Full text of CPI Detailed Report : April 1953

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Issued May 22^ 1953
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.

EXECUTIVE 3-2*120
Moffdtt - Ext. 532

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
APRIL 1953
Consumer Price Index Rises 0.1 Percent Between
March and April as Prices for Most Major
Groups Show Small Advances

This report presents the Consumer Price Index for
April 1953 for the average of U.S. cities and for
individual cities. The measurement of price change
from January 1953 forward is based on the revised
index structure. Information about the index revision is given in the February 1953 Monthly Labor
Review or is available upon request.

Retail prices of goods and services bought by families of urban wage and clerical
workers averaged 0.1 percent higher between March and April 1953> according to the U. S.
Department of Laborfs Bureau of Labor Statistics. Slight decreases occurred in the indexes
for Food and Apparel while other major groups rose 0.3 percent or less, with the exception
of the Medical Care group which rose 0.6 percent.
The index for April was 113-7 (19^7-^9 « 100), 0.7 percent higher than a year ago
and 11.7 percent above June 1950* Converted to a 1935-39 * 100 base, the revised index
was 190.1.
FOOD

The U.S. Food index resumed its decline from the August peak, following the slight
increase of last month, with a decrease of 0.2 percent from March to April. The
April index was 111.5 (19^7-^9 » 100), 2.1 percent below a year ago but 10.9 percent above
June 1950. Retail food prices, on the average, were lower in the majority of the large
cities surveyed, but higher in most of the medium-sized and small cities largely because
of differences in the magnitude of price changes for dairy products and fruits and
vegetables.
Changes in all food subgroup indexes were fairly small. The largest decrease
among the published subgroups was 1.2 percent in the Dairy Products index with fresh milk
prices undergoing sizeable reductions in a number of large cities. Butter prices were also
generally lower. There was, however, a 1.2 percent rise in the index of "Other Foods at
Home," resulting from increases chiefly in the prices of coffee, eggs, and fats and oils.
The Meats, Poultry and Fish index, which has declined steadily since last August, continued
this trend because of lower beef prices and was 0.6 percent below last month and 10.6 percent below the peak of 119.4 (19^7-^9 • 100) reached in August 1952. Beef and veal prices
declined generally (about 2 percent on the average) and poultry prices were substantially
lower in a few cities (about 1 percent on the average for all cities). Prices of pork and
lamb were approximately 1 percent higher over the month.




2
The Fruits and Vegetables index fell 0,4 percent as an average decrease of about
k percent in fresh vegetable prices more than offset price increases of a little over 2
percent for fresh fruits. Generally, lover prices were reported for lettuce, onions, potatoes, and carrots,,
Bread prices rose in Chicago and Washington, D. C., accounting for much of the
rise of 0.3 percent in the Cereals and Bakery Products index. Restaurant meal prices
averaged slightly lower in April.
Retail food prices showed a 0.9 percent increase between April 13 and April 27,
1953> according to preliminary estimates based on 6 cities. Restaurant meals are not
included in these estimates.
HOUSING

The Housing index for April was 117.0, up 0.2 percent above last month. An increase of 0.3 percent over the month was reported for residential rents and other
shelter expenses. The Household Operation index also advanced 0.3 percent as increases
were reported in a few cities for dry cleaning, laundry, and domestic services. The largest decline from March was for Solid Fuels and Fuel Oil which dropped 0.6 percent. The
Housefurnishings index for April was 0.2 percent below March with lower prices reported
for washing machines, electric refrigerators and toilet tissue.
APPAREL

The Apparel index declined slightly (0.1 percent) over the month. Decreases
reported for women1s and girls' apparel, especially in the large cities, accounted
for most of the group decline. Seasonal clearance prices for women's wool suits and lightweight coats and lower prices for rayon suits and nylon hose were largely responsible for
the decline in women's and girls' apparel. Prices for men's and boys1 apparel were
unchanged, on the average, while the cost of footwear advanced slightly.
OTHER
GROUPS

The Medical Care index rose 0.6 percent, primarily as the result of increases for
group hospitalization rates in a few cities. The Other Goods and Services index
advanced 0.3 percent over the month as higher prices were again reported for cigarettes. Transportation and Personal Care costs increased 0.1 percent. Increases were
reported for a few items in these groups such as auto repairs, gasoline, and beauty shop
services. The Reading and Recreation Group index rose 0.2 percent, reflecting scattered
increases for movie admissions and television repairs.

OLD SERIES:




The Bureau has resumed compilation of the Old Series Index, as directed by the
President on January 30. It is expected that the April 1953 Old Series
indexes will be available about the end of May.

TABLE 1.

3

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 1/ — U.S. .AVERAGE ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Dates

March
1953

This Month

February
1953

April
1952

June
1950

Last Month

April
1953

GROUP

2 Months Ago

Last Year

Pre-Korea

Year
1939
PreWorld War II

INDEXES (1947-1+9 a 100)
ALL ITEMS

113.7

113.6

113«,k

112.9

101.8

59.1*

FOOD

111.5

111.7

ill.
.5

113.9

100.5

1*7.1

113.9
115.6

2/

HOUSING

3/

109.0
115.0
110. u

117.7
107.1*
110.3
115.5
109.1

ill,
,1
,6
117.
107. .7
1 1 0 , .7
115-.9
107.
.3

121.1
105.0

117.0

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

100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
91*. l

116.8

116.
,6

lll*.0

101*. 9

y

121.7
106.5
124.1*
108.0

116.9
103.9
117.3
108.7
111.0

108.7

102.7
107.6
97.1*
99.6

86.6
ioi*. 9

111.3

111.1
118.0
106.8

111*. 8

110.k

1*7.1
57.2
1*1.6

1*9.8
1*6.3

122.1
106.5
123.6
107.8
11U.3

llk.O

121,
-5
106.
.1
123.
.3
108, ,0
•5
113.

10^.6

101*. 7

101*.,6

106.0

96.5

52.5

TRANSPORTATION

129.1*

129.3

,1
129.

121*.8

109.9

y

MEDICAL CARE

120.2

119.5

119.
.3

115.9

105.1*

y

PERSONAL CARE

112.5

112.1*

112.
-5

111.3

99.2

READING AND RECREATION

107.9

107.7

107. 5
•

106.2

102.5

117.9

117.5

,8
115.

115.2

103.7

y
y
y

April
1952

June
1950

Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation
APPAREL

V

OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

5/

i
1

56.1*

y

PERCENT CHANGE TO APRIL 1953 FROM:
i

March
1953
0.1

ALL ITEMS
FOOD

Year
1939

0.7

0.3

11.7

91.1*

- 0.2

2/

Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other food at home
HOUSING

February
1953

0

- 2.1

10.9

136.7

- 0.2
0.3

0

10.5
ll*.9
0.7
18.1
12.2
17.3

135.9
106.3
156.7
118.9
11*8.1*
128.1 2/

1.2

0.3

2.6

11.5

53.7

0.3
0

0.5
0.1*
0.2

k.k
2.5
5.4

1*1.0

1.5
119.1
101.9

3.0

12.3
3.7
11*.9
10,7
ll*.8

- 1.3

8.1*

99.2

0.6

- 1.2
- 0.1*

3/

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

2.9

- 2.5
2.1
- 7.0
- 1.3
~ 5.0
5.1

0.2

-

-

0.3
0.8
1.5
0.8

- 0.2
0.7

-

0.8

67.1

1/

U

0.1

0

TRANSPORTATION

0.1

0.2

3.7

17.7

87.8

1/

MEDICAL CARE

0.6

0.8

3.7

11*.0

65.6

1/

PERSONAL CARE

OJ

0

1.1

13.1*

88.8

7/

READING AND RECREATION

0.2

0.1*

1.6

5.3

71.3

1/

0.3

1.8

2.3

13.7

67.0

1/

APPAREL

k/

OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

2/
3/
t/
5/
6/
7/

-

0.6
0.2
0.3

-

5/

Includes "Food away from home" for which indexes will he available later in 1953*
Includes "Other shelter" for which indexes will be available later in 1953*
Indexes for subgroups of apparel will be available later in 1953*
Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services" (such as legal services, banking fees, burial
services, etc.).
Not available. Indexes for 1939 will be published when calculations are completed.
Appr ox imate.




4

TABLE 2.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX l/ — ALL ITEMS INDEXES FOR SELECTED DATES
U.S. Average and 20 Large Cities

( 1 9 ^ 7 - 4 9

«

10

0)

(1935-39 » 100)

City
April
1953

March
1953

113.7

113.6

114.2
115.2
115.6
111.1
U3.7

113.8
115.2
115.4
111.2
114.1

February
1953

June
1950

April
1953

113.4

112.9

101.8

190.1

113.9
115.1
114.9
111.1
113.7

113.4
113.6
114.6
110.9
113.1

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

194.5
194.5
193.2
183.9
189.2

April
1952

U.S. AVERAGE j}/

April
1952

April
1950

April
1953

111.1
113.9
113.5
112.3
114.7

101.2
101.4
102.1
99.9
101.5

179.8
184.0
190.6
191.8
199.9

p!

CITIES PRICED MONTHLY:
Chicago
Detroit
'—-Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia

CITIES PRICED IN JAN., APR.,
JULY, OCT. 4/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
* - P o r t l a n d , Ore.

111.7
114.3
115.1
112.8
115.4

CITIES PRICED IN MAR., JUNE,
SEPT., DEC. 4/

June
1950

March
1953

115.1
112.3
111.3
114.0
113.0

116.7
114.2
112.6
114.7
115.5

CITIES PRICED IN FEB., MAY,
AUG., NOV. k/

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

197.9
196.3
I89.6
191.4
197.4

February
1952
112.5
116.1
112,2
114.6
113.0

Cleveland
— t - Houston.
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

4/
5/
0/

1/

March
1952

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

1/
2/
3/

5/

112.6
114.8
110.8
114.3
112.0

May
1950

February
1953

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

191.7
196.6
186.5
195.9
185.5

See General Explanation at end of tables.
These are the same indexes shown in columns 1, 2 or 3, converted to a base of 1935-39 » 100.
The U.S. Average is "based on prices collected ia 46 cities. In addition to the 20 cities listed individually, 26 cities
are included in the national average. Indexes are not calculated for these 26 cities.
Foods, fuels, rents and a fev other items priced monthly) other commodities and services priced quarterly.
March 1952 and June 1950? formerly priced March, June, September, December.
February 1952 and May 1950: formerly priced February, May, August, November.

TABLE 3.

City

U.S. AVERAGE
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX l/ — PERCENT CHANGES FROM MARCH 1953 TO APRIL 1953
U.S. Average and Five Cities Priced Monthly
All Items and Commodity Groups

All
Items

Food

Housing

Apparel

Medical
Care

Personal
Care

Reading
&
Recreation

Other
Goods &
Services

0.1

- 0.2

0.2

- 0.1

0.1

0.6

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4
0

0.5
0.2
- 0.4

0.1
0

0.2
0.1
- 0.5
- 0.7
- 1.0

- 0.1
0.1

2.4
0
1.2
0
0.1

0
0.3
- 0.1
0.2
- 0.1

- 0.1
0.1
0
0.2
0.2

0.8
0
0.4
0.3
- 0.2

0.2

- 0.1
- 0.4

-

0.6

-

0.5

0.8

0.5
- 0.4

See footnotes on table 1 and General Explanation at end of tables.




Transportation

-

0.2
0.1
0.2

TABLE 4. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 1/ — ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
April 1953 Indexes and Percent Changes, January 1953 to April 1953
U.S. Average and 10 Cities Priced in April

Total
Food

Total

2/

City

All
Items

Housing
Solid
Fuels
Gas &
Elec&
triFuel
city
Oil

3/

Rent

Housefurni shines

Household
Operation

TransApparel portation

5

Medical
Care

Personal
Care

ReadOther
ing & Goods &
Recre- Services
ation

y

5/

April 1953 Indexes (1947-49 , 100)
U.S. AVERAGE

113.7

Boston
Chicago
Detroit
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Minneapolis
Nev York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Ore.

117.0

108. k
110.2
114.0
Ilk. 3109.3
112.8
115.6
112.0
115.1
109.8
111.1
112.9
113.7
111.8
112.8
115.4
112.9

111.5

115.6
119.4
118.6
117.0
123.5
116.8
113.6
112.6
114.3
119.6

111.7
111*. 2
115.2

122.1

127.3
124.8

116.1

106.5

123.6

107.8

114.3

104.6

129.4

120.2

112.5

107.9

117.9

105.4
100.0
109.7
104.4
109.5
110.0
108.1
101.8
113.5
118.6

124.7
122.0
117.4
112.6

107.7
107.7
110.4
107.6
111.4
107.4
109.0
110.1
105.8
110.9

107.6
117.6
106.3
120.3
107.5
116.8
118.6
111.3
117.5
111.2

103.8
106.5
103.0
105.1
103.5
105.4
104.8
104.0
104.1
104.0

135.6
133.8
125.7
130.0
127.2
121.8
127.3
133.1
139.0
127.6

123.4
119.6
116.8
119.3
119.7
136.4
120.7
120.1
121.1
118.0

111.8
114.5
119.4
114.7
117.9
117.0
106.1
116.3
106.1
111.7

106.2
109.1
111.0
110.0
104.5
116.7
107.1
112.5
97.2
115.3

116.2
112.1
122.8
119.3
114.1
122.9
118.4
121.8
118.8
117.5

0.1

0.1

1.7

1.3
0.2
0.3
- 0.2
0
- 0.3
0.2
0
0.6
- 0.1

- 0.2
0.3
0
0.5
- 0.4
2.6
- 0.3
1.7
- 1.2
- 0.7

1.0
1.4
1.7
3.3
2.1
1.4
1.5
1.1
1.5
2.7

115.1
130.2
125.4
120.6
123.2

Percent Change —
U.S. AVERAGE

- 0.2

Boston
Chicago
Detroit
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Ore.

- 0.4
0
- 0.4

0

0.2
0.6
- 0.5
- 0.5
0.2
0.7

- l.k
- 2.6
-

0.9
1.6
0.8
1.1
1.7
2.3
2.3
1.1
0.3

0.8

0.5
0.7
0.3
0
0.5
1.1
0.8
0.9
- 0.1
0.5
1.3

6/ 8.0
1/ 3.2

6/ 1.5

January 1953 to April 1953

0.6

0.2

0.1

0.8

- 0.1
0
- 0.1
1.8

0
0
0
- 0.5

1.2
0.7
0.5
1.3
0.6
1.6
0.2
0
- 0.4
1.6

0
0.1
- 1.3
1.8
0.9
M
1.5
0.2
1.0
0.4

o.l
3.5
0.1
0
- 0.2
0

1.2
0
0
0.2
10.4

0.1

0
1.0
0.5
0.3
- 0.9
- 1.1
0.1
- 0.9
0.1

0.1
- 0.3

1.0
- 0.5
- 0.3
- 0.5
1.1
0.9
- 0.4
- 0.2
- 0.3
1.0

0.1
0.1
2.1
0.1
0.2
1.0
9.0
- 0.5
0.5
3.7
0.4

1/ through
see footnotes on table 1 and General Explanation at end of tables.
Z/ Change from October 1952 to April 1953.

TABLE 5. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX l/ — FOOD AND ITS SUBGROUPS
April 1953 Indexes and Percent Changes, March 1953 to April 1953
U.S. Average and 20 Large Cities
(1947-49 « 100)

City

U.S. AVERAGE
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Chicago
Cincinnati

Meats, Poultry
Cereals &
Total
0/
& Fish
Food at Home
Total Food
Bakery Products
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Index Change
Index Change
Index Change
Index Change
111.5
111.7
112.3
108.4
110.2
U3.1

- 0.2
- 0.5
0.5
- 1.1
0.5
0.4

111.1
111.3
111.9
107.5
109.7
112.7

- 0.2
- 0.6
0.6
- 1.5
0.4
0.4

118.0
115.4
116.7
116.8
114.4
117.7

0.3
0.1
0.2
- 0.1
1.2
0.2

106.8
111.8
109.0
101.5
102.2
109.3

-

0.6

Fruits &
Vegetables
Percent
Index Change

Other
Foods at Home
Percent
Index Change

109.0

-

1.2

115.0

- 0.4

110.4

1.2

0.6
1.8
0.3
0.3

114.4
112.5
106.9
108.7
109.3

-

0.4
0
2.0
0.4
0.6

114.3
115.1
108.5
113.7
114.9

- 2.7
0.7
- 4.7
- 0.6
0.6

103.6
108.5
106.2
117.2
115.6

0.5
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.0

-

2.9
0.8
0.4
- 0.4
- 2.9

108.1
125.2
119.3
110.7
112.6

- 1.5
0.9
0.6
- 0.9
- 0.4

111.5
112.1
110.4
107.6
111.5

0.7
1.4
0.7
0.9
0.4

-

_ 0.9
-

Dairy
Products
Percent
Index Change

-

Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles

108.5
114.0
111.9
109.3
112.8

- 0.3
0.2
0
- 0.2
- 0.4

108.0
113.8
111.4
108.5
112.1

0.4
0.4
0
- 0.4
- 0.6

114.8
115.7
114.7
117.1
117.4

0.4
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

104.2
105.9
104.5
103.8
109.8

0.3
0
- 0.9
- 1.4
- 0.5

102.8
110.3
113.0
106.5
109.6

Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Ore.

112.0
109.8
112.9
111.8
112.9

-

0.5
0.6
0.5
0.4
0,4

112.1
109.4
112.4
111.5
112.9

-

0.1
0.5
0.6
0.4
0.4

119.4
122.3
118.5
119.1
114.0

0.2
0.6
0.4
- 0.3
0.3

103.3
105.8
107.8
102.8
113.1

0
1.0
1.0
- 0.7
- 0.4

108.8
104.8
109.9
110.4
110.1

0.4
0.3
- 3.7
- 2.3
- 0.3

121.0
109.4
116.6
113.9
114.4

-

0.7
2.5
0.8
0.8
0.3

116.6
110.6
110.9
118.0
112.7

0.4
1.2
1.8
1.5
1.8

St. Louis
San Francisco
Scranton
Seattle
Washington,D.C.

111.6
113.7
110.9
111.7
110.2

- 0.7
1.0
- 0.4
0
0.2

111.0
113.5
110.6
111.4
109.8

- 0.9
1.2
- 0.4
0
0.3

112.8
123.3
116.1
118.7
114.2

- 0.2
0.4
0.3
0.1
1.9

108.1
108.7
106.8
105.4
104.6

0.2
0.1
0.2
- 0.7
0.3

100.8
110.3
107.9
109.5
113.4

-

116.4
122.1
112.2
119.4
110.5

- 1.8
5.4
- 1.1
- 0.9
- 1.8

117.0
109.0
110.4
109.1
108.3

1.5
1.8
1.3
1.9
0.9

See footnotes on table 1 and General Explanation at end of tables.




-

-

-

-

-

6.0
1.4
2.9
0.3
0.3

6

GENERAL EXPLANATION

The Consumer Price Index (revised January 1953) measures the average change in
prices of goods and services purchased by city wage-earner and clerical-worker families.
The goods and services included in the index "market basket" are those required to maintain the level of living characteristic of such families in 1952, The quantities and
qualities of the items in the "market basket" remain the same between consecutive pricing
periods, so that the index measures the effect of price change only on the cost of living
of these families.
The indexes are presented on a base of 19li7-U9-100. The index numbers thus show
the average increase or decrease in prices from the 19U7-U9 average. (For convenience
of users, these indexes are also shown on the base 1935-39=100, Note that they are
calculated using the new samples, items and weights). The city indexes do not indicate
whether it costs more to live in one city than in another. Comparisons of city indexes
show only whether prices have risen more or less in one city than another since the base
period.
The Bureau has been coirpiling the Consumer Price Index for nearly 1 0 years. At
*
four different times it has been necessary to bring the "market basket" of goods and services up to date and to modernize the samples and methods of calculation. The indexes in
this report are revised as of January 1953. The "market basket" is based on extensive
surveys of postwar expenditure patterns of city families, and reflects changes that have
occurred since prewar in the amounts, kinds and qualities of things people buy, as well as
new things that were not part of our pattern of living a few years ago.
About 300 items are priced to estimate the average change in prices of all items
in the "market basket." Among these items are all the important goods and services that
wage and clerical workers buy. Prices are collected at regular intervals, and the successive prices are compared to determine price changes. The items priced are described
by detailed specifications to insure that as far as possible, the same quality is priced
each time, and that differences in reported prices are measures of price change only.
Prices are obtained in a sample of U6 cities representative of all cities in the U.S.,
including the 12 largest urban areas with populations over 1 million, 9 other large cities,
9 medium-sized cities, and 16 small cities. In each city, prices are reported by stores
of various kinds and by service establishments and individuals (such as physicians and
dentists) from whom wage and clerical workers buy goods and services.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items are priced monthly in all cities.
Prices of most other goods and services are obtained on a regular rotating pricing cycle—
monthly in the 5 largest cities, every 3 months in 25 large and medium-sized cities, and
every k months in the 16 smallest cities. In any given month, goods and services other
than foods, fuels and rents are priced in 17 or 18 cities out of the U6. Price collection
extends over 3 or i weeks, centered on the 15th of the month. Prices for a few items
;
(e.g., auto insurance, railroad fares) are computed from published sources.
Food. Food prices are collected monthly from chain and representative independent
food stores in all U6 cities, during the first 3 days of the week which includes the l5th
of the month. Prices for restaurant meals are based on menus collected on the regular
pricing cycle for each city as described above.
Rent. Rents are obtained each month by mail from tenants of representative samples
of dwellings in each of the U6 cities, and once every 2 years by personal visit, when
local samples of dwellings are also reviewed. The rent index measures changes in rent
from one period to another for the same rented dwellings, with the same facilities,
furnishings and services.
Other Shelter. Materials and services for house maintenance and repair are priced
on the regular city pricing cycle. Prices of houses,- fire insurance rates, mortgage
interest and taxes, which change only occasionally, are obtained annually or biennially,
and changes estimated between pricing dates. Sales prices of houses are obtained fl*om
records of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration.




7
Fuels, including Gas and Electricity. Prices prevailing on the 15th of the month
are collected monthly by mail from fuel dealers and utility companies in U6 cities.
All Goods and Services other than Foods, Fuels and Rents. Prices are collected
in person, on the city cycle described above, from sairples of representative department
stores, apparel and shoe stores, housefurnishings and appliance dealers, barber shops,
beauty shops, doctors, hospitals, moving picture theaters, etc. Prices for such items as
newspapers, street car and bus fares, and telephone service are collected by mail. Prices
of used cars are obtained from car dealers through a trade association.
Price changes for all items in each city are combined in accordance with their
importance in the "market basket" for that city to obtain an average price change for that
city. Price changes for the 1 6 cities are combined for the U.S. with the use of 1950 pop*
ulation data. Each city is given an importance or weight proportionate to the wage-earner
and clerical-worker population it represents in the index. The 12 largest cities, each
weighted by its own population, when combined have about two-fifths of the total weight in
the national index. Each of the 3 other city-size groups has about one-fifth of the total
weight; i.e., the 9 other large cities, the 9 medium-sized cities, and the 16 small cities.
City indexes are conpiled for the 20 largest of the U6 cities priced for the national average. The remaining 26 cities in which prices are collected are:
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
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

The present index, as described above, has been linked (spliced) to the "interim
adjusted" Consumer Price Index for 3k cities, issued through December 1952, to form a
continuous series back to 1913 • 1/
For detailed descriptions of the Consumer Price Index, its uses and limitations,
see the following:
"The Consumer Price Index," A Short Description of the Index as Revised, 1953.
"The Revised Consumers1 Price Index—A Summary of Changes in the Index and
Suggestions for Transition from the "Interim Adjusted1 and 'Old Series1
Indexes to the Revised Index."
Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 1039: "Interim Adjustment of the
Consumers1 Price Index."
January 1951 Report: "Consumers1 Price Index and Retail Food Prices."
December 1952 Report: "Consumers1 Price Index and Retail Food Prices."
Monthly Labor Review articles:
The Revised Consumer Price Index
Adjusted Consumers' Price Index:
Interim Adjustment of Consumers'
Selection of Cities for Consumer
Revision of the Consumers' Price

(February 1953)•
Relative Importance of Items (June 1951).
Price Index (April 1951).
Expenditure Survey-1950 (April 1951).
Index (July 1950).

1/ See December 1952 report, "Consumers' Price Index and Retail Food Prices." Tables of
rebased "interim adjusted" indexes for the U. S. and for 20 cities are available upon
request.







Issued m y 27* 1953

IJ.S-. DEPAHTKSHT" OF IAB0R
Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s

EXECUTIVE 3-2420
Kcffatt - E x t , 5?2

"OLD SrHIFS® SOfSLWPS1 PHICE IKDHt* AFP.IL 1953
;,l01d.Series1* Consumers1 Pricfc' Indexes*are being compiled, J
:.for the months Jarruary^Tune 1 9 5 3 > at'the direction of the *
: President and the Secretary of Lator*'"to- facilitate
t i
* o r d e r l y t r a n s i t i o n t o u s e of the Revised Inclear-in wage
scalator c i ^ s - e s u n d c ? c o l l e c t i v e a g r e e m e n t s * T h e Bureau % ?
t o f L4hor S t a t i s t i c s : h a s n o authorization o r "appropriation" 5
tto continue t h e **Gj.d *Seriesn beyond " f s June Index (Issued:
tc
:at

the

end

of

July).

The

Revised

Index

only

will

be

:

rissued thereafter* on the 1935-39 - 100 bare as well as on*
:the official' 1947-49 - 100 fc&se period,
i
i
i
tfor a, d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e Revised Index* see fl?h* Consumer i
:Price, Index - A S h o r t D e s c r i p t i o n o f the Index as Revised*)
F o r discission o f the arithmetic problems of
:
$transition from the h01d Series* to the Revised for vage :
5contract purposes, see "The Revised Com wsrs* Price
t
: Index - A Sxwary of Claries In the Index and Suggestion*^:
ifor Transition from tru? *interim Adjusted1 and 8 oid Series?
sIndexes to the Revised Index. n
t
:195?.;f

The *Gld Series*1 Consumersf Price Index for April 1953 vac
(1935-39 ~ 1 0 0 ) , a decline of 0 , 3 percent from Farch* the

S,

Department of Labors Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s announced today*
Over th~ quarter* January to April* the index f e l l 1*1 percent,

The

decrease over both the month and the quarte? r e f l e c t s the continued
decline in food p r i c e s .




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