Full text of CPI Detailed Report : July 1961

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Released August 25, 1961
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D . C ,
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JULY 1961
The Consumer Price Index advanced by 0.4 percent between June and
July to 128.1 (1947-49-100), the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics
announced today. This was the largest monthly increase since October 1960. Higher food
prices, primarily reflecting seasonal factors, accounted for a m^jor share of the rise to
a new high; but there were also small increases for many other nonfood consumer items.
The more important increases were for gasoline, sporting goods, used cars, and women's
apparel. Compared with a year earlier, average retail prices of consumer goods and
services have advanced by 1.2 percent, led by higher charges for services.
FOOD

Average retail food prices rose by 0.9 percent between June and July
reflecting mainly the record high level of prices for fresh fruits
and vegetables, and seasonal increases for eggs, pork products, and milk. The July
increase brought the total food group index, which includes restaurant meals, to a new
high of 122.0, exceeding the previous record of 121.7 established in July 1958. Despite
a 1.0 percent rise over the month, the index for food purchased for home consumption, at
119.0, was still 1.2 percent below its high registered in April, May, and July 1958,
primarily as a result of substantially lower current price levels for meats and poultry.
The continuing effects of adverse growing conditions earlier in the
year resulted in increases in average retail prices, amounting to 1.9 percent for fresh
fruits and 5.0 percent for fresh vegetables. Grapes, which were priced for the first time
since November 1960, were 3.5 percent above year-ago levels, and considerably higher than
prices at the close of the 1960 pricing season* Smaller price increases were reported for
apples, bananas, and oranges. Peaches were priced in July for the first time this season
at levels well below a year ago, reflecting heavy market supplies.
The advance in fresh vegetable prices was led by a 14 percent rise
in prices of tomatoes and a 13 percent increase in onion prices. Because of unfavorable
weather, the late spring and early summer tomato and onion crops, which provide the July
market supplies of these vegetables, were significantly below last year. Price increases
were reported for nearly all other fresh vegetables except snap beans and carrots, for
which supplies increased seasonally. Processed fruits and vegetable prices were unchanged
on the average, as increases for canned and dried fruits and vegetables offset a decrease
for frozen fruits and vegetables.
In comparison with July 1960, all fruit and vegetable prices averaged
2.9 percent higher as increases for important categories ranged from 1.8 percent for fresh
fruits and vegetables to 5.0 percent for frozen and canned fruits and vegetables.
Average prices of meats, poultry, and fish, which had been declining
since February, registered an increase of 0.4 percent over the month, due chiefly to higher
prices for pork products which rose for the second consecutive month as production declined
seasonally. Smaller increases were recorded for poultry and fish. Prices of beef products
averaged lower, continuing a five-month decline. In comparison with July 1960, prices of
meats, poultry, and fish averaged 2.7 percent lower, with a drop of 4.3 percent for beef
and veal and a 16.0 percent decline for chickens.
In line with seasonal trends, average prices of dairy products
advanced in July, with increases reported for fluid milk and most manufactured dairy
products, while egg prices registered an increase of about 9.2 percent.
TRANS PORTATION

The transportation index advanced by 0.4 percent in July, with higher
prices for gasoline, used cars, and railroad fares. The 1.2 percent
rise in average prices of gasoline was largely attributable to the termination of price wars




2

tn a few cities, with a consequent return to prior price levels. However,
are still 1.6 percent below year-earlier levels, reflecting ample supplies
competitive pressures. Used car prices continued the recovery which began
rose by 1.2 percent. Prices of popular makes of used cars now average 7.5
their year-ago levels.

gasoline prices
and strong
in February and
percent above

1

Dealers selling prices of new cars registered a small 1 decline of
0.3 percent between June and July. The generally mild reductions in dealers selling
prices of new cars since the beginning of the 1961 model year was attributable to the
unusually large concessions granted by dealers when the new models were introduced. An
increase of 0.6 percent in the public transportation index reflected a rise in allowable
coach fares granted to some western railroads and higher transit fares in a few cities.
APPAREL

1

Higher prices for women's and girls clothing accounted for most of
the 0.3 percent rise in the apparel index. At the same time, small
increases were reported for all other components of apparel, including footwear. The
generally firm tone in apparel prices in July accompanied tight control of inventories by
retailers, which minimized the influence of seasonal reductions in summer seasonal apparel
items. Footwear prices advanced slightly as scattered sale prices for spring and summer
footwear moderated the effect of price increases for the new fall lines.

HOUSING AND
OTHER GROUPS

The stability in the housing index was due to small offsetting price
movements among important housing components. Residential gas rates
declined by 1.0 percent as rate increases placed in effect in two
cities over a year ago, pending commission 'review, were finally approved only in part and
local bills consequently were reduced. Prices for household textiles averaged lower as
many retailers advanced the opening date of the traditional August white sales. Mortgage
interest rates also were lower, continuing to reflect the May decrease in interest rates
of FHA insured mortgages from 5% to 5% percent.
The reading and recreation index rose by 0.5 percent, almost entirely
because of higher prices reported for sporting goods. Over the year, prices for reading
and recreation were 2.1 percent higher, due mainly to advances for newspapers and movie
admissions. Average prices for sporting goods are 1.1 percent under those of July 1960.
Although prices of prescriptions and drugs averaged lower, higher
rates for hospitalization insurance were largely responsible for an 0.2 percent increase
in the medical care index. Compared with a year ago, medical care has increased by 3.1
percent primarily as a result of higher rates for hospitalization and surgical insurance,
with advances in fees for professional services and hospital accommodations being contributing factors.
COST OF LIVING
ADJUSTMENT

As a result of the July index, cost-of-living allowances for about
300,000 workers will be increased by 1 cent an hour, generally on
the basis of a quarterly review of wage contracts. Workers scheduled to receive increases include about 120,000 farm equipment workers and about 80,000
employees of some automobile and related auto parts manufacturing firms. The remaining
100,000 workers are employed in a variety of metal-working establishments, including some
40,000 employees of aircraft-missile companies.
An additional 12,500 aircraft employees will receive a 2-cents an
hour raise as a result of the resumption of quarterly reviews following a 1-year suspension
of their escalator clause. More than 550,000 employees of four major auto companies are
not included in these totals. For these workers the last cost-of-living review under
existing contracts was based on the April index.




3
TABLE lx Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, July 1961
and percent changes from selected dates
(1947-49=100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to July 1961 from --

Indexes
June

June

April

1961

1961

1961

1961

July
1960

128.1

127.6

0,4

0.5

1.2

FoodFood at homeCereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and v e g e t a b l e s — —
Other foods at homeFood away from home (Jan. 1953=100)-

122.0
119.0
139.4
107.8
118.0
138.2
107.9

120.9
117.8
139.7
107.4
117.3
135.4

.9

.7
.6
.2
2.4

121.6

106.0
121.2

Housing 2J~
RentGas and electricity

132.4
143.6
125.6
135.9
103.6
139.1

Apparel1
Man's and boys
Wonen's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparelTransportation—
Private
Public-

July

Group
All iteme-

Solid and p e t r o l e u m

fuels-

House furnishings
Household o p e r a t i o n —

Medical carePersonal careReading and recreationOther goods and services

1.0

.2
.4
.6

.1

1.2

0.9
1.4
2.7
1.9
2.8
3.0
2.3

2.1
1.8
.3

5.2
1.4
.7

132.4
143.5
126.3
135.6
103.9
138.9

0
.1

.1

109.9
111.5
100.0
141.0
92.9

109.6
111.4
99.4
140.8
92.6

.3

148.3
135.9

147.7
135.3
207.3

.4
.4
.6

160.9

.2

133.9

.3

.4

123.5

.5

0

133.1

.4

131.2

.2
.6

1.2
.8
.9
1.2
.6
.6
.8
.5
.4
7.5
.9

208.5
161.2

134.3
124.1
133.6

.6
.2
.3

.1

.2
.2

2.9
.2
.3

1.3
.6
2.3
.5
1.2

.6

.4
.2
.9

.7
1.2

.3

.1

.1

.9
.2

1.7
1.9

1.6
1.3

.1

.1

1.0

.6

4.8
3.1
.7
2.1

1.1

Special groupsi
All items less food

131.4

1.2

All items less shelter-

125.7

125.2

.4

Commodities
Nondurable s
Food
Nondurablea less foodApparelApparel less footwearNo ndurables less food and apparelDurable s
New carsUsed cars (Jan. 1953=100)Durables less cars

118.7
121.1
122.0
120.6
109.7
104.4
129.9
111.5
136.3
93.6

.6
.6
.9

102.1

118.0
120.4
120.9
120.3
109.4
104.0
129.5
111.2
136.7
92.5
101.8

.3

.7
.6
.7
.5
.3
.4
.7
.7
.9
6.7
.2

Commodities less food-

116.0

115.6

.3

.7

.5

Services
Rent—
Services less rentHousehold operation services, gas,
and electricity
Transportation s e r v i c e s —
Medical care services •
Other services J/

152.8
143.6
155.2

152.7
143.5
155.0

.1
.1

.3
.2
.3

1.9
1.3
2.0

140.7
189.4
169.3
137.7

140.8
189.3
168.8
137.6

.1

.1
.5

1.2
2.4
3.9
1.6

$0,781

$0,784

.4

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar

(1947-49=11.00)

.2

.3
.4
.3
.3
.3
1.2

.1

.1

.3

.1

1.0

.1

.1

- 1.1

y
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.




TABU 2s

Consumer Prioe I n d e x — A l l items indexes
and percent c h a n g e s , selected d a t e s
2 0
0 . 3 . city average ^
l*rg* cities

Indexes

Psroent change t o
current m o n t h f r o m

(1947-49=100)

City

July
1961

April
1961

July
1960

United States city average

128.1

127.5

126.6

130.9
125.5
131.4
126.A
128.3

130.1
125.6
131.1
125.8
128.0

130.4
125.8
129.5
124.8
126.9

July
1961

April
1961

July
1960

130.4
129.8
129.2
129.6
129.3

130.0
129.5
129.0
129.2
128.3

128.7
127.9
127.5
128.9
127.5

June
1961

March
1961

June
1960

127.4
129.8
124.6
129.0
133.8

127.7
129.5
124.8
128.9
133.8

127.1
128.3
124.6
127.2
132.4

1961

February
1961

May
1960

127.9
126.1
124. 1
131.7
124.3

128.3
125.1
123.5
130.8
124.5

127.1
125.1
122.1
129.7
123.1

—

April
1961

July
1960

Year
1939

59.4

0.5

1.2

115.7

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

.6
- .1
.2
.5
.2

0.4
- .2
1.5
1.3
1.1

123.4
112.7
117.5
110.3
116.7

April
1961

July
1960

Year
1939

.3
.2
.2
.3
.8

1.3
1.5
1.3
.5
1.4

113.8
110.4
112.9
123.1
121.8

March
1961

June
1960

Year
1939

- .2
.2
- .2
.1
0

.2
1.2
0
1.4
1.1

118.5
124.2
113.4
117.5
128.3

May
1960

Year
1939

.6
.8
1.6
1.5
1.0

116.0
111.9
112.1
122.5
105.8

Tear
1939

Cities jrioed m o n t h l y l /
Chicago
Detroit
Los A n g e l e s —
B e v York
Fhilade l j M a
Cities prioed i n January, April*
J u l y , October
2/
Bos to*
Kant a • City
—
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
P o r t l a n d , Oregon

—
—
— — — —

...
— —

— - —
—

—

Cities prioed i n M a r c h , J u m e ,
September, December
2/
At lasts
Bel time re
Cincinnati
St. Leuis
San Francisco-

—

Cities jrioed i n February, M a y ,
August, November
2/
Cleveland
--—
Housten
Scranten
Seattle
W a s h i n g t e n , D.C.

— — — — — — — — — — — — .
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

Year
1939
61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3
Year
1939
58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

Year
1939

February
1961

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

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

l / Rent* prioed b i m o n t h l y .
1 / F o o d s , f u e l s , ard a f e w other Items priced m o n t h l y } rente and other o c m o d i t i e s and servloes priced q u a r t e r l y .

TABLE 31

Consumer Price I n d e x — F e r o e n t changes f r o m June 1961 to July 1961
U . S . city average and fire cities priced m o n t h l y
A l l itens and commodity groups

City

All
items

Food

Bfaited S t a t e s city a v e r a g e —

0.4

0.9

.9
- .2
0
.5
.4

1.4
.7
- .5
1.2
1.6

Chicago
Detroit
L o s Angelesl e v York
Philadelphia




Reading
and
recreation

Other
goods &
ser floes

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
oare

Personal
oare

0

0.3

0.4

0.2

0.3

0.5

0.4

0.3
- .7
- .2
.1
- .3

.7
- .2
.9
.3
- .2

3.2
-1.0
.1
0
0

- .2
,2

.1
.1
1.0
1.0
.4

.5
1.0
.7
.5
.7

.4
-2.5
0
- .4
.4

Housing

- •1

TABLE Ut Consumer Prioe I n d e x — 1 1 1 items and ooviodlty groups
July 1961 indexes and percent changes, April 1961 to July 1961
U . S . city average and 10 cities priced i n

Group

U.8.
City
Average

Boston

128.1

130.4

130 .9

125 .5

129 .8

131.4

129 .2

122.0
119.0
139.4
107.8
118.0
138.2
107.9

122.0
118.3
134.3
108.4
112.6
143.6
104.5

120 .1
117 .3
132 .6
102 .7
122 .0
136 .8
113 .5

121 .8
119 .0
129 .6
102 .9
119 .8
148 .2
108 .1

116 .2
113 .2
134 .9
101.6
117 .0
127 .9
101.7

126.0
119.7
153.2
106.8
115.3
140.7
104.3

119 .2
115 .6
135 .2
101 .4
109 .1
141 .3
111 .3

132.4
143.6
125.6
135.9
103.6
139.1

142.0
159.6
118.7
145.2
102.1
137.9

141 .0
168 .7
130 .0
140 .1
101 .7
138 .4

125 .4

140.4
151.4
148.2
101.5
128.8

130 .6
159 .7
136 .4
128 .1
96 .4
135 .2

132 .0

123 .0
126 .5
107 .5
124 .8

130 .4
145 .6
129 .8
137 .6
100.7
144 .7

109.9
111.5
100.0
141.0
92.9

107.4
106.7
99.8
134.7
101.5

112 .2
116 .5
98 .7
146 .3
95 .9

107 .8
109 .5
97 .6
137 .4
87 .2

107 .6
112 .6
97 .9
133 .7
86 .5

112.4
115.1
103.3
142.7
84.8

148.3
135.9
208.5

152.4
146.5
169.1

157,.0
137,.6
205,.4

133 .0
124 .6
179 .1

155 .4
140,.5
258,.9

161.2
134.3
124.1
133.6

168.0
136.3
129.4
127.6

170,.0
138,.1
123,,3
124..2

171 .5
142,.2
120,.3
138,.0

180,.7
134,.6
141,.0
132,.7

Chicago Detroit

Kansas
Los
City Angeles

Minneapolis

New
York

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Portland
Oregon

126 .4

128.3

129.6

129.3

122 .6
118 .7
148 .3
107 .3
117 .7
133 .7
106 .9

124.3
120.6
138.3
108.3
121.5
141.3
108.2

123.6
122.0
140.2
109.7
117.9
139.8
118.7

123.5
119.7
139.2
109.6
, 123.3
130.9
110.8

122 .6
142 .7
107 .5
139 .7

126.0
132.0
106.7
127.3
108.7
148.3

132.7
136.8
144.9
135.1
107.9
152.3

132.3
140.4
104.6
140.8
101.8
136.2

105 .9
110 .4
95 .6
133 .4
88 .3

108 .3
112 .3
95 .2
144 .6
96 .4

108.8
111.7
98.0
139.5
94.9

106.2
108.0
93.9
139.8
100.0

115.4
117.1
104.0
149.2
100.5

149.9
140.5
216.3

132 .4
124 .6
199 .1

148 .3
129 .9
191.0

160.1
137.2
211.6

163.7
134.8
256.0

144.6
137.9
201.0

153.5
136.5
104.2
133.1

228 .9
137,.2
134,.4
137..3

150.0
124,.3
127,.9
131,.8

170.0
144.3
122.7
133.9

176.5
129.0
118.5
132.7

154.1
135.8
130.4
131.6

0..5

0.2

0.3

0.8

,8
1.,0

1.1
1.3
- .4
- 2.7
1.0
7.5
2.4

1.0
1.1
0
- 1.8
0
7.5
1.7

- .2
- .5
- 1.6
- 1.4
- .9
- .6
1.4

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
A l l item*
Food
Food a t h o —
—
— — —
Cereals a n d bakery products
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish
Dairy products —
Fruits a n d vegetables
Other foods a t boas —

Rent
O a s and electricity
So 1 id and petroleum fuels
Housefuraishlngs — —
Household operation —
1

1

M e n a and boys
V o a e n ' i and girls'
Footwear
—
Other a p p a r e l

—
—

—
—

—
——

—

™
— —

Transportation —
Private
Public

— —

M e d i c a l care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods a n d services

— —

- -

- -

- -

Percent change from April 1961 to July 1961

0.5

0.3

0..6

- 0..1

Food
Food a t k « M
Cereals a n d bakery products -M e a t s , p o u l t r y , a n d fish
D a i r y products — - — —
Fruits a a d vegetables
— — .
Other foods a t boas
—

.7
.6
- .2
- 2.4
.1
5.2
1.4

1.2
1.5
- 2.1
- 2.1
.4
10.5
1.4

1.,1
,9
,1
- 2.,3
1
6. 1
2. 4

.4
,4
- ,,6
- 2..6
6
4 .>8
,8

Housing
Bent — —
O a s a n d electricity
Solid and petroleu®
Iousefurnlshlngs
leasehold operation

.1
.2
- .2
- 2.9
- .2
.3

-

3
0
0
- 2 .3
5
0

- 1.,0

A l l items

f u e l s — —
— — — — —
—

Apparel
Men's aad b o y s '
V o b s b ' s aad girls'
Fsstseai
— — — — — — — — — —
Other a p p a r e l
Transportation
Private
PublicM e d i o a l care
H r i i l care
— — —
Heeding a a d reoreetloa
Other goods a a d services

— — —

—

—

—

-

.4
.2
.9
.1
.1

-

.8
.4
0
.8

.6
.3
1.3
0
1.0

-

-

.7
.1
.9
0

-

3
.5
0
•3

.5
,4
,5
- 3..4
- .,5
5.,4
2.,0

.9
0
1.8
.8
.5

8
9
3
•

5.1
6.0
1.0

- 1.3
- 1.5
5
•

3
7
- 3 .1
5.7

.3
.1
.2
.3

4.2
- .1
- 3.8
2 .9

-

0

.

-

-

.5

5 .0
1
1.0
- 2 .5

- .3
1/-.1
.1

_

-

.8
.3

- .,5

- 3.,3
,3
8.,8
2. 2

_

3
1
.2
3
- 2.1

1

1 .0

_

1.8
2.4
.4
2.9
.3
4.6
2.4

- 1.6
- .2
0
•3

- .6

- .3

,4
4 .,4
,8

-

0..2

6
- 1.6
- 1.3
•5

2 .4
2 .9
2

.2

,8
,9

- .,4
- .,5

0.2

3
3
- .2
- 2.1
- 2.6
1. 2

1/

1.6
2.0
0

1.7
1.9
1.0

1/ Change from May 1961 to July 1961.




.8
.1
- .1
- 1.8
- .5
.1

0.,2

,2
4
0
- 3.2
0
2

-

0
8
8
.1
0

2
7
- 2 .9
1
3

-

1
4
5
0
4
.

1/

.5
.2
0
- 7.1
- .6
.3

-

.2
.4
.1
0
.2
.1

.5
.4
.9
.1
.7

.9
.5
.9
1.6
0

5
6
0

.6
.7
0

- 1.3
- 1.6
0

9
1. 1
5
4

2.9
- .1
- 2.0
.4

.3
.5
.4
.1

-

.5
.5
0
0
- .3
1.3
-

.2
.3
.1
0
.1
7.7
8.7
1.0

-

.6
.5
.2
.8

6
TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index -- Food and its subgroups
July 1961 indexes and percent changes, June 1961 to July 1961
U . S . city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)
Total

food

City

Total
food at

Cereals
ho«e

bakery

Percent
change

Index

Index

Percent
change

U . S . city average

122.0

0.9

119.0

1.0

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

118.9
122.9
122.0
120.1
123.2
116.9
121.8
116.3
116.2
126.0

2.0
1.0
2.0
1.4
1.7
.8
.7
.4
.6
- .5

117.1
117.8
118.3
117.3
120.3
113.7
119.0
112.9
113.2
119.7

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

119.2
122.6
124.3
123.6
123.5
121.3
126.1
118.5
125.6
122.2

.4
1.2
1.6
.8
.5
- .3
- .1
1.4
0
.8

115.6
118.7
120.6
122.0
119.7
115.8
122.8
117.0
121.8
119.2

Index

TABLE 6:

Food and unit

and
Index

139.4

- 0.2

107.8

2.3
1.0
2.2
1.4
1.9
0.7
.8
.6
.7
- .7

127.1
135.4
134.3
132.6
137.9
132.6
129.6
128.6
134.9
153.2

110.4
- .1
108.8
- .1
108.4
- .8
102.7
- .2
- 1.0
111.7
.5 ! 103.4
0
102.9
- .3
101.6
- .1
101.6
- .3
106.8

.4
1.5
1.9
.9
.5
- .6
- .1
1.6
- .2
1.0

135.2
148.3
138.3
140.2
139.2
124.2
153.3
136.3
151.7 !
138.9 |

.3
- .5
- .4
- .1
- .4
- 1.3
.3
- .7
.3
3

poultry,
fish
Percent
ch&nge

101.4
107.3
108.3
109.7
109.6
104.5
113.9
108.0
112.2
106.6

Dairy

Fruits

products

July 1961

Flour, wheat
5 i^.
Biscuit mix
40 0 2 .
Macaroni
15 C Z m
Corn meal
lb.
Rolled oats
13 • z.
Corn flakes
12 « z .
Rice, short grain
lb.
Rice, long grain
lb.
Bread, white
i»_..
Soda crackers
ib.
Sandwich cookies
lb.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak
lb.
Sirloin steak
- lb.
Chuck roast
lb.
Rib roast
lb.
Hamburger
lb.
Veal cutlets
lb d
Pork chops, center cut
r3.
Pork roast
lb.
Bacon, sliced
lb.
H a m , whole
lb.
L a m b , leg
lo.
Frankfurters
lo.
Luncheon m e a t , canned
12 a z .
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook - lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
lb.
Salmon, pink, canned
16
Tuna fish, canned
6 t«
or,
Dairy products:
M i l k , fresh, (grocery)
qt.
M i l k , fresh, (delivered)
^t.
Ice cream
\
Butter
lb.
Cheese, American process
£ it.
M i l k , evaporated
c»i
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries
10
.
Orange juice concentrate
6
Lemonade concentrate
6 • ».
Peas, green
10 • z.
Beans, green
9•
Potatoes, french fried
9
Fresh:
Apples
1¥.
Bananas
lb.
Oranges, size 200
d»*.
Lemons
lb.

56.1
48.1
23.3
13.3
22.4
26.6
18.6
20.7
20.9
29.1
50.9

56.3
48.1
23.3
13.3
22.4
26.3
18.6
20.6
20.9
29.1
51.9

100.6
104.6
56.1
78.4
50.4
142.2
89.9
63.7
70.2
59.8
69.7
62.7
50.9
36.8
47.4
54.3
74.6
32.4

101.6
105.4
57.1
80.0
50.9
142.0
86.2
61.3
69.5
60.0
70.1
62.8
51.3
36.6
46.8
54.2
74.2
32.4

24.3
26.1
86.2
76.3
36.3
15.9

24.2
25.8
86.5
76.2
36.3
15.9

27.0
24.4
13.6
20.5
23.0
19.6

26.9
24.7
13.6
20.8
23.1
19.7

22.4
16.2
78.9
19.0

21.8
15.6
77.5
19.4

Other
foods at

ho«e

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

118.0

0.6

138.2

2.1

107.9

1.8

.4
117.5
1.2
117.6
.7
112.6
- .1
122.0
2.5
117.3
1.2
110.8
.4 i 119.8
.4
115.6
2.2
117.0
- .7
115.3

.1
.1
3.5
.6

136.5
132.8
143.6
136.8
139.8
126.6
148.2
131.5
127.9
140.7

5.5
2.2
5.7
4.7
5.7

106.4
107.9
104.5
113.5
110.7
108.9
108.1
103.3
101.7
104.3

4.9
1.5
2.2
2.3
1.7
2.3
1.4
0.4
.8
- 1.7

111.3
106.9
108.2
118.7
110.8
113.8
106.0
106.4
105.4

2.0
2.7
2.3
1.8
.9
1.8
1.8
3.4
2.5
1.7

0.4

Index

-

.6 1 109.1
.5 ! 117.7
121.5
1.2
117.9
.4
123.3
- .5
110.6
- .8
1.0 |! 119.7
1.4 ! 111.3
- 1.8 i 125.2
1 . 1 ! 121.2

.3

-

.3
.2
.1
.2

.1 141.3
1.4 133.7
1.3 141.3
.1 139.8
4.1 130.9
- .1 139.0
.1 142.6
.1 136.2
- .1 136.3
.3 ! 132.4

-

1.2

1.5
2.8
0

- 0.6
.8
3.2
4.3
2.5

-

-

1.1

- 2.5
- 3.8
2.9
- .9
1.5

Index

111.2

Percent
change

July 1961

Food and unit
Cents

and

vegetables

' ' 1
Consumer Price Index -- Average retail prices of selected foods
U . S . city average

Cents




Meats,

Percent
change

Cereals and bakery products:

* Priced only in season.
1/ Ndt available.

and

products

Cents
Fresh--Continued
Grapefruit *
Peaches *
Strawberries *
Grapes, seedless *
Watermelons *
Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Onions
Carrots
Lettuce

eaoh
lb.
t.
p
lb.
l*.
10 lb.
lb.
lb.
lb.
h*ad

Celery
,
Cabbage
lb.
Tomatoes
lb.
Beans, green
lh.
Canned:
Orange juice
46-#*. o n
Pineapple juice
46
»i
0
Peaches
011
Pineapple
42 <ti
Fruit cocktail
^303 «aa
Corn, cream style
^#303 e n
Peas, green
/303 «ti
Tomatoes
<303 • u
Tomato juice
46
• »*
Baby foods
t» 5 »z.
Dried:
Prunes
lb.
Beans
P>.
Other foods at home:
Tomato soup
io£ t* ll-*z. eti
Beans,with pork
Pickles, sliced
15 »z.
Catsup, tomato
14 • z.
Potato chips
4 • 7.
Coffee
1*. 0*11
Coffee
ib. btg
Tea bags
pk?. «f 16
Cola drink, carton
36 »z.
Shortening, hydrogenated -- 3 ib.
Margarine, colored
lb.
Lard
lb.
Salad dressing
pi*
Peanut butter
lb.
Sugar
U.
Corn syrup
-- 24 •*.
Grape jelly
12
Chocolate bar
1 «z.
Eggs, Grade A , large
d*r.
Gelatin, flavored
3 ta 4

13.9
16.2
33.4
5.1
69.9

(I/)
12.3
16.4
17.5
14.1
10.1
33.0
22.8
48.5
33.7
33.4
38.5
26.8
20.9
22.0
16.0
33.4
10.6
41.8
16.9
12.5
14.8
26.6
23.0
27.6
73.5
58.8
24.6
31.0
93.0
29.4
20.9
37.9
55.7
58.9
27.0
29.2
4.5
56.1
9.5

LABOR - D. C .

7
Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
service^ 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
kG 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.1 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
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, Qklahoma
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
3kl 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.