Full text of CPI Detailed Report : January 1956

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Issued February 2k$ 1956
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D # C*
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JANUARY 1956
Consumer prices in United States cities declined 0*1 percent
between December 1955 and January 1956, according to the U*S* Department of Labor!s
Bureau of Labor Statistics* Although lower prices for housefurnishings (down 1*1; percent) and food (down 0.3 percent) were the principal cause of the decrease, prices of
apparel and transportation also declined (0.6 and 0*1+ percent, respectively). Prices
were higher for all other major categories of family spending*
The Consumer Price Index for January was III4.6 percent of the
19U7-U9 average, 0.3 percent higher than a year ago®
FOOD

The retail food price index was 109*2, 1.3 percent lower than a
year ago, and 0.3 percent below the December 1955 level* This is
the fourth consecutive monthly decline in food prices. Restaurant meal prices, which
had been moving up steadily since June 1955, were slightly lower than in December.
Lower prices for pork, beef, eggs, fresh milk, fats and oils,
and coffee, all contributed to the decline, but substantial increases for fresh vegetables offset most of these reductions.
Prices of meats, poultry, and fish decreased as a group for the
fourth consecutive month, but the rate of decrease — l*h percent — was considerably
smaller than in the previous months* Costs of pork products dropped 3 percent in response
to plentiful supplies, with pork chop prices down by 3 percent and bacon prices dropping
U*3 percent, with reduced prices in all U6 cities surveyed. All other meats, except
veal cutlets, also were lower. However, frying chicken prices averaged 0*6 percent
higher; most changes were moderate, with the largest increases reported in the central
part of the country and the largest decreases in the far west.
The 1.9 percent drop in egg prices over the month was partly
seasonal and partly a reaction to the unusual increase between November and December*
The dairy products index dropped O.U percent, primarily because of a seasonal adjustment
in fresh milk prices in some cities. Heavy hog slaughtering led to a 3#1 percent
decline in lard prices, and margarine prices dropped 1*6 percent* Coffee prices
averaged 0*6 percent lower than in December*
The 6 percent increase in fresh vegetable prices represented both
the usual seasonal pattern and the damage to Florida crops of fresh tomatoes and green
beans caused by freezing weather in early January* Green bean prices jumped 1|3«7 percent over the month, and fresh tomatoes were up 21*3 percent* White potato prices rose
8*U percent* On the other hand, lettuce prices averaged 19*7 percent lower, and there
were substantial drops in prices of celery and carrots, down 7«9 and 6*8 percent,
respectively* Fresh fruit prices were slightly lower on the average (0.3 percent), as
prices of oranges dropped 5#9 percent and grapefruit prices also declined. Apple prices
rose 5 percent over the month and banana prices were almost 3 percent higher.
HOUSING

Housing costs declined 0*2 percent between December and January,
led by the fall of 1*U percent in prices "of housefurnishings•
Widespread "white sale" prices for sheets, towels, and blankets, as well as reduced
prices of most electrical appliances were the principal factors in this decrease* Prices
of other housing components advanced during the month, as costs of household operation
rose O.h percent, reflecting further advances in charges for dry cleaning, laundry, and
telephone services. The solid fuels and fuel oil group rose 1*2 percent between December




2

and January. Residential rents continued upward, with a rise of 0#2 percent, influenced
by decontrol in one large city and minor increases in several cities* Gas bills were
higher in a number of cities•
OTHER COMMODITIES
AMD SERVICES

Apparel prices declined 0*6 percent between December and January
as end-of-season sale prices were reported for womenfs and girls1
wool coats, women's wool dresses anci rayon suits, and girls1 wool
skirts and sweaters• Some sale prices were also reporte for men's wool suits® Prices
of women's rayon dresses also declined during the mentis However, footwear prices
continued to advance and in January were 3»2 percent
than a year ago*

The decline of 0 # U percent in transportation costs reflected
larger concessions by dealers for new cars, continued declines in prices of used cars,
and some reductions in charges for auto repair services# Higher transit fares were
reported in a few cities# Reading and recreation costs rose 0*5 percent during the
month as prices of toys and television sets advanced* The medical care index edged up
0 i . percent and the personal care group rose 0 f percent between December and January*
#j
#>
Widespread increases were reported for toothpaste and face cream* The rise of 0*2
percent for the other goods and services category was mainly the result of higher taxes
on cigarettes in a few cities•
ANNUAL AVERAGE
INDEXES

The following table presents a comparison of annual average
indexes for 19&, 19$h, and 1950 for the average of United States
cities combined® Annual average indexes for the 20 large cities
for which the Consumer Price Index is published will be available upon request later
in the year*
Indexes
s
:
Change
: Percent <
(19U7-U9 - 100)
:
i i 9 5 T t ~ r 1950 to
Group
:
: 1955
1950 :
195U
1955 v
lll.5

11U.8

102.8

- 0.3

li.u

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

110,9
109.7
123.9
101.6
105.9
113.5
111,5

112.6
111.9
121.9
108.0
106.1
111.9
11)4.8

101.2
101.2

- 1.5
- 2.0
1.6
- 5.9
- .2

9.6
8.U
18.6
- 3.1

Housing — - —
Gas and electricity — — - — - —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
—
Household operation — — — —

120.0
130.3
110.7
125.2
10U.1
119.1

119.1
128.5
107.9
123.5
106.1
117.li

106.1
108.8
102.7
100.3
101.2

- 1.9

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

103.7
105.7
98.0
117.7
90.6

10U.3
106.8
98.9
116.ii
90.7

98.1
99.5
9U.8
lOluO
92.0

- .6
- 1.0
- .9
1.1
- .1

13.2
- 1.5

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

126. U
128.0
115.3
106.6
120.2

128.0
125.2
113.li
107.0
120.1

111.3
106,0
101.1
103.1;
105.2

- 1.2
2.2

13.6
20.8

All items




— —

iolt.5

10U.9
95.9
97.6
101.2

l.U

- 2.9
.8
l.U

2.6

110.5

l.U

l.U

1.7

-

.4
.1

10.U

16.3
10.2
13.1
19.8
7.8
13.3
3.8
17.7
5.7
6.2
3.U

1U.0

3.J1U.3

TABLE 1.

CONSUMER 'PRICE INDEX — U.S. C O T AVERAGE ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Bates

January
1956

December
1955

This Month

Last Month

November
1955

January
1955

3

Group
2 Months Ago

Last Year

Year
1939

June
1950
Pre-Korea

PreWorld War II

INDEXES (19V7-49 = 1 0 0 )
111.6

Other foods at home

Solid fuels and fuel oil

APPAREL

. . «,

. . ..

MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE „ .
«•
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES 3/ . . . «

114.3

101.3

59.4

109.5

109.8

110.6

100.5

47.1

10?.5
123.9
93.3
107.3
112,6
112.8

107.9
123.9
94.6
107.7
110.7
U3.7

108.2
123.9
97.1
107.8
109.0
113.1

109.4
123.1*
102.li
106.1*
110.6
111.3

100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
94.1

47.1
57-2
41.6
49.8
46.3
48k 4

120.8

120.9

119.6

104.9

|

i

76.1

131.4
111.7
129.5
102.0
121.2

131.1
111.5

130.9
111.5
126.7
104.5

108.7
102.7
107.6
97.4
99.6

I
!

104.9

120.5

129.5
109.U
126.1
104.6
117.7

104.1

104.7

104.7

103.3

96.5

106.0
97.9
120.4
90.7

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

115.0

120.6

FOOD l/ . . .

114.7

109.2

ALL ITEMS

106.1
99.1
119.8
91.1

106.0
99.3
119.2
91.0

105.5
97.6
116.7
90.5

98.1
93o
102.1
88.4

V
V
1/

126.8
130.7
118.5
107.3
120.8

127.3
130.2
117.9
106.8
120.6

128.5
129.8
117.5
106.8
120.6

127.6
126.5
113.7
106.9
119.9

109.9
105.4
99.2
102.5
103.7

68.9
72.6
59.6
63.0
70.6

June
1950

Year
1939

128.0
103. 4
120.7

86.6

56.4

53.4
68.4
52.5
4/

PERCENT CHANGE TO JANUARY 1956 FROM*
December

November

January

1955

1955

1955

-

oa

- 0.3

0.3

12.6

92.9

-

0.3

- 0.5

- 1.3

8.7

131.8

0.4

LL ITEMS

- 0.6

- 1.7
0.4
- 8.9
0.8
1.8

7.0
20.6

16.3

128.2
116.6
124.3
115.5

1.3

9.9
19.9

133.1

0.8

15.0

58.5

20.9
20.4

51.7
6.5
129.6

-

0
1.4

0.4

1.7

•

0.8

0
- 3.9
- 0.5
3.3

- 0.3

- 12a

1U3.2

0.2

•

-

- 0.2

0.2
0.2
1.2

HOUSING 2/

0.4

0.2
2.2

1.5
2.1
2.7

1.4
0.4

- 2.4

0.6

- 2.5
3.0

21.7

77.2

0.6

- 0.6

0.8

7.9

98.3

oa

0.5

8.1

1.0

0.3
3.2

4.9

0.2

17.9
2.6

- 1.3

- 0.6

15.4

3.3

24.0

4.2

19.5

0.4
o,9

4.7

-

1.2

0
- 1.4

-

0.4

- 0.3

-

0.5

TRANSPORTATION
PERSONAL CARE ,
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES jJ
Ij
2/
3/
4/

. . . .

1 . . .
. . . , .j

•

0.4
0,4
0.5
0.5

0.2

0.7

0.9

0.5
0.2

8.8

4.7

16. «
>

Includes restaurant meals not shown "t pe ~r > oly ,
Includes home purchase and other nyne-.r^ncr
not shown separately.
Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, n.ia
.laneous services" (such as legal services, banking fees,
burial services, etc*)*
Not available.




91.0

W
w
W

84.0
80.0

98.8
70.3

71.1

k

TABLE 2.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS INDEXES FOR SELECTED DATES
U.S. CITY AVERAGE AND 20 LARGE CITIES

(1935-39=100)

( 1 9 ^ 7 - ^ 9 ^ 1 0 0 )
City
January

June

Year

1950

January

1955

1939

1956

llli.6

11U.7

111; .3

101.8

59.U

191.6

118.5
116.7
116.3
112.0
11U.8

117.0
116.0
115.1;
112.3
115.U

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.U
60.1
59.2

201.1
196.3
193.8
185.5
190.7

January

October

January

April

1956

1955

1955

1114.6
115.5
116.1
113.6
116.3

. .

January

1955

118.1
116.3
116.0
112.1
11U.6

U.S. CITY AVERAGE

December

1956

lib.5
116.2
116.1*
113.8
116.2

113.0
115.3
116.5
113.8
llli.6

September

December

1/

CITIES IEICED MONTHLY:

New York

CITIES PRICED IN JANUARY, APRIL,
JULY, OCTOBER 2 /

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

December

January

1950

1956

101.2
101.U
3/ 1 0 2 . 1
~
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

18U.5
186.0
192.3
193.1
201.lt

June

December

1950

1955

1955

117.2
115.5
113.7
116.5
115.6

115.7
11U.8
113.3
115.U
115.7

November

August

November

May

November

1955

1955

195U

1950

1955

116.2
116.7
110.9
117.U
113.7

l/
2/
5/
%J

195k

117.1
115.8
11U.2
116.1
115.9
CITIES PRICED IN FEBRUARY, MAY,
AUGUST, NOVEMBER 2 /

1955

116.0
115.5
111.5
116.6
113.8

115.3
116.7
112.3
115.7
113.5

100.U
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

U/ 1 0 1 . 3
~ 101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

198.6
199.1
192.3
193.8
198.1

58.3
57.9
58.1*
59.3
58.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.U

198.0
197.6
18U.3
200.6
186.7

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

TABLE 3.

City

U.S. CITY AVERAGE
Chicago . .
Detroit . . .
Los Angeles
New York . . . . . . . .
Philadelphia . . . . . .




CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — PERCENT CHANGES FROM DECEMBER 1955 TO JANUARY 1956
U.S. City Average and Five Cities Priced Monthly
All Items and Commodity Groups

All
Items

Food

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
Care

Personal
Care

Reading
and
Recreation

Other
Goods 8c
Services

- 0.1

- 0.3

- 0.2

- 0.6

- o.U

o.U

0.5

0.5

0.2

- 0.3
- 0.3
- 0.3
0.1
- 0.2

- 1.0
- 0.8
- 0.5
o.L.
- 0.1

- 0.2
- 0.2
- 0.3
0
- 0.1

-

0
0.2
0.2
1.3
2.6

- o.U
- 0.5
- 0.7
0.7

0.8
0.1
1.0
0.2

0.3
o.U
0.6
0.2
0.5

0.3
0.5
0.2

0
- 0.1
0
0
0

1.1

0

0.7

0.9

5

TAB IE 4. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
January 1956 Indexes and Percent Changes, October 1955 to January 1956
U.S. City Average and 10 Cities Priced in T«*nuary 1956

U.S.
Kansas
Los
MinneaBoston Chicago Detroit City Angeles polis
CITY
AVERAGE
January 1956

Nev
York

Phila- Pittsdelphia burgh

Indexes (1947-49 • 100)

114.6

116.3

115.5

116.0

116.1

112.1

114.6

113.6

116.3

108.4

IO6.5

110.6

104.9

111.5

111.2

109.1

110.5

109.4

110.2

107.5
123.9
93.3
107.3

105.8
122.1
93.8
108.9
106.6
106.8

104.4

108.8
119.1
91.5

102.9
120.3

128.0

108.3

109.0

IO8.3

123.1
95.0

124.9

108.9
124.6

113.9

105.3

94.6
102.7
114.3
112.7

110.4
125.4
91.1
110.7
120.9
121.8

107.3
128.7

112.8
120.6

123.4

131.0

122.3

121.8

126.3

120.5

116.6

114.5
123.8

124.9

116.2

144.1
124.8

119.0

107.1
131.5
106.2
118.9

113.6
134.8

102.0
121.2

125.1

114.7

125.7

125.1

122.2

104.1

101.2

108.0

101.6

103.6

104.2

106.0
97.9
120.4
90.7

. . . . . .

118.1

109.2

Dairy products

114.6

101.1

112.4
99.3
125.6
94.8

108.7
91.5

130.8
135.0
122.3
115.0
117.5

124.6
137.4
127.2

112.6

131.4
111.7
129.5

PERSONAL CARE
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

. .

126.8
130.7
118.5
107.3
120.8

118.9
87.0
107.6
108.6
118.4

86.9
105.1 107.5
123.6 IO8.3

112.4

109.5
109.9
121.9

93.4
108.6
115.4
113.4

113.9

117.3

121.0

110.1

101.8

132.7
120.7

127.9
104.2
117.4

125.0
119.4

105.4

102.9

107.5
97.3
121.8
82.5

107.1
100.9

125.4
126.4

113.8
148.9
123.1

129.2

95.7
114.8

102.6
135.9
128.4

121.1

107.1
118.9

102.0

116.6
106.5 102.2

116.0
86.9

109.0
123.9

106.6
97.2
118.4
87.5
124.9
136.5
122.5
115.2

118.8

99.8

116.0
92.5

96.4 118.1
116.2 126.1

121.1

Percent Change —

101.1

121.0

Food at home

• • • • • • • . . . . . . - 1.7
0
Meats, poultry and fish
- 7.5
Dairy products
- 0.2
3.8
Other foods at home
- 1.0

- 0.2

- 0.8

- 0.2

- 0.6

- 0.3

- 0.3

- 1.4

- 2.4

- 1.9 - 2.1

- 0.8

- 1.0

- 2.0

- 2.6
0.1
- 8.7
1.3
0

- 2.2
- 0.1

- 1.0 - 1.0

0
- 4.4
- 4.6
2.7
- 1.3

- 1.1

- 2.3
- 0.3
- 9.6

1/4.1
- 4.5
4.0
0.9
0.9

3.0
2.4
- 5.2
0.9

0.4
3.2
- 1.3

2.4
0.4

- 1.6

1.7

- 0.3

0.2

READING AND RECREATION

1/

Change from July 1955 to January 1956*




1.6
1.3
0.6

0.2

- 1.9

0.2

- 2.2
1.0
- 1.0

- 0.9
1.9
0

0
1.7
5.9
0.5
0.3

- 1.2
4.9

0.5
0.4

- 0.3

102.7
99.4
114.2
90.7

104.5
96.1

98.2

110.3
102.7
124.4
95.9

130.4

135.8
136.2
125.0
113.3
125.2

133.5
131.6
116.8
100.3
121.9

124.9
128.9
119.1
119.1
120.5

126.7
111.4
104.7

121.0

0.2

0

0.5

- 2.8
0.1

0.3

- 1.1

- 0.4

1.3
- 1.5
2.4

- 0.7
- 2.3
1.6

1.7
3.5
0.4
- 0.3
- 0.4

0.6

0.1

101.9

118.9

- 0.3

- 0.6

- 0.2

0.1

- 1.3

- 2.0

- 1.5

- 1.5

- 0.4
- 5.5

- 1.7
0
- 5.2

- 2.3
0.1
1.0
- 1.2

- 1.8 - 0.1
- 8.9 0.1
6.3
- 1.2 -

- 0.8

0.8
1.3
0

1/0
0
0

1.7

- 2.0
1.1

0
5.7
- 1.4
3.0

1.6

0

0

- 1.2

- 2.6

0.8

0.7

- 0.7
- 5.3
1.3
- 1.6

0
0.6
2.8
0.9

- 0.2
0.9
2.3
0.3

3.0
0.5
7.2
1.4
0.1

- 1.5
- 0.2
0.9
2.3
0

- 0.9
0.1
1.0

0.3

- 0.2

0

106.2
95.4
119.7
93.5

- 0.8 - 0.7

- 0.2

- 1.6

108.8

4.9
- 0.7

- 0.5

. . . .

103.0

- 2.0

0.9

Women's and girls'

102.9

- 2.2

5.1

- 0.8

0

120.8

102.6

3.5
- 1.7

0.1

1.3

0.5
0.4
2.5

90.6

130.8
107.8
132.1
104.2
114.1

- 7.0
- 0.3
6.1
- 0.7

- 8.3
- 0.4
4.7

110.1
115.0

October 1955 to January 1956

0.1
- 1.4

96.6

104.6
107.4
113.5

- 0.2

- 0.6

- 0.2

1/1.9
5.1
1.9

0.1

- 2.2

l/l.O

1.1

4.8

- 0.6

- 0.7
1.1
- 0.6

0
- 0.9
2.3
0

0.3
- 3.0
1.5
- 0.6

- 1.7
0
1.0

0.7
1.5
0.3

1.7
0.5
0.7

2.0
0.2
0.7
0.5
- 0.1

0.2

0.2

3.9

0

0.9

- 0.1

- 7.1
- l.l

- 0.2

1.4
0.6
9.0
0.5
7.5

2.1

1.2

- 0.8

2.2

0.1

6

TABLE 5. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — FOOD AND ITS SUBGROUPS
January 1956 Indexes and Percent Changes, December 1955 to January 1956
U. 3. City Average and 20 Large Cities
(1947-49 = 100)
Total
Food at Home
Percent
Index
Change

Total Food
City
Index

Percent
Change

U.S. CITY AVERAGE . .

109.2 - 0.3

Atlanta . . . . . . .
Baltimore
1
Boston . . . . . . . i
Chicago
*
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston . . . . . . . i
Kansas City
Los Angeles . . . . . 1

108.2
110.5
108.4
106.5

- 0.1
0.1

- 0.4

107.5

0

0

104.4
108.6
105.3

107.1

110.6 - 0.8
107.0 - 0.6
104.9
111.5

-

Minneapolis . . . . . < 111.2
New York
. 109.1
Philadelphia . . . . 110.5
Pittsburgh
109.4
Portland, Ore. . . . 110.2
St. Louis • • • • • • 110.2
San Francisco . . . . 112.3
Scranton
. . . . . . 106.2
Seattle . . . . . . . 110.7
Washington, D.C.
. . • 110.4

-

0.8

- 0.5

0.4
0*4

~

0.1

0.1
- 1.7
0

- 0.2
0.3
-

0.8
0.6

0

123 0 9

106.2 - 0.2
0.1
107.9
105.8 - 0.2

- 1.0
110.3 - 0.1

Cereals &
Bakery Products
Percent
Index
Change

117.8
1.3
121.2 - 0.1

Meats, Poultry

Dairy

& Fish
Percent
Index
Change

Products

107.3

- 0.4

112.6

1.7

- 1.7

108.8

0.3
- 0.1
- 4.7
0.5

113.6
112.5

106.6
108.6

0.1
- 0.4
0
0
- 0.3

112.8
107.0
123.6
113.0
108.3
114.3

2.7
4.3
4.4
- 2.1
1.8

- 0.8
- 0.8
IO8.3 - 0.6

0
- 0.5
0.2
- 0.3
0.2
0
0
0

110.4
107.3

125.4
128.7

0
0.1
- 0.1

91.1
96.6
95.0

105.5
102.9

- 0.4
0.4

109.0
108.3

0

123.1

0

124.9
124.6
118.8
130.7
119.3
127.6
121.6

- 1.6
107-8 « 0.1
111.0
- 0.3
0.2
105.3
109.5 - 1.0
0.8
108.5
108.9

-

0.1

0
- 0.2
- 0.1
0.3
- 0.2
0

-

0.9

0.1

- 2.0
- 1.1

- 0.8
- 2.2
-

3.3
l.l
1.5
1.0

- 0.8
- 1.1

90.6 - 2.3

93.4
90.6
100.1

-

3.7

- 1,2
- l.l

90.8 - 2.0

93.9 - 2.1
91.6

- l.l

108.8
108.9
107.6
110.3
105.0
105.1
109.9
107.5

102.7
110.7
104.6

110.1

0.3

- 0.7

115.0

- 2.4
0

108.6

100.9
105.4
107.7
110.8
113.1

120.9
107.4

0

109.5

Index

Percent

Change

- 1.4

122.1
118.9
123.8
118.9
119.1
117.6
120.3
128.0

108.8

Index

Change

Other
Foods at Home

Percent

93.3
95.2
94.8
93.8
87.0
93.1
90.9
91.5
88.9
86.9
94.6

- 1.1
- 0.1
0
- 1.0

Index

Fruits &
Vegetables

Percent

109.9
115.4
121.5
119.1

0.1
0
0.1

108.1

0

- 0.1
0.2

119.3
114.6

Change

112.8

- 0.8

105.5

- 1.3
- 1.1

111.9

106.8

118.4

- 1.1
0.9
5.6

5.3
4.3
- 1.6
2.2

1.1

-

0.9

111.0

- 0.8
- 0.1
- 1.8

2.2 115.8
113.9
0

-

- 0.8

- 0.6
0.9

- 0.3

118.0

105.3

0 . 1

112.7
121.8
113.5
112.4

-

0.6

121.9

-

0.4

- 1.0
- 1.0
- 1.7

113.4
121.2

-

0.6

0.8

111.5

-

0.4

5.8

110.6
110.7
112.9

-

0.5

-

1.1

- 0.7
7.8

- 1.2
...

TABLE 6.

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.
Ham, whole
lb.
Lamb, leg
lb.
Frankfurters
12 oz.
Luncheon meat, canned
lb.
Frying chickens, dressed l/
lb.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook
lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
16 oz.
Salmon, pink, canned
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
1* h oz. can
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES:
Frozen
Strawberries
10 oz, |
6 oz.
Orange juice concentrate
1C o z .
Peas, green
10 oz.
Beans, green
Fresh
lb.
Apples
lb.
•Bananas
doz.
Oranges, size 2 0 0
lb.
Lemons
i




December

January
1956

Food and Unit

* Priced only in season
1/ Discontinued.
2/ Formerly included coffee in bags.

RETAIL FOOD PRICES FOR JANUARY 1956 AND DECEMBER 1955
U.3. City Average

(Cents)
53.4
27.1
12.6
17.4
19.3
22.0
17.8
27.0
23.8

(Cents)
53.5
27.1
12.6
17.3
19.3
22.0
17.8
26.9
23.7

87.1
47.7
68.2
38.8
108.9

85.5
46.7

67.4
38.5
110.4

67.2

65.1
55.0
55.1
64.6

66.2

57.5
55.7

52.2

41.5

52.4
42.0

50.0
42.6
46.6
59.2
34.8

49.7
42.5
46.0
58.7
35.2

22.3

22.4
23.9

23.7
28.8

28.8

71.1
57.7
13.9

71.1
57.7
13.8
i

30.6

|

'•<,0.6

19.0
21.4
23.7

|
!
I

18.9
21.4

23.8

i

13.4

1

16.8

|

12.8
16.4

50.4

;

53^6

19.4

!

19.0

January
1956

Food and Unit,

1955

Fresh (continued)
Grapefruit *
Peaches *
Strawberries *
Grapes, seedless *
Watermelons *
Potatoes
Sweetpotatoes
Onions
Carrots
Lettuce
Celery
Cabbage
Tomatoes
Beans, green
Canned
Orange juice
Peaches
Pineapple
Fruit cocktail
Corn, cream style
Peas, green
Tomatoes
Baby foods
Dried
|
Prunes
Beans
OTHER FOODS AT HOME:
Vegetable soup
Beans with pork
; Pickles, sweet
1 Catsup, tomato
•| Coffee 2/
Tea bags'"
||
Cola drink , carton
! Shortening, hydrogenated
1 Margarine, colored
i Lara
|j Salad dressing
r^'i-ut butter
1
|

i
1

i

1

Sugar
C Ti syrup
G u p jelly
Chocolate bar
A. large
.*
*
flavored

each

December
1955

(Cem.s)
9.9

(Cents)
10.3

51.9
11.9
8.3
15.9
13.7
13.5
9.7
33.4
31.3

47.8
11.4
8.4

lb.
pt.
lb.
lb.

lb.

10

lb.

lb.
lb.
head
lb.
lb.
Ib.
lb.
4 6 oz. can
# 2 h can
#2 can
#303 can
#303 can
#303 can
#303 can
4 4-5 oz.
lb.

lb.
can

11 oz.

16

oz. can

7 i
14 97.
lb can
pkg. of 16
oz.

17.1

17.1
14.6
9.4
27.6
21.8

35.2
35.0

35.3
35.1
33.5
26.6
17.9
21.6
15.2

33.*

9^7

26.6
17.7
21.6
15.3
9.7

35.2
16.7

35.0
17.1

14.1
14.8

14.2

27.3

27.3

22.9
96.2

96.8

14.8

23.O
24.2

lb.

24.3
32.3
88.7
28.2

lb.

19.0

Pt.

35.1

lb

54.5

19.7
35.2
54.9

36 o z .
3 lb.

32*4

88.7
28.5

5

lb.

52.5

52.4

24
12
1

oz.

23.7

23.6

oz.

4.6

doz.

67.7
8.6

26.3

26.3

oz.

3-4 o z .

4.6

69.0
I

8.6

_

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 19^7-^9 28 100, 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 88 100.
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 item®. Prices are collected in k& 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
4 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 m©dium«*sized and small cities which are 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
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

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 Layman1 a Culde^ for sale by the SuperlntendentTof Documents^ United™"
States Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. Price 20 cents.
A more technical description of the Consumer Price Index i s available upon
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of labor, Washington 25, B. C.
Historical series o f index numbers f o r the U.S. city average and 80 i n d i v i d u a l
large cities are available upon request. These series include index numbers f o r A l l Items,
Food, Apparel, and Rent for periods from 1913 t o date; and for other groups o f good® and
services fro® 19^7 to date®