Full text of CPI Detailed Report : October 1954

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Issued November 2h$ 195U
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25* D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - OCTOBER 195U
Consumer prices in American cities decreased 0.2 percent between September and
October 19Sh, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Consumer Price Index for October 195U was llU»5 (19U7-U9"100), 0.8 percent lower than
the all-time peak reached in October 1953*
The October figure marked the third successive month of decline for the overall
index, but major index components shoired varying movements. Apparel prices, which
reached their post-Korean high in September 1951* were the first to start down, although
a slight rise was noted in October. The food price trend has been down generally since
the Fall of 1952, although come seasonal increases have occurred from month to month.
Transportation prices and costs for reading and recreation were lower than in October a
year ago. Other elements of living costs, notably rent and medical care, have continued
to advance slowly.
Food prices, off 0.5 percent from the preceding month, were primarily responsible for the 0.2 percent decline from the September 195U index level. Transportation
and housefurnishings costs went down over the month, but apparel, reading and recreation,
coal and fuel oils, gas and electricity, medical care, and residential rents showed
fractional advances.
FOOD
The October food index was 111.8 (19U7-U9»100), 1.6 percent lower than a year
ago, U.l percent bela* the lecord high of August 1952, but 11.2 percent above the
June 1950 level. Prices were lower in almost all of the U6 cities priced, with 11 cities
shoeing decreases of more than 1 percent. The most important contributing influence was
the plentiful supply of pork and poultry throughout the country. The index for meats,
poultry, and fish decreased in all U6 index cities and amounted to more than 2 percent
in about three-fourths of them.
Pork prices dropped in every city, mostly by 3 to 7 percent, reaching the
lowest levels for this year. Pork chops were down 7 cents per pound; ham, 3 cents;
bacon, over 1 cent. The price decreases for poultry were larger than for pork. Frying
chickens were selling at U0.5 cents per pound on the average, compared to U6.8 cents in
October last year.
Prices of fresh fruits were somewhat lower and fresh vegetables considerably
higher, on the average,than in September, resulting in a net increase of nearly 1 percent for fresh produce combined. Apple prices, which were responsible for the decrease
in fresh fruits, dropped in all but 7 cities, reflecting bumper crops. In New England
cities, apple prices rose substantially, probably due to damage to local apple crops by
the hurricanes.
Advances for lettuce, tomatoes, and green beans outweighed seasonal decreases
for potatoes. Prices of lettuce rose in most cities by 20 percent or more. Price
changes for tomatoes varied from decreases in several cities to increases of over 100
percent in 3 others.
Coffee prices showed a further slight decline of lj percent, but were still
20 percent higher than at the end of 1953*




2

Prices of fresh milk continued the seasonal increase begun in July, and there
were snail increases in butter prices in all U6 cities in the index.
HOUSING The housing index, which includes rent, fuels, utilities, household furnishings,
and household operation, remained at 119.5, the level of a month ago. Prices were lower
for electrical appliances, household textiles,and some articles of furniture, but increases were reported for gas, coal, and fuel oil. Rents also rose 0*2 percent on the
average during October and are now 1.7 percent higher than a year earlier. However,
scattered rent decreases were reported.
The large decrease in prices for some household equipment, such as refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, toasters, and stoves,resulted from efforts by major department
and other long-established types of retail stores to meet competition of discount houses.
In addition to the introduction of lower price lines by manufacturers,intended to permit
retailers to quote loirer prices, dealers mentioned competitive markdowns and numerous
sales as typical of their efforts to meet competition.
OTHER COMMODITIES Apparel prices shewed a further slight rise in October• Higher prices
AND SERVICES
were reported for women's and girls1 fall and winter apparel in cities
in which these articles were priced in October for the first time this season.
Men's work clothing and sport shirt prices again went down, reflecting the
effect at the retail level of lower mill prices earlier this year. Lo*er hosiery and
lingerie prices were attributed to large production in these lines.
The decline of 1.1 percent in transportation costs reflected further concessions
by new car dealers, preparatory to introduction of 1955 models. Prices of used cars,
tires, gasoline, and auto repairs also declined in a number of cities during October.
Reading and recreation costs rose, as movie admission charges and newspaper
prices increased in a few cities.
The slight rise in medical care costs resulted from scattered increases in
prices of drugs and medicines, fees for services of physicians and surgeons, and hospital
charges.




TABLE 1. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — U.S. C O T AVERAGE ALL ITEMS AID COWODITr
Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Dates
October
1951*

September
195U

This Month

Last Month

August
1951*

October
1953

GROOV5
June
1950

Tear
1939

Pre-Korea

PreWorld War II

Group
2 Months Ago

Last Tear

3

INDEXES (l9*7-*9 » 100)
ALL ITEMS
FOOD 1/
Pood at home
•
.
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and fish — «
Dairy products —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home —HOUSING 2/
Rent
—
— — —
Gas and electricity - —
—
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
—
Household operation -«•-—~
APPAREL — — — —
Men's and boys' • « — — — — Women's and girls' — — — — «
Footwear
Other apparel
— — . . .
TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CAR! — READING AND RECREATION
—
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

—

ill*. 5

114.7

115.0

115.1*

101.8

59.*

111.8

112.1*

113.9

113.6

100.5

*7.1

113.3
122.3

119.6

113*3
120.1*
111.1
110.1
107.7
117.1*

100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9*.l

*7.1
57.2
*1.6
*9.8
*6.3

kQ.k

119.2

118.7

10*. 9

76.1

126.8
107.0
125.7
108.1
116.6

108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6

86.6
10fc.9
56.1*
53.*
68.1*

110.9
122.7
103.9

106.7
111.1

111.6
122.6

106.7

107.6

110.5

105.1
lUt.7

105.8

115.7

116.0

119.5

119.5

129.0

128.8

108.5

107.9

123.8

122.1*

128.6
107.8

117.6

117.1*

121.9
105.1*
117.3

10l*.6

101*. 3

103.7

105.5

96.5

52.5

106.ii
99.6
116.7
91.1

106.1*

106.1*

116.5
90.9

97.7
116.9
90.7

107.6
100.8
115.8
92.3

98.1
93.3
102.1
88.*

V
y

130.7
122.8
113.2
108.6
U9.7

109.9
105.*
99.2
102.5
103.7

105.6

—

125.0
125.9

—

106.9

106.0

99.0

126.1*

126.6

113.4

125.7
113.5

125.5
113.1*

120.1

106.5
120.1

120.2

106.6

PERCENT CHANGE TO OCTOBER 1951* FROM*
September
1951*

August
1951*

October
1953

June
1950

ALL ITEMS

- 0.2

- 0.1*

- 0.8

12.5

FOOD 1/

- 0.5

- 1.8

- 1.6

11.2

- 2.1
0.3
- 3.1*
1.5
- 3.1
- 3.3

- 2.1
1.9
- 6.5
- 3.1
3.2

10.3
19.5

- 2.1

- 1.1*

23.0

0.3

0.7

13.9

1.7

18.7
5.6
15.1

Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and fish
Dairy products
— —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home — — — —
HOUSING 2/
Rent
—
Gas and electricity Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation APPAREL
Men's and boys' «—«
Women'8 and girls*
Footwear
— — —
Other apparel
TRANSPORTATION — — —
MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE — — — — — —
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES ^J

- 0.6
0.1
- 2.6
0.9
0.5

- 0.3
0

0.2
0,6
1.1
- 0.1*

0.2

0.3
0.6
1.6
0.2
0.3

0.3

0.9

0
0.6
0.2
0.2

0
1.9
- 0.2
0.1*

- 1.1
0.2
- 0.1

0.1*
0

- 1.3
0.3
0
0.3
- 0.1

1.1*

15.6

8.1*

- 1.5
- 2.3
0.9

18.1

8.1*

- 0.9

8.1*

- 1.1

8.5

- 1.3

H*.3
3.1

- 1.2
0.8
- l*.l*"
2.5

0.2
- 1.6

0.3

6.8

13.7
19.1*
1U.3
1*.3
15.8

l/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately*
2/ Includes home purchase and other hoae^owner costs not shown separately.
Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miecellaneous services" (such as legal services, banking fees,
burial services, etc.),
y Not available.




«

68.9
72.6
59.6
63.O
70.6

TABUS 2. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS INDEXES FOR SEI£CTED DATES
U.S. CITY AVERAGE AND 20 IARGE CITIES

( 1 9 ^ 7 - ^ 9 = 1 0 0

)

(1935-39 - 100)

City

U.S. CITT AVERAGE

October
1951*

October
1953

June
1950

Year
1939

nl*.5

115.1*

101.8

59.*

191.1*

117.1
116.0
111;.8
112.6
116.1

117.1
117.2
116.3
113.3
115.3

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60A
60.1
59.2

199.1*
195.8
191.8
186.1*
193.2

October
195L

October
1953

October
195U
1/

CITIES PRICED MCHTELY:

Los Angeles - — - — — —
New York
Philadelphia — —

—

CITIES PRICED IN JANUARY, APRIL,
JULY, OCTOBER
2/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.

113.5
115.7
116.9
111*. 3
115.2
September
195U

CITIES PRICED IN MARCH, JUNE,
SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER
2/
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

116.3
115.2
lllw3
115.7
116.2
August
195U

CITIES PRICED IN FEBRUARY, MAY,
AUGUST, NOVEMBER 2/
Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D. C.

l/
2/
\J
4/

115.3
116.5
112. h
116.2
lllwl

.

113.8
115.7
116.6
lliu7
116.1

April
19*0
101.2
101.1*
102.1
99.9
101.5

October
195L

V

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

182.7
186.3
193.6
191*. 3
199.5

June
1950

September
1953

September
1951*

117.6
115.0
115.3
117.1
116.9

101.3 1*/
101.6 ~
101.2
101.1
100.9

August
1953

May
1950

115.1
116.8
113.2
116.8
111*.2

100.1*
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

197.2
198.0
192.5
193.1
198.6

58.3
57.9
58.1*
59.3
58.6

August
1951*
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.U

196.5
197.2
186.8
198.6
187 .U

These are the MUM Indexes shown In column 1, converted to a base of 1935-39 = 100.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items priced monthly} other commodities and services priced quarterly.
June 195*0; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
May 1950; formerly priced February, May, August, November.

TABLE 3. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — PERCENT CHANGES FROM SEPTEMBER 1951* TO OCTOBER 195k
U.S. City Average and Five Cities Priced Monthly
All Items and Commodity Groups

City

U.S. CITY AVERAGE
Chicago - — - —
Detroit —
Los Angeles
lev York
Philadelphia




.......
........
...

All
Items

Food

- 0.2

- 0.5

- 0.3
- 0.2

-

- 0.5
- 0.1
- 0.1

0.2
o.l*

0.3
o.l*

0.6

Trans*
portation

Medical
Care

Reading
Personal
and
Care
Recreation

Other
Goods &
Services

Housing

Apparel

0

0.3

- 1.1

0.2

- 0.1

0.1*

0

- 0*3
- 0.2

- l*.o
0.1

2.8

- 0.1

- 0.1
0

0
0

0.2
- 0.2
- 0.3

0.1
0

0

- 0.3

0.1

- 1.9

0.1
0.1

0
0

0.1
0

0
0

- 0.1
0

0.2
0.1*
0.1

- o.U
0
0.3

TABU k. CONSUMER HtXCK XND8X — ALL ITEMS AID COMMGDXTT GRCNPS
October 1951* Indexes and Percent Changes, July 1951* to October 1951*
U.S. City Average and 10 Cities Priced in October 1951*
V.8.

cm

Group

ATERA0K

Boston Chicago DetroitpCansas
City

Los
Minnea- New
Angeles polis
York

Phila- Pittsdelphia burgh

October 1951* Indexes (191*7-1*9 - 100)
ALL ITEMS

1U*.5

113.5

117.1

116.0

POOD

111.8

110.2

110.0

113.8 108.5

110.9
122.7
103.9
106.7
111.1
115.7

108.9 108.8
119.0 116.5
98.3
100.7
110.0 105-5
110.1 111.1
108.9 122.1*

112.5
118.0
103.1
103.7
119.1*
118.6

119.5

119.6

128.2

122.3

106.3
123.0
108.1*
121.1

F m 4 at fceae — —
—
—.
Cereals and bakery products
—
—
Meats, poultry and fish
—
—
—
Dairy products — — — — . — — — - — .
Fruits and vegetables — — — . — .
Other foods at hone
—
.
hogsino - — - — — -

...

Rent . — — — — — — — — — — «
Gas and electricity
— — — — «
Solid fuels and fuel oil
House furai shing s — — — —
Household operation — — — — — —
APPAREL

—

TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL CARE — —
PER8GKAL CARE
READING AHD RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AID 8ERYICES

112.6

116.1 111*.3

115.2

112.0

111.8

111.3

11U.5

113.0

111.6

107.5
120.2
99.6
108.5
106.2
109.2

110.3
126.8
105.8
103.1
106.8
113.3

111.1*
125.0
99.0
102.6
116.1
125.7

110.8
125.1*
10l*.l
107.1*
108.8
116.6

113.5
120.5
10l*.5
lll.l*
118.3
117.1

112.6
12l*.l*
100.1*
109.9
111.3
126.2

111.1
12l*.l*
107.9
105.3
106.9
1U*. 6

120.6

121*.3 122.1

115.9

111*. 3 117.0

120.1

138.9 137.0
108.8 118.0
119.3 112.1
108.8 ioi*.5
110.2 122.5

109.5

110.0
113.9
107.0 106.6
108.1 121.1

108.2
125.6
105.5
118.9

102.3
120.0
109.1*
113.8

123.9
118.8
119.7
105.1
120.0

107.8
128.0
108.0
112.0

129.0
108.5
123.8
105.6
117.6

108 .1*
121*. 6
10iu8
116.7

10l*.6

10l*.2 106.6

102.7

10l*.6

101*.8 106.0

10l*.l

10 6.1* 103.7

107.5

—
—
—
—

106.1*
99.6
116.7
91.1

103.8 111.3
100.2
99.1
112.8 119.8
10l*.9
93.6

108.5 107.1
95.3 100.1
112.1* 1H*.2
88.0
87.5

108.5 108.5
98.8 101.9
118.9 113.9
92.8
82.7

105.3
99.3
115.1*
9l*.l*

10l*.8 106.3
105.7
96.5
111.1 118.1*
93.3
98.7

111.2
100.1*
120.6
95.1*

—

125.0
125.9
113.1;
106.9
120.1

132.8
12l*.3
111.8
105.2
118.5

118.1
126.8
119.1
109.2
12l*.7

120.8
122.9
117.5
99.3
lll*.0

118.1*
11*2.0
115.9
116.6
125.6

129.8
12l*.l
107.6
10l*.9
121.3

137.1*
132.3
117.2
113.8
123.9

131*. 2
126.1
116.6
98.3
120.5

121.6
122.8
110.5
116.1
118.7

—

Men's and boys' — — — — — — — —
Wonen's anl girls' — — — — —
Poetvear — — — — — — — — —
Other apparel
—
—
—
—
—

111*.8 116.9

115.7

127.8
126.1
115.0
110.5
118.2

Percent Change —

12U.0
136.0
116.6
115.2
117*3

July 1951* to October 1951*

ALL ITEMS

- 0.6

- 0.3 - 0.8

- 1.3

0.1

- 0.1 - 0.3

- 0.6

- 0.2 - 1.0

- 0.3

food —

- 2.1*

- 2.1* - 2.3

- i*.o - 1.3

- 0.3 - 1.5

- 2.0

- 2.7 - 2.2

- 2.2

- 2.9
0.9
- 5.3
2.3
- 7.5
- 1.1*

- 3.0 - 2.9
- 0.3 - 0.3
- 5.9 - 5.9
2.2
5.5
- 8.6 - 6.5
- 2.3 - 0.1*

- 1*.5
0.2
- 5.9
0.6
-12.8
- 1.1*

- 1.8
- 0.1
- 1*.5
12.1*
- 8.1*
- 2.2

- 0.5
3.6
- 2.7
0.2
0
- 0.6

- 1.6
- 0.3
- 3.1*
l*.l
- 7.7
1.0

- 2.3
0.2
- 5.1
3.1
- 1*.7
- 2.0

- 3.2 - 0.3
- 7.1* 3.1
- 6.3 - 0.9

2.1*
1.6
5.8
2.9
9.1
0.7

- 2.8
1*.3
- 5.8
0.7
- 7.2
- 2.1*

1.1*

1.0

0.1

1.3

- 0.1

0.6

0.3

0.5

- 0.1

0.2

_

_

0
0
- 0.1 - 0.1
0.8
0.1

- 0.3
2.6
- 0.1*
0

0
5.0
0.6
0.1

yo.9
1.6
- 2.6
- 0.2
0

2.5
0.3
- 0.3
0.3

0.3

0.6

1.0

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

0.1*
Gas and electricity —
— ™
Solid fuels and fuel oil
lousefurnishings
— — — — — —
Household operation — — — — -— — —
APPAREL
Men's and boys' — — — — — •
......
Vonen's and girls' —
Other apparel —

—

—

TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

— —

—

......

—

—

«— —

1/ Change frai April 1951 to October 1 9 % .




0.1*
0.6
2.2
- 0.1
0.3

- 0.1*
1*.8
0.2
2.8

0
0.1
0.9
0.2

„

y

o.6 1/2.6
0.1* 13.1
o.5 - o.l*
- 0.3 - 1.0
0.1
0.2

0

0.6

2.1* - 1.2

- 0.2

- 0.2
1.1*
0.2
0.3

0.1 - 1 . 5
1*.3 - 2.1
1.5
0.5
1.5 - 1.2

- 0.6 - 0.3
2.1
0.3
0
- 0.5
0.6
- 0.1

- 0.6 - 0.5
2.3
0.9
0
1.2
0.1
0.2

- 0.8
2.0
. 1.0
0.6

0.1* - 0.5
1.6
0.3
0.1*
0.3
0.6 - 0.2

1.1*
5.2
- 0.3
1.6

- 1.3
0.6
0.1
- 0.1
- 0.2

- 3.2 - l*.l*
0.1
2.9
- 0.2
0
1.7 - 0.3
0
- 0.5

- 1.3 - 1.1
2.0
0
0.3
0.3
- 1.7
0.3
0
- 0.2

- 0.2 - 2.5
0
- 0.7
0
0.3
2.0
- 0.2
- 0.7 - 0.2

0.1*
0.2
0
- 2.0
- 0.2

0.1* - 2.1*
5.8 - 1.5
0.1
o.U
0.6
1.1*
0.3 - 0.1

• 0.6
o.k
0
1.0
- 0.1

1.0

0.9

0

2.8

TABLE 5. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — FOOD AND ITS SUBGROUPS
October 1954 Indexes and Percent Changes, September 1954 to October \95h
U. S. City Average and 20 Large Cities
(19^7-1*9 « 100)

Percent
Change

Total
Food at Home
Percent
Index
- Change

-

110.9

Total Food
City
Index

U.S. CITY AVERAGE

— 111.8

0.5

Atlanta —
111.5 • 1.6
Baltimore - —
— - 112.9 - 1 . 1
Boston
—
—
— 110.2 - 0 . 1
Chicago
— — — — 110.0 - 0 . 2
Cincinnati
—
— Ilk. I 0 . 2
Cleveland
—
—
— 110.5 - 0 . 3
Detroit
— — — — 113.8 - 0 . 4
Houston
—
—
— 111.6
0.1
108.5 - 0 . 4
112.0 - 0 . 3
Minneapolis — — — — 111.8 _ 0 . 4
New York
—
—
— 111.3 - 0 . 4
Philadelphia —
114.5 - 0 . 6
Pittsburgh —
- 113.0 - 0 . 4
Portland, Ore.
— — 111.6
0.4
St. Louis — — — — 1 115.2 - 0 . 2
San Francisco — — — 113.7. - 0 . 4
Scranton
— — — — 109.9 - 0 . 7
Seattle
111.4 - 0.3
Washington, D.C.
— 111.4 - 0.6

110.3
111.8
IO8.9
108.8
113.5
109.7

- 0.6
- 1.9
- 1.3

- 0.3
- 0.4

- 0.3

- 0.4

112.5 - 0 . 4
110.7
107.5
110.3

0.1
- 0.7
- 0.4

111.4
110.8
113.5
112.6
111.1
113.6
113.0
109.7

-

111.0

- 0.4
- 0.8

109.9

0.2
0.4
0.7
0.3
0.7
0.4

- 0.4
- 0.8

Cereals &
Bakery Products
Percent
Index
Change

122.7

Meats, Poultry
& Fish
Percent
Index
Change

0.1

103.9
107.7
105.9
100.7
98.3
105.9
101.4

117.3
122.2
119.0
116.5
123.9
120.4
118.0
117.7
120.2
126.8

0.3
0.2
- 0.3
- 0.1
2.3
0.1
0.1

0.3

103.I

0.2
- 0.1

103.5
99.6
105.8

125.0
125.4
120.5
124.4
124.4
118.9
131.0
118.1
126.0
120.2

0
0.2
- 0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0
- 0.3
- 0.2
0.1

99.0
104.1
104.5
100.4
107.9
104.1
108.2
102.1
104.9
99.9

- 2.6

Dairy
j
Fruits &
Products
Percent r
Percent
Index
1 Index
Change
Change

|

Other
Foods at Home
Percent
Index
Change

Vegetables

106.7

0.9

111.1

0.5

115.7

3.7
2.7
3.3
3.3
2.5
2.9
2.6
0.2
2.0
- 1.2

108.2
108.9
110.0
105.5
108.7
103.7
103.7
106.3
108.5
103.1

0.1
0
1.7
1.8
1.1
0.6

112.8
108.4
110.1
111.1
112.9
106.7
119.4
115.9
106.2
106.8

- 5.1
- 3.1
2.7
1.4
0.8

107.9
116.1
108.9
122.4
122.7
120.4
118.6
113.9
109.2
113.3

-

102.6
;07.4
111.4
109.9
105.3
105.1
105.3
108.7
105.9
111.7

-

1.7
3.2
3.8
2.1
1.8
2.3
0.8
3.9
2.1
3.7

0.6
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.4
1.3
2.9
0.2

0.5
3.4

- 0.1
0.8
3.0
- 0.3

1.8
2.0

0.4
- 0.1
- 1.0

0.8

116.1
108.8
118.3
111.3
106.9
119.4
110.9
108.4
110.8
106.8

1.5
0.4

0.9

1.9
0.9
1.0
1.6
1.7
0.1

125.7
116.6
117.1
126.2
114.6
126.1
115.6
114.0
113.2
115.6

- 0.3
0.1
- 0.3
0.3
0.7
- 0.2
0.4
- 0.1
0.2

- 0.6
0.4

0.6
0.3

- 0.2

0.6
- 2.2
- 0.9

- 1.6
0.1
- 1.9

1.0

TABLE 6. RETAIL FOOD PRICES FOR OCTOBER 1954 AND SEPTEMBER 1954
U.S. City Average
Food and Unit

Oct. 1954

(Cents)
CEREALS AID BAKER! FRGD9CTS
5 lb.
Floor, wheat
53.6
20 oz.
27.4
Biscuit mix
lb.
12.6
Corn seal
lb.
19.0
Bice
20 oz.
18.6
Rolled oats
12 oz.
Corn flakes
21.9
lb.
17.4
Bread, white
lb.
27.2
Soda craekers
7 oz.
Vanilla cookies
23.7
MEATS, P0ULTRT AID FISH?
lb.
92.0
Round steak
lb.
Chuck roast
51.3
lb.
Rib roast
70.3
lb.
Hamburger
40.2
lb.
Veal cutlets
107.9
lb.
80.2
Pork chops, center cut
lb.
Bacon, sliced
75.2
lb.
6
4.6
Ham, whole
lb.
Lamb, leg
69.1
lb.
Frankfurters
54.7
12 oz.
Luncheon neat, canned
49.1
lb.
Frying chickens, dressed
40.5
lb.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook
51.3
lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
44.3
lb.
49.6
Haddock, fillet, frozen
16 oz.
Salmon, pink, canned
52.7
7 oz.
38.8
Tuna fish, canned
DAIRY PRODUCTSI
qt.
22.3
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
23.3
pt.
29.6
Ice cream
lb.
Butter
71.5
lb.
56.8
Cheese, American proeess
oz.
can
13.8
Milk, evaporated
14 h
FRUITS AID VEGETABLES:
Frozen
12 oz. 1 / 3 0 . 6
Strawberries
6 oz.
19.0
Orange juice concentrate
10 oz.
19.2
Peas, green
10 oz.
24.2
Beans, green
Fresh
lb.
Apples
12.9
lb.
i6.e
Bananas
doz.
Oranges, size 200
68.9
lb.
Lemons
18.5

Sept. 1954
(Cents)
53.4
27.5
12.6
19.3
18.6
21.9
17.4
27.2
23.7
91.9
50.6
70.2
40.3
107.5

87.2
76.5
68.0

69.6
55.1
49.5
43.8
54.9
44.2
49.6
52.5
38.9
22.1
23.1
29.6
69.3
56.8
13.8

36.5
19.0
19.3
24.4
14.3

16.5
68.9
17.4

Food and Unit
Fresh (continued)
Grapefruit *
Peaches *
Strawberries *
Grapes, seedless *
Watermelons *
Potatoes
Sweetpotatoes
Onions
Carrots
Lettuce
Celery
Cabbage
Tomatoes
Beans, green
Canned
Orange Juice
Peaches
Pineapple
Fruit cocktail
C o m , cream style
Peas, green
Tomatoes
Baby foods
Dried
Prunes
Navy beans
OTHER FOODS AT HOME:
Vegetable soup
Beans with pork
Gherkins, sweet
Catsup, tomato
Coffee
Tea
Cola drink
carton
Shortening, hydrogenated
Margarine, colored
Lard
Salad dressing
Peanut butter
Sugar
Corn syrup
Grape Jelly
Chocolate bar
Eggs, Grade A, large
Gelatin, flavored

* Priced only in season
1/ P r f c i n g s h i f t e d t o 10 oz. package j n Octoberj comparable p r i c e f o r September, 30.6 c e n t s .
2/ P r i c i n g s h i f t e d t o #303 can i n October; comparable p r i c e f o r September, 14.6 cents*




each
lb.
pt.
lb.
lb.
15 lb.
lb.
lb.
lb.
head
lb.
lb.
lb.
lb.

Oct. 1954

Sept. 1954

(Cents)

(Cents)
14.3

22.0

19.9

76.5
11.4
7.3
14.0
18.6
12.8
6.0
19.9
18.9

82.7
12.4
7.6
13.5
14.4
12.5
6.1

46 oz. can
#2 h can
#2 h can
#2 h can
#303 can
#303 can
#2 can
oz.
4

36.3
32.5
38.7
40.9
18.0
21.4
2/ 14.7
9.8

36.3
32.6
38.7
41.0
18.1
21.4
17.4
9.8

lb.
lb.

31.5
17.8

31.3
17.8

14.3
14.5
29.4
22.2
110.0
34.8
32.4
35.9
30.1
25.9
36.3
49.3
52.4
23.7
25.9

14.3
14.5
29.5
22.3
111.6
34.6
32.3
35.8
30.2

11 oz. can
16 oz. can
7 £ oz.
14 frz.
lb.
* lb.
of 6, 6 oz.
lb.
lb.
lb.
pt.
lb
5 lb.
24 oz.
12 oz.
1 oz.
doz*
3-4 oz.

16.5

17.2

26.9
36.4
49.3

52.7
23.7

25.9

5.1

59.7
8.5

59.6

8,5

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

7

The Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices of goods and
services customarily purchased by city wage-earner and clerical-worker families. Index
numbers are presented on the base 19^7-^9 ® 100> and show the average increase or decrease in prices from the 19^7-^9 average. For the convenience of users, indexes are
also calculated on the base 1935-39 » 100.
About 300 items are priced for the index to estimate the average change in
prices of a fixed quantity of goods and services from one period to the next. Among
these are all the important items that wage and clerical workers buy, and they are
selected so that their average price change will be representative of the price changes
on all items. Prices are collected in
cities which are representative of all cities
in the United States.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items are priced every month in eacn
city. Prices of most other goods and services are obtained every month in the 5 largest
cities, every 3 months in 16 other large cities and in 9 medium-sized cities, and every
k months in 16 small cities. In each city, prices are reported by representative retail
store» and service establishments patronized by wage and clerical worker families.
Indexes are calculated for all cities combined (the U.S. city average) and
for each of the 20 largest cities. No separate index numbers are calculated for the
following 26 medium-sized and small cities which are included in the U.S. average:
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
I^ynchburg, 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
Youngstown, Ohio

In the calculation, price changes on individual items are weighted by their
importance in wage-earner and clerical-vorker family spending. City data are combined
by weighting with 1950 population data to arrive at the U.S. city average.
Comparison of city indexes shows only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another. City indexes do not measure differences in price level between
cities.
A detailed description of the index containing lists of items priced, their
weights, cities included, and an explanation of the index calculation, its uses and
limitations, is available in Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 11^-0 - "The Consumer
Price Index - A Layman's Guide,11 for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, United
States Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. Price 20 cents.
A more technical description of the Consumer Price Index is available upon
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U« S. Department of Labor, Washington 25, D. C.
Historical series of iildex numbers for the U.S. city average and 20 individual
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 19^7 to date.