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. 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