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Released September 21, 1956
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25 > D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR AUGUST 1956
The level of consumer prices in United States cities declined 0*2
percent between July and August 1956, according to the U.S. Department of labor's Bureau
of Labor Statistics. Sharp seasonal decreases in prices of fresh fruits and vegetables
from record high levels of July offset higher prices for other foods and major groups of
goods and services.
The Consumer Price Index for August was 116.8 percent of the 1947-49
average, 2.0 percent above a year ago.
FOOD

Food prices dropped 1.5 percent on the average as a result of the
sharp reductions in prices of fresh produce# Prices of all other
classes of foods advanced over the month. The August food index, at 113.1, was 1.7
percent higher than a year earlier but 3*0 percent below the August 1952 peak.
Fruit and vegetable prices were lower in all of the 46 cities
surveyed. Average decreases ranged from 3*2 to 16.8 percent.

Prices of fresh vegetables decreased 21.9 percent on the average
as supplies became more plentiful. Potato prices dropped 33 percent from their record
high levels of July and by mid-August were selling at an average of 78 cents for 10
pounds. Prices of tomatoes declined 28 percent, green beans 20 percent, and onions 14
percent. Fresh fruit prices averaged 9*2 percent lower than in July as substantial
seasonal reductions were reported for apples, grapes, watermelons, peaches, and other
fruits.
Increases in prices of beef, veal, and some pork cuts advanced the
meat index 1.5 percent. Round steak, at an average of 92 cents a pound, was up 4*3
percent; chuck roast rose 6.5 percent, to an average of 49 cents a pound; and bacon
prices increased 1.6 percent, but pork chop prices declined 0.7 percent. Prices of
poultry were down 3#9 percent, reflecting increased supplies of young chickens.
Small seasonal advances were recorded for all dairy products. Eggs
rose 3*7 percent to an average of 60 cents a dozen, and coffee advanced to #1.06 for a
pound can. Higher bread prices reported in many cities advanced the cereals and bakery
products index by 0.4 percent.
HOUSING

The housing index advanced 0.3 percent from July to August. Prices
of anthracite and bituminous coal were up 1.6 and 0.9 percent,
respectively, and gas bills rose somewhat less than 1 percent. Housefumishings prices
declined on the average as textile items were reduced for the usual August white sales,
and lower prices of household appliances were reported* The index of residential rents
remained at its July level.




2

OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

A greater than usual seasonal increase in prices of used cars was
the principal factor in the rise of 0*6 percent for transportation*
New car prices also advanced, and higher prices of gasoline and
motor oil were reported*
Apparel prices9 up 0*2 percent over the month, were still 3*5
percent below their September 1951 peak* Host of the increase in the apparel group
during August was due primarily to continued advances in prices of footwear*
Medical care and other consumer services continued their long-term
upward trend*




Labor B.C. BLS57-8UU

3

TABLE 1: Consumer Price Index — United States city are rage, all items and commodity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Indexes (1947-49.100)
August
1956

Group

This
month
All items

July
1956

June
1956

August
1955

June
1950

Tear
1939

Last
month

2 months
ago

Last
year

Pre-Korea

Pre-World
War II

116.8

117.0

116.2

114.5

101.8

59.V

113.1
111.8
126.3
99.9
109.2
120.7
113.9

1H.8
113.8
125.8
99.3
108.7
135.2
112.8

113.*
112.1
125.2
98.0
107.7
131.4
111.1

111.2
110.0
124.1
102.9
105.7
111.3
112.6

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
94.1

47.1
47.1
57.2
41.6
49.8
46.3
48.4

Household operation

122.2
133.2
112.1
129.5
102.6
123.4

121.8
133.2
111.7
128.7
102.8
123.0

121.4
132.5
111.7
128.4
102.8
122.6

120.0
130.5
110.8
123.8
103.2
119.5

104.9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.4
99.6

76.1
86.6
104.9
56.4
53.4
68.4

Men's and boys' — — — — —
Women's and girls*
Footwear — — — — — — — —
Other apparel — — — — — — —

105.5
107.7
98.1
124.8
91.5

105.3
107.7
98.0
124.2
91.4

104.8
107.5
97.5
123.1
91.1

103.4
105.5
97.4
117.6
90.5

96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1
88.4

52.5
W )
(J/)

Public —
Private

128.5
172.9
118.6

127.7
172.7
117.6

126.8
172.6
116.7

125.4
166.9
115.9

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

133.3
120.3
107.9
122.1

132.7
120.1
107.7
122.2

132*0
119.9
107.6
121.8

128.0
115.8
106.3
120.4

105.4
99.2
102.5
103.7

72.6
59.6
6^.0
70.6

Food 1/
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
—
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables

Rent
Solid fuels and fuel oil

Personal care
Reading and recreation - — — - - —
Other goods and services jJ

Percent change to August 1956
July
1956

June
1956

<*/)
(*/)

from:

August
1955

June
1950

Tear
1939

- 0.2

2.0

14.7

96.6

- 1.5
- 1.8
.4
.6
.5
-10.7
1.0

- .1
- .3
.9
1.9
1.4
- 8.1
2.5

1.7
1.6
1.8
- 2.9
3.3
8.4
1.2

12.5
11.2
23*0
- 5.8
18.3
17.8
21.0

140.1
137.4
120.8
140.1
119.3
160.7
135.3

.3
0
.4
.6
.2
.3

.7
.5
.4
.9
.2
.7

1.8
2.1
1.2
4.6
- .6
3.3

16.5
22.5
9.2
20.4
5.3
23.9

60.6
53.8
6.9
129.6
92.1
80.4

.7
.2
.6
1.4
.4

2.0
2.1
.7
6.1
1.1

9.3
9.8
5.1
22.2
3.5

101.0

.6
.1
.9

1.3
.2
1.6

2.5
3.6
2.3

16.9
46.6
11.3

83.0
112.7
81.1

.5
.2
.2
- .1

Food 1/
Food at home — — — — — — — — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

0.5

.2
0
.1
.5
.1

All items

1.0
.3
.3
.2

4.1
3.9
1.5
1.4

26.5
21.3
5.3
17.7

83.6
101.8
71.3
72.9

Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
-

Public
Private

—

-

l/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately.
2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately.
Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous servicesH (such as
legal services, banking fees, burial services, etc,).
4/ Hot available*




(*/)

(A/)
(V)

W)

4

TABLE 2: Consumer Price Index — All items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)

August
1956

City

July
1956

June
1950

August
1955

Year
1939

1/

116.8

117.0

114.5

101.8

59.4

120.0
119.6
117.4
114.4
117.9

United States city average

120.5
120.2
118.1
114.6
117.9

118.5
116.5
115.5
111.9
115.8

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

May
1956

August
1955

May
1950

Year
1939

Cities priced monthly:
Chicago- Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia

- -•
-•

August
1956

Cities priced in February, May,
August, November 2/
Cleveland———
Houston——
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D. C.

119.1
118.2
113.5
118.8
115.7

• •—
..—••

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 2J
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco—

—

—
—

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

April
1956

July
1955

April
1950

Year
1939

117.8
117.6
117.7
117.3
118.6

115.2
116.4
115.6
115.2
116.4

113.8
115.9
117.5
114.0
114.7

101.2
101.4
102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

March
1956

June
1955

June
1950

Year
1939

118.0
116.6
116.3
117.0
117.9

—

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

June
1956

Cities priced in January, April,
July, October 2J
Boston
Kansas C i t y — —
—
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh-- • • —. -•
Portland, Oregon—

116.0
115.5
111.5
116.6
113.8

July
1956

——

117.3
116.8
112.1
117.1
114.4

116.8
115.2
114.3
115.7
116.8

116.0
115.0
113.7
115.9
115.3

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

y

U

1/ This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 195.3.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items priced monthly; other commodities and services priced quarterly.
2/ June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
{J May 1950; formerly priced February, May, August, November.

TABLE 3: Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from July 1956
to August 1956
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

City
United States city average—
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New YorkPhiladelphia




All
items

Food

- 0.2

- 1.5

-

-

.4
.5
.6
.2
0

1.7
2.9
1.2
1.2
1.4

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

0.3

0.2

0.6

0.5

0
.4
.2
.2
.9

.6
.9
- .8
- .1
.2

.2
.3
- 1.5
1.1
1.3

0

Reading
and
Personal
recreation
care

.1
.9
.1

0.2
-

.1
.3
.3
0
0

Other
goods &
services

0.2

- 0.1

.2
.6
- .1
.8
.3

0
- .1
.2
- .1
0

-

TABD5 I? Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
f
August 1956 indexes and percent changes, May 1956 to August 1956
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in August 1956

m

U.S.
City
CleveLos
Average Chicago land
Detroit Houston Angeles

Group

5

Hew
York

PhilaWashingdelphia Scranton Seattle ton, D.C.

Indexes (19VM9.IOO)
116.8

120.0

119.1

119.6

118.2

117.4

114.4

117.9

113.5

118.8

115.7

113.1
111.8
126.3
99.9
109.2
120.7
113.9

110.9
109.1
120.7
93.2
110.2
118.5
120.0

111.6
109.9
122.2
97.2
104.3
116.9
118.5

115,6
J1U3i_
120.0
98.1
110.7
132.8
117.3

110.2
108.9
117.6
94.5
109.1
121.5
112.2

113.4
109.9
131.1
99.9
103.5
113.3
111.8

112.6
110.9
130.3
101.8
106.8
113.7
114.2

115.9
114.4
129.9
103.2
111.4
123.5
114.0

110.5
110.0
124.4
99.7
105.2
118.0
111.0

114.9
114.4
136.8
100.4
113.0
122.9
114.1

113.7
112.0
122.5
97.1
,115.3
120.5
114.3

— 122.2
133.2
*
*
112.1
— 129.5
— — 102.6
123.4

131.2

125.9

118.3

113.5
123.9
107.0
116.6

126.3
139.0
106.8

127.7

113.8
134.2
100.8
128.1

125.1
152.0
114.9
126.7
101.2
116.1

116.2

—

—

102.1
129.6

102.6
127.0

110.3
136.2
102.6
123.2

117.2
118.4
103.4
124.9
107.0
119.9

117.9
125.6
120.1
130.6
99.3
111.0

123.2
139.2
88.8
133.9
100.0
124.1

117.9
124.7
123.1
138.3
99.1
125.6

105.5
107.7
98.1
124.8
— — — — — — 91.5

109.2
114.1
99.3
129.3
95.6

106.8
111.2
97.9
124.8
94.0

103.7
110.5
93.3
120.9
87.4

108.1
107.6
100.4
135.7
90.9

105.4
109.1
96.8
127.4
83.5

104.1
107.4
95.9
123.4
94.4

104.1
104.4
99.0
120.3
92.0

106.7
108.6
99.4
129.8
91.0

107.2
110.3
99.5
128.5
86.7

1Q3.8
107.1
96.8
121.9
91.4

128.5
— 172.9
118.6

133.9
166.5
119.0

125.7
169.6
116.5

126.8
144.3
123.2

126.2
164.2
120.6

126.2
152.9
121.8

133.6
187.9
113.9

137.2
186.7
116.5

128.3
190.0
114.2

128.9
178.0
117.3

130.3
154.9
123.4

133.3
120.3
107.9
122.1

136.6
123.8
115.3
117.4

146.2
123.3
117.7
124.1

143.3
127.9
108.5
124.6

127.9
130.0
112.3
123.1

127.3
119.3
97.5
113.4

127.9
111.6
106.4
121.4

138.0
127.8
115.2
125.2

122.9
123.7
119.4
117.2

137.2
123.8
110.1
128.3

127.8
117.4
107.1
131.1

1.1

All items
Pood

Food at hose — — — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products -Meats, poultry, and fish — —
Dairy products — — — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at hone
—
Housing
— — — —
Rent — — — — —
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishlngs
—•
Household operation
Men's and boys'
Woiaen's and girls' —
Other apparel
Public
Private

—

Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

—

—

Percent change from

—

—

May 1956

to

August 1956

1.2

1.2

1.5

1.4

1.2

0.4

1.2

1.5

1.2

1.5

Food
—
1.9
2.1
Food at hone
1.3
Cereals and bakery products —
4.6
Heats, poultry, and fish
1.6
Dairy products — — — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables
- .7
Other foods at hone
2.7

1.9
1.9
.6
4.6
- .1
.6
1.9

2.2
2.4
2.2
4.3
.1
.2
3.7

1.5
1.7
.2
4.9
1.7
- 4.4
4.0

2.5
3.3
0
4.1
.4
9.1
2.2

.4
.3
2.2
3.8
.5
- 7.0
1.5

1.8
1.7
.9
2.7
4.1
- 2.5
2.8

2.7
2.9
4.3
5.0
3.6
- 1.4
2.7

2.0
2.5
.3
6.7
0
.7
2.1

2.8
3.0
4.3
4.7
.1
- .6
5.1

1.1
.8
.3
1.3
0
.8

1.0

1.2
IA372
5.3
2.4
.5
1.0

2.2

0
2.2
- .6
.9

, -4
1T.7
.3

1.1
.9
0
2.2
.3
.8

1.4
.5
0
7.6
.5
1.1

.7
lT.7
0
.3
- .8
2.7

1.1
.4
0
1.5
- 1.3
.3

—

.7
.7
.2
1.6
.4

.9
.4
.8
2.1
.7

1.0
2.6
- .5
2.0
.6

Transportation — — — — — — — —
Public
ft-ivate

1.1
.2
1.3

1.7
0
2.2

Medical care — — — — — — — —

1.1
.6
- .3
i .5

.1
.8
- .3
- .2

All items

Rent
Gas and electricity — — — — — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
lousefurnishings — — — — —
Household operation
— — —
Appartl

Men's tad boys'
WOMB'S and girls'
Other apparel

—

Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

1/ Change from February 1956 to August 1956.




—

-

.6
0
.1
.6

.6

—

0

1.1

—

V

1.5
1.9
.5
4.4
2.9
- 1.5
2.0

1

—

—

1.6
0

1.0
1.9

.2
1.8
.3
1.5

1.2
.7
1.5
1.9
.7

1.8
1.8
1.8
2.2
.7

- .7
- .3
- 1.4
.4
- .4

.6
1.1
.1
1.1
.5

.5
.4
0
2.3
.1

.4
.2
- .2
3.0
.6

.6
.8
0
1.7
.3

.2
1.2
- .6
.9
0

2.4
2.4
2.3

1.3
0
1.5

1.4
0
1.7

.5
0
.5

1.4
0
1.9

2.2
0
2.8

.9
0
1.2

2.9
0
3.3

1.0
0
1.2

.5
- .3
2.4
.8

.6
.4
- .9
.1

1.1
.9
- .8
.5

.4
i- .3
.9
1.8

.9
.2
1.1
.2

.4
.2
.3
.2

1.3
0
- 1.9
.3

1.4
3.5
- .8
.2

3.6
.1
1.0
.2

TABUS 5: Consumer Price Index — Pood and Its subgroups
August 1956 indexes and percent changes, July 1956 to August 1956
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
Total
food at home

Tota] food
City
Index

Percent
change

Index

- 1.5

111.8

-

Percent
change

Cereals and
bakery products
Index

Percent
change

- 1.3

126.3

0.4

-

Atlanta —
Baltimore
Boston — — — — — —
Chicago
—
—
—
Cincinnati — - — —
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston — — — — —
Kansas City — — —
Los Angeles - - - - -

113.1
112.1
114.1
112.3
110.9
114.7
111.6
115.6
110.2
109.9
113.4

1.2
.9
1.2
1.7
2.1
1.3
2.9
.2
1.0
1.2

111.2
111.9
110.9
109.1
113.7
109.9
114.3
108.9
108.3
109.9

1.2
1.1
1.6
2.1
2.4
1.3
3.4
.1
- 1.2
- 1.5

117.6
121.8
123.6
120.7
124.6
122.2
120.0
117.6
121.1
131.1

Minneapolis — — —
Hew Tork
Philadelphia
—
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.
St. Louis
San Francisco ----Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D.C.
—

113.0 - 2.0
112.6 - 1.2
115.9 - 1.4
114.5 - 1.1
115.6 - .9
113.3 - 1.8
114.7 - .5
110.5 - 2.3
114.9 - .1
113.7 - 1.9

112.5
110.9
114.4
113.1
114.7
111.4
113.4
110.0
1-14.4
112.0

-

0
126.3
130.3
.4
4.2
129.9
125.1 - .4
130.1
0
.2
120.3
4.3
137.4
.1
124.4
136.3
0
122.5 - .4

U.S. city average

—

2.4
1.8
1.5
1.4
1.1
2.2
.7
2.6
.5
2.4

Cereals and bakery products;
Flour* wheat — — — — — — — — 5 ib.
Biscuit mix — — — — —
20 oz.
Corn meal — — — — — — — ib.
—

—

—

—

—

—

-

99.9

Percent
change

Index

0.6

109.2

100.4
97.1

.5
.9
.6
1.0
1.3
.4
- .1
.4
1.4
.1

Percent
c hange

Percent
change

0.5

120.7

-10.7

113.9

1.0

112.7
.4
109.2
0
111.4
1.3
110.2
.6
113.7
.1
.2
104.3
110.7
1.3
109.1
111.2
.4
103.5 - .1

125.5
121.4
113.7
118.5
119.7
116.9
132.3
121.5
115.5
113.3

- S.9
- 6.3
-11.5
-11.4
-13.1
-11.1
-16.8
- 3.2
- 9.4
- 9.4

106.0
113.6
10S.1
120.0
120.3
118.5
117.3

1.0
.3
.6
.3
1.4
1.2
1.3
1.2
.7
.3

111.4
106.3
111.4
107.6 113.7
104.8
106.1
105.2
113.0
115.3 -

125.1
113.7
123.5
123.6
117.0
124.4
119.6

-13.2
-11.5
-11.8
- 3.4
-11.3
-11.6
- 8.0
-14.1
- 7.3
-11.3

.5
.3
0
.1
.1
.3
.2

118.0

*0 122.9
.2 120.5

* Priced only in season.
1/ Includes only homogenized, vitamin D milk.
2/ Formerly vegetable soup.

Percent
change

112.2

108.0
111.3
121.2
114.2
114.0
122.3
119.3

.4
.5
.7
.3
3.0
.1
1.5
.5
2.3
.5

121.9

111.9

111.0

114.1
114.3

July
1956
Cents

14.4

17.9

21.2
3.9
77.6
15.2
13.5
13.8
14.7
13.5
7.4
21.6
17.2

29.4
4.8
115.8
15.4
15.7
13.8
13.9
14.5
8.0
30.0
21.4

38.6
34.9
33.7
26.2
18.2
21.4
15.2
10.0

38.0
35.2
33.8
26.2
18.1
21.6
15.1
9.9

36.2
16.2

36.1
16.2

12.4
14.6
27.0
23.2
105.9
23.2
32.9
98.3
29.2
19.9
35.7
53.6
52.9
23.8
26.6
4.5
60.4
8.5

12.4
14.6
26.9
23.1
105.0
23.2
32.9
98.6
29.1
19.7
35.7
53.7
52.9
23.6
26.6
4.5
58.2
8.5

each

Peaches *
—----- ib.
Strawberries *
pt.
Grapes, seedless * —
—
ib.
Watermelons * — — — — —
ib.
Potatoes — — — — —
10 ib.
Sweetpotatoes- - - — — — — — ib.
Onions — — — * — —
ib.
Carrots — — — — — . . . . . ib.
Lettuce — — — — — —
head
Celery — — — — — — —
Cabbage — — — — — — —

August
1956

Index

Cents

Grapefruit *

18.5
16.3
65.7
19.0

Other
foods at home

Index

103.0
.5
101.0
.9
100.5
1.2
93.2
.2
101.3 - .2
97.2
.9
93.1 - 1.0
94.5
1.3
1.8
95.9
.9
99.9
95.3
101.3
103.2
99.2
102.5
97.1
104.3
99.7

Fruits and
vegetables

Fresh— Continued

ib.

Rolled oats — — — — — — 20 oz.
Corn flakes — — — — —
12 oz.
Bread, white — — — — — — — ib.
Soda crackers — — — — —
ib.
Vanilla cookies — — — — —
7 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
92.1
Round steak —
—
—
ib.
Chuck roast — — — — — —
ib.
49.4
71.2
Rib roast — — — — — — — ib.
38.8
Hamburger —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Veal cutlets — — — — —
ib. 111.1
85.2
Pork chops, center cut — — —
ib.
59.5
Bacon, sliced — — — — — — ib.
62.1
Ham, whole — — — — — —
ib.
70.3
Lamb, leg — — — — — — — • — ib.
51.7
Frankfurters —
—
—
— ib.
Luncheon neat, canned —
12 oz. 40.4
48.5
Frying chickens, ready-to*cook — ib.
41.8
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
45.1
Haddock, fillet, frozen —
—
ib.
60.7
Salmon, pink, canned — — - 10 oz.
Tuna fish, canned — — — — 6 t &h oz. 31.9
o
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery) j / —
qt. 22.7
24.3
Milk, fresh, (delivered)!/qt.
28.9
Ice cream — — — — — — — — pt.
72.0
Butter — — — — — — — — ib.
57.4
Cheese, American process —
ib.
14.2
Milk, evaporated —
—
i4fc-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — —
10 oz. 29.5
Orange Juice concentrate — — 6 oz. 20.1
Peas, green — — — — —
10 oz. 21.4
Beans, green —
—
10 oz. 23.0
Fresh:
16.1
Apples
ib.
16.6
Bananas — — — — — — — ib.
64.2
Oranges, size 200 — — —
doz.
18.7
Lemons — — — — — — — i .
b




-

.1
.1
.6
.3
.2
0
.1
.1
.1
0

Index

Dairy
products

TABUS 6: Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
July
August
Food and unit
1956
1956

Food and unit

Rice —

-

Meats, poultry,
and fish

—

ib.
ib.

Tomatoes --------------------- ib.
Beans, green — — — — — — ib.
Canned:
Orange juice — — — — — 46-oz. can
Peaches — —
— §2h can
Pineapple — — — — —
#2 can
Fruit cocktail — — — — — #303 can
Corn, cream style — — — #303 can
Pea8, green — — — — —
#303 can
Tomatoes — — — — — — #303 can
Baby foods — — — — — Ah to 5 oz.
Dried;
Prunes — — — — — — — — ib.
Beans — — — — — — —
ib.
Other foods at home:
Tonato SOUp 2/ — — — — lOfc-ll-oz. can
Beans with pork —————————— 16-oz. can
Pickles, sweet — — — — —
7^ 0z.
Catsup, tomato — — — — —
14 0z.
Coffee
ib. oan
Tea bags — — — — — — — — Pkg. of ll
f
Cola drink, carton — — — — — 36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated — —
3 ib.
Margarine, colored
ib.
Lard — — — — — — — — — — ib.
Salad dressing — — — — — — pt.
Peanut butter — — — — —
ib.
Sugar —
— — — — — —
5 ib.
Com syrup ------------------- 24 oz.
Grape Jelly — — — — —
12 oz.
Chocolate bar — — — — — — 1 0z.
Eggs, Grade A, large - — — — doz.
Gelatin, flavored — —
3 to 4 oz.

7
Prlftf Mflmtrlgn of the gf?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average changes in prices of goods
and services typically 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 46 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places
in the United Statef; 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
46 cities* Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities* Almost all prices 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 1947-49 = 100*
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
I^chbjurg, Virginia
M&dill, 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

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 is contained in BLS Bulletin 1140, "The Consumer
Price Indexi A layman's Guide," which may be purchased for 20 cents at any Bureau of
Labor Statistics regional office (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Documents, U* S* Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D* C* A more technical
description of the index appears in BLS Bulletin 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
Statistical Series*M Reprints of chapter 9» pertaining to the CPI, are available on
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or at any of its regional offices*
Historical series of index numbers for the United States city average and for
20 large cities are available upon request* These series 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 1947 to date*
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
50 Seventh St*, NE
Zone 23




New York
341 Ninth Ave*
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St*
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St*
Zone 11

LABOR - D. C.

Boston
18 diver St.
Zone 10




OCCUPATIONAL WAGE SURVEYS
(BLS Bulletins

1188-1

through

18)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released the
wage surveys for major labor markets. The studies cover 18
the winter 1955-56. The individual bulletins provide earnings
lected from several categories: ' O f f i c e clerical, professional
powerplant, and custodial and material movement.

last of this year's occupational
areas and were conducted during
information on about 60 j o b s s e and technical, maintenance and

In addition to areawide averages and distributions of workers by earnings c l a s s e s
for each job, information is provided wherever possible by major industry division, including
manufacturing, public utilities, finance, trade, and services.
A l s o presented are data for paid holidays; paid vacations; scheduled weekly hours;
health, insurance, and pension plans; minimum entrance rates; and shift differential practices.
The areas covered, survey date, bulletin number, and price are as f o l l o w s :

Atlanta
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
Lawrence
L o s Angeles-Long Beach
Memphis
Milwaukee
Minneapolis-St. Paul
New Orleans
New York City.
Newark-Jersey City,
Philadelphia
Portland, Oreg
Providence
St. L o u i s
San Francisco-Oakland

.

April 1956
April 1956
October 1955
December 1955
October 1955
February 1956.
March 1956
February 1956
.November 1955
December 1955
November 1955
April 1956
December 1955
November 1955
April 1956
March 1956
February 1956
January 1956

1188-18
1188-15
1188-1
1188-6
1188-2
1188-11
1188-13
1188-12
1188-3
1188-8
1188-5
1188-17
1188-10
1188-4
1188-16
1188-14
1188-9
1188-7

Cents
25
25
30
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
20
25
25
25
25
25

Send orders (accompanied by check or money order) to the Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D. C . , or to any of the following U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics regional o f f i c e s :

Boston
18 Oliver Street

New York
341 Ninth Avenue

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




Atlanta
50 Seventh Street, N. E .

Chicago
105 West Adams Street

San Francisco
630 Sansome Street