Full text of CPI Detailed Report : July 1960

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Released August 25, 1960
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D.C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JULY 1960
The Consumer Price Index increased slightly in July to 126.6 (194749 = 100), 0,1 percent above the June high, the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. This was the smallest June-to-July price rise since 1954.
Increases for food and gasoline, and a continued uptrend in prices
for services were major factors, but most groups of commodities and services showed
some price rise in July. Food prices rose less than they usually do in July, and prices
for automobiles, appliances, and furniture continued to decline.
The July CPI was 1.4 percent above a year earlier. Prices of
services and of nondurable commodities, including foods, have increased over the year,
but durable goods prices have been declining almost continuously since last December.
By July the prices of durable goods were 1.8 percent lower than in July 1959. Prices
of food were 1 percent higher than a year earlier; nondurable goods, except food,
1.5 percent higher; and services, 2.9 percent higher. The services which contributed
most to the price rise in the CPI from July 1959 are those associated with home
ownership and medical care.
FOOD

The 0.2-percent increase from June to July in the price of foods
was substantially less than in most recent years. This was partly
because prices of some fresh fruits in especially abundant supply declined sharply. In
addition, egg prices, which normally move up strongly in July, held close to the June
level, in part because continuing favorable weather conditions tended to raise
production.
The more important food price increases from June to July were for
pork, dairy products, young chickens, and bread. Pork prices have been rising steadily
since February. Throughout the late spring and sunnier the higher prices have reflected
both a seasonal decline in hog marketings and a relatively small spring pig crop. Nevertheless, prices continued below those of a year earlier until July, when they were
slightly higher (by 0.4 percent) for the first time in about a year and a half.
The 1.7-percent increase for bread in July was the largest in 8
years and brought the bread price index to a new high of 153.6 (1947-49 - 100), or
3.5 percent above a year earlier. Price increases were widespread geographically, and
amounted, in most places, to about one cent on a pound loaf. According to reports,
prices were raised to cover increased manufacturing and distribution costs.
Some fresh fruits were particularly abundant this July, chiefly
peaches, bananas, and watermelons, and average prices for fresh fruits decreased 3.3 percent from June. Nevertheless, prices were substantially higher this July than in
July 1959.
TRANS PORTATION

Prices for gasoline rose again last month, continuing to respond to
good farming and driving weather, particularly in the Midwest, where
stocks declined despite increasing production. The July gasoline index was 4.6 percent
above that of July 1959, but most of this rise is accounted for by the 1-cent-a-gallon
increase in the Federal tax imposed last October.
8

This year s almost continuous downtrend in prices for automobiles
persisted in July. Although the new car price index edged off by only 0.3 percent, less
than usual for the month, the cumulative decline since last November has been greater




2

than in recent years. Prices for used cars, which had held about level in June, decreased
1.5 percent in July and were 11.4 percent below last September.
Prices for tires also have been weak and by July were 12 percent
below those of July 1959.
Chiefly because of the rise in gasoline prices, however, the price
index for transportation as a whole rose slightly in July, but, for the second successive
month, remained below year-earlier levels.
HOUSING

The housing component of the CPI was unchanged from June to July.
Of the many elements contributing to the housing component,
including fuels and utilities, household operation, rent, housefurnishings, and home
purchase and upkeep, few showed any appreciable price change over the month. The most
significant change was for durable housefurnishings, including appliances and furniture,
for which prices continued to decline in July. Appliance prices have been falling since
winter, particularly for the major appliances. The prices of washing machines declined
somewhat more than usual in July, before introduction of new models. Prices of toasters,
ranges, and vacuum cleaners also went down in July. This pervasive price weakness
reflects heavy inventories and lagging sales. The furniture market likewise has been
sluggish, so that prices declined for the second successive month in July, when special
sales were widespread.
Small increases were reported for rents, fuel, utilities, and household operation services.
APPAREL

Average apparel prices rose 0.2 percent 1in July after two months of
stability. Prices for women's and girls clothing, which had been
declining since May, turned up in July because of increases for rayon dresses and women's
hosiery. Prices of men's and boys' clothing continued the uptrend which began in March.
In July, the increases were for business shirts, work trousers, and dungarees. Prices
for shoes, however, were down in July, chiefly because of lower prices for children's
shoes and women's casual shoes. The index for all apparel continued for the third
successive month at a level 1.5 percent above a year earlier.
COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS

Of about 1.1 million workers whose wages are subject to adjustment
on the basis of the national CPI for July, some 180,000 are
scheduled to receive a raise. These include about 105,000 employees
in the electrical industry, and about 40,000 in the farm equipment industry, all of whom
will receive about 1 cent an hour. Other small groups who will get increases are in a
variety of industries. The approximately 930,000 workers who will not receive a raise
are in the automobile industry, automobile parts and related industries, and in farm
equipment manufacture.




3
TABLE It

Consumer Price Index—United States city average

Major g r o u p , s u b g r o u p , and special group indexes, July 1960

and percent changes from selected dates
(194.7-49-100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to July 1960 from

Indexes
July
1960

June
1960

June
1960

April
1960

July
1959

Year

126.6

1 26. 5

0.1

0.3

1.4

113.1

Food
—
— —
Food at home
•-••
Cereals and bakery products—
Meats, poultry, and fish
—
—
—
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables—
—
Other foods at home
Food away from home (Jan. 1953=100)

120.6
117.9
137.5
110.8
115.8
134.4
104.8
118.9

120.3
117.7
136.1
110. 3
115.0
136.1
104.5
118.8

.2
.2
1.0
.5
.7
- 1.2
.3
.1

.9
1.0
1.3
1.4
.4
3.5
- 1.2
.3

1.0
0.7
2.3
- 1.1
2.2
2.8
- .9
2.3

156.1
150.3
140.4
166.3
132.5
190.3
116.5
(I/)

Housing 2/
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation—

131.3
141.8
124.8
132.9
104.1
137.4

131.3
141.6
124. 7
132.3
104.3
137.3

0
.1
.1
.5
.2
.1

-

.1
.3
.3
- 2.5
- .6
.3

1.8
1.6
4.4
- .8
.1
2.3

72.5
63.7
19.0
135.6
94.9
100.9

109.1
110.2
99.4
139.8
93.1

108.9
109.8
99.1
140.1
93.1

.2
.6
.2
0
.2

1.5
1.8
.6
3.4
.9

107.8
116.9
82.4
177.9
129.3

145.9
134.2
200.3

145.8
134.1
199.7

.1
.1
.3

.3
.7
3.1

107.8
104.9
146.4

156.4

156.1

.2

.6

3.6

115.4

133.4

133.2

.2

.4

1.6

123.8

121.6

121.1

.4

.4

2.1

93.0

132.2

132.0

.2

.2

1.1

87.3

All items less food

129.9

129.7

.2

.1

1.6

88.0

All items less shelter

124.2

124.0

.2

.4

1.2

124.2

Commoditie s
Nondurable s
—
Food
Nondurables less f o o d —
Appare 1
—
Apparel less footwear
Nondurables less food and apparel
Durable s
New cars
Used cars (Jan. 1953=100)•
Durables less cars
—
—

117.7
120.0
120.6
119.9
109.0
103.6
129.2
111.1
136.1
87.1
103.0

117.6
119.8
120.3
119.6
108.7
103.3
128.7
111.5
136.5
88.4
103.2

.1
.2
.2

.3
.5
.9

.6
1.1

.3

.2
.2
.2
.2

128.1
133.5
156.1
104.3
109.2

—

115.4

115.3

.1

—

150.0
141.8
152.1

149.7
141.6
151.8

.2
.1
.2

139.1
184.9
163.0
135.5

138.9
184.5
162.5
135.1

.1
.2
.3
.3

$0,790

$0,791

Group
All i t e m s —

Appare 1
1
Man's and boys
Women's and girls'
FootwearOther a p p a r e l — —

—
-

——
—
—

Transportation
Private
Public

—
—

Medical carePersonal care
Reading and recreation'
Other goods and services

—

— •• ••

—

—

-

-

.2
.4
.3
.2
0

-

-

.1
.1
.5

-

1939

Special groupsi

Commodities lees f o o d — — — —
Service s
Rent—
Services less rent
Household operation services, gas,
and electricity
—
Transportation s e r v i c e s — —
Medical care s e r v i c e s — — —
Other services

—

.3

.3
-

-

.4
.4

.3

- 1.5
- .2

-

(1/)

.5

96.1
93.9
138.8
(1/)
79.8

.2

.3

94.3

.4

2.9

.9

- 1.7
- 1.4
- .6
-

1.0
1.5
1.5
1.1
1.5
- 1.8

.3
.4

-

.9

- 9.4

-

1.6

86.6
63.7

3.1

106.9

3.3

59.9

.4

2.2
4.2
3.0

130.8
131.2
132.4

.3

- 1.4

-53.1

.4
.4

.7

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

-

.1

-

2 / Not available®
2j Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately.
2/ Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
and beauty shop services, and movies®




TABLE 2 s CoMtawr Rrioe Index—All items indexes utd percent changes, selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

4

Bsroent change to

Indexes (1947-49=100)
July
1960

April
1960

July
1959

•„.. • ,,.,.,,

126.6

126.2

124.9

,

130.4
125.8
129.5
124.8
126.9

129.5
124.2
130.1
124.7
126.4

128.3
124.4
127.6
123.5
124.2

July
1960

April
1960

July
1959

128.7
127.9
127.5
128.9
127.5

128.3
126.6
127.1
127.9
127.5

125.6
126.0
125.4
125.7
126.1

June
1960

March
1960

June
1959

127.1
128.3
124.6
127.2
132.4

126.7
127.7
123.6
126.3
131.6

125.5
126.6
123.1
126.3
129.6

May
1960

February
1960

May
1959

127.1
125.1
122.1
129.7
123.1

126.1
125.6
121.4
129.0
121.9

125.3
124.1
120.0
127.9
121.8

City

United States city m n p . —

current Month f r c n —

Issr

Year
1939

April
1960

July
1959

59.4

0.3

1.4

113.1

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

.7
1.3
- .5
.1
.4

1.6
1.1
1.5
1.1
2.2

122.5
113.2
114.4
107.7
114.4

Apri 1
1960

July
1959

.3
1.0
.3
.8

2.5
1.5
1.7
2.5
1.1

March
1960

June
1959

.3
.5
.8
.7
.6

1.3
1.3
1.2
0.7
2.2

1939

C i t i e s priced m o n t h l y 2 /

Detroit-

Cities priced i n
July, October

January, April,
2/

Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon
Citiss priced in March, June,
September, December
2/
Atlanta
Baltimore—
Cincinnati
St. Louis-San F r a n c i s c o - —

-

Cities priosd in February, May,
August, November
Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

2/
•

---

Year

1939
61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

0

Year

1939
58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

Year
1939

February
1960

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

-

.8
.4
.6
.5
1.0

Year
1939

111.0
107.3
110.0
121.9
118.7
Year

1939
118.0
121.6
113.4
114.5
125.9
Year

May
1959

1939

1.4
.8
1.8
1.4
1.1

114.7
110.3
108.7
119.1
103.8

2/ Easts priced biaosthly.

2 j F o o d s , f u a l s , sued a few other items priced monthlyj rents and othar oconodities and services priced quarterly.

TABLE 31

City

Consumer Price I n d e x — P e r c e n t changes frca June 1960 to July 1960
U . S . city average and five cities priced monthly
A l l items and cconodity groups

All
item

H a l t e d S t a t e s c i t y ayor&g®—
Chicago—
• —
—
Detroit
Los A a a g s l e s - - ' " " . — — .
Hew York—
Philadelphia
1




-

food

0.1

0.2

.2
.6
.2
.1
.4

.4
.5
.2
.1
.4

Mousing
0

-

0.1
0
.6
.1
.6

Heading
and
recreation

Other
goods &
services

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.4

0.2

.5
0
.3
.5
.6

.1
1.2
.8
- .1
.1

.3
5.1
0
- .6
.6

0
2.7
.1
.4
1.6

.2
.1
.1
0
.1

.8
,2
.5
.3
.3

-

Personal
care

TABLE 4S

Consumer Prioe Index--All items and eanoAlty group*

July 1960 indexes and percent changes, April 1960 to July 1960

5

U.S. city average and 10 eltiea priced in July 1960
0.8
City
Average

Group

Boston

Chicago Detroit Kansas
City

Los
Angeles

Minneapolis

New
York

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Portland
Oregon

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

126 .6

128 .7

130 .4

125 .8

127 .9

129.5

127.5

124 .8

126.9

128.9

127.5

Foo4

120 .6
117 .9
137 .5
110 .8
115 .8
134 .4
104 .8

120 .4
117 .3
133 .7
111 .2
110 .3
138 .7
102 .2

119 .3
116 .8
131 .4
104 .3
121 .9
135 .9
110 .1

120 .6
118 .1
128 .8
105 .8
112 .5
149 .7
105 .0

113 .9
111 .1
131 .2
104 .1
111 .3
123 .1
99 .0

126.6
120.7
148.2
110.5
114.1
143.3
105,4

118.9
115.7
134.5
105.1
107.0
140.4
108.9

121 .9
118 .1
146 .7
112 .8
117 .5
125 .7
103 .6

123.1
119.7
138.9
112.8
120.8
133.3
104.4

123.1
121.5
137.0
112.4
117.8
138.8
114.5

121.7
119.0
141.1
112.7
122.5
126.5
107.3

131 .3
141 8
124 8
132 9
104 1
137 4

140 .0
154 .1
117 7
137 9
102 8
136 0

140,.4
167,.4
130,.0
137,.0
102,.5
138,.9

126 .9

137.7
149.3
141.6
103.2
128.1

129.3
157.5
136.4
127.8
97.6
138.2

129 .5

116 .2
125 .4
109 .3
125,.7

129 .1
144 .1
133 .3
131 .8
101,.9
139 .5

120 .6
136 .4
105 .3
137 .9

125.9
130.2
106.7
118.6
110.6
143.5

133.0
135.0
145.5
135.1
108.3
151.7

131.2
138.2
104.6
143.1
101.7
132.8

109
110
99
139
93

108
104
102
132
101

0
9
4
8
7

113,.1
117,.1
101,.0
143,.0
98,.2

106,.2
108 .8
95 .2
136 .1
85,.9

108,.2
111 .0
99 .3
134 .0
90,.0

111.3
113.6
101.7
141.6
86.1

107.9
110.8
98.8
135.9
89.0

107 .6
109 .3
96 .5
141 .1
96 .8

107.6
110.5
96.1
140.5
95.0

105.6
106.0
94.4
138.5
100.0

114.7
116.3
103.3
148.3
100.2

145 9
134 2
200 3

149 6
143 1
168 8

155,.9
136..4
205..7

140 .7
133,.5
179,.4

154,.9
140,.1
257,.8

142.7
136.0
186.5

132.5
124.7
198.6

146 .7
128,.0
191,.4

153.3
133.1
193.4

164.8
135.9
256.2

140.6
133.7
199.2

156..4
133,,4
121..6
132,.2

162.,8
135,.6
126,.4
127,,3

168..1
138..2
125..3
123.,0

161,.8
140,.9
119,.7
140,.2

175,.0
135,.8
137,.2
125,.4

152.4
134.5
102.5
133.8

214.5
136.8
123.8
134.1

143,,9
123,.8
125,.1
133,.3

161.3
144.2
123.5
132.5

169.7
128.7
112.8
132.6

149.7
135.2
126.7
130.4

Food at hone
Cereal* and bakery products ~
Meats, poultry, and fish — —
Dairy products
—
Other foods at hone

— - —

Rent — - — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation
Men's and boys' — — — — — —
Weaken*s and girls*

Public

Other goods and services

1
2
4
8
1

--

- -

- -

Percent change from April 1960 to July 1960
0..3

0.,3

0., 7

1,.3

1..0

,9
1.,0
1.,3
] .,4
,4
3.,5
- 1.,2

1.,0
1.,3
,2
2.,0
2.,5
4.,7
- 2.,9

2.,2
2. 5
7
1.,1
1. 3
9. 7
,3

1,.3
1.,5
3,,0
1.,0
- 0.,4
5.,6
- 1.,6

1.,3
1.,6
1.,4
1.,0
2.,7
4.,0
- 0.,1

,,3

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

-

Rent — — — — — — — — — —
Gas end electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
-----Apparel
Men's and boys'
Footvear

.,1

,3
3
- 2., 5
- .,6
,3

— — — — — —

— — — — — — — —
-

.

Personal care
— — — — — — —
Reading and recreation — — — —

U




-

,1
,5
0
,8
.5
1

2
!4
0
- i. 7
2
i. 8

- .,5
- 1.,7
- .,5
,2

,3
,1
1.,9
- 2. 2
- 2. 6
3

i/

-

1. 2
0
2 3
2
8

4
6
5
6
i. 1

1. 0
1. 0
1.4
0
4

9
8
5
4
6

1
5

5
6
0

2
3
0

4. 4
5. 5
0

6
4
4
2

5
0
- 1.8
2

1
1
.4
8

2. 0
4. 9
2. 7
2

Change from May 1960 to July 1960.

-

0..1

0.4

0.8

0

-

.3
.2
.4
.8
.6
3.9
- 3.5

,4
,4
3.,4
,1
,3
2.,7
- 3.,1

1.6
1.4
1.6
2.1
2.3
2.6
- 1.0

1.7
1.9
2.3
2.8
.2
4.7
.9

0.4
.7
.1
1.3
.8
.2
.7

1/
-

.8
.3
.2

-

,1

1.1
.5
.2
0
.6
0

.2
.2
0
0
- 1.3
.5

.1
.3
I
.1
.7

0
1.3
- I. u
.4
0

-

-

2
6
2
0
2
-

Public

-

0.3

.2
.2
.6
.4
.4
.4
.8

- 0.5
-

- 1.4
.4

.2
.8
0
- 3.3
.9
.8

- ,1
- 1.4
- .2
•3

.1
1/ .7
0
-12.5
0
1.2

-

-

_

-

.1
.9

-

.1
.1

.1
.5
g
0
.3

.1
- 1.2

3. 8
4. 5
0

- 1.2
- 1.4
0

2.2
1.8
4.7

1. 2
1
1
8

.8
.1
.1
.5

2.6
- .5
- 2.1
.4

.

-

.3
1.0

-

5
2
1
4
•5

_

-

.

-

8
- 1.0
0

- 1.1
- 1.4
0

.8
- 1.2
0

- 1.8
- 2.1
0

0
7
7
0

.4
.8
.6
.1

.1
.5
.4
0

.4
.8
.5
0

-

.

-

6
TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index -- Food and its subgroups
July 1960 indexes and percent changes, June 1960 to July 1960
U . S . city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)
Total

Total food
City

Percent
change
120.6

U . S . city average
Atlanta
Baltimore
Bos ton
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles

food at honu-

117.4

••

121.2
120.4
119.3
121.9
117.0
120.6
115.6
113.9
126.6

— —

Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, O r e g .
S t . Louis
San Francisco
Sc ranton
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

--

118.9
121.9
123.1
123.1
121.7
119.9
124. 7
115.7
123.0
120.9

0

1.2
.4
.3
. 1
.5
. 7
. 1

Percent
[ change
117.9 :

0.2

115.5
117.3
117.3
116.8
119.1
114.3
118.1
112.7

.3
0
1.5
.4

111.1

•
i
;
i
;
:!

.1
.5

1.0

Cereals and
bakery products
Percent
I change

131.

.3
.2

148.

.3
.1
.4
.8
.3
.3
.4
.7
.3
0

115.7
118.1
119.7
121.5
119.0
115.1
121.7
114.0
120.4
118.7

.1
.2
.9
.4
.3
.4
.8
.2
.2

1 34.5
146.7
138.9
137.0
141. 1
126.0
151.9
134. 3
148.2
136.1

Consumer Price

Food and unit

1.6
.1

127.

120.7 j

j
!
;
i
j
|
j

113.2
1 10.8
111.2
104. 3
112.8

135.
133.
131.

.3
2.9
1.0
2.0
.2

1.0

106. 5
105.8
105.0
104. 1
110.5
105.1

112.8
112.8
112.4
112.7
105.6
117.2

.5
.1
110.1
.4 ; 114.1
2.8
108.3

Fruits and
vegetables

Percent
change
115.8 ;

126.
136.
130.
128.

Dairy
products

Percent
change

137.

.2

j
;

toeats, poultry,
and fish

0.7

16.7
16.6
10.3
21.9
17.6

10.0
12.5
! 112.4
.4
1 11.3
14. 1
1.3
.2
.7
.9
1.7
.7
.6
.3
.7
.6
.3

107.0
117.5

120.8

2.0
2.0

117.8
122.5
104.2
117.7
109.9
119.9
122.7

1.0
.3
.5
0
.3

.1

2.2

Index - Average retail prices of selected
U . S . city average

July
1960

June
1960

55.7
26.9
23.1
13.1
22.1
25.8

18.6

55. 7
26.9
23.0
13.0
22.0
25.7
18.6

20.6
20.5
29.0
24.4

20.1
29.0
24.3

Other
foods at home

Percent
change

change

134.4
1 34 . 7
131.5
138.7
135.9
135.3
129. 1
149.7
130.0
123. 1
143.3

.6
3.0

140.4
125.7
133.3
138.8
126.5
140.1
137.3
123.9
135.4
131.5

4.6
4.2
0
1.2
1.7
.1
5.3
.7
3.0

2. 7
1.0
.4
.9

1.1

2.0

2.8

1.0

99. 2
105.0
102. 2

.7
.5
.7
.3
.9
.3
0
0
.3

110. 1
107.9
106. 5
105.0
101.5
99.0
105.4
108.9
103.6
104.4
114.5
107.3

1.0
.4
1.5
.3

1.1

111.4

0
.9
.1
.7
.7

103.4
101.1

103.3
108. 3

foods

Food and unit

July
1960

June
1960

Cereals and bakery products:
Flour, wheat
5
Biscuit mix
20 o r .
Macaroni
.
c z
Corn meal
Rolled oats
13
Corn flakes
12 «z.
Rice, short grain
lb.
Rice, long grain
lb.
B r e a d , white
iv.
Soda crackers
ib.
Vanilla cookies
7
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish:
Round steak
ib.
Sirloin steak
lb.
Chuck roast
lb.
Rib roast
ib.
Hamburger
lb.
Veal cutlets
ib u
Pork c h o p s , center cut
la.
Pork roast
lb.
B a c o n , sliced
lb.
H a m , whole
lb.
L a m b , leg
i'0 „
Frankfurters
lo.
Luncheon m e a t , canned
1 2 c2.
Frying c h i c k e n s , ready-to-cook - ib.
Ocean p e r c h , fillet, frozen
lb.
H a d d o c k , fillet, frozen
lb.
S a l m o n , p i n k , canned
16 sr.
T u n a fish, canned
6 t»
n.
Dairy products:
M i l k , fresh, (grocery)
qt.
M i l k , fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream
\
Butter
lb.
C h e e s e , American process
£ it.
M i l k , evaporated
can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries
10 «t
Orange juice concentrate
6
Lemonade concentrate
6 9%
Peas , green
10 • z
Beans, green
9 9Z
Potatoes, french fried
g #E
Fresh:
Apples
lb
Bananas
lb
O r a n g e s , size 200
d»«
Lemons
lb
* Priced only in s e a s o n .
JJ Not a v a i l a b l e .




20.6

105.7
109.8
60.6
82.3
52.9
141.1
89.6
63.7
67.5
61.5
75.1
61.8
50.4
43.8
47.3
55.4
65.9
32.8

105.8
109.7
61.9
82.3
52.6
143. 2
86.0

24.4
25.8
86.3
74.0
34.0
15.7

24.1
25.5
87.0
74.2
33c 9
15.7

26.6

26.4
22. 1
13.5
19.8
23.1
19.7

22.0
13.3
19.9
23.0
19.8
22.5
14.6
78.4
18.1

61.2
67.4
61.4
77.1
62.4
50.5
42.7
47.6
55.6
65.5
32.7

21. 2

16.0
72.4
17.9

Fresh--Continued
Grapefruit *
each
Peaches *
lb.
Strawberries *
t«
p
G r a p e s , seedless *
lb,
Watermelons *
it.
Potatoes 10 lb.
Sweet potatoes
lb.
Onions
lb.
Carrots
lb.
Lettuce
h«ad
Celery
it.
Cabbage
lb.
Tomatoes
lb.
B e a n s , green
lb.
Canned:
Orange juice
46-* z. ota
Pineapple juice ---- 46 •
on
Peaches
C.b
Pineapple
<M2 out
Fruit cocktail
^303 «*»
C o r n , cream style
^303 cti
Peas, green
^303 eaa
Tomatoes
^303 «»n
Tomato juice -46 ®z. «a»
Baby foods
t» 5 «z.
Dried:
Prunes
lb.
Beans
l->.
Other foods at home:
Tomato soup
io£ U ll-*z. e u
Beans ,with pork - — — —
15—c»b
Pickles, s l i c e d - - - - - - - - - - 15
Catsup, tomato
14 »
Potato chips
4 *?„
Coffee
---- lb. o.n
Coffee
—
lb. b»g
Tea bags -----»f 16
Cola d r i n k , carton
36 » z a
Shortening, hydrogenated - - 3 ib .
M a r g a r i n e , colored
4
Lard
15 t
Salad dressing
pi.
Peanut butter
it,
Sugar
rBe
Corn s y r u p 24
Grape jelly
- - - - - 12
Chocolate bar
-- 1 » z .
Eggs, Grade A, l a r g e a«?.
Gelatin, flavored
3 t» A % r .

15.8
17.1

15.4
29.1

32.9
4.3
77.5
(I/)
10.2
15.6

7.3
81.0
14.6

10.0

14.8
9.0
30.6
20.7

14.1
14.3
14.1
10.9
33.5
23.2

42.4
33.1
33.7
38.0
27.1
19.2
20.8
16.3
32.0
10.0

42.3
34.4
33.5
37.8
27.0
19.0
20.5
16.2
31.9
10.0

39.6
16.6

39.6
16.7

12.5
14.8
26.4
22.7
27.2
76.2

12.5
14.9
26.6
22.6
27.4
75.7
59.8
24.4
29.9
79.7
26.7
18.. 5
35.9
55.5
57.2

18.2

60.0
24.5
30.0
80.6
26.7
18.8
36.1
55.6
57.4
26.6
28.7
5.1
51.6
9.3

2.6.6

28.6
5.1
51.5
9.3
LABOR - D . C .

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 b y wage and clerical
families; they include all of the important items in family spending. Prices for these
items axe obtained in k-6 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 axe 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
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, Ohio

Comparisons of city indexes show only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another. The city indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price
levels or in living costs between cities.
A description of the index and historical tables of index numbers for the
United States city average and for 20 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 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 . E .
Zone 9




New York
3^1 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10

LABOR - D . C .