Full text of CPI Detailed Report : April 1957

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

Released Mfcy 24, 1957
U.S. DEPARTMENT CF UBCR
Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s
Washington 25, D* C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR APRIL 1957
Consumer prices i n United States c i t i e s advanced 0*3 percent between
March and A p r i l 1957, according to the U* S* Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
S t a t i s t i c s * Higher food prices were chiefly responsible f o r the advance although prices
of most other major groups of consumer goods and services were also higher* Apparel
was the only major group to show a decline during the month*
The Consumer Price Index f o r A p r i l 1957 was 119*3 (1947-49=100) 3#3 percent higher than a year ago*
FOOD

Higher prices f o r meats and fresh f r u i t s and vegetables were
largely instrumental i n the food price rise of 0*5 percent between
March and April* The food price index f o r A p r i l was 113*8 (1947-49=100), 3*8 percent
higher than a year ago, but s t i l l 2*4 percent below the August 1952 peak*

Prices of a l l cuts of meat rose seasonally during the month*
Round steak was up 4 cents a pound to an average of 91 cents; chuck roast prices were
up 4*4 percent, prices of pork chops 2*0 percent, and l e g of lamb 6*8 percent* Poultry
prices declined 1*6 percent with continued large supplies*
Fresh f r u i t prices rose 4*6 percent with a seasonal advance of
11*5 percent f o r apples* Prices of fresh vegetables were 3*0 percent higher with tomato
prices up 11*1 percent, lettuce 14*8 percent, and onions 17*5 percent; prices of green
beans dropped 19*3 percent. Processed f r u i t s and vegetables declined as prices of
frozen peas and canned orange juice f e l l about 2 percent*
Restaurant meal prices were up 0*3 percent*
Cereals and bakery products continued to advance* Dairy products
declined s l i g h t l y i n price partly as a r e s u l t of seasonal decreases i n fresh milk prices*
Coffee prices were lower f o r the f i f t h consecutive month*
HOOBING

The housing index rose 0*2 percent during A p r i l , as most of i t s
components were higher* Rent continued i t s gradual upward trend
with a r i s e of 0*1 percent* Housefurnishings prices were 0*2 percent higher than i n
March, due to increased prices of household t e x t i l e s and some furniture and appliances;
however, some appliance prices, such as r e f r i g e r a t o r s , continued downward* The advance
of 0*2 percent f o r household operation primarily reflected higher prices for laundry
soap* Home maintenance and repair costs edged up 0*1 percent* B i l l s f o r gas and elect r i c i t y were unchanged on the average and anthracite prices declined seasonally*
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

Reading and recreation recorded the largest monthly advance i n
more than 6 years - 1*2 percent * r e f l e c t i n g c h i e f l y higher
prices f o r newspapers i n several c i t i e s * Prices of television
sets and charges f o r television repair services also were higher*

Private transportation rose 0*2 percent as prices of used cars,
gasoline and motor o i l , and auto repairs advanced; prices of new cars and t i r e s were
down s l i g h t l y * Public transportation was up 0*6 percent as t r a n s i t fares were increased
i n several c i t i e s *




2
The medical care index reflected higher rates f o r group hospitalisation
insurance, prescriptions and drugs, hospitals, and professional services• Higher prices
f o r t o i l e t soap were the principal factor i n the advance of 0.3 percent f o r personal care,
although barber and beauty shop services also increased*
Apparel prices declined 0.3 percent, principally because of reduced
prices f o r women1s rayon dresses and s k i r t s , oylon hose, wool suits, and sport coats*

NOTICE:

The following indexes have been revised*
No other indexes were affected.

City

Group

sRevised indexes

Date

» (1947-49=100)

Boston

Transportation
Private

January 1957
January 1957

142.9
135.3

Kansas City

Housing
Household operation

Januaxy 1957
January 1957

123.9
128.5

Chicago

Medical care

January 1957
February 1957
March 1957

139.5
139.5
139.6

Consumer Price Indexx—United States c i t y average, a l l items and special groups
Indexes and percent changes f o r selected dates

Group

A l l items
A l l items less f o o d — —
A l l items less shelter
A l l commodities——
A l l commodities less f o o d A l l services and shelter
—
A l l services less s h e l t e r -

Apr.
1957
This

Mar.
1957
Last

119.3
122.3
116.9
112.5
111.5
136.2
139.0

indexes (19A7-A9 = 100)
Feb.
June
Apr.
1950
1957
1956
Prelast
2 mos.
afro
Korea
year

WW-II

101.8
103.0
100.7
100.3
99.4
107.9
107.0

59.4
69.1
55.4
51.6
59.4
80.4
73.5

118.9
122.0
116.5
112*1
111.3
135.8
138.7

118.7
121.5
116.4
112.0
110.9
135.2
138.2

114.9
117.8
112.7
108.4
107.4
131.2
134.5

Year
1939
Fre-

i
Percent change t o A p r i l 1957 from —
Feb.
1957

Mar.
1957
A l l items
A l l items less food
A l l items less s h e l t e r - —
A l l commodities^ A l l commodities less f o o d A l l services and s h e l t e r A l l services less s h e l t e r - "




0.3
.2
.3
.4

---

i
I
I
i

*2

i

.2

!

.3

Apr.
1956

0.5
.7
.4
.4
*5
•

7

.6

3.8
3.8
3.7
3.8
3.8
3.8
3.3

June
1950
17.2
18.7
16.1
12.2
12.2
26.2
29.9

Year
1939
100.8
77.0
111.0
118.0
87.7
69.4
89.1

TABLE 1:

Consumer Price Index — United States c i t y are rage, a l l items and commodity groups
Indexes and percent changes f o r selected dates

3

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
April
1957

March
1957

February
1957

April
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

This
month

Last
month

2 months
ago

Last
year

Pre-Korea

Pre-World
War I I

119.3

118.9

118.7

1U.9

101.8

59.*

Food 1/
Food a t home —
——
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, p o u l t r y , and f i s h
Dairy products — — —
F r u i t s and vegetables
Other foods a t home —

113.8
112.1
130*1
102.0
110.5
118.7
111.0

113.2
111.4
129.8
100.6
110.7
116.1
111.6

113.6
112.0
129.1
101.4
111.1
116.5
113.0

109.6
107.9
124.5
94.0
106.4
116.7
110.8

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9H.1

1*7.1
1*7.1
57.2
1*1.6
^9.8
1*6.3
1*8.1*

Housing 2 /
Rent ——
—
Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y —
S o l i d f u e l s and f u e l o i l
Housefurnlshlngs - —
Household operation

125.2
134.5
112.4
138.1
105.1
126.4

124.9
134.4
112.4
139.2
104.9
126.2

124.5
134.2
112.4
139.3
105.0
125.6

120.8
131.7
111.8
129.7
102.7
122.1

10^.9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97. *
99.6

76.1
86.6
101*. 9
56.*

106.5
108.8
98.7
127.3
92.0

106.8
108.8
99.3
127.6
92.2

106.1
108.6
98.2
127.2
91.7

104.8
106.5
98.1
123.0
91.1

96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1
88.*

52.5
50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6

—

135.5
176.8
125.5

135.1
175.8
125.2

134.4
175.8
124.5

126.4
170.8
116.5

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

—

136.9
123.3
111.8
124.2

136.4
122.9
110.5
124.2

135.5
122.6
110.0
124.0

131.6
119.5
108.2
121.4

105. k

72.6
59.6

Group

A l l items

—

Men's and boys 1 — — — —
Women's and g i r l s '
——-

Transportation
Public
Private

—

—

Medical care ——
—
Personal care —
Reading and r e c r e a t i o n
Other goods and services j J

P e r c e n t change t o

A p r i l 1957

99.2
102.5
103.7

53.*
68.1*

63.O

70.6

from:
June
1950

March
1957
Food
Food a t home
Cereals and bakery products ——
Meats, p o u l t r y , and f i s h
Dairy products
F r u i t s and vegetables
Other foods a t home
*Food away from home
—

Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y — — — — — —
S o l i d f u e l s and f u e l o i l
House furnishings — — — — — —
Household operation
-Apparel

—

0.3
.5
.6
.2
1.4
.2
2.2
.5
.3

0.5
.2
.1
.8
.6
.5
1.9
- 1.8
.7

3.8

17.2

100.8

3.8
3.9
4.5
8.5
3.9
1.7
.2
3.4

13.2
11.5
26.7
- 3.9
19.7
15.8
18.0
(A/)

.2
.1
0
.8
.2
.2

.6
.2
0
.9
.1
.6

3.6
2.1
.5
6.5
2.3
3.5

19.4
23.7
9.4
28.3
7.9
26.9

141.6
138.0
127.4
145.2
121.9
156.4
129.3
W)
64.5
55.3
7.1
144.9
96.8
84.8

.3
0
.6
.2
.2

.4
.2
.5
.1
.3

1.6
2.2
.6
3.5
1.0

10.4
10.9
5.8
24.7
4.1

102.9
114.2
81.1
153.1
126.6

.3
.6
.2

.8
.6
.8

7.2
3.5
7.7

23.3
50.0
17.7

93.0
117.5
91.6

.4
.3
1.2
0

A l l items

February
1957

1.0
.6
1.6
.2

4.0
3.2
3.3
2.3

29.9
24.3
9.1
19.8

88. 6
106.9
77.5
75.9

-

———————————

-

Women's and g i r l s ' —
Footwear — — — — — — — — — —

-

Public
Private

-

l / Includes restaurant meals not shown separately.
2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately.
Includes tobacco, a l c o h o l i c beverages, and "miscellaneous s e r v i c e s " ( s u c h as
l e g a l services, banking fees, b u r i a l services, e t c . ) .
V Hot a v a i l a b l e .
* Index numbers on the base of January 1953=100 are shown i n Table A, page 6A.




April
1956

Year

1939

TABLE 2:

4

Consumer Price Index — A l l items indexes f o r selected dates
U.S. c i t y average and 20 large c i t i e s
(1947-49=100)

April
1957

April
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

119.3

118.9

114.9

101.8

59.4

121.6
121.0
120.4
116.0
120.0

118.1
117.4
116.3
112.3
116.0

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

April
1957

January
1957

April
1956

April
1950

Year
1939

120.2
120.4
119.8
118.8
121.6

1/

United States c i t y average

March
1957

122.0
121.4
120.6
116.9
119.7

City

119.0
119.8
119.4
118.8
120.1

115.2
116.4
115.6
115.2
116.4

101.2
101.4
U 102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

Cities priced monthly: 2 /
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia
Cities priced i n January, A p r i l ,
July, October 2 /
Boston—————
Minneapolis
—
Pittsburgh-—————
Portland, Oregon-—-—

—
—

March
1957

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
S t . Louis
San Francisco-———

-

—
—

Cities priced i n February, May,
August, November 2 /
Cleveland—-—
Houston
—
Soranton-—•••
—— —
Seattle
Washington, D. C.

———
—

March
1956

119.5
119*5
117.5
119.1
121.6

116.8
115.2
114.3
115.7
116.8

February
1957

—

December
1956

120.6
119.9
118.1
120.2
122.3

Cities priced i n March, June,
September, December 2 /

November
1956

February
1956

120.0
119.7
114.9
120.2
115.9

120.4
120.5
115.5
122.2
117.5

Year
1939

June
1950
5 / 101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

May
1950
100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

115.7
116.6
111.1
116.2
113.4

Year
1939
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

1 / This index on the base of 1935-39=100 i s 199.5.
g/ Rents priced bimonthly.
2/Foods, f u e l s , and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other commodities and services priced q u a r t e r l y .
U J u n e 1950.
5 / May 1950.

TABLE 3:

Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from March 1957
to
U.S. c i t y average and f i v e c i t i e s priced monthly
A l l items and commodity groups

All
items

United States c i t y average—
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia

-

Food

0.3

City

0.5

0.2

1.3
.9
.2
.4
.2

.3
.4
0
.9

.3
.3
.2
.8
.2

1 / Based on revised index f o r March, 139.6.




Apparel

Housing

-

.1
.1
0
.8

Reading
and
recreation

Other
goods &
services

Transportation

Medical
care

Personal
care

0.3

0.4

0.3

1.2

0

.3
.1
.2
.4

1 / 1.1
0
.4
.2
.1

.2
0
.4
.3
0

.1
- .1
.9
6.5
.1

0.1
.2
.1
- .2

- 0.3
-

A p r i l 1957

-

-

.1

TABUS k: Consumer Price Index — A l l items and commodity groups
A p r i l 1957 indexes and pereent changes, January 1957 t o A p r i l 1957
U.S. c i t y average and 10 c i t i e s priced i n A p r i l 1957
U.S.
City
Average Boston

Group

Chicago D e t r o i t

Kansas
City

5

New
York

MinneaLos
Angeles p o l i s

Philalelphia

Pittsburgh

Portland,
Oregon

Indexes (19*7-^9-100)
A l l items

'

119.3

120.2

122.0

121.4

120.4

120.6

119.8

116.9

119.7

118.8

121.6

Food a t home
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, p o u l t r y , and f i s h
Dairy products — — — — — — - F r u i t s and vegetables — — —
Other foods a t home

113.8
112.1
130.1
102.0
110.5
118.7
111.0

113.4
111.1
128.3
101.8
112.2
115.1
106.6

111.6
109.4
122.6
94.9
110.3
119.3
117.0

115.9
114.1
124.5
99.4
109.8
132.8
113.1

109.7
107.3
126.5
96.5
107.9
113.0
104.7

116.9
113.7
133.8
103.5
105.3
125.4
111.5

112.6
110.9
130.2
97.0
104.6
121.0
118.0

112.8
111.0
134.8
103.1
108*9
111.4
110.5

116.4
114.1
132.4
103.6
113.9
121.2
110*5

114.8
112.8
128.5
99.4
111.9
117.8
119.4

116.0
113.8
131.7
103.9
116.5
115.4
112.7

129.2
135.7
111.0
146.4
104.2
123.2

133.8

124.3
139.8
122.3
120.1
105.1
131.6

104.4
128.9

125.4
148.3
124.8
130.2
99.8
124*3

122.2
122.4
111.1
150.0
105.7
125.2

120.1

114.0
138.2
102.4
130.9

128.2
146.4
112.6
128.9
109.4
117.4

129.5

Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y
—
Solid fuels and f u e l o i l — — —
Housefurnishings ——
———
Household operation —
—
—

125.2
134.5
112.4
138.1
105.1
126.4

103.4
141.6
110.2
128.1

121.3
126.8
127.9
131.1
105.8
129.3

127.9
134.9
102.0
145.4
107.7
119.4

106.5
108.8
98.7
127.3
92.0

104.5
104.7
97.8
123.7
103.5

109.5
117.0
97.4
131.5
95.8

104.5
111.5
93.3
123.5
87.8

103.9
108.7
95.7
121.9
87.7

107.4
111.0
99.5
128.2
84*2

107.6
109.2
102.0
123.6
93.7

105.4
108.1
96.8
127.5
95.2

105.6
107.1
99.2
123.1
93.4

105.9
108.5
97.6
124.2
100.5

110.8
113.3
102.5
131.6
97.9

135.5
176.8
125.5

143.7
167.5
136.1

139.6
167.7
124.9

131.6
145.8
128.5

137.4
214.0
125.8

132.6
154.8
128.7

121.2
166.8
115.5

138.3
189.0
118.9

141.3
187 .4
121.0

144.3
195.4
124.0

129.2
176.9
123.5

136.9
123.3
111.8
124.2

143.4
126.0
111.8
123.3

141.1
126.2
117.0
120.0

146.5
130.1
110.7
126.0

150.2
125.1
124.3
123.5

130.0
128.9
100.7
121.2

152.0
126.4
120.9
128.4

128*4
115.2
116.3
124.7

140.5
129.6
116.3
126.6

144.7
121.0
105.4
123.9

138.1
122.6
119.4
123.5

Men's and boys'
Women's and g i r l s '

—

—-——
—

Public

Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

—

118.0
—

—

k
K

I
Percent change from January 1957

to

A p r i l 1957

0.9

1.0

0.8

0.7

0.5

0.8

0.3

1.1

0.8

0

1.2

.9
.9
1.6
3.0
- .6
1.5
- 1.5

1.2
1.4
1.2
3.7
- 2.6
1.9
1.2

1.9
1.8
1.8
2.9
- .4
4.9
- .3

1.0
1.2
1.5
3.4
- 2.4
4.6
- 1.7

.6
.6
2.0
1.3
- .1
2.2
- 1.6

.4
.5
.7
2.0
0
1.4
- 1.1

0
.4
.9
2.5
- 3.0
- 1.6
- 1.3

.4
.5
2.6
2.6
- .6
- .8
- 1.5

.8
.4
1.2
1.8
- 1.8
2.0
- 1.3

- 0.1
.2
.8
1.0
- 1.5
1.0
- 2.3

.4
.4
1.3
3.5
2.3
- 2.2
- 2.7

1.1
.2
.1
- .6
1.1
.8

.5
.4
.2
.1
.4
.8

.6

.5
.3

.2
.3
0
0
.6
1.5

1.3

.2
- 3.2
.1
1.6

.8
.1
.2
.2
.1
0

0
.1
1.1
3.8

.1
.2
.7
2.1
- 1.2
.2

1.8
.3
0
2.5
2.4
.5

2.0
1.8
2.8
.7
.9

.7
1.7
0
.7
.4

.3
.9
.1
.2
.2

-1.1
.1
- 2.1
- .2
- .8

.7
.8
.7
•2
.8

-

0
.3
.4
.6
.2

.8
.7
- 1.2

.2
1.0
0

1.0
0
1.1

1.7
.1
2.0

-

2.0 2J 1.1
.8
1.1
3.7
- .2
.7
.3

1.5
.5
.2
.8

.3
1.1
5.2
.5

A l l items
Food
Food a t home
—
——
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, p o u l t r y , and f i s h
Dairy products
Other foods a t home —-—
Rent — — — — — — — — — —
Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y
Solid fuels and f u e l o i l
Housefurnishings — — — — — —
Household operation ——————
Men's and boys'
— — — —
Women's and g i r l s ' — — — — — —
Other apparel ——

—

Public — Private

—

Medical care

————————

Other goods and services

-

-

.1
.4
.2
.5
.1
U , 1/
1.1
1 . 4 , 1/
1.2
1.0
1.7
.3

.6
.4
.6

1.1
—

-

*

-

2/

.3
.1
.5
- 1.9
1.2
y
2.4

-

—

0
—.

-

.4
4.0
1.1
.6

•

1.7
.1
.1
- .3
2.4
.2

—

.2
.2
- 1.0
1.3
.1

-

.3
.8
- 1.3
0
.1

.5
1.8
.2
0
.3

1.0
.5
1.5
1.1
.5

.3
.1
.4

1.0
.6
1.1

-

-

.8
.7
- 1.4

1.9
6.3
1.1

1.1
.8
2.3
.1

.2
.8
7.6
.2

.5
.8
.9
.8

1.0
.5
.9
.7

-

-

.1
.4
.2
1.4
1.1
.5
.8

-

* Change from February 1957 t o A p r i l 1957.
Percent changes are based on the f o l l o w i n g revised indexes f o r January 19571
2 / Boston 1 transportation, 142.9; private transportation, 135.3.
£ / Chicago: medical care, 139.5; (February and March indexes also revised t o 139.5 and 139.6, r e s p e c t i v e l y ) .
2 / Kansas C i t y : housing, 123.9; household operation, 128.5.




TABUS 5: Consumer Price Index — Food and i t s subgroups
A p r i l 1957 indexes and percent changes, March 1957 t o A p r i l 1957
U.S. c i t y aYerage and 20 large c i t i e s
Total
f o o d a t home

T o t a l food
City

Index

Percent
change

Index

0.5

112.1

0.6

.3
.2
1.0
1.3
.6
0
.9
.2
.3
.2

110.8
111.8
111.1
109.4
113.7
109.0
114.1
109.8
107.3
113.7

.3
.3
1.3
1.4
.7
0
.9
.2
.1
.6

Index

U.S. c i t y average

—

Atlanta
Chicago — — —
Cincinnati

—

Detroit
Houston — — — —
Kansas C i t y
— —
Los Angeles
Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.
S t . Louis
San Francisco - - - - - - Seattle
Washington, D.C.

—

Percent
change

113.8
112.1
115.1
113.4
111.6
115.4
111.2
115.9
112.1
109.7
116.9

112.6
.3
112.8
.4
.2
116.4
.2
114.8
116.0
.5
114.2 .6
1.0
117.4
111.1
.5
.7
116.3
115.2
.3
TABIE 6:

110.9
111.0
114.1
112.8
113.8
110.1
115.9
110.5
115.3
112.7

Cereals and bakery products;
F l o u r , wheat - — — — — — — - — 5 lb.
B i s c u i t mix
— - 20 oz.
Corn meal
—
lb.
Rice
— i b .
Rolled oats — - — — — — —
20 oz.
Corn f l a k e s — — — — — —
12 oz.
Bread, white — — —
ib.
Soda crackers — — — — —
ib.
V a n i l l a cookies — — —
7 oz.
Meats, p o u l t r y , and f i s h :
t-Round steak — — — — — — —
ib.
Chuck roast — — — —
ib.
Rib roast — — — — — — —
ib.
Hamburger — — — — — —
ib.
Veal c u t l e t s — — —
ib.
^ Pork chops, center cut — —
ib.
Bacon, s l i c e d — — — — — —
ib.
Ham, vhole — — — —
ib.
Lamb, l e g — — — — — — —
ib.
Frankfurters — — — — — —
ib.
Luncheon meat, canned — —
12 oz.
F r y i n g chickens, ready-to-cook — ib.
Ocean perch, f i l l e t , frozen
ib.
Haddock, f i l l e t , frozen ——
— ib.
Salmon, p i n k , canned — — — — — ie oz.
Tuna f i s h , canned — — — e to 6h oz.
Dairy products:
M i l k , f r e s h , (grocery) —
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered) —
qt.
Ice cream - — — — — — — —
— pt.
Butter — — — — — —
ib.
Cheese, American process —
— ib.
M i l k , evaporated ————— i4i-oz. can
F r u i t s and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — — —
10 oz.
Orange Juice concentrate —— 0 oz.
Peas, green — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green — — — —
10 oz.
Fresh:
Apples — — — — — —
ib.
Bananas
lb.
Oranges-, size 200 ——
doz.
Lemons — — — — — — — — — ib*




Meats, p o u l t r y ,
and f i s h

Percent
change

Index

130.1

0.2

102.0

124.7
127.2
128.3
122.6
131.1
122.4
124.5
121.2
126.5
133.8

4.0
0
0
.2
0
- 1.1
.2
.1
1.0
.1

104.3
103.1
101.8
94.9
103.9
98.6
99.4
97.8
96.5
103.5

. 1 130.2
.6 134.8
.1 132.4
. 1 128.5
. 4 131.7
.7 125.4
1.2 140.0
.5 126.2
.9 137.7
. 4 129.4

.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.1
.3
.2
.1
0

97.0
103.1
103.6
99.4
103.9
98.3
108.0
102.3
103.6
101.8

Dairy
products

F r u i t s and
vegetables

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Index

1.4

110.5

- 0.2

118.7

.6
1.1
2.4
2.6
1.3
.9
1.7
1.3
.4
.4

113.1
112.6
112.2
110.3
114.6
105.3
109.8
109.2
107.9
105.3

0
.1
1.1
.8
.4
.6
.6
0
.1
.1

.6
1.3
.2
1.4
3.6
.8
2.6
2.0
2.6
1.6

104.6
108.9
113.9
111.9
116.5
100.3
113.5
110.3
116.4
115.7

.3
.2
- 1.8
- 1.9
0
- 2.8
.2
.9
.1
0

Percent
change

-

-

Other
foods a t home
Percent
change

Inde

2.2

111.0

- 0.5

117.4
113.2
115.1
119.3
115.4
113.2
132.8
121.3
113.0
125.4

-

.3
.4
2.6
4.4
2.2
.7
3.8
1.2
1.3
3.9

104.5
111.3
106.6
117.0
116.2
114.6
113.1
110.2
104.7
111.5

-

121.0
111.4
121.2
117.8
115.4
120.2
122.9
112.7
124.6
114.4

.2
1.4
1.8
1.7
1.3
- 1.0
3.5
- 1.4
2.7
1.0

118.0
110.5
110.5
119.4
112.7
117.8
109.7
106*6
110.0
111.7

-

.2
.7
1.5
1.3
.6
.5
.9
1.3
.6
.9
.3
0
.6
1.4
2.7
1.5
.4
.3
1.2
.9

Consumer Price Index — Average r e t a i l prices of selected foods
U.S. c i t y average

Food and u n i t

* Priced only i n sessc

Cereals and
bakery p r o d u c t s

April
1957

March
1957
Cents
54.3
26.8
12.7

17.0

21.7
23#0
18.7
28.9

24.6

90*7
50.9
71.3

40.0

117.3
83.1
68.5
61.9
71.7
53.6
44.3
47.5
42.8
45.1
62*2
31.9
23.1
24.6
29.3
73.9
57.4
14.4
27.5
18.7
19.6
23.7
17.5

16.2
54.8
19.0

87.1
48.7

69.6

39.3
116.4
81.4
67.7
61.7
67.2
53.4
43.9
48.0
42.5
45.1
62.4

32.0
23.1

24.6
29.2
74.1
57.5
14.3

28.0
18.8
19.9
23.6
15.7
16.3
54.6
19.7

April
1957

Food and u n i t
Fresh
Continued
Grapefruit * —
—
— —
each
Peaches * — — — — — — —
ib.
— — —
pt.
Strawberries •
Grapes, seedless * — — — —
ib.
Watermelons *
— ib.
Potatoes — — — — — — — — 10 ib.
Sweet potatoes —
lb.
Onicns
—
— - — — — ib.
Carrots
—
ib.
Lettuce
—
head
Celery
ib.
Cabbage — — — — — — — —
ib.
Tomatoes — — — — — —
ib.
Beans, green — — — — — — - — ib.
Canned:
Orange j u i c e — — — — — 46-oz. can
Peaches — —
— #2h can
Pineapple — — — — — —
#2 can
F r u i t c o c k t a i l — — — — — #303 can
Corn, cream s t y l e — — — — #303 can
Peas, green — — — — —
#303 can
Tomatoes — — — — — —

#303 can

Baby foods —
—
44 to 5 oz.
Dried;
Prunes
ib.
Beans — — — — — — — —
ib.
Other foods a t home:
Tomato SOUp
1 0 ^ to 11—oz. can
Beans v i t h pork —-—
16-oz. can
P i c k l e s , sweet — — — — —
7i oz.
Catsup, tomato — — — — — —
14 oz.
Coffee
c"
Tea bags — — — — — — —

pkg. of i a

Cola d r i n k , carton — — —
36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated —
3 ib.
Margarine, colored — — — — — ib.
Salad dressing — — — —
Peanut b u t t e r —
—
Sugar
Corn syrup — — — —
Grape J e l l y — — — —

— —
—
—
—

pt.
ib.
5 ib.
24 oz.
12 oz.

Chocolate bar — — — — —

1 0 z.

Eggs, Grade A, large - — — — doz.
G e l a t i n , f l a v o r e d — — - 3 to 4 oz.

March
1957

Cents

Cents

55.8
14.4
9.9
12.7
15.6
14.7

55.0
13.7
8.4
12.9

10.6

13.6
15.6

36.3
26.2

9.6
32.7
32.5

36.4
34.7
34.0

37.1
34.6
34.0

17.1
21.4
14.8

17.2
21.4
14.9

34.3

34.4

12.5
14.6
27© 1
23.3
104.4

12.4
14.6
27.2
23.3
106.3

33.9
99.4

33.7
100.4
30.6
22.9
37.1
53.4
54*8
•24.7
27.2
4.5
50.5
8.7

26.0
10.0

16.0

23.6
30.2
22.8
37.2
53.6
54.9
24.8
27.2
4.5
50.4

8.8

26.0
10.0
16.0

23.6




6A

TABLE A: Consumer Price Index—United States c i t y average
Food away from hone indexes, January 1953 t o A p r i l 1957 1 /
(January 1953=100)

Month

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

100.0
100.0
100.1
100.0
100.2
100.2
100.4
100.4
101.0
101.4
101.3
101.7

101.6
101.8
101.9
102.0
102.2
102.3
102.6
102.5
102.7
102.6
102.5
102.8

102.8
102.8
102.9
103.0
103.2
102.9
103.3
103.5
103.6
104.0
104.0
104.3

104.1
104.1
104.4
104.8
105.0
104.9
105.3
105.7
106.0
106.5
106.8
107.0

107.3
107.6
108.1
106.4

Average

100.6

102.3

103.4

105.4

J / This i s a nev series published here f o r the f i r s t t i n e *
Percent changes from selected dates w i l l be published
regularly i n Table 1 of t h i s report* Indexes f o r subsequent dates w i l l appear i n the monthly report, "Retail
Food Prices by Cities 11 and the quarterly report, "Price
Indexes f o r Selected Items and Groups*"

7
B r i e f Explanation nf the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average changes i n prices of goods
and services t y p i c a l l y bought by c i t y f a m i l i e s of wage earners and c l e r i c a l workers.
It
i s based on prices of about 300 items which were selected so t h a t t h e i r p r i c e changes
would represent the movement of prices of a l l goods and services purchased by wage and
c l e r i c a l f a m i l i e s ; they include a l l of the important items i n f a m i l y spending. Prices
f o r these items are obtained i n 46 c i t i e s which were chosen t o represent a l l urban places
i n the United S t a t e d they are collected from grocery and department stores, h o s p i t a l s ,
f i l l i n g s t a t i o n s , and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner
and c l e r i c a l - w o r k e r f a m i l i e s patronize.
Prices of foods, f u e l s , and a few other items are obtained every month i n a l l
46 c i t i e s . Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month i n
the 5 l a r g e s t c i t i e s and every 3 months i n other c i t i e s . Almost a l l prices are obtained
by personal v i s i t s of the Bureau f s trained representatives•
I n c a l c u l a t i n g the index, price changes f o r the various items i n each c i t y are
averaged together w i t h weights which represent t h e i r importance i n family spending. C i t y
data are then combined i n the t o t a l index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
c i t i e s they r e p r e s e n t . Index numbers are computed on the base 1947-49 = 100.
The n a t i o n a l index (the United States c i t y average) includes prices from the
20 l a r g e c i t i e s f o r which separate indexes are published i n t h i s r e p o r t , as w e l l as
from the f o l l o w i n g 26 medium-sized and small c i t i e s :
Anna, I l l i n o i s
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W. V i r g i n i a
E v a n s v i l l e , Indiana
G a r r e t t , Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N. Dakota
Grand I s l a n d , Nebraska

Huntington, W. V i r g i n i a
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, C a l i f o r n i a
Lynchburg, V i r g i n i a
M a d i l l , Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

Pulaski, V i r g i n i a
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, C a l i f o r n i a
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, Ohio

Comparisons o f c i t y indexes show only t h a t prices i n one c i t y changed more or
l e s s than i n another. The c i t y indexes cannot be used to measure differences i n price
l e v e l s or i n l i v i n g costs between c i t i e s .
A d e s c r i p t i o n of the index i s contained i n BLS B u l l e t i n 1140, "The Consumer
Price Index: A Layman's Guide," which may be purchased f o r 20 cents a t any Bureau of
Labor S t a t i s t i c s r e g i o n a l o f f i c e (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government P r i n t i n g O f f i c e , Washington 25, D. C. A more t e c h n i c a l
d e s c r i p t i o n of the index appears i n BLS B u l l e t i n 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
S t a t i s t i c a l S e r i e s . " Reprints of chapter 9 , p e r t a i n i n g to the CPI, are a v a i l a b l e on
request t o the Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s i n Washington or a t any of i t s r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s .
H i s t o r i c a l series of index numbers f o r the United States c i t y average and f o r
20 l a r g e c i t i e s are a v a i l a b l e upon request. These series include index numbers f o r A l l
Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent f o r periods from 1913 to date; and f o r other groups of
goods and services from 1947 to date.
BLS Regional Offices

Atlanta
50 Seventh S t . , NE
Zone 23




New York
341 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams S t .
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome S t .
Zone 11

LABOR - D .

C.

Boston
18 Oliver S t .
Zone 10