Full text of CPI Detailed Report : January 1958

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Released February 25, 1958
U.S. DEPARTMENT CF LABGR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FCR JANUARY 1958
Consumer prices in United States cities rose 0*6 percent between
December 1957 and January 1958, according to the U.S. Department of labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics• Sharp increases for fresh fruits and vegetables, following adverse
weather conditions, and substantial advances for meats, largely due to a reduced volume
of livestock marketing, were primarily responsible for the rise. Prices of all major
groups of goods and services except apparel and transportation were higher.
The January Consumer Price Index was 122.3 percent of the 1947-49
average, 3*5 percent higher than a year ago.
FOOD

Food prices increased 1.8 percent between December 1957 and
January 1958 as freezing weather and excessive rains in some
major producing areas resulted in sharp advances in prices of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Prices of meats, poultry, and fish also increased markedly. The January food index at
118.2 was 4.8 percent higher than a year ago and 0.3 percent above the previous high for
August 1957.
Fruit and vegetable prices advanced 7.0 percent during the month,
as fresh vegetables rose 13*3 percent and fresh fruits were up 6.5 percent. ftrices of
all fresh vegetables rose, led by advances of 54*8 percent for green beans, 20.2 percent
for tomatoes, 13«0 percent for lettuce, 3*0 percent for potatoes, and 26.0 percent for
cabbage. Among fresh fruits, prices of oranges were up 10.2 percent, bananas 5.6 percent, apples 2.9 percent, and grapefruit 11.3 percent. Frozen fruits and vegetables
advanced 10.1 percent in price, mainly because of a 24*4 percent increase for frozen
orange juice. Canned fruits and vegetables also registered a general advance, led toy
an increase of 1.3 percent for orange juice.
Prices of meats, poultry, and fish increased an average of 4*0
percent with most items affected. Bacon and hamburger were 7.1 percent higher, chicken
3«8 percent, round steak 3*7 percent, and pork chops 3 #2 percent. There were also
substantial increases for ham, chuck roast, rib roast, and leg of lamb.
Egg prices were down 8.3 percent in a continuing seasonal decline.
Dairy products as a group showed no change as small declines in fluid milk in a few
cities were offset by small increases for milk products. A rise of 0.7 percent in
coffee prices ended a continuous 13-month decline. Cereals and bakery products advanced
0.5 percent led by increases of 0.7 percent for bread and 2.4 percent for corn flakes.
Prices of restaurant meals advanced 0.1 percent.
HOUSING

Housing costs were up 0.1 percent as lower housefurnishings prices
were more than offset by advances for all other component subgroups.
Rents continued their upward trend with an increase of 0.1 percent. Gas and electric
bills averaged 1.2 percent higher as increases were reported in several cities* The
household operation and solid fuels and fuel oil groups were each up 0.1 percent. Prices
of housefurnishings dropped 0.7 percent, largely as a result of January sales for household textiles, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, toasters, and some furniture items.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES




The reading and recreation index rose 1.7 percent, with higher
prices for sporting goods and a few reports of higher movie
admissions and newspaper prices.

2

The rise of 0*6 percent in medical care resulted from scattered
reports of advances in fees far professional services and hospital rates* Group hospitalisation insurance premiums also rose in a fev cities* Higher prices for face cream,
toothpaste, and services of barber and beauty shops resulted in an advance of 0*6 percent
for personal care*
Apparel prices
fell 0*7 percent, with widespread seasonal and
1
other sales for women's and girls coats,
women's rayon dresses, women's wool and rayon
9
suits, men's topcoats, men's and boys jackets, and cotton yard goods*
1

The transportation index declined 0*1 percent as dealers selling
prices of new automobiles dropped 1*6 percent and used car prices also were lower) automobile insurance rates and prices of gasoline were higher*
TABLE 1s Consumer Price Index—United States city average, all items and special groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Jan.
1958

Dec.
1957

All items
122.3
All iteas lees f o o d — • --••• • — — — - • —124.7
All items less shelter- • 1— 1—•- .
120.0
All oonaodltles'
,115.4
All eooaodities less f o o d — — — — — 113.5
Parables •
110.5
H o n - d u r a b l e s — — — -••--••
--- 117.0
All services—••• — — • - —
.•••.—• 140.5
All services less rent
...
141.7

121.6
124.5
119.2
114.7
113.6
110.3
117.3
140.0
141.1

Gfcud

lexes (1947-49=100)
Nov.
Jan.
June
1950
1957
1957
121.6
124.6
119.2
114.7
113.8
110.9
117.4
139.8
140.9

118.2
121.0
115.9
111.9
111.2
108.2
114.7
135.0
135.6

101.8
103.0
100.7
100.3
99.4
102.4
99.0
107.9
107.0

Tear
1939
59.4
69.1
55.4
51.6
59.4
57.3
58.7
80.4
73.5

Percent change to January 1958 from—

All items

All items less f o o d - —
•••••
All itens less shelter
—• • •
All oo—odltles- •-• • •——
— —' •
All ooBBodities l e s s f o o d - - — — - - - - — —
Durables
— — . ....... -. Ron-durables
••
All services•••• • — - • — —
All services less rent--

Deo.
1957

Nov.
1957

Jan.
1957

0.6
.2
.7
.6
- .1
.2
- .3
.4
.4

0.6
.1
.7
.6
- .3
- .4
- .3
.5
.6

3.5
3.1
3.5
3.1
2.1
2.1
2.0
4.1
4.5

June
1950
20.1
21.1
19.2
15.1
14.2
7.9
18.2
30.2
32.4

Tear
1939
105.9
80.5
116.6
123.6
91.1
92.8
99.3
74.8
92.8

(19-47-49=11.00)*
Jan.
1958

Dee.
1957

Nov.
1957

Jan.
1957

June
1950

Tear
1939

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar—- 10.82

$0.82

•0.82

$0.85

$0.98

•1.68

* To calculate purchasing power of the consumer dollar on any other base, divide
the index for the desired base date by the index for the comparison date*




T A B U 21

Consumer Price Index — United States city are rage, all items and commodity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates

3

Indexes (19*7-*9-100)
January
1958

Group

Housing 2/ - — .
Rent

—

—

—

—

—

122.3

121.6

121.6

118.2

101.8

59.*

118.2
116.7
132.5
110.2
1U.6
121.9
113.1

116.1
114.3
131.8
106.0
114.6
113.9
114.9

116.0
114.1
131.6
104.6
114.5
114.6
115.6

112.8
111.1
128.0
99.0
111.2
116.9
112.7

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9*.l

*7.1
*7.i
57.2
*1.6
*9.8
*6.3
*8.*

-—

127.1
136.8
115.7
138.4
104.2
129.7

127.0
136.7
114.3
138.3
104.9
129.6

126.8
136.3
114.3
138.0
104.5
129.4

123.8
134.2
112.3
138.9
104.0
125.4

10*. 9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99-6

76.1
86.6
10^.9
56.*
53.*
68.*

—
—

106.9
109.0
98.8
129.3
91.9

107.6
109.5
100.1
129.1
92.3

107.9
109.4
100.8
129.0
92.6

106.4
108.4
98.9
126.7
91.9

96.5
98.1
93,3
102.1
88.li

52.5
50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6

138.7
182.4
128.4

138.9
182.4
128.6

140.0
182.8
129.7

133.6
174.9
123.8

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

141.7
127.8
116.6
127.0

140.8
127.0
114.6
126.8

140.3
126.7
114.4
126.8

135.3
122.1
109.9
123.8

105.*
99.2
102.5
103.7

72.6
59.6
63.0
70.6

—

—
—

—

Percent change to
December
1957
All items
Food
Food at hone
— —
Cereals and bakery products
—
Meats, poultry, and fish —
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables — —
Other foods at hone
—
Food away from hone — —

Transportation
Public
Private
Medical care
Personal care

—

—

Women's and girls'

—

—

—

January 1958
January
1957

from:
June
1950

Year
1939

0.6

0.6

3.5

20.1

105.9

1.8
2.1
.5
4.0
0
7.0
- 1.6
.1

1.9
2.3
.7
5.4
.1
6.4
- 2.2
.2

4.8
5.0
3.5
11.3
3.1
4.3
.4
3.5

17.6
16.1
29.0
3.9
24.2
18.9
20.2

151.0
147.8
131.6
164^9
130.1
163.3
133.7

UJ)

(£/)

.1
.1
1.2
.1
- .7
.1

.2
•4
1.2
.3
- .3
.2

2.7
1.9
3.0
- .4
.2
3.4

21.2
25.9
12.7
28.6
7.0
30.2

67.0
58.0
10.3
145.4
95.1
89.6

- .7
- .5
- 1.3
.2
- .4

- .9
- .4
- 2.0
.2
- .8

.5
.6
- .1
2.1
0

10.8
11.1
5.9
26.6
4.0

103.6
114.6
81.3
157.1
126.4

-

.1
0
.2

- .9
- .2
- 1.0

3.8
4.3
3.7

26.2
54.7
20.5

97.6
124.4
96.0

.6
.6
1.7
.2

1.0
.9
1.9
.2

4.7
4.7
6.1
2.6

34.4
28.8
13.8
22.5

95.2
114.4
85.1
79.9

— — — — — — — — — .

November
1957

l/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately.
2/ Includes hone purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately*
2/ Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services" (such as
legal services, hanking fees, burial services, etc.).
k/ Mot available.




Pre-World
War II

Pre-Korea

Other goods and services jJ

Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
— - — — —
Household operation
—

Tear
1939

Last
year

Public
Private
—

June
1950

2 months
ago

Household operation —

Medical care

January
1957

Last
month

Solid fuels and fuel oil

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

November
1957

This
month
All items
Food 1/
Food at hone - — - —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
—
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
—

December
1957

4

TAEL& 3 S Consumer Price Index —- All items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)

City

January
1958

United States city average

122.3

121.6

126.1
123.7
123.7
120.0
122.2

December
1957

January
1957

June
1950

Year
1939

118.2

101.8

59.4

125.6
123.3
122.9
118.7
122.1

121.0
120.5
119.6
115.6
118.8

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

January
1958

October
1957

January
1957

April
1950

Year
1939

123.4
122.4
123.2
122.6
123.3

122.0
121.8
122.2
121.1
121.9

119.0
119.8
119.4
118.8
120.1

101.2
101.4
102.1
99.9
101.5

September
1957

December
1956

Cities priced monthly 2 /
Chicago
Detroit
New York
Philadelphia
Cities priced in January, April,
July, October 2/
B o s t o n - - - — — - — —
,
Kansas City
••-•-— —
, — .,—„.— —
Minneapoli s
— —
Pittsburgh———
—
—
Portland, O r e g o n —
-•••-—
—
— —

December
1957

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December £/
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati—
—
St. L o u i s — — —
San Francisco—

—

Cleveland-—---——-—-•••-Houston -••••„•• - —

1/
2/
1/
U

August
1957

November
1957

Cities priced in February, May,
August, November 2/

Seattle
Washington, D.C.

122.2
121.7
120.9
122.1
123.5

122.4
122.1
120.8
122.5
124.8

-.-.••n—— — - — - — — —
— M
—

•.

122.8
122.1
117.8
123.7
119.1

123.3
122.4
117.8
123.9
119.4

•-,

—

119.5
119.5
117.5
119.1
121.6

y

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

June
1950

U

Year
1939

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

November
1956

May
1950

120.0
119.7
114.9
120.2
115.9

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6
Year
1939
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

Rents priced bimonthly.
Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly.
June 1950.
May 1950.

TABLE 4* Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from December 1957 to January 1958
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

City




0.6

1.8

.4
.3
.7
1.1
.1

1.4
2.0
1.3
2.4
2.0

Housing
0.1
-

.1
.3
.4
.6
.6

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

Reading
and
Personal
recreation
care

- 0.1

0.6

0.6

1.7

O T->0
C.....
r- TCM
1 1 1 1 1

Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
Hew York
Philadelphia

Food

C*.
O
1

United States city a v e r a g e —

All
items

.3
- 1.2
- .3
0
- 1.5

2.2
.1
1.6
.2
0

.5
1.1
.5
1.2
.2

- 1.0
2.6
1.9
1.2
.9

Other
goods &
services
0.2
-

.2
.1
.1
.2
0

5

TABIC 5» Consumer Price Index — All Items and commodity groups
January 1953 indexes and percent changes, October 1957 to January 1958
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in January 1958
U.S.
City
Average

Grasp

Boston

Chicago Detroit

Kansas
City

Los
Angeles

Minneapolis

New
York

Phila- Pittsdelphia burgh

Port lan
Oregon

Indexes (19^7^9*100)
122.3

123.4

126.1

123.7

122.4

123.7

123.2

120.0

122.2

122.6

123.3

—

118.2
116.7
132.5
110.2
114.6
121.9
113.1

117.1
115.2
131.1
108.9
117.9
118.4
106.6

115.5
113.3
125.5
102.7
113.0
121.4
117.6

119.7
117.7
125.8
107.1
113.5
133.5
113.8

113.8
111.8
127.4
108.0
111.6
113.0
105.8

121.0
117.7
140.0
111.3
110.2
122.3
114.5

116.9
115.7
134.2
104.9
107.7
126.6
119.4

118.6
116.8
137.4
110.7
116.5
120.0
111.5

121.2
118.9
134.0
112.2
119.8
124.6
111.4

119.8
118.6
130.4
109.8
117.1
121.4
122.9

118.9
117.5
135.7
112.2
117.2
115.7
115.5

132.3
140.6
112.2
139.0
103.8
125.5

136.2
162.3
114.6
139.9
102.6
133.4

128.6

101.1
122.6

126.7
151.6
124.8
131.3
98.6
128.6

123.7

112.1
129.6
108.8
119.2

123.7
140.1
120.3
120.1
100.7
131.5

134.0
145.1
132.1

—
—
—

127.1
136.8
115.7
138.4
104.2
129.7

113.5
145.7
104.9
130.3

121.9
124.7
103.4
142.5
110.1
130.0

125.2
129.2
129.5
131.1
107.1
135.6

127.2
136.1
102.0
149.3
106.5
127.6

Men's and boys'
—
Women's and girls' — — — — —
Footwear
—

106.9
109.0
98.8
129.3
91.9

105.5
104.2
99.0
127.4
103.5

109.5
115.9
98.3
131.0
95.9

102.9
109.2
92.1
123.3
84.5

103.6
106.4
96.0
123.8
87.3

108.1
112.7
99.3
129.5
84.7

108.3
109.6
102.6
125.6
94.0

106.7
108.7
97.8
131.6
96.1

103.8
106.8
95.0
127.5
91.4

106.1
106.1
98.9
126.0
100.5

111.3
114.6
101.7
135.7
96.9

Public
Private

138.7
182.4
128.4

147.0
167.5
140.2

151.1
194.3
133.1

134.8
153.9
130.9

140.8
214.0
129.4

131.1
154.8
127.0

125.0
166.8
119.6

139.6
189.0
120.4

142.2
187.4
122.0

149.4
217.1
125.9

133.4
176.9
128.2

141.7
127.8
116.6
127.0

154.4
129.0
113.3
125.0

150.3
128.9
125.7
121.3

151.2
133.5
113.6
135.8

152.8
128.2
131.1
126.5

134.0
132.1
106.4
123.8

171.6
135.8
123.0
131.5

129.9
120.6
119.6
126.4

142.8
132.6
120.0
128.6

147.2
124.7
109.0
127.1

140.0
131.7
123.4
127.1

All items
Food
Food at hone — —
— —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish — —
Dairy products
— — —
Other foods at hone —
Housing
—
Rent - - .......
—
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation
— — —
Apparel

— — — —

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

—

—

—

—

—

i
Percent change from

October 1957

to January 1958

1.0

1.1

1»1

0.8

0.5

1.2

0.8

1.4

0.2

1.2

1.1

1.5
1.7
.8
3.7
•4
6.5
- 2.7

.4
.4
1.0
3.8
- 2.3
2.7
- 3.8

1.3
1.5
.3
3.7
.4
5.9
- 3.2

1.2
1.1
.7
2.6
1.2
6.4
- 4.4

1.4
1.7
.6
5.3
- .1
5.6
3.3

1.7
1.9
- .3
2.4
.5
6.8
- .1

1.2
1.3
3.2
4.0
- 1.4
6.7
- 4.8

1.8
2.2
1.3
3.7
.7
10.5
- 4.7

.7
.7
.8
3.0
- .2
3.7
- 4.3

2.0
2.3
.9
4.4
2.5
6.8
- 2.6

1.7
1.9
.5
3.9
- .1
6.6
- .9

1.8
.1
1.4 1/ .2
.6
0
.3
.1
.2
- .9
- .2
.4

-

-

—
—

.4
.6
1.7
.6
- .6
.8

.9
.8
0
0
.9
.3

.5
0
0
.2
.1
.1

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

- .7
- .4
- 1.8
.8
- .6

- .4 - 1.6
- .3 - .3
- 1.4 - 3.3
3.0 - .4
- .9 - .9

All items
Food
Food at home — — — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables
—
Other foods at home
Housing
Rent
— — — — — — — —
Gas and electricity
— — —
Solid feels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
• —
Household operation
—

Transportation
Public
Private

—
—
—
—

—
—

— — — — — — — —

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

V

.3
.1
.2
.1

.6
0
- 2.0
0
- 1.2
.5

- 1.0
- .9
- 1.3
- .3
- 2.1

- 2.0
- 1.5
- 3.2
.7
- 1.2

-

2.1
.4
2.4

.9
0
1.2

5.4
0
6.8

2.7
0
3.2

1.4
0
1.6

1.4
1.3
2.8
.2

3.6
1.1
2.8
.2

2.5
1.0
2.9
.1

3.1
1.1
2.8
.1

.3
1.3
4.7
.1

Change from November 1957 to January 1958.




.1
—

1/

1.3
-3
10.5
—

- 3.0
2.3

-

.6
.9
0
0
- 1.2
.2

1.3
—

2.2
1.3
- .3
3.2

.2
o
0
3.0
- .9
.7

-

-

.3
.1
- 1.0
1.5
- .1

- 4*1
- .5
- 7.9
.6
- 3.4

- 1.1
- 1.8
- 1.3
.5
- .9

.3
0
.4

5.4
0
6.1

2.0
0
2.6

1.9
0
2.6

2.7
0
3.5

3.3
0
3.8

2.3
1.8
5.3
.2

.9
.7
1.7
- .1

.4
2.6
2.7
.2

1.4
.9
2.7
.2

.3
.8
3.0
.2

.4
1.2
2.5
.2

-

-

-

1/

.1
.1
.1
.6
0

- .4
- .4
- 1.0
.8
.1
-

-

-

.5
0
- 1.1
.6
- 1.6

TABIC 61 C o a i m r Price Index — Food and its subgroups
January 1958 indexes and percent changes, December 1957 to January 1958
U.S. city average and 20 larflt cities
Total
food at hone

Total food
City

Percent
change

Index

Index

Percent
change

Cereals and
bakery products

Meats, poultry,
and fish

Percent
change

Dairy
products

Percent
•change

V*S* city average

—

118.2

1.8

116.7

2.1

132.5

0.5

110.2

4.0

114.6

—

116.2
118.8
117.1
115.5
119.8
115.6
119.7
116.3
113.8
121.0

2.3
1.2
1.6
1.4
1.9
1.9
2.0
2.5
1.2
1.3

115.3
115.6
115.2
113.3
118.2
113.8
117.7
114.8
111.8
117.7

2.8
1.5
2.0
1.7
2.2
2.2
2.2
3.1
1.5
1.6

125.9
127.6
131.1
125.5
132.3

112.9
108.9
108.9
102.7

3.9
2.9
3.6
3.3
4.9
4.0
4.0
6.0
4.4
3.2

114.4
117.4
117.9

126.5
127.4
140.0

.5
.2
.4
.8
.1
.5
.6
4.5
.4
.1

116.9
118.6
121.2
119.8
118.9
118.9
121.2
116.0
118.6
119.7

1.6
2.4
2.0
2.5
1.2
1.2
1.4
2.7
1.1
2.5

115.7
116.8
118.9
118.6
117.5
115.1
119.4
115.8
118.0
117.7

1.8
2.8
2.2
2.9
1.3
1.5
1.8
3.0
1.5
3.1

134.2
137.4
134.0
130.4
135.7
125.5
140.9
134.6
141.2
130.9

2.8
.5
.4
.6
.2
.7
.1
2.4
.1
1.0

104.9
110.7

—

Minneapolis —
•ev York
Philadelphia
—
Pittsburgh —
Fartland, Qreg.
8 t . Louis
—
Ban Francisco — — —
flerantom — — . . —
Washington, D.C.

— —

January
1958

Food and unit
5 ib.
20 oz.
ib.

Rolled oats j / —
IS
Corn flakes — — — — — —
12
Bread* white — — — — — — —
Soda crackers — — — — — —
Vanilla cookies — — — — — —
7
Msats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak — — — — — — — —
Chuck roast — — — — — — —
Rib roast — — — — — — — — —
Hamburger —
—
—
—
—
—
V e a l cutlets —

—

—

—

—

—

Cheese, American process —
Milk, evaporated —
—
Fruits and vegetables:
Froson:
Strawberries — — — —
Orange Juice concentrate
Peas, green — — — — —
Beans, green 2/ —
—
Fresh:

ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
oz.
ib.
ib.
ib.
oz.
oz.

Cents
55.2
26.8
12.8
18.1
20.2
25.0
19.1
29.2
24.8

100.6
59.1
80.3
47.8
125.1
87.9
75.6
66.3
76.1
60.3
47.3
46.2
44.1
50.8
62.9
32.5

97.2

56.6

76.5
44.6
119.5
85.2
70.5
64.4
72.4
59.2
46.8
44.5
43.3
49.2
62.9
32.3

—
ib.
i4*-oz. can
—
10
— — a
—
10
$

25.8
22.6
19.6
22.4

25.5
18.2
19.5

13.1
16.9
63.2
19.3
12.3

12.7

•

108.0

111.3

109.8

112.2
107.2
114.7
110.3

109.6

110.4

123.6

2.8
.2
2.2
.3
.3
.5
.4
.1
.1
.1

113.0

117.9

110.8
113.5

113.0
111.6

110.2
107.7
116.5

4.7
3.4
3.4
4.2
5.1
4.1
5.3
3.4
3.3
4.8

112.2

121.9
119.4
118.4
121.4
122.7
115.3
133.5
121.7

113.0
122.3
126.6

.2

120.0

.8
.1
2.4

119.8
117.1
117.2
103.3

124.6
121.4
115.7
126.0
123.3
117.4
122.8
121.5

.2

0

116.8

.2

113.7
118.5
119.5

.4

0

.2

7.0

113.1

- 1.6

7.9
6.6
10.6
5.5
6.6
7.1
7.2
5.5
4.4
4.6

106.9

-

.5
2.0
1.6
1.6
1.9
1.2
1.8
.7
2.8
.5

4*4
13.1
9.9
8.8
1.2
4.1
3.9
12.9
4.2
11.7

119.4
111.5
111.4
122.9
115.5
120.6
112.5

-

2.8
1.3
2.0
1.0
.9
2.1
1.8
1.5
1.2
1.6

112.0
106.6
117.6
116.4

116.2
113.8
112.9

105.8
114.5

110.2

111:5
113.4

qt.
qt.
pt.

oz.
oz.
oz.
oz.

ib.
doz.

••••• ••oh

January
1958

Food and unit
F r e s h — Continued
Peaches • —
—
—
—
—
Strawberries • — — — — —
Grapes, seedless * — - - - - - - —
Watermelons * — — — — —

24.3
25.8
29.5
74.9

* Priced only in season.
1 / Formerly 20 o s .
2/ Formerly 10 o s .
NOTBi

ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.

December
1957

24.2
25.8
29.6
74.9
58.2
15.0

Bananas — — — — — — —
Oranges, size 200 — — — — —
Grapefruit *

oz.
oz.
ib.
ib.
oz.

ib.

Pork chops, center cut — — — — —
Bacon, s l i c e d — — — —
Bam, whole — — — — — — — —
Lamb, leg —
—
—
—
—
Frankfurters — — — — — —
Luncheon meat, canned —
12
Frying chickens, ready-to^cook —
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
Haddock, fillet, frozen —
—
Salmon, pink, canned — — i d
Tuna fish, canned —
—
8 to 64
Dairy products;
Milk, fresh, (grocery) —
—
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
Ice cream — — — — — — —

107.1
107.3

Percent
change

Consumer ftrice Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average

ZABIX 7t

Cereals and bakery products;
Flour., wheat — — — — — — — —
Biscuit mix — — — — —
Corn meal —
—
—
—
—

129.6

125.8

112.0
105.8

Other
foods at hone

Percent
change

Atlanta
Baltimore - —
Boston
« , — —
Chicago
— — —
Cincinnati — — — — —
Cleveland — - — — —
Detroit
•ouston
Kansas City
Los Angeles
— —

—
—
—
—

Fruits and
vegetables

58.1
14.8

22.2
16.0
57.3
19.5

11.1

Potatoes — —
Sweetpotatoes
Onions
Carrots —
Lettuce —
—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—

Celery —

—

—

—

Tomatoes —

—
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

ib.
—

Cents

Cents

59.6

57.8
13.5
8.4
16.8

ib.
t.
p
ib.
ib.

10 ib.
ib.
ib.
n>.
head

ib.

£eans, green — — — — — —
ib.
Canned:
Orange Juice — — — — 46-oz. can
Peaches — — — — —
#2* can
Pineapple — — — — —
§2 can
Fruit cocktail — — — — — #303 can
Corn, cream style — — — — #303 can
Peas, green — — — — —
#303 can
Tomatoes — « * — — — —
#303 can
Baby foods — — — — —
44 tofioz.
Dried:
Prunes — — — — — — — —
ib.
Beans — — — — — — — —
ib.
Other foods at home:
Toimto SOUp
to 11-oz. can
Beans with pork — — — — — 16-oz. can
Pickles, sweet — — — — —
74 oz.
14 oz.
Catsup, tomato
— — — —
—
l b . can
Coffee
—
. . . l b . bag

Tea bags
— — — — — pkg. of 16
Cola drink, carton
—
36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated
3 lb.
Margarine, colored
—
lb.
Lard
— — — —
lb.
Salad dressing
—
—
pt.
Peanut butter —
. — —
ib.
Sugar
— — —
— — - 5 lb.
Corn syrup — — — — — — « . — 24 oz.
Grape jelly
— ™ — - — . — . 12 oz.
Chocolate bar —
. — i oz.
Eggs, Grade A , large
— «—
doz.
Gelatin, flavored
—
— 3 to 4 oz.

December
1957

15.0
8.6

17.1
16.9
14.7
10.4
39.1

15.0

36.2

13.4
8.3
32.5
23.4

34.3
34.3
34.3
26.1
17.5
21.3
15.6

33.9
34.0
34*2
26.0
17.3
21.3
15.4

33.0
16.7

33.0
16.5

10.0

12.4
14.9
27.0
22.3
95.3
77.9
23.9
27.3
96.3
29.8
22.4
37.7
54.1
55.6
25.1
27.6
4.5

61.1
8.9

10.0

12.3

14.8
26.9
22.1
95.2
76.7
23.8
27.2
96.0

29.8
22.6

37.4
53.9
55.5
25.1
27.5
4.5
66.7
8.9

Labor D.C.

Prices for Deoember 1957 and subsequent dates are not comparable with prices previously published because of a
revision in weights for chain and independent stores. See "Retail Food Prices by Cities, January 1958," for
a description of the revision.




TABID A* Consumer Price Index — All items and coomodity groups
1957 alumni av*r*sm InrteTen anri mrcent. nhnnges. 1956 to 1Q57
5 cities priced in January 1958
Group

Index

Percent
change

Fanftiff Citv
I Percent
Index
change

polls
Percent
Index
change

PtttaWfih
Percent
Index change

Index

Percent
change

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
All items

121.2

3.5

121.1

3.1

121.1

3.5

120.2

3.2

121.7

3.1

Food

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

115.0
112.8
129.3
103.6
115.7
116.2
107.7

3.6
3.9
5.0
7.2
5.0
.5
.8

111.5
109.4
126.1
101.5
108.3
113.6
106.4

3.1
3.0
3.9
10.1
- .6
- .4
- .2

114.2
112.8
129.8
99.6
106.1
123.1
120.2

1.4
•8
2.2
6.3
- 4.0
- 2.0
- .6

116.8
115.2
128.7
103.8
113.2
118.6
122.3

3.4
3.1
2.7
8.1
3.4
- 1.1
.3

117.0
115.2
133.0
106.6
116.5
114.4
115.4

2.8
2.5
3.8
8.6
3.9
- 4.3
- .1

Rent
— —
—
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings — —
Household operation

129.6
137.0
111.2
142.2
10^.2
123.9

3.2
3.6
1.9
7.2
- 1.6
2.9

124.2
139.9
121.0
120.8
103.7
130.6

1.3
.5
- .7
2.2
.2
2.9

126.3
149.3
124.8
130.8
99.3
125.6

4.7
2.5
0
5.5
.7
2.5

122.7
127.7
128.2
130.4
106.8
131.4

2.7
1.5
1.4
6.4
1.6
6.7

126.7
135.4
102.0
146.7
106.4
122.7

2.9
2.4
- 4.5
8.2
2.0
4.9

104*4
104.0
97.9
123.9
103.4

1.3
.7
1.0
4.0
0

104.4
108.3
96.8
122.3
87.9

.4
1.0
- .3
1.3
.1

107.6
109.4
101.7
124.1
93.7

.8
1.3
.1
3.1
.6

106.0
108.0
97.9
124.8
100.6

2.1
2.4
1.8
2.4
1.7

111.0
113.8
102.2
132.5
97.9

1.9
2.3
.8
3.8
2.0

144.6
167.4
137.2

4.0
.5
5.1

138.0
214.0
126.4

8.3
13.1
7.5

120.8
166.8
115.1

4.8
1.4
5.4

145.1
202.4
123.7

4.9
5.4
4.7

129.7
175.1
124.3

4.8
7.2
4.5

145.6
126.6
110.6
124.1

8.0
2.6
1.9
3.4

151.0
125.6
123.9
125.0

6.5
1.7
6.0
2.5

162.1
129.2
120.4
130.2

8.5
4.0
2.4
2.8

145.4
122.1
106.0
125.2

5.7
2.7
1.5
2.3

138.6
126.9
119.6
125.4

5.5
5.6
1.5
3.5

—
— — —

Apparel

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

—

— —
— —

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




— —
— —
— - —
—

—

—
—

— —

7

Prttf

EKpfamattgn

pf

the

gfj

The Consumer Price Index (CFI) 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 States; they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals,
filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner
and clerical-worker families patronize*
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
46 cities* Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 fmonths in other cities* Almost all prices are obtained
by personal visits of the Bureau s trained representatives*
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending* City
data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent* Index numbers are computed on the base 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, V* Virginia
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpoint, Idaho
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 index 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 index 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
Atlanta
50 nSeventh
St., NE
e
2o 23




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