Full text of CPI Detailed Report : August 1963

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Released September 25, 1963
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR AUGUST 1963
The Consumer Price Index in August remained unchanged from its July
level of 107.1 (1957-59»100), the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics announced today. Lower food prices offset higher transportation and recreation costs. The August index was up by 1.5 percent from a year ago, principally because
of higher price levels for food and housing, although all major groups of goods and
services contributed to the increase.
FOOD

The food index in August dropped 0.2 percent as sharp declines in
fresh fruit and vegetable prices more than offset higher prices for
meats, fresh milk, and eggs. Prices of fresh tomatoes, lettuce, corn, grapes, and watermelons decreased substantially. Orange prices continued to decline in August, but frozen
orange juice concentrate and canned orange juice continued to rise.
Meat prices averaged higher in August as beef, pork, and frankfurter
prices increased, while prices of lamb, canned luncheon meat, fish, and chickens were
lower. Fresh milk and egg prices rose seasonally, as production dropped. Soft drink
prices continued to advance because of earlier increases in industrial sugar prices.
Retail sugar prices declined again in August, but remained 26 percent above a year ago.
Over the past year, food prices averaged 2.1 percent higher, largely because of an
advance of 8.6 percent in prices of fruits and vegetables, with smaller increases for
most other important classes of foods. Prices of meats, poultry, and fish were 1.2 percent below a year earlier.
HOUSING

The housing index remained at its July level in August, and was 1.1
percent above a year ago. Residential rents edged up another 0.1
percent during the month and costs of housekeeping services and coal also advanced. Gas
and electricity bills and housefurnishings prices declined.

OTHER GOODS
AND SERVICES

Transportation costs averaged 0.5 percent higher in August. Price
increases for gasoline were partially offset by declines in new car
prices. Costs of medical care continued to rise slightly, reflecting
higher physicians1 and dentists1 fees and increased rates for hospital rooms. Higher
costs for motion picture admissions were responsible for a further rise in the reading
and recreation index in August. Apparel edged upward slightly because of price increases
for men's tailored clothing.

COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS

As a result of the August national index, cost-of-living allowances
will increase by 1 to 3 cents an hour for about 150,000 workers. Of
these, 130,000 workers in the aerospace industry will receive 2 or 3
cents and 6,000 chemical employees will receive 1 cent, based on quarterly reviews. In
addition, about 4,000 food processing employees in Michigan will receive a 4-cent quarterly increase based on the Detroit index and 1,000 delicatessen workers in Illinois will
receive a 1-cent quarterly increase based on the Chicago index.




TABLE 1: Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, August 1963
and percent changes from selected dates
(1957-59"100 unless otherwise specified)
Indexes

Percent change to
August 1963 from—

Indexes
(1957-59-100)

i947.49.lOO

1939-100

August
1963

August
1963

Group
July
1963

May
1963

107.1

0

0.8

1.5

131.4

221.2

106.2
104.8
109.2
100.2
103.3
118.7
97.8
113.1

- 0.2
- .3
- .1
1.2
.9
- 3.8
.2
.2

1.7
2.0
- .2
3.5
1.4
.3
3.7
.4

2.1
2.2
1.2
- 1.2
.3
8.6
2.9
1.7

125.1
121.4
144.7
111.8
118.0
141.2
108.3
<l/>

265.6
257.8
252.8
269.0
236.8
305.0
223.8
a/)

106.0
106.8
107.2
102.6
98.3
110.6

106.0
106.7
108.1
102.3
98.5
110.3

0
.1
.8
.3
.2
.3

.3
.2
- .2
.2
- .1
.5

1.1
.9
- .7
2.5
- .2
3.0

135.2
146.8
125.0
139.8
102.3
145.0

177.6
169.6
119.1
247.9
191.6
211.9

Other a p p a r e l — — — — — — — — — — — —

104.0
104.7
101.2
110.6
101.1

103.9
104.5
101.2
110.5
101.1

.1
.2
0
.1
0

.3
.5
.1
.3
.2

1.5
1.7
1.3
1.2
.8

111.5
113.8
100.5
144.9
93.1

212.4
224.1
184.4
288.0
229.3

Private
Public

108.3
106.9
117.1

107.8
106.4
116.6

.5
.5
.4

.8
.8
.5

.8
.7
1.2

152.6
139.3
218.0

217.3
212.7
268.1

117.1

116.9

.2

.6

2.2

169.2

233.2

108.0

108.0

0

.2

1.1

138.3

232.2

129.8

206.1
195.0

All items
Food at home
Cereals and bakery p r o d u c t s — — — —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy p r o d u c t s — — — — — —
Fruits and v e g e t a b l e s — — — — — —
Other foods at h o m e — — — — — — —
Food away from home
Rent-—
—
Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y — — — — — — — — —
Solid and petroleum fuels
House furnishings-------Apparel———
........
Men's and b o y s - . . . . . . . . . . . . .....

—

—

Personal care-—

August
1963

July
1963

107.1
106.0
104.5
109.1
101.4
104.2
114.2
98.0
113.3

-

August
1962

Reading and r e c r e a t i o n — — — — — — — —

112.1

111.5

.5

1.3

1.6

Other goods and services---—

108.0

108.0

0

1.9

2.4

137.6

All items less food—

107.6

107.5

.1

.6

1.3

134.9

195.3

All items less shelter—

107.2

107.1

.1

1.0

1.6

129.1

233.0

Commodities

104.7
105.5
106.0
105.0
103.8
102.5
105.7
101.4
100.2
119.0
98.5

104.7
105.5
106.2
104.8
103.7
102.4
105.5
101.3
100.5
118.1
98.5

0
0
.2
.2
.1
.1
.2
.1
- .3
.8
0

1.1
1.2
1.7
.8
.3
.3
1.0
.4
- .9
2.9
.2

1.5
1.9
2.1
1.7
1.4
1.5
1.9
.3
.8
.1
.2

120.9
123.9
125.1
123.0
111.3
105.5
132.9
112.4
134.7

234.5
241.0
265.6
209.4
213.5
(i/>
201.6
196.1
236.2

101.6

177.3

103.6

103.5

.1

.6

1.0

117.7

198.0

111.7
106.8
112.6

111.5
106.7
112.4

.2
.1
.2

.5
.2
.6

1.6
.9
1.8

158.6
146.8
161.4

197.1
169.6
219.6

110.7
112.7
120.4
111.2

110.7
112.4
120.2
110.9

0
.3
.2
.3

.5
.4
.8
.8

2.0
.9
2.6
1.7

145.2
194.7
179.6
143.6

166.9
243.1
254.8
246.1

$0,934

$0,934

0

- .8

- 1.5

$0,761

$0,452

Special groups:

Food
Nondurables less food
Apparel less f o o t w e a r — — — — — —
Nondurables less food and a p p a r e l -

Services less rent—---—
------Household operation services, gas,
and e l e c t r i c i t y — — — — — — — — —
Medical care services

-

-

<!/>

(I/>

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar

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




TABIS 2s Constasr Prioe Index—111 items index*8 and percent changes, selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

3

(1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)

Indexes
(1957-59=100)

May
1963

May
1963

August
1962

106.2

105.5

0.8

105 7
104 4
108.4
109.3
107.5

105.0
102.4
107.6
107.8
106.2

104.4
102.3
106.6
106.6
105.2

# 7
2.0
.7
1.4
1.2

August
1963

May
1963

August
1962

105.1
106.2
107.6
109.1
106.8

104.3
104.4
106.7
107.4
106.1

103.8
104.6
106.0
106.7
104.8

.8
1.7
.8
1.6
.7

July
1963

April
1963

July
1962

April
1963

109.8
107.1
107.7
107.9
106.8

109.2
106.4
106.5
106.3
106.2

107.2
106.0
105.7
106.0
104.8

.5
.7
1.1
1.5
.6

June
1963

March
1963

June
1962

March
1963

104.9
106.8
104.6
105.6
108.9

104.9
106.2
104.5
105.8
108.4

104.0
104.8
103.3
104.4
107.5

August
1963

City

Percent change to
Aug. 1963 from-August
1962

Indexes
1947-49-30C 1939-100
August
1963

August
1963

1.5

131.4

221.2

1.2
2.1
1.7
2.5
2.2

133.3
128.7
135.2
131.7
132.0

227.5
218.1
223.8
219.1
223.0

August
1963

August
1963

1.3
1.5
1.5
2.2
1.9

130.5
130.8
128.4
137.1
128.6

220.6
219.9
219.4
231.7
212.8

July
1962

July
1963

July
1963

2.4
1.0
1.9
1.8
1.9

136.0
132.5
133.2
132.9
132.3

223.0
214.7
219.6
228.9
227.0

June
1962

June
1963

June
1963

.9
1.9
1.3
1.1
1.3

129.9
132.5
127.3
131.0
138.2

222.8
228.9
218.1
221.0
235.9

Cities prioed monthly V
TktrMt......... ,,-•••

-

Fh1lAA+il*1*

. ...........

Cities prioed in February, May, August,
November
2/
ClevelandHouston—
ScrantonSeattle
Washington, D. C.

—
—

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

— —

Cities prioed in March, June, September,
December
2/
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

—
—

—---—

May
1963

0
.6
.1
.2
.5

August
1962

J/ Rents priced bimonthly.
2/ Foods, fuels, and a few other itema prioed monthly; rents and other oonodities and servioes priced quarterly*

TABI£ 31 Consumer Price Index—Percent changes fraa July 1963 to August 1963
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and camodity groups

Btsrtlng

City

All
items

United States city average—

0

Chicago
Detroit
Los A n g e l e s - — — - — —
New York
Philadelphia

- 0.3
.5
.4
.1
.1




Food

Housing

.1
.4
.6
.1
.1

- 0.2
0
.1
.3
.1

-

-

-

.4
.8
0
0
.5

Medical Personal
and
care
care
recreation

Other
goods *
serrloes

0.5

0.2

0

0.5

0

.5
3.6
3.7
0
- .1

.2
.1
0
.4
.1

- 0.2
- .2
.4
- .2
- .2

- 2.7
1.8
1.3
.1
3.0

0.2
.1
.1
0
0

0.1

0

- 0.2

-

Apparel

Transportation

-

TABLE 4: Consumer Price Index—All items and commodity groups
August 1963 indexes and percent changes, May 1963 to August 1963
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in August 1963
U.S.
City
Chicago
Average

Group

Cleveland

Los
Angeles

New
York

Phi la
delphte

Seattle( Washington
D. C.

Indexes (1957-59=100)
All items

107 1

105.7

105..1

104.,4

106.,2

108..4

109..3

107..5

107.>6

109. 1

106.8

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

106
104
109
101
104
114
98

0
5
1
4
2
2
0

107.6
107.2
109.6
105.1
110.8
114.9
99.6

102.,6
101..4
106.,9
100..7
99..8
109..5
94..1

103.,0
102.,1
102..4
99..6
104.9
110.,7
95.,9

104..7
102..1
106..8
98..7
102..1
110..9
97.,0

107..1
104.6
117..1
98.,2
107.,9
114..9
93..4

108..1
105..6
112..0
102..3
102..6
118..6
97..2

105..2
103..3
105..0
98..9
103.,1
115..4
98..5

104.,4
103.,0
107..9
99.,4
99..1
113.6
99.,4

107. 8
105.,3
108.,8
103..8
108.,4
112.,2
97.,8

105.5
103.7
108.7
98.6
103.7
112.6
100.1

Housing
Rent
Gas and electricity-Solid and petroleum fuels-Housefurnishings
Household operation

106..0
106..8
107..2
102.6
98.,3
110..6

104.1

98.,1
94..4
106..2
99.,5
97.,5
105.,4

105.,3
99..8
132.,5

108.,2
114.,5

98.,3
114.,2

98.,5
105.,9

110..0
113..5
105.,6
105..3
103.,6
112.8

107..3

105.7
103.0
100.0
108.1

102.,1
101.,4
107.,4
106.,9
93.,7
110.5

103..7
103.,4
97.,5
116.,4

105..5
107..2
105.,5
95.8
95.,1
111.,9

109..8
109..7
100.,1
104.,0
96.,9
116.,0

104.9
109.7
104.4
104.5
98.0
111.3

Apparel
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel

104.0
104.,7
101.2
110,.6
101..1

100.3
102.7
94.2
110.0
99.6

105.,1
103.,9
102..7
114.,4
103.,9

105.,6
103.,4
105.,7
111.,0
100.,6

106.6
106..2
106.,3
110..9
102..5

104.,1
105.,5
102.,4
108..8
100..2

104..9
107.,0
101..7
111..3
101..6

105.,1
105.,5
103..8
110.,1
101..9

105., 1
108.,1
103..0
107.,5
100..4

107.,1
108.6
104.2
113..8
104..1

105.7
104.9
103.6
113.2
104.9

Transportat ion
Private
Public

108.,3
106.,9
117..1

106.7
106.8
107.4

108.,2
105.8
121.,7

107..0
105.6
114.,4

106.,2
104.8
115..1

113.,1
109.,4
138.5

106.,4
108.,5
100.,6

111.,7
108.,3
123..7

106.,6
106.,1
110.,1

110.,7
109.,7
118.7

107.0
105.9
113.8

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

117..1
108.,0
112.,1
108.,0

120.8
107.3
100.1
101.8

127.0
104..2
107.,9
107..6

123.,2
106.,4
112.,5
109.,2

110.,1
111.,0
111.,2
107.,9

115.,4
106.,1
103.,1
107..3

116..9
107.,6
117..0
111.,3

121.6
106..6
103..2
110.,0

115.,9
115.1
130.,0
112..5

111.,0
106.,1
107.3
110.5

125.2
106.6
113.1
103.5

1..6

0..7

—

--

—

--

Percent change from May 1963 to August 1963

Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products—
Keats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Housing
RentGas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
Hous e furnish ings
Household operation

Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel
Transportation
Private
Public
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

0..8

0.7

0,.8

2..0

1..7

0,.7

1,.4

1,.2

0..8

1..7
2.,0
- ..2
3..5
1.,4
.3
3.,7

2.8
3.3
- 1.0
5.8
.4
3.4
4.4

1,.9
2.,1
.3
2..9
3,.2
.4
3..5

2,.3
2..5
- 1..3
4.6
,9
2..8
3..3

2..6
3..3
5.,5
3.,0
3.,1
2..7
3..4

1,.1
1..3
1,
3,.4
- .2
- 2,.3
3..2

1,.7
2..0

1,.9
2,.1

1,.8
2..5
2..6
3..4

3,.1
2..6
.4
3,.6

1..3
1.. 1
.4
2..7
.3
- 1..6
3..6

1..0
1., 1
1..5
2.,7
,8
- 4.,3
3..8

1..2
Q
0

.2

.9
1/ .
1/
.9
2, .1
.5
.6

.7
5
1.,0
2.,6
,6
,2

2.,4

1..0
- 2..2
_ .1
.9

.3
(2
-

,2
-

,1

-

,5

—

.3
.5
.1
.3
.2

-

.8
.8
.5

-

.6
.2
1..3
1.,9

1/ Change from June 1963 to August 1963.




-

,2

.1
0
.5
.8
.5

.9
0
- 2.1
- .6
.7

-

.2
.3 i/
0
1.,3
- 1..5
2..9
-

-

.8
.7
1.,5
.2
.5

0
Q
.7
.9
.6
-.1

0
6.,2

.8
1.,1
1..2
.3
-.1

1..6
.8
2.,3
1.,3
.6

--

-„

-

.7
.7
0

-

.8
.2
6.,0

3..4
4..2
0

.7
.1
.1
.9

.4
- 1..3
.8
.4

6..8
- 1.,2
5..3
.3

0

-

.2

- •.2

,2

.5
.2
.3
0

1..7
1..9
2..1
.8
1..6

4..1
4..7
0

1.,4
1..7
0

1..1
1..4
0

.1
.4
.5
.7

,2
.2
1..4
1.>2

0
.4
.9
4.8

-

.6

-

.1
.1
0
.3
0

,4

- 1..6
.3

.1
,2

- ,

0

.2

.1
.2
.8
.8
.7
.5
1,.6

0
0
0

- 1..2
- 1..4
0

2,.5
2..8
0

.4
.4
3..2
5.,4

.1
.3
1..6
4.0

.5
- 1,.3
.5
.5

-

2.,1
2.,2
,.1
3.,2
2.6
1..4
3,.2

_

.2
2
.6
1,.4
.2
- 1..9

-

_
_

0
.7
.4
.1
.1
.8
1..0
0

-

.1
.3
1..4
.9

5

City

U. S. city averageAtlanta
Baltimore
Boston
—
C h i c a g o — — —
Cincinnati———
Detroit——————
H o u s t o n — — —
Kansas C i t y — — —
Los A n g e l e s —
Minneapolis———
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
—
Portland, Oreg.----St. L o u i s — — — —
San F r a n c i s c o —
Scranton————
Seattle
—
Washington, D. C . —

TABLE 5: Conaumer Price Index—Food and ita subgroups
August 1963 Indexes and Percent Changes, July 1963 to August 1963
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1957-59-100)
Dairy
Cereals and Meats, poultry,
Total
pnoducts
and fish
fOAd »t hAM bakery product!
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent Index Percent
Index
Index
Index
Index change
change
change
change
change
106.0

- 0.2

104 8 105 7 109 0
107.6
103.,7
103.,6
103..0
104.,7
105..2
107..1 102.,4
108..1
105.,2
104..4
106..2
105..5
107.,1
104..4
107..8
105..5

.2
.3
.4
.1
.2

0
.4
.1
.1
.6

- 1.3
- .1
.1
- .2
.4
- .2
- .5
- .6
0
0

104.5

- 0.3

109.1

- 0.1

101.,4

1.,2

104.,2

0.,9

104.4
103.3
106.7
107.2
102.2
101.4
102.1
102.1
104.5
104.6

-

104.9
115.1
111.4
109.6
103.2
106.9
102.4
106.8
109.0
117.1

-

102.,1
100..3
103.,7
105.,1
102..1
100.,7
99.,6
98.,7
100..3
98,,2

1..6
1.,9
1.,2
2..0
2..8
2.,1
1..9
.,4
1.,0
.9

100,.7
98.6
100,,7
110,,8
100,,8
99..8
104.,9
102,.1
103,,2
107..9

- 2,,1
,1
,9
.2
.1
3..2
.8
2.,6
1..0
.1
-

100.6
105.6
103.3
104.1
104.8
103.5
105.1
103.0
105.3
103.7

-

.2
.5
.1
.1
.2
.1
.5
.1
.1
.7

- 1.6
- .2

0
-

.2
.5
.3
.7
.7
.1
.5

99.3
112.0
105.0
110.9
107.3
106.1
110.6
107.9
108.8
108.7

-

-

.1
.2
.4
.6
.1
.2
1.1
.5
.4
.1
.1
.2
.5
.8
.2
.4
.1
.1
.3
.5

98..9
102..3
98.,9
104.,2
104..8
101.>8
103.,0
99..4
103..8
98.6

-

.7
.8
2..0
1..2
2..9
1..5
1,.5
.8
.9
1,.1

104.3
102..6
103.,1
99..7
107..0
103..1
106..4
99..1
108,.4
103..7

-

.9
1..6
.1
2, .9
.5
.5
.1
.2

0
.1

Fru
veg
Percent
Index
change

Priced only in season.




0.2

114..2

- 3.8

98.0

114.. 1
110..9
123..0
114..9
113.,1
109..5
110..7
110..9
114.0
114..9

- 1.0
-

1.7
3.0
2.9
5.2
5.5
.5
2.1
4.0

102.7
97.9
99.3
99.6
94.8
94.1
95.9
97.0
100.6
93.4

.5
.4
.7
.2

105..3
118..6
115..4
109..6
113..4
111..3
113..3
113..6
112,.2
112..6

-

8.7
2.8
2.5
6.2
4.6
4.5
6.1
5.5
3.5
2.9

97.2
97.2
98.5
99.0
96.0
98.2
96.5
99.4
97.8
100.1

.5
.3
.7

TABLE 6: Consumer Price Index—Average retail prices of selected foods
U. 3. city average
July
August
Food and unit
Food and unit
1963
1963
Cereals and bakery products:
Centa
Cents
Fresh—Cont inued
57.2
Flour, wheat
5 lb.
57.3
Grapefruit-—-———
—each
Biscuit mix
40 oz.
48.0
48.1
Peaches *
lb.
M a c a r o n i - - - - — — — - — — 1 6 oz.
24.9
25.0
Strawberries * — — — — — — p t .
Corn « e a l - — — — — — — l b .
14.5
14.5
Grapes, seedless * — —
—lb.
Rolled o a t s — — — — — — 1 8 oz.
24.1
24.1
Vateraelons *
—
lb.
Corn f l a k e s — — " — — — 1 2 oz.
28.4
28.4
Potatoea
—
10 lb.
Rice, short grain—------—---lb.
19.4
19.4
Sweet potatoes-———lb.
Rice, long g r a i n - — — — — — — l b .
21.6
21.6
Corn *
—doz. ears
Bread, w h i t e — —
-lb.
21.6
Oniona—--——-—-—-——lb.
21.6
Soda c r a c k e r s — - — — — - — — l b .
31.0
Carrots—
—--—
-—lb.
30.9
Sandwich c o o k i e s — — — — — — 1 6 oz.
Lettuce-—————--——head
52.2
52.1
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Celery-———————
lb.
Round s t e a k — — — — — — — — — l b .
Cabbage—---—-——------lb.
104.3
107.0
Sirloin steak
lb.
Tomatoes—-------—-—-—- — lb.
108.4
111.3
Chuck r o a s t - — — — — - — - — - l b .
Beans, green——
—--—-lb.
57.2
60.2
Rib r o a s t — — — - — — — - - — - - l b .
Canned:
82.4
83.4
Hamburger-—---———————lb.
Orange j u i c e — —
— 4 6 oz. c«n
50.6
50.4
Veal cutlets
lb.
Pineapple juice—
46 oz. can
152.4
151.8
Pork chops, center c u t - — - - — l b .
Peaches---—
— - - — — - # 2 % can
90.9
92.7
Pork r o a s t - — — — — — — - - - - - l b .
Pineapple—---—
--#2 can
64.1
64.7
Bacon, s l i c e d — — — — — — - — - l b .
Fruit cocktail
#303 can
71.4
73.4
Haa, w h o l e - — — — — — — — l b .
Corn, creaa style-—---#303 can
60.1
61.0
Laab, leg
lb.
Peas, green--—------—#303 can
73.6
72.5
Frankfurters
lb.
Tomatoes---------—------#303 can
62.6
63.0
Luncheon meat, c a n n e d — - — 1 2 oz.
Toaato juice---—-----46 oz. can
49.3
49.2
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook-lb.
Baby f o o d s - — - - - — — 4 % to 5 oz.
39.9
39.6
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen—-lb.
Dried:
53.0
52.7
Haddock, fillet, frozen—
lb.
Prunes---—-—————-—lb.
57.7
57.4
Salaon, pink, c a n n e d — - — - 1 6 oz.
B e a n s - - — — — —
-lb.
69.9
69.6
Tuna fish, canned-—--6 to 6% oz.
Other
foods at home:
33.8
33.0
Dairy products:
Toaato soup---——10% to 11 oz. can
24.0
24.4
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Beans, with pork---—--16 oz. can
25.8
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
26.1
Pickles, sliced
15 oz.
Ice c r e a a — — — — — — % gal.
85.5
85.1
Cataup, tomato———
14 oz.
Butter-------------------------lb.
74.9
74.9
Potato chips——
— - — - 4 oz.
Cheese, American process——% lb.
36.3
36.5
Coffee
lb. can
Milk, e v a p o r a t e d — — 1 4 % oz. can
15.4
15.4
C o f f e e — — — — — — — — - n , t bag
Fruits and vegetables:
Coffee, i n s t a n t - — - — - — — - 6 oz.
Frozen:
Tea b a g s — - — - — — — p k g . of 48
S t r a w b e r r i e s — — — — — — 1 0 oz.
27.6
Cola drink, carton-—-------72 oz.
27.7
Orange juice concentrate—-6 oz.
32.2
32.7
Shortening, hydrogenated——-3 lb.
Leaonade concentrate———6 oz.
14.4
Margarine, c o l o r e d - - - — - — — — l b .
14.5
Peas, g r e e n - — — — — 1 0 oz.
21.3
21.1
Beans, g r e e n — - - - - — — - 9 oz.
23.7
23.7
Salad d r e s s i n g - — - — — — — — — p t .
Potatoes, franch fried-—-9 oz.
18.1
18.2
Peanut b u t t e r - — - - — - — — — — — l b .
Fresh:
Sugar
5 lb.
22.8
22.5
A p p l e s — — — — — — l b .
Corn syrup
24 oz.
15.8
16.2
Bananas——————————lb.
Grape jelly
-12 oz.
93.3
92.1
Oranges, size 2 0 0 — — — d o z .
Chocolate bar
1 oz.
22.6
22.1
Lemons——————————lb.
Eggs, Grade A, l a r g e — - - — — - d o z .
Gelatin, f l a v o r e d - — — 3 to 4 oz.
*

Other
foods at hoae
Percent
change

-4.7

August
1963

.1
.1

.4
.3
.3

.1

0
2.5

.2
1.5
.8
1.7

.2

July
1963
Cents

22.4
18.5
*

21.2
18.2
*

31.0
4.7
72.0
16.1
67.3
13.5
15.4
21.8
13.4
9.4
23.8
21.4

38.0
5.0
70.4
15.1
96.2
13.2
15.5
29.2
15.1
9.8
36.5
24.1

55.9
34.3
33.5
39.7
25.8
19.3
22.5
15.6
31.9
10.9

54.9
33.6
33.2
39.5
25.4
19.3
22.5
15.5
31.9
10.9

40.1
17.9

40.0
17.8

12.3
15.0
27.1
22.2
27.9
69.8
56.5
92.6
64.1
55.0
83.4
27.6
19.7
38.1
57.8
73.7
28.7
30.5
4.5
52.6
10.1

12.4
15.0
27.0
22.1
28.0
69.6
57.1
92.4
63.9
54.0
83.2
27.4
19.6
38.0
57.9
79.2
28.7
30.3
4.5
50.6
10.0

6

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
h6 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services axe collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Mail questionnaires are used
to obtain local transit faxes, 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 axe then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent. Index numbers axe computed on the base 1957-59 = 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
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

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

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 axe available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or any of its regional offices (addresses below).
The historical tables for the U.S. 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
1371 Peachtree
Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

341 Ninth Avenue
New York, New York 10001

105 West Adams Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603

630 Sansome Street
San Francisco, California 94111

18 Oliver Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

1365 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44114