Full text of CPI Detailed Report : February 1956

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

Issued March 26, 1956
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR FEBRUARY 1956
The Consumer Price Index for United States cities remained
unchanged at 114.6 (1947-49=100) between January and February 1956, according to the
U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although prices of most classes
of consumer goods and services rose, the decline of 0.4 percent in food prices was
enough to counterbalance the increases. The February index was 0.3 percent higher than
a year earlier.
FOOD

The retail food price index was 108.8, 1.8 percent lower than a
year ago, and down 0.4 percent from its January level. This
marked the fifth consecutive monthly decline, and brought average food prices to their
lowest point since December 1950* The average cost of restaurant meals was unchanged
between January and February.
The chief factor in the decline in costs of food purchased for
consumption at home was a sharp drop in egg prices. Small decreases were also reported
for beef, frankfurters, fish, and a few individual items in other categories. The
declines were partially offset by advances in prices of pork, poultry, fresh fruits and
vegetables, canned and frozen orange juice, bakery products, and coffee.
The 12.3 percent decrease in egg prices was larger than the usual
seasonal decline from January to February, with prices lower in all 46 cities surveyed.
The decrease in part represents readjustments following the unusual price rise in
December and the less than normal decline from December to January.
Beef prices dropped about 2 percent, reflecting ample supplies,
but prices of pork chops, ham, and poultry rose. Fresh, frozen, and canned fish prices
declined slightly.
Higher prices for apples and bananas led the 1.3 percent increase
for fresh fruits. Costs of frozen and canned orange juice also advanced. Fresh vegetable prices averaged slightly higher as increases for potatoes (up 5.5 percent) and
green beans (up 4.9 percent), were almost counterbalanced by substantial decreases in
carrots, cabbage, and fresh tomatoes, which dropped 10.6 percent^ 14»6 percent, and 2.6
percent, respectively.
Prices of bakery products advanced 0.4 percent, led by a fairly
general rise averaging 2.3 percent for soda crackers. Coffee prices also rose slightly
in a number of cities.
HOUSING

The rise of 0*1 percent in housing costs between January and
February resulted primarily from higher prices for housefurnishings,
as household textiles returned to regular prices after January sales. Prices of dinnerware and aluminum saucepans also advanced in several cities, but these increases were
partially offset by price decreases for living room suites, dinette sets, and vacuum
cleaners as January sales were carried over into February. Residential rents edged up
0.1 percent during the month. Household operation costs continued to advance as higher
rates were reported for laundry and dry cleaning services in some cities. The gas and
electricity subgroup was unchanged on the average, but prices of anthracite advanced 1.4
percent and fuel oil prices rose 0.3 percent.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

Apparel prices rose 0.5 percent during the month, as price
increases were reported for men's wool suits and cotton socks,
women's rayon dresses and blouses, girls1 cotton dresses, and
women's wool and rayon suits. Footwear prices rose 0*7 percent, reflecting increases in
costs of manufacturing shoes.




Transportation costs were up 0.1 percent over January, reflecting
higher prices for gasoline and automobile repair services. Prices of used cars advanced
0.6 percent during the month, while new car prices declined 0.8 percent.
The medical care index rose 0.2 percent during the month and
personal care was up 0.3 percent, as prices of men's haircuts were raised in one city
and there were continued increases for toothpaste, face cream, and other toiletries.
The rise of 0.2 percent in the reading and recreation component was due primarily to
higher prices for movies and newspapers in a few cities.




NOTE: This release marks initial publication of two new
subgroups of the Transportation group - Private Transportation and Public Transportation. The;/ will be published
regularly for the national index and for each of 20 large
cities. The indexes of private transportation are based on
prices for automotive items - new and used cars, gasoline
and motor oil, automobile repairs, automobile insurance,
tires, and state registration (license tag) fees. Public
transportation is represented by fares on streetcars,
subways, and urban buses, as well as coach class railroad
fares. The indexes of public and private transportation
have behaved dissimilarly since World War II; private
transportation advanced 4-7.3 percent while the public
transportation index rose 95.4 percent from 194-6 to 1955.
Indexes back to 1935 will be available in June.

3

TABIZ 1: Consumer Price Index — United State* city are rage, all items and coModity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
February
1956

Group

All items —

January
1956

December
1955

February
1955

June
1950

This
month

Last
month

2 months
ago

Last
year

Pre-Korea

llh.6

11U.6

11U.7

11U.3

101.8

110.8

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9^.1

Food 1/
—
Food at home
—
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish —
Dairy products — — — —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

108*8
107.1
12U.3
93.6
107.3
113.3
109.6

109.2
107.5
123.9
93.3
107.3

112.8

109.5
107.9
123.9
9U.6
107.7
U0.7
113.7

Housing 2/ — — — — — — .
Rent
Oas and electricity — - - - - — .
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation —

120.7
131.5
111.7
130.0
102*5
121.>4

120.6

120.8

Apparel
—
Men18 and boys' — —
Women'• and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel —

1014.6
106.5
98*3
121.3
91.0

Transportation
Public
Private

126.9
170.5
117.0

Medical care —
Personal care
—
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services jJ — —

130.9
118.9
107.5
120.9

112.6
131 .a
111.7
129.5

102.0

121.2
lOii.l

106.0

97.9
120 .U
90.7

126.8
170.3

117.0
130.7
118.5
107.3

120.8

109.6
123.8
102.5

106.1
110.7

112.1

131.1
111.5

119.6
129.7
109.9

103 J i
120.7

lOlufl
117.7

104.9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.^
99.6

126.2

128.0

119.8

116.6

96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1

127.3

127.1*
163 .U

109.9
117.9

10U.7
106.1
99.1

103 .1*

91.1

90.6

105.6
97.7

167.8
117.8
130.2
117.9

88A

118. k

106.6

126.8

105.4
99.2
102.5
103.7

113.5

106.U
119.8

106.8
120.6

Percent change to February 1956
January
1956
All items
0 Jt
•It
.3
.3
0
.6

2.8

Housing 2/ — — — — — — —
Rent
—
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings — — — —
Household operation — — — —

.1
.1

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

.5
.5

—

0
.U

.5
.2

.It
.7
.3

— — — - <

.1
.1

——•

0

Medical care — — —
— — — —
Personal care
•
Reading and recreation — —
Other goods and services ^J — «

.2

.3
.2

.1

June
1950

February
1955

j

Y»ar
lf33a

0.3

12.6

92.9

-

.6
.7
.3
- 1.1
- .U
2.3
- 3.6

- 1.8
- 2.3
•U
- 8.7
1.1
2.3
- 2.2

8.3
6.6
21.0
-11.8
16.3
10.$
16.5

131.0
127.U
117.3
125.0
115.5
1U*.7
126.U

-

.9
l.U
1.6
3.0
- 2.2
3.1

15.1
21.0
8.8
20.8
5.2
21,9

58.6
51.8
6.5
130.5
91.9
77.5

-

1.2
.9
U.o
•ii

.6

8.U
8.6
5.1*
18.8
2.9

99.2
W)
(So
(H/)
(go

.3
1.6
- .7

.1
k.3
- 1.2

15.5
Ui.6
9.6

8 h.2
109.7
78.6

.5
.8
.7
.2

3.?
U.8
1.0
.9

2U.2
19.9
h.9
16.6

80.3
99.5
70.6
71.2

.1
.3
.2
1.6
- .9
.6

.1
.h
- .8
1.3
- .1
-

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




j
!

- 0.1

Food 1/
Food at home — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish —•
Dairy products — — — - —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

Transportation
Public
Private

December
1955

from:

-

I
1
ii

k

TABUS 2:

Consumer Price Index — All items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

[1935-39-100]

[l9*7-*9.l0d]
City
February
1956

January
1956

February
1955

llli.6

llli.6

118.3
116.1;
115.8
112.1

m.7

118.1
116.3
116.0
112.1
llli.6

February
1956

November
1955

February
1955

May
19*0

Tear 1939

February

115.7
116.6
111.1
116.2
113 .U

116.2

110.9

n7.U
n3.7

llli.9
115.7
111.7
116.3

n3.2

100.1;
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.U

197.2
197.b
18U.6
198.6
186.2

January
1956

October
1955

January
1955

April
1950

Tear 1939

January
1956

11U.6
115.5
116.1
113.6
116.3

ill* .5
116.2
116 .L
113.8

113.0

n6.2

113.8
llU.6

101.2
101.1*
3/102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

18U.5
186.0
1920
193.1
201.1*

December
1955

September
1955

December
195U

June
1950

Tear 1939

December
1955

117.1
115.8
11U.2
116.1
115.9

117.2
n5.5
113.7
116.5
n5.6

n5.7
11U.8
113.3
115.U
n5.7

58.3
57.9
58.1*
59.3
58.6

198.6
199.1
192.3
193.8
198.1

United States city average

June
1950

Tear
1939

February
1956

11U .3

101.8

59.*

191.6

n7.i

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0

196.5

y

Cities priced monthly:
Chicago — — — — — —
Detroit
Los Angeles
—
—
.
Mev York
— — — .
Philadelphia - —
Cities priced in February, May,
August, November 2/
Cleveland
—
Houston
Scranton - —
Seattle — — —
Washington, D.C.
Cities priced in January, April,
*uly, October 2(
Boston
— —
Kansas City — —
—
Minneapolis
—
Pittsburgh
—-———
Portland, Oregon — —
Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 2/
Atlanta
Baltimore

—

St. Louis —
—
San Francisco

— —<

116.3

nu.7

n2.5
115.7

116.7

n5.3
n6.5

201.5

6o.k

193.5
185.5

60.1
59.2

V101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

190.9

1

l/ These are the same indexes shown in column 1, converted to a base of 1935-39=100.
2/ Foods, fuels, rents, and a feir other items priced monthly; other commodities and se.-vices
priced quarterly*
3/ June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December*
t/ May 1950; formerly priced February, May, August, November.

TABUE 3: Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from January 1956 to February 1956
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

United States city average
Detroit —
Philadelphia




Food

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

- O.I4

0.1

0.5

0.1

.3
.2
.1
.5
.2

.2
.3
.1
.1
.2

All
items

City
—

0
0.2
.1
- .2
0
.1

-

-

-

.1
•li
.5
.9
.8

-

.2
.2
.6
.7
.U

Medical Personal
care
care
0.2

-

.1
.1
0
.1
.1

0.3
.1
.3
.5
0
.2

Reading
and
recreation

Other
goods &
services
0.1

0.2
.3
.1
- 1.5
0
.1

-

0
.1
.1
0
0

TABUS U: Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
February 1956 indexes and percent changes, November 1955 to February 1956
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in February 1956
U.S.
City
Average Chicago

Group

CleveLos
land
Detroit Houston Angeles

New
York

Philadelphia I >crantonSeattle

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
llh.6

118.3

115.7

Food
Food at home — —
— — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish ~
Dairy products
Fruit8 and vegetables —
Other foods at home —

108 • 8
107.1
X2U.3
93.6
107.3
113.3

106.8
10U.7
118.9
87.6

106.6 110.14
lOli.fc 108.6
119.3 119.6
91.1
91.9

Housing —
—
Rent
G&6 and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil — —
Housefurnishings — — - —
Household operation

120.7
131.5
111.7
130.0
102.5

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

10U.6
106.5
98.3
121.3
91.0

All items

Transportation
Public
Private
Medical care - —
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

109.6

121. h

126.9
170.5
—

—

117.0
130.9
118.9
107.5
120.9

107.6

112.6
116.0
131.2
113.8

13U.8

101.li
126.7
107.9

112.8
99.2

116.6

115.8

112.1

106.7
105.3
117.14
89.6
109.7
113 .k
108.9

lll.li

106.6
106.6

125.2

116 .U

102.2 10U.8
107.8 12 U .8

113.0 111.6

122.5 122.7
1U7.3
109.1 llli.li
129.1* 123.8
101.1 107.5
lll.U 115.0

105.0 102.0
108.0 109.2
97.6

91.8

138.0
106.8

100.7

128.8

106.9

105.6

87.2

100.3
131.8
90.6

116.0

122.3 12lw3
l6U.li 1U2.7
113.5 120.6

125.1<
161.7
120.0

135.1

138.3

122.8 127.6

127.7
128.5

115 .U 108.9
120.0 12U.0

122.3

12U.8
9U.8
131.1
165.3

122.U

115.3
117.5

121.0 117.0
93.1

137.5

112.1

108.2
128.2

129.0

9U.7

110.7

96.3
10U.5
108. li
109.7

126.2

116.7

102.8
115.8

116.2

110.1

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

109.5

10li.7
108 .U
97.3

103.8
106.5
96.5

103.7
103.5

122.8

121.1

83.2

93.9

121.6

150.8
120.3
126.14
119 .U
95.0

116.1

Housing — —
Rent
Oas and electricity — — — .
Solid fuels and fuel oil — —
Housefurnishings
Household operation

.9
1.1
.1
U.6
2.0
3.3

.7
- 1.1
.2

- 1.3
- 1.6
.14

- 1.3
- 1.5
.3
- 5.7
0
2.3
- 1.2

0
.1
.2
- 3.0
.1
3.7
- .li

.6
1/.3
.1

-

.7
.9

- 1.5

- 2.7
.3

.14

.2
2.0

-

.2

.8

.5

-

.2
2.6
- 1.9
.7
-

.1

Apparel
Men's and boys'
Wonen's and girls'
—
Footwear
Other apparel - - - - — - — - - - —

- 1.0
1*8
0

Transportation
Public
Private

- 1.2
1.6
- 1.8

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

.5

.8
1.2
.7
.2

1/ Change from August 1955 to February 1956.




2.8

- 3.0

- .6

-

3.2
2.7
6.0
2.1

1/1.9
0
2.6
.3
0

.8

.6

.li

2.0
.2

.14

1.7
0
2.1
.9
.li
.6
.1

.3
.3
1.9
.3
- 1.7
0
- 2.1
.1

1.0
.5

.1

.1
-

•

.2
2.0

1.8
- 1.3
2.3
.3
-

.6
0

- .6
.1
.9
.1
0

-

-

- 1.2

.8

-

.2
-

0

i.a
.6

- .6

- 2.0

-

-

1.7
.2
3.2
2.6
li.l
li.3

0
.7

0
- 2.!i

.2
.2
1.8
0

1.5
1.0
- 1.3
.1

-

.
-

.3
7.3
2.3
1.1
.U

.6

1.9
2.14
.3
.2
U.5

-

1.2
.1
.li
.3
.1

U6.0

12U.2

125.0

91.1

86.3

128.6

120.5

-

88.8
131.8
101.6

115.U
91.2

U3.U

0.I4

121.3
138.3

100.2

121.9

. 1.2

119.8

106.6

106.2

136.1
125.2

-

131.5
93.5
111.1

109.5
99.0

126.6

121.0

110.2

109.0

106.2

11U.6

lll.li
10U.7

116.2

108.U
99.9

III4.6

.6

0

97.5

135.3

-

.5
.5
.3

105.2

131.3
186.7
111.5

-

.8

101.8

116.li

117.2

- .9
- 1.0
.3
- 3.6

U.14

1114.1
117.3

120.8

- 0.I4

3.9
- 3.1

116.0

108.5

12U.7

- 0.1

- 2.2

110.1

101.8 102.2

- 0.U - 0.3

- .5

105.14
10L.5
119.5
91.2
107.7
107.9
106.3

119.1
13U.0

0.7

- U.3
.7
2.2
- 3.1*

110.3
108.7
123.5
96.0

129.1

- 0.3

- 2.6

111.1

135.8

Percent change from November 1955

All items

111*.7

186.0

125.2

189.3

120.8
116.6

12U.8
175.8
113.3
135.0
U9.3
UO.lj

128.1

to February 1956
0.2

- 0.3
- 1.0
- 1.3

.6

- 2.6

- 2.1*

5.1
- li.5
0
.7
0
5.7
.6
0

1/

- .6
- .6
.6
- 3.2
.2
7.9

- I4.I4
.3
0
l.U
- 1.2
.2

- 2.2
.3
- 5.0
2.1
- 1.3

-

-

.1
1.0
.1

.1
6.5
- 2.1

2.1
0
2.U

-

.1
.2
.2
.2

1.0

- 0.3

.6
.8

0
0
.1

3.2
6.0
1.1
5.9
3.2

.3
7.5
- 3.9

.5

- .8

0
0
2.1
.6

.3
ii.O
- 1.2

.8

.5
.5
.1
1.9
.6

1/ .u
-

.5

.6

-

.14
7.0
l.U
.2

-

-

.2
2.2

-

1.1

•

3.9
0
li.3

.

- 1.3

-

.8

.8

3.0
.li
.5
.2

-

.8
0
.9

-

.2
.8
.9
.2

TABIZ 5: Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
February 1956 indexes and percent changes, January 1956 to February 1956
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

Q9VM9.IOQJ
Total
food at home
Percent
change

Total food
City
U.S. city average

Percent
change
— 108.8

Atlanta — —
Baltimore - —
Boston
Chicago — - — — - — - Cincinnati
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
—
—
—
Kansas City — — —
Los Angeles ------Minneapolis — — —
Hew Tork
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg. —
St. Louis
San Francisco
Scranton
Seattle
—
Washington, D.C. -

0.1*

107.9
109.9
107.6

.3

.5
.7
.3
.7

106.8
109.5
106.6

110. U

.5

106.7
10U.7
111.U

.2
.3
.2
.1

111.2

0

108.6

.5

109.2

.2
.2
0

110.3
110.2
109.7
111.7
105 .U
110.2
109.9

.5
.5
.8

107.1

Cereals and Meats, poultry,
bakery products
and fish
Percent
Percent
change
change

0.U

12U.3

0.3

93.6

0.3

«3
.6
.9
.3
.8
.9
.2
.2
.2
.1

118.8
121.3
121.9
118.9

.8
•1
.2
0
0
.3
.U
.2
.2
.2

96.2

1.1

105.9 r

107.2
10U.8
101.7
107.7
10U.U

108.6

105.3
102.7

108.2
llO.i*
106.6

0
.7
.3
.3
.1

108.7
108.0
108.9
107.3
110.3
10U.5

.5
.6
.8

.5 109.0
.5 107.8

.5
.6

123.8
119.3
119.6

117.1*
120.5
128.2
125.9
129.0
123.5
125.3
125.1
119.2
130.5
119.5

131.5

121.8

.2
95.0
92.5 - l.U
.7
87.6
.9
93.9
.2
91.1
.U
91.9
.8
89.6
2.1
88.7
.1
9U.7

1.2
92.2
.u
.2 96.3 - .3
1.1
.3 96.0
.3 91.U
.9
.U 93.6
.2
.3 91.U
.9
.6
.2 100.7
.U
.2 91.2
3.1 93.5 - .u
.2 93.0
1.5

Dairy
products
Percent
c hange
107.3
108.7
108.9
108.9
107.6
110.7

102.2

10U.8

109.7
107.5

102.8
111.2
10U.5
110.1
110.0
108.9
100.U
105.7
107.7

111.1
113.1

0.1
.1
0
0
.u
2.7
.3
.2
0
.1

.5
.1
0

.5
.3

.5
.3
0
.3
0

Fruits and
vegetables
Percent
change

113.3

0.6

113.9

.3

1.0

lll.U
108.2

1.5
3.7
2.3
.7

112.6
110.2
107.8
12U.8
113.U
107.3
115.8
122.3

Other
foods at home
Percent
change
109.6

- 2.8

102 .U - 2.9
109.U - 2.2
103.2 - 3.U

116.0 - 2.0
11U.7

- 2.8

113.0 - 2.U

1.0 111.6 - 2.0
.U
.9
1.3
1.6
.9
.9
.2
l.U
.7
.8
.2
.U
.9

io8.ii
116.0
110.1
117.0
120.6

120.1
107.9

119.8

113.6

108.9 - 1.9

102.8 - 2.U
110.7 - 1.8
118.2
109.7
108.5
118.7
lll.U
118.5
107.0
106.3

- 3.0
• 3.3

- 3.5
- 2.6

- 1.8
- 2.2

106.6 109.1 -

U.O
3.9
3.7
3.U

TABUS 6: Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
Food and unit
Cereals and bakery producto;
Flour, wheat — — — — — — — — 5 lb.
Biscuit nix — — — — — 20 oz.
Corn meal — — — — — — —
ib.
Rice — — — — —
——
ib.
Rolled oats — — — — — — — — - 20 oz.
Corn flakes — — — — — — — — — 12 oz.
Bread, white — — — —
ib.
Soda crackers — — — — —
u,.
Vanilla cookies — — — —
7 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak — — — — — — —
ib.
Chuck roast — — — — — — —
ib.
Rib roast — — — — — —
ib.
Hamburger — — — — —
ib.
Veal cutlets
——
ih.
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 — — — — 16 oz.
Tuna fish, canned — —
6 to 6* oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream — — — — — — — pt.
Butter
— ib.
Cheese, American process
—
ib.
Milk, evaporated — — — — — i4£-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — — — —
10 oz.
Orange juice concentrate — — 6 oz.
Peas, green — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green —
—
—
10 oz.
Fresh:
Apples — — — — — — — — ib.
Bananas —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Oranges, size 200 —
doz.
Lemons — — — — — — — — ib.

February
1956

January
1956
Cents
53.0
26.9
12.5

17.2
19.2
21.9

17.6
26.9

23.6

8U.9
U6.U
67.2
38.5
110.5
6U.8
5U.U
55.5

6U.1

51.9

Ul.i
U9.6

ui.9
U6.1
58.9
3U.3

22.2

22.2

23.6

23.7
28.7
70.9
57.0
13.8

28.8

70.8

57.0
13.8

30.2
19.U

21.0
23.U
13.7

30.U
18.9
21.2
23.5
13.3

17.2

16.8

50.1
18.U

U9.8
19.5

February
1956

Food and unit
Fre r.h C ~nt inn e d
Grapefruit *
—
— — eHCh
Peaches * — - —
u,.
Strawberries *
— — —
pt.
Grapes, .seeclie&s * — — —
— a,.
Watermelons *
—
ih.
Potatoes — — — —
!(.!b#
Sw-e'p".
— j h .

C?-.:\"n6

—-

Ca^r^tr ib. !
Lessee
<
head J
Celpry
—
n,.
Caebage
<
it).
Tomatoes — — — — — » - - \b.
Beans, green — — —
m.
Canned:
Orange juice - — - — — — 40-oz. can
Peaches — —
—
<•»,»
Pineapple
——
#2 ran
Fruit cocktail —
#303 can
Corn, cream style
*:)<»:» can
Peas, green — — — —
ran
Tomatoes
^303 can
Baby foods
to 5 oz.
Dried:
Prunes
•
u>.
Beans - — — — — — —
ih.
Other foods at home:
Vegetable soup — —
n-o/. car.
Beans with pork
i6-oz. can
Pickles, sweet — — — — —
7*
Catsup, tomato — — —
— — 14 •:>7.
Coffee
lb. can
Tea bags
pkg. of lfl
Cola drink, carton —
— — 36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated —
3 ib.
Margarine, colored — — —
ih.
Lard
— —
— — —
ib.
Salad dressing — — — — — . pt.
Peanut butter —
—
—
—
ib.
Sugar — — — — —
— — - 5 ib.
Corn syrup — — — — — — 24 oz.
Grape jelly
— 12 oz.
Chocolate bar —
—
1 oz.
Eggs, Grade A, large
doz.
Gelatin, flavored —
3 to 4 oz.

January
1956
Cents

9.6

975

5U.8

51.9

11.8

7.9
1U.1
13.7
13.1
8.2

32.6
32.8
35.5
3U.9
33.U

26.2

17.8

11.8

8.2

15.8
13.6
13.1
9.6
33.5
31.3
35.0
3U.9
33.U
26. U

21.6

17.8
21.6

15.2
9.7

15.1
9.6

35.5
16.U

16.6

1U.0
1U.6
26.9
22.7
96.2
23.1
32.3

1U.1
1U.6
27.0

88.6

28.0

18.7
3U.6
53.6
52.U
23.5

26.1
U.5
59.2

8.5

35.1

22.7
95.8
23.7

32.2
88.5
28.0
18.7
3U.6
53.9
52.U
23.6

26.0
U.5
67.5
8.5

* Priced only in season.
NOTE* Prices for January 1956 and subsequent dates are not comparable with prices previously published because of a
revision in weights for chain and independent stores. See "Retail Food Prices by Cities, February 1956," for
a description of the revision.




BRIEF EXPIANATTON OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

7

The Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices of goods and
services customarily purchased by city wage-earner and clerical-worker families. Index
numbers are presented on the base 19^7-^9 « 100, and show the average Increase or decrease in prices from the 19^7-^9 average. For the convenience of users, indexes are
also calculated on the base 1935-39 • 100.
About 3^0 items are priced for the index to estimate the average change in
prices of a fixed quantity of goods and services from one period to the next. Among
these are all the important items that wage and clerical workers buy, and they are
selected so that their average price change will be representative of the price changes
on all items. Prices axe collected in k6 cities which are representative of all cities
in the United States.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items are priced eve*-y month in eacn
city. Prices of most other goods and services are obtained every month in the 5 largest
cities, every 3 months in 16 other large cities and in 9 medium-sized cities, and every
k months in 16 small cities. In each city, prices are reported by representative retail
stores and service establishments patronized by wage and clerical worker families.
Indexes are calculated for all cities combined (the U.S. city average) and
for each of the 20 largest cities. No separate index numbers are calculated for the
following 26 medium-sized and small cities which sure included in the U.S. average:
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
I^nchburg, Virginia
Madlll, 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

In the calculation, price changes on individual items are weighted by their
importance in wage-earner and clerical-worker family spending. City data are combined
by weighting with 1950 population data to arrive at the U.S. city average.
Comparison of city indexes shows only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another. City indexes do not measure differences in price level between
cities.
A detailed description of the index containing lists of items priced, their
weights, cities included, and an explanation of the index calculation, its uses and
limitations, is available in Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 11^0 - "The Consumer
Price Index - A Laymanfs Guide," for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, United
States Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. Price 20 cents.
A more technical description of the Consumer Price Index is available upon
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, Washington 25, D. C.
Historical series of index numbers for the U.S. city average and 80 individual
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 19^7 to date.