Full text of CPI Detailed Report : December 1956

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Released January 25, 1957
U.S. DEPARTMENT CF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR DECEMBER 1956
AND TEAR-END SUMMARY
Consumer priees in United States cities advanced 0*2 percent
between November and December 1956, according to the U. S. Department of Labor's
Bureau of Labor Statistics* Higher housing costs were chiefly responsible for the
increase* Prices of food and apparel were unchanged on the average, while transportation costs declined slightly. The December Consumer Price Index reached a new high of
118.0 (1947-49=100), 2 # 9 percent above a year ago.
FOCp

The food index remained at 112.9 percent of the 1947-49 average,
3.1 percent higher than a year earlier, but 3#2 percent below
the August 1952 peak. Between November and December food prices generally reflected
their usual seasonal movement, with increases reported for fresh vegetables and decreases
for beef and eggs.
Prices of fresh tomatoes rose 29*9 percent and green beans were up
17.2 percent as unfavorable weather conditions retarded or damaged Florida crops. Most
other fresh vegetables were also higher, but lettuce prices dropped 13*3 percent. Prices
of fresh fruit were down 0.2 percent as seasonally lower prices for oranges and grapefruit offset higher prices for apples. The index for frozen and canned fruits and
vegetables declined, due primarily to lower prices for orange juice.
Prices of all cuts of beef declined in response to large supplies:
round steak, 3*8 percent; chuck roast, 3.3 percent; rib roast, 2.7 percent; and hamburger, 1.0 percent. Pork prices advanced 0.4 percent on the average, with higher prices
for bacon and ham more than offsetting a decline of 2.0 percent for pork chops.

dozen.

Egg prices decreased 4*4 percent to an average of 58 cents a
Lower prices for coffee were reported for the first time since January 1956.

HOUSING

All components of the housing index advanced. Rent increases
were reported in most cities surveyed and home maintenance and
repair costs continued to advance. Prices of anthracite coal rose over 5 percent and
fuel oil prices were up 1 percent. Bills for gas and electricity averaged 0.2 percent
higher. Increased prices for wool carpeting, mattresses, kitchenware, and some appliances were reflected in an advance of 0.3 percent in the housefurnishings index.
Charges for laundry, dry cleaning, and domestic service continued to increase.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

The reading and recreation index rose 0.3 percent, due primarily
to higher charges for movie admissions. Prices of television sets
and repair services also advanced. Rates for group hospitalisation
insurance, and hospital and other medical care services continued upward. Higher prices
were recorded for men's haircuts and some cosmetics and toiletries*
Moderately lower prices for new and used cars, and for gasoline
(due to competitive price cutting in widely, scattered cities) more than offset advances
for automobile repair services and tires, resulting in a decline of 0.2 percent for
private transportation. The public transportation index, however, rose 0.4 percent as
transit fares were increased in Kansas City*




2
YEAR-END
SUMMARY

In the early months of 1956, consumer prices continued to show
the stability which had characterised their movement for the past
two years* Prices of food and other commodities generally
declined during this 2-year period, while rents and other consumer services continued
their long upward movement* In March 1956, however, food prices reversed their trend
and by July had advanced 5*5 percent as the usual seasonal rise in prices of fresh
fruits and vegetables was accentuated by unfavorable growing weather in this country and
heavy demand for exports stimulated by severe European crop damage* Reflecting this
increase in food prices and the continuing advance in the costs of services the Consumer
Price Index rose 2*1 percent between February and July to reach new record high levels*
In August, food prices dropped 1*5 percent as supplies of fresh produce improved and
the food index thereafter remained virtually unchanged through December*
During the latter part of 1956, after food prices had leveled off,
prices of all other major groups of goods and services rose every month almost without
exception* In September the most important upward pressure was in the apparel group as
fall and winter clothing came back on the market at prices substantially higher than at
the end of the previous season* In October and November, new model automobiles were
introduced at higher cost to the consumer and at the end of the year were 6*5 percent
higher than a year earlier*
At the year1s end the Consumer Price Index was 2*9 percent higher
than in December 1955* Food prices had advanced 3*1 percent; housing, 2*2 percent}
apparel, 2*2 percent; transportation, 4*6 percent; medical care, 3*5 percent; personal
care, 3*3 percent; reading and recreation, 2*3 percent; and other goods and services,
2*2 percent*




3

TABUS 1: Consumer Price Index — United States city are rage, all items and commodity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Indexes (19*7-*9«100)
December
1956

Group

All items
Food 1/
Food at hose
—
—
—
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish —
Dairy products — —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at hone - - —
Rent

—
—
—
—

—-

Solid fue^s and fuel oil
Eousefurnishings --—
,
Household operation — — - —
Men's and boys' — — — — —
Women's and girls' —
Footwear — —
—---—
Transportation
Public
Private

—

—

—

—

------

Medical care

»-"——

Reading and recreation

—

November
1956

October
1956

December
1955

June
1950

Year
1939

This
month

Last
month

2 months
ago

Last
year

Pre-Korea

Pre-World
War II

118.0

117.8

117.7

114.7

101.8

59.*

112.9
111.2
127.4
98.0
111.3
117.4
114.2

112.9
111.3
127.0
98.8
111.1
115.8
115.2

113.1
111.7
126.8
100.8
110.7
113.9
115.8

109.5
107.9
123.9
94.6
107.7
110.7
113.7

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9*.l

*7.i
*7.1
57.2
*1.6
*9.8
*6.3
*8.*

123.5
134.2
112.0
136.1
104.1
124.8

123.0
133.8
111.8
134.3
103.8
124.5

122.8
133.4
112.0
132.9
103.6
124.2

120.8
131.1
111.5
128.0
103.4
120.7

10*. 9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6

76.1
86.6
10*. 9
56.*
53.*
68.*

107.0
108.6
100.3
126.4
92.2

107.0
108.4
100.4
126.2
92.1

106.8
108.2
100.1
126.2
92.1

104*7
106.1
99.1
119.8
91.1

96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1
88.*

52.5
50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6

113.1
174.1
123.3

133.2
173.4
123.5

132.6
173.0
122.9

127.3
167.8
117.8

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

134,7
121.8
109.3
123.3

134.5
121.4
109.0
123.2

134.1
120.8
108.5
123.0

130.2
117.9
106.8
120.6

105.*
99.2
102.5
103.7

72.6
59.6
6^.0
70.6

Percent change to December 1956
Bovember
1956
All items - —
Food 1/ —

—
—

0.2

Cereals and bakery products

Rtnt
—
Gas and electricity
— — .
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefumishings — — — — — — —

Other goods and services

— —

— — — — — — —

June
1950

Tear
1939

2.9

15.9

98.7

.2
.4
.5
- 2.8
.5
3.1
- 1.4

3.1
3.1
2.8
3.6
3.3
6.1
.4

12.3
10.6
24.1
- 7.6
20.6
~14*5
21.4

139.7
136.1
122.7
135.6
123.5
153.6
136.0

.4
.3
.2
1.3
.3
•2

.6
.6
0
2.4
.5
.5

2.2
2.4
.4
6.3
.7
3.4

17.7
23.5
9.1
26.5
6.9
25.3

62.3
55.0
6.8
141.3
94.9
82.5

0
.2
- .1
.2
.1

.2
.4
.2
.2
.1

2.2
2.4
1.2
5.5
1.2

10.9
10.7
7.5
23.8
4.3

103.8
113.8
84.0
151.3
127.1

- .1
.4
- .2

.4
.6
.3

4.6
3.8
4.7

21.1
47.7
15.7

89.6
114.1
88.2

.1
.3
.3
.1

.4
.8
.7
.2

3.5
3.3
2.3
2.2

27.8
22.8
6.6
18.9

85.5
104.4
73.5
74.6

-

l/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately.
2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately,
j/ Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services" (such as
legal services, banking fees, burial services, etc.).




December
1955

0.3

0
- .1
.3
- .8
.2
1.4
- .9

—

Public
Private

October
1956

from:

TABLE 2% Consumer Price Index — All items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)

City
United States city average

1/

December
1956

November
1956

118.0

117.8

121.0
120.2
119.4
115.5
118.6

121.0
120.6
119.1
115.6
118.2

December
1955

June
1950

Year
1939

114.7

101.8

59.4

118.5
116.7
116.3
112.0
114.8

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

June
1950

Year
1939

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

May
1950

Year
1939

Cities priced monthly: g/
Chicago———
Detroit
Los Angeles— —
••
New York
ftrilfldeiphifli——•—•——
Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 2/
Atlanta
Baltimore—
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco——-

December
1956

September
1956

119.5
119.5
117.5
119.1
121.6

118.9
117.5
117.1
118.1
119.0

—

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

—

—-

117.1
115.8
114.2
116.1
115.9

August
1956

November
1956

Cities priced in February, Hsiy,
August, November 3/
Cleveland
Houston——
Scranton
— —
Seattle
Washington, D.C.
—

December
1955
U

November
1955

120.0
119.7
114.9
120.2
115.9

119.1
118.2
113.5
118.8
115.7

116.2
116.7
110.9
117.4
113.7

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

October
1956

July
1956

October
1955

April
1950

Year
1939

119.3
118.9
117.4
118.2
119.5

117.8
117.6
117.7
117.3
118.6

114.5
116.2
116.4
113.8
116.2

101.2
101.4
2/ 102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

U This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 197.3.
2J Rents priced bimonthly.
y Poods, fuels, Ahd * few other items priced monthly! rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly.
fj May 1950.
*
5/ June 1950.

TABLE 3s Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from November 1956 to December 1956
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

City

All
items

United States city average-

0.2

ChicagoDetroitLOB AngelesNew York
Fhiladelphia-




Food

Apparel

- 1.0

.3

.3

- 0.5

-

.3

.6

•4

.2
.2
.2

.7

Transportation

- 0.1

0.4

0
.3
.3

.1

lousing

0.1
.8

.2
.1
.2

.2
.2
0
.1

Medical
care

Reading
and
Personal
recreation
care

0.1

0.3

0.3

.1
.1

.3

1.3
.5
.4

.2

0
0

.1
.2
.1

0

-

.2
.1

TABUS It: Consumer Price Index — All Items and commodity groups
December 1956 indexes and percent changes, September 1956 to December 1956
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in December 1956
U.S.
City
BaltiCincinLos
Average Atlanta more
Chicago nati
Detroit Angeles

Group

New
York

5

PhilaSt.
delphia Louis

San
Francisco

Indexes (19*7-49.100)
118.0

119.5

119.5

121.0

117.5

120.2

119.4

115.5

118.6

119.1

112.9
111.2
127.4
98.0
111.3
117.4
114.2

111.1
109.8
119.2
99.7
112.5
119.8
107.4

114.8
111.0
126.6
99.3
112.5
112.1
114.2

109.8
107.6
121.3
90.8
111.2
114.1
119.2

113.9
112.1
124.8
99.8
114.2
114.3
119.6

114.7
112.7
120.2
95.1
112.8
128.1
116.4

116.0
112.6
131.4
100.5
105.4
122.1
114.0

112.6
111.0
131.1
100.6
109.7
113.7
113.6

115.2
113.4
130.6
100.6
116.1
118.2
112.8

114.5
116.3
110.4
114.9
138.2
122.7
94.6
103.5
102.4 . 113.2
122.8
121.4
112.7
122.9

123.5
134.2
112.0
136.1
104.1
124.8

128.5
135.5
119.4
127.0
108.8
133.7

120.2
129.8
100.0
137.9
100.2
117.9

132.7

127.1
146.0
111.6
127.2
109.2
117.3

128.7

103.4
138.7
107.6
122.5

122.4
140.9
103.8
147.5
102.4
128.3

124.1
137.2
136.3

104.0
128.1

119.6
121.9
110#8
145.9
104.0
124.7

118.0

113.8
137.5
101.8
130.8

122.7
138.6
116.8
141.0
99.1
131.6

107.0
108.6
100.3
126.4
92.2

111.9
113.1
105.3
132.1
92.7

105.9
103.9
101.3
126.8
96.3

110.0
114.8
100.1
130.6
96.0

105.5
105.7
98.4
133.4
88.7

103.6
110.5
92.6
122.4
87.3

107.2
111.5
98.7
128.0
84.4

106.1
107.9
99.0
125.4
95.5

107.8
105.5
104.8
122.0
94.3

104.6
107.9
95.6
125.4
96.2

106.9
107.9
100.7
129.0
89.4

—

133.1
174.1
123.3

130.7
163.1
124.4

145.3
186.6
127.4

139.3
166.5
124.9

128.6
163.9
119.0

130.0
144.3
126.9

130.7
152.9
126.9

136.8
187.9
117.5

140.8
186.7
120.6

139.2
187.9
121.6

148.7
180.6
135.5

—

134.7
121.8
109.3
123.3

129.7
127.0
109.8
128.9

144.0
120.1
118.9
128.6

138.6
124.6
117.0
119.7

137.6
124.8
100.3
121.1

144.0
129.0
110.2
124.7

127.8
120.4
97.6
120.6

128.0
114.4
107.5
123.5

138.1
127.8
115.0
125.6

152.4
119.2
94.3
124.5

135.9
117.9
112,3
119.9

0.2

0.8

2.2

.6
.8
.5
- 2.5
3.8
- .4
- 3.1

- .2
- 1.0
1.7
- 3.6
- 3.5
3.4
- .9

.9
.7
.6
- 1.5
2.4
3.1
.2

.2

2.2

0
9.9
- .2
2.1

.3
.5
0
2.1
1.3
.6

.1

0
.3
.1
.2
.3

- .1
.6
- .9
.6
.2

.9
.8
.9
1.6
.4

All items
Food

Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish — —
Dairy products
— — —
Fruits and vegetables —
Other foods at heme —
Rent
Gas and electricity

—

Housefurnishings — — — —
Household operation
Hen's and boys'
—
Women's and girls'
Other apparel

—

—

—-—

—

Public
Medical care

—

—

Reading and recreation —
Other goods and services

—

—

118.0
—

121.6

—

108.5
118.9

Percent change from September 1956 to December 1956
0.8

0.5

1.7

0.6

0.3

0.4

1.4

.2
<4

- 3.3
1.4
2.3
- 1.0

- .7
- 1.0
1.4
- 3.7
- .1
- 1.4
.4

.3
.8
3.6
- 3.3
2.8
- 2.9
- 1.0

- .9
- 1.3
.6
- 4.8
.9
2.1
- 1.8

- 1.4
- 1.6
0
- 3.5
.3
- .2
- 2.3

- .9
- 1.5
0
- 5.1
.5
2.8
- 2.3

2.0
2.2
.3
- .2
0
9.2
1.8

.8
.6
- .2
4.3
.8
.9

1.2
.2
0
5.7
.6
.1

3.5
.4
0
6.1
2.0
.6

.6

.8
.2
- 1.3
2.7
2.0
.2

.6
1.5

.2
.7
.2
.7

.1

- 1.1
- .3
- 2.4
.9
- .6

0
0
0
.2
0

£.8
0
3.3

3.5
0
4.1

2.9
0
3.8

2.8
0
3.8

3.6
0
4.6

5.4
0
6.2

.5
.6
1.9
.1

.1
.9
.5
.7

.1
1.6
.7
- .1

0
0
.1
.2

6.1
.1
1.8
.2

.3
1.2
4.5
1.3

All items
Food
Food at hoate
——
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
—
—
—
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Rent — —
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil

—

leasehold operation — — — — — —

-

.6

-

.8
1.5
0
.2
1.6
3.7
- .5 2/ .3
.8
1.2

.1

.4
.1
- 1.2
.7
- .3

.6
.2
- 1.7
.9
0

— — — —

3.5
.6
3.9

1.4
0
1.6

3.8
0
4.7

4.1
0
5.1

3.5
0
4.1

Other goods and services — — — —

.5
1.1
.8
.5

.4
1.2
.1
2.1

.7
3.0
- 1.1
1.3

1.3
.5
1.2
1.7

4.6
.1
- .2

Men's and boys' — — — — — — —
Women's and girls' — — — — —
Footwear — — — — — — —
Other apparel — — — — —
Public
Private

—
—
—
—

.5
.3
.7
.3
.2

-

-

1/ Change from Ootober 1956 to December 1956.
2/ Based on corrected index for September, 98*8.




-

.6
.7

-

0

-

1.0

.1

1/

0.3
-

.7
.8
.5
- 3.5
2.4
1.5
- 2.7
1/

—

1.0
.3

.8
.4
.5
7.1
.8
1.1

.3
•4
- .8
.2

-

-

-

-

1.0

0
—

2.6
6.7

TABUS 5 s Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
December 1956 indexes and percent changes, November 1956 to December 1956
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
Q9VM9.IOQ]
Total
food at home

X ota] food
City
Index

Percent
change

Index

Percent
chai^ge

Cereals and
bakery products
Index

Percent
change

Meats, poultry,
and fish
Index

U.S. city average

112.9

0

111.2 - 0.1

127.4

Atlanta

111.1
114.8
111.9
109.8
113.9
110.8
114.7
111.4
109.2
116.0

.6
.8
0
.5
.4
.1
1.0
.7
.3
.3

109.8
111.0
109.3
107.6
112.1
108.7
112.7
109.6
107.1
112.6

- .3
.6

119.2
1.1
126.6 - .2
1.8
126.3
.7
121.3
124.8
.1
121.7 - .1
120.2
.9
119.8
.1
123.8
0
.2
131.4

99.7
99.3
97.0
90.8
99.8
95.7
95.1
93.3
93.8
100.5

.5
.6
.3
.3
.3
.3
.5
.3
.3
.3

111.1
111.0
113.4
112.9
113.5
110.4
114.9
109.2
114.3
111.1

- .6
- .6
.4
- .4
.4
- .5
.3
- .4
.4
.4

129.2
.2
0
131.1
0
130.6
125.0 - .3
130.1 - .2
122.7
1.4
138.2
.2
.2
124.9
136.7
.3
127.7
3.8

93.2
100.6
100.6
97.4
98.3
94.6
103.5
97.7
97.7
96.5

Chicago — —
—
Cincinnati — — — —
Cleveland — - — — — —
Detroit —
— —
Houston
— —
Kansas City
— —
Los Angeles

-

Minneapolis —
112.3 New Tork — — — — 112.6 115.2
Pittsburgh
114.6 Portland, Oreg.
115.4
St. Louis
— — — 114.5
San Francisco — — 116.3
110.0 Scranton
Seattle
. — — — 115.5
Washington, D.C.
113.1

•
-

.8
.2
0
.8
.5
.2
1.3
.8

0.3

Percent
change

98.0 - 0.8
.2
- .1
- .3
- 1.1

Dairy
products
Index

111.3

Percent
change

0.2

Fruits and
vegetables
Index

117.4

Percent
change

1.4

Other
foods ,at home
Percent
change

Index

114.2 - 0.9

- .7
- 3.2
.1
- .6
.5

112.5
.4
112.5
2.4
.2
116.5
111.2 - .7
0
114.2
.1
108.3
112.8
.1
.2
112.4
108.2 - .1
105.4 - .1

119.8
3.4
112.1 - 1.1
111.8
.2
114.1 - .1
1.2
114.3
110.0
2.2
128.1 - .9
3.8
120.9
.8
114.5
122.1
3.0

107.4
114.2
105.8
119.2
119.6
118.2
116.4
113.7
107.0
114.0

.2
.9
1.1
1.9
1.7
1.0
1.5
.1
- 1.3
- .2

- .9
- 2.5
.7
- 1.3
- .8
- 1.3
1.0
.2
- 1.1
- .4

108.5 - .1
.2
109.7
116.1
1.3
113.8
1.9
.3
114.1
102.4 - 3.7
0
113.2
108.8
.3
.2
116.4
116.0
.1

120.9 - .6
113.7
2.2
118.2
2.0
118.6
.3
118.8
2.9
122.8
1.8
1.2
121.4
112.3
.4
3.2
123.5
1.2
111.9

121.5
113.6
112.8
123.0
117.3
122.9
112.7
111.1
114.5
114.3

-

- 1.0

-

-

1.4
1.6
2.1
1.4
.3
.2
1.1
2.4
.4
1.3

TABLES 6: Consumer Price Index -- Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
Food and unit
Cereals and bakery products;
Flour, wheat —---------—-— 5 ib.
Biscuit mix
20 oz.
Corn meal
—
ib.
Rice — — — — — — — — — — —
ib.
Rolled oats — — — — — — — - 20 oz.
Corn flakes — — — — — —
12 oz.
Bread, white — — — —
ib.
Soda crackers — — — — — — — — ib.
Vanilla cookies — — — — — — 7 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak — — — — — — — — ib.
Chuck roast — — — — — — — ib.
Rib roast — — — — — — — — ib.
Hamburger —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Veal cutlets — — — — — — — ib.
Pork chops, center cut — — —
ib.
Bacon, sliced — — — — — — — ib.
Ham, whole — — — — — — — — ib.
Lamb, leg -------ib.
Frankfurters — — — — —
ib.
Luncheon meat, canned
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to*cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen - — — ib.
Salmon, pink, canned — — — — is oz.
Tuna fish, canned — —
e toflioz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery) —
—
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream — — — — — — — — — pt.
Butter — — — — — — — — — ib.
Cheese, American process — — - — ib.
Milk, evaporated
i4^-oz. can
Fruit8 and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries -----------—- 10 oz.
Orange Juice concentrate — - 6 oz.
Peas, green — — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green —
—
—
10 oz.
Fresh:
Apples — — — — — — —
ib.
Bananas — — — — — — — — — lb.
Oranges, size 200 — — — — — doz.
Lemons — — — — — — — — — ib.

* Priced only in season*




Dec,
1956

89.9
51.6
73.7
39.2

112.2

77.6
61.3
61.0

68.0

Nov.
1956

93.5
53.4
75.8
39.5
112.3
79.3
60.6
59.4
70.4

52.1

52.2

44.5
42.4
45.8
61.9
31.8

41.5
44.9
42.3
45.1
61.7
31.6

42.0

23.3

23.3

24.8

24.8

29.1
74.8
57.3
14.3

29.1
74.5
57.2
14.3

28.7
19.2

20.2
22.8
14.6
17.3
56.4
20.5

28.7
19.5
20.3
22.7
13.4
17.4
59.9
20.4

Food and unit

Dec.
1956

Fresh Continued
Cents
Grapefruit *
each
nrr
Peaches * — — — — — — — ib.
Strawberries * — — — — — pt.
Grapes, seedless * — — —
ib.
Watermelons * — — — —
ib.
Potatoes — — — — — — — 10 ib. 53.6
Sweet potatoes — — — — — — ib.
12.7
Onions —
—
—
—
—
ib.
7.6
Carrots —
—
— — ib.
13.9
Lettuce —
— — — — — — —
head
20.8
Celery
—-—-—
ib.
14.8
Cabbage — — — — — —
ib.
7.4
Tomatoes — — — — — —
ib.
34.4
Beans, green — — —
ib.
27.4
Canned:
Orange juice — — — — — — 46-oz. can
39.1
Peaches — —
— #2& can
34.4
Pineapple — — — — — —
#2 can 34.0
Fruit cocktail — — - — - — #303 can
26.0
Corn, cream style — —
#303 can
17.4
Peas, green — — — — — — #303 can
21.4
Tomatoes — — — — — — — #303 can
15.1
10.0
Baby foods — — — — — —
to 5 oz.
Dried;
34.7
Prunes — — — — — —
ib.
16.1
Beans — — — — — — — — — — ib.
Other foods at home:
Tomato SOUp
— t o
ll-oz. can
12.2
Beans with pork — — — —
id-oz. can
14.6
Pickles, sveet — — — — — —
7£ 0 z.
27.0
Catsup, tomato — — — — — — 14 oz. 23.2
Coffee — — — — — — — — — — — lb. out 108.9
Tea bags — — — - — — — — pkg. of 16
23.4
Cola drink, carton — — —
36 oz. 33.1
Shortening, hydrogenated — — 3 lb. 97.5
Margarine, colored — — — — — ib.
29.5
Lard — — — — — — — — — ib.
21.4
Salad dressing — — — — — — — pt.
36.1
Peanut butter — — — — — — — — ib.
53.6
Sugar — — — — — — —
5 ib.
53.6
Corn syrup — — — — — — 24 oz. 24.3
Grape jelly — — — — —
12 oz. 27.0
Chocolate bar — — — — —
1 0z.
4.5
Eggs, Grade A, large
—
doz.
58.5
Gelatin, flavored — — — 3 to 4 oz.
8.6

Nov.
1956
Cents

Tzzr

52.7
11.8
7.1
13.8

24*0

13.4
6.7
26.5
23.4
39.5
34.5
33.8

26.1

17.7

21.4

15.2

10.0

35.0

16.2
12.2

14.5
26.9

23.2

109.3

23.2

33.0
97.1
29.2
20.8
35.8
53.6
53.3

24.2

27.1
4.5

61.2

8.6

TABUS At Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
1956 annual average Indexes and per^a^ Ingres. 1955 to 1956
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in December 1956
U.S.
BaltiCity
CincinLos
Average Atlanta more
Chicago nati Detroit Angeles

Group

6A

New PhilaSt.
York delphia Louis

San
Francisco

Indexes (19VM-9-100)
1/116.2

118.1

116.9

119.5

116.0

118.7

117.4

113.9

117.0

117.2

111.7
110.2
125.6
97.1
108.7
119.0
112.8

110.2
108.7
118.1
99.1
110.7
120.4
105.3

112.9
110.2
122.5
98.1
109.4
117.3
112.8

109.3
107.4
120.1
90.5
109.8
115.8
119.1

113.2
111.8
124.5
98.2
112.8
118.0
118.8

114.2
112.7
119.7
95.6
109.3
132.6
115.2

113.5
110.2
129.9
97.8
103.9
118.5
111.7

111.5
109.9
129.8
99.9
105.7
114.5
113.2

113.8
112.2
126.7
99.4
111.1
121.9
112.6

112.8
114.1
110.1
112.9
120.1
133.7
102.8
94.6
102.7 i 107.9
124.5 ' 122.5
110.4
121.4

121.7
132.7
111.8
130.7
103.0
122.9

127.0
135.1
119.4
122.2
108.1
132.7

117.1
128.2
99.9
131.6
98.0
116.6

131.2

124.6
144.8
113.5
124.6
107.3
116.2

127.4

103.0
128.4
107.1
119.3

121.4
139.5
103.8
142.5
101.7
126.6

120.8
135.3
136.3

102.3
126.2

117.9
120.5
110.3
137.2
102.9
122.4

116.4

113.8
134.7
101.6
128.0

121.1
135.8
117.8
135.0
98.2
130.2

Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear — — — — —

105.5
107.4
98.7
123.9
91.4

111.3
112.4
105.2
130.1
92.2

104.9
103.3
100.7
123.5
95.5

108.9
113.7
99.5
127.8
95.4

105.0
105.0
98.7
130.9
88.5

103.1
110.0
92.7
119.6
87.3

105.9
109.8
97.7
126.4
83.6

104.6
106.9
97.2
123.0
94.5

105.1
104.4
101.1
118.9
92.5

104.3
106.9
96.2
123*9
95.8

105.7
106.7
100.1
125.3
89.0

Public

128.7
172.2
118.8

126.6
157.9
120.5

139.0
184.9
120.9

134.0
166.1
119.0

123.5
163.5
113.6

126.4
143.8
122.8

126.8
152.2
122.6

133.1
187.5
113.4

136.5
186.5
115.8

134.4
186.1
116.7

141.6
179.9
128.2

132.6
120.0
108.1
122.0

129.3
125.3
109.7
126.5

140.8
116.8
118.1
125.3

136.6
123.5
115.5
118.0

137.4
119.7
100.1
120.0

142.1
128.0
109.0
124.4

127.1
119.6
96.8
118.0

127.2
112.1
105.9
122.0

137.6
127.2
114.7
125.3

143.3
91.9
122.6

131.1
ll6l2
107.6
118.3

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

Gas and electricity —
Housefurnishings — —
Household operation

—
———

Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

116.4
—

118.4

—

105.5
112.3

Percent change from 1955 to 1956
All items

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.4

2.0

1.9

1.6

1.5

1.3

1.0

2.4

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

.7
.5
1.4
- 4.4
2.6
4.8
1.2

0
.2
.6
- 5.6
2.2
6.5
1.3

1.1
.1
.5
- 4.2
.7
4.4
1.4

.2
- .1
.8
- 5.8
3.7
3.0
1.9

1.1
.8
0
- 4.1
4.6
4.8
1.9

.9
.8
.1
- 4.5
3.9
5.3
1.9

1.5
.8
1.6
- 3.4
.9
5.2
1.5

.6
.2
1.0
- 3.8
1.0
6.5
- .1

.7
.4
4.0
- 4.8
1.8
4.7
.5

.4
.1
1.0
- 6.3
7.2
2.6
1.8

1.1
.8
2.3
- 2.9
2.8
4.6
.1

1.4
1.8
1.0
4.4
- 1.1
3.2

1.5
1.2
1.2
3.2
.6
2.0

.4
1.8
0
5.6
- .2
3.9

1.0

1.9
2.6
2.7
4.1
0
3.3

".8
6.1
1.4
3.9

.8
2.2
0
3.1
- .4
4.4

3.7
2.3
1.0

- 2.8
5.8

1.9
2.1
1.2
7.7
- 1.3
2.6

1.8

3.6
5.2
- 4.4
4.3

2.6
2.7
- 1.1
5.1
- .6
4.5

1.4

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

1.4
2.2

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

1.7
1.6
.7
5.3
.9

1.6
1.1
1.1
4.5
.8

2.3
2.1
1.8
5.2
1.3

2.9
2.6
2.6
4.8
2.0

1.4
1.4
.3
5.1
1.4

1.1
2.5
- 1.7
5.5
•2

1.9
2.0
.5
6.1
1.1

2.1
1.0
1.9
5.1
1.3

.2
•4
- 2.1
6.2
.5

.5
.1
- .2
3.5
.1

2.1
1.8
1.2
5.6
1.0

Public
Private

1.8
3.9
1.5

2.4
4.7
2.0

1.8
10.9
0

1.9
.5
2.2

.7
.4
.9

3.4
.8
4.0

1.7
1.8
1.7

3.3
5.0
2.8

.1
8.6
- 2.2

.8
2.5
.5

1.5
.8
1.7

3.6
4.1
1.4
1.5

3.5
5.8
1.5
4.4

4.5
6.8
2.2
2.0

5.8
5.0
1.8
.2

6.5
5.6
.2
3.2

6.9
3.6
.5
- .2

3.1
1.5
0
2.3

1.0
2.5
1.4
.8

1.9
7.9
1.9
1.1

2.3
2.1
- .2
5.5

5.4
4.8
.7
1.9

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

1/ This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 194.3.




—

1.0
—-

—

7
Prttf EgadrftBftUffl 9f the gff
The Consumer Price Index (CFI) measures the average changes in prices of goods
and services typically bought by city families of wage earners and clerical workers. It
is based on prices of about 300 items which were selected so that their price changes
would represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by wage and
clerical families; they include all of the important items in family spending* Prices
for these items are obtained in 46 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places
in the United State$; they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals,
filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner
and clerical-worker families patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
46 cities* Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities* Almost all prices are obtained
by personal visits of the Bureaufs trained representatives*
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending* City
data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent* Index numbers are computed on the base 1947-49 = 100*
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from the
20 large cities for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small 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
Hadill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

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

Comparisons of city indexes show only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another* The city indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price
levels or in living costs between cities*
A description of the index is contained in BLS Bulletin 1140, "The Consumer
Price Index* A Layman's Guide,w which may be purchased for 20 cents at any Bureau of
Labor Statistics regional office (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Documents, U* S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D* C* A more technical
description of the index appears in BLS Bulletin 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
Statistical Series*" Reprints of chapter 9* pertaining to the CPI, are available on
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or at any of its regional offices*
Historical series of index numbers for the United States city average and for
20 large cities are available upon request* These series include index numbers for All
Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent for periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of
goods and services from 1947 to date*
BLS Regional Offices

Atlanta
50 Seventh St*, NE
20136 2
3




New York
341 Ninth Ave*
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

LABOR - D. C.

Boston
18 Oliver St*
Zone 10