Full text of CPI Detailed Report : August 1954

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Issued September 24, 195k
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - AUGUST 195^

Consumer prices in U.S. cities decreased 0.2 percent between July and
August 195^, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The decrease resulted mainly from lower food prices, although prices of apparel,
housefurnishings, reading and recreation, new cars, and gasoline also decreased.
Rents, fuel, some local transportation rates, medical care, and personal care rose
slightly during the month.
The Consumer Price Index for August was 115.0 percent of the 19^7-^9
average, the same as a year ago, but 13.0 percent above the level of June 1950.
August index on a 1935-39 base was 192.3-

The

FOOD
The decline of 0.6 percent in food prices between July and August followed
a 4-months1 rise totaling 2.2 percent. The August food index was 113-9 (19^7-^9 =100),
0.2 percent lower than a year ago, but 13-3 percent above the level of June 1950.
Chiefly responsible for the decline during the month were substantial decreases in prices of fresh fruits and vegetables and of meats. Prices of most fresh
vegetables declined during xAugust. Tomato prices fell 21 percent; sweet potatoes
and green beans dropped 17 percent; celery, almost 10 percent; and potatoes, 9 percent.
Prices of all fresh fruits (except oranges) were lower than in July, with decreases
of 30 percent for grapes, 27 percent for peaches, 9-1/2 percent for bananas, and 9
percent for apples. Orange prices rose 12-1/2 percent during the month, reflecting
the short California crop.
Price decreases were reported for every cut of meat priced for the index,
reflecting the effects of increased marketing of livestock. Bacon, pork chops, and
leg of lamb were about 4-1/2 percent lower than in July; chuck roast declined 2-1 ;2
percent; rib roast, veal cutlets, hamburger, and frankfurters, about 1-1/2 percent;
and ham prices were 1 percent lower than a month ago.
Prices of eggs and fresh milk advanced seasonally. Bread prices were 1-1/2
percent higher than in July. There was a slight increase in the U.S. average price
of coffee, but decreases were reported in about half the cities in the index.
HOUSING
Residential rents continued their slight upward trend, with an average
rise of 0.1 percent between July and August. Prices of some home maintenance items
advanced during the month, and coal and fuel oil prices rose seasonally. Sale prices
of furniture and household textiles were reported in a number of cities. Prices for
major household appliances were lowered in many cities to meet competition.




2

OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES
Lower prices were reported for women's nylon hose and lingerie. Men's
suits were reduced in some cities and prices of work gloves were lower. Prices of
children1s shoes advanced during the month.
In the transportation group, price reductions for new automobiles, tires,
and gasoline were offset by increased prices for auto repairs and higher streetcar
and bus fares in several cities.
Prices were lower for television sets, radios, and toys, while motion
picture theatre admission charges were raised in some cities. Higher fees were reported for physicians' services and group hospitalization.




TABU! 1.

3

CONSUMER PRICK INDEX — U.S. C H I AVERAGE AIL ITEMS AID COHiODITr GROUPS
Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Dates

August
195^

July
1954

June
1954

August
1953

June
1950

Tear
1939

Pre-Korea

PreVorld War II

115.0

101.8

59.*

100.5

*7.1

Group
This Month

Last Month

2 Months Ago

INDEXES ( 1 9 V M 9

Last Tear

= 100)

ALL ITEMS

115.0

115.2

FOOD 1/

113.9

Ilk. 6

113.8

lll+.l

113.3
122.3

Ilk. 2

114.1
119.5
114.1
109.1
112.7
114.4

100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9*.l

*7.1
57.2
*1.6
*9.8
*6.3
48.4
76.1

Food at bows
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and flab
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables — —
Other foods at h a m

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

—

APPAREL
1

Men's and boys
—
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel - — —
TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES jJ

IO7.6

109.7
104.3

Ilk.7
119.6

120.1
117.3

113.3
121.3
111.1
102.9
117.1
115.2

119.2

119.0

118.9

118.0

10k.9

128.6

128.5
IO7.8
121.1
105.7

128.3

108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6

86.6
10*. 9
56.*
53.*
68A

96.5

52.5

105.1

ROUS ISO 2/ — — — — - — — — — — — - —
—

121.6

117.2

105.8
117.2

125.1
106.9
123.9
107.4
115.3

IO3.7;

10k. 0

104.2

104.3

106.1+
97.7
116.9
90.7

106.6

107.0
98.5
116.3

107.3
98.7

107.8
121.9

—

115.1

105.1+
117.3

126.6
125.5
113.1+
106.6
120.2

98.2
116.5
90.8

126.7
125.2

113.3
107.0
120.3

107.6

120,9

115.0
92.0

91.0

128.9
125.1
112.7
106.1+
120.1

13c. 6
121.8

|

112.7
107.6
118.4

98.1
93.3
102.1
88.*

5/

109.9
105.*
99.2
102.5
103.7

68.9
72.6
59.6
63.0
70.6

June
1950

Tear
1939

PERCENT CHANGE TO AUGUST 19^4 FROM:
July
1954

June

August
1953

ALL ITEMS

-0.2

-0.1

0

13.0

93-6

FOOD 1/

-0.6

0.1

-0.2

13.3

141.8

-0.3
0.6
-1.9
0.8
-4.5
2.0

0
0.8
-3.2
2.1
-2.0
3.8

-0.7
2.3
-5-7
-3.7
1.3
4.5

12.7
19.1
1.4
13.9
11.9
27.1

140.6
113.8
158.7

0.2

0.3

1.0

13.6

56.6

0.1
0
0.7
-0.3
0. 1

0.2
0.2
o.s
-0.4

2.8
0.8

18.3

0.1

-1-9
1-3

5.0
13.3
8.2
17.8

48.5
2.8
116.1
97.4
71.5
97-5

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

—
—
—

.-1.6

-0.3

-0.5

-0.6

7.5

-0.2
-0,5
0.3

-0.1

-0.6
-0.8
0.5
-0.3

-0.8
-1.0
1.7
-1.4

8.5
4.7
1*.5
2.6

-0.1

-1.8

0.2
0.1

0.3
0.6
0.2
0.1

-3.1
3.0
0.6
-0.9
1.5

15.2
19.1
l*.3
4.0
15.9

-0.4
-0.1

l/ Includes restaurant seals 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.).
*/ Not available.




111.0

147.7
147.1

*/

V
1/
83.7
72.9
90 3
69.2

70-3.

T A B U 2.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS INDEXES FOR SELECTED DATES
U.S. C U T AVERAGE AND 20 LARGE CITIES

( 1 9 ^ 7 - ^ 9

= 100

)

(1935-39 - 100)

City

W.S. c m

AVERAGE

August
195^

August
1953

115.0

115.0

117.7
116.8
115.1
113.0
116.2

June

Tear

1939

August
195*+

101.8

59A

192.3

116.3
116.9
115.8
112.7
111+.9

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
6o.k
60.1
59.2

200.1+
197.2
192.3
I87.O
193. ^

August
195^

August
195**

May
1Q50

115-3
116.5
112.1+
116.2
lll+.l

115.1
116.8
113.2
116.8

Ilk.2

100.1+
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

July
195^

July
1953

April
1950

1950

1/

CITIES PRICED MOBTILT:

Detroit
Los Angeles
— — — — — —
New York
— — — — — —
Philadelphia

—
—

—
—

CITIES PRICED IN FEBRUARY, MAY,
AUGUST, NOVEMBER
2/

Washington, D.C.
CITIES PRICED IN JANUARY, APRIL,
JULY, OCTOBER
2/

Portland, Ore.
CITIES PRICED IN MARCH, JUNE,
SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER
2/
Atlanta — —
.—
Baltimore —
C incinnatl — — — - —
St. Louis
San Francisco

l/
2/
\J
1\J

—
— —
—
—

August
IQ^k
59.2
59-5
58.5
59.2

196.5
197.2
186.8
19°. 6
187.1+

60.1+

July
1Q51+

113.8

113.1

101.2

61.0

I83.2

115.6
117.3
115.1+
115.5

115.3
115.6
113-8
115.5

101.1+
102.1
99.9
101.5

61.7

186.1
191+.2
196.2
200.0

June
1951+

June

117.6
115.5
111+.2
117 A
116.8

117.1
115.1
111+.5
115.8
116.1

3/

60.7

58.1
58.3

June
1951+

June
1950

199.1+
198.5
192.3
195.9
199.6

58.3
57.9
58.1+
59.3
5-3.6

IOI.3 1+/
101.6 101.2
101.1
100.9

These are the same indexes shown In c o l o n 1, converted to a base of 1935-39 = 100.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other Items priced monthly; other commodities and services priced quarterly*
June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
May 1950; formerly priced February, May, August, November.

TABLE 3.

City

U.S. c m

AYERA0E

Chicago —
—
Detroit — — — —
Los Angeles
—
New York
—
—
Philadelphia




—
—

—
—
—

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — PERCENT CHANGES FROM JULY 195^ TO AUGUST 195*+
U.S. City Average and Fire Cities Priced Monthly
All Items and Commodity Croups

Trans*
portation

All
Items

Food

leasing

Apparel

-0.2

-0.6

0.2

-0.3

-0.1

-0.3

-0.6
-1.8

0.2

-0.9
-0.3
-0.3
-0.2

1.1
-0.2
0.1

-0.6
0.2
-0.3

-0.1

0
-0.1+

-0.1+

0.3
0.2

0
0.2

0.3

Medical
Care

Personal
Care

Reading
and
Recreation

Other
Goods &
Services

0.2

0.1

-0.1+

-0.1

-0.2

0

-0.3

-0.1

-1.3

2.2

-2.0
0.1

-0.2
-0.2

0

0.2
0.1

0.1

0

-1.6

0

0.1

-0.3

0
0
0

CABIS k. COVSQMER PRICE HDKX — ALL IXEM8 AID COMMODITY 0R09PS

August 1954 Indexes and P e r c e n t Changes, May 1954 t o August 1954
U.S. C i t y Average and 10 C i t i e s P r i c e d i n August 1954
l.S.
Chicagc Cleve- Detroit Houstor
Los
CUT
AYERA0E
land
Angeles

Group

New
York

Phila- Scrandelphia
ton

Seattl?

Washington,D.C.

August 1954 Indexes ( 1 9 4 7 - 4 9 = 100)
AIL i m e

115.0

117.7

115.3

116.8

116.5 .

115.1

113.0

116.2

112.4

116.2

114.1

FOOD —

113.9

111.9

111.8

116 . 4

112.3

112.3

113.1

117.2

112.1

112.8

114.5

113.3
122.3
107.6
105.1
114.7
119.6

111.2
116.9
102.0

111.3
118.5
10^.2
10k. 0 1 0 0 . 1
llk.k 111.5
126.1
123.2

115.4
118.0
IO6.8
103. 4
123.5
122.9

111.5
117.7
104.8
103*. 4
115.5
117.5

110.8
127.0
108.0
102.8
104.6
114.5

112.8
125.2
107.8
105.2
110.9
120.9

116.6
120.9
110.3
108.0
124.4
120.7

112.3
118.6
108.2
104.9
110.6
118.2

112.7
126.2
•107.5
102.8
112.1
117.8

113.7
121.5
105.2
111.9
114.4
118.1

119.2

127.1

120.1

122.6

124.1

124.7

115.5

113.9

115.2

119.4

117.0

138.9
106.5

...

108.4
122.5
105.6
118.9

__

115.5
102.3
117.1
108.1
113.8

112.2
130.3
99*6
109.6

__

135.2
88.5
127.3
105.1
112.3

115.9
127.3
107.1
117.0

Food at heao
Cereals and bakery products

Other foods at hose

—

— — - — —

HOUSHO
Reilt
Oas and eleetrieity —
Solid fuels and fuel oil

Household operation

—

—

—

—

—

APPAREL
Men's and bqys'
—
Women's and girls'
Other apparel

—

—

—

—
— ...——

—

—

TRAISPCRTATIUH
MEDICAL CARE
READMO AID RECREATIO*
OTHER OOGBS AID SERTICES

— — .

128.6
107.8
121.9
105. 4
117.3

106.3
122.9
106.7
120.9

11+1.6
106.8
121.9
101.9
110.9

IO8.3
119.0
108.6
110.2

101.6
129.4

107.2
107.8

103.7

106.9

104.3

102.6

107.0

103.6

103.3

105.6

105.7

106.1

101.7

107.1
100.5
120.8
92.1

108.8
100.9
118.5
86.7

95.8
115.4
90.4

—

109.5
—

106.it
97.7
116.9
90.7

112.8
98.7
119.3
9^.0

lb8.5
97.0
117.6
92.7

109.3
1
113.0
87.4

106.7
101.1
127.2
90.4

108.5
96.4
117.5
82.5

105.8 104.2
97.2 - 104.6
116.9 111.1
93.8
92.9

126.6
125.5
113.4
106.6
120.2

133.^
122.6
114.6
110.7
118.6

117.8
129.5
114.7
116.8
120.1

118.1
127.0
119.0
108.9
124.8

123.1
119.9
119.5
108.5
119.1

122.3
122.9
117.2
99.6
114.8

129.0
124.0
107.6
105.3
121.5

137.1
125.0
117.2
111.9
123.5

125.4
119.5
112.1
116.5
116.1

128.5
129.4
117.5
109.7
126.7

125.2
118.3
111.1
104.9
130.5

10k. 9

Percent Change — May 1954 t o Aftgust 1954

-0.1

-0.2

-0.7

0.1

0.8

0.1

-0.1

0.4

0.2

0.1

-1.0

1.2

1.4

-0.6

-0.3

1.4

0
0.2
-2.7
-0.7
-1.2
4.9

0.1
-0,6
-2.8
-3.1
4.1
3.3

-1-3
3.7
-2.4
-0.4
-9.4
3.2

1.3
0
-2.4
4.6
1.9
4.3

1.6
0.1

2.6
6.7
4.1

-0.4
-0.8
-2.7
-0.7
-1.9
3.9

-0.4
3.5
-2.8
-0.7
-7.0
5.8

1.4
0.7
-1.9
1.0
3.9
4.2

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.6

0.3

0.4

0.4

0

0.2

0
0
-0.6
0.2

1/2.0
0
1.2
-0.9
0.3

-1.8
0.2
-0.8
0.2

__

1/0.4
0

0

-0.5

-1.1

-0.3

-0.8
-0.8
0.9
-0.2

-1.1
-2.4
1.5
-0.1

-0.6
-0.1
0.7
-0.7

-1.9
0.3
0.4
0.2
0.1

-0.2
-0.2
1.2
3.0
| -0.3

-4.C
0
0.1
2.5
0.2

ALL ITEMS

0

0.3

0

FOOD —

0.5

0.2

0.4

Food at ham —Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and fish
—
Dairy product*
— — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables
— - — — —
Other foods at hoae
—

0.4
0.8
-3.1
1.5
0.1
4.5

0.2
0.1
-4.1
1.9
1.5
3.9

0.5
1.9
-4.1
2.8
1.1
3.7

KOUSHO — — — — — — — — — — —

0.3

0.8

—
—
—

0.2
0.1
0.8
-0.5
0.1

—

Rtat
Qas and electricity
—
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishlngs
— —
Household operation

—

—

—

—

—
—

APPAREL
Men's and boys1
— — — — —
Women's and girls1
Footwear
— — — — — — —
Other apparel
— — — — —
TRAISPGRTATK*
MEDICAL CARE
FERSCKAL CARE
READDIO AJBD RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AID SERVICES

1/ Change fro«




—

—

—
—

—
—
—

—

—

—

—

—

February 195U to August 1954.

—

-2.7

1/0.9

0
0,2

0.1

0
3.7
-1.1
0

1/ 0.3
0
0
-1.0
0

-1.9
1.4
-0. 1
1.9

0.4
0.7

-0,4
0.9

-0.3
0.3
-0,5
0

0.3

-0.1

-0.6

0.5

-0.4

0

-0.8

0
-0.2
0.4
0

-0.1
0.4
0
1.3

-0.8
-0.6
3.1
0

-0.8
-1.0
1-3
-0.3

-0.7
1.3
0.3
0.3

-0.8
-0.3
0.4
-0.2

-0.4
-0.3
1.0
0

-0.6
-1.2
0.2
-0.4

-2.2
2.3
-0.3
-1.9
-0.2

-1.7
0.3
0.2
-2.3
-0.3

-4.0
0.2
-0.1
0.4
-0.3

-4.1
0.1
0.2
0.5
0

-0.1
1.1
0.1
1.7
0.1

1.1
-0.2
-0.4
1.0
0

0

—

—

4.2

-1.0
-1.2
6.4
1.9
-0.3

-1.5
0.9
-0.3
-0.1+
2.8

T A B U 5* CGMSBMBK PRICE U T E X — FOOD AH) ITS S9B8RO0P8
August 1954 INDEXES AND PERCENT CHANGES, July 1954 to August 1954
Bm City Average and 20 Large Cities

(19*7-*9 = 109)

Total
Food a Hone
Percent
Index
Change

Total Food
City
Index

Percent
Change

Cereals it
Bakery Products
Percent
Index
Change

Meats, Poultry
& Fish
Percent
Index
Change

Dairy
Products
Percent
Index
Change

Fruits A
Vegetables
Percent
Index
Change

Other
Foods at Home
Percent
Index
Change

¥ . S . c m AVERAflB

113*9-

-0.6

113.3

-0.8

122.3

0.6

107.6

-1.9

105.1

0.8

114.7

-4.5

119.6

2.0

Atlanta
Baltimore —
Boston
Chicago — — — —
Cincinnati —
Claraland
Datrolt

114.8
115.8
1 1 1 . if
111.9
115.5
111.8
116.4
112.3
110.6
112.3

-0.4
-0.7
-1.3
-0.6
-0.5
-1.2
-1.8
-0.4
0.6
0

114.1
115.4
110.6
111.2
115.4
111.3
115.4
111.5
110.3
110.8

-0.5
-0.8

116.8
121.9
119.2
116:9
120.6
118.5
118.0
117.7
120.3
127.0

-0.1
0.1
-0.2
0
1.5
0.9
0.2
-0.4
0
3.8

114*. 2
110.6
104.5
102.0
109.9
104.2
106.8
104.8
102:8
108,0

-2.2
-2.1
-2.3
-2.4
-2.8
-3.2
-2.6
-0.9
-1.4
-0.6

108.3
108.8
105.5
104.0
107.8
100.1
103.4
103.4
103.6
102.8

0.3
0.4
1.2
0.8

0.3
0
7.4
-0.1

119.3
117.9
112.2
114.4
114.6
111.5
123-5
115.5
111.9
104.6

-1.9
-2.8
-6.9
-3.7
-6.8
-7.0
-9.9
-3.3
-3.5
-2.1

111.1
118.5
112.6
126.1
126.4
123.2
122.9
117.5
115.6
114.5

0.9
1.0
2.6
2.9
1.8
2.2
1.4
3.5
0.4

113.4
113.1
117.2
114.2

-0.1
-0.4
-0.4
-1.2
-0.5
0
-0.8
-1.7
-0.4
0.6

113.1
112.8
116.6
113. B
113.6
115.7
113.8
112.3
112.7
113.7

125.1
125.2
120.9
123.0
124.3
119.1
131.0
118.6
126.2
121.5

-0.2
0.1
0
0.5
4.2
-0.1
0.6
-0.3
3.9
0.5

100.9
107.8
110.3
103.4
110.9
IO8.9
108.8
108.2
107.5
105.2

-1.6
-1.7
-2:2
-3.0
-3.2
-0.3
-1.0
-2.3
-2.1
-0.4

101.9
105.2
108.0
107.0
105.0
99.0
105.3
104.9
102.8
111.9

3.3
1.0
-0.1
0.2
0.4
-0:4
-0.1
-0.4
0
1.5

120.7
110.9
124.4
114.8
109.0
122.1
110.9
110.6
112.1
114.4

-4.1
-2.9
-1.4
-6.3
-5.4
-4.5
-2.5
-7.1

127-9
120.9
120.7
128.3
119.8
130.4
117.9
118.2
117.8
118.1

2.7
1.6
2.1
2.4
2.0
3-7
-0.9
1.2
1.8
2.6

Kansas City
Los Angeles
Minneapolis
H v York
Philadelphia — Pittsburgh —
Portland, Ore»
St. Louis —
San Francisco
—
8crantom
Saattla
— —
Washington, D«C*

113.5
117.0
114.3
112.1
112.8
114.5

-1.5
-0.7
-0.6

-1.3
-2.0
-0.5

0.1
0

-0.1
-0.5
-0.5
-1.4
-0.6
-0.1
-0.9
-1.7
-0.4
0.4

TABLE 6.

Food and felt
CEREALS AID BASKET HRGBVCTS
Flour, wheat
5 lb.
20 oz.
Biscuit ilz
lb.
Corn meal
lb.
Rica
20 oz.
Rolled oats
12 oz.
Corn flakas
lb.
Bread, white
lb.
Soda crackers
Vanilla cookies
7 oz.
MEATS, POULTRY AID FISIt
lb.
Round steak
lb.
Ckuek roast
lb.
Rib roast
lb.
Hamburger
lb.
Teal cutlets
lb.
Pork chops, center cut
lb.
Bacon, sliced
lb.
Bub, whole
lb.
Lamb, leg
lb.
Frankfurters
12 oz.
Luncheon neat, canned
lb.
Frying chickens, dressed
lb.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook
lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
laddock, fillet, frozen
16 oz.
Salmon, pink, canned
7 oz.
Tuna fish, canned
DAIRY PRODUCTS:
qt.
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
pt.
Ice cream
lb.
Butter
lb.
Cheese, American process
Milk, evaporated
" & oz. can
FRUITS AID VEGETABLES:
Frozen
12 oz.
Strawberries
6 oz.
Orange juice concentrate
10 oz.
Peas, green
10 oz.
Beans, green
Fresh
lb.
Apples
lb.
Bananas
doz.
Oranges, size 200
lb.
Lemons
* Priced only in season




M
3.0

-2.6

1.6

RETAIL FOOD PRICES FOR AUGUST 1954 AND JULY 1954
U.S. City Average

August

July

1954

1954

(Cents)

(Cents)

53.^
27.6
12.6
19.5
18.5
21.9
17.4
27.2
23.7

53.5
27.6
12.7
19.6
18.5
21.9
17.1
27.2
23.6

91.1
49.1
69.2
40.5
106.7
87.8
78.1
70.7
69.5
55.3
50.1
44.1
56.1
44.1
49.9
52.2

91.4
50.3
70.0
41.0
108.2
92.0
81.6
71.5
72.9
56.0
51.6
44.1
55.7
44.2
49.7
52.0
39.7

39.1

21.6
22.6

21.9
22.8
29.6
69.2
56.7
13.8

29.5
69.2
56.7
13.8

36.5
19.3
19.3
24.4

36.5
19.5
19.2
24.5

16.5
16.1
67.7
17.5

18.1
17.9
60.2
18.0

August
Food and Vnlt
Fresh (continued)
Grapefruit •
each
lb.
Peaches *
Strawberries *
pt.
Grapes, seedless *
lb.
lb.
Watermelons *
Potatoes
15 lb.
lb.
Sweetpotatoes
Onions
lb.
lb.
Carrots
Lettuce
head
lb.
Celery
lb.
Cabbage
lb.
Tomatoes
lb.
Beans, green
Canned
46 oz. can
Orange Juice
Peaches
#2 h can
Pineapple
#2 h can
Fruit cocktail
#2 h can
Corn, cream style
#303 can
Peas, green
#303 can
Tomatoes
#2 can
Baby foods
4 £-5 oz.
Dried
Prunes
lb.
Nary beans
lb.
OTHER FOODS AT HOME:
11 oz. can
Vegetable soap
16 oz. can
Beans with pork
Gherkins, sweet
7 h oz.
Catsup, tomato
14 &z.
lb.
Coffee
Tea
* lb.
Cola drink
carton of 6, 6 oz.
lb.
Shortening, hydrogenated
lb.
Margarine, colored
lb.
Lard
pt.
Salad dressing
lb
Peanut butter
5 lb.
Sugar
Corn syrup
24 oz.
Grape jelly
12 oz.
1 oz.
Chocolate bar
doz.
Eggs, Grade A, large
3-4 oz.
Gelatin, flavored

1954

July
1954

(Cents)

(Cents)

13.7

18.9

22.4
M
93.5
14.6
8.1
13.4
13.8

32.7
4.3
102.7
17.6
8.2
13.9
12.8

13.1
6.5
20.5
18.0

14.5
6.5
26.1
21.7

36.4
32.7
38.7
40.9
18.2
21.3
17.4
9.8
31.3
17.8

35.7
32.8
38.6
40.9
18.2
21.4
17.5
9.7
30.9
17.9

1^.3
14.5
29.6
22.4

1 M
14.5
29.7
22.4
123.0
34.4

123.3
3^.5
32.3
35.7
30.4
26.5
36.3
49.4
52.7
23.7
25.6

4.8

61.7
8.6

32.3
35.5
30.3
26.3
36.1
49.3
52.7
23.7
25.5
4.8
56.9
8.5

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

7

The Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices of goods and
services customarily purchased by city wage-earner and clerical-worker families. Index
numbers are presented on the base 19^7-^9 338 100, 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 eve*-y month in eacn
city. Prices of most other goods and services are obtained every month in the 5 largest
cities, every 3 months in 16 other large cities and in 9 medium-sized cities, and every
k months in 16 small cities. In each city, prices are reported by representative retail
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
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Olendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N. Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

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

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

In the calculation, price changes on individual items are weighted by their
importance in wage-earner and clerical-worker family spending. City data are combined
by weighting with 195° population data to arrive at the U.S. city average.
Comparison of city indexes shows only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another. City indexes do not measure differences in price level between
cities.
A detailed description of the index containing lists of items priced, their
weights, cities included, and am explanation of the index calculation, its uses and
limitations, is available in Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No# 11^0 - "The Consumer
Price Index - A Layman's Guide,* for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, United
States Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. Price 20 cents.
A more technical description of the Consumer Price Index is available upon
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, Washington 25, D. C.
Historical series of iildex numbers for the U*S. city average and 80 individual
large cities are available upon request. These series include index numbers for All Items,
Food, Apparel, and Rent for periods from 1913 to datej and for other groups of goods and
services from 19^7 to date.







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