Full text of CPI Detailed Report : August 1960

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Released September 23. I960
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
COUSUttER PRICE INDEX FOR AUGUST 1960
The August Consumer Price Index held at the July level of 126.6
(1947-49 * 100), the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
This was 1.4 percent above a year ago.
Price reductions from July to August for food, housefurnishings,
and new cars were balanced by increases, most of them small, for almost all other kinds
of commodities and services. The most significant price increases in August were for
gasoline, home ownership costs, and apparel.
The food price decline was caused chiefly by substantial decreases
for fresh fruits and vegetables in August, which is the peak of the harvest season for
many items of produce. Prices for most cuts of beef and lamb, as well as for poultry,
also went down a little. Pork prices, however, continued the strong rise which began
in February, and egg prices rose sharply as they usually do in hot weather when
production declines.
August "white sales" and a variety of merchandising efforts to clear
large inventories of 1960 model appliances brought price cuts for both nondurable and
durable housefurnishings. The index for new cars, continuing its almost steady decline
since last November, decreased again in August, following the usual pattern of change as
the model year moves toward its close.
In contrast, gasoline prices rose substantially in August for the
third successive month. The rise was geographically widespread and reflected heavy
summer demand. Home ownership costs, on the average, were up quite generally across the
country, although mortgage interest rates declined.
FOOD

The 0.4-percent decline in food'prices was caused almost entirely by
an 8-percent drop for fresh fruits and vegetables in August. Except
for small decreases for beef, lamb, and poultry, and reductions for coffee, prices for
most other important foods rose in August. Food prices were 1.5 percent above a year
earlier, but 1.3 percent lower than at the July 1958 peak.
Supplies of fresh produce this year were better than average for
August, but somewhat less abundant than at the same time last year. As a result, prices
for fresh fruits and vegetables this August were 5 percent above the level of August 1955L
In contrast to the seasonal decreases for produce prices in August,
prices for some other foods were rising seasonally. Among these were eggs and milk.
Egg prices rose 8.8 percent, as production dropped from the unusually high levels prevailing during this year's relatively cool June and July. As milk production declines
in the summer, prices increase, and by this August, they were at record levels. Prices
for eggs, however, although well above a year earlier, were substantially below prices in
all recent years except 1959.
All cuts of pork went up in price in August, but the increase was
greatest for bacon. Prices for pork products have been increasing generally since
February, chiefly because of a substantially reduced pig crop and a decline in hog
marketings. Pork prices this August were 5.6 percent above the August 1959 figure.
HOUSING




All major elements of housing costs except housefurnishings rose in
price between July and August. The most important increases were

2
for the various costs associated with home purchase, but repair and maintenance prices
also were higher, chiefly for contractual services. Fuel prices went up seasonally.
Rents continued their almost steady uptrend of the postwar period. The index for
housing—at 131.5 (1947-49 = 100)—was at an alltime high in August, and 1.7 percent
above a year earlier.
The rise in the housing component of the index has been dampened in
recent months by a steady decline for durable housefurnishings, chiefly appliances.
Prices for almost all appliances dropped again in August. For refrigerators, the
declines reflected a recent reduction in manufacturers1 prices as well as sales and
promotions at the retail level. Special sales of other types of appliances were being
held in August to clear 1960 models before the introduction of 1961 lines. The price
downtrend for appliances, along with substantial and widespread decreases for sheets and
towels in the August "white sales," caused the homefurnishings index to edge below a
year earlier for the first time since the spring of 1959. Furniture prices, on the
average, were unchanged from July to August.
TRANS PORTATION

The index for transportation has been rising in recent months primarily because of price increases for gasoline. Gasoline prices have
been advancing seasonally since May. By August, prices for gasoline, including taxes,
were at record levels, and 3.5 percent above a year earlier.
The index for new cars continued down in August, as the 1960 model
year neared its close. The index has fallen 6.1 percent since November 1959, the
largest drop for these months since 1955. By September 1, new car inventories were at
a record for that time of year, even though August production dropped sharply with the
beginning of the model changeover.
Used car sales improved seasonally in August, and the price index
for used cars edged up but continued substantially below 1959 levels.
APPAREL

Apparel prices showed a small average increase for the second month,
and in August were 1.2 percent above a year earlier. The price
advances in August were primarily for men's suits and business shirts, and women's and
girls' dresses.

COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS

The wages of about 110,000 employees are subject to review on the
basis of the national Consumer Price Index for August. Of these
workers, about 70,000 will receive raises. A total of about 63,000
workers, mostly employed by aircraft companies, will be paid a 1-cent-an-hour increase
under a quarterly adjustment.




3
TABLE It Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, August 1960
and percent changes from selected dates
(1947-49=100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to August 1960 from

Indexes
August
1960

July
1960

July
1960

May
1960

126.6

126.6

0

0.2

1.4

113.1

120.1
117.4
137.7
111.3
116.6
127.3
106.5
119.1

120.6
117.9
137.5
110.8
115.8
134.4
104.8
118.9

- 0.4
- .4
.1
.5
.7
- 5.3
1.6
.2

.3
.3
1.5
1.5
1.4
- 4.2
1.5
.4

1.5
1.5
2.8
1.3
2.2
1.4
0.3
2.1

155.0
149.3
140.7
167.5
134.1
174.9
120.0
(I/)

131.5
141.9
124.9
133.4
103.5
137.6

131.3
141.8
124.8
132.9
104.1
137.4

.2
.1
.1
.4
.6
.1

.2
.4
.2
.4
.8
.3

1.7
1.5
4.0
- .4
- .1
2.2

72.8
63.9
19.1
136.5
93.8
101.2

109.3
110.5
99.7
139.9
93.1

109.1
110.2
99.4
139.8
93.1

.2
.3
.3
.1
0

.4
.7
.3
.1
.1

1.2
1.6
.9
1.9
.6

108.2
117.5
82.9
178.1
129.3

146.2
134.4
200.7

145.9
134.2
200.3

.2
.1
.2

.4
.4
.7

.3
.8
3.0

108.3
105.2
146.9

156.7

156.4

.2

.5

3.5

115.8

133.8

133.4

.3

.5

1.6

124.5

121.9

121.6

.2

.4

2.4

93.5

< • - 132.4

132.2

.2

.4

1.0

87.5

Group
All items
1

Food

. ••••

Fruits and vegetables •
Food away from home (Jan. 1953=100)
Housing
• •••
•
Rent— —
Gas and electricity ••
Solid fuels and fuel o i l — Housefurni s h i n g s — —
Household operation—•

—

Apparel
Man's and boys1 • • • ••• —
Women's and girls1 ••• • •
Footwear
..-•-•,..
Other a p p a r e l — — —
Transportation
Private
Public

Personal care—. —

• •--.

•• • •

Medical care-

—
••

—

Other goods and services

-•-• »•• •

August
1959

- -

-

-

-

-

Year
1939

Special groupst
All items less food

130.1

129.9

.2

.3

1.5

88.3

All items less shelter -- •••••••

124.1

124.2

-

.1

.2

1.4

124.0

Commoditie s
Nondurables
— •• •• ,-Food
Nondurables less food-- — — i • •• •••••
Apparel
- •••••— •••
Apparel less footwear
—
Nondurables less food and apparelDurable s —
••—.... —
New care -•
- - Used cars (Jan. 1953=100)
Durables less cars
•

117.6
119.9
120.1
120.1
109.2
103.8
129.4
111.0
135.5
87.3
103.0

117.7
120.0
120.6
119.9
109.0
103.6
129.2
111.1
136.1
87.1
103.0

-

.1
.1
.4
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.4
.2
0

.3
.4
.3
.6
.4
.4
.8
.8
1.7
.9
.5

.9
1.4
1.5
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.3
- 1.6
- .7
-10.2
0

127.9
133.3
155.0
104.6
109.6
(I/)
96.4
93.7
137.7
(I/)
79.8

Commodities less food—

115.5

115.4

.1

.2

.2

94.4

Services——
. .,,•,.—
Rctot
.
•• •
Services less rent—
—
—
Household operation services, gas,
and electricity—
—
—
Transportation services -•
Medical care services-—•• ••
•• —
Other services J/-

150.3
141.9
152.5

150.0
141.8
152.1

.2
.1
.3

.5
.4
.5

2.7
1.5
3.0

86.9
63.9
107.5

139.2
185.2
163.3
136.0

139.1
184.9
163.0
135.5

.1
.2
.2
.4

.3
.5
.6
.6

3.0
2.2
4.0
2.9

60.0
131.2
131.6
133.3

$0,790

$0,790

0

.3

- 1.4

-53.1

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=11.00)

-

-

-

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




TABLE 2s Consowr Rrioe Index—411 items indexes and peroent changes, eelected dates
U.S. oitgr average and 20 large cities

4

1bdeass

Hear
1939

May
1960

August
1959

Tear
1939

August
1960

May
1960

August
1959

-

126.6

126.3

124.8

59.4

-

130.3
125.6
129.2
125.3
126.8

129.6
124.3
129.8
124.9
126.4

128.3
123.7
127.5
123.0
124.4

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

August
1960

May
1960

August
1959

127.4
126.1
121.8
129.8
123.2

127.1
125.1
122.1
129.7
123.1

125.8
124.8
121.2
128.9
122.0

July
1960

April
1960

July
1959

Year
1939

April
1960

July
1959

Tear
1939

128.7
127.9
127.5
128.9
127.5

128.3
126.6
127.1
127.9
127.5

125.6
126.0
125.4
125.7
126.1

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

.3
1.0
.3
.8
0

2.5
1.5
1.7
2.5
1.1

111.0
107.3
110.0
121.9
118.7

June
1960

March
1960

June
1959

Tear
1939

March
1960

June
1959

Tear
1939

127.1
128.3
124.6
127.2
132.4

126.7
127.7
123.6
126.3
131.6

125.5
126.6
123.1
126.3
129.6

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

.3
.5
.8
.7
.6

1.3
1.3
1.2
.7
2.2

118.0
121.6
113.4
114.5
125.9

City
United States city average-

Fsroent change to
current month flra1 —

(1947-49=100)

0.2

1.4

113.1

.5
1.0
.5
.3
.3

1.6
1.5
1.3
1.9
1.9

122.4
112.9
113.9
108.5
114.2

Tear
1939

May
1960

August
1959

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

.2
.8
.2
.1
.1

Cities prioed Monthly j/
ChioagoDetroit—
Loa AngelesHev Tiork
PhiladelphiaCities prioed in February, May,
2/

August, November
Cleveland—————
Houston
Scranton-—
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

—
— -

Cities prioed in January, April,
July, October

2/

Boston—
—-<
Kansas City—
Minneapo 1 i s — — <
Pittsburgh-Portland, Oregon

Cities prioed in March, June,
September, December

1/

Atlanta—Baltimore-Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco—

-

-

1.3
1.0
0.5
.7
1.0

Tear
1939
115.2
111.9
108.2
119.3
104.0

2/ Bents prioed bimonthly.
2/ Foods, fuels, and a few other items prioed monthly; rents and other oonodities and servioes prioed quarterly.

TLBXM 3 s

Consumer Price Index—Percent changes from July 1960 to August 1960
U.S. city average and five cities prioed monthly
All itans and commodity groups

City
felted States city average—
Chicago
Detroit

i
—

Bev York
Philadelphia




itmm

Food

0
- 0.1
- .2
- .2
.4
- .1

Apparel

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

.1
.2
.1
.3
.2

.4
.1
.4
.4
.3

.3
.2
.2
.1
.1

.1
.4
.1
0
0

Housing

- 0.4
-

.8
.5
.9
.5
.1

-

-

?tsfling
Medical Personal
and
oare
oare
recreation

Transportation

ill

-

-

-

0.3

0.2

.1
.2
.1
.1
.1

0
.1
.2
1.0
0

Other
goods k
services
0.2
-

.3
0
0
.1
.2

T A B U At Consmer Prioe Index—111 ltesu and ocmk*lity group*
August 1960 indexes and percent changes, May 1960 to August 1960
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in
U.S.
Chicago CleveCity
land
Average

Qtremp

Houston

Detroit

Los
Angeles

New
York

'

Phila- Scran Ion Seattle Washingdelphia
ton, D.C.

Indexes (19*7-*9»100)
126.6

130.3

127.4

125.6

126.1

129.2

125.3

126.8

121.8

129.8

123.2

Food at h o M — —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at hose — — — — ;

120.1
117.4
137.7
111.3
116.6
127.3
106.5

118.4
115.8
131.3
104.7
121.7
127.9
111.4

116.7
113.9
131.2
106.7
110.1
123.0
109.0

120.0
117.4
128.7
106.4
115.4
139.4 .
106.3

115.8
112.7
128.2
105.5
114.9
126.4
101.4

125.5
119.4
148.4
111.3
113.9
133.4
106.3

122.5
118.8
147.8
112.6
119.0
125.0
106.1

123.0
119.7
139.3
112.9
120.6
129.8
106.6

114.8
112.8
134.8
108.6
109.9
114.9
104.2

123.1
120.4
148.2
115.4
119.9
130.2
105.2

120.1
117.6
136.1
108.8
121.6
121.0
111.2

140.6

126.7
141.9
116.3
126.3
107.9
125.7

131.2
138.3
134.3
99.6
144.9

102.6
128.2

129.9
134.7
121.9
136.4
105.2
137.8

125.6

130.0
137.0
101.4
139.2

130.9
161.4
124.1
139.6
98.9
125.7

137.9

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

131.5
141.9
124.9
133.4
103.5
137.6

106.7
121.1
109.6
143.6

124.4
133.5
121.3
133.0
97.6
122.1

133.3
150.9
86.7
138.6
103.4
138.0

121.6
132.9
136.8
132.3
99.8
134.9

109.3
110.5
99.7
139.9
93.1

113.5
117.1
101.9
143.0
97.9

110.2
115.0
99.2
134.9
96.8

106.1
109.6
94.3
136.8
85.9

113.2
110.5
106.6
145.4
90.9

110.8
112.5
101.5
141.6
85.9

108.0
109.9
97.0
140.9
97.0

107.9
111.1
96.2
140.7
95.1

112.9
113.4
104.0
146.3
94.2

111.7
114.9
100.6
145.8
89.6

105.9
110.1
96.6
131.6
91.2

146.2
134.4
200.7

156.4
137.0
205.7

141.9
132.9
181.9

141.0
133.8
179.4

146.8
139.4
198.9

142.4
135.7
186.5

146.9
128.2
191.4

153.5
133.4
193.4

144.9
131.3
191.9

148.3
136.2
189.6

146.3
137.7
179.1

156.7
133.8
Beading and recreation — — — — 121.9
Other goods and services
132.4

168.2
138.1
125.3
122.6

174.0
135.1
131.0
137.3

162.5
141.2
119.8
140.2

138.5
141.5
119.8
137.9

152.6
134.3
102.7
133.8

143.9
123.7
126.4
133.4

161.3
144.1
123.5
132.7

133.7
144.6
156.1
123.7

159.4
143.0
120.7
143.3

154.3
131.9
122.4
138.0

0.1

P

—
—
— — —

E b ? S and boys'
Women's and girls'

—

Other apparel - —
Transportation

—

—

—

—

Medical care

—

—

Percent change

All l t m —

Food at
feoae
—
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish —
Dairy products — — — — — —
Fruits and -vegetables — —
Otter foods at hone

Oas and electricity
—
Solid fuels and fuel oil
louse furnishings
—
—
Iousehold operation
—
P

M s a % and boys1
WOMB'S and girls' —
Other apparel

Transportation

—
—
—
—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—

FUrsoael care -----Beading and recreation
— — —
Otter goads and services — — — —

1/

0.1

.5
.5
.5
.7
.6
- 4.2
- .1

.6
.6
4.0
- .5
3.0
- 2.9
1.6

1.1
1.0
1.8
1.4
1.9
- 3.6
3.5

- .9
- 1.3
.4
.5
0
-11.3
2.9

.4
.2
.1
2.8
.2
- 5.2
1.9

.2
.3
2.3
- .2
1.2
- 7.5
3.1

- 1.4
- .2
.3

-

.2

- 4.3
- .1

0
- 1.9
- .5
1.3

.6
.3
0
2.<J
- .5
0

0
.1
0
0
- .3
2.1

-

- 1.9
- .7

.5
1/ .2
1.1
- .1
.2
- .1
0
.7
.3
.1
.3

.2
.8
.2
.1
0

-

-

.3
.3
1.5
1.5
1.4
- 4.2
1.5

1.0
1.0
.2
1.3
1.2
1.6
.8

.3
.4
2.4
1.5
0
- 4.4
1.8

0.8
.9
2.8
2.5
2.1
- 3.5
.5

1.2
1.4
2.1
1.3
- .6
5.1
- .1

.2
.4
.2
.4
.8
.3

.4

-

.1
.4
0
2.2
- .6
- .1

- .2
1/ .1
- .1
.7
- 1.3
.1

.4
.8
.1
0
1.0

.4
1.2
- .1
.7
.1

.3
.3
0

3.9
4.8
0

7.0
8.1
0

.5
4.9
0
1.6

1.7
5.5
2.7
.2

.6
.7
.3

-

-

-

.4
.7
.3
.1
.1

1.0 '
1.0
1.8
- .6
.1

.4
.4
.7

1.2
1.6
0

.5
.5
.4
.4

.1
.1
- .3
- 1.1

Change from June 1960 to August 1960.




- 0.2

0.8

—

— — — — — — —

0.3

1.0

0
.4
.9
.5

-

1960 to August 1960
0.3

0.2

—
—
—

tram May

0.5

0.2 I

—

141.6

- 0.5
-

.9
0

/

.4
.8 . .1
.2
.1
-

Q

-

.4
.7
.5
.2
.2

-

.7
.8
0

- .8
- 1.1
0

9
0
.1
.5

- 1.2
1.0

-

0.

-

-

.2
.4
.6
0
0

- .8
- 1.0
0

- 1.3
- 1.5
0

#4

#1
!3
.1

-

!3
.6
.2

0

-

-

-

-

.1
.7
.6
.3
0
.9
.9
0
.8
.1 •
.2
.1

-

-

.2
.7
0
.2
.2
.3
.6
3.0
.4
.6
.2
.3
.3
0

.2
.4
1.2

6
TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
August 1960 indexes and percent changes, July 1960 to August 1960
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49-100)
Total
Cereals and
Meats, poultry,
food at hoaie
and fish
bakery products
Percent
Percent
change
change

Total food
City

Percent
change
—

120.1

- 0.4

117.4

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

118.1

.6
.4
.4
.8
.9
.3
.5
.2
.9
.9

116.3
116.6
116.5
115.8
117.8
113.9
117.4
112.7
109.8
119.4

.2
.5
- .1
- 1.7

115.2
118.8
119.7
119.1
117.5
114.7
120.9

U.S. city average

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

120.7
119.9
118.4

120.0

-

115.8
112.9
125.5

-

120.8

116.7

118.7
122.5
123.0

-

120.4
119.6
124.0
114.8
123.1

- 1.1

121.0

120.1

-

.3
.6
.8
.1
.7

112.8

120.4
117.6

TABLE 6:

Cereals and bakery products:
—

Rolled oats

5 lb.
20 »z«
15 ez.
^#
13

Corn flakes
12
Rice, short grain
lb.
Rice, long grain
it.
Bread, white
i»..
Soda crackers
ib.
Vanilla cookies
7
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak
ib.
Sirloin steak
lb.
Chuck roast
lb.
Rib roast
ib.
Hamburger
lb.
Veal cutlets
lb„
Pork chops, center cut
lb.
Pork roast
lb.
Bacon, sliced
lb.
Ham, whole
lb.
Lamb, leg
l®.
Frankfurters
lo.
Luncheon meat, canned
12 «z#
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook - lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
lb.
Salmon, pink, canned
16 «z.
Tuna fish, canned
6 ti
»z,
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream-—----- £ gal.
Butter
lb.
Cheese, American process
£ ib.
Milk, evaporated
14fc-ez. eaa
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries
10 tt.
Orange juice concentrate — 6 as.
Lemonade concentrate —----- 6 es.
Peas, g r e e n - - — - — - - - — — 10 ®z.
Beans, green
9 #B#
Potatoes, french fried ----- 9 •«.
Fresh:
Apples
-----Ik.
Bananas
—
—
ib.
Oranges, size 200
des.
Lemons - - — — — — — — - - - - - - - - i b .
* Priced only in season.
1/ Not available.




0.1

111.3

126.1
135.3
132.8
131.3
1.1 136.1
.3 131.2
.6 128.7
0 128.2
1 . 2 132.1
1.1 148.4

.3
0
.7
.1
0
.3
.1
.5
.7
.1

115.0
109.9
111.3
104.7
112.9
106.7
106.4
105.5
103.5
111.3

-

-

-

-

.4
.6
0
2.0
1.3
.3
.7
1.1
0
.9

0
.7
.3
.1
.1
.2
.2
.4
0
0

105.5

-

.7
.6
.7
.9

134.5
147.8
139.3
137.2
141.3
125.8
151.6
134.8
148.2
136.1

112.6

112.9
112.1
111.9
106.7
117.8

108.6

115.4

108.8

0.5

116.6

0.7

1.6 116.8
.8
.1
.4
.1
.2
.6
.5
.6
.7

116.4
112.1
121.7

.4
.2
.1
.3
.7

109.7
119.0

1.0

.5
1.4

1.1

.5

116.8

110.1
115.4
114.9
111.2
113.9

120.6

118.3
122.0
105.9
117.7
109.9
119.9
121.6

2.5
1.3
.2
.4
.4

1.6
0
0
0
.9

Fruits and
vegetables

Other
foods at hoae
change

127.3

- 5.3

106.5

1.6

134.1
126.3
128.5
127.9
126.9
123.0
139.4
126.4
115.9
133.4

-

100.7

1.5
1.7
2.7

131.3
125.0
129.8
122.3
118.9
133.7
128.9
114.9
130.2
121.0

- 6.5
- .6
- 2.6
-11.9
- 6.0
- 4.6
- 6.1
- 7.3
-3.8
- 8.0

.4
4.0
7.4
5.9
6.2
4.7
6.9
2.8
5.8
6.9

106.8

105.0
111.4
109,
109,

1.2
1.0
2.3

106,

1.2

101,
99,
106,

.1
.4
.9

1.6

110.6

106.1
106.6

2.4

115.9
107.7
111.8
105.6
104.2
105.2
111.2

1.2

2.1
.4
.4

2.1
3.1
1.8
2.7

Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
August
I960
Cent 8

Food and unit

Flour, wheat
Biscuit mix
Macaroni
Corn meal

137.7

- 0.4

Dairy
products
Percent
change

July
1960
Cents

55.7
27.0
23.1
13.1

55.7
26.9
23.1
13.1

25.8

25.8

20.5
20.5
29.0
24.4

20.5
29.0
24.4

22.1

18.6

105.6
109.4

60.8
82.0
52.2
140.1
89.8
64.2
71.0

61.6

73.5
63.2
50.0
43.0
47.2
55.3

66.1

32.9
24.7

26.0

86.6
74.1
33.9
15.8

26.7

22.1

13.0

20.0

23.0
19.8
(I/)
15.4

82.1

18.7

22.1
18.6
20.6

105.7
109.8

60.6

82.3
52.9
141.1
89.6
63.7
67.5
61.5
75.1
61.8
50.4
43.8,
47.3
55.4
65.9
32.8
24.4
25.8
86.3
74.0
34.0
15.7

26.6
22.0
13.3
19.9
23.0
19.8
22.5
14.6
78.4

18.1

Food and unit
Fresh—Continued
Grapefruit *
— eaoh
Peaches *
lb.
Strawberries *
pt.
Grapes, seedless *
lb.
Watermelons *
lb.
Potatoes
10 lb.
Sweet potatoes
lb.
Onions
lb.
Car rot 8
lb.
Lettuce
bead
Celery
lb.
Cabbage
lb.
Tomatoes
lb.
Beans, green
lb.
Canned:
Orange juice
46-*z. eaa
Pineapple juice
46 es. •«•
Peaches —
eaa
Pineapple
eaa
Fruit cocktail
*303 eaa
C o m , cream style
j*303 eaa
Peas, green
^303 eaa
Tomatoes
1*303 eaa
Tomato juice
46 »z. eaa
Baby foods
5 «z.
Dried:
Prunes
lb.
Beans
is.
Other foods at home:
Tomato soup
lofc te 11-az. eaa
Beans,with pork------ 15-ez. eaa
Pickles, 81 iced
15 »z.
Catsup, tomato - — - — , — * — 14 «z.
Potato chips
4 az.
Coffee
lb. e»a
Coffee
lb. bag
Tea bags
pkg. ef 16
Cola drink, carton
36 ez.
Shortening, hydrogenated — 3 ib.
Margarine, colored
lb.
Lard
lb.
Salad dressing
pt»
:
Peanut butter
lb.
Sugar
5 lb.
Corn syrup —
24 ec.
Grape jelly
— - 12
Chocolate bar
1 as.
Eggs, Grade A, large
d*z.
Gelatin, flavored
--3 te 4 az

August
I960
Cents

July
I960
Cent 8

15.4
14.6

15.8
17.1

23.5
3.7
70.6
17.3

32.9
4.3
77.5
a/)

15.8
16.3
13.4
8.4
21.1
19.6

15.6

42.6
32.9
33.9
38.1
27.1
19.2

42.4
33.1
33.7
38.0
27.1
19.2
20.8
16.3
32.0

10.1

21.0

16.1
32.1
10.1

10.2

18.2

14.8
9.0
30.6
20.7

10.0

39.6
16.5

39.6

12.5
14.8
26.4
22.6
27.3
74.9
58.1
24.5
30.1
81.8
26.7
19.2
36.0
55.6
58.6
26.7
28.7
5.1
56.2
9.3

12.5
14.8
26.4
22.7
27.2
76.2
60.0
24.5
30.0

16.6

80.6

26.7

18.8

36.1
55.6
57.4

26.6

28.7
5.1
51.6
9.3
LABOR - D. C.

7
Brief Explanation of the CPI
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 k6 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 patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
k6 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Mail questionnaires axe used
to obtain local transit fares, public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and
certain other items which change in price infrequently. Prices of most other goods and
services 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 sure then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 19^7-^9 « 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 Porks, N. Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Huntington, W. Virginia
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsi:

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 and historical tables of index numbers for the
United States city average and for 20 large cities are available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or any of its regional offices (addresses below).
The historical tables 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 Peachtree
Street, N. E.
Zone 9




New York
Chicago
San Francisco
Boston
3^1 Ninth Ave. 105 West Adams St. 630 Sansome St. 18 Oliver St.
Zone 1
Zone 3
Zone 11
Zone 10
LABOR - D. C.