Full text of CPI Detailed Report : July 1954

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Issued

August

20,

195^

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - JULY 195^

Consumer prices in U. S. cities in July 195^ were 0.1 percent higher
than in June, according to the U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics, The principal factor in the rise during the month was an advance
of 0.7 percent in food prices, although most of this advance was offset byaverage decreases of 1.7 percent in transportation and 0.2 percent in apparel
prices. Indexes for housing, medical care, personal care, and reading and recreation also rose slightly during the month.
The Consumer Price Index for July was 115.2 (l$hrj-k9 = 100-). It was
0.^ percent higher than a year ago and 13.2 percent above the level of June 1950.
The July index on a 1935-39 = 100 base was 192.6.
FOOD
The rise of 0,7 percent in food prices brought the food index to 114.6
percent of the 19^7-^9 average, 0.7 percent higher than a year ago, and 14.0
percent above the June 1950 level. Higher food prices were reported in all
but 9 Western cities.
The advance in food prices mainly resulted from higher prices in
Central and Eastern cities for some fresh fruits and vegetables in short supply,
and seasonal increases for milk and eggs. Average prices of oranges rose 10
percent; potatoes, 8 percent; tomatoes, 7-1/2 percent; and green beans, 22-1/2
percent. Egg prices advanced 7 percent on the average. Fresh milk prices rose
more than 2 percent, offsetting some of the decrease in the daily product group
reported since reductions in price supports became effective April 1, 195^.
The rise in coffee prices continued up to mid-July, with increases
reported in most cities. The average price for coffee in July was $1.23 per
pound. In the latter part of July some weakness appeared in wholesale coffee
markets.
Reduced prices were reported for all pork items; bacon dropped 6 percent; ham, 2 percent; and chops, 1 percent. Poultry prices advanced seasonally
about 1 percent over the month.




2

HOUSING
Residential rents rose 0.2 percent on the average, although some lower
rents were reported in a few cities. Coal prices advanced somewhat from recent
seasonal lows. The average decline of 0.1 percent in prices of housefurnishings
resulted partly from reported sale prices for household textiles, appliances,
and some furniture items.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES
Lover prices of new automobiles reflected substantial reductions from
list prices reported by dealers. Gasoline prices continued to decline on the
average.
Apparel prices were generally lower as sales were reported for a
number of items, including men's and bo^c1 sport shirts, men's summer suits,
women's and girls' cotton dresses, and nylon hose. Prices of women's and children's shoes advanced slightly.
The price of cigarettes rose during the month, due largely to higher
local sales taxes in some cities.




TABLE 1. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — U.S. CITY AVERAGE ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Dates
July
1954

June
1954

May
1954

July
1953

June
1950

Year
1939

Pre-Korea

PreWorld War II

114.7

101.8

59.*

100.5

47.1

Group
This Month

Last Month

2 Months Ago

3

Last Year

INDEXES (19^7-49 = 100)
ALL ITEMS
FOOD 1/
Pood at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and fish
Dairy products — — —
Fruits and vegetables — — —
Other foods at home
HOUSING 2/

~
—
—
—

—

Rent
—
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefumishings — —

—
—

APPAREL

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

—

TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES £/

—

115.2

115.1

114.6

115.0

113.8

113.3

113.8

114.2

113.3

112.8

113.8

121.6
109.7
104.3
120.1
117.3

121.3
111.1
102.9
117.1
115.2

121.3
111.0
103.5
114.6
114.5

119.1
112.0
108.3
118.2
112.3

100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9*.l

*7.1
57.2
*1.6
49.8
46.3
48.4

119.0

118.9

118.9

117.8

10k. 9

76.1

128.5
107.8
121.1
105.7
117.2

128.3
107.6
120.9
IO5.8
117.2

128.3
107.7
120.9
105.9
117.2

123.8
106.4
123.7
108.1
115.7

108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6

86.6
104.9
56.4
53.*
68.4

104.0

104.2

104.2

104.4

96.5

52.5

106.6
98.2
116.5
90.8

107.0
98.5
116.3
91.0

107.3
98.5
115.9
90.9

107.4
98.9
115.0

92.2

98.1
93.3
102.1
88.*

y,
y,
V,
y

126.7
125.2
113.3
107.0
120.3

128.9
125.1
112.7
106.4
120.1

129.1
125.1
113.0
106.4
120.1

129.7
121.5
112.6
107.4
118.3

109.9
105.*
99.2
102.5
103.7

68.9
72.6
59.6
63.0
70.6

Year
1939

PERCENT CHANGE TO JULY 1954 FROM:
June
195*

May
195*

July
1953

June
1950

ALL ITEMS

0.1

0.2

0.4

13.2

93.9

FOOD 1/

0.7

1.1

0.7

14.0

1*3.3

0.8
0.2
-1.3
1.4
2.6
1.8

1.2
0.2

-1.2
0.8
4.8
2.4

0.4
2.1
-2.1
-3.7
1.6
*.5

13.6
18.4
3.*
13.0
17.2
24.7

142.5
112.6
163.7
109.4
159.*
142.4

Food at home — — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products —
Dairy products

HOUSING 2/

Rent — — — — — —

Household operation
APPAREL

Men's and boys'
Footwear —

— — — — — —
—

—

TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES jJ —

—

«

0.1

0.1

1.0

13.*

56.4

0.2
0.2
0.2
-0.1
0

0.2
0.1
0.2
-0.2
0

3.8
1.3
-2.1
-2.2
1.3

18.2
5.0
12.5
8.5
17.7

48.4
2.8
114.7
97.9
71.3

-0.2

-0.2

-0.4

7.8

98.1

-0.4
-0.3
0.2
-0.2

-0.7
-0.3
0.5
-0.1

-0.7
-0.7
1.3
-1.5

8.7
5.3
14.1
2.7

V
V
y

-1.7
0.1
0.5
0.6
0.2

-1.9
0.1
0.3
0.6
0.2

-2.3
3.0
0.6
-0.4
1.7

15.3
18.8
14.2
4.4
16.0

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




*/

83.9
72.5
90.1
69.8
70.U

TABLE 2.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS INDEXES FOR SEUECTED DATES
U.S. CITY AVERAGE AND 20 LARGE CITIES

( 1 9 * 7 - ^ 9 = 1 0 0

)

(1935-39 - 100)

City
Year
1939

July
1954

114.7

101.8

59A

192.6

115.7
116.9

lot.s

58.6

101.3
100.9
101.6

59.0

July

1954

195."

115.2

U.S. CITT AVERAGE

June
1950

July

1/

CITIES PRICED MOHTHLT:
118.0

Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles — — —
New York
Philadelphia —

117.5

Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Ore.

2/

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

CITIES HIICED IN FEBRUARY, MAY,
AUGUST, NOVEMBER

2/

Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D. C.

60.1
59.2

April
1950

117.3
115.1*
115.5

113.8
115.5

99.9

58.1

101.5

58.3

June
m h

June
19^

June
1950

117.6
115.5
114.2
117.4
116.8

117.3
115.1
114.5
116.1

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

May
1954

May
1953

May
1950

115.3
116.7
112.3
116.3
113.7

113.7
116.8
112.0
116.2
113.5

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

115.6

115.8

183.2
186.1

61.0

113.1
115.3

115.6

201.0
198.3
192.0
187.5
193.5
July
1954

60.*

101.2
101.4
102.1

113.8

MARCH, JUNE,

SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER

112.1
114.7
July
1953

July
1954

8/

CITIES PRICED II

115.8

113.3

116.3

CITIES PRICED IS JANUARY, APRIL,
JULY, OCTOBER

lib.9

102.8

61.7
60.7

3/

194.2

196.2

200.0
June

199.4
198.5
192.3
195.9
199.6

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3

iL/

58.6

May
1954
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

196.5
197.6

186.6
198.8
186.7

l/ These are the same indexes shown in column 1, converted to a base of 1935-39 = 100.
2/ Foods, fuels, rents, and a fev other items priced monthly; other commodities And service8 priced quarterly.
\j June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
%J May 1950; formerly priced February, May, August, November.

TABLE 3.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — PERCENT CHANGES FROM JUNE 1954 TO JULY 1954

U.S. City Average and Fire Cities Priced Monthly
All Items and Commodity Groups

All
Items

City

U.S. CITY AVERAGE
Chicago - — — —
Detroit —
Los Angeles —
Rev York —
Philadelphia




—-

Food

Housing

0.1

0.7

0.1

0.6
0.3

0.9
0.9

0.6
0.1
0.2
0.1

-0.7
0.4
0.3

-0.7

1.8
1.0

0

Apparel

Medical
Transportation Care

Other
Beading
Personal
Goods &
and
Care
Recreation Services

-0.2

-1.7

0.1

0.5

-0.2

-0.4

-0.2

1.4

-0.1

0.2

0.2

0

-3.8

0.2

-3.9
-0.2

0

0.2
0.6
0.8

-0.3
-0.4

0.2

0

0.6
3.1

0.1
-0.3
1.6
0.2

0.2
0.1
0.1
-0.3
0

0

TABLE 4. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
July 1954 Indexes and Percent Changes, A p r i l 1954 to July 1954
U.S. City Average and 10 C i t i e s Priced in July 1954

W.S.

cm

Group

AVERAGE

Los MinneaBoston Chicago Detroit Kansas
C i t y Angeles p o l i s
July 1954

—

ALL 2XEMB
FOOD
Food at k « N —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry and fish — — —

Other foods at haste

—

—

—— — —

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

—

—

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

—

—

.

.——

Other apparel
TRANSPORTATION —
MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

— — —. — —

5

Nev
York

Phila- P i t t s de lphia burgh

Indexes (191*7-1*91 = 100)

113.8 i 118.0

117.5

115.6

114.9

117.3

113.3

116.3

115.4

114 .6 112.9

112.6

118.5

109.9

112.3

113.5

113.6

117.7

115.6

111* .2
121.6
109.7
104.3
120.1
117.3

112.3
119.4
107.0
104.3
120.5
111.5

112.0
116.9
104.5
103.2
118.8
122.9

117.8
117.8
109.6
103.1
136.9
120.3

109.5
120.3
104.3
96.5
115.9
111.7

110.8
122.4
108.7
102.9
106.8
114.0

113.2
125.4
102.5
98.6
125.8
124.5

113.4
125.1
109.7
104.2
114.2
119.0

117.2
120.9
112.8
108.1
126.2
118.2

115.4
122.4
106.6
106.8
122.5
125.3

119.0

117.9

126.9

122.2

119.1

124.4

121.4

115.5

113.7

117.1

128.5
107.8
121.1
105.7
117.2

122.0
108.8
118.9
104.6
113.5

106.3
122.9
107.4
120.8

108.4
118.7
109.1
110.1

104.3
112.6
105.6
122.3

109.5
107.1
107.2

139.9
110.0
113.9
106.7
121.0

116.8
108.5
122.4
105.9
118.9

102.3
114.3
108.8
113.7

116.9
122.9
105.3
120.0

104.0 •101.8

107.9

102.9

103.6

105.9

105.7

103.5

105.3

103.7

106.6
98.2
116.5
90.8

103.7
96.1
112.2
103.3

113.0
101,2
118.0
94.7

109.2
95.0
113.0
87.6

107.1*
98.0
114.2
87.5

109.2
96.6
117.5
82.5

109.0
101.0
113.9
92.7

106.2
97.4
116.6
93.8

104.4
104.0
110.7
92.7

106.8
96.2
118.0
98.9

126.7
125.2
113.3
107.0
120.3

137.2
124.2
112.0
103.4
118.5

133.7
122.6
115.0
110.8
118.8

119.7
124.3
118.8
111.1
125.0

125.4
136.0
116.2
114.8
117.3

121.0
122.9
117.1
99.5
114.8

121.4
143.0
115.9
114.3
125.9

129.3
123.9
107.6
107.0
121.5

136.9
125.0
117.1
112.2
123.5

137.5
128.t)
116.1
97.7
120.6

115.2

...
—

—

Percent Change - - A p r i l 1954 to July 19514-

ALL ITEMS

0.5

0.8

1.3

0.7

0.1

-0.7

0.9

0.7

1.0

0.8

0.6

FOOD

2.0

3.3

2.0

2.1

0.8

-0.7

1.2

2.3

3.0

2.0

1.7

2.1

2.0
-0.3
-1.2
-1.1
12.5
2.3

2.3
0
-0.2
-2.6
10.6
3.7

1.0
0
-3.2
-3.2
10.4
2.3

-0.9
-0.1
-0.8
-0.3
-6.0
2.1

1.2
0.6
-1.3
-3.7
4.7
5.5

2.5
-0.1

-0.7
-0.3
9.2
3.3

3.9
0.2
0.9
0
16.8
3.7

2.1+
10.4
2.9

3.4
0.1
0.4
2.5
14.7
2.1

2.5
1.1
-0.4
-0.3
13.7
1.5

2.1
3.2
0.5
-2.3
3.8
4.8

0.4

0.3

1.6

0.1

0.7

0.9

1-3

0.4

0.2

0.5

0.4

1/1.5
-0.1
-3.0
o.s

...
0.1
-0.9
-0.1

0.4

0.2

...
-1.7
-0.6
-0.9
0.2

-0.9
-0.5
-0.8
1.2

-0.4
-0.2

1/2.5 3L/l.l
0
-0.2
- 0 . 8 -5-4
0.4 - 0 . 7
0
0.3

0
-7.2
-0.3
0.3

0.2
-0.2
0.7
0.2

-0.1

0.7

-0.2

0.3

-0.2

0.1

0.2

-0.5

-0.4

0.3

-0.5

0

^

- 0 . 9

-0.2

c

?

-0.3
-0.3
2.2

-0.4
0.6
0.2

-0.3
-1.1
1.0

0.4

1.0

0

-0.9
-0.2
-0.1
0.1

-0.3
-0.4
2.7
0.6

-0.5
0.1
0.9
0.3

-0.2

-0.8
0.2
-0.3
0.9
0.1

-1.8
0.7
-0.1
3.3
0.1

Food at hone — — — — — — .
Cereals and bakfry products
Meats, poultry and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables — — —
Other foods at hone — - - - - BOOSING —
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefornishings — — — — — —
Household operation
APPAREL
Men's and boys'
— — — —
Women's and girls'
Footwear
- — - — — — —
Other apparel — — — — — —
TRANSPORTATION

MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE
REAPING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES
}J Change from January 19




0.4

0.2
0.2
-2.3
-0.4
0.3

-0.2
0.3
0.4
-1.9

0.2
0.4

0 . 5

- - -

...
0
—

0,2

0.4

0.4

1.3

1.2

0.9

-0.3
0
-0.4
-0.1

1.0
: -0.2

-0.8

-3.4

-4.9

1.6

1.5
-0,3

0.4

0.3

3.1

0.1

6-

-0.2

-0.3

-1.2
Q

i

0

0

0.5

i

i

0.5

0.4

1.2

-1.0

-0.2

-0.3

0.4
0.8
0.2
0.2
0.6

-0.6

-3.6
0

0.1
2.8
0.2

1.1
0.1
1.9
0.1

1/0.5
0
0

-0.6
0.1
0

6

TABLE
July

1954

5.

CONSUMER

INDEXES
U.

S.

PRICE

AND

City

INDEX

PERCENT
Average

and

( I 9 V M 9
Total Food
City

=

Total

Cereals &

Food at Home

Bakery Products

Percent

—

FOOD

CHANGES,
20

Large

ITS

1954

SUBGROUPS
to

July

195*+

Cities

100)
Meats,

Percent

AND

June

Dairy

Poultry

Fruits &
Vegetables

Products

& Fish
Percent
Index
Change

Percent

Other
Foods at Home

Percent

Percent

Index

Percent
Change

114.6

0.7

114.2

0.8

121.6

0.2

109.7

-1.3

104.3

1.4

120.1

2.6

H7.3

1.8

—

115.3
116.6

0,5

114.7

1.3
0.1

-0.9

108.0

-0.1

121.6

1.1

113.0

-1.7

108.4

1.1

121.3

3.1
2.6

109.3

116.3

116.9
121.3

116.8

0.5

0.7
0.6

—
—
—

117.5

2.4

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

112.9
112.6

1.9

2.2

119.4

-0.1

107.0

1.4

120.5

9.3

-0.1

104.5

103.2

2.6

118.8

116.1

116.1

1.2

116.9
118.8

113.1

103.4

-0.2

123.0

122.8

1.9

113.2

0.7

112.8

0.8

117.4

0.3
0.8

-0.4

4.5

111.5
122.9

2.0

1.0

-0.3
-1.6

104.3

0.9
1.0

112.3
112.0

-1.1

97.2

-0.2

119.9

4.4

121.0

118.5
112.8

0.9
0.6

117.8

0.9

117.8

-0.1

107.7
109.6

-0.2

103.1

-0.2

3.5

120.3

1.3
1.6

112.1

118.2

-1.3
-2.6

1.1

5.3
0

115.9
106.8

5.5
1.1

115.9

0.5

105.7
104.3

-0.5

109.9
112.3

-0.3
-0.1

136.9
119.4

1.5

-4.3

111.7
114.0

Minneapolis — —
He* York — — — —
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh —
Portland, Ore.
St. Louis — — —

—
—

-0.1

125.8

0.3

114.2

5.7

124.5
119.0

U.S. CITT AVERAGE
Atlanta

Seattle
Washington, D.C.

-

113.5
113.6
117.7
115.6

—
—
-

Index

Change

Change

Index

103.4

Change

0.7
0.6

120.3

-0.7

109.5
110.8

-1.0

122.4

0

IO8.7

-2.2

102.9

0.1+

113.2

0.1

125.4

0

102.5

-1.1

98.6

1.8

113. 4
117.2

2.1

125.1

0.1

3.9

-0.6

108.1

115.4
114.3

0.3

120.9
122.4

-0.3
-0.6

104.2

1.1

109.7
112.8

-0.1

106.6

106.8

2.7
-0.2

119.3
119.2

0

114.6

-1.3
-0.8

104.6

-0.3

2.3

109.2

99.4

2.9
0.1

118.9

110.7
109.8

-0.6

105.6

1.0
0.1

Ilk.I

-0.2

117.0

115.8

-0.3
0.4

115.2

0.3
-0.1

114.8

-0.1

114.0

0.6

114.2

113.2

-0.1

113.8 1

Index

0.1+

113.2

-0.1

121.5

2.C
0
0

113.2

0.4

120.9

0.2

0.8

TABLE 6 .

130.2

109.9

R E T A I L FOOD P R I C E S FOR

96.5

-2.3
-1.6

105.4

0

-1.7

105.3
102.8

-0.3

-1.9

110.2

0.3

JULY

1 9 5 4 AND JUNE

Index

Index

Change

5.4

Change

1.3

1.7
1.5
2.3

126.2

3.1

118.2

122.5
115.2

3.3
-4.2

125.3
117.4

127.8

1.8

125.8

3.2
0.6

113.7
119.0

-5.6
2.6

119.0
116.8

2.3

117.1
117.4

-2.5

115.7

3.5

3.5

115.1

1.3

1.9
0.6

4.7

1954

U.S. City Average
July

1954

June

1954

Food and Unit
CEREALS AID BAKERY PRODUCTS
Floor, wheat
5 lb.
20 oz.
Biscuit BiZ
lb.
Corn meal
lb.
Rice
20 oz.
Rolled oats
12 oz.
Corn flakes
lb.
Bread, white
lb.
Soda crackers
7 oz.
Vanilla cookies
MEATS, POULTRY AID FISH:
lb.
Round steak
lb.
Chuck roast
lb.
Rib roast
lb.
Hamburger
lb.
Teal cutlets
lb.
Pork chops, center cut
lb.
Bacon, sliced
lb.
HUB, whole
lb.
Lamb, leg
lb.
Frankfurters
12 oz.
Luncheon neat, canned
lb.
Frying chickens, dressed
lb.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook
lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
16 oz.
Salmon, pink, canned
7 oz.
Tuna fish, canned
DAIRY PRODUCTS:
qt.
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
pt.
Ice cream
lb.
Butter
lb.
Cheese, American proeess
Milk, evaporated
i* hoz. can
FRUITS AID VEGETABLES:
Frozen
12 oz.
Strawberries
6 oz.
Orange Juice concentrate
10 oz.
Peas, green
10 oz.
Beans, green
Fresh
lb.
Apples
lb.
Bananas
doz.
Oranges, size 200
lb.
Lemons
* Priced only in season




July

Food and Unit
(Cents)

(Cents)
53.6

53.5
27.6

27.4

12.7
19.6

12.5
19.6

18.5

18.5

21.9

21.9
17.0

17.1
27.2

27.2

23.6

23.6

91.4

91.0

50.3
70.0

51.8
70.1

41.0

41.1

108.2

110.5

92.0

92.7

81.6

86.7

71.5
72.9
56.0

72.9
73.6
56.1

51.6

52.2

44.1

44.0

55.7
44.2

54.1

49.7
52.0
39.7

44.5
49.6
51.7
39.7

21.6

21.1

22.6

22.1

29.5
69.2

29.5

56.7
13.8

36.5

69.3
56.9
13.9

36.5

19.5
19.2

19.3
19.4

24.5

24.5

18.1
17.9
60.2
16.0

18.5
18.0

54.3
17.6

Fresh (continued)
Grapefruit *
Peaches *
Strawberries *
Grapes, seedless *
Watermelons *
Potatoes
Sweetpotatoes
Onions
Carrots
Lettuce
Celery
Cabbage
Tomatoes
Beans, green
Canned
Orange Juice
Peaches
Pineapple
Fruit cocktail
Corn, cream style
Peas, green
Tomatoes
Baby foods
Dried
Prunes
lavy beans
OTHER FOODS AT HOME:
Vegetable soup
Beans with pork
Gherkins, sweet
Catsup, tomato
Coffee
Tea
Cola drink
carton
Shortening, hydrogenated
Margarine, colored
Lard
Salad dressing
Peanut butter
Sugar
Corn syrup
Grape Jelly
Chocolate bar
Eggs,

Grade A ,

Gelatin,

large

flavored

1954

(Cents)

June

(Cents)

.each
lb.

18.9

pt.
lb.

32.8
32.7

lb.

FC.8
94.4

15 lb.
lb.

102.7
17.6

lb.

8.2

8.4

lb.

Ik.k

head

13.9
12.8

lb.

14.5

lb.
lb.

6.5
2b. 1

14.5
6.6
24.3

lb.

21.7

17.7

4 6 oz. can

35.7
32.8

34.7
32.8

38.6

38.8

#2 h can
#303 can

40.9

41.1

18.2

18.2

#303 can

21.4

21.4

# 2 can
4 h~5 oz.

17.5
9.7

17.3
9.8

lb.

30.9

30.6

lb.

17.9

17.7

# 2 h can
#2 h can

16.1

13.8

11 oz. can

14.3

14.3

16 oz. can

14.5

14.5
30.0

7 & oz.
14

m..

29.7
22.4

lb.

123.0

4 lb.
of 6, 6 oz.
lb.

34.4

22.3
120.9
34.2

32.3

32.2

35.5

35.2

lb.

30.3
26.3

27.1

pt.

36.1

35.9

lb

49.3

49.1

lb.

1954

30.1

5 lb.

52.7

52.7

24 oz.

23.7

23.7

12 oz.

25.5
4.8

25.3

1 oz.
doz.

56.9

4.7
53.c

3-4 oz.

8.5

8.5

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

7

The Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices of goods and
services customarily purchased by city wage-earner and clerical-worker families. Index
numbers are presented on the base 19^7-^9 = 100, and show the average increase or decrease in prices from the 19^7-^9
age. For the convenience of users, Indexes are
also calculated on the base 1935-39 » 100About 3^0 items are priced for the index to estimate the average change in
prices of a fixed quantity of goods and services from one period to the next. Among
these are all the, important items that wage and clerical workers buy, and they are
selected so that their average price change will be representative of the price changes
on all items. Prices are collected in k6 cities which are representative of all cities
in the United States.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items are priced every month in each
city. Prices of most other goods and services are obtained every month in the 5 largest
cities, every 3 months in 16 other large cities and in 9 medium-sized cities, and every
k months in l6 small cities. In each city, prices are reported by representative retail
stores and service establishments patronized by wage and clerical worker families.
Indexes are calculated for all cities combined (the U»S. city average) and
for each of the 20 largest cities. No separate index numbers are calculated for the
following 26 medium-sized and small cities which are included in the U.S. average:
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
I^ynchburg, 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

In the calculation, price changes on individual items are weighted by their
importance in wage-earner and clerical-worker family spending. City data are combined
by weighting with 1950 population data to arrive at the U.S. city average.
Comparison of city indexes shows only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another. City indexes do not measure differences in price level between
cities.
A detailed description of the index containing lists of items priced, their
weights, cities included, and an explanation of the index calculation, its uses and
limitations, is available in Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 11^0 - "The Consumer
Price Index - A Layman1s Guide," for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, United
States Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. Price 20 cents.
A more technical description of the Consumer Price Index is available upon
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, Washington 25, D. C.
Historical series of index numbers for the U.S. city average and 20 Individual
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 19^7 to date.