For Current And Historical Material In This — 2002-06-18

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in May, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The May level of 179.8 (1982-84=100) was 1.2 percent higher than its level in May 2001. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) was unchanged in May, prior to seasonal adjustment. The May level of 175.8 was 0.8 percent higher than the index in May 2001. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U was unchanged in May, following a 0.5 percent increase in April. The energy index, which had advanced sharply in each of the preceding two months, declined 0.7 percent in May. The index for petroleum-based energy decreased 2.7 percent, while the index for energy services rose 1.1 percent. The food index fell 0.2 percent in May.