Guide to Available CPI DataNational CPI data (U.S. city averages) are released each month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) about 2 weeks after the reference periodthe CPI for January is released in mid-February, for example. Often neglected in the attention to the overall national inflation rate, however, is that the CPI publishes thousands of other price indexes each month. This fact sheet describes the available CPI data series and discusses some of the unique characteristics that should be noted when using or requesting CPI indexes. Published areas BLS publishes indexes monthly for the U.S., 4 regions (Northeast, Midwest, (formerly North Central), South, and West), 3 population size-classes (A, B/C, and D) and 10 region-by-size groups (Northeast-Size Class A, South-Size Class D, etc.). The A population size class represents all metropolitan areas over 1.5 million; B/C represents mid-sized and small metropolitan areas (fewer than 1.5 million); and D, all nonmetropolitan urban areas. Due to insufficient sample sizes, region-by-size indexes are not published for Northeast and West Size Class D. In addition, BLS publishes CPI information for 26 metropolitan areas. Some of these metropolitan areas, as defined by the Bureau of the Census, include suburbs or counties that extend across State boundaries. The 26 metropolitan areas are available on the following schedule:
Population coverage For each published CPI data series, two separate indexes are available: All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Both the CPI-U and the CPI-W reflect only the buying habits of urban consumers. The CPI-U is the most comprehensive of the two and represents the expenditures by all urban consumers, about 87 percent of the total U.S. population. The CPI-W represents a subset of the CPI-U population, that is, the expenditures by urban households that derive more than one-half of their income from clerical or hourly wage occupations. These households comprise about 32 percent of the total U.S. population. Reference Base The CPI is a tool that simplifies the measurement of changes in prices over time. By selecting an appropriate reference base and setting the average index level for that time period equal to 100, it is possible to compare this months (or last years) price index level with the reference base period or to any other time period. The current standard reference base period is 1982-84=100. That is, all price changes are measured from a base (100) that represents the average index level of the 36-month period encompassing 1982, 1983, and 1984. Prior to the release of the CPI for January 1988, the standard reference base was 1967=100. As a service to our customers with existing escalation provisions, BLS continues to publish CPI all items indexes for the U.S. city average and all local areas using the old base. Note that, although comparisons cannot be made between indexes with different reference bases, the conversion to a new reference base does not affect the measurement of percent changes in a given index series from one time period to another, except for rounding differences. In addition, BLS publishes several index series with a reference base more recent than January 1982. These indexes either could not be rebased because historical price data were not available for the entire 1982-84 reference base period or they represent items (such as mid-grade gasoline) that only recently were introduced into the CPI. The CPI market basket The CPI market basket represents all the consumer goods and services purchased by urban households. Price data are collected for over 180 categories, which BLS has grouped into 8 major groups. These major groups, with examples of categories in each, are as follows:
Indexes for all of the above categories are published at the U.S. city average level. Due to limitations in sample size, however, many of the smaller expenditure categories are not available at regional and local area levels. Instead, related categories are aggregated and published as part of a more comprehensive category. For example, physicians services and eyeglasses and eye care are combined with similar categories and published as professional medical services at the regional level. At the metropolitan area level, professional medical services is, in turn, combined further and published as medical care. Seasonal adjustment Many of the goods and services included in the CPI market basket exhibit "seasonal" patterns of price movement. BLS factors out the seasonal trends from the underlying change in prices and publishes the resulting seasonally adjusted price indexes for those goods and services that display consistent seasonal patterns of price change. BLS publishes seasonally adjusted indexes only at the U.S. city average level (for both the CPI-U and CPI-W). They are not available for regional or local area levels. Seasonally adjusted indexes are not appropriate for use in escalation or cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) because what consumers actually pay for goods and services is represented by the unadjusted data. Additional information Additional information on the CPI can be found on the CPI Internet web site (http://www.bls.gov/cpi/). You may also contact any of the eight BLS regional offices (located in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, and San Francisco); or call our national information staff at (202) 691-7000. Information in this report is in the public domain and, with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without permission. This information is available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.
Last Modified Date: February 11, 2009 |
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