Full text of CPI Detailed Report : August 1957

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Rele&sed September 24, 1957
U.S. DEPARTMENT CF LABCR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D* C*
CONSUMER FRIGE INDEX FCR AUGUST 1957
Prices of goods and services for urban consumers increased 0*2
percent between July and August 1957, according to the U* S* Department of Labor's
Bureau of labor Statistics* Higher prices for food and housing were the principal
factors in the advance, although all other major groups of goods and services also rose.
The Consumer Price Index, at 121*0 percent of the 1947-49 average, registered its 12th
consecutive monthly advance, and the August level was 3*6 percent above that of a
year ago.
FOOD

Food prices rose 0*4 percent during the month, as declines in
prices of fresh produce failed to offset advances for most other
classes of foods, particularly pork and eggs* At 117*9> the retail food price index was
•at a record high in August, 4«2 percent higher than a year ago* Food prices advanced in
34 of the 46 cities surveyed in August*
Prices of all cuts of meat were higher, with bacon up 8*4 percent,
ham 3*5 percent, frankfurters 2*8 percent, and round steak, chuck roast, and hamburger
about 1-& percent*
Egg prices rose 10*2 percent, to a national average of 59& cents
a dosen* The rise of 0*9 percent in prices of dairy products was due primarily to an
increase of 1*4 percent in fresh milk prices* Cereals and bakery products continued to
advance in price*
Restaurant meal prices averaged 0*5 percent higher, increasing in
14 of the 20 cities surveyed in August*
Fruit and vegetable prices dropped 4*4 percent, with reductions of
7*9 percent for fresh fruits, 4*8 percent for fresh vegetables, and smaller reductions
for cammed and dried fruits and vegetables* Prices of frozen fruits and vegetables
averaged slightly higher* Increased supplies of fresh produce resulted in price declines
of 19*3 percent for tomatoes, 32*1 percent for grapes, 19*4 percent for peaches, 15*7
percent for watermelons, 18*9 percent for onions, and 15*8 percent for celery* Prices of
lettuce rose 17*4 percent and higher prices were reported for oranges, bananas, and
carrots*
HOUSING

Increases in gas rates, residential rents, and FHA mortgage
interest rates caused the rise of 0*2 percent in housing costs*
The average rise of 0*9 percent for gas and electricity, the largest increase in any
month since October 1948, resulted almost entirely from gas rate increases in several
cities* Rents averaged higher in 13 of the 15 cities surveyed in August* Prices of
housefurnishings averaged 0*2 percent lower, reflecting August sale prices for household
textiles* Household service rates continued their gradual increase, but prices of
laundry soap and detergents declined* Seasonal advances in prices of coal were offset
by lower prices of fuel oil*
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES
0*4 percent*




Prices of nonfood conmodities were unchanged on the average, as a
rise of 0*3 percent in prices of durables was offset by a decline
of 0*3 percent for nondurables* Services other than shelter rose

2

The private transportation index, unchanged during the month,
reflected the effects of gasoline "price wars* in several cities and lover new car prices,
counterbalanced by higher prices for used cars, tires, and automobile insurance• Mixed
price moveiaents in both men's and woiften's apparel resulted in little change (up 0*1
percent) for the group*
Medical and personal care services continued to advance and prices
of movie admissions and newspapers were up in a few cities* Prices of radios and
television sets rose slightly as new models were introduced*
TABLE It

Consumer Price Index—United States city average, all items and special groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
i
Aug.

-

. pr.oyp

r
All i t — — — — —
'
All iteras less f o o d — - - — — — - —
'
All itex&g less s h e l t e r — - — All o o i a i K d i t i e s — — — — — «
All eomraodities less f o o d — — - — — — i
I > u r a b l e s — — — — - i
Non-durables~~~-~——-—— !
All services and s h e l t e r — — — — — — !
All services less s h e l t e r — — j

121,0
123.0
118.7
114.3
111.5
106.8
115.9
137.8
141.1

3 (1947-49=100)
July
June
Aug.
L l 2 £ Z ™ , 1957 . 1956
120.8
122.S
118.5
114.1
111.5
106.5
116.2
137.4
140.6

!

120.2
122.5
117.8
113.5
111.3
106.7
115.7
137.0
139.9

116.8
119.0
114.5
110*3
108.1
102.6
113.1
132.9
135.7

June
1950

lear
1939

101.8
103.0
100.7
100,3
99.4
102.4
99.0
107.9
107»0

59.4
69.1
55.4
51.6
59.4
57.3
58.7
80.4
73.5

Percent change to August 1957 from

Ali

i

t

•

111 itesit less s h e l t e r — — — < — —
All
Qomiodities—————
All eoec&oditiefc less f o o d — - — — —
j ^ u r & b l e s - - — — — —
H o n ^ u r a b l e s — - - - - - AX1 services asi
elt-er—•
All services less s h e l t e r — — — — — —

—,„«.—,

i July
ii 1957
i
0.2
.2
|
.2
i
.2
0
.3
- .3
.3
.4

June
1957

Aug.
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

0.7
.4
.8
.7
.2
,1
.2
.6
.9

3.6
3.4
3.7
3.6
3.1
4.1
2.5
3.7
4.0

18.9
19.4
17.9
14.0
12.2
4.3
17.1
27.7
31.9

103.7
78.0
114.3
121.5
87.7
86.4
97.4
71.4
92.0

I
(1947-49=#1.00)*
Aug.

July

June
1957

Aug.
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar—• 10.83

•0.83

•0.83

•0.86

•0.98

•1.68

* To calculate purchasing power of the consuiser dollar on any other base, divide
the inde^ for the desired base u&.te by the index for the comparison date*




—

TABLE 2:

Consujaer Price Index -- United States city average, all item* and commodity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Indexes (19**7- U9.100)
August
1957

Group

June
1957

July
1957

August
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

Last
year

Pre-Korea

Pre-World
War II

This
month

Last
month

--

121 ,0

120,8

120.2

116.8

101.8

59.1*

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

117 .9
116 .6
131 .0
111 .9
111 .5
121 .3
113 •3

117.4
116.1
130.3
109.5
110.5
126,9
111,7

116.2
114.7
130.6
106.9
110.0
126.8
109.5

113.1
111.3
126.3
99.9
109.2
120.7
113.9

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9**.l

1*7.1
1*7.1
57.2
Ul.6
1*9.3
1*6.3
1*8.1*

Housing 2/ —
—
Rent ---------Gas and electricity
--------Solid fuels and fuel oil
-Housefurnishings
----------Household operation —----------

125 .7
135 »4
113 .3
135 ,7
103 .9
128 ,0

125,5
135.2
112,3
135.9
104.1
127.9

125.5
135.0
112.3
135.3
104*6
127*6

122.2
133.2
112.1
129.5
102.6
123.4

10^.9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97 A
99.6

76.1
36.6
10U.9
56.1*
53.1*
68.1*

Apparel

Women's and girls' -------Footvear
Other apparel ------------------

106 ,6
106 .3
93 .6
128 .3
92 .0

106.5
108,8
98.6
128.1
91.9

106.6
109.1
93.5
127.3
91.9

105.5
107.7
93.1
124.3
91.5

96.5
98.1
93-3
102.1
88.1*

52.5
50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6

Transportation -----------------Public
—
Private —

135 .9
180 .6
125 ,6

135.8
180.2
125.6

135.3
176.8
125.4

128.5
172.9
118.6

109.9
117.9
106,6

70.2
81.3
65.5

Madical car*

138 .6
124 •9
112 .6
126 »7

138.4
124.7
112.4
126.6

137.9
124.2
111.8
124.6

133.3
120.3
107.9
122.1

105.1*
99.2
102.5
103.7

72.6
59.6
63.0
70.6

All items

----

- . — . . - . . . — .—.....-

Reading and recreation ----------Other goods and services

2 months
ago

i

Percent change to

All items

-

Food
-Food at hoae -------------------Cereals and bakery products --Meats, poultry, and fish -----Dairy products ----------------

—•—-—

Food away from home --

Apparel — - — — — - - - — - - — - — — - <
Men'8 and boys'
Other apparel
Public Private

—--—

—

Medical care —
---—
Personal care
. — — — — .
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services j/

June
1950

June
1957
0.7

August
1956
3.6

.4
.4
.2
2.2
.9
- 4.4
1.9
.5

1.5
1.7
.3
4.7
1.4
- 4.3
3.9
.6

.2
.1
.9
.1
.2
.1

-

Year

18.9

193^
103.7

4.2
4.3
3.7
12.0
2.1
.5
- .1
4.1

17.3
16.0
27.6
5.5
20.8
18.3
20.9
(i/>

150.3
147.6
129.0
169.0
123.9
162.0
135.1
U/)

.2
.3
.9
.3
.7
.3

2.9
1.7
1.1
4.3
1.3
3.7

19.3
24.6
10.3
26.1
6.7
28.5

65.2
56.4
8.0
140.6
94.6
87.1

0
.3
.1
.4
.1

1.0
1.0
.5
2.8
.5

10.5
10.9
5.7
25.7
4.1

103.0
114.2
80.9
155.1
126.6

.1
.2
0

.4
2.1
.2

5.3
4.5
5.9

23.7
53.2
17.3

93.6
122.1
91.8

.1
.2
.2
.1

.5
.6
.7
1.7

4.0
3.8
4.4
3.8

31.5
25.9
9.9
22.2

90.9
109.6
78.7
79.5

.1
0
0
.2
.1

-

-

l/ Includes restaurant meals not ahcnm separately,
2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner coats not shovn separately.
\j Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services" (such as
legal services, banking fees, burial services, etc.).
kj Not available,




from:

July
1957
0.2

Housing 2/ ----------------------Rent
-------Solid fuels and fuel oil ------House furnishings --------------

August 1957

4

TABLE 3t

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

August
1957

City
United States city average

1/

July
1957

August
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

121.0

120.8

116.8

101.8

59.4

124.1
123.0
121.2
118.7
121.6

124.1
123.1
121.1
118.4
121.2

120.0
119.6
117.4
114.4
117.9

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

Cities priced monthly
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia

~

-

Cities priced in February, M^r,
August, November 2/
Cleveland

— — ••

Scranton—
Seattle
Washington, D . C .

—

-

—

Cities priced in January, April,
July, October 2/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis—
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon

—
—

—
—

—
— —

—

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 2/
Atlanta
Baltimore—
— — — - —
Cincinnati————™—
St. L o u i s — —
San F r a n c i s c o — — —
—

1/
2/
2/
ij

—
, ,—

,
—

August
1957

May
1957

August
1956

May
1950

Year
1939

122.8
122.1
117.8
123.7
119.1

121.7
121.1
116.4
122.8
117.2

119.1
118.2
113.5
118.8
115.7

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

July
1957

April
1957

July
1956

April
1950

Year
1939

122.1
121.7
121.6
120.7
122.2

120.2
120.4
119.8
118.8
121.6

117.8
117.6
117.7
117.3
118.6

101.2
101.4
102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

June
1957

March
1957

June
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

121.2
121.2
119.7
121.3
122.8

120.6
119.9
118.1
120.2
122.3

118.0
116.6
116.3
117.0
117.9

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

U

y

This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 202.3.
Rents priced bimonthly.
Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly.
June 1950.
May 1950.

TABLE 4* Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from
July 1957
to
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

City
United States city average
ChicagoDetroitLos Angeles
New York
Philadelphia




All
items

Food

0.2

0.4

0

.5
•4

.1
.1
.3
.3

1.0
.3
.3

August 1957

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

Personal
care

Reading
and
recreation

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.2

0

.5

0
.3

•2

.6
.3

.1

.1
.1
.2
.5

.1

•4
.3
0

.6

1.7

.1
.3

.1
.2
.1

•2
.1
.5
•4

.2
.3
.2

TABLE 5 : Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
August 1957 indexes and percent changes, May 1957 to August 1957
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in August 1957
U.S.
City
Average Chicago

Group

Cleveland
Detroit

I
JMashingt
PhilaD. C.
delphia ScrantoE Seattle

New
York

Los
Houston Angeles
i

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
All items
Food —
—
—
Food at home — —
— —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
—
Housing
Rent
—
—
Gas and electricity — — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings — —
Household operation
Apparel - — — —
Men'• and boys'
Women's and girls'

—

—

—
—

Other apparel
Transportation
Public
Private

—

—
—-—
—

Medical care - —
Personal care

— —

Other goods and services

' 121.0

124.1

122.8

123.0

122.1

121.2

118.7

121.6

117.8

123.7

119.1

117.9
116.6
131.0
111.9
111.5
121.3
113.8

115.0
113.0
122.6
105.1
111.1
118.5
118.1

115.9
114.2
124.0
108.2
104.3
121.3
117.2

119.3
117.8
124.9
108.6
111.7
130.3
116.1

115.3
113.8
121.4
107.4
112.0
121.7
112.0

118.9
115.6
139.0
112.9
105.5
114.1
113.6

117.7
115.9
135.1
111.7
112.4
116.9
113.2*

121.5
119.7
133.2
114.0
117.0
127.2
113.2

116.1
116.2
127.0
112.7
110.5
123.5
111.1

119.1
118.4
140.4
112.3
118.4
117.9
113.8

120.0
118.3
129.8
111.2
116.6
' 125.0
114.6

125.7
135.4
113.3
135.7
103.9
128.0

135.2

128.8
148.0
113.1
129.3
108.4
118.4

129.0
138.5
116.4

130.1
118.0

—

—

99.8
136.4

102.3
129.5

122.1
123.7
111.0
142.8
104.1
125.9

120.6

114.0
138.7
100.7
132.9

127.7
157.4
115.4
132.1
101.7
117.0

103.4
131.4
108.5
127.6

121.5
127.6
117.7
143.0
103.3
114.8

128.2
142.5
86.6
144.3
101.6
137.2

118.3
125.8
122.7
141.3
99.6
126.2

106.6
108.8
98.6
128.3
92.0

109.2
116.6
97.0
131.4
95.6

107.9
112.7
98.8
126.2
94.5

103.8
110.1
92.9
123.9
86.8

109.5
107.9
102.8
136.9
91.3

107.2
109.8
99.6
128.8
84.6

105.9
108.8
96.7
129.4
95.6

106.1
107.1
99.4
126.3
93.6

108.2
110.1
100.5
133.1
91.5

109.0
111.9
102.0
129.4
87.5

104.2
107.7
97.7
122.7
87.8

135.9
180.6
125.6

145.3
194.3
126.7

134.6
170.9
126.3

132.9
153.9
128.7

135.6
166.5
130.7

130.0
154.8
125.8

137.6
189.0
118.1

139.5
187.4
118.9

130.8
190.6
116.7

135.8
180.1
124.2

137.9
156.6
131.9

138.6
124.9
112.6
126.7

141.5
126.5
116.6
121.1

150.7
126.1
120.5
127.0

146.7
129.9
110.3
135.7

129.0
133.0
113.9
128.3

131.0
129.2
101.1
123.3

129.4
116.3
115.9
126.2

140.8
130.6
116.7
128.5

125.4
125.9
134.6
119.0

143.0
130.1
116.9
135.9

131.6
120.6
113.1
136.4

—

Percent change from
All items
Food
Food at home
—
Cereals and bakery products -Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Housing — —

Men's and hoys*
—
Women's and girls'
Other apparel
Transportation
Public
Private

—

—

—
— —

to August 1957

1.6

0.9

0.9

0.8

0.3

1.3

1.5

1.2

0.7

1.6

2.9
3.2
.5
7.9
1.4
- 1.0
3.5

2.7
2.8
- .2
8.8
.3
- .6
1.5

2.8
3.3
.3
7.7
.1
1.8
2.6

2.1
2.4
- .1
7.2
3.8
- 5.0
3.0

2.8
3.5
.2
8.3
2.8
.7
2.1

1.7
1.9
3.7
7.4
0
- 6.2
2.3

3.4
3.4
0
6.2
4.0
.3
4.0

3.3
3.6
.5
8.1
2.5
.7
3.1

3.5
4.0
.5
8.8
.4
3.3
3.7

1.5
1.5
1.7
6.5
.9
- 8.2
3.8

3.5
4.3
.1
8.4
.7
5.9
3.2

.2
.1
.2

.3

.9

-

0
2.2
- .5
- .5

1.0
.3
0
6.1
- .9
.6

.3
•8
0
1.2
- 1.8
.1

.5
.3
1.4
- 2.3
.6
.3

-

.3
.8
0
.1
.1

.6
.4
1.2
- .2
.3

.4
0
.6
- .3
1.3
1.2
0
1.5

-

-

.8

.3
.5
.9
.2
.3
.5

0
1.8
- 1.3
1.6

.1
.2
0
.4
0

-

—

-

.6
.7 2/
0
2.2
.3
.3

.2
.1
•8
0
.6
.5

-

- 1.6
.4

-

.3
.4

0
1/
.4
- .1
- 2.1
- .6
.3

-

.1
.3
.2
.7
.2

1.5
.1
2.4
2.2
.9

.4
0
.6

- 1.3
0
- 1.7

- 3.2
0
- 3.7

- 1.8
0
- 2.0

.1
1.0
.3
1.2

•2
.5
1.0
1.5

.1
.3
.1
1.1

2.9
.7
4.4
3.0

.2
.1
.3
0
.1

- .9
- 1.1
- 1.3
.3
- .8

.4
.7
- 1.2
.1
- .1

- .4
- 1.3
0
.4
- .1

.9
0
1.1

- 2.5
0
- 2.9

.3
1.5
.9
1.9

.8
.2
.7
1.6

.4
2.1
.2

4.4
15.9
1.8

1.9
0
2.3

.6
5.6
- .3

Medical care
—
Personal care — — — — — — — —
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

.9
1.2
1.1
1.9

.1
.2
.4
1.0

.9
.1
.2
1.6

.3
- .3
- .1
7.4

* July 1957 index revised to 112.4.
1/ Change from June 1957 to August 1957.

0
—

—

.3
.2
.3
.2
.1

— — — — — — —




May 1957

—

1.2

—

Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil — - — —
Hemsefurnishings - — — —

—

-

-

-

—

-

-

.1
•4
4.6
1.7

TABLE 6s Consumer Price Index — Pood and its subgroups
August 1957 indexes and percent changes, July 1957 to August 1957
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
•L9VM9,100]
Total
food at home

Total food
City

U»S» city average

—

Atlanta
Baltimore
Chicago — — — —
Cincinnati
— —

—
—

Detroit - —
Kansas City

Scranton — — — — —
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

Index

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Index

117.9

0.4

116.6

0.4

131.0

0.2

111.9

2.2

111.5

115.8
118.4
117.5
115.0
120.2
115.9
119.3
115.3
114.3
118.9

1.0

114.8
115.5
115.7
113.0
119.1
114.2
117.8
113.8
112.7
115.6

1.1
.3
.7
.6
.3
.5
.6
1.1
.3
.8

124.0
127.3
131.1
122.6
131.8
124.0
124.9
121.4
126.4
139.0

.2

.2

115.5
112.3
108.6
105.1
114.8
108.2
108.6
107.4
106.7
112.9

2.2
2.7
1.3
1.4
2.3
2.2
2.4
2.4
1.9
2.9

110.3
112.5
116.1
111.1
114.7
104.3
111.7
112.0
107.9
105.5

.2
.4
.3
.3
.5
.3
0
.4

129.6
135.1
133.2
129.3
134.7
125.1
139.9
127.0
140.4
129.8

0
0
.4
.2
2.0
.2
- .1
.1
1.8
.2

104.5
111.7
114.0
110.4
115.2
109.1
114.0
112.7
112.3
111.2

1.9
1.7
1.7
1.8
3.3
2.3
2.0
2.7
2.5
1.4

104.6
112.4
117.0
111.9
117.2
102.7
109.8
110.5
118.4
116.6

-

-

-

-

.3
.6
.5

.2

.5
.4
.9
.2
1.0
.2
.3
.3
.3
.4

114.4
115.9
119.7
117.6
117.9
115.3
116.9
116.2
118.4
118.3

• .2
0
.3
.4
.5

—

—

—

—

ib.

Veal cutlets —
—
—
—
—
Pork chops, center cut
—
Bacon, sliced — — — — — — — — —

ib.
ib.
ib.

Ham, whole — — — —
Lamb, leg — — — —
Frankfurters — — —

ib.
ib.
lb.

—

—

Luncheon meat, canned — — —
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen — — ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen —
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned — — —
is oz.
Tuna fish, canned — — — — a to eh oz.
Dairy products?
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream — — — — — — — — —
pt.
Butter
—
ib.
Cheese, American process — — —
lb.
Milk, evaporated — — —
i4fc-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — — — —
10 oz.
Orange Juice concentrate — — 6 oz.
Peas, green — — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green — — — — —
10 oz.
Fresh:
Apples — — — — — — — — —

lb.

Bananas

lb.

O r a n g e s s i z e 200 — — - — — —

doz.

Lemons — — — — — — — — • ! • — lb.
Grapefruit *
«aoh
*
R
1/
2/

Priced only in season.
July index revised to 112.4.
Not available.
Revised.




-

-

August
1957

Cereals and bakery products;
Flour, vheat — — — — — — — —
5 ib.
Biscuit mix — — — — —
20 oz.
Corn meal — — — — — — — — — ib.
Rice
—
ib.
Rolled oats — — — — — —
20 ox.,
Corn flakes — — — — — —
12 oz.
Bread, white —
—
ib.
Soda crackers — — — — — —
ib.
Vanilla cookies — — —
7 oz.
Heats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak — — — — — — —
ib,
Chuck roast — — — — - — - ib.
Rib roast
ib.
—

-

-

.2
.6

.1

-

-

-

0
.4

.1

.2
0
.2

.2

Percent
change

Fruits and
vegetables

Percent
c hange

Index

-

-

Other
foods iat home

Index

Percent
change

Ind ex

0.9

121.3

- 4.4

113.8

1.9

.1
.1

122.7
115.2

- 1.0
- 7.3
- 8.1
- 8.0
- 8.2
- 2.3
-10.8
- 2.1
- 4.3
- 3.1

105.8
113.6
110.0
118.1
119.3
117.2

2.5
1.6

1.2
1.4
0

.1

2.2
2.6
0
0

.1

3.0
.3
.1
0
0
0
0
0
0

119.4

118.5
122.1
121.3
130.3
121.7
119.1
114.1

124.7
116.9
127.2
120.8
110.2
124.1
117.5
123.5
117.9
125.0

-

4.7
3.1
1.9
6.6
7.9
7.6
5.6
3*3

- 6.6

-

.3

Percent
change

1.2

1.7
2.7
1.4
2.3
1.4
2.2
1.8

116.1

112.0
107.0
113.6
120.6
113.2R
113.2
123.0

118.2
120.8
112.8

.8

111.1

113.8

2.5
.7
.4
1.4
3.2
2.2
2.4

114.6

1.9
1.0

Consumer Price Index -- Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average

Food and unit

—

Dairy
produc ts

Percent
change

TABLE 71

Hamburger —

Meats, poultry,
and fish

Index

115.6
117.7
121.5
118.9
119.0
118.1
118.2
116.1
119.1
120.0

lev fork
Hiiladelphia
— — —
Pittsburgh Portland, 0r«g.
St, Louis

Cereals and
bakery products

July
1957
Cents
54.7

26.8
12.7
17.4

22,1

23.0

18.9
29.1

24.6

98.1

32.1

96.9
53.0
75.4
43.6
117.8
92.7
80.7
64.3
72.6
57.7
45.3
49.4
42.9
45.6
62.5
32.2

23.3
24.8
29.5
73.7
57.8
14.7

22.9
24.5
29.5
73.7
57.7
14.7

25.5
17.7

19.6

25.5
17.5
19.6
24.1

0/>

22.8
18.0

54.0
76.0
44.3
118.5
92.9
87.5

66.6

72.6
59.3
45.5
49.7
43.2

46.6
§2.5

24.1

18.6

61.3

18.1

July
1957

Cents
16.1

Cents
20.0

24.7
4.4
58.6
17.5
9.3
16.C
21.9
14.2
21.7
20.8

36.4
5.3
60.3
18.7
11.5
14.9
18.7
16.9
8.6
26.9
23.2

can
can
oz.

34.1
34.8
34.1
26.0
17.1
21.6
15.0
10.0

34.5
34.9
34.1
26.0
17.1
21.7
15.0
10.0

ib,
ib.

33 <>9
16.1

34.2
16.1

to il-oz. can

12.5
14.7
27.1

12.5
14.7
27.2
22.0
101.7
83.1
23.7
% / 26.9
97.7
29.6
22.5
37.4
53.6
55.3
24.9
27.3
4.5
g/ 54.1
8.8

Fresh
Continued
Peaches * — — — — — — —
ib.
Strawberries *
- - — —
pt.
Grapes, seedless *
— - - - - - j*.
Watermelons * —
—
Potatoes
—
—
— 30 ib.
S wee tpot-v toes — — —
n.
Onions - — —
— — — — v t > .
Carrots
lb>
Lettuce —
-----head
Celery
—-—
ib.
Cabbage - — — — — — — — - ib.
Tomatoes - - — - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ib.
Beans, green —
— - - — - ib.
Canned:
Orange juice
45-oz. can
Peaches
can
Pineapple
#2 can
Fruit cocktail
—
#303 can
C o r n , cream style - - - - - —

#303 can

Peas, green - — —
— — - - #303
Tomatoes —
—
#303
Baby foods
4h to 5
Dried:
Prunes — — — — - — — —
Beans — — — — — — — —
Other foods at home:
Tomato SOUp

58.2
17.8

August
1957

Food and unit

Beans with pork —
18-oz. can
Pickles, sweet
— — — —
.
oz
Catsup, tomato — — — — —
14 o z .
Coffee —
—
—
—
—
lb. oan
Coffee
lb. bag
Tea bags —

—

—

—

—

—

P

k g . of 16

Cola drink, carton — — — — —
36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated — —
3 ib.
Margarine, colored — - — — — - ib.
Lard
— — — —
.
lb
Salad dressing — — — — —
.
pt
Peanut butter — — — — —
ib.
Sugar — — — — — — — — —
5 ib.
Corn syrup — — — — — — — 24 oz.
Grape Jelly - — — — — — — — 1 2 0 z.
Chocolate bar — — — — — —
1 z.
Eggs, Grade A , large « — — — - doz.
Gelatin, flavored
3 to 4 oz.
0

Labor D.C. - BLSt?8-076U

8.4

21.8
101.5

83.0

23.7
27.0
97.6
29.6
22.9
37.3
53.6
55.6
24.9
27.3
4.5
59.6
8.8

IS

M f t f fixplfliaUgn Qt ttw Qtl

1

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) me&sures the average changes in prices of goods
mad 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 Stateff 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 m i l as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small cities t
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W . Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Orand F o r k s , N . D a k o t a

Grand Island, lebraska

Huntington, W . Virginia
Laconia, Hew Hampshire
Lodi, California
I^rnchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Hewark, Ohio

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

^CKparisons of city indexes show only t h a t prices in one city changed more or
less %han in another. The city indexes cannot
used to measure differences in price
navels o r i s l i n i n g c o s t s between c i t i e s .
;

index 3

mmviption

X

the index i t

c o n t a i n e d i n E L S B u l l e t i n 1140, ^The Consumer

iknide * ^ which nay be purchased for 20 cents at any Bureau of

10or £fiatlatios regiana-4 offic* (addresses below) o r f r o m t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t of Docua n t e . y* 8* Sovernment P r i n t i n g O f f i c e , l a s h i n g t o n 2 5 , D« 0 . A <*ore t e c h n i c a l

d e s c r i p t i o n of the index appear® i n BLS Bulletin 1168, ^Techniques
Preparing Major BLS
statistical S e r i e s . n S p r i n t s of chapter 9 , pertaining t o the CPI, pure available on
request t o t h e Bureau o f Labor S t a t i s t i c s i n W a s h i n g t o n o r a t any o f its regional

offices.

H i s t o r i c a l series of index numbers for the United States city average and for
20 large c i t i e s are available upon request. These series include index numbers f o r ill
Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent for periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of

goods and s e r v i c e s f r o m 1947 t o d a t e .

BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
50 Seventh St., M
23




Hew fork
341 Kinth A m .
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

LABOR - D . C«

Boston
18 CQJver St.
Zone 10