Apparel prices, after being on the rise through much of 1997, are now back to where they were a year ago.

Over all, apparel prices have fallen about 1 percent a year throughout most of the 1990's.

Among other items, apparel prices fell 0.2 percent in May.

Otherwise, apparel prices fell again, as they have most of this year.

For one thing, women's apparel prices have fallen more than men's.

Apparel prices climbed 1.5 percent, their first increase since August.

Apparel prices dropped 1 percent, falling for the first time since October.

Boys' and men's apparel prices, however, were down by 1.1 percent.

Apparel prices fell for the second consecutive month, after advancing 4.6 percent in the first five months of the year.

However, after several seasons of major increases, women's apparel prices may be heading down.