JULY INFLATION DECLINES 0.2 PERCENT

GEMS, AUGUST 17, 2009

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 0.2 percent in July 2009 according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). Released on August 14^th, the CPI-W for July is 210.526. For purposes of calculating the next COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) the index is currently 2.3 percent below the 2008 third quarter average base index of 215.5. August consumer prices indices will be released on September 16, 2009.

Benefits awarded under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) to individuals who left the workforce due to work-related injuries or illnesses are adjusted according to each calendar year’s percentage change in the CPI-W and payable in the following year’s month of April. July’s index is 2.8 percent higher than the December 2008 base of 204.813.

CPI-W		Monthly % Change	% Toward Next COLA
Oct.	212.2	-1.3	-1.5
Nov.	207.3	-2.3	-3.8
Dec.	204.8	-1.2	-5.0
Jan.	205.7	0.4	-4.5
Feb.	206.7	0.5	-4.1
March	207.2	0.2	-3.8
April	207.9	0.3	-3.5
May	208.8	0.4	-3.1
June	210.9	1.1	-2.1
July	210.5	-0.2	-2.3