.8     3.5     9.5    -4.2      -.7       2.5
        Durables ...............................   129.3   129.4   129.4   129.0     -.3      .9     -.3     -.9       .3       -.6
    Services ...................................   174.3   174.7   175.1   175.5     3.6     2.8     3.3     2.8      3.2       3.0
      Rent of shelter 3/ .......................   162.5   162.9   163.2   163.7     3.3     2.3     3.3     3.0      2.8       3.1
+                     _
      Household services less rent
          of shelter 3/ 4/......................   133.5   134.0   133.4   133.2     3.8     3.1     5.3     -.9      3.4       2.1
+                    _  _
      Transportation services ..................   180.8   180.6   181.6   182.4     4.6     5.0      .2     3.6      4.8       1.9
      Medical care services ....................   235.9   236.0   236.9   237.6     3.3     2.6     3.3     2.9      3.0       3.1
      Other services ...........................   203.0   203.7   204.6   205.3     4.5     2.8     5.1     4.6      3.7       4.8
 
                 Special indexes
 
  All items less food ..........................   156.5   156.8   156.9   157.0     1.6     2.6     3.4     1.3      2.1       2.3
  All items less shelter .......................   153.5   153.7   153.7   153.6     1.9     3.5     2.9      .3      2.7       1.6
  All items less homeowners' costs 3/ 4/........   147.1   147.4   147.4   147.4     2.2     3.4     2.8      .8      2.8       1.8
+                                  _  _
  All items less medical care ..................   153.0   153.3   153.3   153.4     2.2     3.2     2.9     1.0      2.7       2.0
  Commodities less food ........................   134.6   134.8   134.4   134.2    -1.8     1.8     3.6    -1.2       .0       1.2
  Nondurables less food ........................   136.9   137.3   136.1   136.0    -2.1     2.7     5.7    -2.6       .3       1.5
  Nondurables less food and apparel ............   142.8   143.1   141.9   141.3    -2.0     4.4     6.7    -4.1      1.1       1.1
  Nondurables ..................................   146.0   146.3   145.8   145.6     1.4     3.4     3.9    -1.1      2.4       1.4
  Services less rent of shelter 3/ .............   165.7   166.2   166.5   166.7     4.3     3.5     3.2     2.4      3.9       2.8
+                               _
  Services less medical care services ..........   169.1   169.4   169.7   170.1     3.9     2.7     3.4     2.4      3.3       2.9
  Energy .......................................   114.6   114.9   112.8   110.7    -6.0     4.1    16.1   -12.9     -1.1        .5
  All items less energy ........................   162.6   162.9   163.3   163.6     3.0     3.0     1.7     2.5      3.0       2.1
    All items less food and energy .............   164.6   164.9   165.3   165.8     2.7     2.2     2.2     2.9      2.5       2.6
      Commodities less food and energy
          commodities ..........................   141.6   141.9   142.1   142.4      .0     1.1      .9     2.3       .6       1.6
        Energy commodities .....................   112.0   111.7   109.1   106.2   -12.3     5.8    21.4   -19.2     -3.6       -.9
      Services less energy services ............   180.0   180.3   180.9   181.5     3.9     3.0     2.7     3.4      3.4       3.0
 
+
 
     1/     Not seasonally adjusted.
+    _
     2/     This index series will undergo a change in composition in January, 1998.
+    _
     3/     Indexes on a December 1984=100 base.
+    _
     4/     This index series will no longer appear in its present form after December, 1997.
+    _
            See Table X for a comparable index series.
     -      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: Selected areas, all items index
 
 (1982-84=100, unless otherwise noted)
 
+
                                                                  Indexes                Percent change to       Percent change to
                   Area                     Pricing                                       Apr. 1997 from-         Mar. 1997 from-
                                           schedule    Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    Apr.    Apr.    Feb.    Mar.    Mar.    Jan.    Feb.
                                              1/       1997    1997    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997    1996    1997    1997
+                                             _
 
 
 
 U.S. city average ......................      M        156.3   156.8   157.0   157.2     2.3     0.3     0.1     2.7     0.4     0.1
 
         Region and area size 2/
+                             _
 
 Northeast urban.........................      M        163.5   164.2   164.5   164.4     2.6      .1     -.1     2.7      .6      .2
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        163.1   163.9   164.2   163.9     2.4      .0     -.2     2.6      .7      .2
   Size B -  500,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        162.0   161.9   162.6   163.1     2.9      .7      .3     2.8      .4      .4
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 500,000 3/........      M        166.3   166.8   167.0   167.0     2.5      .1      .0     3.0      .4      .1
+                              _
 
 North Central urban ....................      M        152.1   152.4   152.4   152.6     2.4      .1      .1     2.8      .2      .0
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        151.9   152.3   152.3   152.6     2.4      .2      .2     2.5      .3      .0
   Size B -  360,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        150.5   150.5   150.5   150.8     2.4      .2      .2     2.7      .0      .0
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 360,000 3/........      M        155.2   155.6   155.3   155.4     2.7     -.1      .1     3.3      .1     -.2
+                              _
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        150.5   150.3   150.1   150.0     2.0     -.2     -.1     3.0     -.3     -.1
 
 South urban ............................      M        154.2   154.5   154.8   155.1     2.2      .4      .2     2.7      .4      .2
   Size A -  More than 1,200,000 ........      M        153.1   153.2   153.4   153.6     2.0      .3      .1     2.6      .2      .1
   Size B -  450,000 to 1,200,000 3/.....      M        154.7   155.0   155.6   155.8     2.6      .5      .1     3.0      .6      .4
+                                 _
   Size C -  50,000 to 450,000 3/........      M        154.9   155.5   155.5   155.8     1.8      .2      .2     2.3      .4      .0
+                              _
   Size D -  Nonmetropolitan
             (less than 50,000) .........      M        155.3   155.8   156.1   156.3     2.2      .3      .1     2.6      .5      .2
 
 West urban .............................      M        156.3   156.8   157.4   157.8     2.3      .6      .3     2.6      .7      .4
   Size A -  More than 1,250,000 ........      M        154.7   155.2   155.9   156.2     2.2      .6      .2     2.5      .8      .5
   Size C -  50,000 to 330,000 3/........      M        161.7   162.1   163.1   163.3     2.6      .7      .1     3.1      .9      .6
+                              _
 
 Size classes
   A 4/ .................................      M        142.5   143.0   143.2   143.4     2.3      .3      .1     2.5      .5      .1
+    _
   B 3/ .................................      M        156.3   156.5   157.0   157.3     2.6      .5      .2     2.9      .4      .3
+    _
   C 3/ .................................      M        158.2   158.7   158.8   159.0     2.3      .2      .1     2.8      .4      .1
+    _
   D ....................................      M        155.3   155.4   155.4   155.6     2.1      .1      .1     2.6      .1      .0
 
           Selected local areas
 
 Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI......      M        155.3   155.9   155.6   155.3     2.5     -.4     -.2     2.8      .2     -.2
 Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA ......      M        153.6   153.6   154.2   154.3     1.2      .5      .1     1.5      .4      .4
 N.Y.-Northern N.J.-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT      M        165.1   166.2   166.6   166.1     2.4     -.1     -.3     2.5      .9      .2
 Phil.-Wilmington-Trenton,
 PA-NJ-DE-MD 5/ .........................      M        164.4   164.9   165.3   165.1     2.4      .1     -.1     2.5      .5      .2
+            _
 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 5/ ..      M        154.1   155.0   156.2   156.7     3.2     1.1      .3     3.6     1.4      .8
+                                   _
 
 Baltimore, MD 6/ .......................      1        154.6    -      155.9    -       -       -       -        2.7      .8    -
+              _
 Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH ...........      1        166.6    -      166.8    -       -       -       -        3.2      .1    -
 Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, OH .............      1        146.2    -      147.5    -       -       -       -        3.1      .9    -
 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL ..............      1        156.0    -      156.2    -       -       -       -        3.9      .1    -
 St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL 7/ .....      1        150.6    -      151.1    -       -       -       -        2.1      .3    -
+                                _
 Washington, DC-MD-VA 6/ ................      1        158.9    -      159.1    -       -       -       -        2.4      .1    -
+                     _
 
 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX ..................      2         -      150.8    -      150.4     1.2     -.3    -       -       -       -
 Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI ..................      2         -      150.3    -      151.0     2.3      .5    -       -       -       -
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX .........      2         -      143.6    -      144.1     1.3      .3    -       -       -       -
 Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, PA 7/ ........      2         -      149.6    -      150.1     2.5      .3    -       -       -       -
+                             _
 
+
 
    1/     Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods and services priced as
+   _
           indicated:
             M - Every month.
             1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.
             2 - February, April, June, August, October, and December.
    2/     Regions defined as the four Census regions.  See map in technical notes.
+   _
    3/     Starting in January, 1998, a new Size Class B/C will be introduced, composed of current
+   _
           Size Class B and Size Class C cities.  There will be no individual Size Class B or Size Class C.
    4/     Indexes on a December 1986=100 base.
+   _
    5/     Indexes for the cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco will no longer be published on a monthly
+   _
           basis starting in January, 1998.  Beginning in February, 1998 they will be published on a
           bi-monthly basis.
    6/     Indexes for the cities of Washington and Baltimore will no longer be published separately after December, 1997.
+   _
           Beginning in January, 1998 the two cities will be published as a Washington-Baltimore
           combined metropolitan area.
    7/     Indexes for the cities of Pittsburgh and St. Louis will no longer be published on a bi-monthly
+   _
           basis after December, 1997.  Beginning in July, 1998 they will be published semi-annually, each
           January and July.
    -      Data not available.
    NOTE:  Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.  Each local index has a smaller sample size than
           the national index and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error.  As a
           result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although their long-term trends are
           similar.  Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average
           CPI for use in their escalator clauses.