Full text of CPI Detailed Report : April 1956
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Issued May 24, 1956
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D . C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR APRIL 1956
Consumer prices in United States cities rose 0.2 percent between
March and April 1956, chiefly because of an
advance of 0.6 percent in food prices,
f
according to the U.S. Department of Labor s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices of most
other classes of goods and services also increased during the month. Transportation
costs declined and apparel prices remained at their March level. The Consumer Price Index
for April was 114.9 (1947-49=100), 0.6 percent higher than in April 1955.
FOOD
The rise of 0.6 percent in retail food prices followed the usual
seasonal pattern and brought the index to 109*6 in April. This
was 1.4 percent belov its April 1955 level. Food purchased for home consumption rose
0.6 percent over the month, and restaurant meal prices advanced 0.4 percent.
Four of the five major components of the food at home index
advanced, with substantial increases in prices of the meats, poultry, and fish group
(up 1.3 percent) and fruits and vegetables (up 1.7 percent). The dairy products group
declined 0.5 percent, largely because of continued seasonal declines in prices of fresh
milk.
frices of pork chops, ham, and bacon increased 8.4 percent, 2.8
percent, and 1.9 percent, respectively, reflecting•reduced supplies, accompanied by small
advances in most other meats. Poultry (down 2 percent) and canned tuna (down 1.9 percent)
partially offset the rise in prices of meats.
A 4.1 percent increase in fresh fruit prices was the primary
factor in the higher fruits and vegetables index, although costs of fresh vegetables
advanced only 1.1 percent. Fresh strawberries returned to the market at prices substantially above their June 1955 level, and apple prices rose 8.6 percent. White potatoes
were up 16.7 percent, with the bulk of this increase offset by a decline of 19*9 percent
in fresh tomato prices, as supplies increased seasonally.
91
Both the cereals and bakery products and "other food at home
categories advanced 0.1 percent. A drop of 1.9 percent in egg prices almost counterbalanced advances for shortening and margarine, which increased 4*1 percent and 2.6
percent, respectively, and smaller price increases for canned coffee, cola drinks, and
sugar.
HOUSING
Housing costs rose 0.1 percent between March and April, as higher
household operation costs and slightly higher rents were partially
offset by reduced prices for housefurnishings and fuels.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES
Reading and recreation costs rose 0 # 5 percent, as higher movie
admissions for "special features" were reported in several cities.
Prices of television sets were up slightly.
Medical care costs continued upward, reflecting increased fees for
professional services* Higher prices for men's haircuts and toilet goods resulted in
an increase of 0.3 percent in personal care.
2
Apparel prices remained at their March level* Footwear prices
advanced for the tenth
consecutive months1 hut these increases vere offset by reductions
1
in men's and boys and women*a and girls apparel*
The transportation index declined 0.2 percentf chiefly because of
larger concessions on new car prices. Used car prices rose slightly.
TABLE Bs
Consumer Price Index — U.S. and 20 cities, food and food subgroups
1955 Annual averages
(1947-49 = 100) J /
: Total :Cereals : Meats, :
: Fruits : Other
Total :food at :& bakery:poultry,:
Dairy
:&
vege- tfoods at
h:
:products)'ami f> f !products tables • h P M
food a heme
Citv
U.S. city a v e r a g e — — —
110.9
109.7
123.9
101.6
105.9
113.5
111.5
Atlanta—
Baltimore
Boston—
Chicago
Cincinnati
— — ~
—
110.2
111.7
109.5
109.1
112.0
108.5
110.1
107.9
107.5
110.9
117.4
121.9
120.0
119.1
124.5
105.0
102.4
99.3
96.1
102.4
108.3
108.6
109.3
105.9
107.8
113.1
112.4
109.7
112.4
112.6
104.0
111.2
106.6
116.9
116.6
Cleveland
Detroit——
Houston
— .—
Kansas CityLos Angeles--• •——
108.9
113.2
109.9
106.8
111.8
107.5
111.8
108.7
105.1
109.3
119.8
119.6
118.2
120.7
127.9
99.0
100.1
99.4
96.5
101.2
100.8
105.2
109.1
105.3
103.0
109.1
125.9
114.6
106.4
112.6
115.1
113.1
109.5
104.9
110.1
Minneapolis
Sew lark
Philadelphia—
Pittsburgh—
Portland, Oregon
—
111.6
110.8
113.0
111.2
110.6
110.8
109.7
111.8
110.5
109.8
125.9
128.5
121.8
124.6
124.2
97.5
103.9
104.4
98.7
102.2
105.8
104.7
109.1
108.4
104.4
118.6
107.5
116.4
111.1
113.9
119.7
113.3
112.0
120.2
111.5
St. Louis
—San Francisco- — . — . — - —
Scranton-• • •
Seattle
—
Washington, B . C . — —
112.3
112.9
108.3
112.1
111.2
110.0
112.0
108.0
111.4
109.6
118.9
130.7
118.9
127.7
122.1
101.0
105.9
100.5
101.7
99.2
95.8
105.0
106.6
108.3
111.0
121.3
117.1
108.5
119.0
111.1
119.3
110.3
109.9
110.6
111.7
——
•
1/ The U.S. average is based on the 46 cities included in the index during 1955.
These figures are simple averages of the indexes for the 12 months, published in regular
monthly reports of the index.
NOTE:
Effective after release of the June 1956 index, the Bureau
will discontinue publication of the U.S. and city indexes
for all items on the base 1935-39 = 100.
TABUS It
C o n s m e r Price latex — United States city average, all iteas and ccsModity^groaps
Indexes and percent changes far selected dates
3
Indexes (19%7-%9«100)
April
1956
March
1956
This
•onth
Last
month
2 uonths
ago
114.9
114*7
109.6
107.9
124.5
94.0
106.4
116.7
110*8
April
1955
June
1950
Tear
1939
Last
year
Pre-Korea
Pre-World
War II
114.6
114*2
101.8
109.0
107.3
124.4
92.8
106.9
114.8
110.7
108.8
107.1
124.3
93.6
107*3
113.3
109.6
111.2
110.1
123.9
103.0
104.6
117.5
109.4
100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
120.8
131.7
111.8
129.7
102.7
122.1
120.7
131.6
111.7
130.6
103.1
121.6
120.7
Group
A l l iteas
Pood 1/
Pood a t hone
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products - — — —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods a t hone — —
Rent
Qas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
lousefurnishings
Household operation —
—
—
—
—
-
February
1956
kj. 1
V 7 . I
^1*2
•41,6
8
9 2 . 3
119.5
131*5
111.7
130.0
5 9 - *
102.5
9t.l
i S.k
1 0 M
'P' .
102.5
121.4
129.9
110.3
125.7
104.5
118.1
108.?
102.7
107.6
97.*
9 9 . 6
6 8 . %
104.8
106.6
98.3
121.9
91.1
104.6
106.5
98.3
121.3
91.0
103.1
105.5
97.1
116.9
90.2
96.5
96.1
93.3
102.1
88.*
52.5
(*/5
70.2
81.3
65.5
lOk-Jj
5 6 .
Apparel
Man's and boys
— — — —
Vosen'i and girls' —
Footwear
—
—
—
—
—
Other apparel
— — — —
—
—
104*8
106.5
98.1
123.0
91.1
Transportation
Public
—
Private
—
—
—
—
126.4
170.8
116.5
126.7
170.8
116.8
126.9
170.5
117.0
125.3
164.8
116.0
109.9
117.9
106.6
Medical ear*
—
Personal care
— — — — — —
Reading and recreation - — — — —
Other goods and services 3 /
131.6
119.5
108.2
121.4
131.4
119.2
107.7
121.2
130.9
118.9
107.5
120*9
127.3
113.7
106.6
119.8
1 0 5 . *
9 9 . 2
5 9 . 6
102.5
103.7
6 3 . 0
Percent change to
April 1956
from:
February
1956
April
1955
June
1950
— — — — —
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
March
1956
All iteus
Pood 1/
Pood a t hOMS
— — — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products
—
—
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
— — — — — —
—
Fruits and vegetables
—
Other foods a t hone
— — — — —
—
—
—
—
0.2
0.3
.6
.6
.1
1.3
- .5
1.7
.7
.7
.2
.4
- .8
3.0
1.1
—
. 1
lousing 2/
Qas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
House f a m i s h i n g * — —
Household operation
Apparel
Men's and boys'
—
— —
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
— — —
—
—
—
.
-
•
—
VOMQ'I a n d g i r l s '
Transportation
Public
Private —
—
—— — — — — — —
—
—
—
—
-
-
.1
.1
.1
.7
.4
.4
0
.1
.2
.9
0
.2
0
.3
-
-
Medical care —
Personal care
—
—
—
—
—
——
—
—
—
.2
.3
.5
.2
. 5
-
8 . 7
1 . 7
-
1
Tear
i!
1 9 3 9
9 3 . 4
132.7
7 . 4
129*"?
21.2
1 1 7 . 7
- 1 1 . 4
1 2 6 . 0
1 1 3 . 7
15,2
1.4
1.4
3,2
21*2
58.7
52.1
i
a
• 2
J
1*6
0
!
. 9
|
. 2
I
1 . 0
!
1.4
|
5*2
9 4
T0.6
1 . 1
J
•5
•5
•7
.4
72.6
152.1
128.9
6
j
{
m
(V)
9 . 1
1 5 * 3
• 2
.4
.2
(*/)
13.9
17.7
#7
1.3
|
{
l/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately*
2/ Includes home purchase and other hone-owner costs not shown separately.
2 / Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services" (such as
legal services, banking fees, burial services, etc.).
lot available*
- 1.4
- 2.0
. 1
-
12,>9
.1
.2
.1
.2
•
-
0.6
i
53.*
8 . 9
20.5
5.4
- 1.7
2 2 . 6
3 . 4
BJ>
5.1
1.0
20.5
3.1
.9
3.6
.4
44.9
i
3.4
5.1
1.5
1.3
6 . 6
1 3 0 . 0
9 2 . 3
78.5
99*6
(i/)
iti)
(4/)
W)
8 0 . 1
9 . 3
24.9
20.5
5.6
1 7 . 1
110.1
77.9
81.3
1 0 0 * 5
7 1 . 7
72.0
'
TABIZ 2s
Consumer Price Index — A l l items indexes for selected dates
U . S . city average and 20 large cities
[l9Vr-*9bioo)
[1935-39-loqJ
City
United States city average
— — ~
April
1956
March
1956
April
1955
June
1950
Tear
1939
April
1956
114.9
114.7
114.2
101.8
59.*
192.1
117.7
116.9
116.1
116.9
116.2
114.5
112.3
58.6
201.1
198.2
Cities priced monthly:
Chicago — — — — — — —
Detroit
Los Angeles
— — — — —
M c v York
Philadelphia
—
—
—
118.1
117.4
116.3
—
112.2
115.8
112.3
116.0
.
115.2
Boston
Kansas City
—
Minneapolis
—
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon •
Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 2 J
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
—
S t . Louis
San Francisco
Cities prieed in February, M a y ,
August, Hovember £ /
Cleveland - • - — „ • • • •
Houston
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D . C .
1950
Tear 1939
114.6
113.4
101.2
101.4
t2/)l02.1
99.9
101.5
61.0
115.2
116.4
113.6
116.3
117.0
113.8
114.2
March
1956
December"
1955
March
1955
116.8
115.2
117.1
115.3
114.9
113.4
115.6
115.6
115.8
114.2
116.1
115.9
Hovember
1955
February
1956
116.7
110.9
117.4
113.7
113.4
58.1
58.3
201.6
Tear 1939
March
1956
[^)101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9
100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
113.2
101.6
198.1
198.0
58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6
May
1950
114.9
115.7
111.7
116.3
185.5
187.4
191.4
195.8
61.7
60.7
June
1950
February
1955
116.2
115.7
116.6
111.1
116.2
April
1956
April
116.1
116.8
59.2
194.3
185.9
193.0
April
1955
115.5
114.3
115.7
6o.k
60.1
101.6
1956
116.4
115.6
115*2
59.0
101.3
100.9
115.8
January
April
1956
Cities priced in January, April,
July, October g /
102.8
102.8
192.5
193.1
199.6
February
1956
Tear 1939
197.2
197.4
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4
184.6
198.6
186.2
1/ These are the same indexes shown in column 1 , converted to a base of 1935-39=100.
2/ Foods, fuels, rents, and a fev other items prieed monthly; other commodities and services
prieed quarterly.
3/ June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
5 / May 1950; formerly priced February, M a y , August, November.
TABUS 3*
Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from March 1956
U . S . city average and five cities priced monthly
A l l items and commodity groups
All
items
City
United States city average
Food
lomsing
Apparel
Transportation
—
0.2
0.6
0.1
0
- 0.2
Chicago
Detroit — — — — —
—
Los Angeles — — — — — lev Tork
— —
Philadelphia
.3
.4
.2
.1
.2
.8
1.1
1.1
.1
.3
.1
.2
.2
0
.3
0
0.3
- .2
0
.1
.4
.5
- 1.3
.3
- .8
to April 1956
Medical Personal
care
care
-
Reading
and
recreation
Other
goods &
services
0.2
0.3
0.5
0.2
.7
.1
.2
.1
0
1.1
.1
0
.1
- .2
.3
.4
.8
1.0
0
0
.1
.1
0
0
TABIZ ki Consumer Price Index — A l l items and conaaodity groups
April 1956 indexes and percent changes, January 1956 to April 1956
/U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in April 1956
U.S.
City
Average
Group
Boston
Chicago
Kansas
Detroil City
Los
tageles
Minneapolis
Hew
York
Fhilalelphla
116.0
115.2
Pittsburgh
Portland
Oregon
Indexes ( 1 ^ 7 - 4 9 . 1 0 0 )
1U.9
115.2
118.1
117.4
116.4
116.3
115.6
112.3
! 109.6
107.9
Cereals and bakery products — 124.5
Meats, poultry, and fish
94.0
Dairy products
—
—
— 106.4
Fruits and vegetables
116.7
Other foods at hone
— — — — 110.8
107.9
105.3
122.1
92.2
106.4
110.4
105.6
107.1
105.1
119.8
86.4
109.1
113.9
117.1
112.2
110.5
119.4
92.0
108.7
129.5
113.5
105.9
103.7
120.3
88.1
107.2
111.0
105.1
112.7
109.4
128.2
94.9
103.0
122.5
110.5
112.0
111.3
126.5
92.1
110.5
127.2
119.3
108.9
106.9
128.8
96.6
102.2
110.3
111.1
111.4
109.5
124.5
96.6
107.2
119.3
110.6
110.5 112.1
109.0 110.4
125.6 125.7
95.7
92.3
107.2 , 109.2
116.0 120.0
119.8 113.0
124.7
129.8
122.6
138.9
124.9
116.6
103.6
126.2
126.7
119.0
116.9
116.2
—
—
—
—
116.2
102.0
124.6
124.8
122.3
98.3
122.5
110.2
135.8
102.1
121.4
103.4
130.2
106.5
118.4
118.8
125.5
127.0
120.6
105.2
121.7
107.8
135.8
105.1
116.5
A l l items
—
Food
lousing
—
—
—
—
—
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings — —
Household operation
—
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
—
—
— —
— — —
—
—
—
Public
Private
Other goods and services
—
120.8
131.7
111.8
129.7
102.7
122.1
—
—
107.3
131.5
105.7
120.1
113.8
135.0
101.4
127.0
123.0
144.2
114.3
123.8
106.8
115.7
104.8
106.5
98.1
123.0
91.1
102.5
103.1
96.1
118.2
103.5
108.5
113.2
99.5
126.5
95.1
102.6
109.6
92.4
118.5
87.4
103.3
107.0
96.4
118.5
87.5
104.8
108.6
96.1
126.7
83.2
105.6
107.8
100.1
118.6
92.6
103.7
105.9
96.3
122.3
94.0
104.2
103.9
100.1
117.6
92.0
103.6
105.2
96.2
120.7
98.9
108.5
110.7
101.4
126.2
95.8
126.4
170.8
116.5
136.3
166.3
127.3
131.1
165.3
116.0
124.8
142.7
121.2
127.6
186.6
118.1
123.8
150.8
119.4
111.7
164.2
105.4
131.4
186.7
111.6
134.9
186.0
114.1
136.0
192.5
115.5
119.9
161.9
114.8
131.6
119.5
108.2
121.4
128.5
123.0
108.5
118.9
136.4
123.8
115.7
117.5
142.2
127.7
109.6
124.2
138.1
123.5
114.6
121.6
126.6
119.6
96.6
116.2
149.0
123.7
117.9
126.0
126.5
111.3
105.3
121.1
137.5
127.0
114.9
125.5
135.0
119.1
104.1
122.2
129.8
119.2
118.0
120.5
—
Percent change from January 1956
A l l items
Food a t hint
— — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
—
—
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods a t hose
Rent
—
—
—
—
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
lousefurnishings
Apparel
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
—
Footwear
—
—
—
—
Other apparel
— — —
Transportation
Public
Private
—
—
—
—
—
.4
.4
.5
.8
- .8
3.6
- 1.8
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
-
—
-
Medical care
—
—
—
—
Personal care
— — — — —
Beading and recreation
—
—
0.9
0.8
0.3
- 0.4
.5
.5
0
- 1.7
- 2.3
3.6
- 1.1
0.6
.7
.8
- .7
1.4
4.9
- 1.1
1.4
1.6
.3
.5
3.4
4.8
- .4
1.0
.8
0
1.4
- .3
2.5
- .2
1.1
1.0
.2
.3
.3
7.2
- 2.0
.7
.8
.9
1.1
- .2
5.2
- 2.1
.3
- 1.2
—
—
—
.6
.7
U / ) 1 . 3 ti/) .4
0
- .2
0
0
.3
1.4
.9
.4
.2
.2
.1
.2
.7
.7
.2
0
- .5
1.0
.2
.1
- .6
1.5
.7
.5
.2
2.2
.4
1.3
2.0
.4
3.0
.9
.5
.7
.2
.7
.3
1.0
.8
1.0
2.2
.6
.3
.3
.4
.3
0
.4
.2
0
.3
.7
.8
.8
.5
.1
1.6
1.3
0
1.0
1.2
.6
0
1 / Change from October 1955 to April 1956.
0
-
1.1
-
-
.9
-
-
.9
.4
0
1.1
- 1.5
.2
.3
.4
.8
.1
0
.6
1.0
- 1.2
4.0
.8
.2
.7
- .8
2.2
.1
.2
0
.2
2.2
0
2.5
- 1.3
0
- 1.5
- 1.8
2.2
- 2.4
3.5
.4
.6
.2
1.2
.8
- .5
.4
.2
.7
.2
0
.1
.5
.2
.1
-
0
-
0.2
1.2
1.4
0.1
.2
.4
.1
0
- 2.3
2.7
- 2.1
.8
.5
1.1
1.7
- 2.6
3.7
- 1.6
1.0
.6
.6
1.9
- 2.1
5.6
- 1.7
1.7
1.4
.9
2.5
.6
4.0
- .4
.3
2.0
-
-
.6
.1
2.3
- .5
.6
1.6
1.8
4.1
.9
1.3
(1/) .3
1.6
1.0
3.2
.7
.8
.3
.9
2.2
.5
1.3
1.2
.7
3.0
1.4
.6
.7
.1
1.5
.7
.3
.4
- 1.3
1.4
- .1
.7
0
.9
1.9
4.4
1.1
- 4.0
0
- 4.7
1.0
1.6
1.4
.2
2.6
2.0
3.8
.2
.7
.1
.9
0
-
-
-
121.7
to April 1956
0.5
0.3
Food
116.4
-
.8
0
1.1
-
.2
.1
.6
.1
-
-
-
0
2.8
.9
2.1
-
-
TABIC 5: Consumer Price Index — F o o d a n d its subgroups
A p r i l 1 9 5 6 indexes a n d percent c h a n g e s , March 1956 to A p r i l 1956
U . S . city average a n d 2 0 large cities
Ci9*7-*9.ioqj
Total
food at hone
Total food
City
Percent
change
Index
U . S . city average
109.6
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
— — — —
Chicago
Cincinnati
— — —
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
Kansas C i t y
— —
Los Angeles
107.8
Minneapolis
— —
l e w York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, G r e g .
S t . Louis
San Francisco
—
Scrantom — — —
Seattle
Washington, D . C .
—
—
—
—
—
—
112.8
106.7
111.6
110.0
107.9
0.6
12l*.5
0.1
9U.0
1.3
106.1*
106.0
108.3
105.3
105.1
109.9
105.6
110.5
10l*.8
103.7
109.1*
.1*
.8
.1*
1.0
1.8
1.1
1.3
.3
.8
1.1
117.7
121.3
122.1
119.8
12l*.6
119.1*
119.1»
117.1
120.3
128.2
- 1.0
-
0
.7
.3
.3
.2
.1*
.2
.2
95.6
95.1*
92.2
86.lt
9l*.U
92.1*
92.0
90.3
88.1
9U.9
1.1*
1.8
1.2
.2
1.1*
3.0
.9
1.2
1.0
1.2
108.9
108.8
106.1*
109.1
110.9
101.0
108.7
10l*.l
107.2
103.0
•1
.1
- 1.1
l.l*
0
.7
3.8
.2
.1
.1
111*. 2 - .1*
2.0
115.0
110.1*
1.1*
113.9
3.3
118.3
6.7
111.2
1.7
129.5
1.5
0
113.9
111.0
2.2
122.5
3.3
103.7
110.7
105.6
117.1
116.9
111*, it
113.5
109.1*
105.1
.7
.1
.3
.6
1.2
- .2
.6
.6
.6
0
111.3
106.9
109.5
109.0
110.1*
108.0
111.5
106.1
110.6
107.9
.8
0
.3
.2
.7
.2
.7
.8
.7
0
126.5
128.8
12l*.5
125.6
125.7
119.5
130.8
123.9
131.1*
121.5
.6
- .2
.5
•1
.6
.1
.2
U.o
- .1
- .1
92.1
96.6
96.6
92.3
95.7
92.0
101.5
93.5
9l*.7
91.2
1.1
1.0
1.1*
1.2
3.1
.2
1.5
2.6
1.7
.7
110.5
.2
- 2.0
- 2.3
- 2.5
.3
- 2.7
.1
•
2.1i
1.1*
.8
-
127.2
110.3
119.3
116.0
120.0
125.0
12l*.8
109.9
123.1
lll*.7
119.3
April
1956
Cereals a n d bakery products;
Flour., w h e a t
—
—
—
5 lb.
' — —
20 oz
Biscuit m i x
—
—
lb.
Corn meal
—
lb.
Rice
20 oz.
Rolled oats — — —
12 oz.
C o r n flakes
—
—
—
•
B r e a d , white
— — — — — lb.
Soda crackers
— lb.
Vanilla cookies
7 oz.
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , a n d fish:
Round steak — — — — — — — —
lb.
—
lb.
Chuck roast
— — — — - .
—
lb.
R i b roast
—
—
lb.
Hamburger
—
—
—
.
—
lb.
T e a l cutlets
— — — .
—
lb.
Pork chops, center cut
—
lb.
B a c o n , sliced
— — — —
lb.
Bam, whole — — —
—
lb.
L a m b , leg
— — — — — —
—
lb.
— — — — •
Frankfurters
• 12 oz.
Luncheon m e a t , canned — — •
Frying chickens, ready«to*cook ~ lb.
- lb.
Ocean p e r c h , fillet, frozen
B a d d o e k , f i l l e t , frozen
— — —
ib.
— — 16 oz.
S a l m o n , p i n k , canned
T u n a f i s h , canned
6 to 6i oz.
Dairy products:
qt.
M i l k , f r e s h , (grocery)
qt.
M i l k , f r e s h , (delivered) - —
pt.
Ice cream
—
—
—
—
—
—
lb*
— lb.
—
i4i-oz. can
—
— —
—
* Priced only in season*
-
—
—
—
10
6
io
io
—
Index
0
-
Index
Percent
change
Index
102.2
107.2
107.2
109.2
97.5
105.6
105.0
112.6
112.1*
Percent
change
Index
0.5
116.7
-
„
Percent
change
1.7
2.7
.7
.5
1.7
.8
2.0
2.7
- 1.1
.7
.2
Index
Percent
change
110.8
0.1
.9
0
.1
0
.7
.1*
.6
.1
.3
.5
110.5
111.1
110.6
119.8
113.0
119.3
107.1*
108.5
108.5
111.6
-
.2
.2
.5
.2
1.0
1.0
.8
.1*
.2
.2
Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U . S . city average
F o o d a n d unit
Oranges, size 2 0 0
Other
foods at hone
.1
.7
.3
.8
1.6
1.0
1.1
.5
1.0
1.1
TABUS 6:
C h e e s e , American process
M i l k , evaporated — — —
Fruits a n d vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — —
Orange Juice concentrate
P e a s , green — — — — —
B e a n s , green —
—
—
Fresh:
Fruits and
vegetables
0.6
107.9
107.1
111.3
107.7
112.2
106.6
105.9
112.7
110.5
Dairy
products
Percent
change
-
112.0
108.9
111.1*
110.5
112.1
Percent
change
Meats, poultry,
and fish
Index
111.0
—
Cereala and
bakery products
oz.
oz.
oz.
oz.
lb.
doz.
lb.
March
1956
Cents
15X
26.8
12.5
17.2
19.2
21.8
17.7
27.6
23.8
81.3
1*1*.2
61*.6
37.5
110.1
67.3
52.8
57.1
63.8
51.1*
1*0.7
50.0
lil.8
1*6.0
59.0
3lu2
21.9
23.1*
28.7
70.7
57.0
22.1
23.5
28.7
70.8
13.8
57.1
13.8
30.2
19.6
30.2
19.8
23.3
23.U
21.2
21.1
15.1
15.5
13.9
17.8
17.8
50.0
16.6
1*9.8
April
1956
Food and unit
F r e s h — Continued
Grapefruit *
e a c h
Peache8 * — — — — — — — —
ib.
Strawberries * — — — — —
t.
p
G r a p e s , seedless * —
—
ib.
Watermelons * — — — — — —
ib.
Potatoes —
—
—
—
—
io lb.
Sweetpotatoes — — — — —
ib.
Onions
ib.
Carrots
ib.
Lettuce — —
head
Celery
ib.
Cabbage —
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
Tomatoes — —
ib.
B e a n s , green — — — — —
ib.
Canned:
Orange juice —
—
—
46-oz. can
Peaches —
—
—
#2i can
Pineapple — — — — —
#2 can
F r u i t cocktail — — — — —
#303 can
C o r n , cream style —
—
#303 can
P e a s , green — — — — —
#303 can
Tomatoes — — — — —
#303 can
B a b y foods —
—
—
4i to 5 oz.
Dried:
Prunes — — — — — — — — —
ib.
Beans — — — — — — — —
ib.
Other foods a t home:
Vegetable soup — — — — —
11-oz. can
Beans v i t h pork
16—oz. can
Pickles, sweet — — — — —
7* oz.
C a t s u p , tomato — — — — —
14 oz.
Coffee — — — — — — — — — . l b . oan
T e a bags — — — — — —
kg. of 16
P
Cola d r i n k , carton — — —
36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated —
3 ib.
Margarine, colored
— — ib.
Salad dressing — — —
Peanut butter —
—
—
Sugar — — — — — —
C o m syrup — — — — — —
Grape jelly —
—
—
—
Chocolate b a r — — — —
E g g s , Grade A , large — —
G e l a t i n , flavored —
—
—
—
—
—
—
— —
—
— —
— —
3
t.
p
ib.
b ib.
24 oz.
12 oz.
1 oz.
—
doz.
to 4 oz.
March
1956
Cents
9.7
1*0.1*
66.9
11.9
8.0
12.1*
15.2
llul
8.5
33.8
25.3
57.3
11.9
7.8
13.0
11*. 7
13.2
7.9
1*2.2
26.1*
36.0
36.5
3U.9
33.6
3U.8
33.5
17.9
17.9
15.1*
15.3
9.7
26.2
21.6
9.7
26.2
21.6
35.8
35.6
16.3
ll*.0
ll*.0
Hi .6
16.2
H*.5
27.0
23.0
100.1
23.2
32.5
91*.3
28.9
18.8
3U.9
53.1*
52.6
23.5
26.3
!*.5
58.2
8.1*
26.9
22.9
99.1*
23.2
32.3
90.6
28.2
18.7
3l*.7
53.6
52.1*
23.5
26.2
U.5
59.3
8.1*
BRIEF E X P I A R A H O N OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
7
The Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices of goods and
services customarily purchased b y city wage-earner
and clerical-worker families. Index
s
numbers cure 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 k6 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 b y representative retail
stores 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
Evansvilie, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N . Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska
Huntington, W . Virginia
Laconla, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
lynchburg, Virginia
Madlll, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio
Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpolnt, 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-worker family spending. City data are combined
b y weighting with 1950 population data to arrive at the U.S. city average.
Comparison of city Indexes Bhows 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 N o . 11^0 - "The Consumer
Price Index - A Layman's Guide," for sale b y 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 2 5 , D . C .
Historical series of Ifidex numbers for the U.S. city average and SO individual
large cities are available upon request. These series include index numbers for A l l Items,
Food, Apparel, and Rent for periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of goods and
services from 19^7 to date.
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
B u s i n e s s and Defense Services Administration
Washington 25, D. C.
C O N S T R U C T I O N
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s
Washington 25, D. C.
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