US inflation -- who's keeping up, who isn't

Despite some of the worst inflation since World War II, many Americans are managing to stay a few dollars head of rising prices. Others, however, are falling behind. Here's how a few major job categories have fared during the past 10 years:

Occupation Average annual salaries Percent change (mid-range) 1969 1979 in real earnings Accountants $10,029 $19,4681.8 Auditors 10,726 20,303+.7 Chief accountants 17,714 36,5618.3 Attorneys 15,879 29,644+2.1 Job analysts 10,595 20,106+.4 Director of personnel 16,738 34,2857.5 Chemists 11,063 21,025+.3 Engineers 11,701 21,931+1.7 Engineering technicians 8,040 15,094+1.5 File clerks 4,328 8,265.2 Key entry operators 4,797 9,094+.5 Secretaries 7,032 12,861+4.0 General stenographers 5,192 10,93110.5 Typists 4,451 8,398+1.0 (Consumer price index) 109.7 209.1 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics