Full text of CPI Detailed Report : April 1962

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Released May 25. 1962
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR APRIL 1962
The Consumer Price Index rose by 0.2 percent in April to a new high
of 105.2 (1957-59=100), the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported
today. (On the former base of 1947-49=100, the April index was 129.1) Price increases
for fresh fruits and vegetables, used cars, gasoline, movies, and medical care services
were major factors in the advance. Prices were lower in April for poultry, eggs, fresh
milk, fuel oil, and housefurnishings. Since January 1962, the index has risen by 0.7
percent, led by higher prices for fresh fruits and vegetables, used cars, gasoline, and
women's and girls1 apparel. Over the past year, prices of consumer goods and services
have advanced by 1.3 percent on the average.
TRANSPORTATION

Average transportation prices marked their sharpest advance since
October 1959, with an increase of 1.2 percent in April. Used car
prices were up by more than 4 percent and gasoline prices by nearly 3 percent. Substantial increases in transit fares also took place in a few cities.

The greater than seasonal increase in used car prices reflected an
unusually favorable sales-inventory relationship. The April increase brought prices of
used cars to about 12 percent above a year earlier, the highest April level since their
pricing was initiated in 1953. Selling prices of new cars declined slightly in April.
FOOD

Average retail food prices increased by 0.2 percent, chiefly because
of higher prices for fresh fruits and vegetables, with smaller price
advances also reported for meats and for restaurant meals, while prices of eggs, dairy
products, and poultry moved lower.
The rise of nearly 7 percent in average prices of fresh fruits and
vegetables marked the largest March-to-April increase since 1955. Vegetable prices were
up by approximately 8 percent, as spring production was estimated at almost 20 percent
below a year ago, due to earlier unfavorable weather conditions in major producing areas.
Early season high prices of sweet corn also contributed substantially to the advance. In
comparison with April 1961, prices of fresh vegetables have increased by about 11 percent.
Fresh fruit prices were up by nearly 6 percent, largely reflecting
seasonally lower market supplies and high early-season strawberry prices. In comparison
with year earlier levels, fresh fruit prices have increased by less than 1 percent.
A decline of 1.2 percent in average prices of dairy products reflecte4
mostly seasonal decreases in milk prices ordered by state regulatory commissions and
competitive pricing in retail outlets in many cities. There also was a decline in butter
prices attributed to a cut in support prices for milk used in its manufacture.
A reduction of nearly 6 percent in average poultry prices was due to
heavy marketings. Egg prices fell to their lowest level since 1959 as production approached its seasonal peak.
OTHER GOODS
AND SERVICES

Average prices for apparel, housing, and other goods and services
were unchanged in April, reflecting the effect of generally small,
offsetting price movements. Early special sales price reductions on
some items of women's outerwear were offset by higher prices of new spring cotton dresses
and blouses and small advances for men's and boys' clothing and footwear. The seasonal
reductions for women's and girls' apparel which occurred in April were among the smallest
in recent years. Compared with April 1961, apparel prices were 0.6 percent higher, due
to increases in footwear and in women's and girls' apparel.




2

The overall stability in housing costs resulted from seasonal reductions for coal and petroleum fuels and lower prices for housefurnishings, which offset
increases for home repairs and maintenance and for rent. Medical care prices advanced
again in April due mainly to increases in professional medical fees and hospitalization
insurance rates. Average prices for prescriptions and drugs were lower, continuing the
moderately downward trend which has been noted since the early summer of 1961.
COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS

Based on the April index, about 850,000 workers mainly in the automobile and farm equipment and related industries will receive wage
increases of 1 cent per hour. In addition, about 100,000 workers
in aerospace companies and farm equipment manufacture will receive increases of 2 cents
per hour or an equivalent percentage increase.




3

TABLE 1: Consumer Prlc« Index--United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, April 1962
and percent changes from selected dates
(1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)
Indexes

Percent change to
April 1962 from—

Indexes
(1957-59-100)

1947-49-100

1939-100

Group
April
1962

March
1962

March
1962

—

105.2

105.0

0.2

Food at h o m e — — — — — — - — - - — — — —
Cereala and bakery p r o d u c t s - - - - — — — —
Meats, poultry, and fish—
Dairy p r o d u c t a — - - —
----Fruits and vegetablea-—------------Other fooda at home
Food away from home

103.4
102.1
107.3
100.1
103.7
108.6
95.1
109.9

103.2
101.9
107.3
100.6
105.0
104.4
96.1
109.7

Housing 2/----------Rent
-----Gaa and e l e c t r i c i t y — — — — — — — — —
Solid and petroleum fuels
—
House furnishings
-Household operation--------------——- -

104.6
105.4
107.8
102.4
99.3
107.1

A p p a r e l — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Men's and b o y s ' - — — — — — — - - - - - - - - - - - - Women's and g i r l s ' - — - - — - - — — - - - - - - - -

January
1962

April
1961

April
1962

April
1962

129.1 ,

217.2

0.7

1.3

.2
.2
0
- .5
- 1.2 4.0
- 1.0
.2

.9
.9
.7
.3
- 1.8
8.0
- 2.2
.6

0.7
.3
1.8
- .1
- .5
2.2
- 1.2
2.4

122.0
118.6
142.3
110.4
117.4
134.2
105.1

<!/)

259.1
251.9
248.6
265.5
235.7
290.0
217.1
(1/)

104.6
105.3
107.9
103.6
99.5
107.1

0
.1
- .1
- 1.2
- .2
0

.2
.3
0
- 1.4
.6
.6

.8
1.2
- .1
- .2
- .4
1.2

133.4
144.9
125.7
139.6
103.4
140.4

175.2
167.3
119.8
247.4
193.6
205.2

a p p a r e l — — — — — — — — — —

102.7
102.9
100.3
109.2
100.3

102.7
102.8
100.4
109.1
100.3

0
.1
.1
.1
0

.9
.5
1.7
.3
.3

.6
.1
.5
1.6
- ,5

110.1
111.9
99.6
143.1
92.4

209.8
220.3
182.8
284.3
227.5

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n - - - — — — - - - — . . . . . . . . ....
Private
—
Public

107.2
106.0
115.6

105.9
104.6
114.9

1.2
1.3
.6

1.1
1.1
.8

3.6
3.5
4.2

151.0
138.1
215.2

215.1
210.9
264.7

Medical care-

113.9

113.6

.3

1.2

2.9

164.6

226.8

Personal care-—-------------------------

106.3

105.9

.4

.7

1.8

136.2

228.6
201.1
189.8

All items

Other

-

-

Reading and recreation---————.--------.

109.4

109.2

.2

.8

2.1

126.7

Other gooda and services------------------

105.1 •

105.1

0

.2

1.0

133.9

106.0

105.7

.3

.7

1.6

132.9

192.4

Speclei groups:
All Items less food

-

All Items less shelterCommodities
Nondurablea—

-

—

—
— ......
- — -- — .. — ........

Nondurables less food—

—.

Apparel less footwear-—
Nondurables less food and a p p a r e l — Durablea-------------------------------New cars
.............

Services less rent—-------------------Household operation aervlces, gas,
and electricity---—---------------

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(Reference period-$l.00)-----------

105.2

105.0

.2

.8

1.3

126.7

228.6

103.1
103.5
103.4
103.8
102.6
101.3
104.4
101.4
102.2
113.4
98.9

102.8
103.2
103.2
103.5
102.6
101.3
104.0
100.9
102.4
108.6
99.0

.3
.3
.2
.3
0
0
.4
.5
- .2
4.4
- .1

.8
.9
.9
.9
1.0
1.1
.8
.6
- 1.1
4.9
.2

1.0
.9
.7
1.3
.5
.2
1.8
1.5
- .1
11.5
.1

119.1
121.5
122.0
121.5
110.0
104.2
131.2
112.4
137.4
(1/)
102.0

230.9
236.5
259.1
207.0
211.1
(1/)
199.1
196.1
240.9
(1/)
178.0

102.8

102.4

.4

.8

1.4

116.8

196.5

155.1
144.9
157.3

192.7
167.3
214.2

109.2
105.4
109.8

109.0
105.3
109.6

.2
.1
.2

.5
.3
.5

1.8
1.2
1.7

108,2
111,5
116.2
108.2

108.2
111.3
115.8
108.0

0
.2
.3
.2

.3
.7
1.0
.3

1.0
2.2
3.4
1.6

142.0
192.7
173.4
139.7

163.2
240.5
245.9
239.5

$0,951

$0,952

.6

- 1.1

$0,775

$0,460

-

.1

-

1/ Not available.
2/ Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, Insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately.
3/ Includes house purchase, Interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
and beauty shop services, and movies.




TABU 21 Cobeamr Prioe Index—All items indexes and percent changes, selected dates
0.3, city average and 20 large cities

4

(1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)

Indexes
(1957-59=100)

City
United States oity a v e r a g e - - - - — — -

Percent change to
April 1962 f r o m —

April
1962

January
1962

April
1961

January
1962

105.2

104.5

103.9

104.8
102.2
106.3
106.0
105.1

103.9
101. 1
105.7
105.6
104.5

April
1962
107.1
105.7
105.5
105.7
103.9

Indexes
1947-49=100 1939-100

April
1961

April
1962

April
1962

0.7

1.3

129.1

217.2

103.2
101.9
105.1
104.4
104.2

,9
1.1
.6
. 4
.6

1.6
0 3
1.1
1.5
.9

132.2
126.0
132.6
127.7
129.1

225.6
213.5
219.4
212.5
218.0

January
1962

April
1961

January
1962

April
1961

Apr i 1
1962

April
1962

106.2
105.2
104.3
105.2
103.8

104.9
104.7
104.3
104.9
103.6

2.1
1.0
1.2
.8
.3

132. 7
130.8
130.5
130.2
128.7

217.6
211.9
215.1
224.2
220.8

Cities priced monthly 1 /

Hew T o r k — ~ - — — — —
Philadelphia

—

Cities prioed in January, April,
July, October
2/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapo lis
Pittsburgh
Port land, Oregon

...
—

---

Cities prioed in March, June,
September, December
2/
At lant a
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

March
1962

-

—

-

Cities prioed in February, May
Augu 81, Nov etrib e r
2/
Cleveland
Rous t o n —
Scranton--Seattle
Washington, D. C.

--

--—

-----

-

--

.8
.5
1.2
.5
.1

December
1961

March
1961

December
1961

March
1961

March
1962

March
1962

103.7
104.6
103.3
104 .8
3/ 107.3

103.4
104 .4
102.6
104 .4
106.5

103.2
104.4
102.5
103.9
105.4

.3
.2
.7
.4
.8

.5
.2
.8
.9
1.8

128.4
129.8
125.7
130.1
3/ 136.2

220.2
224.2
215.4
219.3
3/ 232.4

February
•962

November
1961

February
1961

November
1961

103.1
104.5
105.5
105.9
104 .0

103, 3
103.9
104.6
105.7
104.2

103.3
101.5
103.5
104 .1
103.4

0
.6
# q
.2

3/

3/

February
1962

February
1961
-

.2
3.0
1.9
1.7
.6

February
1962
216.4
216.3
215.1
224.9
207.2

128.1
128.7
125.9
133. 1
125.2

j / Rents priced bimonthly,
2/ Foods, fuels, tod a few other items prioed monthly; rents and other ooamcdities and sernoes prioed quarterly.
3/ Revised.

TABLE 3* Consu»er P*ice Index—Feroent changee from March 196? to April 1962
U.S. oity average and five cities priced aonthly
All ite&s and ccaaodity groups

City
Ifeited states oity arerage—
Chi o* go " • • —
— —
Detroit
Lps A n g e l e s — ™ —
Kev l o r k — — — ~
~
Philadelphia




m
items

Food

Housing

0.2

0.2

0

.3
.2
.2
.1
.1

.4

0.1
.1
0
- .2
.1

-

.1
.1
.1

Apparel
0
- 0.1
- .1
- .5
- .3
e,

TrtritporUtion
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
0.6
1.1

>fedi«l
Q&K

Percoal
c&rc.

0 3

0.4
-

0
.1
0

Heeding
and
recreation

. 1
.3
3
.3
. 1

Other
goods k
serrioes

0.2
0
.3
.3
.4
• 1.0

-

0

-

0.1
.1
0
.2
0

TABIS 4s Coneuaer Prioe Index—-All itena and ocncdity groups
April 1962 indexes and percent changes, January 1962 to April 1962
U.S. city average and 10 oitiee priced in April 1962
0.8.
City
Average

Group

Boston

Chicago Detroit

Los
Kansas
City Angeles

New
York

Minneapolis

Phila- Pittsdelphia burgh

Portland
Oregon

Indexes (19*7-*9«100)
A l l items

*

105.2

107.1

104.8

102.2

105.7

106.3

105.5

106.0

105.1

105.7

103.9

103.4
102.1
107.3
100.1
103.7
108.6
95.1

103.5
101.5
107.9
101.8
96.1
108.2
95.7

105.6
105.3
113.0
102.0
109.4
112.2
96.9

101.2
100.4
104.6
97.7
107.4
102.9
94.2

101.8
100.7
107.5
98.1
94.6
110.9
95.9

105.4
103.5
113.3
97.0
107.0
117.1
^ 91.3

102.4
100.7
103.7
99.4
102.4
108.0
93.6

104.5
102.3
108.8
101.1
103.7
106.5
94.8

102.6
101.2
104.6
99.6
101.0
106.8
96.7

101.7
101.2
106.4
102.0
97.8
105.7
96.1

103.0
101.2
100. 3
100.7
104.4
110.9
93.2

104.6
105.4
107.8
102.4
99.3
107.1

109.2
114.5
104.1
105.0
100.1
111.0

103.5

104.9
103.1
108.6
113.3
97.9
111.5

105.0

99.8
103.5

103.6
105.8
103.8
102.2
97.0
104.2

107.6
110.8
105.6
102.1
103.2
108.9

105.0

106.2
104.4
101.5
105.3

98,0
95.1
105.3
101.3
98.1
103.0

102.7
106.3
99.1
113.5

10&.9
105.S
116.3
2/
101.8
112.4

103.6
103.7
102.5
100.0
96.4
107.5

Apparel - — - — — — - —
— Men's and b o y s '
—
—
—
Vonen's and g i r l s '
Footwear
- — — — — — — —
Other apparel
—

102.7
102.9
100.3
109.2
100.3

103.5
101.8
103.3
109.0
99.4

101.0
101.5
97.6
109.0
97.5

104.5
103.7
103.9
108.4
101.8

101.1
103.4
96.1
111.9
97.7

102.4
103.3
100.2
108.6
98.8

100.5
103.4
97.4
105.3
96.0

102.2
104.1
98.2
110.8
99.3

104.2
104.1
102.9
109.8
101.5

100.8
101.8
96.5
109.9
100.0

102.3
103.2
99.5
109.8
97.6

Transportation
Private
Public

107.2
106.0
115.6

110.2
103.9
131.6

106.7
106.6
107.9

105.7
104.0
114.4

108.7
108.2
111.8

111.0
106.7
140.4

107.7
106.2
117.9

104.9
106.4
100.8

109.4
108.4
113.1

110.9
106.6
125.9

103.4
102.0
112.5

113.9
106.3
109.4
105.1

113.0
106.6
116.1
101.8

117.3
107.2
100.6
101.6

113.5
107,5
105.7
102.3

113.5
110.4
113.6
108.0

114.1
103.4
102.8
106.2

127.2
106.7
111.7
104.4

114.1
104.5
110.5
103.6

116.4
107.9
102.5
104.2

116.3
104.0
110.0
105.0

108.9
102.8
108.6
103.5

Food a t hone - —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, p o u l t r y , and f i s h — - D a i r y products
— —
Other foods a t hose
lousing
Rent
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Gas end e l e c t r i c i t y
—
—
—
Solid and petroleum f u e l s — —
Household operation

— — — — — — — —

Reading and r e c r e a t i o n
Other goods and s e r v i c e s

115.5

Percent change f r o n January 1962 to April 1962

A l l items

—

— — —

0.7

0.8

•0.9

1.1

Pood - — - — —
— - —
Food a t bene
—
Cereal* and bakery products ••
Meat*; p o u l t r y , and f i s h - - - - D a i r y products
««........
F r u i t s fcnd vegetables
Other foods a t boat
—
—

.9
.9
.7
.3
- 1.8
8.0
- 2.2

-

0
.4
1.2
1.4
2.4
3.4
1.8

1.7
2.0
5.2
- .4
- .3
10.1
- 1.4

0.7
.8
.2
.7
1.4
9.0
1.6

lousing
— — — — — — — — —
Rent
—
Oat and e l e c t r i c i t y - - - - - - - - - Solid and petroleum f u e l s —
Bovsefurni s l i n g s
— — — —

.2
.3
0
- 1.4
.6
.6

1.0
.9
- .5
- 2.7
1.1
3.0

.9
.5
1.7
.3
.3

2.6
1.4
4.1
.3
1.6

.5
.3
.9
.1
- 1.1

.8
2.4
0
- .1
.7

1.1
1.1
.8

.9
1.3
0

1.8
2.2
0

1.2
.7
.8
.2 ,

1.0
.7
2.3
.1

.4
0
.2
.1

Apparel
—
—
Men's a&d b o y s '

—

—

—

Private-P u b l i c — — — — — — — — —
SedictJ care

—
—

-

1/ Change from February 1962 to April 1962.
2/ Discontinued as of February 1962.




-

.3
- - -

-

-

1/

.5
.1
1.5
.8

-

-

0.5

0.6

1.2

0.4

0.6

0.5

0.1

.1
.2
.1
1.0
-13.5
11.8
- 1.7

.2
0
.3
- 2.2
- .2
6.3
- 3.4

1.3
1.4
0.1
.6
- .6
9.0
- 1.6

.7
.6
.8
1.3
- 3.2
5.7
- 1.6

1.1
1.2
.5
.8
- 2.3
9.5
- 1.8

0
0
- 3.3
.1
- 2.6
8.0
~ 2.3

.5
.7
1.3
0
- .6
7.4
- 3.0

.2

.4
1/ .3
- 1.3
- 3.2
.2
1.4

.2

1.0
.3
6.8

1.3
.3

.8
.6
- .9
0
1.3
1.1

.6
.1
0
0
1.3
1.5

.5
.3
- 1.5
.7
- .2

- .1
1.4
- 1.6
.4
0

.4
1.2
.2
- .6
.3

.3
0
- .1
- .6
- 1.7

1.5
.8
2.5
.3
.9

.6
.5
.6
.5
1.1

.1
.5
.4
0
- 1.3

6.9
8.6
0

2.2
2.7
0

1.0
.5
3.5

1.9
2.1
.2

.2
.2
0

.8
1.4
0

.9
1.3
0

- 2.3
- 2.7
.3

.8
.1
.8
.1

.4
5.2
1.6
.4

3.4
.8
.9
.1

.2
5.1
2.9
- .2

1.2
.1
.2
.3

.3
.2
0
0

.3
.1
0
0
.9
.1

-

.1
.5
.6
- 1.6
.6
1.1

-

-

—

0

-

0
- 1.4
1.2
.3

- - -

-

-

.2
.4

.1
.2
1.0
.2

-

-

.4
.7
.2
1.2

6

City
Index
U. S. city average-

Detroit——
Houston
Kansas City
Los A n g e l e s — — —
Minneapolis——
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.
St. Louis
San Francisco------Scranton-—-------S e a t t l e — — — —
Washington, D. C . —

102.4
104,.5
102 .6
101,.7
103 .0
102 .2
105.4
102 .9
106 .3
101 .6

C h i c a g o — — — —

0.2

103 4
102.,7
102. 7
103! 5
105.,6
101.,5
100,.6
101,.2
102,.9
101..8
105,.4

Atlanta——————
Baltiaore———

TABLS 5: C o u u M r Price Index—Feod end its sub troupe
April 1962 indexes and percent changes, March 1962 to April 1962
U.S. city average end 20 large cities
(1957-59-100)
Deiry
Cereals and
Meats, poultry,
Total
bakery product!
products
am flah
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Index
Index
Index
Index
change
change
change
chenge
change

.2
.3
.5
.4
.2
.2
.3
0
- 1.3
- .1

102. 2
100.6
101. 5
105. 3
100. 5
99..5
100.,4
100.,6
100.7
103..5

.7
.1
.1
.8
.5
.3
.3
.3
1.2
.1

100..7
102,.3
101,.2
101,.2
101 .2
100 .8
103 .9
101 .7
104 .3
100 .4

-

-

-

TABLE 6:
Food and unit
Cereala and bakery producta:
Flour, w h e a t — — — — — — 5 lb.
Biscuit nix
---40 os.
M a c a r o n i - - — — — — — — — — 1 6 os.
Corn a e s l — — — — — l b .
Rolled o a t a — — —
— — 1 8 os.
Corn f l a k e a — — — — — — — — — 1 2 ox.
Rice, ahort g r a i n - — — — — — — l b .
Rice, long g r a i n - - - — — — — — — l b .
Breed, w h i t e — — — — — — — l b .
Soda c r a c k e r s — — — — — — — - l b .
Sandwich c o o k i e s — — — — — — 1 6 os.
Meats, poultry, and flah:
Round a t e a k — — — - — — - — — l b .
Sirloin steak
lb.
Chuck r o a a t - — - — — — — - — — l b .
Rib r o a a t — — — — — — - - l b .
Haaburger————————----lb.
Veal c u t l e t s —
--———-lb.
Pork chops, center c u t - — - - — l b .
Pork r o a a t - — — — — — — — - - - - - l b .
Bacon, s l i c e d — — — • — — — — - - l b .
Haa, whole
lb,
Laab, leg
lb.
F r a n k f u r t e r a — — — — l b .
Luncheon neat, canned—-----12 os.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook-lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, f r o s e n — lb.
Haddock, fillet, frosen——---lb.
Saloon, pink, c a n n e d — — — — 1 6 oc.
Tuna flah, c a n n e d — — 6 to 6fc os.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, ( g r o c e r y ) — — q t .
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice c r e a a — — — — % gal.
B u t t e r — — — — — — - l b .
Cheese, Aaerlcan process——fc lb.
Milk, evaporated—-—-14% os. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frosen:
S t r a w b e r r i e s — — — — — — 1 0 ox.
Orange juice concentrate—-6 ox.
Leaonade concentrate—-—-6 os.
Peas, g r e e n — - — — - — 1 0 os.
Beans, g r e e n — — — » • - — 9 os.
Potatoes, french fried—--9 ox.
Fresh:
Apples———--———-—lb.
Bananas-————————lb.
Oranges, slse 200
dot.
L e a o n s — — — — — — — l b .

*

0 2

102. 1

103.8
107.4
107.9
113.0
107.4
103.9
104.6
106.5
107.5
113.3

.8
.1
.1
- 1 .0
.5
.5
.5
.1
1.4
.3
-

103.7
108.8
104.6
106.4
100.3
104.4
106.3
108.3
107.2
108.9

Other
foods at hoae
Percent
Index
chenge

100.1

- 0.5

103.7

- 1.2

108. 6

4.0

95.1

0.,1
0
2
,1
,2
.1
.2
2..9
.2
.2

100.6
100.3
101.8
102.0
100.7
100.5
97.7
98.4
98.1
97.0

-

3
- 1.5
2
3
,5
,3
- ,8
,8
- 1.,3

103.1
98.9
96.1
109.4
101.5
99.6
107.4
100.3
94.6
107.0

0
- 0. 1
- 2.5
3
0
- ,5
- 1.,2
- 2.,7
-12.,9
,2
-

106. 0
104..4
108. 2
112. 2
103. 6
103.,6
102.,9
109.,2
110,,9
117.,1

2.5
3.5
2.9
3.1
3.2
1.9
3.3
1.9
3.6
3.0

100.2
95.7
95.7
96.9
93.2
92.4
94.2
93.6
95.9
91.3

-

.1
.1
.2
- 2 .8
2 .6
.2
0
.3
.3
.2
-

99.4
101.1
99.6
102.0
100.7
99.2
101.2
99.7
102.2
97.5

- 1,.0
.5
- 1,.0
.3
.3
- 1 .0
0
.3
1 .2
- 2 •2

102.4
103.7
101.0
97.8
104.4
101.4
106.1
99.8
107.0
103.2

-

108.0
106.5
106,.8
105,.7
110 .9
107 .9
117 .1
107 .9
114,.4
101 .1

6.4
3.6
4.2
1.3
2.2
1.6
0.9
3.8
5.9
3.6

93.6
94.8
96.7
96.1
93.2
94.6
93.1
96.7
95.6
96.2

-

0

107.3

2
,4
,7
.4
.3
.3
.3
.2
- 1 .7
"
..4

-

Fruits and
veg<ttebles
Percent
Index
chenge

-

-

-

.4

.3
- 1,.0
- 2,.2
- 2,.6
.2
•- 1 .0
.7
- 2 .5
.3
.4
-

Price Index—Average retail prlcea of selected food a
U. S. city average
March
April
Food and unit
1962
1962
Cents
Cents
Fresh—Cont Inued
56.6
56.6
Grapefruit--—-—--—
-each
47.6
47.8
Peachea *
lb.
24.6
24.7
Strawberrlea * — — — — - — p t .
13.8
13.9
Grapes, seedless *
--lb.
23.2
23.5
Wateraelons *
lb.
26.9
26.9
POtstoes—————
10 lb.
18.9
19.0
Sweet p o t a t o e e — — — — — — — l b .
21.4
21.4
Corn * - - — - — — - - - — - — - d o x . ears
21.2
O n i o n s - — — — — — — — l b .
21.1
30.9
Carrota—-------—
—lb.
30.9
Lettuce-—------------------head
52.1
52.3
Celery
—
lb.
Cabbage—
lb.
105.1
106.2
Toaatoea--------------------lb.
107.9
107.5
61.9
Beans, g r e e n — — —
— — — l b .
61.9
82.1
82.1
Canned:
51.5
51.5
Orange j u i c e - — — - — - - 4 6 ox. can
146.3
146.8
Pineapple juice-------46 ox. can
86.7
87.3
P e e c h e a — - — - — — — - # 2 % can
62.1
61.9
Pineapple----------#2 can
67.8
67.7
Fruit cocktail
#303 can
62.1
61.5
Corn, cream style---—---#303 can
69.5
69.7
Peas, green-- — ----—#303 can
63.0
63.1
Toaatoes-— - — # 3 0 3 can
51.3
51.2
Toaato Juice
-----46 ox. can
42.6
40.2
Baby foods--—------4lj to 5 oz.
49.2
49.7
Dried:
55.5
55.8
Prunes-----------------------lb.
77.2
77.3
Beans——— — — — — — — - - l b .
34.4
34.7
Other foods at hoae:
Toaato s o u p — — 10% to 11 oz. can
24.6
24.2
Beans, with pork-------16 oz. can
26.3
25.8
Picklea, sliced
15 ox.
86.4
86.1
Catsup, toaato
14 ox.
76.0
75.3
Potato chips--—------------4 oz.
36.4
36.4
Coffee—————
lb. can
15.8
15.7
Coffee-—------------------- lb. bag
Coffee, instant
6 ox.
Tea bags——-—---—-----pkg. of 16
27.1
27.1
Cola drink, carton-----------36 oz.
21.2
22.4
Shortening, hydrogenated-—--3 lb.
14.0
14.C
Margarine, colored—--------—--lb.
20.7
20.?
Lard•——————•————————---——--——--—lb.
22. *
22.8
Salad dressing—---------------pt.
19.3
19.(
Peanut b u t t e r - — — — — — — l b .
Sugar---—
5 lb,
14.8
16.2
Corn syrup----------------24 ox.
16.5
16.8
Grspe Jelly---—-------------12 ox.
78.8
80.8
Chocolate bar
1 oz.
19.4
19.1
Eggs, Grade A, large----------dox.
Gelatin, flavored--------3 to 4 ox.

- 1.0

.4
1.0
.1
1.2
.7
1.6
2.2
.1
- .9
- 1.1

Consu

April
m i

March
1962
Cents

12.7

12.2

41.9

60. 2
16. 7
123. 5
14.9
14.9
19. 1
18. 2
18. 3
31. 3
31. 3

57.7
16.0
*

43. 7
32.4
32.8
38. 7
26.0
20.0
22.4
15. 8
32.,4
10.,6

45.4
32.6
32.6
38.9

41.,3
17,.3

41.4
17.3

12,.4
15,.0
26,.6
23 .1
28,.0
71 .1
56 .8
90 .7
24 .6
30 .7
91 .5
28 .8
20 .1
38 .2
57 .2
58 .2
27 .3
29 .5
.5
51.0
9 .8

12.4
14.9
26.6
23.1
28.0
71.0
57.2
90.4
24.6
30.7
91.0
29.0
20.1
38.4
56.7
58.4
27. 3
29.5
4.5
53.8
9.8

15.1
15.4
20.3
16.2
13.1
31.7
26.3

26.0

20.1
22.3
15.8
32.4
10.6

Priced only in season.




0.5
.3
1.9
.5
.7
.8
.8
1.4
.1
3.1

LABOR - D. C.

7
Brief Explanation of the CPI
Hie Consumer Price index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
service^ usually bought by city families of wage earners and clerical workers. It is
based on prices of about 300 items which were selected so that their price changes would
represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by wage and clerical
families; they include all of the important items in family spending. Prices for these
items are obtained in k6 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places in the
United States; they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals, filling
stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner and
clerical-worker families patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
k6 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Mail questionnaires axe used
to obtain local transit fares, public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and
certain other items which change in price infrequently. Prices of most other goods and
services are obtained by personal visits of the Bureau's trained representatives.
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending. City
data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 1957-59 9 ioo.
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from the
20 large cities for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small cities:
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W. Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N. Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Huntington, W. Virginia
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletovn, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

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

Comparisons of city indexes show only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another. The city indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price
levels or in living costs between cities.
A description of the index and historical tables of index numbers for the
United States city average and for 20. large cities are available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or any of its regional offices (addresses below).
The historical tables for the U.S. 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 1935 to
date.
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
1371 Peachtree
Street, N. E.
Zone 9




New York
3^1 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10

LABOR - D. C.