Full text of CPI Detailed Report : August 1973
The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
the consumer price index
LJSLJ
for August 1973
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Peter J. Brennan, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Julius Shiskin, Commissioner
CONTENTS
Page
Price movements
OFFICE OF PRICES
AND LIVING CONDITIONS
Charts 1—4.
W. John Layng, Assistant Commissioner
Table 1.
a monthly report
on consumer price movements
including statistical tables
and technical notes.
Table 2.
Table 3.
Table 4.
Table 5.
Table 6.
Table 7.
Table 8.
1
Consumer price indexes for all items and major
components, and rates of change over 1-, 3-, 6-, and
12-months spans
4
CPI—United States city average for urban wage earners
and clerical workers, by commodity and service groups,
and expenditure classes
8
CPI -United States city average for urban wage earners
and clerical workers, by commodity and service groups,
and expenditure classes
9
CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wage
earners and clerical workers, all items most recent index
and percent changes from selected dates
10
CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wage
earners and clerical workers, major groups, percent
change from July 1973 to August 1973
10
CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wage
earners and clerical workers, commodity groups, August
1973, and percent changes from May 1973
11
CPI—United States and selected areas for urban wage
earners and clerical workers, food and its subgroups,
August 1973, and percent changes from July 1973
13
CPI—United States city average for urban wage earners
and clerical workers, food items, August 1973 indexes and
percent changes from selected dates
14
CPI—United States city average for urban wage earners
and clerical workers, indexes for selected items and
groups, August 1973, and percent changes from selected
dates
16
Price Movements
August 1973
The Consumer Price Index rose 1.8 percent in August
to 135.1 percent of its 1967 base. A substantial increase
in food prices, primarily for meats, poultry, and eggs,
accounted for about 80 percent of the rise in the CPI.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the July-to-August increase in the CPI was 1.9 percent. In the 6-month period that ended in August, the CPI rose at a seasonally
adjusted annual rate of 10 percent; over the 12-month
period the rate of increase was 7.5 percent.
The August increase in the CPI was the sharpest
1-month rise since September 1947, mainly because of
the record 6.1 percent rise in the food index. The nonfood commodities index increased 0.5 percent in August
after seasonal adjustment, slightly above the average for
recent months. The services index rose 0.7 percent, the
largest monthly rise in almost 3 years.
The price freeze, in effect since June 13, was terminated for all foods except beef on July 18 and for
most other items on August 12. Food prices were col-
lected on August 7th, 8th, and 9th, and prices for other
items were collected throughout the month.
Monthly change in detail (not seasonally adjusted)
The index for food purchased in grocery stores rose
7.4 percent; this index usually declines in August. Most
of the August increase was due to unusually sharp advances in prices of poultry (45.8 percent), eggs (31.1
percent), and pork (28.4 percent). Beef and veal prices
also increased sharply. Prices rose for bread, flour, milk,
and most other food items, except fresh fruits and vegtables. Although the decline in fresh fruit prices was
more than usual for August, the decline in fresh vegetable
prices was less.
Effective July 18—under the first step of Phase IV
regulations covering food—retailers were allowed to increase prices on all food, except beef, to reflect price
increases for raw agricultural products since June 8.
Table A . Percent changes in CPI and components, selected periods
Changes in all items
at seasonally adjusted
compound annual rates
Changes from preceding month
Month
A l l items
Unadjusted
Commodities
less food
Food
Seasonally Unadadjusted justed
Seasonally Unadadjusted justed
Services
Seasonally Unadadjusted justed
From
From
From
3 months 6 months 12 months
ago
ago
ago
1972:
August . . .
September
October . .
November
December
0.2
.4
.3
.2
.3
0.3
.4
.3
.3
.2
0.3
.2
.1
.4
.5
0.5
.7
.6
.7
-.1
0.1
.7
.4
.2
.1
0.3
.3
0
.2
.2
0.2
.2
.4
.2
.4
3.2
4.4
4.2
4.3
3.4
2.8
3.4
3.8
3.7
3.9
2.9
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.4
1973:
January . .
February .
March . . .
April
May
June
July
August . . .
.3
.7
.9
.7
.6
.7
.2
1.8
.5
.7
.9
.6
.6
.6
.2
1.9
2.1
1.9
2.6
1.5
1.0
1.4
.8
6.0
2.1
1.9
2.4
1.4
1.1
-.5
.3
.5
.7
.6
.6
-.2
.2
.2
.3
.5
.4
.4
.5
.1
.5
.2
.4
.3
.3
.4
.4
.2
.7
4.0
5.7
8.6
9.2
8.7
7.4
5.7
11.4
4.1
5.0
5.9
6.6
7.2
8.0
7.4
10.0
3.7
3.9
4.7
5.1
5.5
5.9
5.7
7.5
.9
.5
6.1
Retail price increases were limited to a dollar-for-dollar
pass through of increased costs. In August, the wholesale price index for farm products and processed foods
and feeds climbed 17.6 percent. Prices of most agricultural products including livestock, poultry, and eggs rose
sharply. The largest increases occurred in grains and
manufactured animal feeds.
The index for food away from home—restaurant
meals and snacks—increased 1.1 percent in August.
The index for nonfood commodities, which usually
declines in August, rose 0.2 percent. Prices of apparel
rose instead of declining as they usually do in August.
Higher prices, particularly for yearround items, were reported as prices returned to regular or higher levels
following sales, or rose as a result of higher wholesale
prices. Prices for houses, home maintenance and repair
commodities, and fuel oil also increased. The effect of
these increases was moderated by declines in prices of
new and used cars. The decline in new car prices was
smaller than usual for August, because concessions on
small cars did not increase in August as a result of
growing demand and short supply.
The index for consumer services rose 0.7 percent in
August. A rise in mortgage interest costs, primarily due
to increases in mortgage interest rates, accounted for
more than half the rise in the service index. The increase
in the mortgage interest rates index reflect higher rates
for conventional loans and the increase from 7.0 to 7.5
percent on VA-guaranteed loans announced in July.
The residential telephone service index advanced 1.0
percent as rates increased in several cities following the
price freeze. Charges for housekeeping and home maintenance services also increased. The index for residential
rents rose 0.6 percent, the largest monthly increase since
February 1971. The index for medical care services
continued to increase moderately, and the index for
transportation services edged up only slightly.
Diffusion of individual price changes
Approximately 117,000 individual prices were collected directly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in
August for use in the index. Approximately 80 percent
of these quotations (accounting for about 40 percent of
the weight of the CPI market basket) represent monthly
comparisons. Sixty-two percent of these monthly comparisons showed no change, 29 percent showed an increase, and 9 percent a decrease, as can be seen from
table B. The proportion of food prices increasing in
August was considerably larger and the proportion showingno change was smaller than in July. The August index
also includes approximately 23,000 price comparisons
from periods before July, 18,000 of which cover the
quarterly span from May to August. About 20 percent of
these quarterly price comparisons increased, compared
with 17 percent in the April-to-July period. The proportion of restaurant meal prices increasing was much
larger in the May-to-August period than in the preceding
3-month period. In addition, about 4,700 rental units
were surveyed in August, and 28 percent of these reported rent increases from February 1973, more than
the proportion reporting increases for the 6-month period that ended in July.
Table B. Percent distribution of monthly price cc
1971
February
April
March
March
to
April
All items 2
Increases
Decreases
No change
100
15
10
75
100
14
12
74
Food at home
Increases
Decreases
No change
100
16
12
72
Commodities less food . . . .
Increases
Decreases
No change
Services
Increases
Decreases
No change
Item
May
to
June
June
to
July
100
13
12
75
100
15
11
74
100
18
10
72
100
16
11
73
100
15
13
72
100
14
13
73
100
17
12
71
100
20
11
69
100
18
13
69
100
10
5
85
100
7
7
86
100
8
6
86
100
6
7
87
100
8
85
100
8
6
86
100
3
1
96
100
6
4
100
7
5
88
100
5
3
92
100
4
3
93
100
3
3
94
to
to
May
90
1972—Continued
August
to
September
September
to
October
October
to
November
November
to
December
7
December
1972
to
January
1973
July
to
August
1973
January
to
February
All items 2
Increases
Decreases
No change
100
15
10
75
100
15
11
74
100
14
11
75
100
14
9
77
100
Food at home
Increases
Decreases
No change
100
16
12
72
100
17
12
71
100
16
12
72
100
100
100
6
4
100
7
90
85
100
12
4
84
100
3
3
94
100
9
27
64
100
5
4
91
10
73
21
10
69
69
Commodities less food . . . .
Increases
Decreases
No change
100
11
5
84
100
6
6
88
100
6
Services
Increases
Decreases
No change
100
4
2
94
100
4
5
91
100
4
2
94
March
to
April
April
to
May
May
to
June
June
to
July
5
89
8
100
27
9
64
100
31
10
59
1973—Continued
February
to
March
July
to
August
All items 2
Increases
Decreases
No change
100
26
8
66
100
24
10
66
100
20
11
69
100
20
11
69
100
16
9
75
100
29
9
62
Food at home
Increases
Decreases
No change
100
30
9
61
100
27
12
61
100
23
13
64
100
23
12
65
100
18
10
72
100
34
10
56
Commodities less food
100
100
100
11
9
100
13
100
11
100
7
5
4
5
5
6
5
No change
84
85
86
82
86
88
Services
Increases
Decreases
No change
100
4
2
94
100
4
3
93
100
6
3
91
100
3
100
2
2
96
100
5
Increases
Decreases
Regulations of the Economic Stabilization Program permit
whether allowable increases accounted for all increases shown in the
2
Based on approximately 98.000 individual quotations.
2
95
8
2
93
types of increases, but it is not possible to determine
Chart 1. All items index and its rate of change, 1964—73
(1967=100)
SEMILOG
145
140
135
130
125
120
115
110
105
100
95
RUG
135 .1
/
CPI flLL ITEMS INDEX
(NOT S ERSONRL LY RDJU STED)
^
—
RUG
_——
_——•^
1 .9
•
PEI
—
•
BRITH.
*CENT C 4RNGE 0 VER 1-M ONTH SP RN
(SEf SONRLUr RDJUS rEO)
SCFILE
1 .4
—
—
1 .2
—
1 .0
—
0.8
—
0.6
—
0.4
—
0.2
0.0
A
n
Aw
V
RUG
-0.2
11 . 4
PEI *CENT CHRNGE 0 VER 3-MONTH SF RN
(RNNURL RRTE. SERSONRLLY RDJUSTED)
8RITH.
SCflLE
/V
w •A> AA
vi
V
A
KP
y
RUG
10.0
/
PERCENT CHRNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN
(RN MUflL RR T E . SEfi SONHLLY RDJUSl ED)
flRITH
SCflLE
^V
6
r-
4
2
IJ
mu-
RUG
7.5
PER CENT Z\1RNGE 0^/ER
1 2 - 10NTH S PRN 1^/
—
^
—
~s—
0 •—
..1..{..!..
1964
1965
1966
1967
If
Computed from the unadjusted s e r i e s .
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
••in
iii
1973
M
SEMILOG
140
135
130
125
120
115
110
105
100
95
90
Chart 2. Commodities less food index and its rates of change, 1964—73
(1967=100)
RUG
124.2
CPI COMMODITIES LESS FOOD INDEX
(SEflSONflLLY fiDJUSTED)
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN
(SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTEO)
flRITH.
RUG SCflLE0.7
0.5
— 0.6
— 0.5
— 0.4
— 0.3
— 0.2
— 0.1
— 0.0
— -0.1
— -0.2
_ -0.3
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTEO)
flRITH.
SCflLE
6
RUG
4.3
4
2
0
V_J
-2
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)
flRITH*
SCflLE
6
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN-
1964
1965
1966
1967
1/ Computed from the unadjusted s e r i e s .
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
flRITH.
SCflLE
6
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
Chart 3. Total food index and its rates of change, 1964—73
(1967=100)
SEMILOG
150
145
140
135
130
125
120
115
110
—
—
—
-
105
-
CPI TOTflL FOOD INDEX
(SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)
100
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH
(SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTED)
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTED)
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)
T CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN 1 /
1964
1965
1966
1967
1/ Computed f r c » t h e unadjusted s e r i e s .
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
Chart 4. Services index and its rates of change, 1964—73
(1967=100)
SEMILOG
140
135
130
125
120
115
110
105
100
95
90
RRITH*
SCHLE
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
flRITHSCflLE
8
1964
1965
1966
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
Table 1. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
by commodity and service groups, and expenditure classes
Group
All items (1957-59=100)
Commodities
Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Food away from home
Commodities less food
Nondurables less food
Apparel commodities '
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Nondurables less food and apparel
Gasoline and motor oil
Tobacco products
Alcoholic beverages
Fuel oil and coal
Other nondurables
Durable commodities
Household durables
New cars
Used cars
Other durables
Rent
Services less rent
Household services less rent
Transportation services
Medical care services
Other services
Special indexes:
All items less food
Nondurable commodities
Apparel commodities less footwear
Services less medical care services
Insurance and finance
Utilities and public transportation
Housekeeping and home maintenance service
Appliances (including radio and T. V. )
Relativ*
importan
December
1972
100.000
-
62.552
22.492
17.494
2.243
6.016
2.685
2.999
3.552
4.998
40.059
23.415
8.960
2.799
3.982
1.572
14.455
2.902
2.103
2.459
.655
6.335
16.644
4.772
2.060
2.056
7.756
37.448
5.059
32.389
15.486
5.473
5.575
5.855
77.508
45.907
7.388
31.873
9.829
5.522
4.502
1.621
Unadjusted indexes
Unadjusted
Seasonally adjusted
1967=100 unless
percent change to
percent change from—
otherwise noted
August 1973 from—
July
August
July
May to
June to
July to
August
June
1973
1972
1973
July
August
1973
Commodity and service groups
140.9
140.9
123.5
157. 8
124.1
153.7
128.5
140.9
123.5
124.4
126.0
125.4
125.5
129.9
123.5
119.5
137.8
122.8
131.7
120.7
122.4
119.4
110.9
122.7
127.8
138.4
124.3
141.0
145.3
137.0
143.9
131.7
135. 1
157. 1
132. 8
149.4
151.3
124.7
184.0
126.6
152.6
135.6
142.4
123.8
124.7
126.6
126. 3
126. 0
130.6
123.6
119.4
137. 8
122.4
132. 8
120.9
122.6
119.6
110.6
121.3
12 8.7
139. 3
125.0
141.9
146. 8
137. 1
144.3
132. 1
130.4
132.4
125.2
137.6
146.9
129.5
153.3
105.4
130.9
136.6
125. 9
138.5
148.9
129.9
154.0
105. 3
132.7
154.4
129.7
0.6
9.4
19.9
23.3
9.0
40.7
8.6
19.1
16.9
8.0
3.6
4.4
4.7
4.9
5.2
4.4
4.2
9.0
2.8
2.1
12.6
2.5
2.4
6.0
7.4
1.0
16.6
2.0
-.7
5.5
1. 1
.2
.2
.5
.7
.4
.5
. 1
-.1
0
-.3
2.4
3.6
0
7.9
.9
4. 1
4.5
4.0
4.9
.6
4. 1
4.9
.2
.2
-.3
-1. 1
.7
.7
.6
.6
1. 0
.1
.3
.3
3.8
12.0
4.9
4.1
2.9
3.2
6.0
-.4
.4
3.2
.6
.7
1.4
.3
.5
•2
2.6
.9
1.2
. 8
.1
*. 7
3.3
2. 8
.6
|
2.6
*.2
*.5
2.1
.4
.6
.3
*1.4
-. 1
*.4
*. 3
*.4
.6
.3
.5
*.5
.5
.2
.3
-. 1
*0
1.3
-.2
.7
.1
.2
-. 1
-.2
-.5
.4
.1
-. 1
*.4
*.5
.1
.2
.2
.3
.5
*.3
-. 1
*. 2
*. 3
*.2
.1
.1
.1
*. 3
6.1
7.7
1. 1
16.4
*2.0
1.1
4.5
1.0
.5
.2
1.0
.8
1.3
.4
*-.3
.9
.2
.5
.3
.4
*-l. 1
.6
*.7
*.6
*.6
. 9
.5
.2
*. 3
.2
.3
-.2
*.2
.1
.1
.5
.5
3. 3
1.2
*.7
1.2
.4
.4
*-. 1
0.6
0.2
.9
.5
1.9
6.1
.5
*.4
.3
.2
Expenditure classes
All items
Food
Housing
Shelte r 2
j^ en jHomeownership3
Fuel and utilities*
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation
Apparel and upkeep
Transportation
Private
Public
Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
Special indexes:
All items less shelter
All items less medical care
All items less mortgage interest costs
CPI - domestically produced farm foods 5
CPI - selected beef cuts 6
Puchasing power of consumer dollar:
1 QA"7 = £ 1 0 0
100.000
22.492
33.859
21.830
5.059
16.355
4.708
2.434
7.321
10.370
13. 134
11.665
1.469
19.768
6.447
2.573
5.656
5.093
132.7
140.9
134.2
139.7
124. 3
145.2
125.7
125.5
125. 0
125. 8
124. 8
122.6
144.9
130. 3
137. 3
125.3
126.2
129.5
135. 1
149.4
135.2
141. 1
125.0
147. 0
126.3
125. 8
125.3
126.5
124.5
122. 3
144.9
130.5
137.6
125.7
126. 1
129.4
7.5
19.9
4.1
4.1
4.5
4.0
5.2
4.4
3.4
78.170
93.553
96.298
15.519
2.060
131. 0
132.5
132.0
141.5
163.0
133.5
135.0
134.2
153.0
174.8
$0,754
.648
$0,740
.637
•
1957-59=$!.00
_
1
1. 8
6. 0
.7
1.0
*. 2
.1
*. 3
.1
-. 1
.4
.5
*.7
.9
1.2
.5
.2
.2
*.5
.4
*.3
.3
.5
.2
.5
3.3
3.6
1. 1
3.2
3.5
4.6
2.5
2.7
-.2
-.2
0
.6
.7
.3
.4
.2
.1
-. 1
.1
.5
.2
.2
.3
-. 1
-. 1
*. 3
.4
*.4
.2
.3
*. 2
.1
*. 3
.3
.2
*.2
.2
*. 3
0
-.2
8.4
7.7
7.5
24.8
25.9
1.9
1.9
1.7
8.1
7.2
.5
.6
.5
.3
.2
.4
2.1
2.0
1.7
*8. 1
*7.2
.6
*. 6
1. 1
.6
.2
.3
4.7
*1.6
*. 6
Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, and jewelry not shown separately.
Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs.
Also includes residential telephone, fuel oil, coal, water, and sewerage service not shown separately.
5
Calculated from the CPI food at home component by excluding fish, nonalcoholic beverages, bananas, chocolate candy bars, chocolate syrup
and about half of the index weight for sugar.
6
Calculated from the CPI beef and veal component by excluding veal cutlets and beef liver.
* Not seasonally adjusted.
2
3
4
NOTE: Index applies to month as a whole, not to any specific date.
8
Table 2. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
by commodity and service groups, and expenditure classes
May
1973
Commodities
Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products (not seasonally a
adjusted)
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Food away from home
Commodities less food
Nondurables less food
Apparel commodities '
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Nondurables less food and apparel
Gasoline and motor oil
Tobacco products (not seasonally
adjusted)
Alcoholic beverages (not
seasonally adjusted)
Fuel oil and coal
Other nondurables
Durable commodities
Household durables
New cars
Used cars (not seasonally adjusted) —
Other durables
Services (not seasonally adjusted)
Rent (not seasonally adjusted)
Services less rent (not seasonally
adjusted)
Household services less rent
Transportation services
Medical care services
Other services (not seasonally
adjusted)
Special indexes:
All items less food
Nondurable commodities
Apparel commodities less footwear
Services less medical care services
(not seasonally adjusted)
Insurance and finance
Utilites and public transportation
Housekeeping and home maintenance service
Appliances (including radio and T. V. )
(not seasonally adjusted)
Seasonally adjusted annual rate
percent change for
3 months ending in
6 months ending in
August January
August
T August Novembe rjFebruary 1 May
1973
1973
1972 | 1973 1 1973
1973
1973
Commodity and service groups
Seasonally adjusted indexes
(1967=100)
Group
T lJuly
73
I * I
128.3
137.9
137.6
122.0
155.9
129. 1
139.2
139.2
123.0
156.0
129.4
139.9
139.5
123.4
155.8
132.7
148.5
150.2
124.7
181.3
4.7
8.3
9.5
2.8
13.3
5.7
6.7
16.8
20.0
9.3
37.4
8.7
12. 1
21. 3
24.0
15.0
37.4
11.4
14.4
34.5
42.0
9.2
82.9
5.0
5.7
12.5
14.6
6.0
24.8
10.0
13.2
27.7
32.7
12.1
58.5
123.2
141.6
126.7
139.0
124.1
146.3
130.2
139.9
123.5
124.1
148.2
129.9
140.9
123.6
124.7
127.1
126.6
127.4
129.9
123.4
119.6
124.9
127.0
126.4
126.8
130.4
123.5
119.5
126.6
149.9
135.7
142.3
124.2
125.2
128.3
127.4
128.4
130.9
123.5
118.9
3.8
14.4
7.4
4.3
2.0
4. 1
5.0
7. 1
6.7
4.2
3. 1
7.9
11.7
15.6
14.2
4.9
2.7
3.0
1.6
2.6
-.6
4.5
3.7
7.0
7.5
21.4
15.6
13. 1
5.4
6.4
7.3
5.6
9.7
5.7
6.1
13.0
11.5
25.6
31.6
9.8
4.3
4.3
5.1
4.2
5. 1
3. 1
4.0
8.1
7.7
15.0
10.8
4.6
2.3
3.5
3.3
4.8
3.0
4.4
3.4
7.5
9.5
23.5
23.3
11.4
4.8
5.3
6.2
4.9
7.4
4.4
5.0
10.5
137.0
137.3
137.8
137. 8
121.7
129.3
119.9
121.7
118.3
111.1
120.6
128.0
122.8
132.1
120.6
122.0
119.3
112.0
122.7
127.8
138.4
124.3
122.4
133.3
120.9
122.6
119.6
112.5
121.3
128.6
137.5
123.5
122.3
132.0
120.4
121.8
119.0
111.4
122.3
127.9
138. 1
123.9
140.1
144.3
136.5
142.8
140.7
145.2
136.9
143.5
130.6
122.9
123.9
126.7
126.1
126.8
129*9
122.3
116.6
.6
7.6
2.4
.6
5.0
2.7
25.6
1.7
1.7
2.1
2.6
-11.8
.3
1.7
9.5
2.4
4.4
6.0
5.2
32.5
2.2
2.0
14.0
11.2
2.0
2.9
1.2
2.1
3.7
5.2
5.2
3.9
5.4
3.9
4.7
2.3
13.0
3.4
3.0
4.5
5. 1
2.3
1.9
5.3
4.9
2.2
139.3
125.0
1.7
3.4
2.4
.7
2. 1
-11.9
13.4
-.9
3. 3
3.0
141.0
145.4
137.0
143.6
141.9
146.7
137.7
143.9
3.6
3.8
.6
7.4
3.2
5.8
-4.9
2.6
4. 1
3. 1
3.6
3.4
5.2
6.8
3.6
3. 1
131.3
131.7
132. 1
4.9
3.8
6.4
129.7
130.6
126.0
130.2
131.7
126.6
130.4
132.1
126.3
131.0
136.5
127.8
2.9
5.7
5.4
3.5
9.7
1.3
4. 8
13.6
7.3
136.7
146.6
129.2
151.1
137.3
147.1
129.4
152.3
137.6
147.2
129.5
153.1
138.5
149.0
130.0
153.7
3.3
1.4
5.2
3.6
3.3
1.1
1.6
7.0
4.2
2.5
3.5
6. 3
105.4
105.4
105.4
105.3
.6
-4.9
0
-.3
16.5
3.6
4.2
4.6
4.8
3.4
4.8
5.0
4.7
4.9
3.6
3.3
4. 1
19.3
5.8
3.2
7.7
3.3
4.4
16 . 4
6 .6
5.4
6.7
2.5
7.1
3.3
1.2
3.4
5.3
4 .8
4 .6
3.0
6.7
11.4
34.5
5.8
5.9
4.9
6.5
4.2
3.2
5.3
3.3
3.3
4.2
3.0
6.1
5.4
2.7
4.9
5.0
4.8
5.1
4.4
3.4
4.1
-2.2
2.1
Expenditure classes
All items
ousing (not seasonally adjust :d )
helter 2
Rent (not seasonally adjusted)
Homeowner ship 3
Fuel and utilities*
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation
Apparel and upkeep
Transportation
Private
Public
Health and recreation (not seasonally
adjusted)
Medical care
Personal care (not seasonally adjusted)
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
Special indexes:
All items less shelter
All items less medical care
All items less mortgage interest costs
CPI - domestically produced farm foods
(not seasonally adjusted)
CPI - selected beef cuts (not seasonally
adjusted)
_
_
_
4.3
5.7
8.7
8.3
2.8
2. 1
3.0
2. 0
4.4
4.0
3.0
16.8
3.7
4.5
5.4
4.0
7.8
6.7
2.3
21.3
4.0
4. 1
4.7
3.7
4.6
3.6
3.0
5.0
2.0
6.6
5.5
3.5
6.0
2.7
2.4
4.0
0
1.4
-3.3
6.8
6.5
.3
4.0
4.0
3.7
1.3
1.9
.3
5.3
5.3
2.0
130.5
137.3
125.7
126.2
129.3
2.9
5.9
2.7
3.0
.6
2.2
2.7
4.7
1.6
3.5
4.8
2.7
6.7
3.3
5.5
2.8
3.0
4.2
Z.Z
1.2
2.5
4.3
3.7
2.3
2.1
3.8
2.8
5.5
2.7
3.3
130.7
132.4
131.9
133.5
135.0
134.2
5.0
4.2
4.6
5.9
5.5
5.5
10.2
9.7
9.4
12.6
11.8
10.8
5.4
4.8
5.0
11.4
10.7
10.1
140.4
141.5
153.0
1.6
25.9
26.2
50.2
13.1
37.7
162.2
163.0
174. 8
-8.9
55.8
28.5
37.9
19.1
33.1
137.9
133.3
139.0
123.5
144.6
125.3
125.2
123.7
126.2
123.3
121.1
144.0
139.2
133.9
139.5
123.9
145. 1
125.9
125.5
124.3
126.7
124.1
121.9
144.5
139.9
134.2
139.7
124.3
145.3
125.8
126.0
124.9
126.7
124.6
122.2
144.6
148.5
135.2
141.0
125.0
146.9
126.6
126.2
125.3
127.9
124.5
122.3
145. 3
129.6
136.3
124.4
125.5
128.9
130.0
136.9
124.9
125.8
129.3
130.3
137.0
125.3
126.2
129.5
129-6
131.3
130.8
130.3
132. 1
131.4
138.2
161.3
1
Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, and jewelry not shown separately.
Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs.
Also includes residential telephone, fuel oil, coal, water, and sewerage not shown separately.
NOTE: Index applies to month as a whole, not to any specific date.
2
3
4
9
Table 3. Consumer Price Index-United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
all items most recent index and percent changes from selected dates
Pricing
1967-100
1957-59=100
Percent change from:
Other
bases
August 1973
August
1972
May
1973
7.6
7.8
6.6
7.6
7.6
2. 8
2.5
2.7
2.7
2.2
July
1972
April
1973
5.6
5.0
6.1
5.7
1.8
1.1
July
1973
2.7
U. S. city average
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles—Long Beach
N.Y.-Northeastern N.J
Philadelphia
M
134.5
136.8
130.9
141.7
137.1
152.8
157.2
153.9
168.7
160.2
July 1973
134.1
131.5
133.1
132.6
Minneapolis—St. Paul
Pittsburgh
160.6
150.5
154.2
152.5
136.6
135.9
133.7
133.2
134.4
128.8
136.4
Buffalo
Cleveland —
Dallas
Milwaukee
San Diego —
Seattle
Washington
132.6
133.6
130.9
127.5
129.8
128.1
130.7
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Honolulu
Kansas City
Louis —
San Francisco-Oakland -
May
1973
August
1972
August 1973
3
150.1
3
144.5
4
141.3
153.5
150.4
151.4
15 8.9
152.5
155.1
148.5
5
137. 5
154.0
149.7
155.5
2.4
2.2
1.4
1.9
1.7
7.7
7.7
6.5
6.9
7.4
7.4
6.8
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.5
2.8
2.0
2.3
June
1972
March
1973
6.3
6.5
5.1
4.3
4.8
5.1
5.3
1.5
1.6
1
Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) except for New York and
Chicago where the more extensive Standard Consolidated Areas arc used. Area definitions are those established for the I960 Census and do not
include revisions made since I960.
2
Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all cities; most other goods and services priced as indicated:
M - Every month.
1 - January. April. Jury, and October.
2 - February, May, August, and November.
3 - March, June, September, and December.
5
November 1963^100.
4
February 1965400.
5
December 1963=100.
NOTE: The Consumer Price Index cannot be used for measuring differences in
areas. Estimates of differences in living costs among areas are found in the family budgets.
ving costs among a r e a s ; it indicates price change within
Table 4. Consumer Price Index—United Stales and selected areas 1 for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
major groups, percent change front July 1973 to August 1973
Group
Food
Housing
Apparel and upkeep —
Transportation
Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
1
2
U.S.
city
average
6.0
.7
.6
-.2
.2
.2
.3
-.1
2.4
2.2
7.6
1.0
1.1
-.4
8.3
.4
2.3
-.2
(*)
0
0
.3
(2)
-.2
.2
See footnote 1. table 3.
Not available.
Los Angeles—
Long Beach
Chicago
1O
New York—
Northeastern
New Jersey
Philadelphia
1.9
4.3
1.2
.8
-.5
.2
.7
5.3
1.0
1.7
0
.2
6.1
.1
-.2
-.5
.7
1.1
(2)
1. 1
. 1
Table 5. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas 1 for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
commodity groups, August 1973, and percent changes from May 1973
U.S.
Chicago
Group
average
New YorkNortheaste rn
New Jersey
Philadelphia
s (1967=100)
All items
135.1
134.5
136.8
130.9
141.7
137.1
Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other food at home
Food away from home
149.4
151.3
124.7
184.0
126.6
152.6
135.6
142.4
152.8
155.6
129.2
187.8
127.4
157.1
137.5
141.6
154.6
158.4
130.9
196-9
128.1
146.3
139.1
138.7
141.9
144.5
119-9
181.4
122.4
132.4
133.4
134.5
152.7
154.6
125.8
181.4
128.9
160.2
138.4
147.3
150.5
151.3
126.0
182.3
126.3
150.4
136.6
147.0
Housing
Shelter
Rent, residential
Homeowner ship
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation
135.2
141.1
125.0
147.0
126.3
132.8
125.8
125.3
128.9
133.3
132.6
136.1
136.3
121.9
145.1
153.1
137.4
164.9
133.2
138.5
133.8
131.3
137.2
146.9
138.0
119.6
128.5
120.3
121.6
137.0
147.5
124.8
152.0
119.9
125.0
121.5
116.2
151.3
127.1
129.3
3
132.3
125.7
Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
126.5
126.3
126.0
130.6
124.7
120.3
128.0
125.0
121.8
121.7
115.9
133.2
123.3
119.0
126.6
128.9
126.0
126.7
123.2
129.0
122.0
122.5
116. 1
130.4
Transportation
Private
Public
124.5
122.3
144.9
128.3
123.2
160.6
124.7
122.6
149-4
124.3
124.6
119-4
136.1
128.9
163.7
127.7
125.0
143.6
Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
130.5
137.6
125.7
126.1
129.4
131.4
136.7
133.6
148.7
125.3
135.7
135.4
144.6
124.7
129.4
137.0
135. 1
149.9
(2)
(2)
127.8
132.1
C2)
126.3
124.8
(2)
140.4
129.4
_
(2)
117.9
122.6
(2)
129.4
130.6
Percent changes May 1973toAugust 1973
All items
2.7
2.8
2.5
2.7
2.7
Z.Z
Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other food at home
Food away from home
8.3
10.0
10.1
11.8
11.5
13.8
2.1
2.0
2.2
6.2
7.2
.8
7.6
9.9
1.6
7.9
9.3
2.1
18.3
20.4
23.3
2.8
5.5
8.1
2.5
2.4
9.2
9-5
3.1
Housing
Shelter
Rent, residential
Homeowner ship
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation
1.4
1.7
1.2
1.9
.7
2.7
.1
1.1
.9
.9
(2)
.9
Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
-.2
-.3
T ransportation
Private
Public
Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
.7
3.1
.5
1.2
17.3
17.2
1.7
-2.2
6.9
2.5
6.2
7.5
1.2
2.3
3.9
8.6
1.8
2.1
2.1
.7
.5
(2)
.3
2.2
3.2
1.5
.4
9.6
1.8
-.4
-.3
4
.6
-.6
-.1
.5
-.2
-.9
-.6
3.2
2.9
3.5
(2)
4.3
.2
_
.1
1.3
4
1.4
2.0
2.0
7.2
1.0
2.2
.1
.5
-.5
-.9
-1.3
-.8
-3.8
-2.4
-9
.2
1.0
2.2
.7
.8
.8
.7
.4
.5
.1
.8
.8
.6
1.2
1.2
1.8
.7
!
-9
.2
1
.7
.7
1.0
.4
.7
.5
.2
.9
1.0
1.5
(2)
.7
1.2
.3
.4
-.6
-.1
1.0
.6
()
2
.3
.4
See footnotes at end of table.
16.1
4.1
10.5
11
2
C)
-.5
.1
-.6
-2.2
-.3
-.4
.2
-2.7
-2. 1
-5.5
-.4
1.2
1.7
(2)
1. 1
.6
Table 5. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas l for urban wage earners and clerical workers
commodity groups, August 1973, and percent changes from May 1973—Continued
Milwaukee
Group
Washington
Diego
Indexes (1967=100)
All items
136.6
135.9
133.7
133.2
134.4
128. 8
136.4
Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other food at home
Food away from home
149.1
149.7
125.5
183.0
125.2
151.0
131.6
145.6
152.0
154.5
122.6
187.9
134.3
154.0
136.2
139.2
149.2
149.9
121.9
182.9
122.0
150.7
135.4
146.7
145.8
147.1
128.2
177.9
125.4
141.7
133.1
140.2
146.2
146.6
119.7
184.3
121.3
132.2
135.8
144.7
142.5
144.5
119.5
177.2
125.1
138.0
134. 8
135. 8
152.6
153.0
126.9
181.2
123. 1
161.1
138.7
151.0
Housing
138.1
141.0
127.2
143.5
143.8
130.9
145.3
125.9
129.4
130.8
115.4
133.5
128.5
130.8
135.7
113.7
145.5
120.3
141.3
155.2
137.5
162.7
118.9
124.0
124.0
115.8
125.4
130.6
132.6
123.9
135.3
132.5
139.5
137.4
123.7
120. 8
116.3
130.5
137.0
109.2
145.0
120.7
5
127. 1
109.4
121.0
134.1
137.6
125.9
144.3
126. 8
131.6
129.1
127. 8
Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwea r
135.9
151.2
134.9
126.6
129.8
122.8
134.2
132.9
129.6
129.3
131.6
132.2
132.5
134.5
129.6
133.9
127.9
125.3
137.0
126.6
122. 8
127.7
119.3
123.3
130.9
129.9
133.4
135.2
Transportation
123.6
120.5
157.8
130.3
123.9
172.3
124.3
122.6
146.5
126.2
121.3
186.0
123.5
124.4
107.7
112. 3
114.4
100. 3
126. 1
122.5
146.1
128.9
130.2
126.4
128.1
129.9
137.6
150.8
130.9
128.5
135.4
130.4
136.3
132.3
122.3
130.4
128.6
134.7
127.2
128.5
124.2
123.9
130.9
122.4
118.9
122.3
123.5
130.3
120.4
121.2
120.8
132.1
144.6
122.0
124.9
132.9
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.5
2.8
2.0
2.3
7.9
8.7
3.7
18.7
2.5
-1.3
7.8
3.3
9.0
10.2
1.2
17.9
5.3
6.2
7.4
2.1
9.0
10.7
1.5
19.0
4.8
5.6
8.8
2.8
8.4
9-8
3.6
18.0
4.6
1.6
8.7
3.1
6.6
8.0
1.6
15.5
.7
-1.5
9.6
3. 1
6.4
7.8
2. 1
16.0
1.1
.7
8.2
2. 0
7.8
9.4
.7
1.0
1.4
1.1
1.4
.5
1.6
.2
-.5
.7
-.7
2.6
_
.8
1.0
.8
1.1
-.2
2.3
2.6
.9
3.2
.5
-1.4
.2
1.4
-.7
.7
1.3
1.9
1.7
2.0
.3
.5
.6
1.2
1.2
2.0
1.0
1.6
4.5
1.4
.7
2.3
2.1
.6
2.0
.7
.2
2.4
-2.4
.4
2.5
1.8
4.4
.5
-.3
1.6
.3
1.1
1.1
.3
7.9
.5
.6
.2
.6
.7
.1
-.2
-.3
.2
1.5
1.6
.5
.5
.5
.4
.4
.1
-.4
.5
1.7
-2.3
-.3
.4
.5
.8
.1
.2
3.0
-3.0
.2
1.4
1.2
.4
.3
1. 1
1.9
.5
.3
1. 1
.2
1.3
.1
-. 1
-.6
.5
1.1
1. 1
-.4
.4
Rent, residential
Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation
Public
Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
Percent changes May 1973 to August 1973
All items
Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other food at home
Food away from home
Housing
Shelter
Rent, residential
Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
T rans portation
Publi c
Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services —
See footnote 1, table 3.
Not available.
Revised index: July 1973, 132.1.
Change from June 1973.
Revised index: April 1973, 126.5; May 1973, 126.5.
12
17.7
3.9
3. 1
7.6
3.8
1.2
1.4
2.3
1.0
1.0
.9
1.2
-1.2
-l.f
Table 6. Consumer Price Index-United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
food and its subgroups, August 1973, and percent changes from July 1973
Food at home
Cereals
and
bakery
products
Total
food
Meats,
poultry,
and fish
Dairy
products
Fruits
and
vegetable
Other
foods
Food
away
from
home
Indexes (1967=100)
United States
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cl eve land
Dallas
Detroit
Honolulu
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles—Long Beach
Milwaukee
Minneapolis—St. Paul
N. Y.-Northeastern N. J
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Diego
San Francisco—Oakland
Seattle
Washington
152.
151.
146.
149.
152.
152.
152.
149.
154.
136.
151.
149.
141.
145.
149.
152.
150.
150.
149,
146.
144.
142.
152.
151.3
124.7
184.0
126.6
152.6
135.6
142.4
154.9
153.5
148.1
149.7
155.6
155.8
154.5
149.9
158.4
134.8
152.0
151.9
144.5
147.1
149.5
154.6
151.3
151.5
151.3
146.6
147.5
144.5
153.0
128.2
123.0
125.9
125.5
129.2
127.6
122.6
121.9
130.9
115.9
120.0
125.7
119.9
128.2
135.0
125.8
126.0
122.9
131.2
119.7
119.1
119.5
126.9
187.1
182.0
176.8
183.0
187.8
187.5
187.9
182.9
196.6
148.9
190.6
186.9
181.4
177.9
185.3
181.4
182.3
185.8
180.5
184.3
180.1
177.2
181.2
132.5
128.5
122.9
125.2
127.4
132.2
134.3
122.0
128. 1
128.0
131.6
137. 1
122.4
125.4
128.5
128.9
126.3
123.0
130.8
121.3
124.2
125. 1
123. 1
161.6
160.9
151.8
151.0
157.1
159.3
154.0
150.7
146.3
136. 3
145.7
141.9
132.4
141.7
142.6
160.2
150.4
152. 8
155.9
132.2
135.7
138.0
161. 1
137.9
137.6
132.3
131.6
137.5
137.3
136.2
135.4
139. 1
128.0
134.5
137.0
133.4
133.1
137. 1
138.4
136.6
137.2
131.6
135.8
138. 8
134. 8
138.7
146.1
142.2
139.7
145.6
141.6
138.2
139.2
146.7
138.7
139.4
151.1
141.9
134.5
140.2
147.0
147.3
147.0
147.3
142.9
144.7
133. 8
135. 8
151. 0
Percent changes July 1973 to August 1973
United States
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cle veland
Dallas
Detroit
Honolulu
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles—Long Beach
Milwauke e
Minneapolis-St. Paul
N. Y.-Northeastern N. J
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Diego
San Francisco—Oakland
Seattle
Washington
6.3
5.7
5.0
6.3
7.6
6.2
7.0
6.6
8.3
1.6
7. 1
5.9
4.3
6.0
5.2
5.3
6.1
6.7
6.7
5.3
4.4
4.6
4.8
7.4
1.0
16.6
7.8
6.7
5.9
7.2
9.2
7.6
8.1
8.2
10.2
1.8
9.2
7.4
5.6
6.7
6.1
7.1
7.4
7.8
7.9
6.5
5.4
6.0
6.3
.2
.7
1.0
1.3
.4
1.6
.5
.8
2.1
.3
.8
-.2
-.5
2.2
-.1
.8
.2
1.0
.8
.5
.4
16.5
14.2
13.0
17.5
18.8
18.4
15.9
15.7
20. 1
2.9
19.1
17.3
15.5
14.7
14.4
14.7
15.5
20.0
18.7
14.8
16.2
14.3
14. 2
-.1
See footnote 1, table 3.
Change from May 1973.
13
2.5
1.3
.1
1.0
2.0
2.5
3.4
4.5
3.6
.5
4.7
1.5
1.7
3.0
2. 1
.8
1.6
.7
4.7
.9
2.1
-0.7
5.5
.5
-.2
1.3
-1.4
3.2
-.7
.4
2.1
6.7
5.4
3.6
4.4
5.3
-.6
1.4
.1
-.9
-7. 8
-4.3
-.2
.6
.7
-3. 8
-2. 1
-7. 1
-11. 8
-1.9
-1.5
4. 1
7.4
6.2
7.4
2.2
6.5
5. 8
6.1
6.5
6.0
4.8
6.4
5. 1
5.4
9.3
6.6
6.3
4.8
1.2
1.5
1.6
1.3
1.1
.7
1. 0
1.0
.5
.5
.6
1.0
.5
2
3.1
1.2
.3
.9
.7
.9
2
2.1
.8
0
1.0
Table 7. Consumer Price Index-United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical \
food items, August 1973 indexes and percent changes from selected dates
r e r c e nt cnange to Augus
from—
August 1972
July 1973
Index
August 1973
Item and group
Unadjusted
Food away from home
Restaurant meals
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Flour
Cracker meal
Corn flakes
Rice
Bread, white
Bread, whole wheat
Cookies
Layer cakes
Cinnamon rolls
Meats, poultry, and fish
Meats
Beef and veal
Steak, round
Steak, sirloin
Steak, porterhouse
Rump roast
Rib roast
Chuck roast
Hamburger
Beef liver
Veal cutlets
°Chops
Loin roast
Pork sausage
Ham, whole
Picnics
Bacon
Other meats
Lamb chops
Frankfurters
Ham, canned
Bologna sausage
Salami sausage
Liverwurst
^ ^ O \ l lt r v
"• —""••——.--—— — - - . _ — T . _
.n i. i
Frying chicken
Chicken, breasts
Turkey
Fish
Shrimp, frozen
Fish, fresh or frozen
Tuna fish, canned
Sardines, canned
Dairy products
Milk, fresh, grocery
Milk, fresh, delivered
Milk, fresh, skim
Milk, evaporated
Ice cream
Cheese, American process
Butte r
r.,-.
IL-
r
-
—— - - _ —
149.4
142.4
143.2
138.2
151.3
124.7
119. 1
143. 8
105. 8
128.2
124.8
130. 0
113.0
126.9
128.4
184.0
180.0
175.4
170. 8
160.0
161.2
165.0
170.6
190.5
188.9
163.0
195.5
197. 0
195.0
211.7
209.6
174.4
198.0
195.7
166.3
154.7
180. 1
157.6
175.5
165.0
165. 8
225.4
244.5
202.7
15 8.7
165.2
159.2
194.2
144.9
163. 1
126.6
125.9
129.2
134.6
135.5
111.5
137.5
107. 1
See footnote at end of table.
14
Seasonally
adjusted
148.5
142.3
142.9
138.3
150.2
124.7
119.3
143.5
106.0
128.3
124.4
130. 0
112.2
127.0
128.5
181.3
177. 0
172.6
168.1
156. 3
156. 8
162.7
167.7
186. 8
187.0
161.4
193.2
192.0
186.6
203. 8
205.7
176.5
194. 3
191.3
165. 1
153.2
177.6
159.0
173.9
163.7
165. 3
221.9
239.9
198. 9
15 8.5
165.5
159. 0
193.6
145.5
164.2
_
126.2
135.0
135.1
111.4
137.5
107. 3
Seasonally
adjusted
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
19.9
8.0
8.5
5.0
23.3
9.0
20.1
5.8
5.9
17.4
9.6
8.4
3.6
5.8
7.9
40.7
35.8
25.1
24.7
17. 1
15.7
20.9
21.0
35.9
34.1
22.3
18.1
57. 1
52.3
64.5
58.1
52.3
54.3
62.1
32.1
17.6
41.1
37.4
33.1
28.6
36.7
103. 8
122.9
77.3
42.5
15.7
16.4
25.9
9.5
10.4
8.6
8.9
7.3
10.6
14.9
5.1
10.3
2.4
6.0
1. 1
1.1
6.1
1.0
.6
.7
7.7
1.1
1.3
7.4
1.0
1.2
.6
.4
.5
2.6
1.4
-.4
-.2
-.5
16.6
14.1
6.8
6.5
5.4
4.4
5.7
3.8
9.7
10.1
4.0
3.0
28.4
29.2
35.8
24.0
23. 8
24.5
30.8
10.9
5.6
15.1
11.9
11.8
10.3
11.3
45. 8
54.6
37.6
9.1
.9
.7
2.2
-.6
.9
2.0
2.4
1.6
2.8
1.0
1.1
.9
4.4
.8
.6
.3
.6
2.0
1.3
-.5
-.1
-.4
16.4
13.8
6.7
6.1
6.5
4.8
4.6
3.6
8.8
10.2
4.4
3.3
27.6
27.3
33.2
22.6
23.5
22.3
29.5
10.4
6.3
13.7
11.3
11.2
9.9
11.2
47.1
56.9
35.9
8.8
.9
1.0
1.9
-.6
.7
0
2.6
0
3.1
1.3
1.0
1. 1
4.4
Table 7. Consumer Price Index—United States city aveage for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
food items, August 1973 indexes and percent changes from selected dates—Continued
Index
Item and group
Food—Continued
Food at home—Continued
Fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits
Bananas
Orange juice, fresh
Grapefruit
Strawberries
Watermelon
Fresh vegetables
Potatoes
Onions
Asparagus
Cabbace
Ca r rots
Celery
Cucumbers
Lettuce
^r
Peppers, green
Spinach
Processed fruits and vegetables
Fruit cocktail, canned
Pears, canned
Pineapple-grapefruit juice drink
Orange juice concentrate, frozen
Lemonade concentrate, frozen
Beets, canned
Peas, green, canned
Tomatoes, canned
Dried beans
Broccoli, frozen
Other food at home
£„„Fats and oils:
Margarine
Salad dressing, Italian
Salad or cooking oil
Sugar and sweets
Chocolate bar
-.
Syrup, chocolate flavored
Nonalcoholic beverages
Coffee, can and bag
Coffee, instant
Tea
Carbonated drink, cola flavored
Carbonated drink, fruit flavored
Prepared and partially prepared foods Bean soup, canned
Chicken soup, canned
Spaghetti, canned
Mashed potatoes, instant
Potatoes, french fried, frozen
Baby foods
Sweet pickle relish
Pretzels
August 1973
Seasonally
Unadjusted
adjusted
152.6
168.4
149.4
168. 1
117.6
147.5
132. 8
183.8
157.9
(')
C)
129.1
183. 8
252.4
170.9
151.0
187.9
226.4
153.8
175.9
157.0
193.0
103.7
184.9
131.9
170.5
142.0
129. 1
129.4
125.7
119.9
135. 8
119.2
143.9
110.4
125.6
157.8
123.2
135.6
198.4
147.8
193.38
200.
129.0
188.7
165. 1
171.0
163.8
129.2
129.7
125.6
120.0
134.6
120. 8
143.8
110.4
125. 1
158.0
123.2
1 35. 7
200.4
131.4
110. 8
129.4
128. 8
124. 6
135.1
137.6
116.9
131.9
138.6
133.2
111.1
131.3
131.6
118.4
118.2
105.8
124.0
118.2
114.8
114.9
131.2
117.6
132. 1
111.0
129.4
128. 8
124.4
1 35. 4
137.2
117. 1
131.8
138.2
133.7
110. 8
131.4
131.5
11 8. 3
118.4
106.0
124.4
118.0
114.2
114.7
132.0
117.4
Priced only in season.
149.9
163.7
136.7
140.2
116.3
139.2
131.6
146. 1
164.3
15
o
percent cnange to Augu s JVM
from—
July 1973
Seasonally
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
adjusted
August 1972
19.1
26.2
10.8
16.3
17.4
9.4
.7
1.9
5.2
(')
3.9
38.8
70.4
9.9
-0.7
-1.7
-3.4
-5.2
3.9
8.9
.2
1. 1
1.5
-2.6
-6.4
4.9
4. 3
-.5
14.8
-20.4
-1.8
-21.7
-.6
-13.4
5. 0
O
1.4
(•)
1.5
5.8
-2.6
-4.6
5.3
15.5
34.6
-10.1
-5.1
7.8
9.6
21.4
-18.9
-1.9
-9.0
19.4
17.4
-12.0
47.1
25.3
54.8
-10.5
61.2
7.4
6.9
6.4
4.2
.1
3.5
17.0
3.2
7. 1
14.3
4.3
16.9
89.0
11.9
1.5
7.8
6.9
8.9
8.0
5.4
5.6
9.4
17.1
8.9
1.6
2.6
3.1
3.1
2.0
1.2
2.1
5.6
3.1
4.4
4.5
2.0
2.6
1.2
.2
.6
.3
-. 1
8.3
9.6
2.9
1.5
1.2
.6
.4
.3
-.7
0
3.2
.2
3.2
.2
.4
4.5
.5
5.5
.3
4.3
.6
4.5
31. 1
23.0
4.5
1.2
.9
.7
.9
. 1
4. 8
1.5
.5
.7
. 8
.4
.7
.7
.5
.7
.2
.8
.2
.3
0
-.2
-.3
.2
.1
-. 1
_. i
.3
-.2
.4
.3
0
-.2
0
.3
-. 1
-.2
.5
-.2
0
-. 1
.5
-.3
0
-. 1
-.7
-.2
Table 8. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
indexes for selected items and groups, August 1973, and percent changes from selected dates
(1967= 100)
Item and group
Other
index
base
She It e r *
Rent, residential
Homeowner ship 2
Mortgage interest rates
Property taxes
Property insurance premiums
Maintenance and repairs
Maintenance and repair commodities 3
Exterior house paint
Interior house paint
Maintenance and repair services
Repainting living and dining rooms
Re shingling house roof •
Residing house
Replacing sink
Repairing furnace
Fuel and utilities:
Fuel oil and coal
Fuel oil, No. 2
Gas and electricity
Electricity
Other utilities:
Residential telephone serv ces
Resideil
d
ge
i
g4
Household furnishings and operation 4
Housefurnishings
Textiles
She et s
Curtains, tailored
Bedspreads
Drapery fabric
Pillows bed
Slipcovers and throws, ready-made
Furniture and bedding
Bedroom furniture, chest and dresser
Sofas, upholstered
Cocktail tables
Dining room chairs
Recliners, upholstered
Sofas, dual purpose
Bedding, mattress and box springs
Aluminum folding chairs
Cribs
Floor coverings
Broadloom carpeting, manmade fibers
Vinyl sheet goods
Vinyl asbestos tile
Appliances (excluding radio and T. V.)
Washing machines, electric, automatic
Vacuum cleaners, canister type
Refrigerators or refrigerator-freezers,
Dec. 71
Mar. 70
Dec. 71
Ranges, free standing, gas or electric
Clothes dryers, electric
Air conditioners, demountable
Room heaters, electric, portable
Garbage disposal units
Other housefurnishings:
Dinnerware, fine china
Flatware, stainless steel
Table lamps, with shade
Lawn mowers, power, rotary type
Electric drills, hand-held —
Housekeeping supplies:
Laundry soaps and detergents
Paper napkins
Toilet tissue
Housekeeping services:
Domestic services, general housework
Baby sitter services
Postal charges
Laundry, flatwork, finished service
Licensed day care services, preschool child
Washing machine repairs
See footnotes at end of table.
16
July
1973
August
1973
August
1972
July
1973
134.2
139.7
124.3
145.2
119. 1
152.6
124.8
152.2
138.7
119.2
119.4
158.0
171.5
165. 1
145.9
155.2
163.0
125.7
131.7
130.8
125.5
126.5
124.6
135.2
141. 1
125.0
147.0
121.8
152.6
124.2
153. 0
139.8
120.3
120.0
158.7
172.2
165.6
146.6
156. 1
163. 5
126.3
132.8
132. 0
125.8
126.7
125. 0
4. 1
4. 1
4.5
4.0
3.8
4.7
.6
7.8
11. 7
2.3
2. 1
6.4
6.8
5.4
7.5
6.4
5.5
5.2
12.6
13.2
4.4
4.4
4.5
0.7
1. 0
.6
1. 2
2.3
0
115.9
144.7
125.0
119. 1
115. 1
116.7
115.2
110.6
127.6
103.9
116. 1
125.9
110.4
124.0
104.2
110. 1
99.9
2.6
4.4
3.4
2.5
1. 6
2.9
120.4
107.8
129.4
125.5
108.6
103.4
121.2
120.0
109.7
110.8
104.8
117. 1
144.9
125.3
119. 2
114.8
114.9
115.4
109.3
129.0
103. 1
116.5
126. 2
100.7
124.6
105.2
109.4
99.6
120.4
108.9
127.6
126. 3
108.4
103.1
121. 6
120. 1
109.6
111.0
104.0
1. 0
.1
.2
.1
-.3
-1.5
.2
-1.2
1. 1
-.8
.3
.2
.3
.5
1. 0
-.6
-.3
0
1.0
-1.4
.6
-.2
-.3
. 3
.1
-. 1
.2
-.8
108.0
109.5
114.4
110.5
(5)
111.9
107.9
110.3
114. 1
109.9
(5)
112.0
.1
-.9
.1
-.5
-.3
-.5
131.3
132. 1
129.3
122.2
106.9
132.2
132.4
129.6
121. 1
107.0
5.2
6.2
3.8
1.8
0
.7
.2
.2
-.9
.1
112.7
139. 1
129.5
113.4
139.3
130.0
2. 1
5.6
4.9
.6
.1
.4
146.2
142.7
146.6
149.0
131.0
149. 1
146.7
143.2
146.6
149.7
131.0
150. 1
5. 1
4.6
0
7. 3
6.5
6.2
. 3
.4
2. 3
-. 5
3.9
-1. 1
1. 7
4.2
5.4
3.5
3.3
6.0
1.5
3.2
3.8
3.3
6.7
1.8
1. 7
2.4
1.4
.1
.5
.5
-.5
. 5
.8
. 9
. 5
.4
.4
. 3
. 5
.6
. 3
.5
.8
.9
. 2
. 2
.3
5
Table 8. Consumer Price Index-United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
indexes for selected items and groups, August 1973, and percent changes from selected dates—Continued
(1967= 100)
Itemand group
Other
inde
base
Apparel and upkeep7
Apparel commodities
Apparel commodities less footwear
Men1 s and boys'
Men1 s:
Topcoats, wool or all-weather coats,
polyester blends
Suits, year round weight
Suits, tropical weight
Jackets, lightweight
Slacks, wool or wool blends
Slacks, cotton or manmade blends
Trousers, work, cotton or polyester/cotton
Shirts, work, cotton or polyester /cotton
Shirts, business, polyester/cotton
T-shirts, chiefly cotton
Socks, cotton or manmade fibers
Handkerchiefs, cotton or poly ester/cotton
Boys' :
Coats, all purpose, cotton or cotton blends
Sport coats, wool or wool blends
Dungarees, cotton or cotton blends
Undershorts, cotton
Women
s 3.nci ^ l r i s
——————————————————————————————
Women' s:
Coats, heavyweight, wool or wool blends
Carcoats, heavyweight, cotton
Sweaters, wool or acrylic
Skirts, wool, wool blend or manmade fibers
Skirts, cotton or polyester/cotton
Blouses, cotton or manmade fibers
Dresses, street, chiefly manmade fibers
Slips, nylon
Panties, acetate or nylon tricot
Girdles, manmade blend
Brassieres, nylon lace
Hose or panty hose, nylon seamless
Anklets or knee-length socks,various fibers
Gloves, fabric, nylon or cotton
Handbags, rayon faille or plastic
Girls' :
Raincoats, vinyl, cotton or polyester blends
Skirts, wool, wool blends or acrylic
Dresses, cotton, manmade fibers or blends
Slacks, cotton or chiefly cotton
Slips, polyester blends
Handbags, plastic
Miscellaneous apparel:
Diapers, cotton gauze or disposable
Yard goods, polyester blend
Wrist watches, men1 s and women1 s
August
1973
Percent change to August 197
from:
August
July
1972
1973
125.8
126.0
125.2
125.4
126.5
126.6
125.9
126.3
129.8
137. 0
117. 7
114. 6
138.3
120.2
121. 0
113.3
122.8
117. 7
120.0
132.4
118.4
114.4
137.4
121. 6
122. 3
114.0
123.3
117. 8
121. 1
4. 1
0
1.6
5.6
6.0
2. 2
4.8
1.6
.6
-. 2
-. 7
1. 2
1. 1
.6
.4
.1
3.9
.9
138.2
123.4
125.5
140.0
124.4
126.0
9.9
3.5
5.2
1. 3
.8
.4
(6)
4.7
4.7
4.9
4.9
0.6
.5
.6
. 7
(*)
2. 0
(!)
121.4
124.6
132.9
111.3
119.9
117.7
124. 1
94.2
114.3
111.4
151. 5
117.4
126.0
136. 3
111.3
120. 0
119.4
125.8
93.9
113.4
112. 0
153. 7
6.3
4.3
7. 7
.5
1.4
1.3
2. 7
-2.2
-.4
1. 3
6.4
109.7
130.2
110. 0
130. 2
-. 3
8.0
. 3
119. 1
124.9
120. 0
129.9
119. 1
124.7
120. 6
130.6
2. 7
4.5
3.4
4.4
0
-.2
.5
. 5
133.5
138.0
133.8
138.8
7.5
13.0
.2
.6
128. 1
124. 7
129. 3
128.6
129. 2
124. 8
129.6
128.7
2. 1
2.2
5. 1
2.5
.9
. 1
.2
.1
132.6
125.6
129. 7
132.9
125.8
133. 2
3.6
1.3
2. 1
. 2
. 2
2. 7
121. 6
118. 0
128.7
138. 3
121.7
122.2
118. 1
129. 7
139. 5
122.5
3.8
2.8
6. 1
4.3
5.0
2.
0
6
i
1. 4
1. 4
- 3
8
5
i! 5
-. 4
Men' s:
Shoes, street
Shoes, work, high
Women1 s:
Shoes, street, pump
Shoes, evening, pump
Sho e s, ca suaI
House slippers, scuff
Children' s:
Shoes, oxford
Sneakers, boys' , oxford type
Dress shoes, girls' , strap or pump
Apparel services:
Drycleaning, men's suits and women1 s dresses
Automatic laundry service
Laundry, men' s shirts
Tailoring charges, hem adjustment
Shoe repairs, women' s heel lift
See footnotes at end of table.
July
1973
17
.5
. 1
.8
.9
. 7
Table 8. Consumer Price Index-United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
indexes for selected items and groups, August 1973, and percent changes from selected dates—Continued
Other
Item and group
Transportation
Automobiles, new
Automobiles, used
Gasoline, regular and premium -Motor oil, premium
Tires, new, tubeless
Auto repairs and maintenance 9
Auto insurance rates
Auto registration
Parking fees, private and municipal
Public
Local transit fares
Taxicab fares
Railroad fares, coach
Airplane fares, chiefly coach
Bus fares, intercity
Health and recreation
Medical care
Drugs and prescriptions
Over-the-counter items
Multiple vitamin concentrates Aspirin compounds
Liquid tonics
Cold tablets or capsules
Adhesive bandages, packages
Cough syrup
Prescriptions
Anti-infectives
Sedatives and hypnotics
Ataractics
Antispasmodics
Cough preparations
Cardiovasculars and antihypertensives
Analgesics, internal —
Anti-obesity
Professional services:
Physicians 1 fees
General physician, office visits
General physician, house visits
Obstetrical cases
Pediatric care, office visits
Psychiatrist, office visits
Herniorrhaphy, adult
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
Dentists' fees
Fillings, adult, amalgam, one surface
Extractions, adult
Dentures, full upper
Other professional services:
Examination, prescription, and dispensing of
Routine laboratory tests, urinalysis
Hospital service charges
Semiprivate rooms
Operating room charges
X-ray diagnostic series, upper G.I
Laboratory tests, urinalysis
Anti-infectives, tetracyline, HCL
Tranquilizers, chlordiazepoxide, HCL and
meprobamate
Electrocardiogram
Intravenous solution, saline
Physical therapy, whirlpool bath
Oxygen, inhalation therapy
Jan. 72
Jan. 72
Jan. 72
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
72
72
72
72
72
Toilet goods
Toothpaste, standard dentifrice
Toilet soap, hard milled
Hand lotions, liquid
Shaving cream, aerosol
Face powder, pressed
Deodorants, aerosol
Cleansing tissues
Home permanent wave kits
Personal care services
Men1 s haircuts
Beauty shop services
Women1 s haircuts
Shampoo and wave sets, plain
Permanent waves, cold
See footnotes at end of table.
Indexe s
July
1973
base
18
August
1973
from:
August
1972
July
1973
124. 8
122.6
110.9
122.7
118.8
128. 1
110.3
142.5
138. 1
123.7
154. 1
144.9
150.3
138. 3
122.6
134.5
145.9
124.5
122.3
110.6
121. 3
118.7
128.4
109. 1
142.9
138. 2
123.7
153. 6
144.9
150.3
138.3
122.6
134.5
145.9
0
7.9
9.5
3.4
-5.5
5.3
-2. 1
-3.0
4.3
1. 1
0
3.5
-. 2
4. 1
2.7
130.3
137. 3
105.9
112.4
94.6
117. 6
101.8
114.8
126.3
115.4
100.4
71.0
129. 0
103.8
107.9
137.6
112.8
111.2
117. 1
91.3
130.5
137. 6
105.9
112.4
94.8
117. 3
101.6
115.0
126. 3
115. 6
100.5
70.9
129.5
103.8
107.9
137.8
112.9
111.2
117.4
91.4
3.2
3.5
# 1
!8
-.5
.4
.2
.4
1.8
• 1.7
-.4
-4.6
1.5
.5
-. 1
4.2
1. 1
1.3
-.5
-1.6
138. 2
139.5
141.5
138.4
140.4
133.8
131.3
133.3
136. 7
139. 0
136.0
132. 7
138. 6
139.8
141.9
138.7
141.5
133.9
131.8
133. 3
136. 7
139. 1
135.9
132. 8
3.3
3.4
3.4
3.3
4.0
129.8
122.5
105.6
181. 8
179. 2
131.9
104.3
97.6
130. 6
123.8
106.0
182. 5
179. 7
132. 1
105. 2
97.4
4.2
2.5
3.2
4. 1
5.7
1.9
2.7
-2.6
.6
1. 1
.4
.4
. 3
.2
.9
-.2
104.9
104.5
103.8
106.7
103.5
125.3
119. 7
109. 1
128.0
125.5
108.8
146.6
104. 9
125.0
109.5
131. 1
133. 8
129.3
134.2
132. 8
116.8
105. 3
104.7
103.8
107.9
103.8
125.7
120. 1
109. 3
128.4
127.0
108. 7
148.2
105.2
124.7
109. 3
131. 6
133.9
130. 0
135.2
133.5
117. 1
3.3
1.8
1.4
5.6
1.8
4.6
2.3
-.5
5.3
-. 1
1.5
10.4
.4
.2
0
1. 1
.3
.3
.3
.2
.3
1.2
-. 1
1. 1
.3
-.2
-.2
.4
. 1
.5
.7
.5
.3
3.3
3.6
-0.2
-.2
-%3
-1. 1
-. 1
.2
-1. 1
.3
. 1
0
-.3
0
0
0
0
0
0
.2
.2
.0
0
.2
-.3
-.2
.2
0
.2
# 1
-. 1
.4
0
0
. 1
. 1
0
.3
. 1
.3
.2
.3
.2
.8
. 1
.4
3.6
2.5
2.2
2.9
3.6
2.3
2.5
m
i
0
-.3
6.8
6.8
6.9
10.9
6.3
4.0
0
0
. 1
-. 1
Table 8. Consumer Price Index-United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
indexes for selected items and groups, August 1973, and percent changes from selected dates—Continued
(1967= 100)
Other
index
base
Item and group
Health and recreation—Continued
Reading and recreation 10
Recreational goods
TV sets, portable and console
TV replacement tubes
Radio, portable and table model
Tape recorders, portable
Phonograph records, stereophonic
Movie cameras, super 8, zoom lens Film, 35mm, color
Golf balls, liquid center or solid core
Basketballs, rubber or vinyl cover
Fishing rods, fresh-water spincasting
Bowling balls
Bicycles, boys'
Tricycle s
Dog food, canned or boxed
Recreational services
Indoor movie admissions —
Adult
Children1 s
Drive-in movie admissions, adult
Bowling fees, evening
v j O U
JJ3TCCH I € G S
126.2
109.4
97.6
134.8
——————————————————————————————
TV repair, color picture tube replacement
Film developing, color
Reading and education:
Newspapers, street sale and delivery
Magazines, single copy and subscription
Piano lessons, beginner
^^fclier
GToods
& u d
s e r v i c e s
————-—————••-————~————————————————
T n K s / * / * A im*s>#1*i**f" c
_
x v w a w u ^ / i ^ / u u v i > o ———————————————
__—
_— —
Cigarettes, nonfilter tip, regular size
Cigarettes, filter tip, king size
Cigars, domestic, regular size
Alcoholic beverages
B e er
Whiskey, spirit blended and straight bourbon
Wine, dessert and table
Dp*y
aimv
July
1973
f i * / \ m "hi™iTV^*»
August
1973
126. 1
109.5
97.4
134.8
Percent change to August 1973
from:
August
July
1972
1973
2.5
1.3
-2.0
1.7
.2
-1. 4
.7
2.2
99.5
99.4
93.4
108.0
89.9
107. 6
103. 2
127.0
109. 7
115.6
122.8
116.2
123.9
133.2
148.5
146.6
153.9
152.9
123.2
137.9
100. 2
116. 2
93.8
108.3
90.2
107. 5
103.8
126.4
110. 1
115.9
124.2
116. 1
125.3
132.9
148.8
146.7
154.7
151. 3
122.4
138.0
100.4
116. 1
136.4
136. 1
126.2
129. 5
137.8
139. 3
140. 0
113. 5
122.8
116.0
109.0
136.8
135.2
136.4
136. 1
126.4
129.4
137.8
139.5
140. 1
133.2
122.4
115. 1
109.0
136.9
135. 1
2. 5
2.0
3.2
2.7
2.8
2.6
2.9
2.0
2. 1
1. 1
. 1
7. 3
2.7
126.4
107. 0
163.3
127. 6
107.0
163.4
5. 1
0
8.7
-.6
-1.2
0
2.3
1.6
6. 1
1.4
13.7
3.3
3.8
2.8
6.7
2.9
3.9
5.4
2.3
-.3
-. 1
.4
.3
.3
-. 1
.6
-.5
.4
.3
1. 1
-. 1
1. 1
-.2
.2
. 1
.5
-1.0
-.6
. 1
.2
-. 1
0
0
.2
-. 1
0
. 1
. 1
-. 3
-. 3
-.8
0
. 1
-. 1
j-*c;^x ttway AAV*** J I V I I I C
Financial and miscellaneous personal expenses:
Funeral services, adult
Bank service charges, checking accounts
Legal services, short form will
Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
Also includes home purchase costs not shown separately.
Also includes pine shelving, furnace filters, packaged dry cement mix, and shrubbery not shown separately.
Also includes Venetian blinds, nails, carpet sweepers, air deodorizers, steel wool scouring pads, envelopes, reupholstering, and moving
expenses.
Priced only in season.
Not available.
Also includes men' s sport shirts, women' s and girls' lightweight coats, women1 s slacks, cocktail dresses, bathing suits, girls' shorts,
earrings, and zippers not shown separately.
Also includes recapped tires and drivers' license fees not shown separately.
9
Includes prices for water pump replacement, motor tune-up, automatic transmission repair, exhaust system repair, front end alignment,
and chassis lubrication.
10
Also includes outboard motors, nondurable toys, college tuition fees, paperback books, and college textbooks, not shown separately.
19
Brief Explanation of the CPI
personal visits of the Bureau's trained representatives.
Mail questionnaires are used to obtain local transit fares,
public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and
certain other items.
In calculating the index, price changes for the various
items in each location are averaged together with weights
which represent their importance in the spending of all
wage earners and clerical workers. Local data are then
combined to obtain a U.S. city average. Separate indexes
are also published for 23 areas.
The index measures price changes from a designated
reference date- 1967—which equals 100.0. An increase
of 22 percent, for example, is shown as 122.0. This
change can also be expressed in dollars as follows: The
price of a base period "market basket" of goods and
services bought by urban wage earners and clerical
workers has risen from $10 in 1967 to $12.20.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average
changes in prices of goods and services usually bought
by urban wage earners and clerical workers. It is based
on prices of about 400 items which were selected to represent the movement of prices of all goods and services
purchased by wage earners and clerical workers. Prices
for these items are obtained in urban portions of 39
major statistical areas and 17 smaller cities, which were
chosen to represent all urban places in the United States.
They are collected from about 18,000 establishments—
grocery and department stores, hospitals, filling stations,
and other types of stores and service establishments.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are
obtained every month in .all 56 locations. Prices of most
other commodities and services are collected every month
in the five largest areas and every 3 months in other
areas. Prices of most goods and services are obtained by
A Note About Calculating Index Changes
period. BLS does not publish annual rates based on
data for 1 month.
Movements of the indexes from one month to another
are usually expressed as percent changes rather than
changes in index points because index point changes are
affected by the level of the index in relation to its base
period while percent changes are not. The example in the
accompanying box illustrates the computation of index
point and percent changes.
Seasonally adjusted percent changes in the U.S. All
Items Index are based on seasonal adjustment factors
and seasonally adjusted indexes carried to two decimal
places. This procedure helps to eliminate rounding error
in the percent changes.
Percent changes for 3-month and 6-month periods
are expressed as annual rates and are computed according to the standard formula for compound growth rates.
These data indicate what the percent change would be
if the current rate were maintained for a 12-month
Index Point Change
CPI
Less previous index
Equals index point change:
123.8
123.2
0.6
Percent Change
Index point difference,
Divided by the previous index,
Equals,
Results multiplied by one hundred
Equals percent change:
0.6
123.2
0.005
0.005x100
0.5
A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data
climatic conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales.
The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay.
Unadjusted data are also used extensively for escalation
purposes. Many collective bargaining contract agreements and pension plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index unadjusted
for seasonal variation.
Because price data are used for different purposes by
different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes each
month.
For analyzing general price trends in the economy,
seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred, since
they eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur
at the same time and in about the same magnitude every
year—such as price movements resulting from changing
20
Reliability of Percent Changes in the CPI
A system of "replicated" samples introduced into
the index structure in the 1964 revision permits an estimate of sampling error for the CPI.1 The table below
shows standard errors for monthly, quarterly, and
annual percent changes in the CPI for all items and
for nine commodity groupings based on 1972 averages.
Average standard errors of percent changes in the
CPI based on 1972 data
Component
All items
Food at home
Food away from
home
Housing
Apparel and upkeep.
Transportation . . . .
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and
recreation
Other goods and
services
Monthly
change
Standard error
Quarterly
change
Annual
change
.04
.07
.06
.10
.09
.15
.08
.06
.17
.11
.09
.14
.14
.10
.27
.17
.14
.19
.33
.19
.33
.20
.28
.34
.09
.12
.20
.11
.17
.23
The figures may be interpreted as follows: The chances
are about 95 out of 100 that the percent change in the
CPI as computed differs from the corresponding "complete coverage" change by less than twice the standard
error.
Because the CPI is rounded to one decimal place,
some ambiguity may arise in interpreting small index
changes. As the table indicates, for example, a monthto-month change of 0.1 percent in the all-items CPI
is significant. Because of rounding, however, a change
of this size in the published index might result from a
much smaller change in the unrounded value. Hence,
any particular change of 0.1 percent may or may not
be significant. On the other hand, a published change of
0.2 percent is almost always significant, regardless of
the time period to which it relates.
This replaces the table of average errors based on
1971 data which was included in the CPI report through
March 1973.
The method of deriving these estimates is described in a
paper by Marvin Wikerson, "Measurement of Sampling Error
in the Consumer Price Index," Journal of the American Statistical Association, September 1967.
21
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
REGIONAL OFFICES
PUERTO RICO
Region I
1603 JFK Federal Building
Government Center
Boston, Mass. 02203
Phone: 223-6762 (Area Code 617)
Region V
8th Floor, 300 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, III. 60606
Phone: 353-1880 (Area Code 312)
Region II
1515 Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10036
Phone: 971-5405 (Area Code 212)
Region V I
1100 Commerce St., Rm. 6B7
Dallas, Tex. 75202
Phone: 749-3516 (Area Code 214)
Region I I I
Regions V I I and VIM *
Federal Office Building
911 Walnut St., 15th Floor
Kansas City, Mo. 64106
Phone: 374-2481 (Area Code 816)
P.O. Box 13309
Philadelphia, Pa. 19101
Phone: 597-1154 (Area Code 215)
Region IV
Suite 540
1371 Peachtree St., NE.
Atlanta, Ga. 30309
Phone: 526-5418 (Area Code 404)
*
**
Regions IX and X * *
450 Golden Gate Ave.
Box 36017
San Francisco, Calif. 94102
Phone: 556-4678 (Area Code 415)
Regions V I I and VIM are serviced by Kansas City.
Regions IX and X are serviced by San Francisco.
@FedFRASER