Site Feedback

Title 5

Displaying title 5, up to date as of 8/06/2026. Title 5 was last amended 8/06/2026.
eCFR Content

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the official legal print publication containing the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) is a continuously updated online version of the CFR. It is not an official legal edition of the CFR.

Learn more about the eCFR, its status, and the editorial process.

Title 5Administrative PersonnelPart / Section
Chapter IOffice of Personnel Management1 – 1199
Subchapter BCivil Service Regulations110 – 990
Part 591Allowances and Differentials591.101 – 591.406
Subpart BCost-of-Living Allowance and Post Differential—Nonforeign Areas591.201 – 591.244
Cost-of-Living Allowances591.206 – 591.229
§ 591.206How does OPM establish COLA areas?
§ 591.207Which areas are COLA areas?
§ 591.208How does OPM establish COLA rates?
§ 591.209What is a price index?
§ 591.210What are weights?
§ 591.211What are the categories of consumer expenditures?
§ 591.212How does OPM select survey items?
§ 591.213What prices does OPM collect?
§ 591.214How does OPM collect prices?
§ 591.215Where does OPM collect prices in the COLA and DC areas?
§ 591.216How does OPM combine survey data for the DC area and for COLA areas with multiple survey areas?
§ 591.217In which outlets does OPM collect prices?
§ 591.218How does OPM compute price indexes?
§ 591.219How does OPM compute shelter price indexes?
§ 591.220How does OPM calculate energy utility cost indexes?
§ 591.221How does OPM compute the consumer expenditure weights it uses to combine price indexes?
§ 591.222How does OPM use the expenditure weights to combine price indexes?
§ 591.223When does OPM conduct COLA surveys?
§ 591.224How does OPM adjust price indexes between surveys?
§ 591.225Which CPIs does OPM use?
§ 591.226How does OPM apply the CPIs?
§ 591.227What adjustment factors does OPM add to the price indexes?
§ 591.228How does OPM convert the price index plus adjustment factor to a COLA rate?
§ 591.229How does OPM inform agencies and employees of COLA rate changes?