Full text of CPI Detailed Report : January 1959

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Released February 20, 1959
U.S. DEPARTMENT CF LAB®
Bureau of labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE IIDEX FCR JANUARY 1959
Consumer prices in United States cities edged up 0.1 percent between
December 1958 and January 1959, according to the U. S* Department of Laborfs Bureau of
Labor Statistics* Loner prices for apparel, housefurnishings, and transportation did not
quite offset advances in prioes of food, medical and personal care, and recreation*
The January Consumer Price Index was 123*8 percent of the 1947-49
averagef 1.2 percent higher than in January 1958*
pocp

Food prices rose 0*3 percent in January, following a five-month
decline* Increases in prices of fresh vegetables, beef, veal, and
poultry were only partially offset by decreases for fresh fruits, pork, coffee, eggs,
and milk. The food index, at 119*0, was 0*7 percent higgler than a year ago, but was 2*2
percent below the July 1958 peak*

Average prices of meats, poultry, and fish as a group rose 0*7 per-*
cent, largely as a result of increases for beef, veal, and poultry* Beef and veal prices
continued the upward movement of the past four months, with round steak up 1*8 percent
and hamburger 1*6 percent* Prices of frying chickens, after almost 2 years of steady
decline, increased 4*5 percent over the month* Pork prices were 0*6 percent lower, as
bacon prices fell 1*0 percent and other cuts decreased moderately with increased market*
ings of hogs* Leg of lamb prices declined 2*4 percent*
Fruit and vegetable prices increased 1*3 percent, on the average,
the net effect of widely divergent movements* Fresh vegetable prices rose 8*4 percent,
with green beans up 34*0 percent, cabbage 32*9 percent, tomatoes 15*2 percent, onions
14*0 percent, and potatoes 4*9 percent* Supplies of these vegetables, normally low in
January, were affected by adverse weather conditions* Lettuce prioes declined 8*1 percent with ample supplies* Fresh fruit prioes were down 3«2 percent as supplies of same
items increased* frices of oranges fell 8*2 percent and bananas 3.5 percent, but apple
prices increased 3*7 percent* Frozen orange juice prioes declined 5*3 percent, but most
other processed ftnzits and vegetables were higher in price*
Coffee prices fell 2*4 peroent, marking the twelfth month of continuous decline, a drop of 14*3 percent since January 1958* Egg prices continued their
decline with a 1.3 percent drop which was less than the usual seasonal decline*
Dairy products declined 0*2 peroent, as fresh milk prioes were down
0*4 percent and ice cream prices fell 0*3 percent*
Prices of cereals and bakery products decreased 0*1 percent*
Prices of restaurant meals increased 0*4 percent, resuming their
upward movement after a decline in December*
pOPSIjfti

Housing costs were unchanged on the whole, largely because lover
housefurnishings prices offset seasonal advances in prices of fuels.
Rents were up 0*1 percent and household operation costs advanoed 0*2 percent* Housefurnishings prices declined 0*4 percent as traditional January white sales brought
reductions for household textiles, particularly sheets and towels, which more than offset
some increases for furniture, bedding, and appliances*




2
Apparel prices
reductions for
and girls1 coatsf women's wool and
men's and boys' jackets* Footwear
OTHER COMMODITIES
fff
ffFRYftCBS

dropped 0,7 percent, primarily the result of seasonal
fall and winter apparel. Prices were lower for women1 s
rayon suits, men's topcoats, suits, and slacks, and
prices advanced 0*3 percent*

Transportation costs were 0*1 percent lower as dealers' selling
prices for new cars declined 1*8 percent and more than offset
substantial increases in rates for auto insurance*

Personal care was up 0*3 percent, largely because of higher prices
for men's haircuts in several cities, and some scattered advances for cosmetics*
A rise of 0*2 percent in costs of medical care was dae to scattered
reports of higher fees for professional and hospital services*
The increase of 0*1 percent in reading and recreation was the result
of higher movie admission charges which more than offset reductions in sporting goods
prices*




3

TABU 1s ConstawrftrioeIndex—felted States city if*r»|i

Major group, subgroup, and s p e c i a l group indexes, January 1959

and percent changes frm selected dates
(1947-49*100 unless otherwise speoified)

FOroent change to January 1959 from —
January
1959

December
1958

123.3

123.7

FoodFood at homeCereals and bakery produot
Meats, poultry, and fishDairy productsFjruits and vegetables
Other foods at honeFood away froa hone (Jan. 1953=100)

119.0
117.1
133.9
113.3
114.1
121.7
109.9
114*0

118.7
116.8
134.0
113.0
114.3
120.1
110.7
113.6

Housing 2/RentGas and electrioitySolid fuels and fuel oil-

128.2
138.8
118.2
138.9
103.2
133.1

ApparelMen's and boys'—
Vdesn's and girls'
FootwearOther apparel-

Qroup

December
1958

October
1958

January
1958

Tear
1939

0.1

1.2

108.4

.3
.3
.1
.7
.2
1.3
.7
.4

-

.6
.8
0
.7
.3
.6
- 2.9
.6

.7
.3
1.1
3.3
.4
.2
- 2.3
2.6

152.7
148.6
134.1
173.6
129.1
162.9
127.1
U/)

128.2
138.7
118.2
137.0
103.6
132.8

0
.1
0
1.4
.4
.2

.2
.4
.1
2.4
.2
.5

.9
1.5
2.2
.4
- 1.0
2.6

68.5
60.3
12.7
146.3
93.3
94.6

106.7
108.0
98.7
130.8
91.7

107.5
108.4
100.2
130.4
92.3

.7
.4
- 1.5
.3
.7

-

-

TransportationPrivate
Public-

144.1
133.1
191.8

144.3
133.3
191.8

-

Medical care-

147.6

Bnrsonal eare-

All itens-

TTmi sefnr-1 fv* <

Household operation-

0.1

.6
.1
- 1.5
.5
.1

.2
.9
.1
1.2
.2

103.2
112.6
81.1
160.0
125.9

.1
.2
0

1.0
1.0
.7

3.9
3.7
5.2

105.3
103.2
135.9

147.3

.2

.6

4.2

103.3

129.4

129.0

.3

.5

1.3

117.1

R as ding and reareatio

117.0

116.9

.1

.3

.3

85.7

Other goods and servioes-

127.3

127.3

0

.1

.2

80.3

All itens less food

126.4

126.5

-

.1

.3

1.4

82.9

All items less shelter-

121.5

121.5

CommoditiesNondurablesFood—
Nondurables less food*
ApparelBoodurablee less food and apparel—
Durables-'" - •• •
••••••

116.2
117.8
119.0
116.7
106.7
125.4
112.4
141.0
89.4
103.1

116.3
117.8
118.7
117.0
107.5
125.4
112.9
143.6
89.6
103.2

-

-

.1
0
.3
.3
.7
0
.4
1.8
.2
.1

Coasodities less food-

114.0

114.4

-

ServioesRentSerrioes loss rentHousehold operation eervioes, gas,
and eleotrioityTranspartation eervioesMedioal oare servioes—
Other services J / — —

143.9
138.8
145.4

Speoial groups:

Used ears (Jan. 1953=100)Durables less oars• •

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=11.00)

0

1.2

119.3

.2
.5
.6
.4
.5
.4
1.1
4.1
.8
.1

.7
.3
.7
.3
.1
.3
1.7
5.9
11.5
.9

125.2
129.2
152.7
98.8
104.3
90.3
96.2
147.4
<J/>
79.9

.3

.1

.4

91.9

143.5
138.7
145.0

.3
.1
.3

.6
.4
.6

2.4
1.5
2.6

79.0
60.3
97.8

133.2
178.2
152.7
129.9

133.0
176.2
152.4
129.8

.2
1.1
.2
.1

.5
1.5
.6
.4

2.7
5.4
4.5
1.1

53.1
122.5
116.6
122.8

$0,808

$0,808

0

0

- 1.2

-52.0

0

-

-

1/ Mot available.
2/ Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurenoe, and upkeep, not shown separately.
1/ Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurmnoe, and upkeep servioesi shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
and beauty shop services, and movies.




4

TIBIS 21 Constaer Prioe Index—All items index® s and peroent ohanges, selected dates
U.S. oity average and 20 large cities

Peroent change to
current month frca —

Indexes (1947-49=100)
January
1959

City
United 9tates oity average

October
1958

January
1958

123.8

123.7

122.3

127.1
123.3
126.2
121.8
123.4

127.3
123.3
125.6
121.5
123.3

126.1
123.7
123.7
120.0
122.2

October
1958

January
1958

125.4
124.9
124.5
124.5
124.5

123.4
122.4
123.2
122.6
123.3

October
1958

January
1958

Year
1939

59.4

0.1

1.2

108.4

58.6
59.0
60*4
60*1
59.2

- .2
0
.5
.2
.1

.8
- .3
2.0
1.5
1.0

116.9
109.0
108.9
102.7
108.4

October
1958

January
1958

Year
1939

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

0
- .3
.6
- .1
- .2

1.6
1.7
1.7
1.5
.7

105.6
101.8
106.4
114.1
113.0

Year
1939

September
1958

December
1957

Year
1939

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

- .2
.6
- .1
.3
- .4

1.6
2.8
1.3
2.6
2.5

113.4
116.8
109.6
112.0
118.3

November
1957

Year
1939

1.0
1.5
2.5
1.7
1.8

110.3
108.7
106.3
112.8
101.2

Tear
1939

Cities prloed monthly J/
Detroit
fhiladelphia

January
1959

Cities prloed in January, April,
July, October 2/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon —

-

125.4
124.5
125.3
124.4
124.2

—

December September December
1958
1958
1957

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 2/
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati — -

.
, .. ,

•••• • — —
..

S t . LOUIS

San Francisco

I

•

-

•

124.4
• ••— 125.5
122.4
MM
125.7
. 127.9
November
1958

Cities prioed in February, Msy,
August, November 2/
Cleveland
Houston —••• •
Seattle —
—
Washington, D. C. —

—
•!••••,

—

124.5
124.2
120.7
126.0
•• • - 121.5
—

• •—

124.6
124.8
122.5
125.3
128.4

122.4
122.1
120.8
122.5
124.8

Year
1939

August
1958

November
1957

1939

August
1958

125.1
124.0
120.4
126.3
121.2

123.3
122.4
117.8
123.9
119.4

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

- .5
.2
.2
- .2
.2

j/ Bants priced bimonthly.
2/ Foods, fiMlsy and a few other items prloed Monthly; rents and other commodities and servioes priced quarterly*

TABLE 3* Consumer Price Index—Peroent changes from December 1958 to January 1959
U.S. oity average and five cities priced monthly
All itens and canodity groups

City

All
items

Food

Housing

tibited States oity average— 0.1

0.3

0

.1
0
0
.4
- .1

.5
.1
.2
1.3
- .1

- 0.3
- .2
- .3
.1
.2

Chicago
Detroit
New York
Philadelphia




Reeding
and
Medical Personal
reareation
oare
oare

Other
goods &
services

Apparel

Transportation

- 0.7

- 0.1

0.2

0.3

0.1

0

.2
.1
.1
.8
2.7

- .2
.4
.3
- .1
.5

.3
0
.2
.2
.2

- .2
- .1
0
1.0
.1

- .4
.3
- .3
.4
1.2

0
0
0
- 0.1
0

-

TABLE 4: Consumer Price Index—All items and ocmnoAlty groups
January 1959 indexes and percent changes, October 1958 to January 1959
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in January 1959
U.S.
Los MinneaCity
Boston Chicago Detroit J Kansas
City Angeles polis
Average

Orevp

New
York

Phila- Pitts- Portland^
delphia burgh Oregon

Indexes (1^7-^9-100)
All items
Food
Food at hone — — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products —
teats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home — —
Rent
— — — — —
Qas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil

—

—

Men's and boys'
Women's and girls*
Other apparel

— — — — — —

Public
Medical care —
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

125.3

121.8

123.4

124.4

124.2

124.1
120.3
144.9
115.2
110.0
131.9
110.9

118.3
115.5
134.5
108.6
104.7
125.0
116.3

120.7
118.6
142.4
116.2
118.2
118.5
108.5

121.7
119.2
139*4'
115.6
118.9
108,2

120.6
119.4
133.2
113.7
117.1
121.9
118.8

120.9
119.4
140.4
118.4
117.4
120.1
110.9

135.4
146.3
130.7
101.0
123.1

127.2
153.3
127.6
130.3
98.8
134.9

115.6
145.4
103.5
132.5

121.8
127.5
103.4
138.0
107.9
133.6

127.2
130.7
136.4
135.1
105.0
141.4

127.1
137.0
102.0
136.5
103.8
130.2

104.2
107.2
96.3
124.8
87.7

108.2
110.8
100.0
132.3
84.6

107.0
108.3
100.2
127.2
93.2

105.7
107.9
96.3
131.6
95.7

104.2
108.1
94.2
130.0
92.0

103.0
103.7
94.1
127.1
98.7

110.8
112.7
101.2
136*4
98.2

136.8
132.7
157.3

147.2
132.4
251.4

139.2
135.1
162.1

131.1
126.1
166.8

144.6
125.6
191.4

151.1
131.6
188.9

157.5
131.2
237.7

136.1
129.1
196.3

153.1
133.6
114.8
135.6

169.3
132.1
129.8
124.7

139.2
133.1
102.2
124.0

192.2
136.4
124.7
131.2

135.6
123.3
120.0
126.9

149.4
135.0
120.0
128.6

156.1
126.7
110.7
127.6

141.1
132.5
124.2
127.3

123.8

125.4

127.1

123.3

119.0
117.1
133.9
113.8
114.1
121.7
109.9

118.7
116.0
132.5
115.4
115.7
117.4
102.9

115.7
113.2
123.3
105.6
112.8
120.2
114.9

118.6
116.4
125.3
109.0
111.5
129.6
110.3

113.4
131.0
127.5
108.8
lOft.l
113.6
103.6

128.2
138.3
118.2
138.9
103.2
133.1

135.0
147.2
114.0
144.8
100.4
132.1

138.3
164.9
128.7
144.6
100.3
134.1

126.3
117.0
126.9
107.8
119.9

125.6
141.2
120.5
125.9
101.8
137.1

106.7
108.0
98.7
130.8
91.7

103.3
104.6
96.1
123.9
98.7

110.1
113.7
99.9
134.6
96.0

104.7
108.9
94.8
127.5
84.8

144.1
133.1
191.8

153.0
147.3
168.8

154.9
136.8
196.9

147.6
129.4
117.0
127.3

158.7
130.0
114.9
126.8

151.9
129.3
123.2
121.3

124.5

126.2

- -

125.1
—

ia.5

Percent change from October 1958 to January 1959
All items
Food
Food at hone — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables — — —
Other foods at home
Rent
— — — — —
Oas and electricity
—
Solid fuels and fuel oil
lousefurnishlngs

—
—

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

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

0.1

0

- .6
- .8
0
- .7
- .3
.6
- 2.9

- 1.0
- 1.6
.3
- .1
.3
- 3.8
- 4.6

.9
1.0
.2
1.2
.1
.3
- 3.0

- 0.6
- .8
0
- 1.7
- .5
3.0
- 3.2

.12
.4
.1
2.4
- .2
.5

1.0 - .1
1.9 1/- .1
0
- .3
2.1
6.4
- 2.6 - .9
0 - 1.5

- .6
- .2
.8
- 1.6
- .2

- 4.1
- .9
- 7.3
0
- 3.9

- .4
- .6
- .3
.1
- .4

.2
.2
0
1.4
- 1.9

1.0
1.0
.7

3.1
3.9
.4

1.4
1.6
.7

1.9
2.1
1.1

.6
.5
.3
.1

1.0
.2
.9
- .2

.3
- .3
- .2
0

.5
- .4
1.1
0

— - .6
—
.1
— - 1.5
—
.5
- .1

— — — — — — -

Reading and recreation — - — —
Otter goods and services

1/ Change from November 1958 to January 1959.




- 0.2
-

0

—

-

_
_
•

-

-

-

•

0.3

0.5

0.6

0.2

0.1

- 0.1

- 0.2

.2
.4
.1
.8
.1
2.6
2.4

.9
.8
- .6
2.4
- .7
4.4
- 2.1

.4
- .5
.1
- .4
- :3
1.5
- 3.2

- .3
- .7
- .1
.3
.3
.2
- 4.2

- 1.0
- 1.2
.6
1.8
- 2.3
-3.6
- 3.7

- .8
- .8
.4
- .1
- .6
- 3.2

A

.3
.2
.1
.1
- .2
5.3
- 2.8

0
.1
.8
2.4
.8
.1

- .1
1/- .2
- .4

.4

- .1
2.6

.2
.1
0
1.2
.3
0

- .3
5.1
.9
.2

.8
1/ .2
0
5.5
- .7
0

.2
.2
.1
2.4
- 1.6
1.6

.2
.6
0
- 1.1
- 1.6
.2

1.7
1.3
3.0
.6
1.0

- .2
- .9
0
.1
.4

- .9
- .4
- 2.1
.7
- .5

- .6
1.5
- 2.2
.3
.3

- 2.8
- .2
- 5.8
.6
- 1.3

- 2.0
- .4
- 4.1
.7
- 1.2

- .4
.5
- 1.5
0
- .1

2.3
2.8
0

1.5
1.7
0

4.0
4.4
0

2.6
3.3
.6

3.4
4.2
.4

1.3
1.5
.7

- 2.4
- 2.8
0

0
2.6
2.2
.1

.2
.1
.4
.1

.9
0
- .2
.1

.4
.8
.6
.1

.5
.5
1.3
.1

.7
.3
.3
0

- .1
.1
- .6
.2

-

TABLE 5: Cobsumsr Price Indue — rood and its subgroups
January 1959 indexes and percent changes, December 1958 to January 1959
U.S. cityftTtrtgtand 20 largs eltlti

Total food
City

U.S. city average
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
— — —
Chicago
—
—
Cincinnati
—
Cleveland
Detroit
looston
Kansas city
Los Angeles — —
Minneapolis — —
•ew Tork
Ihiladelphla
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.
St. Louis
San Francisco
—
Seranton
— —
Seattle
Washington, D.C*

—
—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—
—

Index

Percent
change

119.0

0.3

Total
food at hone

Cereals and
baltery products

ltoats, poultry,
and fish

Dairy
products

Fruits and
vegetables

Other
foods at hone

Index

Percent
change

Index

Percent
chang«

117.1

0.3

-0.1

113.8

0.7

121.7

1.3

109.9

-0.7

115.9
113.0
115.4
105.6
112.4
107.3
109.0
109.5
108.8
115.2

.3
.2
.8
.6
- .3
- .7
- .6
-1.1
.4
3.1

114.1
114.0
117.2
115.7
112.8
116.4
110.4
111.5
111.7
108.1
110.0

-0.2

0
0
- .2
.1
1.3
0
0
- .2
- .1
- .6

.4
- .2
-2.1
0
.2
.2
- .2
- .1
.1
- .4

124.2 2.9
116.8
.3
.3
117.4
120.2 3.3
124.0 3.6
.7
112.3
129.6 2.4
0
124.7
113.6 - .1
131.9 -1.4

103.2
109.3
102.9
114.9
114.1
112.7
110.3
109.2
103.6
110.9

- .7
- .5
-1.2
- .5
.2
0
0
- .1
- .3
- .9

108.6
.6
116.2 2.4
115.6 1.6
113.7
.3
118.4 1.0
110.0 - .3
117.9 1.2
114.6 - .1
.2
114.9
115.2 1.9

104.7
118.2
118.9
117.1
117.'4
105.5
116.8
113.4
115.4
118.4

- .1
.3
-2.0
.2
- .1
0
0
0
- .1
.4

125.0 1.0
118.5 4.1
121.5 -1.3
121.9 4.7
120.1
.4
127.4 2.2
129.6 1.3
113.8 1.3
129.0 1.5
118.4 2.7

116.3
108.5
108.2
118.8
110.9
117.4
109.6
107.4
108.1
110.9

0
- .5
0
.3
-3.0
- .1
-1.4
.6
-2.2
-1.2

116.2
.4
118.8
0
118.7 - .2
115.7
.5
120.2
.7
115.1 - .2
118.6
.1
116.4 - .3
.2
113.4
.2
124.1

115.1
.4
0
115.9
116.0 - .3
113.2
.7
.8
117.9
.1
112.9
.2
116.4
114.8 - .3
111.0
0
120.3
.3

133.9
125.0
128.7
132.5
123.3
133.5
129.2
125.3
126.0
127.5
144.9

118.3
.4
120.7 1.3
121.7 - .1
120.6
.8
120.9 - .5
120.2
.3
123.0
.2
116.4
.3
121.1 - .1
120.1
.7

115.5
.4
118.6 1.5
119.2 - .2
119.4 1.0
119.4 - .4
115.8
.3
.2
121.4
116.0
.3
119.8 - .2
118.0
.8

.1
134.5
0
142.4
139.4 - .1
133.2
.8
.1
140.4
125.0
.2
0
147.3
135.6
0
146.1 - .5
132.2 - .1

Index

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Percent
change

Index

Index

Percent
change

TABLE 6: Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
Jan.
Dec.
Jan.
Food and unit
Food and unit
1958
1959
1959
Cereals and bakery products;
Cents
Cents
Fresh—Continued
Cents
54.9
55.0
Peaches • — — — — —
n>.
Flour., wheat
5 ib.
26.8
26.8
Strawberries • — — — — — pt.
Biscuit ulx — — — — — — —
20 oz.
12.9
12.9
Grapes, seedless *
ib.
Corn mtal — — — — — — — — — - - ib.
18.6
18.7
Watermelons * ------———
ib.
20.4
20.4
54.3
Potatoes
—
Rolled oats
18 o*.
10 ib.
25.7
13.9
Sweetpotatoes
25.7
• lb.
Com flakes — — - —
12 oz.
19.6
Onions —-—---10.8
> lb.
19.6
Bread, white — — — — — — — — — ib.
Carrots
—
14.7
> lb.
29.2
Soda crackers — — — — — — — — — ib.
29.3
Lettuce
head
16.7
24.4
Vanilla cookies — — — — —
7 oz.
24.4
Celery
— — —
• lb.
15.1
Msats, poultry, and fish:
Cabbage --------104.8
• lb.
106.7
10.2
Round steak — — — — — — — ib.
63.4
> lb.
Tomatoes
— — —
Chuck roast — — — — — — — ib.
35.3
64.3
81.2
• lb.
&eans, green
29.9
82.5
Hamburger — — — — — —
ib.
Canned:
54.7
55.6
— 46-oz. can
46.7
Orange juice —
135.9
Veal cutlets — — — — — — — ib.
139.1
—
#2£ can
35.6
Peaches — — — —
Fork chops, center cut — — — — ib.
89.1
88.8
#2 can
35.7
Pineapple
Bacon, sliced — — — — —
ib.
72.8
72.1
—
#303 can
27.6
Fruit cocktail - —
Han, whole — — — — — — —
ib.
67.7
67.5
—
#303
can
18.6
Corn, cream style Lamb, leg — — — — —
ib.
77.3
75.5
21.0
—
#303 can
Peas, green
Frankfurters — — — — — — — ib.
66.1
65.7
15.9
—
#303 can
Tomatoes
Luncheon neat, canned — —
12 oz.
53.0
53.3
10.1
4h toftoz.
Baby foods
Frying chickens, ready-to*cook — ib.
42.9
42.0
Dried:
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen — — ib.
47.6
46.6
Prunes — — — — — — — — — ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen — — — — ib.
59.7
38.9
58.4
Beans — — — — — — — —
ib.
17.2
Salmon, pink, canned —
—
1a oz.
61.4
61.6
Other foods at horns:
Tuna fish, canned — —
0 to ei oz.
33.8
33.7
Tomato SOUp — —
10j- to ll-oz. can
Dairy products;
12.4
24.0
24.2
Beans with pork — — —
ia-oz. can
Milk, fresh, (grocery) — — — - qt.
15.1
25.4
25.3
Milk, fresh, (delivered) - — * — qt.
Pickles, cucumber 1 / —
15 oz.
26.7
29.6
Ice cream
.
Catsup,
tomato
—
—
—
—
—
14
oz.
29.5
22.6
pt
74.4
Coffee — — — — — — — lb. a an
83.7
74.7
58.2
Coffee
lb. bag
64.0
57.9
Cheese, American process — —
ib.
Tea bags — — — — —
24.2
15.1
Milk, evaporated —
—
i4i-oz. can
15.1
Pkg. of ie
Cola drink, carton — — — — — 30 oz.
28.3
Fruits and vegetables:
Shortening, hydrogenated — —
3 ib.
92.3
Frozen:
Margarine,
colored
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
28.9
26.6
Strawberries — — — — —
10 oz.
26.4
Lard
ib.
22.1
Orange juice concentrate
e oz.
28.9
27.4
Salad
dressing
—
—
—
—
—
.
37.8
20.0
Psas, green — — — — —
10 oz.
pt
20.1
Peanut butter — — — — —
ib.
56.1
23.0
Beans, green — — — — —
9 oz.
22.9
Sugar — — — — — — — — —
s ib.
Fresh:
56.9
Corn syrup — — — — — — 24 oz.
12.8
Apples — — — — — —
ib.
26.3
12.4
Grape
jelly
—
—
—
—
—
12
oz.
Bananas — — — — — — — —
ib.
17.2
28.1
17.8
Chocolate bar — — — — — —
1 0z.
Oranges, size 2 0 0 — — — — — doz.
5.2
64.3
69.9
Eggs,
Grade
A,
large
—
—
—
—
doz.
58.1
19.5
18.8
Gelatin, flavored — —
3 to 4 oz.
Grapefruit *
«aoh
9.1
12.6
12.4
* Priced only in season*
l A ew specification5 prices not comparable with previous series.




Labor D.C. - BLS58-0332

TABLE A: Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
1958 annual average indexes and percent changes, 1957 to 1958
5 cities priced in January 1959
(1947-49=100)
Boston
Group
Index
All items

Kansas City

Pittsburgh
Minneapolis
Percent
Percent
change Index change

Percent
Percent
change Index change Index

Portland, Ore.
Index

Percent
change

124.4

2.2

124.8

3.0

124.1

2.6

119.7
117.9
131.9
114.6
114.0
126.2
107.4

4.1
4.5
2.0
10.6
- 1.5
8.6
- .3

114.4
112.6
127.6
111.4
103.9
117.9
106.0

2.5
2.6
2.9
1.2
9.8
-4.1
3.8
- .4

124.3

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

118.6
117.3
134.7
109.2
105.1
130.5
119.4

3.9
4.0
3.8
9.6
- .9
6.0
- .7

121.8
4.3
120.7
4.8
131.5
2.2
114.3 10.1
115.9
2.4
127.5
7.5
122.0 - .2

3.2
120.7
119.6
3.8
137.1
3.1
117.6 10.3
117.2
.6
119.8
4.7
114.3 - 1.0

loosing — — — — — — — —
Rent - — - — - • - — — —
Qas and electricity
— — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefumishlngs — —
Household operation — — — — —

—
—
—
—
—
—

132.9
142.8
113.5
135.1
102.9
128.6

2.5
4.2
2.1
- 5.0
- 1.2
3.8

125.3
141.0
121.0
121.1
102.5
135.7

.9
.8
0
.2
-1.2
3.9

127.2
152.5
127.4
129.6
98.5
132.8

.7
2.1
2.1
- .9
- .8
5.7

126.6
130.1
131.7
131.6
106.9
137.7

3.2
1.9
2.7
.9
.1
4.8

127.6
.7
136.0
.4
102.0
,o
139.9 - 4.6
106.3 - .1
128.6
4.8

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

—
—
—
—

105.9
104.7
100.6
124.0
102.5

1.4
.7
2.8
.1
- .9

104.6
107.9
96.9
124.2
87.9

.2
- .4
.1
1.6
0

107.9
109.1
102.0
126.0
93.7

.3
- .3
.3
1.5
0

104.9
104.5
97.6
126.2
99.9

-1.0
-3.2
- .3
1.1
- .7

111.4
.4
113.4 - .4
102.1 - .1
136.3
2.9
98.1
.2

Transportation — — — — — — —
R r i v a t e — — - - — — —
Public

149.0
142.5
168.1

3.0
3.9
.4

146.0
131.8
245.2

5.8
4.3
14.6

124.9
119.5
166.8

3.4
3.8
0

152.2
126.9
228.7

4.9
2.6
13.0

137.2
130.6
193.5

5.8
5.1
10.5

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

156.1
129.6
113.4
125.7

7.2
2.4
2.5
1.3

162.7
128.9
129.0
125.5

7.7
2.6
4.1
.4

183.2
136.3
124.5
131.2

13.0
5.5
3.4
.8

151.7
125.2
109.0
127.5

4.3
2.5
2.8
1.8

140.6
132.3
124.1
127.2

1.4
4.3
3.8
1.4




—

—
—
—
—

124.0

3.2

7
Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
services usually 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 patronise*
Rrices of foodsf 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 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 citiess
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
uarrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N* Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, looming
San Jose, California
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, Ohio

Huntington, W. Virginia
Laconia, Mew Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, 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,11 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.n 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 1935 to date*
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
1371 Peachtree
Street, N. S*
Zone 9




New York
341 Ninth Ave*
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St*
Zone 3

San Francisco
Boston
630 Sansome St. 18 Oliver St*
Zone 11
Zone 10

LABOR - D* C*