Full text of CPI Detailed Report : January 1955

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

Issued February 25, 1955
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - JANUARY 1955
The Consumer Price Index was unchanged from December 195U "oo January 1955,
according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Small increases
in prices of food, rent, fuel, transportation, medical and personal care, and reading and
recreation were balanced by decreased costs of apparel and housefurnishings.
The Consumer Price Index for January 1955 was llU.3 (19li7-U9 • 100), 0,8 percent
less than a year ago, and 1.0 percent below the record high level of October 1953*
FOOD

The slight rise of 0.2 percent in average retail prices of food between December
and January was attributable principally to higher prices of fresh vegetables
and poultry. These price increases, reversing the previous month's price movement, were
almost counterbalanced in the family food budget by lower prices for eggs, pork, oranges,
and milk. The January increase in average food prices was by no means uniform throughout
the country. Increases occurred in 27 cities, and decreases in 19 of the U6 cities in the
index.

Fresh vegetable prices advanced 7«5 percent. Lettuce, up 21 percent, and green
beans, up 30 percent, reflected the effects of unfavorable weather in the major growing
areas. Consumers in most of the U6 cities also paid more for celery, cabbage, sweetpotatoes, and white potatoes. Although large price increases were reported for fresh
tomatoes in Western cities, price decreases were the rule elsewhere.
Prices of meats, poultry, and fish were about the same in January as in
December, on the average. Prices of frying chickens jumped 5*5 percent, in response to
last autumnfs reduction in starts of chicks. Pork prices were down l.k percent from
December to January as larger hog production, encouraged by the favorable prices of late
1953 and early 195U, continued to exert pressure on the market. Lard prices also declined 5.7 percent, with production 25 percent above a year ago. Most cuts of beef advanced slightly in price between December and January.
Egg prices averaged less than 52 cents a dozen, a decline of 3 # 7 percent from
the unusually 1 cm level prevailing in December. Coffee prices advanced slightly in 31
cities between December and January. The January index does not reflect the wave of reductions in retail coffee prices during early February, following Brazil's increase in
bonus payments to exporters, stimulating price reductions. Fresh fluid milk decreased in
price in several cities, most of them in the Northeast. Butter prices were lower in 32
cities. Cereals and bakery products prices continued to inch upward.
HOUSING

The slight decline in housing costs over the month reflected lowered prices on
housefurnishings, chiefly the result of January "white sales" and furniture
sales. Discount house competition continued to induce other types of retailers to reduce
prices of such items as refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, and toasters. The 0*8 percent decline from December to January in housefurnishings follows a 1.7 percent decrease during
195U. Higher costs for heating gas, fuel oil, and coal were reported in several cities•
Residential rents averaged slightly higher.
OTHER GOODS As usual, apparel prices declined in January. Most of the items of heavy
AND SERVICES outerwear, such as men's and boys' coats and jackets, and women's and girls1
coats, were reported at sales prices as merchants continued efforts to
clear their stocks of winter merchandise.




2

The rise in transportation costs reflects in part higher new automobile prices
for those cities in which prices for 1955 models were collected for the first time in
January,
Increased movie admission charges for special features in several cities
brought up reading and recreation costs• Higher charges by physicians and surgeons
accounted for most of the increase in medical care. Personal care costs were slightly
higher as prices of toilet soap rose,
ANNUAL AVERAGE
INDEXES

The following table presents a comparison of 1952, 1953, and 195U
annual average index numbers for all cities combined. Annual average
indexes for the 20 cities for which local Consumer Price Indexes are
published will be available upon request later in the year.

Grou

P

j
*
:
s

ALL ITEMS
FOOD
Cereals and Bakery Produpts
Meats, Poultry, and Fish
Dairy Products
Fruits and Vegetables
Other Foods at Home
HOUSING
Bent
Gas and Electricity
Solid Fuels and Fuel Oil
Housefurnishings
Household Operation
APPAREL
Men's and Boys'
Women's and Girls'
Footwear
Other Apparel
TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL CASE
PERSONAL CARE
READING AND RECREATION
0THI7R GOODS AND SERVICES




Indexes
(I9ii7-h9c100)

s
i Percent Change
1 1953 to : 1952 to
1952 J

1951;

195U

1953

11U.8

llU.U

113.5

112.6

112.8

11U.6

-

0.2

-

1.7

121.9
108. o
106.1
111.9
11U.8

119.1
109.9
109.6
113.5
112.2

116.8
116.2
111.5
117.2
109.3

-

2.1*
1.7
3.2
l.U
2.3

-

U.U
7.1
U.8
U.5
5.0

119.1

117.7

lib. 6

1.2

3.9

128.5
107-9
123.?
106.1
117.U

12U.1
106.6
123.9
107.9
115.3

117.9
ioU.5
118.7
108.5
111.8

3.5
1.2
- 0.3
- 1.7
1.8

9.0
3.3
U.O
- 2.2
5.0

10U.3

loU.8

105.8

-

0.5

-

l.U

106.8
98.9
116.U
90.7

107.U
99.7
115.2
92.1

108.2
100.9
115.3
92.1

-

0.6
0.8
1.0

-

1.3
2.0
1.0

128.0
125.2
113.U
107.0
120.1

129.7
121.3
112.8
108.0
118.2

126.2
117.2
111.8
107.0
115.U

195U

»

1.1

0.3

- 1.5
-

1.3
3.2

0.5

- 0.9
1.6

- 1.5
l.U
6.8
l.U
0
U.i

TABLE 1.

3

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — U.S. CITY AVERAGE ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Dates

January
1955

December
1951*

November
1951*

January
1951*

Last Month

2 Months Ago

Last Year

June
1950

Group
This Month

Pre-Korea

Year
1939
PreWorld War II

INDEXES (19*7-^9 -=100)

Food at home
. . . . . . . . . .
Cereals and bakery products • .
Heats, poultry and fish • • . .
Dairy products •

Rent

• • • « . * • • • • • • • «

Solid fuels and fuel oil

. . • ,

APPAREL

TRANSPORTATION
H2RS0NAL CARE
READING AND RECREATION
......
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES jJ . . . ,

llll. 3

11U.3

111*. 6

115.2

101.3

59.4

110.6

110.1*

111.1

113.1

100.5

47.1

109. U
123.1*
102.1*
106.1*
110.6
111.3

109.2
123.3
102.2
106.8
108.lt
112.0

110.1
123.1
103.5
106.6
109.6
113.7

112.6
121.2
110.2
109.7
110.8
113.5

100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9^.1

47.1
57.2
41.6
49.8
46.3
48*4

119.6

119.7

119.5

118.8

104.9

76.1

129.5
109 .1*
126.1
10l*.6
117.7

129. 1*
109.1
125.5
105.1*
117.7

129.2
108.7
12l*.2
105.1*
117.8

127.8
107.1
125.7
107.2
117.2

108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6

86**
ioi*. 9
56.1*
53.*
68.4

103.3

10l*,3

10i*.6

10U.9

96.5

52.5

105.5
27.6
116.7
90.5

106.5
99.0
116.9
91.1

106.5
99.5
117.0
91.2

107.1*
99.8
116.2
90.1*

98.1
93.3
102.1
88.1*

127.6
126.5
113.7
106.9
119.9

127.3
126.3
113.6
106.6
119.9

127.6
126.1
113.9
106.8
120.0

130.5
123.7
113.7
108.7
120.3

109.9
105.*
99.2
102.5
103.7

68.9
72.6
59.6
63.0
70.6

June

Year

H
y,

PERCENT. CHANGE TO JANUARY 1955 FROM:
November
1951*

January
1951*

0.3

- 0.8

12.3

92.1*

o.5

- 2.2

10.0

13U.8

0.6
0.2
1.1
0.2
0.9
2.1

- 2.8
1.8
- 7.1
- 3.0
- 0.2
- 1.9

8.9
20.2
- 3.5
15.3
7.9
18.3

132.3
115.7
11*6.2
113.7
138.9
130.0

- 0.1

0.1

0.7

ll*.0

57.2

0.1
0.3
0.5
- 0.8
0

-

0.2
0.6
1.5
0.8
0.1

1.3
2.1
0.3
- 2.1*
0.1*

19.1
6.5
17.2
7.1*
18.2

1*9.5
1*.3
123.6
95.9
72.1

-

1.2

- 1.5

7.0

96.8

0.9
1.1*
0.2
0.7

_ 0.9
1.9
0.3
0.8

- 1.8
- 2.2
0.1*
0.1

7.5
1*.6
11*.3
2.1*

V
V
V

0.2
0.2
0.1
0.3
0

0
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.1

- 2.2
2.3
0
- 1.7
- 0.3

16.1
20.0
11*.6
1*.3
15.6

85.2
71*.2
90.8
69.7
69.8

December
1951*
0

-

0.2

-

0.2
0.1
0.2
- 0.1*
2.0
- 0.6

- 1.0
-

OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES
1/
2/

k/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1950

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




1939

4/

k

TAB IE 2.

CONSUMER TRICE INDEX ~ ALL ITEMS INDEXES FOR SEIECTED DATES
U.S. CITY AVERAGE AHD 20 IARGE CITIES

(1935-39=100)

( 1 9 ^ 7 . ^ 9 ^ 1 0 0 )
City
January
1955

December
1951A

January
1954

June
1950

Year
1939

January
1955
1/

U.S. CITY AVERAGE

llli.3

llli.3

115.2

101.8

59A

191.1

117.0
116.0
115. U
112.3
115.4

117.0
116.2
115.3
112.2
115.6

116.7
117.0
116.8
113.0
115.3

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.K
60.1
59.2

199.3
195.8
192.8
185.9
192.0

CITIES PRICED MONTHLY:
Chicago
Detroit

••••••

New York
Philadelphia
CITIES PRICED IN JANUART, APRIL,
JULY, OCTOBER 2/

January
1955

October
195U

January
195k

April
1950

Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg

113.0
115.3
116.5
113.8
llli.6

113.5
115.7
116.9
111*. 3
115.2

112.7
115.0
116.6
llk.h
115.1+

101.2
101.li
102.1
99.9
101.5

CITIES PRICED IN MARCH, JUNE,
SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER 2/

December
1951i

September
195k

115.7
iia.8
113.3
ll5.lt
115.7

116.3
115.2
llli.3
115.7
116.2

Boston

.

Atlanta . .
Cincinnati
St, Louis • • • • • • • • • • • • •
San Francisco
. . . . .
CITIES PRICED IN FEBRUARY, MAY,
AUGUST, NOVEMBER 2/

November
1951i

Cleveland
Scranton
Seattle

. .

August
19511
115.3
116.5
112 .It
116.2
Uli.l

115.3
116.7
112.3
115.7
113.5

December
1953
117.1
111*.5
llli.6
116.9
116.9
November
1953
115.5
117.3
113.1*
116. h
llli.3

January
1955
61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

3/

181.9
185.6
192.9
193.5
198.5

June
1950

December
195ii

101.3 li/
101.6 ~
101.2
101.1
100.9

196.2
197.3
190.8
192.6
197.7

58.3
57.9
58.U
59.3
58.6

May
1950

November
195L

lOO.li
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.U

196.5
197.6
186.6
197.7
186.li

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

TABLE 3. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — PERCENT CHANGES FROM DECEMBER 195U TO JANUARY 1955
U.S. City Average and Five Cities Priced Monthly
All Items and Commodity Groups

City

U.S. CITY AVERAGE

Nev York




Housing

Apparel

All
Items

Food

0

0.2

- 0.1

- 1.0

0.5
- 0.3
0.5
o.5
0.1

- 0.3
- 0.2
0.2
0.3
- 0.5

- 2.0
0.2
- 1.0
- 1.1*
- 0.3

0
- 0.2
0.1
0.1
- 0.2

Transportation

Medical
Care

Personal
Care

Reading
and
Recreation

Other
Goods &
Services

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.3

0

0.5
0.3
0.1
0.5
0.3

1.0
0.1
- 0.1
0.1
- 0.1

0.3
0.1
o.U
0.1
- 0.1

1.0
0
- 0.1
0.1
0.3

-

- 0.1
0
0
0.1
- 0.1

5

TABLE k. CONSUMER HIICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
January 1955 Indexes and Percent Changes, October 195U t o January 1955
U.S. City Average and 10 Cities Priced in January 1955

U.S.
CITY
Kansas Los
Minnea- New
AVERAGE Boston Chicago Detroit City
Angeles polis
York

Group

January 1955 Indexes (19U7-U9 -

Phila- Pitts- Portlan
delphia burgh Oreg.

100)

ALL ITEMS

11U.3

113.0

117.0

116.0

115.3

115.1*

116.5

112.3

115.1*

113.8

Ill* . 6

FOOD

110.6

108.2

108.7

112.7

106.9

111.2

110.2

110.6

112.7

111.0

109.5

111.5

108.8
121*.5
10l*.0

111.3
111.9

110.1
121*. 3
98.5
110.0
107.3
120.1*

113.9

116.8

119.1*

Cereals and bakery products
Dairy products

•

...

Household operation

• • • • • • • • • •

Men's and boys'

TRANSPORTATION

READING AND RECREATION

. . . .

1C9.1*
125.7
97.1*
102.7
115.0
119.0

122.1

120.7

125.1*

121.3

116.1*

105.5
108.1

11*0.0
110.9
116.5
103.6
119.2

117.8
108.3
130.7
105.8
119.1

102.3
126.9
106.5
111*. 7

118.8
118.8
103.9
120.0

129.6
107.8
128.0
105.1*
111.7

102.7

103.7

10l*.7

102.2

105.5

102.1

106.0

108.3
95.1
112.7
86.7

106.1
97.0
111* . 2
87.0

106.9
97.1*
118.5
82.9

108.3
99.3
113.8
92.2

105.1*
95.1*
115.9
93.3

10l*.7
10U.1

103.2
96.0

92.8

97.8

110.1*
97.8
120.6
9l*.6

122.3
127.7
119.2
108.6
121*. 7

125.8
136.0
116.5
115.2
117.1

126.3
122.8
117.6
96.8
111*. 3

121.6
11*3.3
115.9
115.7
125.5

130.1
121*. 7
108.1*
101*. 3
121.1

137.5
133.6
117.5
113.3
123.8

138.0
126.5
116.9
99.1
120.1*

123.7
125.2
110.6
115.5
118.6

- 0.3

- 0.3

- 0.6

- o.U

- 0.5

106.5
119.1
99.6
109.9
105.0
103.9

107.1
116.9
97.8
105.3
109.3
116.7

111.1*
119.6
101.0
106.1;

119.6

120.0

128.1

129.5
109.k
126.1
10U.6
117.7

122.8
111.7
128.1
10U.3
116.7

106.2
126.2
106.1
121.1

109.1
119.9
107.1*
110.2

117.9
113.2

103.5
122.5

103.3

101.7

IOU.1

102.6

105.5
97.6
116.7
90.5

103.9
95.6
112.8
103.2

110.3
91.5
120.1
92.6

127.6
126.5
113.7
106.9
119.9

133.8
12U.5
112.3
107.k
118.1*

133.8
127.U
115.5
111.8
118.1

121.5

113.6

120.8

106.5
109.5

lll.l*

102.5
110.5
109.3

115.5

October 195U to January 1955

- 0.3

0.5

- 1.0

- 1.5

- 0.7

-

l.U

- 0.6

- 1.6

- 1.8

- 1.9

- 1.6
0.3
- 0.5
- 0.2
- 1.6
- 1*.7

- 1.0
1.1*
- 2.0
2.6
1.8
- 5.5

- 2.1
0.1*
- 2.1
- 0.1
- 3.3
- U.l

- 0.8
0.7
- 3.8
0.5
5.U
- 3.6

- 1.8
0.6
- 1.6
0.1
- 0.9
- 5.3

- 1.1
1.5
0.7
- 1.2
- 2.6
- 3.7

- 1.8
0.2
1.9
- 1.7
- 5.9
• u.u

- 2.2
- 0.1
- 1.9
0.1
- 3.6
- U.6

- 2.1
0.1
- 3.6
- 2.7
3.U
- U.6

0.3

- 0.1

- 0.2

0.1

0.9

- 0.7

0.U

- 0.3

- 0.2

- 0.6

0.1*
0.8
1.9
0.9
0.1

1/0.7
~ 3.0
2.8
- 0.5
0

- 0.1
2.6
- 2.1
0

0.3
o.5
- 1.3
0

- 0.1
1.0
- 1.0
0

3.7
l.U
0

1/0.1
~ 0.8
2.3
- 2.8
- 1.6

1/0.9
~ 0.1
U.l
0.3
0.2

0
5.8
- 2.7
0.8

0
- 0.8
- 1.1
0

1/0.3
~ 0
0
- 2.U
- 0.3

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 1.2

- 2.1*

- 2.3

- 0.1

- 1.8

- 1.0

- 1.2

- 1.8

- 0.8

- 1.5

-

- 0.8
- 2.0
0

0.1
- U.6
0
1.6

- 0.9
- U.6
0.3
- 1.1

- 0.2
- 0.2
0.3
- 0.9

- 0.9
- 3.1
0
- 1.1

- 1.5
- l.U
- 0.3
0.2

-

0.2
2.6
0.1
0.6

0.1
- 3.9
o.U
- 1.2

- 0.1
- 1.5
0.3
- 0.5

-

2.9
0.5
2.U
0.9

- 0.7
- 2.6
0
- 0.8

2.1
0.5
0.3
0
- 0.2

0.8
0.2
0.1*
2.1
- 0.1

1*.7
1.0
0.1*
1.2
- 0.1

3.6
0.7
0.1
- 0.5
0

1.5
0
- 0.1
0
- 0.2

u.6
- 0.1
0.1
- 2.5
0.3

2.7
0.9
0
- 0.8
- 0.1

0.2
o.5
0.7
- 0.6
- 0.2

0.1
1.0
0.3
- o.U
- 0.1

2.8
0.3
0.3
0.8
- 0.1

1.7
2.0
0.1
- 0.5
- 0.1

- 0.2

- 0.1*

- 0.1

- 1.1

- 1.8

- 1.2

1.1*
0.6
1.1*
0.3
0.5
3.8

- 2.2
0.1
- 1.1
- 0.1
- U.6
- 1*.6

0.1

Food at home
• • • . • • • « . . . . . Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and fish
. Dairy products
Other foods at home
-

Rent
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gas and electricity • • • • •
Solid fuels and fuel oil
• • • • • •
Housefurnishings . . .
. -

Women'8 and girls'

READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

l/

109.1*
127.7
101.8
103.6
112.6
109.2

109.U
123.k
102.1*
106. k
110.6
111.3

Percent Change —

APPAREL

112.1

105.2
120.7
97.5
108.1*
102.7
10l*.7

109.6
127.3
10l*.8
106.1
106.0
112.3

Change from July 195k to January 1955.




0

-

l.U

6

TABLE 5- CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — FOOD AND ITS SUBGROUPS
January 1955 Indexes and Percent Changes, December 1954 to January 1955
U. S. City Average and 20 Large Cities

(19^7-^9 _ ioo)
Total Food
City
Index

U.S. CITY AVERAGE
Atlanta
Baltimore . . . .
Boston . • • • •
Chicago . . . . .
Cincinnati • • •
Cleveland • • • •
Detroit
Houston . . • . .
Kansas City . . .
Los Angeles . . .
Minneapolis • • •
Hew York • . • •
Philadelphia . .
Pittsburgh • • •
Portland, Ore. •
St. Louis . • • .
San Francisco • •
Scranton . . . .
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

•

•

•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•

«
•
•
•

110.6
110.2
111.6
108.2
108.7
111.7
109.0
112.7
109.4
106.9
111.2
110.2
110.6
112.7
111.0
109.5
112.2
112.3
108.3
111.2
111.0

Percent
Change

0.2
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.5
0.3
0.1
0.3
0.4
0.2
0.5

108.5
110.2
106.5
107.1
110.8
107.8
111.4
108.4
105.2
109.4

0.3
0.5
0.1
0.2
- 0.2
- 0.1
0.4
0.2
0.4
1.2

109.4
109.6
111.5
110.1
108.8
110.0
111.2
108.0
110.9
109.8

-

Cereals &
Bakery Products
Percent
Index
Change

Meats, Poultry
& Fish
Percent
Index
Change

Dairy
Products
Percent
Index
Change

Fruits it
Vegetables
Percent
Index
Change

Other
Foods at Hone
Percent
Index
Change

0.2
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.1
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.7

123.4
117.6
122.0
119.1
116.9
124.9
120.4
119.6
118.5
120.7
127.7

102.4
105.8
104.6
99.6
97.8
103.7
99.9
101.0
97.6
97.5
101.8

0.2

106.4

0.5
- 0.2
0
0.2
0.2
- 0.1
- 0.2
0.3
0.3
0.2

-

0.9
0.2
0.4
0.3
0.6
0
1.2
1.1
0.4
0.2

108.3
108.9
109.9
105.3
110.5
103.2
106.4
108.6
108.4
103.6

- 0.4
0
- 0.2
- 1.3
- 0.2
- 0.7
- 0.3
- 0.1
- 0.1
- 0.1
0.3

110.6
112.4
108.0
105.0
109.3
107.2
105.2
121.5
113.1
102.7
112.6

2.0
2.1
2.4
- 1.1
2.0
1.2
1.3
1.8
0.1
- 1.2
5.2

111.3
103.2
111.6
103.9
116.7
116.5
115.9
112.1
111.8
104.7
IO9.2

0.3
0.6
0.2
o.l
0
- o.l
0.5
0.2
0.4
1.6

125.7
127.3
120.8
124.3
124.5
118.7
130.5
119.1
127.4
122.5

0.2
0
0.1
- 0.2
0.1
- 0.1
0.2
0.4
0
1.4

97.4
104.8
106.5
98.5
104.0
102.2
106.0
101.8
102.5
101.4

- 0.4
1.4
1.9
- 0.2
0.3
- 0.1
0.1
- 0.5
- 0.2
3.3

102.7
106.1
109.5
110.0
102.5
98.3
104.8
108.0
105.9
111.1

- 0.2
- 0.8
- 2.7
0
0
0.1
0.1
- 0.3
0
0.3

115.0
106.0
111.3
107.3
110.5
117.0
114.1
104.5
118.2
108.1

0.6
2.3
1.0
1.7
1.3
1.1
3.4
2.5
2.8
2.9

119.0
112.3
111.9
120.4
109.3
H9.3
109.6
109.7
109.9
111.3

Total
Food at Home
Percent
Index
Change

109.4

-

0.1

-

- 0.6
- 1.8
- 0.9
0.2
o.l
- 0.8
- 0.2
- 0.9
- 0.4
- 0.9
- 1.2
1.3
0.5
0.4
0.4
1.0
1.1
0.6
0.1
0
- 0.5

-

TABLE 6. RETAIL FOOD PRICES FOR JANUARY 1955 AND DECEMBER 1954
U.S. City Average
Food and Unit
CEREALS AND BAKERY PRODUCTS:
Flour, wheat
5 lb.
Biscuit mix
20 oz.
Corn meal
lb.
Rice
lb.
Rolled oats
20 oz.
Corn flakes
12 oz.
Bread, white
lb.
Soda crackers
lb.
Vanilla cookies
7 oz.
MEATS, POULTRY AND FISH:
lb.
Round steak
lb.
Chuck roast
lb.
Rib roast
lb.
Hamburger
lb.
Veal cutlets
lb.
Pork chops, center cut
lb.
Bacon, sliced
lb.
Bam, whole
lb.
Lamb, leg
lb.
Frankfurters
12 oz.
Luncheon meat, cannfed
lb.
Frying chickens, dressed
lb.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook
lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
16 oz.
Salmon, pink, canned
7 oz.
Tuna fish, canned
DAIRY PRODUCTS:
qt.
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
pt.
Ice cream
lb.
Butter
lb.
Cheese, American process
Milk, evaporated
i* i oz. can
FRUITS AND VEGETABIES:
Frozen
Strawberries
10 oz.
6 oz.
Orange juice concentrate
10 oz.
Peas, green
10 oz.
Beans, green
Fresh
lb.
Apples
lb.
Bananas
doz.
Oranges, size 200
lb.
Lemons

January
1955

December
1954

(Cents)
54.1
27.4
12.6
17.6
18.7
22.0
17.6
27.2
23.8

(Cents)
54.0
27.4
12.6
17.6
18.6
22.0
17.6
27.2
23.8

92.8
52.6
73.2
40.1
109.4
75.7
70.6
62.8
68.6
53.8
48.1
42.8
51.6
43.5
48.0
53.9
38.2

92.3
52.7
72.1
40.0
107.9
77.2
71.3
64.1
68.9
54.1
48.7
39.9
49.6
43.7
48.3
53.8
38.3

22.2
23.2
29.2
71.6
5608
13.7

22.3
23.4
29.2
72.2
56.8
13.T

30.6
18.3
19.5
24„3

30.7
180 5
19.4
24.2

-13.7
16.7
45.5
18.7

13.5
16.8
48,2
18.5

Food and Unit

Fresh (continued)
(Cents)
Grapefruit *
each
9.8
Peaches *
lb.
Strawberries *
pt.
Grapes, seedless *
lb.
Watermelons *
lb.
Potatoes
10 lb. 1/ 52.6
Sweetpotatoes
lb. ~ 13.4
Onions
lb.
7.8
Carrots
lb.
14.2
Lettuce
head
17.4
lb.
14.4
Celery
lb.
Cabbage
9.0
lb.
29.8
Tomatoes
lb.
28.3
Beans, green
Canned
46 oz. can
Orange juice
34.3
Peaches
#2 £ can
33.1
Pineapple
#2 4 can
38.9
40.8
Fruit cocktail
#2 h can
Corn, cream style
17.4
#303 can
Peas, green
#303 can
21.5
Tomatoes
#303 can
14.9
Baby foods
4 4-5 oz.
9.7
Dried
lb.
Prunes
32.2
lb.
Navy beans
18.4
OTHER FOODS AT HOME:
11
oz.
can
Vegetable soup
14.2
16 oz. can
Beans with pork
14.7
7 4 oz.
Gherkins, sweet
28.4
14 0>z.
Catsup, tomato
22.3
lb.
Coffee
105.8
i
lb.
Tea
37.1
Cola drink
carton of 6, 6 oz.
32.5
lb.
Shortening, hydrogenated
35.3
lb.
Margarine, colored
29.4
lb.
Lard
23.1
pt.
Salad dressing
35.5
lb
Peanut butter
51.1
5 lb.
Sugar
52.3
24 oz.
Corn syrup
23.7
12 oz.
Grape jelly
25.9
7/8 oz. 2/ 4.6
Chocolate bar
doz.
51.6
Eggs, Grade A, large
3-4 oz.
8.6
Gelatin, flavored

* Priced only in season
l/ Formerly published 15 lbs., comparable price for December for 10 lbs. is 51*5•
2/ Formerly published 1 oz., comparable price for December for 7/8 oz. bar is 4.6.




January
1955

December
1954
(Cents)

78.1
12.4
7.7
14.2
14.4
13.5
7.8
29.1
21.8
35.2
32.9
38.7
41.0
17.5
21.4
14.8
9.7
32.1
18.2
14.3
14.5
29.2
22.3
105.3
36.1
32.2
35.4
29.3
24.5
35.6
50.4
52.3
23.7
25.9
5.3
53.6
8.5

BRIEF EXPLANATION 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 19V7-49 = 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 300 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 are collected in k6 cities which are representative of all cities
in the United States.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items are priced every 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 are included in the U.S. average:
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W. Virginia
Evansvllle, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N. Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Huntington, W. Virginia
Laconla, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Iynchburg, 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
Youngstovn, 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 Layman's G u i d e f o r 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 lxidex numbers for the U.S. city average and SO individual
large cities are available upon request. These series Include Index numbers for All Items,
Food, Apparel, and Bent for periods from 1913 to dates and for other groups of goods and
services from 19^7 to date.







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