For Current And Historical Material In This — 2002-05-15

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.6 percent in April, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 179.8 (1982- 84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in April, the CPI-U increased 1.6 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also increased 0.6 percent in April, prior to seasonal adjustment. The April level of 175.8 was 1.3 percent higher than the index in April 2001. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U increased 0.5 percent in April, following a 0.3 percent increase in March. The energy index advanced sharply for the second consecutive month--up 4.5 percent in April. The index for petroleum-based energy increased 9.4 percent, while the index for energy services was unchanged. The food index rose 0.1 percent in April.