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