Full text of CPI Detailed Report : January 1960

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Released February 25, i960
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JANUARY i960
The Consumer Price Index for January i960 edged off 0.1 percent for the
second successive month, to Its lowest level since last September. The index, at
125.h percent of the 19^7-^9 average, was 1-3 percent above the January 1959 figure—a
slightly smaller over-the-year gain than in the past several months.
Major influences in the December-to-January downtrend were lower prices for
apparel (principally for women and girls), new cars, and for food bought for home u s e chiefly eggs and almost all meats. The December-to-January price decrease for apparel
was the sharpest for the season in about a decade.
Price declines were partly offset by increases for most of the commodities
and services associated with housing. Services as a group also continued to rise,
moved in January mainly by those services associated with shelter—for example ,
property tax.es and home upkeep.
Compared with a year ago, the January Consumer Price Index reflected the
same counterbalancing tendencies it has shown in most recent months, with over-theyear decreases in prices for food (at home) not quite offsetting gains for most other
goods and services. The cost of shelter, housing upkeep, and various other services
contributed most to the over-the-year increase.
COST OF IIYING ADJt;ST*y?TT3 - The pay envelopes of a little more than 1 million workers,
in tae manufacture
automobiles and related products, are tied to the January
196: Consumer Price
The automobile workers will have no adjustment in pay on
trie oasis of trie JtJi^vj
:
, The wages of a relatively few workers (about 60,000),
iii aircraft and fann mac 11 iery. will be reduced, in most cases by a cent an hour. A
few vc r.kers, principally x:, tne trucking industry for whom adjustments are made on a
zecaxan ive L bas:& vi 1 reeev^t a cent-an-hour raise,

ilgsI!y

APPAREL - The larger than usual January decrease in apparel reflects substantial price
cuts in end-of-season sales, particularly for women1s and girls' outerwear. All types
•of women's and girlsf coats^ and women's suits were offered at sharply lower prices.
Reductions were reported also for women's wool dresses., girls' wool skirts, men's
topcoats and suits, and. men!s and boys' jackets. Indications are that chiefly because
of mild weather in many parts of the country, the clothing business, although good,
was slower this fall and winter than had been anticipated, leaving heavy year-end
inventories.
Although January apparel prices were 1.4 percent below their peak of October
and November 1959> they were at record levels for January--0.8 percent above the
previous January high of 1952TRANSPORTATION - The 1.4-percent decline in new car prices in January was not unusual
for the period, and reflects about the same increase in dealers' concessions this year
as last. Gasoline prices also declined, as they frequently do in January.




2

Prices of used cars remained unchanged from December to January. Older model
cars (1955 and earlier makes) held up better in price than more recent models, some of
which may be competing in the market with the new compact cars.
FOOD - Food prices declined for the fourth successive month in January. They have been
below year-earlier levels since February 1959 .> reflecting primarily lower prices for
meat, because of heavier marketings of meat animals.
The December-January decrease of 0.2 percent in food prices was the first
for the period in 3 years. All of the January i960 reduction was in food for home use,
since restaurant meals, which reflect service as well as materials and overhead costs,
continued their almost uninterrupted rise of the past
years.
Lower prices for eggs, and for virtually all cuts of meat (but particularly
pork) contributed most to the December-January downtrend in food prices. Egg prices
have been responding to seasonal increases in production. The large volume of hog
slaughtering, which continued above a year parlier, and close to postwar peak levels,
accounted for the declining price of pork and pork products. Beef and lamb also were
lower in price because of especially good supplies. Prices for poultry rose over the
month, as marketings reflected previous decreases in the number of young chickens
raised.
Prices for fresh fruits and vegetables increased as is usual in January.
However, gains were especially sharp for tomatoes; adverse weather in late December
reduced normally light Florida supplies, and California and Mexico supplies commanded
higher prices. Potato prices also were up substantially because of relatively low
storage stocks. Prices for frozen and canned fruits continued to decline in January,
again chiefly because of heavy production and record stocks of frozen and canned
orange juice.
HOUSING - Almost all elements of housing costs rose in January, when the housing
component of the Consumer Price Index reached an. alltime high. The main thrust was
from continuing increases in property taxes, which have been both substantial and
widespread, imposed in many cases to pay for new community facilities. In addition,
prices were higher for home repairs and maintenance, fuel, appliances, furniture and
floor coverings, and for household operation services, such as telephone, laundry9 and
dry cleaning. Rent edged up again also. Only household textiles declined noticeably
in price, because of the January white sales and other clearance and promotional sales.
OTHER COMMODITIES AND SERVICES - The cost of medical care in January continued its
steady uptrend of the past decade, with increases reported in hospital rates, hospitalization insurance, and physicians' fees. Prices decreased for personal-care
commodities and services, and, in the reading and recreation group of items, for
sporting goods and television sets and repairs.




3
TABLE li Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major groupj subgroup, and special group indexes, January i960
and percent changes from selected dates
(194.7-49=100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to January i960 from --

Indexes
January
i960

Group

December
1959

December
1959

October
1959
- 0.1

January
1959

Year
1939

All items

125 A

125.5

- 0.1

Food

117.6
114.7
134.8
106 A
116.5
125.7
104.5
117.6

117.8
115.0
134.5
106.6
116.7
125.5
105.4
117.3

- .2
- .3
.2
- .2
- .2
.2
- .9
•3

- .7
- .9
•5
- 2.4
•3
1.0
- 2.3
.6

130.7
ll*0.9
123.2
139.0
104.0
135.9

130.4
140.8
122.7
137.3
104.2
135.5

.2
.1
.4
1.2
- .2
•3

.5
.4
1.2
2.6
- .1
.4

107.9
108.8
98.0
139.4
92.2

109.2
109.1
100.3
139.7
93.1

- 1.2
- .3
- 2.3
- .2
- 1.0

- 1.4
- .1
- 3.3
.6
- .8

1.1
.7
- .7
6.6
•5

105.5
114.2
79.8
177.1
127.1

148.1
136.8
197.2

148.7
137.5
197.2

- .4
- -5
0

- .3
- .4
•7

2.8
2.8
2.8

111.0
108.9
142.6

153.5

153.2

.2

.7

3-7

111.4

132.7

132.9

-

.2

.2

2.6

122.7

120.3

120.4

-

.1

•5

2.8

91.0

131.8

131.7

.1

.2

3-5

86.7

.2

2.4

87.3

.2

1.2

121.8

.5
.6
.7
.5
1.5
1.9
.1
0
- .1
- .8
.1

.4
•3
- 1.2
2.1
.9
- .1
2.8
1.1
.2
6.5
•3

126.2
129.8
149.7
103.1
106.7
<i/>
95.6
98.3
147.9
(1/)
80.5

•

Cereals and bakery products
Dairy products

•

Food away from home (Jan. 1953=100)
Housing 2 J —
Rent
Solid fuels and fuel oil
<
Housefurnishingo
• •• •••• Household operation
Apparel-— — —
• -•
Man's and boys1
•
Women's and girls'.
Other apparel

•

—

TransportationPrivatoPublic
Medical care-—
Personal care

—

-

••
•

-

• •
—

—
—

Other goods and services •

1.3
- 1.2
- 2.0
•7
- 6.5
2.1
3-3
- 4.9
3.2
2.0
1-5
4.2
.1
.8
2.1

111.1
149.7
143.5
135.7
155.8
133.9
171.5
115.9
(1/)
71.7
62.7
17.4
146.5
94.8
98.7

Special groups:
All items less food

—

-

—

129.4

129.5

-

122.9

123.1

- .2

-

Commodities
• •'••<
'• - •
Nondurable s
Food
Nondurablea less food
Apparel
- • • •••••< • • • • —
Apparel less f o o t w e a r — — —
Nondurables less food and apparelDurable s •
••
-" • • •
— ——
New carsUsed oars (Jan. 1953=100)
IXirables less cars
••

116.7
118.1
117.6
119.2
•107.7
•••
102.2
128.9
113.6
141.3
95.2
103.4

117.1
118.5
117.8
119.9
109.1
103.7
129.1
113.8
143-3
95-2
103.3

-

.3
.3
.2
.6
1.3
1.4
.2
.2
1.4
0
.1

-

Commodities less food • ••.. —•.-••• •

115.9

116.4

-

.4

- -3

1.7

95.1

Services
Rent' •
--- .
•- •
Services less rent• •
•
Household operation services, gas,
and electricity—

148.2
140.9
150.1

147-8
140.8
149.7

•3
.1
•3

.6
.4
.7

3-0
1.5
3.2

84.3
62.7
104.2

137.2
182.7
159.5
134.1

136.7
182.7
159-2
133.6

.4
0
.2
.4

•7
•3
•7
.8

3-0
2.5
4.5
3.2

57.7
128.1
126.2
130.0

$0,797

$0,797

0

0

- 1.4

-52.7

All items less shelter• •

•

Medical care services-Other services 3/——.....••• •
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=11.00)
1/
2/
J/
and beauty




.1

Not available,
Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately*
Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, Insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
shop services, and novies.

4

TABIS 2s Cobmmbt Arlos IrAmw ill items latent and peroent changes, selected dates
U.S. city tv*rt|* and 20 large cltiaa

Peroent change to
current month from —«•

Indexes (1947-49=100)

City
United States city average

January
i960

October
1959

January
1959

125-4

125.5

123.8

59.4

- 0.1

1-3

111.1

128.9
123-4
129.3
12k. 1
125.5

129.3
124.9
128.5
123.7
126.0

127.1
123.3
126.5
121.8
123.4

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

- .3
- 1.2
.6
.3
- .4

1.4
.1
2.2
1.9
1.7

120.0
109.2
114.1
106.5
112.0

January
i960

October
1959

January
1959

126.4
127.0
126.2
126.6
127.5

126.7
126.9
126.5
126.8
126.3

125.4
124.5
125-3
124.4
124.2

Xsar
1939

October
1959

January
1959

Year
1939

Cities prioad monthly}/
Detroit
Los Angelas' •

••
••

.

..

Philadelphia
Cities prioad In January, April,
July, October
2/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon
Cltiaa prload In March, June,
September, December
2/

-

December
1959

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

126.4
127.2
123.8
126.6
131.8
November
1959

Cltiaa prload in February, May,
August, November
2/
Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
Seattle
:—
Washington, D.'c.

126.4
125.4
121.5
129.2
121.7

September December
1958
1959
126.0
127.5
123.6
126.4
130.8
August
1959
125.8
124.8
121.2
128.9
122.0

Year
1939
61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3
Year
1939

124.4
125.5
122.4
125.7
127.9
November
1958

58.3
57-9
58.4
59-3
58.6
Year
1939
59-2
59-5
58.5
59-2
60.4

124.5
124.2
120.7
126.0
121.5

October
1959
- .2
.1
- .2
- .2
1.0
September
1959

-

•3
.2
.2
.2
.8

August
1959

-

•5
•5
.2
.2
.2

January
1959

Year
1939

.8
2.0
•7
1.8
2.7

107.2
105.8
107.9
117-9
118.7
Year
1939

December
1958
1.6
1.4
1.1
•7
3-0

116.8
119.7
112.0
113-5
124.9

November
1958

Year
1939
113.5
110.8
107-7
118.2
101.5

1.5
1.0
•7
2.5
.2

J/ Rants prload bimonthly.
Foods, futls, and a fav othar items prload monthly; rants and othar ooanoditiea and aervloea prioad quarterly.

TABLE 3t Consumer Price Index—Peroent changes from December 1959 to January i960
U.S. city average and fivs cities priced monthly
All iteoa and oi:ii:irlity groups

City

All
items

Food

Ghited States city average—

- 0.1

- 0.2

- .1
- .5
.3
- .1
- .8

•5
.4
1-3
- .2
- -5

Chicago
Detroit
Loa Angelas- • - •• —••••—
Philadelphia




-

Housing
0.2
- .1
- .2
.1
.4
.1

Apparel

Transportation

Bet (11 ng
Medical Personal
and
care
reareation
care

Othar
goods 6
eervioes

- 1.2

- 0.4

0.2.

- 0.2

- 0.1

0.1

-

- 1.3
- 2.5
- .6
- .1
- .1

.6
0
.1
.1
.1

- .4
- .3
0
- .7
- .3

0
- .1
- -3
.1
- 8.8

.1
2.9
.1
0
- .2

1.2
1.1
-3
1.1
1.7

-

TABUS 4s Consuaer Prioe Index—111 itesu and oi—irflty groups
January i960 Indexes and percent changes, October 1959 to January i960
U.S. city average and 10 cities prioed In January i960

5

U.8.
Boston Chicago Detroit Kansas
Los
Minnea- Nev
City
City Angeles polis York
Average

Group

Phila- Pitts- Portland
delphia burgh
Oregon

Indexes (1947-49-100)
125.4

126.4

128.9

123.4

127.0

129.3

126.2

124.1

125.5

126.6

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

117.6
114.7
13^.8
106.4
116.5
125.7
104.5

117.4
113.8
131.5
107.5
115.1
124.2
99.9

115.2
112.3
130.2
98.7
121.2
123.5
108.9

115.8
112.6
124.8
101.1
111.1
131.0
104.3

111.3
107.7
127.5
99.1
111.8
115.6
98.2

125.2
120.7
146.9
109.2
114.8
143.0
107.0

117.0
113.5
134.8
102.2
108.0
130.4
109.6

120.5
116.6
141.8
110.9
121.4
119.3
104.0

119.5
116.1
135.8
108.7
121.1
125.1
101.8

118.7 121.2
116.6 118.1
132.6 141.3
106.8 109.6
117.4 ' 121.3
124.1 125.0
114.4 108.8

130.7
140.9
123.2
139.0
104.0
135.9

138.0
152.8
117-6
143.5
101.5
134.9

140.1
166.3
130.2
143.2
102.0
138.7

127.0

Rent
— — — — — — —
Oas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil — - - ~
Housefaraishings —
——
Household operation — — — —

138.0
147.7
141.7
103.6
125.4

128.3
155.8
135.3
132.2
96.9
136.7

128.8

117.3
128.0
107.7
123.4

129.6
144.5
130.4
140.6
104.4
137.2

120.2
141.5
104.4
137.8

125.3
129.3
106.7
135.1
108.9
141.8

130.9.
133.6
143.2
135.1
107.9
145.8

130.2
138.6
102.0
143.1
102.9
130.0

107.9
108.8
98.0
- 139.4
92.2
—

105.2
102.1
99.2
131.1
100.0

112.0
114.8
100.4
142.9
96.4

105.7
107.8
95.0
135.6
85.3

105.9
109.6
96.2
132.2
87.9

111.0
112.4
102.4
141.4
85.4

107.0
108.6
98.7
134.6
89.8

106.7
108.5
95.3
140.6
96.2

105.7
109.3
93-3
139.3
94.1

103.7
105.0
91.8
136.4
98.9

113.9
113.6
103.4
148.5
99-7

148.1
136.8
197.2

149.4
142.8
168.8

158.2
138.9
205.7

137.2
129.4
179.4

155.5
140.7
257.8

144.8
141.1
164.3

132.4
125.4
189.6

149.4
131.0
191.4

156.2
136.4
193.4

164.8
139.1
237.7

147-3
141.2
199.2

Medical care
— 153.5
Personal care
— — — — — — 132.7
120.3
Beading and recreation —
Other goods and services — — — 131.8

161.4
135.6
119.0
127.0

160.6
137.5
125.6
124.5

158.0
134.3
116.7
139.7

171.9
135.6
136.4
125.1

149-3
135.1
102.2
133.0

203.0
138.1
125.5
134.4

143.6
124.9
121.8
133.4

159.3
143.2
123.7
132.3

168.6
127.6
112.6
132.4

•<42.4
1. V 6
130.4
130.4

All item*

P

lten\ and boys'
Footwear
—
Other apparel

—
—

—

—

—

Public

—

—

127.5

Percent change from October 1959 to January i960
All items

—

...

Pood

Food at 1mm
— — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish — —
Dairy products — — — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables
—
Other foods at ham
lousing — — — — — — —
Bent — — — — — — — — — —
Oas and electricity — — •
Solid feels and fuel oil
lousefurnlshlngs — — — — —
Ssusohold operation
Apparel
—
—
—
—
Men's and boys'
—
Voeen's end girls'
Footwear
— — — —
Other apparel —
Transportation
—
frlnrtt.—————
Public

—

—

Medical care
—
—
Bnrscaal care — — — — —
Beading and recreation
—
Other goods and services

—
—
——
——
——
—*
—. . .
——
—
—
—

—. . .

——
—
—
—

- 0.1

- 0.2

- 0.3

- 1.2

- .7
- .9
.5
- 2.4
•3
1.0
- 2.3

-

- .9
- 1.0
•5
- 3.7
2.4
1.6
- 2.9

-

•5
.4
1.2
2.6
- .1
.4

1.8
2.2
.4
4.4
.7
1.3
2.7

1.6
.1
1.5 1/- .2
.2
•7
1.8
6.3
- 1.2 - .4
.1
•9

*

- 1.4
- .1
- 3.3
.6
- .8

-

-

.3
.4
.7

- 1.8
- 2.4
0

.7
.2
.5
.2

.4
•7
•5
.2

1.9
2.3
2.4
.1
1.2




0.6

1-9
2.2
.4
3.3
1.5
.2
- 4.4

- .5
- 1.0
.5
- 2.6
.4
- .1
- 2.0

1.0
1.3
.4
- 1.1
1.2
7.4
- 1.3

.7
.9
.1
- 3.0
- .4
3.1
- 2.3

-

1.1
.8
6.6
4.4
- .4
.1

.8
1/ .1
4.7
.4
0

•5
.1
0
4.5
- .5
.4

.9
4.0
•5
1.1

.2
.2
.2
.4
•5

- 2.1
.8
- 5.3
1.1
- 3.4

- .1
- 1.2
4.5

.1
.1
0

-

.2
.2
0

-

Based on revised index for October 1959, 150.6.

•9
.4
.2
0

.1
.1
•3
.1

-

.1
0
.1
.3

.5
—

- .7
- .2
- 2.4
.1

- 1.3 - .6 - 2.5 •3
- 1.5 -

1/ Change from November 1959 to January i960.
*

0.1

1.9
1.6
3.3
0
2.2

- 2.7
- 3.3
0
-

0
.4
.3
2.1

-

- 1.5
.7 •
- 4.0
1.1
'

1

'

6

- .4
- .9
2.5
-

.4
.1
.5
.2

-

- 0.2
-

-

- 0.4

- 0.2 |

-

1.6
1.9
.8
1.5
.7
3.8
2.5

- 1.2
- 1.4
.5
- 2.1
- .4
- 2.7
- 1.5

•9
5.1
.4
1.0

1.0
.3
2.2
0
.3
2.0

1.6
•7
0
- .1
- 1.0
.8

- .5 •3
- 2.2 1.9 .2 -

2.6
.4
5.9
.4
.5

- 2.9
- .5
- 6.6
1.9
- 1.5

.1
0
- .8
2.2
.1

.4
•5
0

.3
.4
0

0.3
.1
.3
.3
- .2
.6
.2
- 2.3
-

.9
—

•3
- .3
0
.1

.4
.2
- 1-3
.1

-

-

.1
.1
0
.3
.2
1.7
.9

1.0
.1
.1
.9
- 2.9
•3
6.0
- 1.6

•5
.7
0
0
1.1
4.2
.5

6

TABIE 5* Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
January i960 indexes and percent changes December 1959 to January i960
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49^00)
Total food
City
Index

Percent
change

Total
food at hone
Index

U.S. city average

117.6 - 0.2

114.7

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Chicago —
Cincinnati —
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles

114.5
116.2
117.4
115.2
117.7
113.1
115.8
113.6
111.3
125.2

111.9
111.9
113.8
112.3
114.5
109.8
112.6
111.1
107.7
120.7

Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.
St. Louis —
—
San Francisco
Scranton —
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

—

—
:

—
—

-

•3
1.0
.8
•5
.4
-3
.4
.1
.1
1-3

117.0 - .3
120.5 - .2
119-5 - .5
118.7 - -3
121.2
.2
116.2 - 1.2
123.6
.4
113.5 - .4
121.4
.2
117.3 - .7
TABLE 61

Percent
change

Index

" 0.3 134.8
-

0
1.2
1.0
.6
.5
.5
.5
0
.2
1.5

125.4
128.5
131.5
130.2
132.4
129.4
124.8
125.8
127.5
146.9

Meats, poultry,
and fish

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Index

107.0
105.3
107.5
98.7
105.8
99-6
101.1
101.4
99-1
109.2

- -7 113-6
- .8 114.6
- 1.5 115.1
1-3 121.2
- 1.3 117.6
- .5 110.2
.1 111.1
• 7 113.6
- .4 111.8
- .8 114.8

Index

-

2.7
2.5
1.1
2.0
.2
.6
.7
.3
0
1.1

December
1959
Septs

0.2

126.5
118.7
124.2
123.5
125.3
117.2
131.0
125.3
115.6
143.0

54.5
27.0
13.0
18.6

20.5
21.1

25.7
19.8
29.0
24.4

106.6
63.1
82.0

53-7
141.3
79-1
58.5
59-2
73.8
61.9
50.8
40.9
47.4
56.6
64.3
32.3
24.6
25.9
87-6

78.5
33.1
15.5
26.6
25.1
19.8
22.5
13-1
16.4
66.8
19.6
12.5

Fresh—Continued
Peaches *
Strawberries *
Grapes, seedless *
Watermelons *
Potatoes
Sweet potatoesOnions
Carrots
Lettuce
Celery —
Cabbage Tomatoes
Beans, green
Canned:
.
Orange Juice
Peaches
—
Pineapple
••
Fruit cocktail
Corn, cream style
Peas, green

lb.
.Pt.
.. lb.
_
lb.
10 lb.
lb.
lb.
—
.. lb.
head
—
.
_
_
M M .

Tomatoes

104.5

0.9

99-5
103.2
99.9
108.9
106.7
106.6
104.3
103.1
98.2

.6
1.3
.7
l.l
.6
•5
1.7
•7
1.0

107.0

.8

•9
- 3.6
- .6
- .4
2.7
- 1.9
1.6
- .1
2.4
- .3

109.6
104.0

•7
1.3
1.9
•5
•5
1.5

65.6
12.6
8.9
14.2

19.0

lb.
lb.
lb.
lb.

15.3
11.4
39-5
27.7.

46—oz. can
#2i can

45.5
33.8
37.5
26.9

#2 can
#3<*» can
#303 can
#303 can
— - #303 can
4b to 5 oz.

1.11
Baby foods
Dried:
lb.
Prunes — —
lb.
Beans
Other foods at hone:
10&
to
ll-oz.
can
Tomato soup
•••.•i • - lft-oz. can
Beans with pork
_
_
15 oz.
Pickles, sliced
. 1
14 oz.
Catsup, tomato I.
lb. can
Coffee
lb. bag
Coffee
— — — pVg. of 16
Tea bags - • —
Cola drink, carton • ,-— -• • — 36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated
3 lb.
Margarine, colored
• . ib.
Lard ••• •
lb.
Salad dressing — — — — — pt.
Peanut butter
• . - •— ib.
Sugar
n ib.
C o m ayrup
- 24 oz.
Grape Jelly
—
> 12 oz.
Chocolate bar
- 1 oz.
Eggs, Grade A, large
doz.
Gelatin, flavored —

Percent
change

- .6
- 2.0
- .8
.3
- .3
- .9
- .3
- .2
•9
6.6

January
I960
Cents

Food and unit

Other
foods at hoae

Percent
change

- 0.2 125.7

- .4 134.8
0 102.2 - l.l 108.0 - -9 130.4
- .4' 141.8
0 110.9
1.9 121.4 - .2 119.3
.1 108.7
- .7 135.8
• 3 121.1 - 1.4 125.1
- .4 132.6
.1 106.8 - .4 117.4 - .8 124.1
.2 141.3
.1 109.6 - 1.2 121.3
.1 125.0
- 1.6 120.6
•3 100.7 - 2.3 103.5 - 1-3 128.9
.1 112.4 - 1.1 119.3
.2 134.6
•3 151.0
- .4 132.8
0 104.7
.3 113.1 - .4 116.4
.4 110.8 - .7 118.2 - .1 132^1
• 3 147.6
- .7 129.9 - 1.0 105.4 - .5 120.5 - .5 122.2
Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average

* ftrioed only in season*
NOTE; Prices for December 1959 and subsequent dates are not comparable with prices
previously published because of a revision in weights for chain and independent
stores.




Fruits and
vegetables

Percent
change

- 0.2 116.5

0.2 106.4
.2
.2
- -7
•5
.2
.2
.2
.4
- .1
.1

Dairy
products

113.5
116.6
116.1
116.6
118.1
110.6
120.6
111.7
119.6
114.4

January
i960
Cents
Cereals and bakery products:
— 5 lb.
54.6
Flour, wheat
- 20 oz.
27.0
Biscuit mix —
— — lb.
13.1
Corn meal
—
lb.
18.6
Rice, short grain —
lb.
20.6
Rice, long grain
Rolled oats
—
• 18 oz. 21.5
25.7
Corn flakes - — - —
— 12 oz.
19.8
Bread, white
lb.
29.0
Soda crackers
—
lb.
24.4
Vanilla cooicies
Heat8, poultry, and fisht
106.0
. lb.
Round steak
62.7
Chuck roast
• lb.
82.0
Rib roast —
• lb.
53-2
Hamburger
• lb.
141.9
Veal cutlets
• lb.
78.4
Fork chops, center cut
• lb.
57.5
Bacon, sliced —
— - lb.
58.6
Ham, whole
lb.
73-3
lb.
leg
61.5
lb.
Frankfurters •
50.7
-12 oz.
Luncheon meat, canned
42.5
Frying chickens, ready-to-cock — ib.
47.5
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
56.6
Haddock, fillet, frozen
ib.
64.8
Salmon, pink, canned — — — — — — 1 6 oz.
32.2
Tuna fish, canned
e to 6i oz.
Dairy products:
24.7
Milk, fresh, (grocery) — — — t»t*
25-9
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
1487.7
Ice cream
£ gal*
75.3
Butter
—I*.
33-7
Cheese, American process — — 2
15.6
Milk, evaporated
t*h-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
26.6
Strawberries <
10 oz.
23-1
- 6 oz.
Orange juice concentrate
19.9
10 oz.
Peas, green <
22.7
9 oz.
Beans, green •
Fresh1
13-6
Apples — —
- lb.
17.2
— lb.
64.4
Oranges, size 200
» doz.
19.5
- lb.
Lemons
12.2
Grapefruit
Food and unit

Cereals and
bakery products

19.0

19-9
15.1
10.0

101.8

114.4
108.8

110.5
105.9
101.7
105.1
105.4

1.6
•3
1-3

December
_1252
Cents

62.1
12.2

8.7
15.2
19.2
15.4
12.1
34.3
31-9
49.7
33.8
37.2
26.9
19.0
19.6
15.1
10.1

39.4
39.5

16.8

16.6

12.4
14.9
26.3
22.3
76.1
59.6
24.3
29.3
83.3
27.4
18.4
36.6
55-5
57-8
26.6
28.5
5.1
51.1
9.3

12.4
14.9
26.3
22.3
76.4

I*abor D.C.

1.2

58.1

24.4
29-3
84.8
27.6
18.6
36.8
55-7
57-9
26.5
28.3
5-1
53.3
9.3

6A

TABLE A: Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
1959 annual average indexes and percent changes, 1958 to 1959
5 cities priced in January i960
(191*7-49=100)
Boston
Oromp

Index

All items
Food at hone
— — — —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats* poultry, and fish
Dairy products

Rent
Oaa and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefumishings — —
Household operation

—
—
—

Apparel — — — — — — — —
—
Men's and boys' —
— — — —
Women's and girls'
Other apparel
Private-——-———
Public
Personal care
Other goods and aarvicaa




—
—--

Percent
change

Kansas City
Index

Minneapolis

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Pittsburgh
Index Percent
change

125.8

0.8

125.9

1.5

125-6

1.0

125.5

118.7
115-5
132.3
112.8
112.9
123.9
101.9

- .8
- 2.0
•3
- 1.6
- 1.0
- 1.8
- 5.1

112.2
109.2
127.2
104.4
109.3
116.0
99.4

- 1-9
- 3.0
- .3
- 6.3
5.2
- 1.6
- 6.2

118.0
114.9
134.5
106.5
106.3
129.6
111.9

- .5
- 2.0
- .1
- 2-5
1.1
- .7
- 6.3

119.8
118.1
132.4
110.5
116.3
126.3
115.3

135.5
148.7
114.8
139-4
101.5
133.0

2.0
4.1
1.1
3-2
- 1.4
3.4

127-1
142.2
122.5
132.0
103.8
137.0

1.4
•9
1.2
9-0
1-3
1.0

127.4
154.4
134.7
128.9
98.6
134.1

.2
1.2
5.7
- -5
.1
1.0

128.9
132.1
139.0
135.1
107.3
143.1

104.6
104.4
97-5
128.3
99.4

- 1.2
- .3
- 3.1
3.5
- 3-0

105.4
108.0
97.3
128.2
88.2

.8
.1
.4
3.2
•3

108.1
108.2
101.7
130.7
93-2

.2
.8
.3
3-7
- -5

152.4
146.6
168.8

2.3
2.9
.4

153.4
139.1
251.9

5.1
5.5
2.7

130.2
124.4
174.4

159.7
132.8
116.1
126.9

2.3
2.5
2.4
1.0

170.8
135.3
133.5
125.1

5.0
5.0
3.5
- -3

196.2
137.8
125.0
133,1

1.2

Portland, Ore.
Index Percent
change
125.7

1.0

- 1.6
- 2.2
.7
- 3.3
•3
- .9
- 5.5

120.7
118.0
140.2
114.4
119.3
119.9
108.7

0
- 1.3
2.3
- 2.7
1.8
.1
- 4.9

1.8
1.5
5-5
2.7
.4
3-9

128.2
137.7
102.0
140.9
103.7
129.3

.5
1.2
0
.7
- 2.4
•5

104.8
104.5
96.0
131.0
99.1

.1
0
- 1.6
3-8
- .8

112.1
113.1
102.0
142.2
98.8

-

4.2
4.1
4.6

161.2
135.3
237.7

5.9
6.6
3-9

142.9
136.5
197.6

4.2
k.5
2.1

7.1
1.1
.4
1.4

161.2
127-4
110.7
129.4

6.3
1.8
1.6
1-5

141.9
133.4
128.0
128.6

.9
.8
3-1
1.1

-

-

.6
.3
.1
4.3
.7

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 k6 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
k6 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Mail questionnaires are used
to obtain local transit fares, public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and
certain other items which change in price infrequently. Prices of most other goods and
services 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 19^7-^9 = 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
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpo int, Idaho
Sha\mee, 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 and historical tables of index numbers for the
United States city average and for 90 large cities are available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or any of its regional offices (addresses below).
The historical tables include indefc 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. E.
Zone 9




New York
3^1 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
Sap. Francisco
105 West Adams St. 630 Sansome St.
Zone 3
Zone 11
LABOR - D. C.

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10