For Current And Historical Material In This — 2002-12-17

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in November, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The November level of 181.3 (1982-84=100) was 2.2 percent higher than its level in November 2001. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 0.1 percent in November, prior to seasonal adjustment. The November level of 177.4 was 2.1 percent higher than the index in November 2001. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent in November, following an increase of 0.3 percent in October. The index for food rose 0.2 percent in November. The index for food at home, which declined 0.1 percent in October, increased 0.3 percent, reflecting upturns in the indexes for fruits and vegetables and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs. Energy costs, which had increased in each of the four preceding months, declined 0.2 percent in November.