Full text of CPI Detailed Report : March 1958

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Released April 23, 1958
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABCR
Bureau of labor Statistioe
Washington 25, D* C*
CONSUME FRIGE INDEX FCR MARCH 1958
Consumer prloes in United States cities rose f0*7 pereent between
February and Mureh 1958, aeeording to the U* S* Department of Labor s Bureau of labor
Statistics* The largest Monthly advance since July 1956 was principally the result of
higher prices of foods* The March Consumer Mice Index reached a new high, 123*3 parcent of the 1947-49 average and 3*7 percent above the level of March 1957*
££S

Higher prices far fresh fruits and vegetables, Meats, and eggs
were largely responsible for a rise of 1*8 percent in food prices
between February and Hsroh* The Maroh food price index at 120*8 percent of the 1947-49
average was 6*7 percent above a year ago*

Fruit and vegetable prices were up 5*1 percent on the average*
fresh vegetables were higher by 12*0 peroent as adveree growing conditions since
Deoember continued to affect total supplies* Potato prloes rose 19*6 percent, lettuce
24*5 pereent, onions 22*0 peroent, and all other fresh vegetables prioed also showed
substantial increases except carrots which declined 3*6 percent* Fresh fruit prices
were up 2*2 percent on the average, with oranges and apples registering seasonal
increases of 3*9 and 3*6 percent, respectively, while bananas dropped 2*0 percent*
Canned fruits and vegetables rose 0*8 percent with snail price increases for panned
fruits and a 4*0 percent rise in tomatoes more than offsetting slight decreases for peas
and ooro*
frioes of seats, poultry, and fish increased 2*1 pereent on the
average with almost all prioed items higher* Chicken was up 4*8 percent, chuck roast
4*7 pereent, ham 3*1 percent, frankfurters 2*7 percent, round steak 2*0 peroent, and
pork chops 1*1 percent* There were slight decreases for bacon and leg of lamb* Fresh
and frosen fish prices were up 2*7 percent on the average*
Egg prices increased 11*3 percent from a national average price of
56*8 cents per dosen to 63*2 cents* Coffee prices fell 1*2 percent* Prices of dairy
products declined 0*3 percent, with seasonal reductions for fresh milk* The rise of 0*1
pereent for cereals and bakery products was due mainly to increases in prloes of flour
and corn flakes* Eriees of restaurant meals rose 0*4 percent*
HOCBIMQ

The housing index was up 0*2 peroent, as increases in rents,
home-owner costs, and household operation more than offset prioe
reductions of 1*0 percent in housefuraishings and seasonally lower fuel prices* The rise
of 0*1 percent in rent was about half the average monthly rate of increase during the
past year* The increase of 0*6 percent in household operation resulted primarily from
the introduction of annual changes in water rates, although there were some scattered
advances for laundry, dry cleaning, and telephone services* Much of the prioe decline
for housefurnishings resulted from substantial reductions for small appliances, following
abandonment of fair trade policies by some major manufacturers* Prloes were also lower
for some larger appliances and rugs* Gas and electrio bills were unchanged on the
average, but prices of fuel oil declined seasonally*
OTHER COMMODITIES
SERVICES




The reading and recreation index was up 0*3 percent, as higher
movie admission charges for special features were reported in
several cities* Prices of radios and television sets were lower*

The rise of 0.3 percent in medical care resulted from higher prices
for prescriptions and drugs and fair hospital and professional services, ftich of the
increase in personal care was the result of increases in prices of cosmetics, although
toilet soap, cleansing tissues, and beauty shop services were also higher.
The private transportation index edged up 0.1 percent, largely
because of higher prices for gasoline, following the termination of price wars in several
cities. Prices of new and used cars declined 0.5 and 0.4 percent, respectively. Higher
transit fares caused a rise of 0.3 percent in public transportation.
Apparel prices were unchanged on the average as scattered slight
advances for women's wear were offset by small reductions for men's, boys', and infants'
clothing.
TABI£ 1» Consumer Price Index—United States city average, all items and special groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates

Qrow

All itemsAll items less f o o d — —
All items less shelterAll eoomoditiesAll comnodities less foodDurables-™—
Non-durable8All servicesAll services less r e n t —

Mar.
195§
123.3

125.0
121.0
116.4
113.1

109.6
116.9
141.7
143.1

lafracg (1947-49=109)
Feb.
Jan.
June
Mar.
1953
1927
1950
195$
122.5
124.8

120.2
115.5

113.2
110.3
116.7

141.0

142.3

122.3
124.7

120.0
115.4
113.5
110.5
117.0
140.5
141.7

118 .9

122.0

116 .5
112.4
111 9
108 .6
115 .6
136.3
137.1

101.8
103.0
100.7
100.3
99.4
102.4
99.0
107.9
107.0

Tear

J222
59.4
69.1
55.4
51.6
59.4
57.3
58.7
80.4
73.5

Percent change to March 1958 from —

All itemsAll items less foodAll items lee8 shelterAll conmodltiesAll oomodities less food
Durables—•
Non-durable8All servicesAll services less rent

Feb.
1958

Jan.
1958

Mar.

0.7

.2
.7
.8

0.8

.1
.6
.2

.9
.4

3.7
2.5
3.9
3.6

.8

.6

1.0

.5

.2
.8

.1
.9

1957

1.1
.9
1.1

4.0
4.4

June
1950

Tear

21.1

107.6
80.9
118.4

21.4

1939

20.2
16.1 125.6

18.1

90.4
91.3
99.1
76.2
94.7

13.8
7.0

31.3
33.7

(1947-49=41.00)*
Mar.
1958

Feb.
1958

Jan.
1958

Mar.
1957

June
1950

Tear
1939

Itarchasing power of the consumer d o l l a r - 10.81

10.82

$0.82

10.84

•0.98

#1.68

* To calculate purchasing power of the consumer dollar on any other base, divide
the index for the desired base date by the index for the comparison date.




TABU 2 s Consumer Price Index — United States city average, all items and i i—mlllj groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Indexes (19*7-*9-100)
Group

All Items

March
1958

February
1958

This
month

Last
month

January
1958
2 months
ago

Maroh
1957

June
1950

Tear
1939

Last
year

Pre—Korea

Pre-World
War II

123.3

122.5

122.3

118.9

101.8

59.*

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

120.8
119.6
132.7
114.4
114*1
130*7
113.8

118.7
117.2
132.6
112.0
114.5
124.4
111.3

118.2
116.7
132.5
110.2
114.6
121.9
113.1

113.2
111.4
129.8
100.6
110.7
116.1
111.6

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9*.l

*7.1
*7.1
57.2
kl.6
*9.8
*6.3
*8.*

Rent
Oas and electricity — — — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnlshlngs — — — — — —
Household operation
— —

127.5
137.1
115.9
136.7
103.9
130.7

127.3
137.0
115.9
137.2
104.9
129.9

127.1
136.8
115.7
138.4
104.2
129.7

124.9
134.4
112.4
139.2
104.9
126.2

10*. 9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6

76.1
86.6
10*.9
56.*
53.*
68.*

— — —

106.8
108.9
98.8
129.5
91.9

106.8
109.0
98.6
129.5
92.0

106.9
109.0
98.8
129.3
91.9

106.8
108.8
99.3
127.6
92.2

96.5
96.1
93.3
102.1
es.k

52.5
50.8
54*5
50.3
40.6

— — —

138.7
185.9
128.0

138.5
185.4
127.9

138.7
182.4
128.4

135.1
175.8
125.2

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

Medical eare
-—
Personal care — — — — — — —
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services jJ ------

142.3
128.3
117.0
127.2

141.9
128.0
116.6
127.0

141.7
127.8
116.6
127.0

136.4
122.9
110.5
124.2

105. *
99.2
102.5
103.7

72.6
59.6

Men's and boys'
—
Women's and girls'

—

Other apparel
Public —
Private —

—

—

—

—
—
—
—
-

Percent change to

Mareh 1958

from:

JuttBX7
1958
0.8

Maroh
1957
3.7

June
1950

1.8
2.0
.1
2.1
- .3
5.1
2.2
.4

2.2
2.5
.2
3.8
- .4
7.2
.6
.6

.2
.1
0
- .4
- 1.0
.6

February
1958
0.7
Food
—
— —
Food at home
— — — — — ——
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish

—

—

—

Other foade at heme
Housing 2/
Rent
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

.. — — — —

Solid fuels and fuel oil —
House furnishings — . — — — .

Men's and boys'
— —
Women's and girls'
— — —
Footwear — — — — — — — «
—
Other apparel
Public
—
Private —

—

—

Year
1939

21.1

107.6

6.7
7.4
2.2
13.7
3.1
12.6
2.0
3. \

20.2
19.0
29.2
7.8
23.6
27.5
20.9
U/>

156.5
153.9
132.0
175.0
129.1
182.3
135.1
(4/>

.3
.2
.2
- 1.2
- .3
.8

2.1
2.0
3.1
- 1.8
- 1.0
3.6

21.5
26.1
12.9
27.0
6.7
31.2

67.5
58.3
10.5
142.4
94.6
91.1

0
- .1
.2
0
- .1

- .1
- .1
0
.2
0

0
.1
- .5
1.5
- .3

10.7
11.0
5.9
26.8
4.0

103.4
114*4
81.3
157.5
126.4

.1
.3
.1

0
1*9
- .3

2.7
5.7
2.2

26.2
57.7
20.1

97.6
128.7
95.4

.3
.2
.3
.2

•4
.4
.3
.2

4.3
4*4
5.9
2.4

35.0
29.3
14.1
22.7

96.0
115.3
85.7
80.2

1/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately.
2/ Includes h o w purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately*
2/ Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services" (such as
legal serrices, banking fees, burial services, etc.).
k/ Mot available.




63.0

70.6

4

T A B U 31 Conewer Prioe Index — All iteas indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)

March
1958

City
(felted States city average

—,

February
1958

March
1957

June
1950

tear
1939

123.3

122.5

118.9

101.8

59.4

126.8
124.2
125.0
121.2
123.1

126.2
123.7
124.1
120.3
122.3

121.6
121.0
120.4
116.0
120.0

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

Cities priced monthly 2J
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles •
Hew lork
Philadelphia

,
—

March
1958

Cities prioed in Ifcroh, June,
September, Peoember iJ
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San
faawlieo

•

Cities priced in February, Mgr,
August, lovember
Cleveland
Seattle

122.4
122.1
120.8
122.5
124.8

February
1958

lovember
1957

124.5
122.3
119.1
125.0
120.3

123.3
122.4
117.8
123.9
119.4
October
1957
122.0
121.8
122.2
121.1
121.9

123.4
122.4
123.2
122.6
123.3

•••

March
1957
120.6
119.9
118.1
120.2
122.3

124.9
124.1
122.3
124.5
126.7

January
1958

Cities prioed in January, April,
July, October If

Minneapolis1
Pittsburgh

Deoember
1957

Tear
1939

June
1950

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

2/ 101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9
1950

Tear
1939

120.4
120.5
115.5
122.2
117.5

100.4
103*5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

January
1957

April
1950

Year
1939

119.0
119.8
119.4
118.8
120.1

101.2
101.4
102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

February
1957

U

1/ Rents priced bimonthly.
2/ Foods, fuels, and a fev other itens priced monthly; rents and other comooditiee and services priced quarterly.
2/ Hsy 1950.
V June 1950.

TABLE 4t Consumer Frioe Index — Percent changes f*oa February 1958 to March 1958
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All itens and cosaodity groups

City
United States city average—
ChicagoDetroitLos AngelesNew York
Philadelphia-




All

Food

Housing

0.7

1.8

0.2

.5
•4
.7
.7
•7

1.5
1.7

1.6

2.4
1.4

.1

.3
.6
.2

.1

Medical

Personal

Reading
and
recreation

0.1

0.3

o.a

0.3

0
0.3
.5

.7

0
.1
0

.1

o

.1

.4

2.3

Apparel

.1

portation

.1
.1
.1

.1
.3

.1
.3
1.3

0
3.1
- .9

-

.2

TABIC 5* Consumer Price Index — All items and cosnodlty groups
March 1958 indexes and peroent changes, December 1957 to Maroh 1958
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in March 1958
U.S.
Loe
City
BaltiCineinChicago nati
Average Atlanta more
Detroit Angeles

Group

5

Hew
York

St.
Philadelphia Louis

San
hranoisoo

Indexes (19^7-49-100)
123.3

124.9

124.1

126.8

122.3

124.2

125.0

121.2

123.1

124.5

126.7

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

120.8
119*6
132.7
114.4
1U.1
130,7
113.8

119.3
119.1
126.8
117.4
114.2
136.1
108.3

121.5
118.8
128.4
112.7
117.4
127.3
114.5

117.9
115.9
124.4
107.7
111.4
127.0
119.8

122.6
121.2
132.0
115.6
117.6
131.4
118.4

122.2
120.6
125.7
110.9
111.7
142.8
115.8

123.3
120.1
140.4
115.3
110.1
132.0
111.8

122.0
120.5
137.7
115.5
115.2
129.9
114.2

123.4
121.3
134.1
115.7
119.8
129.3
113.6

121.8
118.5
125.5
111.4
103.0
136.7
121.8

122.9
121.6
141.0
119.0
, 116.9
130.2
111.4

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

127.5
137.1
115.9
136.7
103.9
130.7

130.2
137.1
119.6
130.7
109.5
136.1

122.8
134.0
101.5
128.7
100.7
130.0

137.0
162.5
114.7
139.9
102.8
135.0

124.4
141.5
122.4
145.9
96.4
133.8

128.9

124.0

117.0
130.1
108.6
119.4

134.7
145.5
132.3

126.6
145.1
103.8
155.7
105.1
134.7

128.4
143.6
141.3

100.9
122.6

113.5
142.1
104.2
130.5

121.8
125.6
103.4
141.0
110.0
132.0

107.1
120.9

106.8
108.9
98.8
129,5
91.9

114.5
116.6
106.4
139.2
93.8

107.7
106.2
103.2
127.7
96.9

109.3
116.0
97.5
132.0
95.8

106.0
107.3
97.8
134.5
89.8

103.0
109.1
92.0
124.2
85.3

108.3
113.6
98.8
129.7
85.1

106.8
106.2
98.2
131.7
95.7

104.3
107.1
95.6
127.1
92.2

106.5
108.6
98.8
126.4
96.9

108.3
109.1
101.2
133.8
90.6

138.7
185.9
128.0

139.8
188.3
131.3

149.7
188.0
131.9

148.4
195.6
129.9

132.4
183.3
120.8

131.6
155.6
126.8

133.0
162.1
128.3

138.8
190.2
119.3

144.6
188.1
124.5

147.5
206.5
127.7

155.7
182.6
142.6

142.3
128.3
117.0
127.2

135.9
129.9
122.6
132.5

146.4
123.7
130.1
136.4

150.3
128.9
125.1
122.0

148.9
129.8
109.6
124.2

150.9
133.7
113.8
135.9

134.0
132.6
109.7
123.8

130.1
121.3
118.5
126.5

143.2
134.1
119.7
128.7

158.1
128.9
97.9
127.0

142.9
123.8
117.3
124*4

All items

—

Appar€l

Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'

—

Other apparel

—
—
—

Public
Private

Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

—

—

—

Percent change from Deoember 1957 to Maroh 1958
All items

1.4

2.0

1.6

1.0

1.2

0.7

1.7

2.1

0.8

1.6

1.5

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

4.0
4.6
•7
7.9
- .4
14.7
- 1.0

5.0
6.1
1.2
8.0
2.6
18.8
.8

3.5
4.3
•8
6.5
.2
13.7
.2

3.5
4.0
- .1
8.4
- 1.2
10.3
.3

4.3
4.8
- .2
8.2
.1
14.2
- .3

4.1
4.7
.6
7.7
- 1.2
14.7
- .1

3.2
3.7
.4
7.0
0
12.9
- 2.9

5.4
6.1
.7
7.8
- 1.9
22.4
1.1

3.9
4.3
.4
6.6
- .1
14.0
- .1

3.7
4.5
.7
8.2
- .3
13.0
- 1.1

2.8
3.7
.1
9.3
.3
9.7
- 2.8

Housing
Rent — — — — — — — — —
Oas and electricity — — — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil —
louse furnishings
— —
Household operation - — - — —

.2
.3
0
0
- .7
0

.5
1.0
.1
- 4.4
- .3
2.4

.4
1/ .1
.1
0
- .5
1.4

0
.1
- .6
0
- 2.0
.1

- .1

1.0
1/ .3
1.3

.8
—

.8
.3
0
1.3
.1
2.0

.8
1.5
1.4

—
—

•4
.3
1.4
- 1.2
- 1.0
.8

- .1
.2

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

- .7
- .5
- 1.3
.3
- .4

-

.6
1.4
.2
1.3
.5

.7
.1
1.3
.3
.2

- 1.2
- .2
- 2.6
0
.2

.3
- 1.1
1.5
.1
.1

Transportation
Fublle — —
Private

—
—

_

2.3
- 2.3
- .7
1.8

- .7
1/ .1
0
- 1.1
- 1.1
.9

- 1.0
- 1.3
- 1.4
.7
- .6

.4
.4
- 1.5
.6
- .2

- .2
- .6
- .3
.6
- .6

- 2.2
- .1
-4.6
0
- 1.7

.7
0
1.5
- .5
.2

.1
- .3
.3
.1
0

—

4.1
.3
- .7
.2

- 3.1
0
-

— — — — — — —
—
.

- .1
1*9
- .5

.6
0
.7

- .7
.4
- .9

- 1.5
.7
- 2.1

- .9
.7
- 1.2

- 3.6
1.1
- 4.6

1.1
4.7
.7

- .6
.6
- .9

.2
.4
.2

1.0
.6
1.0

2.2
0
2.4

Medical care
—
—
Personal care — — — — — — — —
Reading and reereatlon
— — —
Otter goods and services

1.1
1.0
2.1
.3

2.0
.6
5.1
.3

1.0
2.1
3.0
3.6

2.2
.5
- 1.5
.4

.1
.2
2.3
.4

- .1
1.3
2.8
.1

1.6
.9
5.1
.1

.3
1.8
.3
.3

.3
1.4
.7
.1

1.2
.5
1.5
.2

1.3
1.3
1.2
.6

Jj Change from January 1958 to Maroh 1958.




ZABIZ 61 C « u m r Price Index — Food end It* subgroups
March 1958 Indexes and percent changes, February 1958 to feroh 1958
U.S. city average and 20 lari* cities
Total
food at hone

Total food
City

Percent
change

Index

Index

Percent
change

U.8. city average

—

120.8

1.8

119.6

2.0

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston — — — —
Chicago
— — —
Cincinnati
— —
Cleveland — — - —
Detroit
—
•ouston — — — —
Buses City — —
Los Angeles — —

—

119.3
121.5
— 120.0
— 117.9
— 122.6
— 118.1
. 122.2
— 117.0
— 116.1
— 123.3

2.2
1.8
1.9
1.5
2.2
1.8
1.7
.6
1.4
1.6

119.1
118.8
118.5
115.9
121.2
116.5
120.6
115.5
114.6
120.1

2.7
2.1
2.2
1.8
2.2
2.0
2.0
.7
1.7
1.6

Minneapolis
—
lew Tork
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.
St. Louis
San Francisco
—
gerantom
— —
Seattle
—
—
Vfcshingten, D.C.

—

1.2
2.4
1.4
1.7
.8
2.0
1.3
2.1
1.2
2.4

118.4
120.5
121.3
121.6
118.2
118.5
121.6
119.3
119.9
121.6

1.5
2.6
1.6
1.9

119.1
122.0
123.4
122.4
119.2
121.8
122.9
119.0
120.3
122.9

—
—
—
—
—

1.0

2.5
1.7
2.3
1.4
3.0

Cereals and
bakery products
Index

132.7
126.8
128.4
131.3
124.4
132.0
130.1
125.7
126.3
127.7
140.4
134.6
137.7
134.1
131.0
135.2
125.5
141.0
134«6
141.8
132.9

Percent
change

Meats, poultry,
and fish
Index

0.1 114.4

-

.2
.1
.3
.4
.2
.4
.1
.3
.1
.4
.1
.4
.3

.1

.1
- .1
0
- .3

.1

1.0

117.4
112.7
113.2
107.7
115.6
109.5
110.9
110.2
111.1
115.3
107.8
115.5
115.7
113.4
115.6
111.4
119.0
114.9
113.8
115.0

Dairy
products

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

2.1
2.8
1.3
1.7
2.6
2.2
2.2
2.0
.9
1.2
2.2

114.1
114.2
117.4
116.6
111.4
117.6
110.7
111.7
112.4
111.6
110.1

-0.3
- .1
.1
- 1.1
- 1.0
.1
0

.5
2.6
1.8
2.0
1.9
3.0
2.5
1.7
2.2
3.3

105.7
115.2
119.8
117.4
117.2
103.0
116.9
113.7
118.7
119.9

-1.4

- .3
- .1
0

- 1.9
- 1.2
- .1
.2
.1
- .1
.3
0
.2
.3

Fruits and
vegetables
Index Percent
change

130.7
136.1
127.3
127.1
127.0
131.4
122.9
142.8
124.7
121.5
132.0
136.3
129.9
129.3
129.4
120.2
136.7
130.2
126.2
129.4
130.9

5.1
6.0
5.5
7.1
3.1
4.7
3.8
5.4
2.7
4.7
5.3
5.3
7.2
3.2
3.7
3.0
4.9
3.3
7.0
2.7
5.6

Other
foods at hoae
Index

Percent
change

113.8

2.2

108.3
114.5
109.6
119.8
118.4

3.2
3.2
2.5
3.0
3.5
2.6
2.9
.4
2.5
- .5
3.5
3.3
2.3
3.0
.1
2.7
1.5
3.5
1.0
3.3

116.8

115.8
110.8
107.3
111.8
121.7
114.2
113.6
124.9
112.0
121.8
111.4
113.0
109.4
115.4

IABIZ 7i Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
Food and unit
Cereals and bakery products;
Flour., wheat — — — — — — — — 5 ib.
Biscuit nix — — — — —
20 oz.
C o m meal —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Rolled oats
— - 18 oz.
Corn flakes — — — — — — 12 oz.
Bread, white — — — — — — — ib.
8oda crackers — — — — — —
ib.
Vanilla cookies — — — — —
7 oz.
Iteats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak — — — — — — —
ib.
Chuck roast - — — — — —
ib.
Rib roast — — — — — — —
ib.
Hamburger —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Teal cutlets — — — — — —
ib.
Pork chops, center cut —
—
ib.
Bacon, sliced — — — — — —
ib.
EMM, whole — — — — — — —
ib.
Iamb, leg —

—

—

—

—

ib.

Frankfurters — — — — —
ib.
Luncheon meat, canned —
—
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to+cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frosen
ib.
Baddock, fillet, frosen — — — ib.
Salmon, pink, canned — — — — — 1a oz.
Tuna fish, canned —
e to 64 oz.
Dairy products;
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
— qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream — — — — — — —
pt.
Cheese, American process —

—

ib.

Milk, evaporated — — — — — i4*-oz. can

Fruits and vegetables:
Frosen1
Strawberries — — — — —
Orange juice concentrate — —
Peas, green — — — — —
Beans, green —
—
—
Fresh t
Apples — — — — — —
Bananas — • — — • — — —
Oranges, size 200 — — — — — —
Grapefruit *
* Priced only la season,
j/fcot available.




March
1958
Cents
55.5
12.8
18.1

20*3

25.3
19.1
29.2
24*7
103*1
64.1
81.0
50.3

131.2

Peaches —

Pineapple —

68.4

24.0

25.6

29.6
74.9
58.3
15.1

14.0
16.9
68.0
19.0
11.9

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

40-oz. can

#24 can
#2 can

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

77.5
62.7
47.6
49.9
44.7
55.9
63.1
32.8

ib.
ib.
••oh

Orange juice —

89.5
77.1

26.6
24.7
19.5
23.0

Food and unit
F r e s h — Continued
Peaches * — — — — — —
ib.
Strawberries • — — — — — p t.
Grapes, seedless • —
—
ib.
Watermelons * — — — — —
ib.
Potatoes — — — — — — — 10 ib.
Sweetpotatoes — — — — —
ib.
Onions — — — — — —
ib.
Carrots — — — — — —
ib.
Lettuce — - - - - - - - - - - - - - - — — head
Celery — — — — — — —
ib.
Cabbage — — — — — — —
ib.
Tomatoes — — — — —
ib.
Aeans, green — — — — —
ib.
Canned:

26*8

10 oz.
e oz.
10 oz.
9 oz.

doz.

February
1958

13.5
17.2
65.5

18.8

11.7

March
1958
Cents

73.2
16.5

11.0

15.1

20.2
15.8

12.0

41.8

Q/>

35.1
34.3
34.5
26.1
17.5

21.2
16.6
10.0
33.0
17.3

Other foods at home:
Tomato soup
lofr to 11-oz. can 12.5
Beans with pork — — — — — 16-oz. can 15.1
Pickles, sweet - — — — — 7* oz.
27.2
Catsup, tomato — — — — —
14 oz.
21.8
Coffee — — — — — —
lb. oan 93.4
Coffee — — — —
— — lb. bag
77.9
Tea bags — — — — — — — — Pkg. of id
24.0
Cola drink, carton — — — — — 36 oz.
27.3
Shortening, hydrogens ted —
3 ib.
95.2
Margarine, colored —
—
—
ib.
29.8
Lard — — — — — — — — — — — ib.
22.4
Salad dressing — — — — —
t.
37.8
p
Peanut butter — — — — —
ib.
54.3
Sugar — — — — — — — — —
s ib.
55.5
Corn syrup — — — — — — — — 24 oz.
25.5
Grape jelly — — — — —
12 oz.
27.7
Chocolate bar — — — — — — — 1 0 z.
4.5
Eggs, Grade A, large — — — — — doz.
63.2
Gelatin, flavored — — — 3 to 4 oz.
8.9
Labor D.C. - BLS58-2833

7
Mftf

TMmt?«Hii

9f

9FJ

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 States; 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 fmonths 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, V* Virginia
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

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

Comparisons of city Indexes show only that prices in one city changed sore 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," which may be purchased for 20 cents at any Bureau of
Labor Statistics regional office (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Docur
ments, 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
1
Statistical Series*' 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*
BIS Regional Offices
1 1

t^S
^ ~
„
50 Seventh St*, HI
Zo** 23




lork
341 Ninth Ave*
Zone 1

Chicago
San Francisco
105 West Adams St* 630 Sansome St*
Zone 3
Zone 11
•LABOR - D. C.

Boston
18 Oliver St*
Zona 10