For Current And Historical Material In This — 2001-10-19

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.5 percent in September, before seasonal adjustment, to a level of 178.3 (1982-84=100), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the 12-month period ended in September, the CPI- U increased 2.6 percent. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.6 percent in September, prior to seasonal adjustment. The September level of 174.8 was 2.6 percent higher than the index in September 2000. Following standard practice, price collection for the CPI was conducted throughout the month. Approximately two-thirds of the prices were collected after September 11. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.4 percent in September, following a 0.1 percent increase in August. The energy index, which had declined in each of the preceding three months, turned up in September, advancing 2.6 percent.