Full text of CPI Detailed Report : February 1960

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Released March 25, i960
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR FEBRUARY i960
Consumer prices in United States cities in February reversed
a 2-month ck)WS]"C**«n&, edging up by 0.2 percent, the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau
of Later Statistics reported today. The February Consumer Price Index, at 125.6
(19V7-39 = 100), matched the alltime high reached last November.
The cost of services—particularly those associated with
housing and medical care—provided the main upward thrust, and in February made the
largest advance in almost 2 years (0.5 percent). In addition to this strong
uptrend, the index was boosted by the seasonal introduction of spring apparel
prices after January's extensive clearance sales, and resumption of regular prices
for textile housefurnishings following the white sales. These increases more than
offset a sharp reduction for gasoline, and a further decline for food—the fifth in
succession—to the lowest level since December 1957*
HOUSING

Mortgage interest rates, which have risen persistently for the
past 18 months, contributed appreciably to the rise in the cost
of housing. The February index for mortgage interest was 8 percent above a year ago
and 9 percent higher than its recession low point of September 1958. Household
operation costs which advanced in February included postage, reflecting the recent
increase in parcel post rates, and gas. Rate increases for gas were reported in
several cities, including Houston and Minneapolis.

Rents continued their long but moderate uptrend, responding
chiefly to increasing maintenance costs and property taxes. In spite of rising
costs, rents in a few places have been declining, notably in Detroit, where rents
have edged off almost continuously since the beginning of 1958. Uncertain economic
conditions have been cited as a reason, and have been associated with some rise
in vacancies.
MEDICAL CARE

The 0.8 percent gain in the cost of medical care in February
was the largest in almost a year and a half, chiefly because
of substantially higher premiums for health insurance in several cities, including
Chicago and Seattle.

FOOD

The February index for food (for home use), at llk.k, was 1.5
percent lower than a year ago, 2.4 percent less than 2 years
ago, and 5-1 percent below the 1958 record high. Restaurant meals, which contain
service components, continued to trend upward.

The January-February decrease in food prices was accounted for
chiefly by lower prices for eggs, but, in addition, there were declines for some
fruits and vegetables, most meats, and for fats and oils. Egg prices reflected
further seasonal increases in production. Prices for tomatoes fell in spite of
bad weather, because substantial imports from Mexico and Cuba increased supplies.
Prices for bananas and citrus fruits also were down because of large supplies.




2

Prices of all cuts of beef declined as did those for some kinds
of pork, chiefly because of heavy slaughtering in January. A decline for fats and
oils resulted from heavy supplies of "both animal fats and vegetable oil raw materials.
Shortening prices dropped to their lowest level since May 1950.
On the other hand, adverse weather brought about higher prices
for green beans and lettuce. Potato prices went up, on account of smaller storage
stocks and the effects of the Florida freeze in January on the winter crop.
COMMODITIES

The average for nondurable commodities (excluding food) rose
slightly, almost entirely because prices for womenfs and girls1
apparel and household textiles were up. Most other kinds of nondurables showed
price declines. The substantial reduction in gasoline prices (1.4 percent) resulted
from heavy supplies, burdened storage facilities, and reduced consumption during
unusually severe weather.
Durable goods prices did not change on the average. Among the
durables, price increases for used cars were offset by lower prices for new cars.
The latter decline was normal for February, when purchasing is relatively slow and
inventories rise in preparation for the spring selling season. Inventories this
February were at very high levels, following near-record production after settlement of the steel strike. Lower prices for durable housefurnishings, reflecting
February furniture and bedding sales and a more competitive market for appliances,
were offset by higher prices for replacement plumbing and heating equipment.
The February i960 Consumer Price Index was 1.5 percent above
the level of February 1959* This was a somewhat larger overthe-year gain than for most months since December 1958- This
February, with the important exception of food, almost all commodities and all of the
services were up compared to a year ago. The costs of buying, owning, and maintaining
a house and an automobile, and charges for medical care continued to account for a
major part of the rise over the previous year.

OVER- THE - YEAR
CHANGES

Of the relatively small number of workers covered by contracts
tying wages to the February Consumer Price Index (1^3,000),
only about 1,000, who receive their adjustments on an annual
basis, will have a pay adjustment (a 3-cent-an-hour increase for employees of
companies affiliated with the Los Angeles Warehousemen1s Association). Wages for
most of the other 1^2,000 workers are reviewed quarterly and went up in November,
when the index was at the same level.

COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS




3
TABLE It Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and. special group indexes, February i960
and percent changes from selected dates
(194-7-4-9=100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to February i960 from —

Indexes
February

Group

All items

—

i960

1

— —

January

I960

January

i960

125.6

125.4

117. 4
111+A
135.2
106.2
116.5
125.9
102.9
117.8

117.6
114.7
134.8
106.4
116.5
125.7
104.5
117.6

.2
.3
.3
- .2
0
.2
- 1.5
.2

131.2
114-1.0
121*. 0
139.0
104.3
136.3

130.7
140.9
123.2
139.0
104.0
135.9

.4

108 A
108.7

107.9
108.8

-

.1

92.8

139.4
92.2

1.3
- .5
.7

147.9
136.4
199.3

148.1
136.8
197.2

Medical care-

154.7

153.5

Personal care—•

132.6

132.7

120.6

120.3

.2

131.8

131.8

0

129.7

129.4

.2

123.0

122.9

.1

116.7

116.7
118.1
117.6
119.2
107.7
102.2

0
.1

Food
Food at hone
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables— •
Other foods at home • 1
Food away from home (Jan. 1953=100)
Housing 2 J — • • • • •
Rent
Gas and electricitySolid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
— —
Household o p e r a t i o n — • • -• Apparel
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel-

••

—
•-

•

•

—

—

Transportation
Private
Public

•

•• »

Reading and recreation

-

Other goods and services • •

—

99.3
138.7

98.0

November
1959

0.2

111.4

.4
2.0
- 3.3
•5

- .7
- 1.5
1.0
- 5.7
2.2
3.9
- 4.8
3.2

149.3
142.9
136.4
155.3
133.9
171.9
112.6
(1/)

.6
.4
1.9
2.3
- .1
.7

2.1
1.4
4.6
- .7
.5
2.4

72.4

146.5
95-3
99.3

-

.9
.4

-

.4
.5

1.6
.8
.5
5.6
1.2

106.5
114.0
82.2
175.7
128.6

1.1

.3

- .7
- l.l
1.7

2.5
2.3
3.9

110.7
108.2
145.1

.8

1.1

3.8

113.1

.1

2.2

122.5

.5

3-0

91.4

.2

3.5

86.7

.2

2.4

87.7

-

.1

1.3

122.0

-

.4
.5
.4
.3
.9

.6

-

126.2
129.6
149.3
103.4
107.9
(1/)
95.4
98.3
146.0
(l/)

.1
.6

0
.3
.3

-

-

Year
1939

1.5

-

-

0

February
1959

.5

.1

.1

-

.4
.6
•7

- 1.6

- 1.6

-

62.8
18.2

Special groups:
All items less food
All items less shelter

_ — - — •....

Commoditie s
Nondurables
Food
Nondurables less food
—
—
App&re 1
•--••
Apparel less footwear
Nondurables less food and apparelDurable s
—
New cars
Used cars (Jan. 1953=100)
Durables less cars
Commodities less food

—

—

— —

Service s
—
Rent
Services less rent
• •••• — — —
Household operation services, gas,
and electricity
Transportation services——
Medical care services
Other services jt/
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=11.00)

1

118.0

117.4
119.4
108.3

103.0
128.8
113.6

128.9

-

-

-

.2
.2
.6

.8

.1

- 1.0
- .1

.3
- .7
2.0
1.5
.8
2.1

.8

- 2.8

.4

1.2
.1

1.4
0

1.3
0

8.2

.4

1.6
3-3
1.4
3.6

105.3

103.4

96.5

113.6
141.3
95-2
103.4

116.0

115.9

.1

11+8.9
141.0
150.9

148.2
140.9
150.1

.5
.5

.9
.4
.9

137.8

137.2

.4
.5
.8
.4

l.l
.8
1.3
.7

3.4
3-0
4.4
3.6

58.4
129.2
128.1
131.0

.1

0

- 1.5

- 52.7

140.2

183.6
160.8

-

.1

182.7

134.7

159.5
134.1

$0,796

$0,797

0

-

-

.2

80.5

95.3

85.2
62.8

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




A

T A B U 2 s Constaer Price Index—111 items indexes and percent changes, selected dates
U.S. oity average and 20 large cities

Percent change to
current month fraa —

Indexes (1947-49=100)
February
I960

City
United States city average1"—

November
1959

February
1959

Year
1939

—

125.6

125.6

123.7

59-4

-

129.1
123.9
128.9
12U.li
125.5

129.1
128.8
12U.1
126.2

127.1
123.3
126.7
121.7
123.3

58.6
59.0
60,4
60.1
59.2

February
I960

November
195 9

February
1959

126,1
125.6
121. k
129.2
121.9

126. h
125.U
121.5
129.2
121.7

12^.8
I2I4.I
120.3
126.9
121.3

January
I960

October
1959

January
1959

I260U
127.0
126.2
126.6
127.5

126.7
126.9
126.5
126.8
126.3

125.4
12U.5
125.3

February
1959

Year
1939

0

1.5

lll.ii

0

1.6
0.5
1.7
2.2
1.8

120.3
110.0
113.ii
107.0
112.0

February
1959

Year
1939

November
1959

Cities priced monthly jJ
Chicago
—
Detroit
Los A n g e l e s — — New York
Philadelphia—

—

Cities priced in February, May,
August, November
2/
Cleveland
Houston
Sc rant on
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

--—
-

— — —
--

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

-

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December
2/

December
1959

I26.I4

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

127.2
123.8
126.6
1^1.8

12U.1

September
1959
126.0
127.5
123.6
126. h
130.8

12luii

12*4.2
December
1958
121* .U
125.5
122.14
125,7
127.9

Year
1939
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60. U
Tear
1939
61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3
Year
1939
58.3
57.9
58
59.3
58.6

- 0.2
0.1
0.2
- 0.6
November
1959
- 0.2

1.0
1.2
0.9
1.8
0.5

0*2

- 0.1
0
0.2
October
1959

113.0
111.1
107.5

118.2

101.8

January
1959

Year
1939

0.8
2.0
0.7

- 0.2
0.1
- 0.2
- 0.2

107.2
105.8
107.9
117.9
118.7

1.8

1.0

2.7

September
1959

December
1958

Year
1939
116.8
119.7
112.0
113.5
12U. 9

1.6

0.3
- 0.2
0.2
0.2
0.8

1.1*

1.1
0.7
3.0

J/ Rents priced bimonthly.
2/ Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other cosraodities and services priced quarterly.

TABLE 31

City
United States city average—
Chicago——
Detroit
—
—
Los
H«v Y o r k — —
— —
IMladel|Ma—
—




—

Consumer Price Index—Percent changes from January I960 to February I960
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

All
itasus

Food

0,2

- 0.2

0.2

- 0*7
- 0.1
- 1.2
0.2
| - 0.3

OJ4

- 0*3
0.2
0

Housing

Apparel
0.5

Q.k
- 0.1
o«5
0.3

0.2

0.3
- 0.1
o.u !|
o.U |1

1.0 !

Other
goods &
s*rvio*§

Hsdieal
or®

- 0.1

0e8

- 0.1

0*2

0

• 0.1
1,2
- 0.8
0.1
- 0.1

k*2

0.1
- 0.8
- 0,3
- 0.7
0

- 0.2
3.7
0
0,5
0

- 0.2
0.1
» 0.1
- 0.1

0.5
0*3
0.1
0

Personal
cur©

Beading
and
recreation

Transportation

0,1

TABIS At

Consumer Price Index—All items and ccmnodity groups

February i960 indexes and percent changes, November 1959 to' February i960

'

U.Sy. city average and 10 cities priced in February I960
U.S.
City
Average

Oromp

Chicago Cleveland

Detroit Houston

Los
Angeles

New
York

Phila- Scranton Seattle Washingdelphia
ton. D.C.

Indexes ( 1 9 ^ 7 ^ 9 - 1 0 0 )
125.6

129.1

126.1

123.9

125.6

128.9

12l*.k

125.5

121.1*

129.2

121.9

117.1*
llU.li
135.2
106.2
116.5
125.9
102.9

llU.U
111.1*
128.8
99.3
120.6
121.3
106.9

112.9
109.7
128.3
100.1*
110.1*
118.1*
101*.6

115.7
112.5
121*.9
101.0
112.6
131.5
102.7

113.3
110.2
125.6
100.3
115.9
123.1
101.0

123.7
118.9
11*6.8
107.2
115.0
137.7
106.0

120.8
117.0
11*2.1
111.1
121.1
123.3
102.2

119.1
115.6
136.1*
107.1
121.0
126.1*
100.3

113.0
111.1
133.1

121.0
118.3
11*7.7
109.3
118.3
131.0
10li.7

117.2
lll*.l
130.7
105.6
120.9
120.8
101*. 1

131.2
11*1.0
12k* 0
139.0
10U.3
136.3

11*0.6

131.1*
160.5
121*. 1
11*1*.7
100.1*
125.8

126.9
11*3.3
116.8
128.0
108.0
*12l*.2

133.1
139.0
133.9

138.7

101*.2
126.1*

106.7
136.6
109.6
11*1.1*

121*. 9
132.1*
121.3
11*6.1*
100.8
118.9

133.6

103.6
11*5.1*

129.2
133.0
120.9
11*1.8
10l*.8
138.1

125.5

130.1
11*3.3
102.1*
138.7

150.6
86.7
11*1.9
103.9
138.3

121.5
131.1*
135.3
11*3.1*
99.2
133.5

— — — — — — —

108.U
108.7
99.3
138.7
92.8

112.3
111*.8
101.2
11*2.6
96.5

110.2
113.6
100.6
13l*.3
95.1*

105.6
107.1*
95.1
135.1*
85.9

110.6
106.6
103.8
11*6.0
90.2

111.1*
112.6
102.8
11*1.1*
86.2

107.1
108.5
96.3
139.7
96.8

106.8
109.1*
95.5
138.7
91*.8

110.9
112.0
102.0
11*2.5
93.1*

111.8
113.2
102.0
11*5.7
88.2

10l*.9
108.9*
95.1*
131.7
89.8

Transportation
— — — — — —
P r i v a t e - — — — — — — — —
Public

1U7.9
136.lt
199.3

158.1
138.8
205.7

11*2.8
133.9
181.9

138.9
131.1*
179.lt

11*7.2
139.9
198.9

11*3.6
137.1
186.5

11*9.5
131.2
191.1*

156.1
136.2
193.1*

11*7.9
13U.U
191.9

11*8.5
136.1*
189.6

11*6.2
138.8
172.1*

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

1SU.7
132.6
120.6
131.8

167.3
137.6
125.1*
12U.2

169.7
127.9
130.2
135.1

158.8
133.2
121.0
139.8

136.6
11*0.6
118.1*
137.2

11*9.7
131*. 7
102.2
132.9

11*3.7
121*. 0
122.1*
133.3

159.3
11*3.2
123.7
132.1*

133.5
11*1*.6
151*.6
123.6

158.0
11*2.1*
119.6
11*3.2

153.7
129.9
120.1
136.5

0.1

0

0.2

1.1
1.3
0.7
0.9
0.6
0.2
1*.5

0.2
0
0.8
- 2.7
- 0.1
1*.5
- 0.9

-

0.1
oa
0
0
0.2
0.3

- 0.3
0
0
- 0.6
- 1.3
- 0.6

0.9
0.5
0
5.1
- 0.8
0.2

0.7
1.2
1.3

-

0.8
0
- 1.3
- 1.1
- 0.3

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

:
—
—
—
—

Qas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
— —
Housefurnishlngs
— — — - —
Household operation
—
—

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

—

—
—

—

—

—
—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

11*1.7

—

"

—

ids. 5
112.7
116.1*
99.8

—

Percent change from November 1 9 5 9 to February I 9 6 0
0

- 0.2

- 0.2

- o.U
- 0.6
0.7
- 1.6
0.1*
2.0
- 3.3

0

0.8
1.0
0.7
0.9
1.8
0.2
- In 2

- 0.2
- 0.5
- O.U
0.1
- 0.1
1.9
- 3.8

-

0.1*

0.2
0.2
6.9
1.7
- 0.1*
0.6

- 0.1*
!/- 0.2
0.1
0.3
- 1.2
0.7

0.9
0.5
1.1

1*.9

1.9
2.0

- 0.2
0.7

0.1
- 0.5
1.0
- 0.5
0

- 1.2
- 0.6
- 2.3
0
- 0.7

- 2.0
- 1.1
- 3.1*
0.5
- 0.7

- 0*3
- 1.0
0

1.0
0.1*
U.U

0,5
0,9
3.5
2,9

1,0
0.3
- 0.6
~ 0.1

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

—
—
—
—

-

lousing —
—
—
Bent
— — — — — — — —
3a§ and electricity
— — —
Solid fesls and f w l oil —
lousefomishlngs
—
—
—
leasehold operation
— — —

—
—
—
—
—

0.6
o.U
1.9
2.3
- 0.1
0.7

Men's and boys'
—
—
Women's and girls'
—
—
Footwsar
—
—
—
—
Otbsr apyarcl — — — — ! —

—
—
—
—

-

0.9
O.U
1.6
0»i|
0.5

-

-

0.7
1.1
1.7

- 0,9
• 2.2
U.5

-

1,1
0.1
o,5
0,2

5a
- 0.2
- 0.2
- 0.1

- 0*2
- oa
- 1.2
0

P r i v a t e — — — — — — — — —
P u b l i c - ™ — — — — —
Mg&ic&l cure
—
—
—
—
—
Personal ear® — — — — — — — —
HaadiafS and r®OTeati©n
—
—
Other g@®&§ mad sarrlces — — — —

-

—

0.1
1.8
- 0.1
- 0.1

-

1.1
0.9
1.3
0,6

l«h

1/

Change frora December 1959 to February I960*

*

January i960 index revised to 121*.1.




1.3
1.5
0
!

0.2

0.1

0.2

-

1 . 0 - 0.5
1 . 1 - 1.1
0.6
0.5
- 2.0 - 2.0
2.1
0.7
1 . 5 - 1.3
2.8
- i*.5

0.1
0.1
0.5
- 2.1*
1.3
3.1
- 0.8

0.1
0.1
0.1
0.3
0.2
3.5
- 3.7

-

-

0.9
0.3
1.3
3.8
0.1*
1.2

0.9
—

IJ

—.

.

0.7

-

—

0.8
6.2
0.6
0.6

-

0.7

CL$

0.2
0.5
2.0
- 0.7
- 3.9

0.6
0.1
1.6
0.1*
0

1.5
0.1*
- 3.5
- 0.6
0.3

- 0.7
- 0.5

0.2
- 0.5
0.1*
0.5
0

- 1.1*
- 3.5
13.5

- 0,1
0
0

- oa
- 0.2
0

0»1*
0.1*
0

- 0.9
- i.l*
3.9

- 0.3
- 0.1*
0

0,2
- 0.1
- 0.1
0

0.1
-1.1*
0.5
- 0.1

o.U
- 0.2
- 5.9
0.1

0,2
0.1
0.7
1.7

2.6
0.6
- 0.3
0.1

2.2
2.2
- 0.2
oa

0.2
0
0.3
0
0.2

-

0.6

1.2
1.6
0.1*
2.2
0.9
1.2
- 1*.6

-

-

6
TABI£ 5t Consuadp Price Index — Food and its subgroups
February i960 indexes and percent changes, January i960 to February i960
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)
Total

food

City

Total

Cereals and

food at home

bakery products

Meats,

poultry,

and fish

Index

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

U.S. city average

117.4

- 0.2

114.4

- 0.3

135.2

0.3

106.2

- 0.2

Atlanta —
Baltimore
Boston
Chicago - —
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles

114.1

-

111.6
112.4
114.1
111.4
114.4
109.7
112.5
110.2
106.8
118.9

-

125.9

.4
.2
.4
1.1

116.7

—
—

Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg. St. Louis
San Francisco
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

117.7
114.4
117.8
112.9
115.7
113.3
110.4
123.7
116.5
120.8
119.1
118.6
120.2
117.5
122.2
113.0
121.0
117.2

-

-

.3
.4
.3
.7
.1
.2

.1

- .3
- .8
- 1.2
-

.4
.2
- .3
- .1
- .8
1.1

- 1.1

-

.4
.3
.1

TABLE 61

112.9
117.0
115.6
116.5
117.1
112.2
118.8
111.1
II8.3
114.1

Cereals and bakery products:
lb.
Flour, wheat
20 oz.
Biscuit mix
Corn meal
—
lb.
Rice, short grain
— — . lb.
Rice, long grain
ib.
Rolled oats
is oz.
Corn flakes
12 oZ.
Bread, white
ib.
Soda crackers
ib.
—
7 oz.
Vanilla cookies
Meats, poultry, and fish:
—
lb.
Round steak
—
lb.
Chuck roast
—
lb.
Rib roast
—
lb.
Hamburger
—
lb.
Veal cutlets
Pork chops, center cut —
lb.
Bacon, sliced
—
lb.
Ham, whole
—
lb.
Lamb, leg
lb.
Frankfurters
ib.
Luncheon meat, canned
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cock — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned
16 oz.
Tuna fish, canned
6 to at oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
^
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
itIce cream
gal.
Butter
Cheese, American process
2 113•
Milk, evaporated
14^-oz. can
Fruit8 and vegetables:
Frozen1
10 oz.
Strawberries
Orange juice concentrate
- 6 oz.
10 oz.
Pea 8, green — —
Beans, green -•• ••••
—
9 oz.
Fresh:
Apple8 - lb.
Bananas
— lb.
Oranges, size 200 •
• doz.
Lemons
- lb.
Grapefruit *

Priced only in season.




-

.5
.3
.4
.1
.8
1.4
1.5
.5

February
I960
Cents

-5

128.8
132.0
128.8

133.5
128.3
124.9

125.6
128.0

146.8

Fruits and

Other

vegetables

foods at home

Index

Percent
change

II6.5

0

107.3
105.7
107.5
99.3
.8 106.2
• 9 100.4
.1 101.0
.2 100.3
.4
99.7
.1 107.2

•3 113.6
.4 116.9
0 114.1
.6 120.6
.4 117.2
.8 110.4
- .1 , 112.6
- 1 . 1 115.9
.6 108.5
- 1.8 115.0

0
2.0
.9
.5
.3
.2
1.4
2.0
3.0
.2

.1
.2
.4

-

101.4

.8 107.8

-

-

54.7
27.0
13.1
18.8
20.5
21.7
25.7
20.0
28.9
24.4
105.2
62.6

81.3
52.5
143.1
78.2
58.2
58.2
72.5
61.2
50.3
43.2
47.6
56.6

65.0

32.2

134.9

11+2.1
133.4

January

127.1
120.1
127.7
121.3
125.2
118.4
131.5
123.1
114.7
137.7

Cents
54.6
27.0
13.1
18.6
20.6

21.5
25.7
19.8
29.0
24.4
106.0
62.7
82.0
53.2
141.9
78.4
57.5

58.6

73.3

61.5

50.7
42.5
47.5

5 6.6

64.8
32.2

24.7
25.9
87.5
74.5
33.8
15.7

24.7
25.9
87.7
75-3
33.7

26.6

26.6
23.1
19.9
22.7

22.6

19.9

22.8

14.1
16.5
63.4
19.1
12.1

15.6

13.6

17.2

64.4
19.5
12.2

Fre sh—Continued
Peaches * —
Strawberries *
Grapes, seedless
Watermelons *
—
Potatoes
Sweet potatoesOnions

0.2
•5
1.2
2.8
- 1.8
- .1
1.0
.4

- 1.8
- .8

- 3.7

-

•5
3.4

1.0
-

.3
.6
2.5

- 2.5
0

- .8
- 1.1

February
I960
Cents

Food and unit

I960

Percent
change

Index

125.9

.2 131.0
111.1
.2 121.1
.2 123.3
136.4
107.1
.1 126.4
- 1.5 121.0
.6 107.4
.6 117.6
.2 123.7
.1 108.2
141.4
0 124.2
- 1.3 121.3
3.0 102.2
124.2
.2 132.1
1.5 103.7
.1 111.7
151.1
- .6 118.9
- .3 131.3
.2 104.5
133.1
- .2 112.7 - .4 116.4
.1 109.3
- .6 147-7
- 1.4 118.3
.1 131.0
. 6 105.6
.2 120.9
- -3 130.7
• 3 120.8
Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average

Food and unit

*

-

-3
.4
•3
.8
.1
.1
.1
.8
.8
1.5

Dairy
products

.1
-

Index

Percent
change

102.9

- 1.5 •

97.7
102.0
99.5
106.9
105.4
104.6
102.7
101.0
96.3
106.0

-

107.7

-

102.2
100.3
112.6
106.9
111.0
102.4

99.8

104.7
104.1

1.7,
1.7
1.5
1.6
1.7
•5
- 3-3
- 1.9
- .4

- 1.2

January

i960

Cents

lb.
Pt.
lb.

—

lb.

10 lb.
_

lb.
lb.

..
lb.
Carrots
—
head
Lettuce
lb.
Celery • • • — •
_
lb.
Cabbage
• —
lb.
Tomatoes
lb.
Beans, green •
Canned:
„ 46-oz. can
Orange juice •
„
#2h can
Peaches — —
#2 can
Pineapple — — — —
#303 can
Fruit cocktail
_ _ _ #303 can
Corn, cream style
_
#303 can
Peas, green
#303 can
Tomatoes — —
4^ to 5 oz.
Baby foods
Dried J
lb.
Prunes —
lb.
Beans
Other foods at home:
Tomato S O U p
10£ to ll-oz. can
Beans with pork
ifi-oz. can
Pickles, sliced
— — ib oz.
Catsup, tomato
14 oz.
•
•
lb.
can
Coffee
« lb. bag
Coffee
Tea bags
— pix'g. of 16
—
36 oz.
Cola drink, carton
Shortening, hydrogenated
3 ib.
Margarine, colored
— lb.
Lard — —
—
—
— ib.
Salad dressing
•
pt.
Peanut butter
— ib.
Sugar
5 ib.
Corn syrup — •«••••.• • — • • — 24 oz.
Grape jelly
12 oz.
Chocolate bar
—
1 oz.
— - - — doz.
Eggs, Grade A, large
Gelatin, flavored —
—
3 to 4 oz.

68.6
12.8

65.6

8.4
12.9
20.1
14.8
10.8
37.4
33.0

8.9
14.2

43.5
33.5
37.6

27.0

18.8

20.0
15.4
10.0

39.5

12.6
19.0

15.3
11.4
39.5
27.7
45.5
33-8
37-5
26.9
19.0
19.9
15.1
10.0

39.4

16.9

16.8

12.4
14.9
26.3

12.4
14.9
26.3
22.3

22.3
75.4
59.6
24.4
29.1

76.1

18.2

59.6
24.3
29.3
83.3
27.4
18.4

36.1
55.4
57.3

55.5
57.8

80.6

27.0

36.6

26.6

26.6

28.7
5.1
48.2
9.3

5.1
51.1
9.3

Labor D.C.

1.8
1.2
.4
1.8
1.2
1.9
1.5
2.0
1.9
.9

28.5

6A
TABLE A: Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
1959 annual average indexes and percent changes, 195$ to 1959
5 cities priced in February i960

(1947-J+9-100)

Cleveland

Index
All i t « u
Food
Food at hone — —
— — —
Cereals and bakery products
teats, poultry, and fish —
Dairy products — — —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at horns —
lousing
Rent
Oas and electricity — — - — Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
—
—
Household operation

Men's and boys'
—
Vcnen's and girls'
Footwear
— — — — —
Other apparel
Transportation —
Private

Public

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




Index

Percent
change

Index

0.6

124.6

0.8

120.8

114.1

• 2.6
• 3.3
• .6
• 5.5
.2
• 1.3
• 5.9

114.7
112.5
125.4
105.7
113.4
125.0
103.9

• 2.0
• 2.6

115.4
114.4
134.1

130.4
159.8

•

130.8

116.0

.5
2.2
• 1.4
4.9

lli:6
128.9
103.9
109.8
117.4

108.3

140.4
100.5
124.4

100.2
^

Percent
change

125.6

109.6
113.6

—

Seattle

131.0

95.1
141.6
132.6

181.9
167.6
128.1
129.3
131.9

.2

0

.6
.2
.4
2.3
.2

138.9
123.0

• .7
• 4.7
.8
.6

110.3

• 5.6

112.1
120.0
103.5

.6

123.6

•

.2
5.9

131.8

Percent
change
0.5
• 2.5
• 3.4
• .7
• 5.2

1.0

132.8

1.7
1.9
.8

119.9
142.8
100.0
117.7

1.6
1.2

112.5

1.0

110.4

1.0

.4
1.5
3.1
.4

110.4
102.7
139.6
93.5

.1
.4
4.0
1.9

108.8
141.5

90.6

146.4
113.9

• 2.4
. 6.1

.2

1.1

106.4

128.2
120.8
118.8
117.0
127.2
105.I

•

101.2
142.5

.4

Index

Washington, D. C.

Percent
change
1.9
• .4
• 1.5
1.7
• 1.7
.4
• .3
• 5.1

138.8

2.7
2.5
.1
2.5
.9
.9

109.6

l.l

112.4
99.9
139.7

.4
.1

148.8

86.7

141.9
104.5

87.2

Index

121.7
119.0
116.4
131.5
110.0

118.3
123.1
107.7

120.9
129.6
133.7
140.8
99-8
132.9
105.0
108.3

6.0

9 6.6
129.6
145.0

0

89.9

3.7
3.8
3.1

144.1
137.6
189.5

4.9
5.6

3.2
3.7
•3

150.3
139.0
181.4

4.9

.8

145.6
132.1
191.9

5.4
.7

137.4
172.4

9.5
.4
4.3
3.5

134.9
137-9
117.7
131.3

1.9
2.2
1-3
2.3

130.5
139.5
149.1
120.4

8.1
6.3

2.9

151.1
139.4

2.5
4.9

149.3
126.3

.7

119.2

140.0

.1

3.0

119.7
136.3

7
Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
services usually bought by city families of wage earners and clerical workers. It is
based on prices of about 300 items which were selected so that their price changes would
represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by wage and clerical
families; they include all of the important items in family spending. Prices for these
items are obtained in k-6 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places in the
United States; they are collected from grocery and department stores-, hospitals, filling
stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner and
clerical-worker families patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
k-6 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Mail questionnaires are used
to obtain local transit fares, public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and
certain other items which change in price infrequently. Prices of most other goods and
services are obtained by personal visits of the Bureau's trained representatives.
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending. City
data 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 19^7-^9 = 100.
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from the
20 large cities for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small cities:
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W. Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N. Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Huntington, W. Virginia
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

Pulaski; Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpoint, Idaho
Sha\raee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngs town, Ohio

Comparisons of city indexes show only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another. The city indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price
levels or in living costs between cities.
A description of the index and historical tables of index numbers for the
United States city average and for 20 large cities are available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or any of its regional offices (addresses below),
The historical tables include index numbers for All Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent for
periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of goods and services from 1935 to date.
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
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Street, N. E.
Zone 9




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Chicago
Boston
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Zone 11
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In a d d i t i o n . .

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