For Current And Historical This Release Is Embargoed — 1997-09-16

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.2 percent before seasonal adjustment in August to a level of 160.8 (1982- 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in August, the CPI-U increased 2.2 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also rose 0.2 percent in August, prior to seasonal adjustment. The August 1997 CPI-W level of 157.8 was 2.1 percent higher than the index in August 1996. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in August, the same as in July. The food index increased 0.4 percent in August. Grocery store food prices, which rose 0.3 percent in July, increased 0.6 percent in August, reflecting a larger increase in prices for fresh fruits and vegetables.