Full text of CPI Detailed Report : February 1957

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Released March 22, 1957
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR FEBRUARY 1957
Consumer prices in United States cities advanced 0.4 percent
between January and February, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics, reaching a new high. Higher prices of food and housing accounted for
most of the increase, although advances were recorded for all other major groups of goods
and services except apparel. The Consumer Price Index for February was 118*7
(1947-4-9=100), 3*6 percent higher than a year ago.
FOOD

Food prices advanced 0.7 percent on the average, the largest
monthly increase since last July. Higher prices for pork and
poultry were the principal factors in the rise during the month. The February food index
at 113.6 was
percent higher than a year earlier, but still 2.6 percent below the
August 1952 peak.
Prices of all cuts of pork were up as hog marketings declined
seasonally from levels which were well below those of 1956. Bacon prices rose 7*7 percent to an average of 69 cents a pound with higher quotations reported in all U6 cities
surveyed. Pork chops advanced 3»o percent to an average of 83 cents a pound. Beef and
veal prices were unchanged on the average, with reductions for rib roast and round steak
offsetting higher prices for other cuts. Prices of frying chickens were 5»3 percent
higher than in January.
All items except rice in the cereals and bakery products group
advanced in price • Bread prices increased to a national average of 18£ cents a pound
loaf.
Fresh vegetables declined 2.0 percent on the average; prices of
tomatoes and lettuce decreased by 12.7 percent and 9»1 percent respectively; prices of
green beans rose 13.5 percent and onions were up 12.0 percent. Prices of fresh fruits
averaged 1.3 percent higher over the month with apples up J+.3 percent and oranges 0.9
percent. Prices of processed fruits and vegetables declined, due largely to lower
prices for canned and frozen orange juice.

cream, and coffee.
and canned soup.

Slightly lower prices were reported for fresh milk, butter, ice
Prices were higher for shortening, margarine, sugar, soft drinks,

HCXJSING

The housing index rose 0.6 percent over the month. Rent was
unchanged on the average. The increase of 1.0 percent in prices
of housefurnishings was the largest advance in this group since February 1951} household textiles returned to regular prices following January sales and higher prices were
reported for some new models of appliances, wool rugs, and some furniture. The cost of
home maintenance continued upward, with higher prices for water heaters, sink faucets,
paint, and some repair services*
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

The cost of operating an automobile rose in February as gasoline
and motor oil prices increased; auto insurance rates advanced
sharply in several states; and prices of tires and repair services
were higher. However, purchase prices of both new and used cars declined. The advance
in public transportation costs reflected increased railroad fares in eastern and southern
state8•




2

The personal care index was up 0*4 percent as men's haircuts
continued to advance in some cities, and higher prices were recorded for toilet goods*
The only major group of goods and services to show a decrease was
apparel• Prices were lover for women's nylon hose and rayon dresses, men's topcoats,
and boys1 shirts; prices of menfs suits and women's spring coats were higher.
Consumer Price Index:—United States city average, all items and special groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates

Group

A n

items

All items less food—
All items less shelter
All commodities
All commodities less foodAll services and shelter
All services less shelter-

Feb.
1957
This

Jan.
1957
last
month

118.7
121.5
116.4
112.0
110.9
135.2
138.2

118.2
121.0
115.9
111.6
110.7
134.5
137.6

Indexes (19A7-A9 = 100)
June
Feb.
Dec.
1956
1956
1950
2 months
PreUst
vear
afo
Korea
118.0
120.8
115.7
111.5
110.6
134.0
136.9

114.6
117.6
112.2
108.0
107.4
130.9
133.7

101.8
103.0
100.7
100.3
99.4
107.9
107.0

Tear
1939
Pre-Vorld
War II
59.4
69.1
55.4
51.6
59.4
80.4
73.5

Percent change to February 1957 from
Jan.
1957
All i t e m s — —
—
All items less food- — All items less shelter—
All ccmmoditie s
All commodities less foodAll services and shelter- - - —
All services less shelter—




0.4
.4
.4
.4
.2
.5
.4

Dec.
1956
0.6
.6
.6
.4
.3
.9
.9

Feb.
1956
3.6
3.3
3.7
3.7
3.3
3.3
3.4

June
1950
16.6
18.0
15.6
11.7
11.6
25.3
29.2

Year
1939
99.8
75.8
110.1
117.1
86.7
68.2
88.0

—

TABIZ It

3

Consumer Price Index — United States city are rage, all items and commodity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Indexes (19*7-*9«100)
February
1957

All items

December
1956

February
1956

JttXM
1950

Year
1939

This
month

Group

January
1957
Last
month

2 months
ago

Last
year

Pre-Korea

Pre-World
War II

118.0

114.6

101.8

59.*

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5

*7.1
*7.1
57.2
*1.6
*9.8
*6.3
*8.*

118.7

118.2

113.6
112.0
129.1
101.4
111.1
116.5
113.0

112.8
111.1
128.0
99.0
111.2
116.9
112.7

112.9
111.2
127.4
98.0
111.3
117.4
114.2

108.8
107.1
124.3
93.6
107.3
113.3
109.6

Household operation

124.5
134.2
112.4
139.3
105.0
125.6

123.8
134.2
112.3
138.9
104.0
125.4

123.5
134.2
112.0
136.1
104.1
124.8

120.7
131.5
111.7
130.0
102.5
121.4

10*. 9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6

Men's and beys'
Women's and girls' —
Footwear - —
Other apparel - —

106.1
108.6
98.2
127.2
91.7

106.4
108.4
98.9
126.7
91.9

107.0
108.6
100.3
126.4
92.2

104.6
106.5
98.3
121.3
91.0

96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1
88.*

52.5
50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6

—
—

134.4
175.8
124.5

133.6
174.9
123.8

133.1
174.1
123.3

126.9
170.5
117.0

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

—
—

135.5
122.6
1 in ft
ilMiU
124.0

135.3
122.1
ino 0
123.8

134.7
121.8
1 no 0

130.9
118.9
107.5
120.9

105.*
99.2
102.5
103.7

72.6
1*

Food 1/
Food at home — — —
—
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish —
Dairy products — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables —
Other foods at home —

Rent

—

—

—
—
—
—

-

Solid fuels and fuel oil

Transportation
Public
—
Private
Medical care
Personal care

—
—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

Other goods and services jJ

123.3

Percent change to February 1957
January
1957
All items

0.4

Food 1/

.7
.8
.9
2.4
- .1
- .3
.3

December
1956

Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish —
Dairy products — - —

""

—

Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnlshings
Household operation —

—
—

Other apparel

Public

— — — —

-

.3
.2
.7
.4
.2
.6
.5

.6

.1
.4
.1
.2

141.2
137.8
125.7
143.8
123.1
151.6
133.5

3.1
2.1

7.2
2.4
3.5

18.7
23.5
9.4
29.5
7.8
26.1

63.6
55.0
7.1
147.0
96.6
83.6

.5

1.4
2.0
- .1
4.9
.8

9.9
10.7
5.3
24.6
3.7

102.1
113.8
80.2
152.9
125.9

1.0
1.0

5.9
3.1

6.4

22.3
49.1
16.8

91.5
116.2
90.1

'3.5
3.1
2.3
2.6

28.6
23.6
7.3
19.6

86.6
105.7
74.6
75.6

.8
0
- 2.1

.6

1.0

.6
.7

.6
.6

l/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately.
2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately.
\j Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services"(such as
legal services* banking fees, burial services, etc.).




Year
1939

13.0
11.4
25.7
- 4 .4
20.4
13.7
20.1

-

-

June
1950

4.4
4.6
3.9
8.3
3.5
2.8
3.1

.8
0
.4
2.4
.9
.6

.2

from:

99.8

.7
1.3
3.5
- .2
- .8
- 1.1

1.0

—
~

63.0
70.6

16.6

.6

0
.1
.3

53.*
68.*

3.6

0.6

.6

mmf

February
1956

76.1

fe.6
10k.9
56.*

.6

4

TABLE 2:

Consumer Price Index — All items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)

February
1957

City

United States city average

January
1957

February
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

118.7

118.2

114.6

101.8

59.4

121.5
121.0
120.3
115.9
119.7

1/

121.0
120.5
119.6
115.6
118.8

118.3
116.4
115.8
112.1
114.7

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

May
1950

Year
1939

Cities priced monthly: 2j
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York

February
1957

Cities priced in February, Hay,
August, November 2/

—

—

-

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

October
1956

January
1956

April
1950

Year
1939

119.3
118.9
117.4
118.2
119.5

114.6
115.5
116.1
113.6
116.3

101.2
101.4
102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

December
1956

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 2J

115.7
116.6
111.1
116.2
113.4

119.0
119.8
119.4
118.8
120.1

—

120.0
119.7
114.9
120.2
115.9

January
1957

Cities priced in January, April,
July, October 2/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon—

Jj
2J
2/
Ij
5/

February
1956

120.4
120.5
115.5
122.2
117.5

Cleveland
Houston
—
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

November
1956

September
1956

December
1955

June
1950

Year
1939

119.5
119.5
117.5
119.1
121.6

118.9
117.5
117.1
118.1
119.0

U

117.1
115.8
114.2
116.1
115.9

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

1/ 101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 198.5.
Rents priced bimonthly.
Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly.
June 1950.
May 1950.

TABLE 3 s Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from January 1957
to February 1957
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

City

United States city average—
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia




All
items

Food

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

Personal
care

Reading
and
recreation

Other
goods &
services

0.1

0.2

.8
.7
.2
.2
.5

.1
.2
.4
.1
.5

0.4

0.7

0.6

- 0.3

0.6

0.1*

0.4

.4
.4
.6
.3
.8

1.3
1.0
.4
.5
.9

.4
.1
.2
.6
1.3

.6
.1
.2
.9
.5

- 1.0
- .2
1.6
.6
.1

0
1.5
0
.1
0

.3
.5
2.8
.4
.3

-

-

-

TABI2
Consumer Price Index — All items and conmodity groups
February 1957 indexes and percent changes, November 1956 to February 1957
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in February 1957
U.S.
City
Average Chicago

Group

Cleveland

Los
Detroit Houston Angeles

New
York

PhilaWashingto;
delphia >cranton Seattle
D. C.

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
All items

118.7

Food

Food at home
— —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — — —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

Rent — — — — — — —
Gas and electricity — - —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Household operation

Transportation
Public
Private

120.4

121.0

120.5

120.3

115.9

119.7

115.5

122.2

117.5

113.6
112.0
129.1

110.9
108.8
122.1
94.0
111.0
113.2
120.1

111.7
109.6
122.3
97.9
108.4
112.2
116.6

115.9
114.2
123.3
98.5
112.7
128.6
115.8

112.1
110.3
121.2
96.7
112.7
119.7
112.3

116.9
113.3
133.4
102.7
105.3
122.8
112.9

112.9
111.2
132.9
103.4
109.4
110.8
112.2

116.5
114.8
131.3
104.4
116.1
119.4
112.6

110.6
110.0
125.5
100.4
108.7
112.7
110.7

115.9
114.7
137.6
101.5
116.5
122.0
112.1

115.9
113.6
129.3
102.3
115.6
115.4
114.2

132.9

127.3
146.3
112.4
128.9
109.4
117.3

128.5
138.9
116.1

128.9

120.1

118.0

—

—

103.3
132.2

104.3
128.7

120.8
122.3
111.0
150.5
104.5
125.0

103.4
141.6
109.5
126.8

120.7
126.4
120.1
145.8
103.2
112.2

128.3
140.5
86.6
142.6
105.2
127.9

119.2
125.1
120.8
151.7
100.1
125.8

101 .4

111.1
116.5
113.0

— —

—

- — — — — — — —

Medical care
— — — — — —
Personal care — — — — — — — — —
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

124.5
134.2
112.4
139.3
105.0
125.6

113.8
142.9
103.8
128.3

125.9
155.3
114.9
135.6
101.0
114.9

109.4
116.3
97.6
131.5
95.7

107.5
112.1
98.6
125.2
94.1

104.3
110.6
93.7
123.3
87.7

108.8
106.0
102.5
137.3
91.0

106.9
110.8
98.5
128.0
84.2

104.7
107.7
96.1
126.7
94.4

106.4
106.6
101.0
123.7
93.6

107.9
110.3
100.2
131.3
91.5

107.8
110.9
100.1
129.4
86.9

104.2
108.1
96.5
123.2
91.2

134.4
175.8
124.5

139.3
167.7
124.7

132.1
170.9
123.5

131.2
145.8
128.1

132.2
166.5
127.0

132.5
154.8
128.6

137.7
189.0
118.2

141.7
187.4
121.4

135.7
190.6
121.8

137.2
125.6

135.3
156.6
128.9

135.5
122.6

142.2
125.2
116.3
119.8

147.2
125.1
120.6
124.8

146.5
130.0
109.7
125.3

129.8
131.5
114.7
124.2

129.5
127.5
99.8
121.0

128.2
114.8
108.3
124.8

138.6
128.6
116.3
126.2

125.4
124.9
125.7
117.3

138.1
128.9
113.1
130.9

129.4
118.7
107.9
133.2

110.0
124.0

Percent change from November 1956
0.8

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.7

1.0

Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at hone
— — —

.6
.6
1.7
2.6
0
.6
- 1.9

.5
.3
1.3
2.4
- .9
- .9
- 1.2

.7
.6
.4
1.6
.2
4.3
- 2.3

0
0
3.5
.3
0
- .5
- 2.0

1.4
1.5
1.3
3.8
.4
2.7

1.1
1.3
1.7
2.7
- .2
3.5
- 1.1

lousefurnlshlngs — — — — — — —
leasehold operation — — — — — —

1.2
.3
.5
3.7
1.2
.9

All items
Food

-

.8

.5
—

0
3.9
2.1
- 1.2

-

.2
1.4
0
1.3
- .1
- 1.2
-

.2
- 2.2

.5
1.5
- 2.5

-

.8

-

.4

-

.3

-

.3
.1

— — — — — — —

.9
1.4

-

.4
.7
.6

1.0

2.7
.8
.7
.1

.7
1.0

Medical care —
—
Personal care — — — —
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

.8

.8

—

—

—
—
—

.7
1.0
.9
.6

-

.8

-

1/ Change from December 1956 to February 1957.




.2
.3

—
—
—
—

Apparel
Men's and boys' — — — — —
Vouen's and girls'
Footwear
—
—
—
—
—
Other apparel — — — — — —
Transportation
Public
Private

1

106.1
108.6
98.2
127.2
91.7

——•

Men's and boys'
—
Women's and girls'
Footwear — — — — —
Other apparel

121.5

.8

1.1

.8

.4

—

180.1

to February 1957

0.3

1.3

0.5

1.7

1.4

.4
.4
1.4
.2
- .1
- .4
- 2.8

1.5
1.6
.5
4.5
1.3
3.0
- 2.3

.3
.4
.6
3.0
.2
.7
- 2.7

.7
.8
1.0
2.7
.3
1.9
- 1.7

2.7
2.6
5.1
5.6
- .3
4.3
- 1.4

2.5

.3
.5

1.2
.3
.2
5.3
.6
.2

0
5.4
2.1
5.7

1.2
.5
0
6.9
1.2
- .1

2.9
•4
0
6.4
2.1
.3

1.5
.3
- 1.9
6.2
.7
.2

.1
.6
.3
0

- 1.4
.2
- 3.3
1.3

- 1.1
1.0
- 3.3
1.4

- 1.6
.5
- 3.4
- .2

0
- 1.0
.3

.5
.7
0
1.4
.2

.8

1.8
1.4
1.8

1.5
1.2
1.6

.7
.6
.6

.8
.4
.9

0
.3
.1

2.8
1.2
3.0

.1
1.1
- .2

1.9
.9
0
.4

.9
1.3
- 2.0
.2

1.2
6.1
2.7
.7

.2
.4
.9
1.0

.4
.6
1.0
.6

.1
.6
3.8
.1

1.1
.6
- .5
1.7

.3

1/ .2
.7
1.3
1.0
0
-

.1
0
- .6
1.0
0

.8
1.0

- 1.1

.6
.3
9.0

—

—

—

.3
1/

1.5

.1
0
- 1.2
- 1.2
- 1.9
1.1

-

-

-

-

.4

1,0
.4 .
- .4
.8

TABIC 5: Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
February 1957 indexes and percent changes, January 1957 to February 1957
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

Q9VM9.100]
Total
food at home

T 0 tal food
City
Index

U.S. city average
Atlanta —
Baltimore
Boston
—
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles

—
—

—

—
—

—

—
—
—
—

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Cereals and
bakery products
Index

Index

Dairy
products

Percent
change

Index

Fruits and
vegetables

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

113.6

0.7

112.0

0.8

129.1

0.9

ioi.a

2.a

111.1

- 0.1

116.5

- 0.3

112.1
115.3
112.5
110.9

.8
•3
.a
1.3
.5
.6
1.0
.2
.6
•U

110.8
111.6
110.0
108.8
112.7
109.6
11U.2
110.3
107.il
113.3

.8
.5
1.2
.6
.5
1.2
.2
.7
.2

120.0
127.1
127.7
122.1
127.2
122.3
123.3
121.2
12U.7
133.U

.8
.2
.7
l.u
2.2
.2
.6
.2
.6
.a

ioa.7
102.8
99.9
9a.o
102.9
97.9
98.5
96.7
97.a
102.7

2.7
2.0
1.7
2.0
2.0
2.2
2.5
1.2
2.2
1.2

113.1
112.a
113.8
111.0
ua.2
108 .a
112.7
112.7
107.9
105.3

.3
- .1
- 1.2
.3
0
0
.2
0
- .1
0

117.7
110.5
111.8
113.2
112.2
112.2
128.6
119.7
111.0
122.8

.7
.7
1.0
.a
.5
.8
1.3
.3
.a
.7

0
•5
.9
.1
.1
.5
.2
.7

111.2
111.2
11U.8
112.9
113.5
111.7
1U*.7
110.0
HJi.7
113.6

.1
•7
1.0
- .1
.1
.6
- .2
.9
.5
1.6

129.9
132.9
131.3
127.3
131.2
12U-9
139.0
125.5
137.6
129.3

.7
1.1
.a
- .2
.9
1.1
.1
0
•a
.3

96.1
103.a
ioa.a
98.5
101.1
98.9
ioa.7
loo.a
101.5
102.3

1.6
2.9
2.6
.1
.7
1.9
.a
i.a
2.a
3.5

ioa.o
io9.a

- 3.5
- .2
126.1 . 1
ua.i
.a
113.7 - .2
103.1
.3
0
113.3
.1
108.7
116.5 - . 1
115.6 - .3

122.7
110.8
119.a
115.8
na.9
122.2
120.3
112.7
122.0

UIA.U

— - — —
—

111.7
115.9
112.1
109.6
116.9

Minneapolis
Mew York — — — — —
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
—
Portland, Oreg. — —
St. Louis
—
—
San Francisco
—
Scranton
— — - —
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

112.6
112.9
116.5
lHj.8
II5.6
115.6
116.1
110.6
115.9
115.9

-

1.9

TABLE 6:

-

Feb.
1957

Jan.
1957

Cereals and bakery products;
Flour* ifheat —
Biscuit mix — - — — - —
—Corn veal - — — — — — - - - -

-

- .2
-1.3
.5
- .7
- 2.6
- .5
- .2
2.3
- .8
2.1

20 oz.

Feb.
1957

Food and unit
F r e s h — Continued
Grapefruit * — —

5 lb.

Rolled oats — — — — — — — — 20 oz.
Corn flakes —
—
—
12 oz.
Bread, white — —
— - —
n>.
Soda crackers — — — —
ib.
Vanilla cookies — — — — —
7 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak — — — — — —
ib.
Chuck roast — — — — — —
ib.
Rib roast — — — — — - — - — — ib.
Hamburger —
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
Veal cutlets —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Pork chops, center cut — — - — — ib.
Bacon, sliced — — — — — —
ib.
Ham, whole — — — — — — — — ib.
Lamb, leg — — — — — — —
ib.
Frankfurters —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Luncheon meat, canned
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to*cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen - — — ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen — — —
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned —
—
ie oz.
Tuna fish, canned — — — - 6 to 64 oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
pt.
Ice cream
lb.
Butter
— — — — .
lb.
Cheese, American process
Milk, evaporated — — —
i4i-oz. car
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — — —
10 oz.
Orange juice concentrate — — 6 oz.
Peas, green — — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green —
—
—
10 oz.
Fresh:
Apples
—
ib.
Bananas — — — — — — —
ib.
Oranges, size 200 —
— — doz.
Lemons
— —
lb.

* Priced only in season.

n5.a

-

Consumer ftrice Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average

Food and unit




Percent
change

lfeats, poultry,
and fish

Peaches * —

—

—

—
—

Strawberries * —
—
Grapes, seedless * —
Watermelons * —

—

—

—

—

-

—

each
—

—
—
—

ib.

—

pt.
ib.

—

ib.

Potatoes —
—
—
—
—
10 ib.
Sweetpolatoes
ib.
Onions
----—
ib.
Carrots — — - — — — — — —
ib.
Lettuce

head

Celery - — — — — — — — —
Cabbage
Tomatoes
—
Beans, green — — — — — —
Canned:
Orange juice — — — — — 46-oz.
Peaches —
—
#24
Pineapple —

—

—

—

ib.
ib.
lb.
ib.
can
can

#2 can

Fruit cocktail — —
#303 can
Corn, cream style —
—
#303 can
Peas, green — — — — —
#303 can
Tomatoes — — — — — — — # 0 can
33
Baby foods — — — — — — 44 to 5 oz.
Dried:
Prunes — — — — — — —
ib.
Beans — — — — — — — —
ib.
Other foods at home:

23.3
2U.7

23.3

2U.8

5**
71
1UO

29.1
7U.3
57.3
lii.3

28.3
18.9

19.2

29*0

7U-1

20.1

23.1

1$.h
17.0

5U.7
21.0

28.6

20.1
22.8

XU.7

17.2
5U.2
21.0

T o m a t o SOUp

—

t« ll-oz. can

Beans with pork — — —
IQ-OZ. can
Pickles, sweet — — — — —
7h oz.
Catsup, tomato — — — — —
14 oz.
Coffee — — — — — — — — — l b . «*n
Tea bags — — — — — — — Pkg. of 10
Cola drink, carton —
—
36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated —
3 lb.
Margarine, colored — — — — — — ib.
Lard
ib.
Salad dressing —
—
—
—
pt .
Peanut butter — — — — — — —
ib.
Sugar — — — — — — — —
5 ib.
Corn syrup — — — — — —
24 oz.
Grape Jelly — — — — — — — 12 oz.
Chocolate bar — — — — — —
1 0z.
Eggs, Grade A, large —
—
doz.
Gelatin, flavored — — — - 3 to 4 oz.

56.2
13.6
8.7
13.1

16.8

16.7
8.7
27*9
31.1
37.6

3U.6

33.9

26.0
17.2

21.U
1U.8

10.0
3U.5
16.0
1.i
2l
Hi.7

27.3
23.3
107.7
23.5
33.6
100.5
30.5

22.8
36.6

53.5
5U.8
2U.7
27.0
li.5
53.6

8.8

Other
foods at home
Index

113.0

Percent
change

0.3

106.1 - .6
113.1
.1
106.1
.8
120.1
2.3
118.0 - .5
0
116.6
115.8
.7
112.3 - .3
106.1 - .3
.2
112.9
120.0
112.2
112.6
121.8
117.0
120.8
111.0

110.7
112.1
ua.2

.3
0
.5
- .3
1.0
- .2
- .9
.8
.1
.8

TABLE AS Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
1956 frmmal average jpflereg
percent oranges, 19gg %o 1 9 ^
5 cities priced in February 1957
Cleveland
Percent
Index
change

Group

Houe(ton
Percent
Index change

Seraipton
Percent
Index
change

Seattl*
Percent
Index change

Washing!
[Percent
Index change

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
118.0

2.1

117.8

1.6

112.9

1.3

118.1

1.2

114*9

1.1

Food at home - — —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
— —
Other foods at hone

109.9
108.1
120.9
94.8
104.6
113.8
116.7

.9
.6
.9
- 4.2
3.8
4.3
1.4

108.8
107.2
118.1
92.3
108.9
116.7
111.2

- 1.0
- 1.4
- .1
- 7.1
- .2
1.8
1.6

109.1
108.5
123.1
96.1
106.9
115.7
110.4

.7
.5
3.5
- 4.4
.3
6.6
.5

113.2
112.4
133.8
97.3
113.3
122.3
111.4

1.0
.9
4.8
- 4.3
4.6
2.8
.7

112.6
110.7
122.7
95.2
114.2
118.7
113.4

1.3
1.0
.5
- 4.0
2.9
6.8
1.5

Rent — — — — — — —
—
Gas and electricity — — - — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings — —
— —
Household operation

124.4
150.6
111.5
129.1
101.0
115.4

1.7
4.4
2.4
4.3
- .8
1.7

126.3
138.5
106.9

2.6
.3
.1

101.8
130.0

1.2
2.1

117.5
125.4
119.8
131.7
99.4
110.7

1.8
1.2
.9
2.2
- .2
.8

123.0
139.0
88.4
133.8
101.4
122.1

1.4
1.2
- .3
2.9
- 2.4
6.5

116.9
124.4
123.1
139.4
99.6
125.1

.3
.7
1.5
4.9
- 3.5
4.2

Apparel
lien's and boys' — — — — —
Women's and girls' — — — — —
Footwear
— — — — — — —

106.3
109.8
98.3
123.2
93.7

2.4
1.7
2.2
4.8
1.1

107.8
106.5
100.9
134.0
90.8

1.2
2.3
- .3
4.2
.2

107.2
108.8
100.6
127.9
91.2

1.1
1.4
- .2
5.3
- .2

107.1
110.0
99.8
127.2
86.6

.8
.8
- .7
4.7
- .2

103.4
106.5
96.6
121.1
91.2

1.9
1.4
1.5
4.6
1.0

Transportation
Public
—
Private

125.5
167.4
116.6

4.3
8.3
3.5

126.5
163.6
121.0

2.5
1.2
2.7

129.9
189.8
115.8

2.7
.3
3.1

128.3
177.5
116.7

.5
6.5
- .3

131.2
154.5
124.6

1.3
4.0
.8

144.1
123.4
116.9
122.9

6.3
4.6
1.4
3.1

127.7
129.3
113.6
123.0

2.7
6.2
3.9
2.7

122.6
123.4
120.8
116.9

2.2
3.6
1.1
1.0

136.1
122.7
111.3
128.3

2.4
4.3
2.5
.5

125.5
117.6
107.0
131.0

5.1
4.4
1.5
.8

All items

—

—

—

Medical care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services —




—

—
—
—
—

—
—

—

—

n
PrJftf %rlftrwtrl9ii

ftf

9F7

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average changes in prices of goods
and services typically bought by city families of wage earners and clerical workers* It
is based on prices of about 300 items which were selected so that their price changes
would represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by wage and
clerical families; they include all of the important items in family spending. Prices
for these items are obtained in 46 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places
in the United Stated they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals,
filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner
and clerical-worker families patronize*
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
46 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities* Almost all prices are obtained
by personal visits of the Bureau's trained representatives*
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending* City
data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent* Index numbers are computed on the base 1947-49 = 100*
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from the
20 large cities for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small cities:
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W. Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N* Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Huntington, W* Virginia
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, Virginia
Hadill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
loungstown, Ohio

Comparisons of city indexes show only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another* The city indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price
levels or in living costs between cities*
A description of the index is contained in BLS Bulletin 1140, "The Consumer
Price Index: A Layman's Guide,n which may be purchased for 20 cents at any Bureau of
Labor Statistics regional office (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Documents, U* S* Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D* C* A more technical
description of the index appears in BLS Bulletin 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
Statistical Series*M Reprints of chapter 9> pertaining to the CPI, are available on
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or at any of its regional offices*
Historical series of index numbers for the United States city average and for
20 large cities are available upon request* These series include index numbers for All
Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent for periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of
goods and services from 1947 to date*
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
50 Seventh St*, NB
Zone 23




New York
341 Ninth Ave*
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St*
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

LABOR - D. C.

Boston
18 Oliver St*
Zone 10