For Current And Historical Material In This — 1998-09-17

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.1 percent in August, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 163.4 (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 has increased 1.6 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also rose 0.1 percent in August, prior to seasonal adjustment. The August 1998 CPI-W level of 160.0 was 1.4 percent higher than the index in August 1997. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.2 percent in August, the same as in July. In August the food index increased 0.2 percent for the second consecutive month. Prices for food at home advanced 0.3 percent as a sharp increase in prices for dairy products was partially offset by a decline in the index for fruits and vegetables.