For Current And Historical Material In This — 2002-03-21

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.4 percent in February, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 177.8 (1982- 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in February, the CPI-U increased 1.1 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.3 percent in February, prior to seasonal adjustment. The February level of 173.7 was 0.8 percent higher than the index in February 2001. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.2 percent in February, the same as in January. The energy index, which advanced 0.9 percent in January, declined 0.8 percent in February. The index for petroleum-based energy decreased 0.1 percent, and the index for energy services fell 1.3 percent. The food index rose 0.2 percent in February, reflecting another large increase in the index for fruits and vegetables.