For Current And Historical Material In This — 2002-11-19

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent in October, before seasonal adjustment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The October level of 181.3 (1982-84=100) was 2.0 percent higher than its level in October 2001. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) also rose 0.2 percent in October, prior to seasonal adjustment. The October level of 177.3 was 1.9 percent higher than the index in October 2001. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U rose 0.3 percent in October, following an increase of 0.2 percent in September. The index for food rose 0.1 percent in October. The index for food at home declined 0.1 percent, reflecting decreases in the indexes for fruits and vegetables and for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs. Energy costs advanced for the fourth consecutive month--up 1.9 percent in October--and accounted for about half of the overall October advance.