For Current And Historical Material In This — 2006-01-18

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.4 percent in December, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The December level of 196.8 (1982-84=100) was 3.4 percent higher than in December 2004. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 0.5 percent in December, prior to seasonal adjustment. The December level of 192.5 was 3.5 percent higher than in December 2004. The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) decreased 0.3 percent in December on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The December level of 114.0 (December 1999=100) was 2.8 percent higher than in December 2004. Please note that the indexes for the post-2003 period are subject to revision. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U decreased for the second consecutive month--down 0.1 percent in December--again reflecting a large decline in energy prices.