Full text of CPI Detailed Report : August 1959

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Released September 23, 1959
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR AUGUST 1959
Prices of consumer goods and services in United States
cities declined 0.1 percent between July and August according to the United States
Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. A drop of 0.9 percent in food
prices was responsible for the decrease, as prices of all other items averaged
0.2 percent higher: nonfood commodities were up 0.2 percent and services
0.3 percent.
The August Consumer Price Index was 124.8 percent of the
19^7-^9 average, 0.9 percent higher than a year earlier.
FOOD

Average food prices decreased 0.9 percent as prices of
fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, and poultry declined.
The August food index, at 118.3, was 2.0 percent lower than a year ago, and
2.8 percent below the July 1958 peak.
Fruit and vegetable prices decreased k.O percent as local
supplies of fresh fruits and vegetables continued plentiful. Prices of grapes
fell 30 percent, potatoes 17 percent, watermelons l6 percent, tomatoes 15 percent,
and peaches 14 percent. Celery, onion, and apple prices also decreased, but
prices of grapefruit and oranges were higher.

Prices of meats, poultry, and fish decreased 1.9 percent.
Pork prices decreased 3*0 percent as pork chops, bacon, and ham all declined.
Beef prices were lower as round steak, chuck roast, rib roast, and hamburger
prices decreased. Prices of frying chickens were down 2.0 percent.
Cereals and bakery products decreased 0,3 percent as bread
price, were down Q.k percent.
Prices of dairy products rose 0.7 percent as fresh milk
prices increased seasonally. Egg prices increased 3-2 percent.
Restaurant meal prices advanced 0.3 percent.
HOUSING

Housing costs advanced 0.2 percent as rents increased
0.1 percent, gas and electric bills averaged 0.5 percent
higher, and household operation costs rose 0.2 percent, with higher rates for
domestic and laundry services more than offsetting lower prices for laundry
soaps and detergents. Interest rates for both VA-insured and conventional
mortgages also advanced. Housefurnishings prices were 0.4 percent lower,
reflecting traditional August sale prices for household textiles and furniture; prices of kitchenware and some appliances also declined, but softsurface floor coverings continued to advance. Prices of fuel oil dropped
seasonally, but solid fuels were higher.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES




Apparel prices rose 0.5 percent, largely because of higher
prices for shoes and men's apparel, particularly shirts,
suits, slacks, and work clothing.

2
Transportation prices were 0.3 percent higher, due largely
to increases of 2.1 percent for gasoline and 1.1 percent for used cars. Dealers'
selling prices of new cars were down 0.6 percent and tire prices were substantially
lower. Railroad fares advanced in most western cities.
An advance of 0.3 percent in medical care costs was due
primarily to higher rates for hospitalization insurance. The personal care index
was up 0.3 percent, as men's haircuts and beauty shop services were higher.




3

TABLE It Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group and subgroup i n d e x e s , August 1959
and percent changes from selected dates
(1947-49=100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to August 1959 from- -

Indexes
August
1959

July
1959

July
1959

124.8

124.9

-

0.1

0.6

118.3
115.7
134.0
109.9
114.1
125.6
106.2
116.6

119.4
117.1
134.4
112.0
113.3
130.8
105.7
116.2

-

-9
1.2
-3
1.9
.7
4.0
.5
.3

.5
.4
.4
- 1.5
1.3
0
3.3
1.2

129.3
139.8
120.1
133.9
103.6
134.6

129.0
139.6
119.5
134.0
104.0
134.3

.2

.4
.4
1.2.

108.0
108.8
98.8
137.3
92.5

107.5
108.3
98.8
135.2
92.3

•5
•5
0
1.6

Transportation
Private
Public

11*6.7
135.5
194.9

Medical care-

151A

Group

All items
Food
Food at home

Dairy products-

•••,.,.

Food away from hone (Jan. 1 9 5 3 = 1 0 0 )
Housing
—
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
House furnishings- • • — •
•• • •
Household operation.—•—---'•—•
Apparel
Nan's and boys1 • • •
Women'a and girls1
Footwear
Other apparel

—

—

— —
•
••
•

- -»•

-

May
1959

.1

-

•5
.1
.4

-

.2

August
1958

Year

0.9

110.1

2.0
2.9
.8
6.6

151.2
145.6

-

1.0

.6

-

5.9

<i/>
69.9
61.4
14.5
137.4
94.0

.2

.7
.6

164.2
129.1
171.3
119.4

1.1
1.2

.3
1.9

.6

134.3

2.9

2.2

1.0
.1

1939

96.8

.2

2.8
.4

1.3
.5
.3
5.6
.7

105.7
114.2

.2

146.3
135.2
194.2

•3
.2
.4

.9
.7
1.1

4.0
4.2
2.8

109.0

151.0

.3

.8

4.2

IO8.5

-

81.3

173.0
127.8
IO6.9

139.7

131.7

131.3

.3

.8

2.2

121.0

119.1

119.1

0

1.1

2.1

89.0

131.1

130.8

.2

2.1

3.1

85.7

All items less food

128.2

127.9

.2

.7

2.1

85.5

All items less shelter

122.4

122.7

-

.2

.7

.8

120.9

116.6
118.3
118.3
118.6
107.9
102.7

117.0
118.7

-

.3
.3
-9
.4
.5

.6
.8

-

.2
.4

-

2.0

1.5
1.3
.4
1.5
2.6
4.5

126.0
130.2
151.2
102.0
107.1
<i/>
93.9
96.9
139.5

Personal care

—•••

Other goods and services
Special groupss

Nondurable a
Food
Nondurables less f o o d —
Apparel less footwear
Nondurables less food and
Durable s
•'
• ••--•
New cars"
• ••• • ••Used oars (Jan. 1 9 5 3 = 1 0 0 )
IXirables less cars-

apparel—
•••
• - •
•

Commodities less food-—
Service o •
Rent

...

• • ••
.

.

.

Household operation services, gas,
and electricity' • • ••

—

127.8

••

107.4
102.5
127.3
113.1
96.1
103.5

115.3

137.3

.5
.9
.7

.2

-

.4
.3

.1

1.2

.5

13.3
0

79.8

115.1

.2

.7

1.9

94.1

146.3
139.8
148.1

145.8
139.6

.8
.4
.8

2.3

147.5

.3
.1
.4

2.6

82.0
61.4
101.5

135.1

.4
.2
.3
.5

.7

2.2

132.2

134.6
180.9
156.5
131.6

$0,801

$£).801

0

157.0

-

.6
1.1

-

-

.1

1.7
5.3
.4

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar

(1947-49=11.00)

118.1

112.8
136.5
97.2
103.0

181.3

Medical care services
Other services J /

119.4

1.2

.9
.8
.8
-

.6

-

(±/)

55.3

3.6
4.8
1.6

126.3
122.7
126.8

.9

-52.4

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




TABIC 2s Consumer M m

latex—All items lataN and jwowrt changee, selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

Beroent ohange to
current month from —

Indexes (1947-49=100)
August
1959

City
United 9tates city average

•• •

• • ••

May
1959

August
1958

May
1959

Tear
1939

August
1958

Year
1939

124.8

124.0

123.7

59.4

0.6

0.9

110.1

128.3
123-7
127.5
123.0
124 . 4

1 2 7 . J*
123.4
126.8
122.1
123.2

126.9
123.7
125.5
121.1
123.4

58.6
59.0
60*4
60.1
59.2

.7
.2
.6
•7
1.0

1.1
0
1.6
1.6
.8

118.9
109.7
111.1
104.7
110.1

May
1959

August
1958

Year
1939

.4
.6
1.0
.8
.2

.6
.6
.7
2.1
.7

112.5
109.7
107.2
117-7
102.0

July
1958

Year
1939

.2
1.0
.4
.8
1.1

105.9
104.2
106.6
116.4
116.3

June
1958

Year
1939

Cities prioed monthly 1/
Detroit
Philadelphia
Cities prioed in February, May,
August, November

August
1959

2/

Cleveland
Houston

125-8
124.8
121.2
128.9
122.0

—

Washington, D. C.

July
1959

Cities prioed in January, April,
J u l y , October

2/

Pittsburgh
P o r t l a n d , Oregon

June
1959

Cities prioed in March, June,
2/

April
1959

Year
1939
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

125.1
124.0
120.4
126.3
121.2
July
1958

March
1959

.4
.4
.2
1.0
.6

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

June
1958

124.3
126.4
122.2
126.0
129.0

April
1959

Year
1939

125.4
124.8
124.9
124.7
124.7

125.1
125.5
125.1
124.5
125.3

125.5
126.6
123.1
126.3
129.6

S t . Louis
San F r a n c i s c o

August
1958

125.3
124.1
120.0
127.9
121.8

125.6
126.0
125-4
125.7
126.1

.

S e p t e m b e r , December

May
1959

March
1959

Year
1939

124.9
124.8
122.7
124.5
128.0

1.0
.2
.7
.2
•5

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

•5
1.4
•3
1.4
1.2

115.3
118.7
110.8
113.0
121.2

j/ Bants prioad bimonthly*
2/ Foods, fuels, and a fav other items prioad monthly; rants and other commodities and services priced quarterly*

TABUS 31 Consuner Price Index—Percent changes from July 1959 to August 1959
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and conodity groups

City

All
items

Food

Halted States city average—

- o.l

- 0.9

0,2

0
.6
.1
.4
.2

.9
- 1.0
-5
- 2.0
.8

.1
.2
.1
.6
.2

Chicago
Detroit
Los Angsl—• <
Bev York Philadelphia—
1/

••

-

-

Housing

-

Apparel

Transportation

0.5

-

.7
.9
.6
•5
.2

-

Other
goods &
servioes

0.3

0.3

0-3

0

0.2

.1
.6

.1
0
0
.3
3.3

•7
.1
-3
.2
0

- 0.6
1/- 4.3
- 3.5
.7
1.7

2.6
.1
.1
.1
0

l.l
.3
.7

B a s e d on r e v i s e d i n d e x f o r J u l y 1 9 5 9 , 1 2 0 . 7 ; June 1959 i n d e x r e v i s e d t o




R f ng
and
Medical Personal
care
rsareation
care

115.2.

-

TABIS 4s Coneuner Prioe Index—All items and camodity groups
August 1959 indexes and percent changes, May 1959 to August 1959
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in August 1959
U.S.
City
Chicago CleveAverage
land

Group

Detroit

Houston

Los
An«eles

New
York

'

Phila- Scrantoi Seattle Washing,
delphia
ton. D. 1

Indexes (1^7-^9-100)
*

124.8

128.3

125.8

123.7

124.8

127.5

123.0

124.4

121.2

128.9

122.0

Pood at hone
— Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
~ — —
Other foods at hams —

118.3
115.7
134.0
109.9
114.1
125.6
106.2

116.1
113.3
130.1
103.7
117-5
122.3
109.8

113.8
111.1
128.3
102.3
109.9
119.2
107.4

116.8
113.9
124.4
105.6
110.6
129.0
105.8

114.4
112.1
125.1
105.1
113.6
124.8
103.1

122.7
117.8
146.1
110.9
111.4
127.1
107.9

120.0
116.5
141.8
110.6
117.6
'120.0
106.8

120.9
117.9
135.1
111.7
118.6
128.6
105.2

115.1
113.7
132.1
108.7
110.3
121.2
104.5

120.8
118.5
146.5
114.5
117.5
123.0
105.8

118.9
116.3
131.0
108.4
, 118.6
124.6
IO8.5

129-3
139.8
120.1
133.9
103.6
134.6

138.8

127.3
144.2
118.2
125.5
109.4
122.7

131.4
138.2
124.8
102.3
142.5

102.3
125.4

127.0
131.0
119.1
136.0
104.0
136.4

122.2

129.3
138.8
101.7
136.8

130.1
159.4
116.1
138.4
•99.6
125.4

136.8

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

105.3
124.3
106.9
135.3

123.4
132.4
120.7
140.8
98.6
117.5

132.4
149.1
86.7
142.8
103.4
139.0

121.2
129.8
135.3
135.9
99.4
133.7

108.0
108.8
98.8
137.3
92.5

111.1
114.4
99-2
141.3
96.7

109.7
113-6
100.4
131.2
95-2

105.1
108.4
94.4
132.2
85.5

113.0
107.0
109.1
142.2
91.0

108.3
110.5
98.9
137.8
84.6

106.7
108.6
96.1
137.5
96.2

105.8
108.7
94.4
138.3
92.9

111.5
110.5
104.1
141.6
94.4

110.1
112.7
100.3
l4l.2
87.5

105.6
108.5
97.3
131.2
90.3

Transportat ion - —
—-—
P r i v a t e - — — — — — — —
Public

146.7
135.5
194.9

155.5
137.4
196.9

142.6
133.7
181.9

139.0
131.5
179.4

144.7
138.0
190.6

142.8
138.9
164.3

147-2
128.5
191.4

154.8
134.9
193.4

145-9
132.4
191.9

154.8
143-5
182.4

145.6
138.0
172.4

Other goods and services

151.4
131.7
119.1
131.1

159.0
137.9
124.5
124.5

168.1
128.1
130.5
135.0

158.0
134.2
115.5*
135.7

135.3
137.8
118.3
129.2

146.7
134.7 *
101.7
132.8

139.8
123.8
121.1
133.0

158.5
135.7
122.7
130.0

132.9
144.2
153.0
121.0

151.3
141.3
118.9
143.3

148.5
126.8
120.0
136.4

1.0

1.0

0.8

0.2

.7
.1
.5
3-3.
3.2
.7
4.2

1-3
1.5
- 2.2
.1
2.1
3.5
4.4

.3
.2
- 2.8
- 2.9
.1
.1
5.6

-

0
1.6
1.1
.5

.4
.8
0
2.8
- 1.4
.1

All items

—
——

Apparel
lien's and boys'
Footwear
Other apparel

—
—

—

—

135.3

—

—

—

Percent change frcn May 1959 to August 1959
0.6

All items

Food
Food at hone
—
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — - — — —
Fruits and -vegetables ~ —
Other foods at ham —*
lousing
Bent
Oas and electricity
— —
Solid feels and feel oil
lousefurnlshlngs
Household operation —

—
—
—
—

— —
— —
—
— —

Apparel
Men's and boys' —
—
—
V o M n ' i and girls'
Footwear
— — — — — — —
Other apparel — — — — — — Transportation
— — —
Rrivate*———————
Public
Medical care
— — —
Bsrscoal care
- — —
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

1/
*




—

—
—

—

—
—
—

-

—

—
—
—

0.7

0.4

0.2

0.6

.8
.7
0
-9
3.7
.1
2.1

-3
.4
-5
- 3.2
.3
.4
2.5

.1
-3
.2
- 2.2
2.8
- 3.9
3.0

.2
.1
v .3
- 1.7
.4
.6
1.5

.1
0
.7
1.0
.1

0
-3
0
2.4
.4
.2

.7
.6
.2
2.8
.4

1.1
,9
.2
3.4
.8

.1
.1
.2
1.1
0

•9
.7
1.1

.8
1.0
0

2.1
2.5
0

.8
.8
1.1
2.1

•3
1.2
1.7
3-0

•5
.1
•3
3.8

•5
.4
.4
1.5
1.3
0
3.3

.4
.4
1.2
- 1.0
.1
.6

-

- -

-

1/

-

.

.1
0
.6
1.1
.6
.2

.2
.2
.6
2.1
.1
-

-

.2
-3
.1
1.1
•3
- 3.1
2.3

0.7

-

.2

1.0
.7
.8
2.3
•7

.8
.4
•5
2.3
.6

1.4
1.9
0

.7
.8
0

4.0
4.4
1.3

1.3
1.5
0

4.1
.4
2.3
1.6

3.9
5.6
4.9
1.2

—

1.0
.1

.6
1.7

.4
.8
.2
•9 • .7
- 1.5
1.8
1.5
.4
.2

.7
•5
0
2.4
.4

•9
.6
.1
3.2
.4

•9
1.2
0
.1
.7
1.0
1.0

.6
.4
1.4
-

.1
•3
1.5
.1

Change from June 1959 t o August 1 9 5 9 .
June 1959 index r e v i s e d t o 1 1 5 - 2 ; J u l y 1959 index r e v i s e d t o 1 2 0 . 7 .

.6
.5
1.4
.1
.4
.4
6.9

-

•3
.4
.8
1.9
•9
1.1
3.7

1.4
.4
1.5
2.8
•7

3.2

—

—

-

-

0
.5
.4
- 2.4
.7
.6

.8
1 / -7
3-1
- 3.1
.1
3.1

•7
- -

.1
.3
.2
.3
.2
- 5.5
3.2
-

.5
•7
0
.1
1.4
•3

1.1
-9
7.0

-

•9
1.7
14.0
.1
.2
1.2
0

0.6

-

-

,

1.1
.1
.3
3.8

-

-9
.7
.8
.1

6

City

TABLE 5t Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
August 1959 indexes and p e r c e n t changes, J u l y 1959 t o August 1959
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)
Total
Dairy
Cereals and
Meats, poultry,
Total food
food at hone
and fish
bakery products
products
Percent
Percent
Percent
Index Percent
Index
Index 'percent
Index
change
change
change
change
change
118.3

"

0.9

115.7

-

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

116.1*
118.3
119.0
— 116.1
118.2
113.8
116.8
114 A
— •• 112.1*
122.7

-

.5
.9

ill*. 5
111*. 6
115.7
113.3
115.3
lll.l
113.9
112.1
109.1*
117.8

-

Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.
St. Louis
San Francisco
Scranton —
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

117.5
120.0
120.9
119.5
121.2
117.8
122.0
115.1
120.8
— — 118.9

U.S. city average

.1

.9
- 1.1*
.7

- 1.0

-

.1*
.1*
.5

- 1.1*
- 2.0
.8
.8
.3

- 1.1

.2
- 1.9
.5
- 1.3

TABLE 6t

Food and unit
Cereals and bakery products:

Ilk.2
116.5
117.9
117.7
117.9
112.7
119.6
113.7
118.5
116.3

Prioed only in season.




.6

- 1.2
0

- 1.0
-

1.7

- 1.0
- 1.3
- .6

-

.6
.5

-

1.8
2.6
1.0
1.0

-

.1*
1.3
.3

- 2.2
-

.8

- 1.6

13^.0

"

0.3

109.9

-

125.0
128.7
132.3
130.1
133.1
128.3
121*. 1*
125.1
127.0

-

.2

112.7
110.4

- 1.0 113.8

11*6.1

134.2
ikl.Q
135.1
131.8
139.5
124.5
147.2
132.1
146.5
131.0

-

.1
.1

-

.2
.1
.2

-

.1

-

-

-

.2

.2
.1

0
1.5

- 1.6
-

-

.1
0
.2
.1

.2

.1
0

1.9

114.1

.7
.3
1.3
2.2
2.5
1.5
1-9
1.4
1.0

116.7
108.7
117.5
112.1
109.9

110.9

-

106.0

-

1.0

111.7
109.9

-

1.2
1.1
1.0
1.0
.4

106.2
117.6
118.6

112.5
103.7

109.6
102.3

105.6
105.1

103.9

110.6

114.2
103.7
115.8

- 4.3

IO8.7 - 2.2

114.5
108.4

.8
- 3-0

110.6
113.6
110.7

ill A

HA. 6
120.5
106.3
115.6
110.3

117.5

118.6

Other
foods at home

Percent
change

Percent
change

0.7

125.6

-

4.0

106.2

0
•3
2.7
•9
.1
2.7
2.9
•3
2.7
.4

131.9
121 . 4

-

2.0
4.9
2.0
3.6
5.4
3.6

100.0
104.8
103.3

-

6.9

128.2

122.3

126.2
119.2
129.0
124.8
116.7
127.1

127.0

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

120.0
128.6
128.1
117.3
128.7
126.2
121.2
123.0
12k. 6

- 1. 7
- 4.2
- 2.8
- 7.7
- 4.9
- 2.7
- 3.8
- 3.3
- k.o
-

3.7

- 8.8
- 5.5
- k.2

IO9.8

108.1

107 A
105.8
103.1

99.3
107.9

August
1959
Cents

July

1959
Cents
54.3

27.0
13.0
19.0

21.0
20.4

25.6

19.8

29.2

21*.5
IO8.9

61*.2
83.5

55-4
143-9
87.9
68.1*

62.2
76.8
61*.0

51.1
1*2.1*

V7.5
58.2

61.5
33.3

23.8
25.0

29.6

71*.1
58.5
15.2

26.0
26.0
19.9
22.7

16.1*
16.6

68.1*
17.9

15.0

Food and unit
Fresh—Continued
Peaches *
Strawberries * —
Grapes, seedless
Watermelons *
Potatoes — ' •
Sweet potatoes—Onions
Carrots —
Lettuce
Celery
Cabbage
- — —
Tomatoes —
—•
Beans, green •
Canned:
Orange juice •
Peaches —
Pineapple
• ••
Fruit cocktail
Corn, cream style
Peas, green
Tomatoes
Baby foods
Dried:
.
Prunes — —
• — • — .,.Other foods at home:
Tomato soup
• . IO&
Beans with pork
Pickles, sliced
Catsup, tomato
Coffee
Coffee
Tea bags
Cola drink, carton
Shortening, hydrogenated
Margarine, colored
Lard
Salad dressing
Peanut butter
Sugar
Corn syrup
Grape jelly
Chocolate bar
Eggs, Grade A, large
Gelatin, flavored

ib.
_ pt.
... lb.
_ lb.
10 lb.
— lb.
— lb.
lb.
head
— lb.
_ lb.
_ lb.
_ lb.
_ 46-oz. con
#2i can
#2 can
#303 can
_
#303 can
_
#303 can
#303 can
to 5 oz.
.—

lb.
lb.

to ll-oz. can

0.5
.2
.k
.2
.1
.2
.3
1.0
•7
1.2

111.8
106.8
105.2

111*. 7
109.9
111.7
108.1
10k. 3
105.8
IO8.5

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

- 5 lb.
54.1
Flour, wheat
20 oz.
27.O
Biscuit mix
— lb.
13.0
Corn meal
— lb.
19.0
Rice, short grain
—
lb.
20.8
Rice, long grain
20 A
Rolled oats
18 oz.
25.6
Corn flakes
12 oz.
19.7
Bread, white
—
lb.
29.1
Soda cracjcers
—
— — ib.
2k. 5
Vanilla cookies
— — 7 oz.
Heats, poultry, and fishz
• lb. 1 0 7 . 0
Round steak
Chuck roast
• lb.
62.7
Rib roast —
• lb.
82.5
Hamburger
• ib.
54.7
Veal cutlets
• lb. 1 4 2 . 9
Pork chops, center cut
85. k
• lb.
66.6
Bacon, sliced
- lb.
60.1
Ham, whole
• lb.
74.9
Lamb, leg
- lb.
63.5
Frankfurters
• lb.
51.0
Luncheon meat, canned —
12 oz.
41.5
Frying chickens, ready-to-cock — ib.
47.2
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
57.9
Haddock, fillet, frozen
— ib.
61.7
Salmon, pink, canned
— 1 6 oz.
33.2
Tuna fish, canned
— 6 to
oz.
Daixy products:
21*.1
Hilk, fresh, (grocery)
it25.3
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
Ice cream
• •• • ••• ••• • •• • • 2 9 . 7
74.3
Butter
iblb
58.2
Cheese, American process —
15.2
Milk, evaporated
i4i-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
26.2
10 oz.
Strawberries •
26.3
- 6 oz.
Orange juice concentrate
19.9
10 oz.
Peas, green •
22.7
9 oz.
Beans, green •
Fresh:
15.8
Apples
• •'
— lb.
16.8
— lb.
69.9
• doz.
Oranges, size 200 •
17.9
- lb.
Lemons
—
16.5
Grapefruit *
*

1.2

Fruits and
vegetables

August
1959
Cents

July
1959
Cents

15.5

18.0

23.2
k.o

33-1
4.7

67.6
15.8
9.9
14.5

17.1*

13 A
8.3
22.0
19.1*

51.9
35.6
36.1*
27.7

19.6

20.1*
15A

10.1

1*0.2
17.3
12.5

15.0
26.1*

81.2
15.2
10.2
l4-5
16.3
14-5
8.7

26.0
18.8
51.3
36.5
36.2
27.9
19.7
20.1*
15.5
10.1
1*0.2
17.1*

12.6

15.0
26.7

22.3
76.8
57-0

22.5
77.0
57.1

29.!*
88.9
27.7
19.3
37.7
55.5
57.3
26.5

29-k
88.7
27.7

21*. 3

28.3

5.1

54.3
9.3

Labor D.C.

21*.3
19.6

37.8
55.8
57.1
26.5
28.3
5.2
52.5
9.3

.7
.1

1.8

.7
2.2
•5
l."6
.k

7
ftrMfaiflanatrlTOof

gpj

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
services 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 46 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 patronise*
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 citiess
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, V* Virginia
Bvansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N* Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Huntington, W* Virginia
Laconia, Mew Hampshire
Lodi, California
Iynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, tyroming
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 Index: 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*" 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 1935 to date*
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
1371 Feachtree
Street, N« E*
Zone 9




New York
3 a Ninth Ave*
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St*
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansone St*
Zone 11
LABOR - D* C*

Boston
18 Oliver St*
Zone 10