Full text of CPI Detailed Report : July 1955
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Issued August 23* 1955 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington 25* B. C* CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - JULY 1955 Consumer prices of goods and services in United States cities rose 0*3 percent between June and July 1955* according to the U*S* Department of Laborfg Bureau of Labor Statistics* As in June* seasonally higher food prices were mainly responsible for the increase* although continued small increases in rates for services were also a factor* Costs of housing* personal care* medical care, the other goods and services category* and reading and recreation advanced during the month* Transportation costs were lower than in June and apparel prices were unchanged on the average* The Consumer Price Index for July 1955 was Ulu? percent of the 19U7-U9 average* 0*U percent lower than a year ago* Among the index conpcnents now at their highest levels are residential rents* household operation, medical care* and personal care* These categories are more strongly influenced by changes in costs of services than other index groups* FOOD The food index rose 0*7 percent to 112*1* but remained 2*2 percent lower than in July 195U* Substantial seasonal increases in prices of fresh fruits and eggs* with lesser advances in dairy products* restaurant meals* pork products* processed fruits and vegetables* fats and oils* and bakery products caused the increase over the month* Lower prices were reported for fresh vegetables* poultry, some cuts of beef* lamb, and watermelons* The family food budget cost more in 36 cities* but slightly less in the other 10* Prices of fresh fruits rose 9*ii percent, following their 8*7 percent increase from May to June* Fresh peaches returned to the 1955 market at an average price of 30*9 cents per pound compared with 18*9 cents last July* reflecting the severe damage to this yearfs crop in the Southern states from the March freeze* Grapes also appeared in the market at higher prices than at the end of last season* Prices of apples were up 8*9 percent* Oranges continued to increase (up 5*2 percent)* as they usually do in the Summer* Watermelon prices declined 27*0 percent from the first of season price in June* as lower prices were reported in U3 of the 1*6 cities* Fresh vegetable prices declined 5*1 percent* led by potatoes (down 17*U percent), reflecting abundant supplies, with all U6 cities reporting decreases* Green beans (down 17*1 percent) and cabbage (down 13*3 percent) were both reported selling at lower prices in all but 2 or 3 cities* Lettuce prices* down last month, rose 18*9 percent, because of crop damage caused by hot, dry weather; costs of fresh tomatoes and celery advanced slightly* Egg prices rose seasonally in H3 cities, averaging 6*5 percent higher than in June* Small price increases contributing to the 1*U percent rise in the "other food purchased for consumption at home*1 category were reported for shortening, margarine, peanut butter, and canned pork and beans* Scattered increases in prices of bread and milk caused the advances in the indexes of cereals and bakery products (up 0*2 percent) and dairy products (up 0*6 percent)* The meats, poultry, and fish group declined fractionally (0*1 percent), and is now 5*5 percent below its July 195U level* Substantial decreases in July prices of pork chops (down 3*0 percent) and to a lesser extent in poultry (down 1*1 percent) reversed their price movement from May to June* Chuck roast prices also declined* In contrast, prices of processed pork (bacon and ham) rose almost enough to offset these decreases* 2 HOUSING The housing index rose 0*2 percent between June and July, although residential rents held at their June level* Prices of anthracite coal and fuel oil advanced during the month. Laundry service charges showed a small increase, but sale prices for dry cleaning were reported in some cities* The slight decline (0*2 percent) in housefumishings prices resulted principally from widespread reductions for electric refrigerators• A number of sale prices in retail stores were also reported for vacuum cleaners, washing machines, sewing machines, and both living room and bedroom furniture* OTHER COMMODITIES AMD SERVICES dentists9 Prices for men's haircuts were reported as much as 20 percent higher in several cities, and prices of home permanent wave refill kits advanced in most cities priced in July* Physicians', surgeons1, fees, and hospital rates rose in a number of cities* The 0*1 percent increase in reading and recreation costs represents the net effect of higher motion picture admissions for special features and lower prices for television sets and sporting goods* Prices of new automobiles continued downward as dealers granted larger concessions, and used car prices also declined during the month* Reduced auto* mobile Insurance rates were reported, but gasoline prices were higher than in June* The apparel index was unchanged as price declines for nylon slips and hose were counterbalanced by some increases in men's and boys' apparel and footwear* TABIE 1. 3 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — U.S. CITY AVERAGE ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Dates July 1955 June 1955 May 1955 July 195U June 1950 Group This Month Last Month 2 Months Ago Last Year Pre-Korea Year 1939 PreWorld War II INDEXES ( 1 9 4 7 - ^ 9 = 1 0 0 ) ALL ITEMS Food at home Cereals and bakery products • . Meats, poultry and fish • • • . Dairy products HOUSING 2 / Rent . . . . « « . . . . . . . . Solid fuels and fuel oil • • . . Housefurnishings . . . . . . . . APPAREL . . . .. Footwear TRANSPORTATION MEDICAL CARE PERSONAL CARE .. READING AND RECREATION OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES 3/ . . . . 11U.7 llluli llii.2 115.2 101.3 59.4 112*1 111.3 111.1 11U.6 100.5 47.1 111*1 12U.2 103.7 10U.7 121.9 109.2 110.3 12U.0 103.8 loU.l 119.5 107.7 110.0 123.8 102.1 loU.o 120.2 108.U llli.2 121.6 109.7 10U.3 120.1 117.3 100.5 102.7 106.1 92.3 102.5 94.1 47.1 57.2 41.6 49.8 46.3 48*4 119.9 119.7 119.U 119.0 104.9 76.1 130.U 110.8 123.2 103.6 119.U 130.U 110.7 122.7 103.8 119.2 130.3 110.9 122.5 103.7 119.0 128.5 107.8 121.1 105.7 117.2 108.7 102.7 107.6 97.4 99.6 86.6 104.9 56.4 53.U 68.4 103.2 103.2 103.3 IOU.O 96.5 52.5 105.7 96.9 117.5 90.5 105.6 97.2 117 . 4 90.1 105.7 97.3 117.1; 90.3 106.6 98.2 116.5 90.8 98.1 93.3 102.1 88.4 V V 125.1 127.9 115.5 106.3 120.3 125.8 127.6 11U.7 106.2 119.9 125.5 127.5 113.9 106.5 119.9 126.7 125.2 113.3 107.0 120.3 109.9 105.4 99.2 102.5 103.7 70.6 June 1950 Year 1939 V 5/ 68.9 72.6 59.6 63.0 PERCENT CHANGE TO JULY 1955 FROMt June 1955 PERSONAL CARE READING AND RECREATION OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES 3/ 1/ 2/ 2/ 4/ July 195U 0.3 O.U - 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.2 - 0.1 0.6 2.0 l.U o.U 12.7 93.1 - 2.2 11.5 138.0 1.0 0.3 1.6 0.7 l.U 0.7 - 2.7 2.1 - 5.5 o.U 1.5 - 6.9 10.5 20.9 - 2.3 13.U 18.9 16.0 135.9 117.1 1U9.3 110.2 163.3 125.6 0.2 O.U 0.8 1U.3 57.6 0 0.1 O.U - 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.6 - 0.1 0.3 1.5 2.8 1.7 - 2.0 1.9 20.0 7.9 liu5 6.U 19.9 50.6 5.6 118.U - 0.1 - 0.8 6.9 96.6 0.1 - 0.3 0.1 o.U 0 - o.U 0.1 0.2 • 0.8 1.3 0.9 - 0.3 7.7 3.9 15.1 2.U rv jjy - - 0.1 0.3 l.U - 0.2 0.3 - 1U.1 21.3 16.U 3.7 16.0 0 TRANSPORTATION May 1955 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.3 - 1.0 2.2 1.9 - 0.7 0 Includes restaurant meals not shown separately. Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately. Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services"(such as legal services, banking fees, burial services, etc.). Not available. 9U.0 7U.6 y w 82.0 16.2 93.8 68.7 70.U TABUS 2. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS INDEXES FOR SEIECTED DATES U.S. CITY AVERAGE AND 20 LARGE CITIES (1935-39=100) ( 1 9 ^ 7 - ^ 9 * 1 0 0 ) City July 1955 June 1955 July 195U June 1950 Year 1939 July 1955 1/ U.S. CITY AVERAGE . 111.7 liU.b 115.2 101.8 59.^ 191.8 118.2 116.8 115.9 111.9 115*8 117. h 116.7 115.3 111.8 115.5 118.0 117.5 lllu9 113.3 116.3 102.8 58.6 59.0 60.1* 60.1 59.2 201.3 197.2 193.7 185.2 192.7 July 1955 April 1955 1951A H3.8 115.9 117.5 llli.O nit. 7 113 .H 115.2 117.0 113.8 lllu? 113.8 115.6 117.3 115.)4 115.5 June 1955 March 1955 June 195U 116.0 115.0 113.7 115.9 115.3 115.3 11U.9 113 .U 115.6 115.6 117.6 115.5 11U.2 117.U 116.8 CITIES PRICED MONTHLY: Detroit CITIES HtlCED IN JANUARY, APRIL, JULY, OCTOBER 2/ CITIES PRICED IN MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER 2/ May 1955 CITIES PRICED IN FEBRUARY, MAY, AUGUST, NOVEMBER 2/ February 1955 11U.9 115.7 111.7 116.3 113.2 115.3 115.5 lll.U 116.8 113.5 1/ 2/ 3/ 5/ July 102.8 101.3 100.9 101.6 April July 1955 19*D0 101.2 101.U 3/102.1 99.9 101.5 61.0 61.7 60.7 58.1 58.3 183.2 186.6 19U.6 193.8 198.7 June 1950 June 1955 1/101.3 101.6 101.2 58.3 57.9 58.U 59.3 58.6 101.1 100.9 May 195U May 1950 115.3 116.7 112.3 116.3 113.7 100.U 103.5 100.2 102.0 101.6 196.7 197.7 191.5 193 .U 197*0 May 1955 59.2 59.5 58.5 59.2 60.U 196.5 195.5 185.1 199.6 186. U These are the same indexes shown in column 1, converted to a base of 1935-39 = 100. Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items priced monthly; other commodities and services priced quarterly. June 1950j formerly priced March, June, September, December. May 1950j formerly priced February, May, August, November. TABLE 3. City U.S. CITY AVERAGE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — PERCENT CHANGES FROM JUNE 1955 TO JULY 1955 U.S. City Average and Five Cities Priced Monthly All Items and Commodity Groups All Items Food Housing Apparel . 0.3 0.7 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.3 1.2 o.U 0.7 0.7 1.0 0.5 - 0.2 0.1* 0 - 0.2 0 1.0 0.2 0.3 - 0.3 - o.U Medical Care Personal Care Reading and Recreation Other Goods & Services - 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 - 0.2 0.1 - 0.9 - o.l 0 0.1 2.3 0.1 0 0.6 o.U 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.8 0.2 - 2.1 - O.Q 0.5 0.8 0 1.0 0 0.1 Transportation TABIE U. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS July 1955 Indexes and Percent Changes, April 1955 to July 1955 U. S. City Average and 10 Cities Priced in July 1955 Group U.S. Kansas MinneLos CITY AVERAGE Boston Chicago Detroit City Angeles apolis New York Phila- Pittadelphia burgh July 1955 Indexes (19U7-U9 - 100) 11U.7 FOOD Food at hone Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry and fish Dairy products • • • • Fruit8 and vegetables • Other foods at home • • HOUSING Rent Gas and electricity • • • Solid fuels and fuel oil Housefurnishings . • • • Household operation • • . APPAREL Men's and boys' • • Women's and girls' Footwear Other apparel • • . TRANSPORTATION MEDICAL CARE . PERSONAL CARE READING AND RECREATION • OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES 113.6 118.2 116.8 115.9 Meats, poultry and fish • • • • • • • Dairy products Fruits and vegetables • • . Other foods at home Men's and boys' • • • • • • • • • • • • Women's and girls' . . Footwear • • • « • • • • • « » • • • . TRANSPORTATION READING AND RECREATION OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES 1/ Change from January 1955 to July 1955* 115.8 lll;.0 11U.7 110.8 110.5 nU.U 107.7 112.2 112.1 111.6 111; . 2 112.3 111.7 109.6 119.1 101.1; 106.1; 120.7 105.8 109.0 119.3 98.1; 106.U 120.0 113.9 113.3 119.7 101.6 105.3 135.3 110.U 106.2 120.8 98.9 103.8 11U.3 101.7 109.7 127.9 103.6 103.0 11U.5 107.5 111.3 126.2 99.7 10U.2 123.1 116.7 110.6 128.9 10U.8 102.7 115.3 111.3 113.3 122.9 106.3 108.8 123.6 110.2 111.7 121;. 5 100.8 106.5 120.0 117.8 m . i 121.8 105.0 103.2 118.7 110.9 119.9 120.1; 130.2 121.8 121.8 127.0 123.2 11U.9 1U*.0 116.1 118.2 130.1* 110.8 123.2 103.6 119.lv 12U.1 1U.7 123.7 105.6 117.8 110.5 1 2 7 . If 106 ® 2 12U.0 108.1; 117.5 106.8 112.2 120.1 113.? 102.1 12U.9 116.2 105.1 12U.6 lUl.U 118.8 117.1 100.U 120.0 117.8 108.9 12U.2 103.2 119.3 102.3 llU.h 10U.9 lili .3 12U.2 U2.5 102 .U 119.6 130.8 107.6 131.6 103.3 111.7 103 a 2 101.5 105.0 102.2 102.0 103.7 103.1 100.9 103.5 101.2 105.1 105.7 96.9 117.5 90.5 103.7 lio.U 1 0 7 . 1 113.2 102.9 95.7 121.7 93.2 9U.8 113.3 87.2 106.1* 95.3 11U.7 86.6 107.6 96.9 118.6 82.8 107.6 96.7 112.8 91.3 105.7 92.5 117.0 92.6 10U.3 100.3 111.8 91.2 10U.5 93.6 111; . 9 97.2 107.7 98.1 119.9 9U.1 125.U 127.9 115.5 106.3 120.3 132.5 125.0 112.3 107.7 118.5 130.0 128.5 115.9 113.5 118.2 122.3 132.6 126.8 108.2 12U.8 125.5 136.U 121.1* 115.6 116.5 122.8 12U.3 117.8 96.2 116.0 118.6 1U8.0 122.5 116.8 126.3 127.1 126.2 109.2 10U.2 121.0 138.6 135.1 117.1? 113.2 123.5 137.7 131.6 116.5 97.7 120.1; 122.1* 125.9 U7.7 n6.o 120.1 0 0.2 o.U 95.U 0.1 0.8 1.7 0.9 0.2 0.7 0.1 3.7 - 0.2 2.0 0.3 Solid fuels and fuel oil Housefurnishings 111.9 Ul.l 121;. 2 103.7 10U.7 121.9 109.2 o.U • • • • • • > • • • • • • 117.5 112.1 Percent Change — Food at home 115.9 0 0.8 1.0 7.8 0.7 0 o.U 1/ 1.1 0 0.5 - 2.0 - 3.U 0.1 - 0.9 1.1 o.5 1.1 0.5 l.U 1.0 0.6 April 1955 to July 1955 1.2 0.7 - 0.7 - 0.9 o.U - O.lj 0 0.5 1.3 0.3 1.2 0.9 5.2 - 0.7 1.3 - o.U 0.9 3.1 2.8 - 0.2 0.7 0 0.2 - 0.7 5.8 - l.U 1.5 0.1 - 5.8 - 0.6 - o.U - 0.1 0.5 - 1.7 - 1.3 3.5 - 0.2 1.6 - 0.1 o.U 3.U 0.3 - 0.3 - - 0 0.5 0.1 1.0 1.3 0 • - - 0.3 1.0 - 2.0 0.1 - 0.7 2.1* 0.1 lc8 0 2.3 - 0.2 0.1 - 1.8 15.1 1/ 1.0 0 - 0.1 - 2.0 - 0.2 0 - 1/ 0.7 0.7 1.5 0.9 1.6 - 0.7 2.U 3.1 - 0.5 0.9 0 1.5 - o.U 3.8 - 0.5 l.U o.U 2.8 - 0.3 1.0 1.5 - 0.8 - 0.1 - 0.1 . - 0 - 0.1 - U.6 - i.e 0.2 0 - 9.9 - 0.7 0 3.1 - 5.3 - 2.7 r 0.3 0.9 0 2.1 - 2.8 - 0.5 1/ 0.1 - l.i 1.0 0.3 - 0.3 0.3 - o.U - 0.5 - 1.0 - 1.5 - 0.8 0.2 - 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.2 - 2.2 0.6 - 0.7 0.7 1.2 0.7 0.8 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.5 - 1.0 O.U - 0.2 0 o.U 0.5 0.6 0.1 - 0.9 0 - 0.3 0.1 - 1.5 0.9 - 0.3 0.2 - 2.1 0.3 - 0.9 - o.U 2*6 0.7 1.0 - 1.5 - 0.8 0 - 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.6 - 0.3 o.U - 1.1 0.1* 0.6 0.6 0.1 1.2 0.3 0.1; 0.2 6.1 0.5 o.U - 0.6 0.1 0.1 1.6 0.1 U.5 0.9 - o.U o.U 2.U O.U - 1.1 1.5 0.9 0.9 5.9 - 0.6 0.6 - 1.5 0.6 0.7 - 0.7 0 1.1 0 - 0.3 0.7 0 3.3 0 - 0.9 - 0.5 0 0 - 0.5 7.1 1.2 I.u 6 TABI2 5. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — FOOD AND ITS SUBGROUPS Ally 1955 Indexes and Percent Changes, June 1955 to July 1955 U. S. City Average and 20 Large Cities (19^7-^9 =» 100) Total Food City Index U.S. CITY AVERAGE Atlanta Baltimore . Boston . . Chicago • . Cincinnati Cleveland . Detroit Houston • • Kansas City Los Angeles . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • • • . . . • • . Minneapolis • . . New York . . . . Philadelphia . . Pittsburgh . . . Portland, Ore. . St. Louis . . . . San Francisco . . Scranton . . . . Seattle Washington, D.C. Percent Change . 112.1 0 . 7 • • • ; • < • • • • • • • • Total Food at Home Percent Index Change Cereals & Bakery Products Percent Index Change 111.1 0.7 12U.2 103.7 - 0.3 0.1 U7.9 121.9 119.1 U9.3 12U.6 U9.S 119.7 118.2 120.8 127.9 o.U 0 0 0.5 - 0.1 - 0.2 - 0.2 0.1 0.1 0 107.5 10U.6 101.U . 98.U 1 0 5 .U 101.1 101.6 102.2 98.9 103.6 - 126.2 128.9 122.9 12U.5 12U.8 U8.7 130.9 119.5 127*8 121.9 0.1 0.2 2.5 0.2 0 0.2 0 - 0.1 0 0 99.7 10U.8 106.3 100.8 105.0 103.7 107*7 103.5 103.9 101.2 110.8 112.1 110.8 110.5 113*8 109.7 llU.ii 110.7 107.7 112.2 - 0.2 0.1 1.2 1.2 0.8 0.U o.U 0.5 0.3 0.7 109.3 110.6 109.6 109.0 113*0 108.8 113*3 109.5 106.2 109.7 - 112.1 111.6 llli.2 112.3 111.7 113*1* 113.6 110.2 113 J * 112.0 o.U 0.7 1.0 - 0.2 0.9 0.9 0.2 1.2 O.U 0.6 111.3 110.6 113.3 111.7 111.1 Ul.li U3*l U0.3 U2.5 U0.5 0.3 0.8 1*3 - 0.3 0.6 1*2 0.2 1.U o.U 0.7 1*5 1.3 0.9 0.5 o.U 0.6 0.3 0.5 TABLE 6. Food and Unit CEREALS AND BAKERY PRODUCTS: Flour, wheat 5 lb. Biscuit mix 20 oz. Corn meal lb. Rice lb. Rolled oats 20 oz. Corn flakes 12 oz. Bread, white lb. Soda crackers lb. Vanilla cookies 7 oz. MEATS, POULTRY AND FISH: lb. Round steak lb. Chuck roast lb. Rib roast lb. Hamburger lb. Veal cutlets lb. Pork chops, center cut lb. Bacon, sliced lb. Ham, whole lb. Lamb, leg lb. Frankfurters 12 oz. Luncheon meat, 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 process Milk, evaporated i oz. can FRUITS AND VEGETABIES: Frozen 10 oz. Strawberries 6 oz. Orange juice concentrate 10 oz. Peas, green 10 oz. Beans, green Fresh lb. Apples lb. Bananas doz. Oranges, size 2 0 0 lb. Lemons * Priced only in season l/Formerly published as navy beans* July 1955 (Cents) 53*9 27 .U 12.6 18.0 19*2 21.9 17.8 26.9 23.8 0.2 - Meats, Poultry & Fish Percent Index Change Dairy Products Percent Index Change 0ol 10U.7 0.1 o.U 0.2 0.2 0.2 - 1.0 - 0.7 0.7 - 0.9 0.9 108.0 108.3 106.U 106.U 106.U 96.1 105.3 108.6 103.8 103*0 - 10U.2 102.7 108.8 106.5 103.2 95*1 105.0 0.3 1.0 o.U 0.7 l.U 0.1 0.9 - o.U 1.8 - 0.5 105.0 108.6 109.3 - - - Fruits & Vegetables Percent Index Change 0.6 121.9 0.1 0.2 1.1 1.7 0 O.U 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.2 115*7 U5.8 120.7 120.0 123*5 U9.1 135*3 118.5 UU.3 11U.5 - 1*7 1*2 123*1 115.3 123*6 120.0 U8.7 128.6 122.7 120.2 123.U U7.5 - 2*5 0.2 o a U.U 0.1 0 o.U 0.2 2.0 109.2 1.U 2.5 1 0 2 .U 108.5 105.8 113*9 llU.U 113.1 110.U 107.0 101.7 107.5 1.1 1.0 1.8 1.0 1.6 1.9 1*5 0.1 o.U 0.5 2.U U.1 3.U 2.7 2.2 1.8 1*5 2.8 1.0 2.0 3.3 o.U - 1.7 - 1.2 - Other Foods at Home Percent Index Change 1*5 0.5 5*2 - l.U 2.U 116.7 111 .y no.2 117.8 no. 9 U6.8 108.3 108.5 109.0 109.3 2.0 1.6 2.3 l.U 1.8 1.0 - 0.1 2.9 0.3 1*5 RETAIL FOOD PRICES FOR JULY 1955 AND JUNE 1955 U.S. City Average June 1955 (Cents) 53*9 27*U 12.6 17*9 19*2 21.9 17*7 27*0 23.8 89*9 U9.1 70.U 39.U 109.U 87.1 67 .U 63.0 68.8 52.9 U3.0 U7.1 57.5 U2.6 U6.2 55.U 37.5 90.1 U9.8 70.8 3 9 .U 109.5 89.8 65.7 61.9 69.5 52.8 U3.U U6.6 58.6 U2.5 U6.6 21*6 22.7 29.0 70.2 57.8 13.7 21.U 22.5 29.0 70.U 57.8 13*7 30.6 18.3 19.7 2U.0 30*7 18.1 19*6 2U*2 20.6 17*3 55.6 17 .U 18.8 17.0 52.9 17*5 55*5 37*5 June 1955 July 1955 Food and Unit Fresh (continued) Grapefruit * each Peaches * lb. Strawberries * pt. Grapes, seedless * lb. Watermelons * lb. Potatoes 10 lb. Sweetpotatoes lb. Onions lb. Carrots lb. Lettuce head lb. Celery lb. Cabbage lb. Tomatoes lb. Beans, green Canned 46 oz. can Orange juice Peaches #2 can Pineapple #2 can Fruit cocktail # 0 3 can Corn, cream style #303 can #303 can Peas, green Tomatoes #303 can Baby foods 4 h-5 oz. Dried lb. Prunes lb. Beans 1 / OTHER FOODS AT HOME: 11 oz. can Vegetable soup 16 oz. can Beans with pork 7 i oz. Pickles, sweet 14 *z. Catsup, tomato lb. Coffee * lb. Tea Cola drink carton of 6, 6 oz. lb. Shortening, hydrogenated lb. Margarine, colored lb. Lard pt. Salad dressing lb Peanut butter 5 lb. Sugar 24 oz. Corn syrup 12 oz. Grape jelly 7/8 oz. Chocolate bar doz. Eggs, Grade A, large 3-4 oz. Gelatin, flavored h (Cents) 30.9 (Cents) 29.1 29.5 U.7 59.5 16.3 8.6 13*2 15.9 1U.8 7.0 28.1 15.1 8.5 13.0 1 3 .U 13.9 8.0 26.9 18.3 33.5 3U.0 32.9 26.5 16.8 21.5 15.3 9.7 33*U 33.9 32.8 26.U 16.9 21.5 15*3 9*7 33*9 18.3 33*7 18.2 1U.1 15.0 27*U 22.5 89.1 U0.3 32.5 3U.6 28.8 20.5 35.3 55.1 51.9 23*7 25*9 U.6 57.3 8.6 1U*1 1U*9 28.0 22.U 89.0 U0.3 32 .U 3U.U 28.6 20.8 35.3 5U.U 52*0 23*7 26*0 U*6 53*6 8.6 6.U 71.7 16.0 LS56-OU82 BRIEF EXPIANATIGN OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX T 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 average. For the convenience of users, indexes are also calculated on the base 1935-39 " 100. About 300 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 cities which are representative of all cities in the United States. Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items are priced eve**y month in eacn 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 16 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 Evan8ville, Indiana Garrett, Indiana Olendale, Arizona Grand Forks, N. Dakota Grand Island, Nebraska Huntington, W. Virginia Laconla, New Hampshire Lodi, California I^nchburg, Virginia Madlll, Oklahoma Madison, Wisconsin Middlesboro, Kentucky Middletown, Connecticut Newark, Ohio Pulaski, Virginia Ravenna, Ohio Rawlins, Wyoming San Jose, California Sandpolnt, 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 Layman's 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 iildex numbers for the U#S. city average and SO 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.