Full text of CPI Detailed Report : February 1954

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Issued March 2k, 195^
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.

EXECUTIVE 3-2^20
Moffatt - Ext. 532

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
FEBRUARY 195^

Consumer Prices Decline 0.2 Percent
Between January and February 195^

:This report presents the Consumer Price Index for
:February 195^ for the average of U.S. cities and
:for individual cities. The measure of price change
:from January 1953 forward is based on the revised
: index structure. Information about the index re: vision is given in the February 1953 Monthly Labor
:Review or is available upon request.

Consumer prices decreased 0.2 percent between January and February, according
to the U.S. Department of labor *s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Food prices were O.lf
percent lower than in January; Transportation declined 0.8 percent; Reading and Recreation, 0.6 percent; Apparel, 0.2 percent; and Other Goods and Services, 0.1 percent.
The Housing index rose 0.1 percent, Medical Care was up 0.3 percent, and Personal Care,
0.2 percent.
The All Items index for February was 115.0 percent of the 19^7-^9 average,
0.3 percent below the peak reached in October 1953; it was l.k percent higher than a
year ago, and 13.0 percent above the June 1950 level. Converted to a base of 1935-39 =
100, the index was 192.3.
FOOD

Retail food prices in February were down an average of 0mk percent from
January levels. Price reductions for fresh vegetables, meats, poultry, milk,
and eggs led the decline. The Food index fell to 112.6 (19^7-^9 = 100), but was still
1.0 percent higher than a year ago and 12.0 percent above the June 1950 index. Of the
k6 cities surveyed, 39 reported lower average food prices.
Fruits and Vegetables, on the average, were2.5 percent lower than in January.
Significant price decreases for carrots, lettuce, and tomatoes accounted for most of the
7 percent fall in fresh vegetable prices. Potato prices went up 1.2 percent after a
drop of more than kO percent during the past year. Fresh fruits averaged slightly less
in price. Canned and frozen orange juice prices were lower in most cities.
Price decreases reported for poultry and most cuts of beef and
bacon the chief exception, combined to lower the Meats, Poultry and Fish
cent between January and February. Declines averaged over 2 1/2 percent
chickens and nearly 1 percent for beef and veal. Lamb, other meats, and
slightly higher in price.

pork, with
index 0.5 perfor fresh
fish averaged

Lower prices for fresh milk in more than one-third of the cities surveyed
were the main reason for the 0.6 percent decline in the Dairy Products index.




2
The index of Other Foods at Home went up 0.4 percent. Egg prices were lower
in most places — down more than 2 percent for all cities combined. However, the increase in coffee prices during the month averaged over 5 percent, making the total rise
since December 1953 about 8 1/2 percent. The U.S. average price for coffee was 99*4
cents per pound in mid-February and there have been reports of further increases since
that time.
The Cereals and Bakery Products index was 0.1 percent higher.
meals were also up slightly.

Restaurant

HOUSING

The Housing index increased 0.1 percent during the month. Rents continued
their gradual upward movement, advancing 0.1 percent between January and
February. The index for Gas and Electricity rose 0.4 percent, reflecting higher rates
for electricity. Higher prices for fuel oil were reflected in a rise of 0.4 percent
in the index of Solid Fuels and Fuel Oil.
The increase of 0.1 percent in Household
Operation resulted from higher prices for laundry soap and increased rates for domestic
service.

Prices of Housefurnishings remained at the January level, lower than at any
time in the last three years. In some cities, prices of housefurnishings returned to
regular prices from January sale prices, but traditional sales were extended into
February by a number of retailers in other cities. There were increasing reports that
mark-down prices were becoming new regular prices.
APPAREL

The decline of 0.2 percent in Apparel prices resulted principally from lower
prices for women's nylon hose, men's work trousers and overalls, and a number
of other apparel items. On the average, prices of women's and girls' clothing declined
0.3 percent, while men's and boys' clothing was unchanged during the month. Some spring
apparel came onto the market at prices higher than the end-of-season sale prices last
spring. Lower priced lines of spring dresses were reported to be made of better quality
fabrics than previously.
OTHER
GROUPS

The Transportation index declined 0.3 percent, reflecting substantially lower
prices for used cars and some downward adjustments in new car prices. Streetcar and bus fares were raised in a few cities and auto repairs were slightly
higher than a month ago.
The Reading and Recreation index decreased 0.6 percent, due to sale prices for
television sets and radios and substantial reductions in motion picture theatre admission
charges. Many theatres returned to their regular prices following temporary increases
for special features.
The Medical Care index rose 0.3 percent, as prescriptions and hospital services
advanced in price. The rise of 0.2 percent in the Personal Care index resulted chiefly
from higher prices for toilet soap.
The index for Other Goods and Services declined slightly —
the month.




0.1 percent over

TABIE 1. CONSUMER PRICE. INDEX 1/ — U.S. AVERAGE ALL ITEMS AND C0M40DITY GROUP?
Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Dates
GROUP

February
1954

January
1954

December
1953

February
1953

This Month

Last Month

2 Months Ago

Last Year

3

June.
1950

Year
1939
PreWorld War II

Pre-Korea

INDEXES (19^7-^9 •» 100)
ALL ITEMS
FOOD 2/
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
HOUSING 2/
Rent
Gas and Electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation

115.0

115.2

114.9

113.4

101.8

59.4

112.6

113.1

112.3

111.5

100.5

47.1

112.0
121.3
109.7
109.0
108.0
114.0

112.6
121.2
110.2
109.7
110.8
113.5

111.7
120.9
107.8
110.3
109.2
113.5

111.1
117.6
107.7
110.7
115.9
107.3

100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
94.1

47.1
57.2
41.6

49.8

118.9

118.8

118.9

116.6

104.9

6/

I
j

127.8
107.1
125.7
107.2
117.2

127.6
107.2
125.3
108.1
117.0

121.5
106.1
123.3
108.0
113.5

!

104.9

105.3

104.6

96.5

52.5

129.1

109.9

g

119.3

105.4

127.9
107.5
126.2
107.2
117.3

1

j

1

46.3
6/

! 108.7

! 102.7
I| 107.6
1 97.4
99.6

|!
i»

!

86.6
104.9
56.4
53.4

6/

APPAREL 4/

104.7

TRANSPORTATION

129.4

130.5

128.9

MEDICAL CARE

124.1

123.7

123 6

PERSONAL CARE

113.9

113.7

113.6

112.5

99.2

y
y

REAPING AND RECREATION

108.0

108.7

108.9

107.5

102.5

6/

120.2

120.3

120.3

115.8

103.7

6/

OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

5/

|

PERCENT CHANGE TO FEBRUARY 1954 FROM:
j
1

1

January
1954

December
1953

ALL ITEMS

- 0.2

0.1

1.4

13.0

|

93.6

FOOD

- 0.4

0.3

1.0

12.0

!

139.1

- 0.5
0.1
- 0.5

0.3
0.3
1.8
- 1.2
• 1.1
0.4

0.8
3.1
1.9
- 1.5
- 6.8
6.2

11.4
18.1
3.4
18.1
5.4
21.1

2.0

13.3

56.2 7/
47.7
2.5
123.8
100.7
71.5 1/

2/

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

- 0.6
- 2.5
0,4
0.1

HOUSING 3/

0

February
1953

!

June
1950

!

Year
1939

137.8
112.1
163.7
118.9
133.3
135.5 7/

0.1
0.4
0.4
0
0.1

0.2
0.3
0.7
- 0.8
0.3

5.3
1*3
2.4
- 0.7
3.3

17.7
4.7
17.3
10.1
17.8

APPAREL 4/

- 0.2

- 0.6

0.1

8.5

TRANSPORTATION

• 0.8

0.4

0.2

17.7

87.8 2/

MEDICAL CARE

0.3

0.4

4.0

17.7

70.91/

PERSONAL CARE

0.2

0.3

1.2

14.8

91.11/

- 0.6

- 0.8

0.5

5.4

71.4 2/

- 0.1

- 0.1

3.8

15.9

Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation

READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

5/

99.4

70.3

y Includes "Food away from hone."
J/ Includes "Other shelter"; estimates for rent, home purchase, and other home owner costs are reflected monthly in total
housing and all items.
4/ Indexes for subgroups of apparel not yet available.
5/ Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services" (such as legal services, banking fees, burial
services, etc.).
6/ Not available.
Approximate.

%




2/

TABLE 2.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX l/ — ALL ITEMS INDEXES FOR SEIECT5D DATES
U.S. Average and 20 Large Cities

( i

9

10 0)

K 7 - k 9

(1935-39 - 100)

City

February
1954

U. S. AVERAGE jJ

January
1954

December
1953

February
1953

June
1950

February
1954

101.8

192.3

115.0

115.2

114.9

113.4

116.7
116.4

116.7

116.4
116.4

113.9
115.1
114.9
111.1
113.7

2/

CITIES PRICED MONTHLYJ
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia

116.6
112.8
115.2

117.0
116.8
113.0

115.8
113.0

115.3

115.0

CITIES PRICED IN JAN., APR.
JULY, OCT. 4/

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9

101.6

January

Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Ore.

112.7

115.0
116.6

April
1950

CITIES PRICED IN MAR., JUNE,
SEPT., DEC.
y

January
1954

101.2

112.1
114.3
114.4

10&.1 y

114.6

101.5

181.4

185.2

101.4

112.6

114.4
115.4

198.7
196.5
194.8
186.7
191.7

193.1
194.5
199.9

99*9

December

June

December

JL222-

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

117.1
114.5
114.6
116.9
116.9

115.6

CITIES PRICED IN FEB., MAY,
AUG., NOV. y

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
May
1950

112.5

100.4
103.5

116.1
112.2

116.9

113.2
116.2

193.0
195.1
199.8
February
1954
196.3
197.9

100.2
102.0
101.6

114.6

113.0

114.1

198.6
196.8

100.9

February
195i_

115.2

Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D. C.

y

117.1
114.4
112.5
114.9

188.1
198.6

187.4

l/ See General Explanation at end of tables.
2/ These are the same indexes shown in columns 1, 2 or 3* converted to a base of 1935-39 =» 100.
3/ The U.S. average is based on prices collected in 46 cities. In addition to the 20 cities listed individually, 26
cities are Included in the national average. Indexes are not calculated for these 26 cities.
4/ Foods, fuels, rents and a few other items priced monthly; other commodities and services priced quarterly.
June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
/ November 1952 and May 1950J formerly priced February, May, August, November.

TABLE 3.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX l/ — PERCENT CHANGES FROM JANUARY 1954 TO FEBRUARY 1954
U.S. Average and Five Cities Priced Monthly
All Items and Comnodity Groups

All
Items

City

U.S. AVERAGE
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
Nev York
Philadelphia

Food

Housing

Apparel

2/

1/

V

- 0.2

- 0.4

0.1

- 0.2

- 0.8

0
0.5
0.2
0.2
0.1

- 0.2
- 0.4
0.1
- 0.3
- 0.7

0.5
0.3
- 0.2
0
0.2

0.3
0.1
0.4
0.1
- 0.1

-

-

1
See footnotes on table 1 and General Explanation at end of tables.




Transportation

Medical
Care

Personal
Care

Reading
&
Recreation

0.7
3.0
0.5
0.4
0.8

0.3

0.2

0
0.2
0
- 0.3
0.4

0
0.1
- 0.2
0.3
0

Other
Goods &
Services
5/

- 0.6

- 0.1

-

- 0.1
- 0,2
- 0.9
0
- 0.1

0.6
1.4
1.8
0.8
0

5

TABIE *. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 1/ — ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
February 195* Indexes and Percent Changes, November 1953 to February 195*
U.S. Average and 10 Cities Priced in February

City

All
Items

Total
Food

Total

Rent

3/

2/

Housing
Solid
Fuels
Gas &
&
ElecFuel
triOil
city

House- Household
furnish- Operaings
tion

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
Care

Other
ReadPering & Goods &
sonal | Recre- SerCare I ation vices
5/
i

it/

February 195* Indexes (l9*7-*9 = 100)
U. S. AVERAGE
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D. C.

115.0 112.6 118.9
116.7

115.2

111.2

110.5
116.* 11*. 7
116.9 112.9
116.6 11*. 3
112.8 110.6
115.2 11*. 5
113.2 112.5
116.2 112.1
11*. 1 110.9

12*.9

119.1
122.0
123.6
12*.3
115.3
113.6
116.*
118.3
117.7

126.2

127.9

106.0

12*.5

110.6

121*. 3
119.*

138.8 106.8

106.5
109.5
108.7
11*. 5 102.3

138.3

133.*

12*.0

112.2

13*. 8

139.9
127.3
133.3

88.5

118.1

Percent Change —
U. S. AVERAGE

0

0.5

Chicago
0.3
'- 0.3
Cleveland
- 0.3
Detroit
- 0.3
Houston
0.*
Los Angeles
0.1
New York
0.*
Philadelphia
- 0.2
Scranton
- 0.2
Seattle
Washington, D. C. - 0.2

0.7
0
0.3
0.9
1.*

0.5

0.2

0.6
- 0.3 6/ 6.2
0.7

6.1

0

- 0.*

6/ 0.6

0
0.5
0
0

- 0.3
- 0.2
- 0.1 - 0.2
0
0.*
0.3 6/ 1.2
0
0.1
0.8
1.2 - 0.5 6/ 1.* -10.6
0
0.3 - 0.5

107.2

117.3

10*. 7

129.*

12*. 1

113.9

108.0

120.2

109.3
10*.0
110.1
102.2
108.6
107.1
109.7
102.3
106.1
108.2

121.0 108.1
111.* 10*. 7
109.9 103.1
129.0 106.5
108.* 10*. 2
119.3 10*. 9
113.6 106.1
107.6 106.*
111.5 106.0
11*. 7 103.*

132.8
123.1
121.7
125.5
128.*
135.1
137.2
128.*
132.9
128.1

122.8
129.2
122.3
119.2
121.1
123.2
123.8
119.6
129.5
117.1

11*.2
115.0
119.9
120.3
117.9
108.6
117.2
113.0
111.3
112.*

108.0
117.3
110.5
112.0

118.9
119.8
12*.9
119.6
115.*
121.2
122.8
116.3
127.2
127.2

- 0.8

- 0.5

0.6

0.*

- 0.8

-

0
- 0.7
- 3.6
- 1.1
0.7

0.1

0.2

1.2

1.3

0.*
0

101.6
107.6

110.5

117.7

111.0

110.5

November 1953 to February 195*

0.2
0.5
0.*

0.2

1.2
- 0.2
0

0.2

- 0.5

- 1.0

0.3

- 0.8

0.2

- 1.5

0.5

- 0.8

- 1.5
- 1.5

- 0.6
- 0.5

- 1.0
- 1.7
- 1.9

2.8.
0.1

0.3
0.3
0.3
1.5

0.3

0.2

- 0.2

0.*

- 0.9
- 0.7
- 0.*

0
0.3

- 0.*

0.1

- 1.2

0.2

0.2

0
0

0

0.8

1.2 - 0.2
2.8
1.3
0.1
- 1.5
0
0.2
- 0.2 - 0.7

0.3
0.3

0.2

0.7

1.8

2.0
2.5
1.*
1.5
0.3
6.1
3.6
0.8

l/tnrougn p/, see ioomotee ua wuic jl, auu. v.
5/ Change from August 1953 to February 195*.

TABLE 5. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 1/ — FOOD AND ITS SUBGROUPS
February 195* Indexes and Percent Changes, January 195* to February 195*
U. S. Average and 20 Large Cities
(19*7-*9 = 100)

Total Food 2/
Percent
Index Change

Total
Food at Home
Percent
Index Change

Meats, Poultry
Cereals &
& Fish
Bakery Products
Percent
Percent
Index Change
Index Change

U. S. AVERAGE

112.6 - 0.*

112.0

- 0.5

121.3

0.1

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Chicago
Cincinnati

112.5 - 0.6
0
113.6
109.5 - 0.*
111.2 - 0.2
11*. 9 - 0.8

112.0
113.0
108.1
110.0

- 0.6
0
- 0.5
- 0.*

115.8
121.1

0.6

119.1
117.3

0
0.1
0

Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles

110.5 - 0.7
11*. 7 - 0.*
112.9 - 0.2
108.3 - 1.5
11*. 3 0.1

City

Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Ore.

112.8 - 0.1

- 0.9 121.1

109.7

- 0.9 118.*

107.8
113.1

- 0.7
- 0.*
- 1.7
0.1

113.6
112.0

112.6

110.6 - 0.3
11*. 5 - 0.7
113.*
0
113.5
0.*

110.*

113.7
113.0
113.6

0
- 0.*
- 0.8
0
0.*

- 0.9
- 0.6
0.3
0.2
0.6

11*. 2

- 1.0

115.2
St. Louis
113.*
San Francisco
112.5
Scranton
112.1
Seattle
.Washington,
im^ouu. -u.v.
D.C. 110.9
*
See footnotes on taoie




11*. 5

112.9

112.2

118.0
118.5

120.*

122.7

0.2

0
0
0.1
- 0.1
0.1

116.9

0.2
0.2
0.2
2.0
0.1

117.0

0.1

12*.8
125.7
121.5

121.6

- 0:7 127.* - 0 . 1
0.3 119.2 - 0.1

109.7

- 0.5

117.0
112.*
10*.9
10*.9

- 0.3
- 0.*
- 1.7

11*. 1

- 0.6
- 0.9

Dairy
Products
Percent
Index Change

109.0

- 0.6

108.0

109.8

- 0.1

109.9

108.1

- 1.2
- 0.7

105.8 - * . * 107.8
107.* - 0.1 112.1
101.0 - 0.5 106.6

111.5

- 0.*

112.1 - 0.1

106.6

- 0.5
- 0.6

105.0
108.6

- 1.0

107.9

- o.l
- 1.7
- 0.*

110.7
10*.*

0.3
- 3.5

108.6

105.2
111.0

103.0

108.8

112.0

- 0.*
o.l
- 1.5

115.3

- 0.3
0.9

111.2

- 1.2

109.5

- 0.7

105.2

109.2

110.1
0.2
0.2 122.0
111.9
105.2
0.1
- 0.7 118.1
110.3
and General ilxpianatloii at end or tables.

l.l

-

1.8
2.2

Other
Fruits &
Foods at Home
Vegetables
Percent
Index Change Index

- 3.0

105.* - 0.2

105.9
107.3

118.*

109.1

111.*

103.5
107.1
112.7
105.9

11*. 1

- 0.*

- 2.6
0.1
- 0.3
0

- 1.9
- 3.0

102.0 11*. 3 110.9 101.2 112.8 -

106.6 - 0.1
107.8 - 0.9
111.1 - 0.2
112.* - 0.2
0

- 2.5

101.2
109.9

107.2

U5.5

116.3
105.6

113.9
10*.*

3.*
3.5
2.5
3.7
1.0

11*. 0

119.3
119.1

117.0

115.6

113.5
109.3
11*. 5

- 0.8 120.0
-

3.2
2.6
2.*
0.2

113.*

113.0

123.6
11*.*
i
i23.ll

1.6 110.6
112.8
110.1
2.2 111.6
1.5
2.3

6

GENERAL EXPLANATION

The Consumer Price Index (revised January 1953) measures the average change in
prices of goods and services purchased by city wage-earner and clerical-worker families.
The goods and services included in the index "market basket" are those required to maintain the level of living characteristic of such families in 1952 • The quantities and
qualities of the items in the "market basket" remain the same between consecutive pricing
periods, so that the index measures the effect of price change only on the cost of living
of these families.
The indexes are presented on a base of 19li7-U^*100. The index numbers thus show
the average increase or decrease in prices from the 19U7-U9 average. (For convenience
of users, these indexes are also shown on the base 1935-39° 100. Note that they are
calculated using the new samples, items and weights). The city indexes do not indicate
whether it costs more to live in one city than in another. Comparisons of city indexes
show only whether prices have risen more or less in one city than another since the base
period.
The Bureau has been compiling the Consumer Price Index for nearly i|0 years. At
four different times it has been necessary to bring the "market basket" of goods and services up to date and to modernize the samples and methods of calculation. The indexes in
this report are revised as of January 1953* The "market basket" is based on extensive
surveys of postwar expenditure patterns of city families, and reflects changes that have
occurred since prewar in the amounts, kinds and qualities of things people buy, as well as
new things that were not part of our pattern of living a few years ago.
About 300 items are priced to estimate the average change in prices of all items
in the "market basket.11 Among these items are all the important goods and services that
wage and clerical workers buy. Prices are collected at regular intervals, and the successive prices are compared to determine price changes. The items priced are described
by detailed specifications to insure that as far as possible, the same quality is priced
each time, and that differences in reported prices are measures of price change only.
Prices are obtained in a sample of U6 cities reure:^..; n ;,ive of all cities in the U.S.,
including the 12 largest urban areas with oDpul^ tions . w r
million, 9 other large cities,
9 medium-sized cities, and 16 small citi*
In -acr
V , prices are reported by stores
of various kinds and by service es tablishnents an\.
i Iduals ''such as physicians and
dentists) from whom wage and clerical workers buy
~jid services.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items are priced monthly in all cities.
Prices of most other goods and services are obtained on a regular rotating pricing cycle—
monthly in the 5 largest cities, every 3 months in 25 large and medium-sized cities, and
every
months in the 16 smallest cities. In any given month, goods and services other
than foods, fuels and rents are priced in 1? or 18 cities out of the 1|6. Price collection
extends over 3 or k weeks, centered on the 15th of the month. Prices for a few items
(e.g., auto insurance, railroad fares) are computed from published sources*
Food. Food prices are collected monthly from chain and representative independent
food stores in all U6 cities, during the first 3 days of the week which includes the l5th
of the month. Prices for restaurant meals are based on menus collected on the regular
pricing cycle for each city as described above.
Rent. Rents are obtained each month by mail from tenants of representative samples
of dwellings in each of the U6 cities, and once every 2 years by personal visit, when
local samples of dwellings are als<? reviewed. The rent index measures changes in rent
from one period to another for the same rented dwellings, with the same facilities,
furnishings and services.
Other Shelter. Materials and services for house maintenance and repair are priced
on the regular city pricing cycle. Prices of houses,* fire insurance rates, mortgage
interest and taxes, which change only occasionally, are obtained annually or biennially,
and changes estimated between pricing dates. Sales prices of houses are obtained from
records of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration.




7
Fuels, including Gas and Electricity, Prices prevailing on the 15th of the month
are collected monthly by mail from fuel dealers and utility companies in h6 cities.
All Goods and Services other than Foods, Fuels and Rents• Prices are collected
in person, on the city cycle described above, from samples of representative department
stores, apparel and shoe stores, housefurnishings and appliance dealers, barber shops,
beauty shops, doctors, hospitals, moving picture theaters, etc. Prices for such items as
newspapers, street car and bus fares, and telephone service are collected by mail. Prices
of used cars are obtained from car dealers through a trade association.
Price changes for all items in each city are combined in accordance with their
importance in the "market basket" for that city to obtain an average price change for that
city. Price changes for the It6 cities are combined for the U,S, with the use of 1950 population data. Each city is given an importance or weight proportionate to the wage-earner
and clerical-worker population it represents in the index. The 12 largest cities, each
weighted by its own population, when combined have about two-fifths of the total weight in
the national index. Each of the 3 other city-size groups has about one-fifth of the total
weight; i.e., the 9 other large cities, the 9 medium-sized cities, and the 16 small cities.
City indexes are coirpiled for the 20 largest of the 1*6 cities priced for the national average, The remaining 26 cities in which prices are collected are:

Evansville, Indian
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

The present index, as described above, has been linked (spliced) to the "interim
adjusted" Consumer Price Index for 31; cities, issued through December 1952, to form a
continuous series back to 1913• 1/
For detailed descriptions of the Consumer Price Index, its uses and limitations,
see the following:
"The Consumer Price Index," A Short Description of the Index as Revised, 1953®
"The Revised Consumers1 Price Index—A Summary of Changes in the Index and
Suggestions for Transition from the interim Adjusted1 and 'Old Series1
Indexes to the Revised Index."
Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 1039: "Interim Adjustment of the
Consumers1 Price Index."
January 1951 Report: "Consumers1 Price Index and Retail Food Prices."
December 1952 Report: "Consumers1 Price Index and Retail Food Prices."
Monthly Labor Review articles:
The Revised Consumer Price Index
Adjusted Consumers1 Price Index:
Interim Adjustment of Consumers1
Selection of Cities for Consumer
Revision of the Consumers' Price

y

(February 1953)*
Relative Importance of Items (June 1951).
Price Index (April 1951).
Expenditure Survey-1950 (April 1951).
Index (July 1950).

See December 1952 report, "Consumers' Price Index and Retail Food Prices." Tables of
rebased "interim adjusted" indexes for the U. S. and for 20 cities are available upon
request.







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