For Current And Historical Material In This — 2002-10-18

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in September, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The September level of 181.0 (1982-84=100) was 1.5 percent higher than its level in September 2001. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also rose 0.2 percent in September, prior to seasonal adjustment. The September level of 177.0 was 1.3 percent higher than the index in September 2001. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in September, following an increase of 0.3 percent in August. The index for food, which declined 0.1 percent in August, rose 0.2 percent in September. The index for food at home increased 0.3 percent, with about four-fifths of the increase due to a 2.2 percent rise in the index for nonalcoholic beverages. Energy costs advanced for the third consecutive month--up 0.7 percent in September.