Full text of CPI Detailed Report : January 1957
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Released February 21, 1957
U.S. DEPARTMENT CF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D . C .
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JANUARY 1957
Consumer prices in United States cities rose 0.2 percent
between
1
December 1956 and January 1957, according to the U . S # Department of Labor s Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Lower prices for food and apparel were more than offset by increased
prices for all other major groups of goods and services. This was the fifth consecutive
month in which the Consumer Price Index advanced to a new high level. The January index
was 118.2 percent of the 1947-49 average and 3.1 percent higher than a year ago*
FOOD
August 1952 peak.
The January food index declined fractionally to 112.8 (1947-49=100),
3.3 percent higher than a year ago, but still 3.3 percent below the
An average decrease of 8.1 percent in egg prices reflected increased
supplies in all cities. Prices of fruits and vegetables averaged 0.4 percent lower,
principally because of seasonally reduced prices for oranges (down 3*7 percent), lettuce
(down 11.2 percent), and tomatoes (down 7.4 percent). Prices of frozen, canned, and
dried fruits and vegetables also declined. Partially offsetting these reductions were
price advances of 5.0 percent for potatoes, 15#7 percent for celery, 2.3 percent for
apples, and 12.4 percent for cabbage.
A rise of 1.0 percent in the meats, poultry, and fish group, the
first increase since September 1956, resulted chiefly because of an advance of 3*0
percent in pork prices. Bacon advanced 5.0 percent, pork chops 2.6 percent, and ham
1.2 percent. Beef and lamb prices were lower in January, but most other items in the
group advanced.
The price of bread increased in 16 of the 46 cities surveyed*
HOUSING
Residential rents averaged unchanged over the month and housefurnishings prices declined 0.1 p e r c e m as January white sales of
household textiles more than offset higher prices of floor coverings and new models of
some appliances. All other housing components increased. Coal and fuel oil prices
were higher in most cities surveyed, advancing 2.1 percent on the average, and gas bills
also rose slightly. Higher rates for telephone service were reported and there were
continued increases in the prices of laundry and dry cleaning.
APPAREL
The decrease of 0.6 percent in apparel prices reflected end-of1
season clearance sales of fall and winter clothing. Women s wool
coats were substantially lower and smaller reductions were reported for women's wool
suits and dresses and rayon skirts, and girls' coats. Prices were also lower for men's
wool trousers and men's and boys' rayon jackets. Prices of men's business shirts and
boys' suits advanced.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVTHflS
Higher automobile insurance rates and higher prices for used cars
and gasoline more than offset reductions in prices of new automobiles. Railroad fares were increased in the Western states.
The medical care index rose 0.4 percent as costs of hospital
services advanced and there were scattered reports of higher fees for other professional
medical services.
2
Consumer Price Index*~Onited States city average, all items and special groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Group
January
1957
This
month
All items
—
-—
All items less f o o d —
—
All items less shelter—
All c o m m o d i t i e s — —
— —
All commodities less f o o d All services and shelter
All services less shelter-
Iiidexes (19A7-A9=100:
Year
June
December November January
19<>6
1950
1939
1956
1956
last
2 months
Ust
Pre-World
Pre-Korea
month
War II
ago
rear
117.8
120.5
115.6
111,5
110.5
133.5
136.5
118.0
120.8
115.7
111.5
110.6
134*0
136.9
118.2
121.0
115.9
111.6
110.7
134.5
137.6
114.6
117.4
112.2
108.0
107.1
130.8
133.4
101.8
103.0
100.7
100.3
99.4
107.9
107.0
59.4
69.1
55.4
51.6
<1/0
80.4
73.5
Percent change to January 1957 from
November
1956
December
1956
All i t e m s - — - —
—
—
All items less f o o d —
All items less s h e l t e r —
All c o m m o d i t i e s — — — — — — - —
All commodities less f o o d All services and s h e l t e r — — — —
All services less shelter—
—
—•
0.2
<2
,2
,1
,1
,4
0,3
,4
.3
,1
3,1
3.1
3.3
3.3
3.4
2.8
3,1
rC
Vnf
< £'
J
j / Not available*
January
1956. „
1
• M-
i
L
June
1950
16.1
17.5
15.1
11*3
11.4
24.7
28.6
Year
1939
99.0
75.1
109.2
116.3
o/)
67.3
87,2
—
TABLE 1:
Consvuser Price Index — United States city are rage, all items and conodlty groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
3
Indexes (19*7-*9«100)
January
1957
Group
December
1956
November
1956
January
1956
Jun*
1950
Year
1939
Thlj
month
Last
month
2 months
ago
Last
year
Pre-Korea
Pre-World
War II
—
116*2
118.0
117.8
114.6
101.8
59.*
Food 1/
—
—
—
—
Food at home - —
Cereals and bakery products -Meats, poultry, and fish ----Dairy products
-----Fruits and vegetables —-----Other foods at home - - — - - - - -
112*8
111.1
128,0
99,0
111.2
116.9
112,7
112.9
111.2
127.4
98.0
111.3
117.4
114.2
112.9
111.3
127.0
98,8
111.1
115.8
115.2
109.2
107.5
123.9
93.3
107.3
112.6
112.8
100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9*.l
*7.1
*7.1
57.2
*1.6
*9.8
*6.3
*8.*
Housing 2/ —
— — <
Rent
— — — — — — —
Oas and electricity
- — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil — —
Housefurnishings - —
Household operation
—
—
—
—
-
123,3
134*2
112.3
138.9
104.0
125.4
123.5
134.2
112.0
136.1
104.1
124.8
123.0
133.8
111.8
134.3
103.8
124.5
120.6
131.4
111.7
129.5
102.0
121.2
10*. 9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6
76.1
86.6
10*. 9
56.*
53.*
68.*
Apparel
— — —
Men's and boys' — —
Women's and girls'
Footwear
— — — —
Other apparel
—
107.0
108.6
100.3
126.4
92.2
107.0
108.4
100.4
126.2
92.1
104.1
106.0
97.9
120.4
90.7
96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1
88.*
52.5
50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6
All items
—
—
—
—
—
—
——— —
106*4
108 #4
98.9
126.7
91.9
Transportation — — — — — — — — —
Public
Private
—
—
133.6
174.9
123.8
133.1
174.1
123.3
133.2
173.4
123.5
126.8
170.3
117.0
109.9
117.9
106.6
70.2
81.3
65.5
Medical care
135.3
122.1
109.9
123.8
134*7
121.8
109.3
123.3
134.5
121.4
109.0
123.2
130.7
118.5
107.3
120.8
105. *
99.2
102.5
103.7
72.6
59.6
63.0
70.6
—
—
—
—
—
-
—
Reading and recreation - —
Percent change to January 1957
December
1956
All items
'
0.2
Food 1/
Food at home
— — — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — —
Fruits and vegetables - —
Other foods at home — —
-
—
—
— —
—
.1
.1
.5
1.0
- .1
- .4
- 1.3
Gas and electricity — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil --------
.2
0
.3
2.1
- .1
.5
Women's and girls' - — — — . — • » •
- .6
- ,2
- 1.4
.2
- .3
Public
Private —
Other goods and services \i
—
—
3.1
16.1
99.0
.1
.2
.8
.2
.1
.9
- .2.2
3.3
3.3
3.3
6.1
3.6
3.8
- .1
12.2
10.5
24.6
- 6.7
20.5
14.0
19.8
139.5
135.9
123.8
138.0
123.3
152.5
132.9
.7
.3
.4
3.4
.2
.7
2.7
2.1
.5
7.3
2.0
3.5
18.0
23.5
9.3
29.1
6.8
25.9
62.7
55.0
7.1
146.3
94.8
83.3
.6
0
- 1.5
.4
- .2
2.2
2.3
1.0
5.2
1.3
10.3
10.5
6.0
24.1
4.0
102.7
113.4
81.5
151.9
126.4
5.4
2.7
5.8
21.6
48.3
16.1
90.3
115.1
89.0
3*5
3.0
2.4
2.5
28.4
23.1
7.2
19.4
86.4
104.9
74.4
75-4
-
-
.3
.9
.2
A..
.6
.8
.5
1/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately,
2/ Includes hose purchase and other home-owner costs not shovn separately.
Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services*{such &s
legal services, banking fees^ burial services, etc,).
Year
1939
0.3
j^.
.5
.4
.2
.5
•4
January
1956
November
1956
from:
June
1950
1
^ ^
TABLE 2 s
Consumer Pries Index — All items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)
December
1956
January
1957
City
United States city average
1t
January
1956
June
1950
Year
1939
118.2
118.0
114.6
101.8
59.4
121.0
120.5
119.6
115.6
118.8
121.0
120.2
119.4
115.5
118.6
118.1
116.3
116.0
112.1
114.6
102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6
58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2
January
1957
October
1956
January
1956
April
1950
Year
1939
119.0
119.8
119.4
118.8
120.1
119.3
118.9
117.4
118.2
119.5
114.6
115.5
116.1
113.6
116.3
101.2
101.4
102.1
99.9
101.5
61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3
June
1950
Year
1939
Cities priced monthlys 2 j
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles—
New York
Philadelphia
—
Cities priced in January, April,
July, October ^J
Boston
—
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon
December
1956
Cities priced in March, June,
September, December J /
Baltimore
Cincinnati
S t . Louis
San Francisco—
—
Cleveland
August
1956
—
Scranton—
SeattleWashington, D.O.
120.0
119.7
114.9
120.2
115.9
—
December
1955
117.1
115.8
114.2
116.1
115.9
118.9
117.5
117.1
118.1
119.0
119.5
119.5
117.5
119.1
121.6
November
1956
Cities priced in February, May,
August, November 2 /
1/
2/
2/
U
5/
September
1956
U
November
1955
116.2
116.7
110.9
117.4
113.7
119.1
118.2
113.5
118.8
115.7
58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6
5/ 101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9
May
1950
Year
1939
100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4
This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 197.6.
Rents priced bimonthly.
Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced joonthlyj rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly.
June 1950.
Hay 1950.
TABLE 3 s Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from December 1956 to January 1957
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups
City
All
items
United States city a v e r a g e -
0.2
ChicagoDetroitLos Angeles
New York
Philadelphia
0
Food
- 0.1
.2
-
.1
-
.2
.2
.3
0
.3
.3
.3
Housing
Apparel
0.2
0.6
.2
1.2
0
.4
.5
.5
.1
.6
1.8
Reading
and
recreation
Medical
care
Personal
care
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.5
1.0
2.6
.2
.2
.2
.1
Transportation
1.1
.5
.2
1.3
.3
3.0
2.0
.4
.3
.6
.1
.1
.3
.6
Other
goods &
TABLE if: Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
January 1957 indexes and percent changes, October 1956 to January 1957
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in January 1957
U.S.
City
Average Boston
Group
Chicago Detroit
Kansas
City
Los
Angeles
Minneapolis
New
York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland,
Oregon
Indexes {19^7-^9-100)
All items
118.2
119.0
121.0
120.5
119.8
119.6
119.4
115.6
118.8
118.8
Food —
Food at home
— — —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home — — — - —
112.8
111.1
128.0
99.0
111.2
116.9
112.7
112.1
109.6
126.8
98.2
115.2
112.9
105.3
109.5
107.5
120.4
92.2
110.7
113.7
117.4
114.7
112.8
122.6
96.1
112.5
127.0
115.0
109.0
106.7
124.0
95.3
108.0
110.6
106.4
116.4
113.1
132.9
101.5
105.3
123.7
112.7
112.6
111.3
129.0
94.6
107.8
123.0
119.6
112.3
110.4
131.4
100.5
109.6
112.3
112.2
115.5
113.7
130.8
101.8
116.0
118.8
112.0
114.9
115.5
113.0
113.4
130.0
127.5
100.4
98.4
113.6 , 113.9
118.0
116.6
115.8
122.2
123.8
13-4.2
112.3
138.9
104.0
125.4
128.6
135.1
110.8
146.3
104.6
122.2
132.4
157.9
113.8
142.7
102.3
128.9
127.2
112.4
128.6
109.3
117.4
124.2
139.7
121.7
122.4
103.9
130.1
128.7
142.6
118.0
103.9
128.5
125.1
147.8
124.8
130.2
99.2
122.5
120.1
Rent
—
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil —
Housefurnishings — —
—
Household operation
— — —
111.0
150.5
103.2
125.0
118.6
120.1
103.4
141.5
109.0
123.4
121.2
126.6
127.0
128.4
107.1
129.0
125.6
134.5
102.0
141.8
105.2
118.8
106.4
108.4
98.9
126.7
91.9
102.5
102.8
95.1
122.9
102.6
108.7
115.1
97.4
130.6
95.4
104.2
110.5
93.4
123.3
87.6
105.1
108.6
97.8
122.2
88.4
106.7
110.1
98.8
128.0
83.5
107.6
108.9
102.4
122.9
93.5
105.6
107.9
97.8
125.9
95.3
105.9
106.2
100.5
123.1
93.3
105.4
106.6
97.8
124.2
100.2
109.7
112.7
101.0
130.2
97.4
133.6
174*9
123.8
144.4
166.9
137.1
140.7
166.5
126.4
131.4
144.3
128.5
136.1
214.0
124.4
130.4
155.0
126.2
120.8
166.9
115.0
136.9
187.9
117.6
141.5
186.7
121.3
145.5
194.0
125.7
126.8
166.4
122.1
135.3
122.1
109.9
123.8
140.6
125.0
107.8
122.5
142.2
124.8
117.2
119.7
144.3
129.4
110.5
125.0
149.8
123.8
118.2
122.9
129.5
124.0
99.6
120.5
150.3
125.4
118.2
128.3
128.1
114.3
108.1
124.9
138.6
128.2
115.7
125.6
144.0
120.0
106.4
122.9
136.7
122.0
118.3
122.7
0.2
0.5
0.5
.4
.5
.7
- .5
1.0
1.4
- 3.9
.1
.1
2.1
- 1.7
2.1
1.9
- 2.6
.3
.2
0
- .6
- .1
5.7
- 2.3
.4
.7
0
8.8
1.1
2.8
.8
0
0
.4
1.4
3.7
.7
.9
- 5.4
4.3
.9
1.2
- 1.3
.9
- 3.4
.9
- .6
.9
•4
1.7
- .2
1.2
.6
0
.8
2.9
0
3.8
1.4
0
1.9
.2
1.5
.8
1.0
.4
.3
.1
.6
.1
.1
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear — —
—
— — — —
— —
Public
Private
Personal care -------—----------Reading and recreation
•--Other goods and services
Percent change from
All items
Food
— —
—
— —
Food at home — - — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — - — —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home — - —
Rent
— — — —
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
House furnishing a - —
Household operation — —
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
.
Apparel
— — — — — — —
Men's and boys' — — — — — — —
Women's and girls'
Footwear
— — — — — — — — —
0.4
- 0.3
- 0.1
.3
.5
.9
- 1.8
.5
2.6
- 2.7
- 1.0
- 1.2
2.5
- 2.8
.7
1.3
- 4.4
- 1.1
- 1.2
- .2
- 2.6
- .6
3.7
- 4.2
-
.8
.6
.3
4.5
.4
1.0
.2
- 1.2
.4
- .2
.2
1.1
.9 V - . 2
0
.1
5.0
7.3
- 1.5
.4
1.2
- .8
- 2.7
- 1.5
- 5.1
2.2
- 1.7
.3
.7
2.3
- 2.9
.4
2.8
- 2.9
October 1956
0.8
0.4
-
—
0.9
1.6
- .8
2.0
- 1.0
1.6
.4 i
- 2.2
.5
0
- .2
10.6
- .4
- 1.9
- 1.5
.5
1.3
.1 V
.5
1.4
.3
2.0
—
.1
1.6
1.5
.4
.5
1.5
.5
.3
o~
to
- 0.1
.5
.7
.4
- 1.1
- 2.5
4.6
- 3.5
- 1.1
- 1.6
.6
- 3.4
1.5
- 1.0
- 3.4
4.1
.7
0
4.1
.5
- .1
.8
.5
7.3
- .5
.2
-
-
- 3.5
.1
- .8
- *4
- .1
- 1.3
1.0
.1
0
1.4
- 1.1
.2
0
- 1.2
.2
.2
- .9
.6
.3
- 1.3
.1
- .5
- 1.5
. T
— — — — — — — — —
.8
1.1
.7
-
6
0
.9
.6
0
.7
2.3
0
2.7
4.0
14.3
2.3
.9
1.4
.8
2.5
.8
2.8
Medical care
— — — — — — — —
Personal care
— — — — — — — —
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
.9
1.1
1.3
.7
.8
.6
- 2.1
.7
3.0
.6
1.5
.6
.8
.8
.8
.2
0
.2
.5
.6
1.2
3.2
2.5
.4
.3
.6
1.0
.7
Transportation
Public
Private
-
Change from November 1956 to January 1957.
-
January 1957
1.7
-
120.1
.7
.6
- 2.0
.8
- .2
-
-
1/
/
0
-
-
.3
.6
- 1.3
- .5
1.4
-
.1
1.4
- .2
2.9
.7
0
.7
TABLE 5' Constimer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
January 1957 indexes and percent changes, December 1956 to January 1957
U.S. city average and 20 larfte cities
Cl9V7<-*9.10QJ
Total
food at heme
Total food
City
Percent
change
U.S. city average
111.2
114.9
112.1
109.5 113.3 111,0
114.7
111.9
109.0 116.4
Minneapolis -----Hew York
—
—
Philadelphia ----Pittsburgh ------Portland, Oreg. -St. Louis -------San Francisco
Scrantoa. --------Seattle — — - — .
Washington, D.C. -
112.6
112.3 ~
115.5
114.9
115.5
115.0
116.3
109.3 115.4 113,7
Per cent
chunge
Fruits and
vegetables
Percent
change
Other
foods at home
Percent
change
0,5
99,0
1.0
111.2
- 0.1
116.9
0.4
112,7
1.3
2.2
1.5
1.2
1.5
1.1
,1
1,1
2.5
1.6
1.0
.3
0
108.4
112.5
112.7
108.0
105.3
116.9
111.3
112.9
113.7
112.8
113.1
127.0
120.1
110.6
123.7
2.4
.7
1.0
.4
1.3
2.8
.9
.7
3.4
1.3
106.7
113.0
105.3
117.4
118.6
,4
.4
,2
,2
.4
»7
.2
,3
2,0
,9
,2
1,1
101 9
100,
98
92
100,'
95,
96
95,
95.
10
112.8
0
.4
,2
,3
109,9
111.1
109,6
107,5
112,0
109.1
112,8
110,1
106,7
113,1
119,0
126,9
126,8
120.4
124.5
122*1
122.6
120.9
124,0
132,9
.7
1.1
.5
1.5
.8
1.4
1.2
1.0
.6
1.1
.3
,3
,3
.3
,1
.4
0
»2
,1
,5
111.3
110.4
113.7
113,0
113,4
111,0
114.9
109.0
114.1
111.8
,2
,5
.3
,1
,1
,5
0
,2
,2
,6
129,0
131.4
130.8
127.5
130,0
123.6
138,9
125,5
137,1
128,9
,2
94 >6
100,5
1.5
.1
1 ,2
1,0
2,1
2.6
.8
1.3
1.4
2.4
107.8
109.6
116,0
113,6
113.9
102,8
113.3
108,6
116.6
115,9
123.0
112.3
1.7
1.2
.5
1.7
.7
0
.7
1.9
.4
1.0
.3
.1
111.1
,2
2,0
,1
,7
,5
,5
,3
,9
101,8
93,4
100.4
97,1
104.3
99.0
99.1
98,8
112.5
115.2 - 1.1
110.7
114.2
-
.4
0
.1
.3
.3
.2
.1
.6
.1
.1
,2
,2
.4
,1
.2
.2
,1
118.8
116.6
118.0
122.8
120.5
110.2
123.0
113.0
116.6
115.0
112.6
106.4
112.7
119.6
112.2
112.0
122.2
115.8
121.1
112.0
109.8
112.0
113.3
1.6
1.2
.7
.7
1.3
1.5
.6
1.2
2.2
.9
Consumer Srice Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
Food and unit
Cereals and bakery products;
Flour, wheat ------------- — -- 5 ib.
Biscuit mix ---------------— 20 oz.
Corn meal — — — — — — — — — — — ib.
Rice -----------------——-—--- ib.
Rolled oats - — — — — — — - 20 oz.
Corn flakes ----------—
12 0z,
Bread, white - - — « • — —
ib.
Soda crackers - — — — — — — — — - ih.
Vanilla cookies ------—-----— 7 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak ---------- -------- lb.
ib.
Chuck roast ---------lb.
Rib roast
— — — — — —
--•
lb.
Hamburger
lb.
Veal cutlets - - - - - - lb.
Pork chops, center cut
...
—
—
ib.
Bacon, sliced
— —
Ham, whole
— — — -------- lb.
lb.
Lamb, leg -----------Frankfurters
— — — - - - - — - — lb.
------- 12 oz.
Luncheon meat, canned
Frying chickens, ready-to*cook -- ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen --------- ib.
Salmon, pink, canned — — - - - — - is oz.
Tuna fish, canned ------- e to
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.
----------- 10 oz.
Peas, green —
—
10 oz.
Beans, green •
Fresh:
- lb.
Apples
- lb.
Bananas -----doz.
Oranges, size 200
- lb.
Lemons ------
Percent
change
Percent
change
Dairy
products
Percent
c hange
128.0
,1
,1
TABLE 6;
* Priced only in season.
Meats, poultry,
and fish
0.1
112.6 - 0.1
Atlanta
Baltimore -------Boston « — » . . — » » »
Chicago - - - - - - —
Cincinnati ------Cleveland - - - - - Detroit ---------Houston --------Kansas City -----%
Los Angeles ------
Cereals and
bakery products
Jan,
1957
Cents
53.8
Dec,
1956
Cents
53.5
12,6
17.2
20.9
22,7
18,4
27.6
24.3
12.6
17.2
19.5
22.6
18.3
26.8
88.7
49.0
72.3
39.0
114.7
79.7
64.4
62,0
67.7
52.5
42.5
45.4
26.8
28,0
24.3
89.9
51.6
73.7
39.2
112,2
77,6
61.3
61,0
68.0
52.1
42.0
31.9
44.5
42.4
45.8
61.9
31.8
23.3
23.3
29.1
74.3
57.3
14.3
29.1
74.8
57.3
14.3
28.6
28.7
19.2
20.2
42.2
46.0
62.2
24.8
19.2
20.1
22.8
14.7
17.2
54.2
21.0
24.8
22.8
14.6
17.3
56.4
20.5
Food and unit
Fresh.— Continued
Grapefruit *
—
each
Peaches * -------------------- lb.
Strawberries *
--pt.
G r a p e s , s e e d l e s s * - - - - - - - - - - - lb.
Watermelons *
— lb.
Potatoes — — — — — — —
10 lb.
Sweet p o t a t o e s
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - lb.
Onions ---------------—-.«,-- lb.
Carrots --------------------- lb.
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
C o m , cream style
— . . . . #303 can
Peas, green
...... #303 can
Tomatoes --------to 5 oz.
Baby foods
—
Dried:
. . . . . ib,
Pr\mes --------- — — — - - lb.
Beans
— — —
Other foods at home:
10^ to li-oz. can
Tomato soup
.... 16-oz. can
Beans with pork
—
Pickles, sweet
oz.
Catsup, tomato — —
------- 14 oz.
.
.
.
.
c
a
n
Coffee —
—
Tea bags
—
, o f iq
pkg
Cola drink, carton
— 36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated - — - 3 ib.
Margarine, colored — - •
— lb.
Lard .......
— lb.
Salad dressing
pt.
Peanut butter
— — — — — — lb.
Sugar
— — — — — 5 lb.
- 24 oz.
Corn syrup
Grape Jelly
- 12 oz,
Chocolate bar ------ 1 o-«.
Eggs, Grade A , large
-doz.
Gelatin, flavored
to 4 o z .
Jan.
1957
Dec.
1956
Cents
11.4
Cents
TT75"
56.4
13.2
7.7
14.0
18.5
17.0
8.3
31.9
27.4
53.6
12.7
7.6
13.9
20.8
14.8
7.4
34.4
27.4
38.4
34.4
34.0
25.9
17.2
21.4
14.9
10.0
39.1
34.4
34.0
26.0
17.4
21.4
15.1
10.0
34.6
16.1
34.7
16.1
12.3
14.7
27.1
23.2
108,2
23.5
33,3
99.1
30.2
22.1
36.3
53.6
54.3
24.5
26,9
4.5
53.6
8.7
12.2
14.6
27.0
23.2
108.9
23.4
33.1
97.5
29.5
21,4
36.1
53.6
53.6
24.3
27.0
4.5
58.5
8.6
TABLE Af Consumer Price iDdex -- All items and commodity groups
1956 annual average indexes and percent changes, 1955 to 1956
5 cities priced in January 1957
Boston
Percent
Index
change
Group
Kfifigfif City
Percent
Index change
m p p w irolis
Percent
Index change
_ Pitt?.buygh
Percent
Index | change
Portls nd. Or* ,
Percent
Index change
Indexes (19^7-^9.100)
L
All items
117*1
117.5
1.6
117.0
0.2
116.5
2.4
118.0
2.5
1.2
1.0
.9
1.0
.9
- 3.9
4.4
5.9
1.0
113.0
111.7
125.3
96.0
109.5
119.9
121.9
1.6
1.1
.6
- 2.7
1.0
7.9
1.4
113.8
112.4
128.1
98.2
112,1
119.5
115.5
2.9
2.4
3.1
- 3.9
7.4
4.9
3.6
- 1.2
2.9
4.8
5.5
- 2.6
2.0
112.5
125.8
126.4
122.5
105.1
123.1
2.7
1.0
3.4
4.5
1.8
2.8
123.1 1
3.4
132.2
1.4
106.8
.9
135.6
3.8
104.3 - .6
117.0
3.9
2.4 j 103.8
.5
105.5
2.6
96.2
6.2
121.9
1.3
98.9
1,7
1.1
.9
5.4
1.2
108
111.2
101.4
127.7
96.0
138.3
192.0
118.1
1.0
5.6
- .1
123.8
163.4
119.0
137.5
118.9
104.4
122.4
6.0
2.1
6.1
1.2
131.4
120.2
117.8
121.2
Food — — — — — — — — — —
Food at home
---—
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products —
Fruits and vegetables
—
Other foods at home
111.0
108.6
123.1
96.6
110.2
115.6
106.6
1.4
.6
2.6
- 2.7
.8
5.4
.2
108.1
106.2
121.4
92.2
109.0
114.1
106.6
«4.5
3.5
7.2
1.6
112.6
111.9
127.0
93.7
110.5
125.6
120.9
Housing
—
Rent
Gas and electricity - - - - - —
Solid fuels and fuel oil - - - - Housefurnishings — — — —
—
Household operation
---
125,6
132.2
109.1
132.7
105.9
120.4
3.9
5.9
- 1.7
5.2
.6
2.4
122.6
139.2
121.8
118.2
103.5
126.9
.9
.7
.7
3.5
1.0
1.8
120.6
145.7
124.8
124-.0
98.6
122.5
Apparel — —
— — — Men's and boys' — — —
—-——
Women's and girls'
-Footwear — — - — — — - - - - - Other apparel — —
103.1
103.3
96.9
119.1
103.4
1.0
104.0 1
Q """ 107.2"
97.1
.3
5.2
120.7
.1
87.8
1.0
.7
.1
4.8
.8
106.7
108.0
101.6
120.4
93.1
139^0
166.6
130.5
3.6
3.5
3.7
127.^
189.2
117.6
1.6
9.4
#3
115.3
164.5
109.2
- 1.3
2.4
- 1.8
7.5
S.C
1a 2
1.3
141.8
123.5
116.9
121.9
4.0
"3.5"
1.6
4.1
149.4
124.2
117.6
126.7
1.6
3.8
.5
.6
Public — Private
—
--
Medical care
—
Personal care — - — — — — - - - - —
Reading and recreation
—
Other good8 and services --------
134.8
123.4
I L 120.0
l o O I;
r
i
Labor D.C. BLS, LS57-23^1
2.3
1.6
1.8
5.7
1.3
-
.1
,9
—
*<
3.5
4.8
1.6
1.3
n
Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average changes in prices of goods
and services typically 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 46 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places
in the United State^; 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
46 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities • Almost all prices axe obtained
by personal visits of the Bureau's trained representatives•
In calculating the indox, 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 1947-49 = 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
Hiddlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio
Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, 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 11iodex is contained in BLS Bulletin 1140, "The Consumer
Price Index: A Layman's Guide, which may be purchased for 20 cents at any Bureau of
Labor Statistics regional office (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. A more technical
description of the index appears in BLS Bulletin 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
Statistical Series." Reprints of chapter 9> pertaining to the CPI, are available on
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or at any of its regional offices.
Historical series of iodex numbers for the United States city average and for
20 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 1947 to date.
BLS Regional Offices
A t l a n t a
50 Seventh
St., NE
2
3
2 o n e
New York
341 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1
Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3
San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11
LABOR - D . C«
Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10
@FedFRASER