Full text of CPI Detailed Report : July 1972

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the consumer price index
for July 1972

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
James D. Hodgson, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Geoffrey H. Moore, Commissioner
OFFICE OF PRICES
AND LIVING CONDITIONS
Joel Popkin, Assistant Commissioner

CONTENTS
Price movements
Charts 1—4. Consumer price indexes for all items and major
components, and rates of change over 1-, 3-, 6-,
and 12-month spans
Table 1.

a monthly report
on consumer price movements
including statistical tables
and technical notes.




Table 2.

Table 3.

Table 4.

Table 5.

Table 6.

Table 7.

Table 8.

5

CPI—United States city average for wage earners
and clerical workers, by commodity and service
groups, and expenditure classes

9

CPI—United States and selected areas for urban
wage earners and clerical workers, all items most
recent index and percent changes from selected
dates

io

CPI—United States and selected areas for urban
wage earners and clerical workers, major groups,
percent change from June 1972 to July 1972 . . .

\\

CPI—United States city average for urban wage
earners and clerical workers for selected groups,
seasonally adjusted

n

CPI—United States and selected areas for urban
wage earners and clerical workers, commodity
groups, July 1972, and percent charfges from
April 1972
.

12

CPI—United States and selected areas for urban
wage earners and clerical workers, food and its
subgroups, July 1972, and percent changes from
June 1972

13

CPI—United States city average for urban wage
earners and clerical workers, food items, and
percent changes from selected dates

14

CPI—United States city average for urban wage
earners and clerical workers, for selected items
and groups, July 1972, and percent changes from
selected dates

16

The Consumer Price Index
The Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent in July to
125.5 percent of its 1967 base. Almost two-thirds of the
rise was due to higher prices for food, particularly meats.
The July Index was 3.0 percent higher than it was a year
ago.
After seasonal adjustment, the July increase was also
0.4 percent. In July, the food index, which includes both
food purchased in grocery stores and restaurant meals,
ni ,
,
j. , j t
. r i,
n
rose 0.6 percent on a seasonally
adjusted basis, following
an increase of 0.2 percent in June. The index for nonfood commodities, which held steady in June, rose 0.3
, .

T

!

c,

,

,.

.

,

r™

charges for services rose at a slightly faster rate in the
last 3 months compared with the February-April period,
Seasonally adjusted annual rates of change in the CPI
before and since the Economic Stabilization Program
began last August are as follows:
8 months before
3 months,
Pn
ase I,
Phase I,
December 1970 to August 1971 to
August 1971
AM item

u A •

*u

r-

x i

xu

r*

.

•*

3.8

Food

1.9
-

50

1 7

Commodities less

percent in July after seasonal adjustment. The services
index increased 0.3 percent, the same as it had in June.
In the 6-month period ending in July, the CPI rose at
a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.2 percent. Prices
in the last 3 months of the period rose at about the same
+u

*

November 1971

food

services

\

'.

4.6

KI

*u

3.1

8 months,
Ph se
* "',

November 1971 to

rate as they had in the first 3 months. Despite the
acceleration in food prices from June to July, the increase
was considerably slower in the 3 months ending in July
than in the 3 months ending in April; the latter increase
was influenced significantly by the large rise in food
prices in February. Prices for nonfood commodities and

11 months,
'
' '-

Phases and

August 1971 to

July 1 9 7 2

July 1972

3 3

2 9

A items

"
commodities less
food
Services

-

-

2.6

1.9
3.5

3.6

Table A. Percent changes in CPI and components, selected periods
Changes in all items
at seasonally adjusted
compound annual rates

Changes from preceding month

Month

Commodities
less food

Food

All items
Unad- Seasonally
justed
adjusted

Unad- Seasonally
justed adjusted

Services

Unadjusted

Seasonally
adjusted

Unadjusted

From
3 mos.
ago

From
6 mos.
ago

From
12 mos.
ago

July 1971 . . .
August
September . .
October
November . .
December
..

0.2
.2
.1
.2
.2
.4

0.3
.3
.1
.2
.2
.3

0.5
.2
-.8
-.2
.1
1.1

0.2
.3
-.3
-.1
.8
.6

-0.1
.1
.3
.5
.1
0

0.2
.3
0
0
0
.2

0.5
.5
.3
.2
.3
.3

4.8
4.1
3.0
2.6
1.9
2.6

3.8
4.0
3.9
3.7
3.0
2.8

4.4
4.4
4.0
3.6
3.5
3.4

January 1972
February . . .
March
April
May
.......
June
July

.1
.5
.2
.2
.3
.2
.4

.3
.6

0
1.6
.2
0
-.1
.6
1.0

-.1
1.8
0
-.1
-.1
.2
.6

-.3
.1
.3
.3
.6
.2
0

.2
.3
.2
.2
.5

.5
.2
.2
.3
.2
.3
.3

3.2
4.8
3.6
3.1
2.1
2.2
3.3

2.9
3.4
3.1
3.2
3.5
2.9
3.2

3.4
3.7
3.5
3.4
3.2
2.9
3.0




0
.2
.3
.1
.4

0
.3

Food
The food index, which includes both food purchased
in grocery stores and restaurant meals, rose 0.6 percent
in July on a seasonally adjusted basis. The index rose 0.2
percent in June, after declining 0.1 percent in April and
May. The index for food away from home—restaurant
meals and snacks—rose 0.3 percent, the average monthly
increase this year.
Before seasonal adjustment, the index for food purchased in grocery stores rose 1.2 percent in July and 0.8
percent after seasonal adjustment, considerably more
than it had in June. Three-fourths of the July rise resulted from higher prices for meats and poultry. Egg
prices also rose sharply, and fresh fruits and vegetable
prices were higher. Prices for most other food purchased
in grocery stores declined.
The July increase of 2.7 percent for beef and 5.1 percent for pork were sharper than usual for this time of
the year. The July rise in retail meat prices was not unexpected in view of sharp advances at the wholesale
level in May and June. However, rising meat prices caused
consumer resistance to set in, and partly because of this
weakening in demand, wholesale beef prices held almost
steady in July instead of advancing sharply as they usually
do. Wholesale pork prices continued to rise in July, because hog slaughter and pork production declined during
June.
Retail poultry prices rose 2.7 percent in July. The increase, which was more than seasonal, reflected higher
prices at the wholesale level. Poultry prices at wholesale
recorded a large rise in June and an even sharper gain in
July mostly because of strong demand. Except for the
sharp rise in July and in February, retail poultry prices
have been relatively stable since July 1971. Prices this
July were 0.3 percent lower than they were in July 1971.
In contrast, beef and pork prices were sharply above
year-earlier levels in July.
Egg prices in grocery stores rose 8.2 percent in July,
somewhat more than they usually do. In June, egg
prices declined sharply. These monthly fluctuations tend
to obscure the trend in egg prices which has been downward since early 1970. The declines, however, have been
smaller this year than they were in 1970 or 1971 because of smaller production caused by reductions in laying flocks. In May and June, production was down 2
percent from a year earlier, the first year-to-year decline
since June 1970. Cold storage holdings at the end of
June, however, were ur/61 percent from the end of June
1971, and prices this July/were 3.1 percent below yearearlier levels.
Fresh fruit and vegetable prices, which are also highly
volatile, continued to move up in July. Fresh fruit prices
rose 2.6 percent, slightly less than usual for July. Prices




of apples and citrus items rose due to seasonal declines in
supplies, and table grapes were introduced into the index
for the first time this season at higher prices than prevailed at the end of the season in 1971. Banana and
watermelon prices fell sharply. Fresh vegetable prices
increased 0.6 percent—a contraseasonal rise—as adverse weather conditions and reduced plantings curtailed
supplies of onions, potatoes, asparagus, and celery. Prices
for carrots, lettuce, and tomatoes declined as production
rose.
Prices of dairy products declined contraseasonally for
the third consecutive month as milk production continued to outpace consumption. Prices of cereal and
bakery products also declined in July for the third
straight month. Corn flakes prices continued to move
down because of large corn supplies; flour prices declined
as a result of slow demand; and bread prices were lower
due to promotional sales. In late June, spot market
prices for grains started to advance in anticipation of a
large grain sale to the Soviet Union; this sale was confirmed on July 8th. Wholesale prices for wheat and flour
advanced sharply in July.
Prices declined in July for most other food items purchased in grocery stores. Large supplies of corn and soybeans and low export demand for crude and refined oils
contributed to the decline in retail prices of salad and
cooking oils. Promotional sales resulted in lower prices
for nonalcoholic beverages, sugar and sugar-based items,
baby food, and prepared or partially prepared foods such
as instant and frozen potatoes. Although these prices at
retail declined in July, wholesale prices for coffee, sugar,
and chocolate coating increased sharply in June and July
as a result of demand-supply imbalance in the world
market for green coffee, raw sugar, and cocoa beans. In
an effort to hold down retail coffee prices, the Cost-ofLiving Council announced a brief freeze from August 16
through September 1 on coffee prices at the factory
level. This was followed by new controls effective on
September 1, restricting manufacturers' markups and requiring price reductions in line with any future reductions in the cost of raw coffee.
Commodities less food
The index for nonfood commodities was unchanged
in July, instead of declining as it usually does at this time
of the year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the index increased 0.3 percent after holding steady in June.
Gasoline prices, which declined contraseasonally in
June, rose sharply in July. The end of price wars in some
cities, tighter supplies, and tax increases were factors
contributing to the July increase.
Used car prices continued to move up in July. However, the current uptrend, which accelerated from March

to May, decelerated in June, and slowed further in July.
The downtrend in new car prices continued, but the decline in July, as in June, was smaller than usual for this
time of the year. Dealer concessions did not increase as
much as usual because domestic new car sales established
a new sales record for the fourth consecutive month.
Prices for houses, some durable housefurnishings such
as dinnerware, table lamps, and floor coverings, and home
maintenance and repair commodities rose significantly
in July. Dinnerware prices have moved up steadily this
year as a result of wholesale price increases and import
taxes. Large increases in table lamp prices in June and
July reflected higher manufacturers' prices on new
models. Rising costs for material and labor contributed
to the increase in prices. The July increase for floor
coverings resulted from increases granted by the Price
Commission to carpet manufacturers this spring because
of rising material costs. Prices for nylon fiber have moved
up significantly as a result of strong demand and short
supply of nylon carpet yarn. Retail sales for floor coverings which had been low in the 1970—71 period, have
improved considerably this year as a result of the housing boom and the overall rise in economic activity. Rising
materials costs, especially lumber, contributed to higher
prices of commodities for home improvement and repairs.
In the household appliance group, prices increased
in July for ranges but declined for vacuum cleaners and
air conditioners. Prices declined for furniture and lawn
mowers as summer clearance sales continued.
Prices for apparel declined slightly more than they
usually do in July. Clearance sales on spring and summer
clothing items were widespread. The decrease in footwear prices, however, was considerably smaller than
usual. Although prices were lower for some footwear
items, average prices for men's and children's footwear
continued to rise as many stores passed on higher wholesale prices.
Among other nondurable goods, prices of textile
housefurnishings declined 0.7 percent in July as stores
began summer white sales. Prices of alcoholic beverages,
which declined in June, rose in July as sale prices were
removed and some wholesale costs were higher. Prices of
tobacco were unchanged after moving up sharply in the
first 6 months of this year. The index for drugs and
prescriptions, which rose in May and June, declined
slightly.
Services

The index for consumer services rose 0.3 percent in
July, the same as in June. About two-thirds of the July
increase was due to higher charges for most household
services.




The 0.5 percent rise in the index for household services in July was more than the increase of 0.3 percent in
each of the 3 preceding months. The acceleration in July
was largely due to a sharp rise in property insurance
rates and mortgage interest costs. The large increase in
property insurance rates in July followed a decline in
June and moderate increase in April and May. The index for property taxes, which decreased 0.1 percent in
June, increased 0.1 percent in July. Increases earlier this
year were considerably larger.
Charges for housekeeping services rose 0.4 percent in
July, slightly more than in June because of a large increase in charges for babysitters' services. The July increase of 0.4 percent for home maintenance and repairs
was about the same as it was in the preceding 4 months.
Charges for most utility services showed little change
in July. Charges for gas showed no change after declining
sharply in June. Telephone services increased 0.1 percent, following a substantial increase in June, and electricity charges decreased slightly following sharp increases
since December 1971. The July decrease in electricity
bills reflected lower fuel costs resulting from a temporary
surplus of residual fuel and bituminous coal. The increase
of 0.8 percent in water and sewerage charges was slightly
smaller than earlier increases this year.
The index for medical care services rose 0.3 percent in
July, the same amount as it had in June. Physicians' and
dentists' fees rose 0.1 and 0.2, respectively, the same as
in May and much less than in June. Charges for hospital
services and health insurance rose 0.4 percent, compared
with 0.2 percent in June and 0.3 percent in April and
May. The most significant price advances, 0.8 percent
for operating room charges and 0.6 percent for semiprivate room rates, were mainly due to increased labor
costs.
The index for transportation services rose 0.2 percent
after rising 0.1 percent in each of the preceding 3 months.
Auto insurance rates increased 0.3 percent in July
following declines in April and May and a slight rise in
June. Higher liability rates in several cities resulted in the
rise. Charges for auto repairs and maintenance rose 0.2
percent as prices for replacement parts and labor charges
were higher. The July increase was the same as the increase during the preceding 3 months and considerably
less than in the first 3 months of the year. Parking fees,
which increased sharply in May and June, rose only 0.1
percent in July. Local transit fares rose 0.3 percent in
July compared with 0.5 percent in June.
Diffusion of individual price changes

Approximately 120,000 individual prices were collected directly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in

July for use in the index. Approximately 80 percent of
these quotations represent monthly comparisons. As can
be seen from the following table, 72 percent of these
monthly comparisons remained unchanged, 10 percent
decreased, and 18 percent increased between June and
July. The proportion of prices increasing was larger than
in June and the largest since February. An increase in the
number of commodity prices rising, particularly food
prices, was primarily responsible for the overall rise. For
the services component, the proportion rising was

slightly less than last month.
The July index also includes 23,000 price comparisons
to July from periods before June of which 18,000 cover
the quarterly span from April to July. About 13 percent
of these increased, the same proportion as in last month's
index. In addition, a little less than 5,000 rental units
were surveyed in July and about 19 percent of these reported rent increases from January. About 2.5 percent
of the 5,000 units reported increases between June and
July.

Table B. Percent distribution of monthly price comparisons1

Item

All items 2

January
to
February

February
to
March

March
to
April

April
to
May

May
to
June

June
to
July

100

100

100

100

100

100

Increases
Decreases
No change

22
8
70

15
10
75

14
12
74

13
12
75

15
11
74

18
10
72

Food at home

100

100

100

100

100

100

Increases
Decreases
No change

24
9

15
13
72

14
13
73

17
12
71

20
11

67

16
12
72

100

100

100

100

100

100

8

7
85

10
5

7
7

6
7

8
7

85

86

8
6
86

87

85

100

100

100

100

100

100

8
3
89

3
1

6
4
90

7
5
88

5
3
92

4
3
93

Commodities less food
Increases
Decreases
No change
Services
Increases
Decreases
No change

96

69

Regulations of the Economic Stabilization Program permit certain types of increases, but it is not possible to determine
whether allowable increases accounted for all increases shown in the above table.
Based on approximately 98,000 individual price quotations.




CHART 1. ALL ITEMS INDEX AND ITS RATE OF CHANGE, 1963-72
(1967=100)
SEMILOG
135
130
125
120
115
110
105

JUL
125.5

CPI flLL ITEMS INDEX
(NOT SERSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

100
95
90

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN
[SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

85

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
-0.1

JY
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN
[flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTEO)

flRITH.
SCflLE

JUL
3.3

3RITH.
5CRLE
8

PERCENT CHflNGE OVE;R 6-MONTH SPflN
(RNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTEO)

SCf

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN 1/

i,,I,,i,

1963

1964

1965

1966

1/ Computed from the unadjusted series.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




1967

1968

1969

,!,,!,.I,,

1970

1971

1972

CHART 2. TOTAL FOOD INDEX AND ITS RATE OF CHANGE, 1963-72
(1967=100)

SEMILOG
135
130
125
120
115
110
105

CPI TOTRL FOOD INDEX
SEflSONflLLY ROJUSTEO)

100
95
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN
(SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTED)

90
85

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. SERSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

Fdll12
10
8
6
4
2
0
-2
-4

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN
flNNURL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTED)

flRITH.
SCflLE Q

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN 1 /

1903

1964

1965

1966

1967

IJ Computed from the u n a d j u s t e d s e r i e s .
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




6

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

CHART 3. COMMODITIES LESS FOOD INDEX AND ITS RATE OF CHANGE, 1963-72
(1967=100)
SEMILOG
135
130
125
120
115
110
105
100

CPI COMMODITIES LESS FOOD
[SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

95
90
85

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN
(SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

RRITH.
SCflLE
6

JUL
3.1

4
2
0
-2
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE> SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTED)

TO"
SCF

ARITH.
SCflLE

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN 1/
JUL
2.1

1963

i»iiIiiii

iiiiInii

1964

1965

1966

1/
Computed from the unadjusted s e r i e s .
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

CHART 4. SERVICES INDEX AND ITS RATE OF CHANGE, 1963-72
(1967=100)
SErtlLOG

135
130
125
120
115
110
105

CPI SERVICES INDEX
(NOT SEflSONflLLY

flDJUSTEO)

100
95
90
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN
(NOT SEflSONBLLY RDJUSTED)

85

RRITH.
SCRLE
12

1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
-0.1

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. NOT SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED))

10
8

JUL
3.4

6
4
2
0
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. NOT SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

10

JUL
3.1

RRITH.
SCflL"
RLE

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN

JUL
3.6

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




8

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

Table 1. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for
and service groups, and expenditure classes

Groups

age earners and clerical workers, by commodity

Relative Unadjusted indexes
importance
1967=100 unless
December
otherwise noted
July
June
1972
1972

All items (1967=100)
All items (1957-59=100)

125.5
145.9

125.0
145.4

62.59

121.2

120.7

Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery productsMeats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Food away from home

22.19
17.23
2.28
5.64
2.72
3.03
3.56
4.96

124.2
122.4
114.4
129.9
116.8
128.4
115.3
131.3

123.0
120.9
114.5
126.4
117.0
127.2
114.5
130.9

Commodities less food—

Commodities-

Unadjusted
percent change to
July 1972 from—
June
July
1972
1971
Commodity and service groups
0.4
.4

Seasonally adjusted
percent change fromMay-

AprilMay

3.0
3.0
2.6

1.0
1.2
- .1
2.8
- .2
.9
.7
.3

3.7
3.6
- .3
10.1
.7
1.9
- .3
3.8

- .3
2.1
- .2
.5
- .1
.2

.2
.2
- .2
.7
- .4
1.6

-

.1
.2
.1
.7
.4
.2
1.4
.3

40.40

119.4

119.4

Nondurables less food
Apparel commodities 1/
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Nondurables less food and apparel
Gasoline and motor oil
Tobacco products
Alcoholic beverages
Fuel oil and coal
Other nondurables

23.63
9.03
2.82
4.02
1.57
14.60
2.92
2.09
2.50
.67
6.42

119.3
121.3
120.4
121.2
124.6
118.2
108.1
134.0
119.6
117.7
117.9

119.5
122.4
121.9
122.6
124.7
117.9
106.8
134.0
119.1
117.8
118.0

- .2
- .9
1.2
1.1
- .1
.3
1.2
0
.4
- .1
- .1

2.2
1.5
.4
1.6
3.1
2.7
2.7
5.6
2.2
.2
2.3

Durables commodities
Household durables
New cars
Used cars
Other durables

16.77
4.83
2.12
1.98
7.84

119.6
115.3
111.0
112.7
127.2

119.2
115.1
111.3
2/ 112.0
126.2

.3
.2
- .3
.6

1.8
1.9
- 2.5
- .7
3.8

.2
.6*
.8

1.8*

37.41
5.05
32.36
15.36
5.57
5.55
5.88

133.5
119.0
136.2
139.6
136.3
138.4
125-8

133.1
118.8
135.7
138.9
136.0
138.0
125.6

.3
.2
.4
.5
.2
.3
.2

3.6
3.1
3.8
5.4
1.5
3.0
2.6

.3*
.2*
.4*
.3
.4
.1
.4

.3*
.4*
.3*
.4
.1
.4
.1

.2*
.2*
.2*
.6
.4
.2
.1

77.81
45.82
7.46
31.86
9.85
5.51
4.46

125.9
121.7
120.7
132.8
144.3
126.0
144.7

125.7
121.2
122.0
132.4
143.5
125.8
144.2

.2
.4
1.1
.3
.6
.2
.3

2.9
2.9
1.2
3.8
4.3
4.3
4.5

.2
.4
.2
.3*
.6
.2

.2
0

.4
.2
.1
.2*
.6
.5
.3

Services
Services less rent
Household services less rent
Transportation services
Medical care services
Other services
Special indexes:
All items less food
Nondurable commodities
Apparel commodities less footwearServices less medical care^
Insurance and finance
Utilities and public transportation
Housekeeping and home maintenance service

2.1

.5
.2
.1
.2
.3

.5
.3
1.1
0*
.4*
.1
0
.6

•3

.4

-

.2
.2
.3
.3
.3

- .2
- .8
.6*

- .3*
- .5
.2
.3
.3
.5
.4

- .2
.3*

.6
.2
.3

.4
.2
.2
0
.2
.5
1.5
.4*
.2*
.3
.3
.3
.3
- .1
3.4*
.3

Expenditure classes
0.4

0.4

125.5

.6

Food—

22.19

124.2

123.0

1.0

Housing
Shelter _3/

33.84
21.72
5.05
16.25
4.71
2.43
7.41

129.5
134.9
119.0
140.7
120.2
120.3
121.1

129.0
134.1
118.8
139.6
120.1
120.3
121.0

.4
.6
.2
.8
.1
0
.1

4.0
4.7
3.1
5.4
4.1
4.9
1.9

.4*
.5
.2*
.8
0
.3
.2

.4*
.4
.4*
.5
.3

.2*
.5
.2*
.4
.3
.3
.1

Apparel and upkeep

10.45

121.1

122.1

TransportationPrivate
Public

13.27
11.80
1.47

120.3
117.8
143.3

#119.8
2/117.3
143.0

.4
.4
.2

.7
.3
3.1

.7
.7
.4

0
.1
.4

.5
.6
.4

Health and recreationMedical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

19.87
6.46
2.58
5.71
5.12

126.3
132.7
120.0
123.0
125.8

126.1
132.4
120.0
122.9
125.6

.2
.2
0
.1
.2

3.0
2.6
2.5
2.8
3.8

.2*
.1
0
.2
.2

.2*
.5
.3
.3
0

.2*
.2
.5
.1
.4

78.28
93.54
96.25

123.1
125.1
124.6

122.7
124.6
124.2

.3
.4
.3

2.6
3.0
3.0

.3
.4
.4

.2
.2
.2

.2
.2
.2

$0,797
.685

$0,800

Homeownership _4/
Fuel and utilities 5/
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation—

Special indexes:
All items less shelter
All items less medical care
All items less mortgage interest costs •
Purchasing power of consumer dollar:
1967=$1.00
1957-59=$!.00

1/ Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, and jewelry not shown separately.
1) Revised.
3/ Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
hj Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs.
_5/ Also includes residential telephone, fuel oil, coal, water and sewerage service not shown separately.
*
Not seasonally adjusted.
NOTE: Index applies to month as a whole, not to any specific date.




9

TABLE 2. Consumer Price Index--The United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, all items
most recent index and percent changes from selected dates

Indexes
Are* 1/

pricing
Schedule 2/

1967=100

1957-59=100

Percent change from:

Other
bases
June
1972

July 1972

April
1972

July
1971

U.S. City Average

125.5

145.9

0.4

1.0

3.0

Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles-Long Beach
N.Y.-Northeastern N.J.
Philadelphia -

124.4
126.7
122.8
131.4
127.0

141.4
145.6
144.4
156.3
148.3

.2
.6
.9
.4
.4

.9
1.4
1.2

2.9
4.0
3.1
3.6
2.7

July 1972

April
1972

July
1971

152.2
143.2
145.5
144.3

0.7
.3
1.0
.6

3.4
3.2
3.0
3.0

February
1972

May
1971
3.9
3.4
3.5
3.1
3.6

139.6
146.3

1.0
.2
.7
.5
1.2
- .2
.7

June 1972

March
1972

June
1971

0.8
.5
1.3
- .2
1.2
.9
1.1

2.0
1.6
3.2
3.1
2.7
1.7
3.7

Boston
Houston
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Pittsburgh

127.1
125.2
125.5
125.5

May 1972

Buffalo -Cleveland Dallas --Milwaukee San Diego
Seattle --Washington

Atlanta —
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Honolulu
Kansas City —
St. Louis
San Francisco-Oakland — - -

126.1
126.1
124.6
122.8
123.8
118.8
125.6

124.8
125.5
124.6
122.2
123.9
121.9
124.3

3/ 138.5
142.3
3_/ 134.7
138.6
4/

130.1

143.5
145.7
141.4
5/131.7
147.1
142.4
147.9

J7
Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metropolitan. Statistical Area (SMSA) except
for New York and Chicago where the more extensive Standard Consolidated Areas are used. Area definitions are those established for the 1960 Census and do not include revisions made since I960*
2J
Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all cities; most other goods and services priced as
indicated:
M - Every month.
1 - January, April, July, and October.
2 - February, May, August, and November.
3 - March, June, September, and December.
3/ November 1963=100.
4/ February 1965=100.
5/ December 1963=100.
Note: The Consumer Price Index cannot be used for measuring differences in living costs among areas; it indicates price
change within areas. Estimates of differences in living costs among areas are found in the family budgets.




10

Table 3. Consumer Price Index--United States and selected areas _1/ for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
major groups percent changes from June 1972 to July 1972
Los Angeles- New YorkLong Beach Northeastern
New Jersey

U. S. city
average

Chicago

Detroit

All items

0.4

0.2

0.6

0.9

0.4

0.4

Food
Housing
Apparel and upkeep —
Transportation •
Health and recreation •
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation •
Other goods and services

1. 0
.4
-.8
.4
.2
.2
.0
.1
.2

.3
.6
-2. 7
.9
.2
.4
(2/)

1.5

1. 1
.9
-.8
2. 1
.3
.6
(2/)
.3
.1

1. 1
.2
-1. 1
.2
.3
-. 1
(2/)
.5
.7

.7
-1.9
-.2
.8
.9
(2/)
.2
1.2

Group

1
2

.1

.9
-.4
-. 3
.3

.1
(2/)
-. 2
.2

Philadelphia

See footnote 1, table 2.
Not available.

Table 4. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers
for selected groups, seasonally adjusted
(1967=100)
Indexes
Group

Percent change to July 1972
from:
3 month
1 month
ago
ago

July
1972

June
1972

April
1972

Food
Food at home •
Cereal and bakery products •
Meat, poultry, and fish
Dairy products •
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

123.3
121.4
114.3
128. 7
116.7
123. 3
116. 7

122.6
120.4
114. 6
126. 0
116.9
122. 7
116.8

122.5
120.5
114. 9
126. 0
117. 9
120.5
116. 2

0.6
.8
-.3
2. 1
-.2
.5
-. 1

0.7
.7
-.5
2. 1
-1.0
2.3
.4

Fuel and utilities 1_/
Fuel oil and coal

120. 3
118. 2

120. 3
118. 3

119. 7
118. 5

0
-. 1

.5
-. 3

Apparel and upkeep _2/ •
Men1 s and boys'
Women' s and girls'
Footwear

121.
121.
122.
125.

8
2
2
2

121.9
121. 5
122. 6
124.6

121.
121.
123.
124.

9
7
0
0

-. 1
-. 2
-.3
.5

-. 1
-.4
-. 7
1.0

Transportation •
Private
New cars —

120. 1
117.4
112. 3

3/119.3
3/116. 6
~ 112. 1

118. 7
116. 0
111. 6

. 7
. 7
.2

1. 2
1.2
.6

Commoditie s
Commodities less food
Nondurables
Nondurables less food
Apparel commodities
Durable s

121. 0
119. 5
121.5
119. 7
122. 2
119.4

120.5
119. 2
121. 0
119.5
122. 3
118. 7

119.9
118. 6
120. 8
119. 2
122. 3
117. 9

.4
.3
.4
.2
-. 1
.6

.6
.4
-. 1
1. 3

1
2
3

—

Also includes telephone, water, and sewerage service not shown separately.
Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, jewelry, and apparel upkeep services not shown separately.
Revised.




11

fable 5. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas 1/ for urban wage earners
and clerical workers, commodity groups, July 1972, and percent changes from April 1972

Group

U.S.
City
Average

Los
AngelesLong
Beach

Chicago

MinneapolisSt. Paul

ew YorkPhilafortheasterr
delphia
w Jersey

Pittsburgh

Indexes (1967=100)
All items

Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Food away from home
Housing

Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation
Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys' —
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Transportation
Private
Public
Health and recreation
• Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

125.5

127.1

124.4

126.7

125.2

122.8

125.5

124.2
122.4
114.4
129.9
116.8
128.4
115.3
131.3

124.0
122.7
113.2
131.9
116.5
129.5
113.0
128.9

124.3
123.1
113.1
131.9
116.3
127.6
116.1
129.1

124.2
123.3
115.7
133.7
113.0
126.1
114.4
128.7

124.8
121.2
110.1
128.2
118.4
128.4
115.0
137.5

121.3
120.8
111.2
131.1
114.9
124.3
114.2
122.6

125.3
123.4
123.4
131.7
117.1
124.2
117.8
133.7

129.5
126.5
117.2
133.4
119.7
136.0
116.6
139.2

124.0
121.0
112.7
128.1
118.4
126.5
111.5
136.7

123.0
121.2
111.2
127.5
115.5
130.7
114.8
134.1

129.5
134.9
119.0
140.7
120.2
117.7
120.3
121.1

133.3
141.7
129.3
147.3
117.9
117.1
120.3
125.7

125.1
129.8
113.3
137.2
115.1
113.4
115.4
117.3

134.5
144.7
(2/)
149.6
116.1
113.9
117.3
115.3

129.2
135.2
111.0
143.6
116.3

128.0
131.0
118.5
134.8
127.1

117.5
124.8

130.3
118.1

131.2
136.6
121.1
139.2
124.5
115.1
125.0
119.5

136.1
142.3
(2/)
154.8
124.8
120.4
123.5
126.6

131.1
140.5
124.6
144.7
117.7
111.9
122.4
122.1

130.7
139.0
117.0
145.3
120.1
_
124.6
119.8

121.1
120.4
121.2
124.6

123.2
120.1
123.0
128.3

115.9
114.0
115.2
118.2

116.9
115.2
112.9
126.2

123.2
114.7
129.3
126.2

119.1
114.7
122.4
123.0

117.2
117.6
114.3
124.5

120.2
117.2
119.6
123.7

117.7
117.3
112.8
126.4

121.8
120.9
122.0
125.9

3/120.3
4/117.8
143.3

119.3
116.3
137.2

124.8
119.2
160.4

116.5
114.0
147.5

115.6
113.0
157.5

117.8
117.8
116.7

116.2
115.6
126.6

133.2
125.5
162.8

125.3
122.4
142.3

121.8
119.4
137.9

126.3
132.7
120.0'
123.0
125.8

128.0
134.5
121.7
129.2
123.4

127.7
131.6
(2/)
124.0
131.0

128.6
141.3
121.6
123.7
121.4

128.1
135.1
122.5
122.0
128.1

120.5
129.1
(2/)
113.9
119.3

126.6
125.9
119.5
128.4
128.5

131.7
140.2
(2/)
128.2
132.4

130.7
142.1
121.3
126.2
127.7

126.1
129:8
115.6
124.2
129.1

Percent changes from April 1972 to July 1972
All itei

0.7

0.9

1.2
1.4
-1.3
2.8
- .3
5.6
-2.1
1.1

1.6
1.9
-3.3
5.0
- .2
3.3
.3
.7

2.4
2.7
.3
4.0
-3.2
9.5
.0
1.3

1.0
1.4
.8
1.6
.3
- .8
.1
.5
- .6
- .6
-1.2
- .9
.4

.9
1.0
.9
1.0
.0
.3
- .1
.1
.1
- .7
-1.0
1.3

1.3
2.0
5_/.6
2.3
- .6
.0
-1.1
.4
-2.6
-2.6
-2.8
-5.1
1.9

1.9
2.0
(2/)
2.3
2.0
.0
1.3
1.0
- .3
- .3
-1.6
-1.1
2.4

1.4
1.5
.4

.5
.6
- .4

1.7
2.2
- .6

Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
r
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Food away from home

1.5
1.7
- .5
3.2
- .5
5.2

Housing
Shelter
Rent —
Homeownership
Fuel and utilities —
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation
Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Transportation •
Private
Public
Health and recreation •
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation —
Other goods and services

1/
2/
3/
4/
_5/




.6
.6

.4
.2
.4
1.0
- .2

U/)
.4

1.2

0.8

0.6

1.0
1.2
-1.9
2.5
- .1
4.6
- .5
.2

1.8
2.4
- .5
4.5
.2
4.6
.8
.2

2.0
2.3
.7
3.7
2.0
5.0
- .5

1.6
1.7
.0
2.3
- .»
6.8
-1.4
1.7

- .2
- .4
-3.9
2.2
-1.6
2.8
-5.0
.9

.5
.5
-5.0
4.2
-3.4
4.6
-2.5
.5

1.0
.4
1.1
.2

1.6
1.9
5/.3
2.3
1.8

1.1
1.4

2.0
.3
- .9
- .9
-1.2
-2.0
.3

1.7
1.0
.0
2.2
.1
-2.7
-2.7
-5.4
-3.0
.0

2.3
3.5
5./.6
4.1
.9
.0
.7
.5
-2.3
-2.3
-4.2
-3.3
.5

1.6
1.9
.6
2.3
1.4

-4.5
.6
-2.3
-2.3
-1.9
-6.0
.9

1.2
.9
.2
1.0
2.0
.0
2.0
1.4
-1.3
-1.3
-3.3
-1.3
.2

2.0
.4
-1.8
-1.8
.9
-5.6
1.1

1.0
1.3
-1.0

.0
- .1
.7

1.8
1.8
1.2

1.8
1.8
.9

1.1
1.3
.2

1.1
1.4
- .1

1.0
1.3
- .3

.5
.6
1.8
.2
.1

.2
.1
- .2
.2
.2

.7
1.2
<;/,

.5
.9
.0
.0

1.3
.9

1.2
.9
.7
.3
2.6

.6
2.0
.3
.6
- .6

See footnote 1, table 2.
Not available.
Revised index June 1972=119.8.
Revised index June 1972-117.3.
Change from May 1972.

12

.7

(1/)

(in
1.6
1.5

Table 6. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and
clerical workers, food and its subgroups, July 1972, and percent changes from June 1972
Food at home
Area 1/

Total
food

Cereals

and
bakery
products

Meats,
poultry,
and fish

Dairy
products

Fruits

and
vegetables

Other
foods
at home

Food
away
from
home

Indexes (1967=100)

U.S. City Average

124.2

122.4

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas
Detroit
Honolulu
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles-Long Beach
Milwaukee
Minneapolis-St. Paul —
N.Y.-Northeastern N.J.Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Diego
San Francisco-Oakland Seattle
Washington

124. 3
125. 0
124. 0
124.4
124. 3
125.6
124.4
123. 0
124. 2
122. 1
124. 8
124. 1
121.3
120.9
125. 3
129. 5
124. 0
123. 0
123.5
124. 2
122.4
121. 1
126. 1

122. 0
123. 1
122. 7
123. 2
123. 1
124. 8
123. 8
120. 0
123. 3
118.9
121. 2
122.3
120. 8
119.5
123.4
126.5
121. 0
121. 2
121. 6
121.9
121. 3
119.2
122.7

114.4
118. 2
112. 1
113.2
114. 9
113. 1
117. 9
112.5
112.9
115. 7
106.3
110. 1
117. 1
111. 2
114.2
2/123.4
117.2
112. 7
111. 2
119.4
111.8
112.8
110.3
117. 8

129.9

116.8

128.4

115.3

131.3

126. 7
127.8
131.9
129.5
131. 9
129.4
130.5
128.6
133.7
123.4
128. 2
128.2
131. 1
127.7
131. 7
133.4
128. 1
127.5
126. 1
135.9
129.4
128.4
123. 7

118.3
118.7
116.5
116.9
116.3
119.8
121. 2
HI. 1
113. 0
118. 0
118.4
125.9
114.9
114.0
117. 1
119. 7
118.4
115.5
119. 7
114.5
115.5
115.8
112.8

131. 3
133.3
129.5
132.9
127.6
132.7
130.8
123. 1
126. 1
126.5
128.4
120.5
124.3
125.2
124.2
136. 0
126.5
130. 7
129.8
122.2
123. 1
118.3
135.7

114.9
117.5
113.0
115.4
116. 1
118.3
116.6
114.8
114.4
115. 0
115. 0
116.2
114.2
111.0
117.8
116.6
111.5
114.8
111. 0
112.4
115.9
115. 1
120.9

131.5
132.4
128.9
130.9
129. 1
128.3
127.5
134. 1
128.7
131.3
137.5
129. 7
122. 6
(2/)
133.7
139.2
136. 7
134. 1
132.2
(2/)
126.5
127.0
134.9

Percent changes June 1972 to July 1972
U.S. City Average

1. 0

1. 2

-0. 1

2.8

-0. 2

0.9

0.7

0.3

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas — ——— — — — —
Detroit
Honolulu
.
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles-Long Beach Milwaukee
Minneapolis-St. Paul
N.Y.-Northeastern N . J . —
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Diego
San Francisco-Oakland —
Seattle
Washington

.6
1.5
.9
1 0
. 3
1. 0
1. 2
.7
1.5
.7
1. 0
.7
1. 1
.7
1. 0
1. 1
.8
1.2
1.2
.6
1. 0
.6
1. 0

.7
1.8
1. 1
1. 0
. 4
1. 1
1.4
1. 0
1.9
.7
1. 3
1. 0
1.5
. 8
1. 1
1.5
1. 0
1.4
1.4
1. 0
1.2
.7
1. 5

.0
.2
. 1
-. 1
-.9
.8
.2
-.4
1. 0
.4
-.6
. 1
-. 3
-. 1
. 8
. 3
-1.9
-1. 2
-.5
-2. 1
. 1
. 1
-.4

2.4
2. 5
1.8
2.9
2. 2
3.6
3.8
3. 0
3.2
.2
2. 7
2. 1
2.9
2. 1
2. 2
2. 7
2. 1
4. 0
4. 1
2. 6
2.4
1. 7
1.6

-.6
. 1
.3
.0
.2
-.2
-1. 1
-. 5
-.3

-.5
4.4
3.0
-.2
-2. 1
-1. 0
1. 0
-1.3
1.4
3.6
2.4
.0
2. 1
.5
1. 0
2.2
2.6
1. 2
. 1
-.6
-. 1
.2
2. 1

.4
.4
-.8
.4
.3
.7
. 1
1. 1
2. 0
-.7
.6
1.5
1.2
.2
.8
.7
.5
.9
.8
2. 3
1.5
.9
1.9

. 1
. 1
.5
.5
.3
. 1
.3
. 1
. 0
.6
-. 1
. 1
.0

1/ See footnote 1, table 2.
2/ Not available.
3/ Revised index: May 1972, 122.5; June 1972, 122.4.




13

. 1

. 1
-.4
. 1
.4
-. 2
-.4
-. 2
-.7
.2
-. 1
. 1
-. 3
.9

an
.2
. 3
. 1
.2
(2/)
.3
. 1
. 1

Table 7. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food items
indexes and percent changes from selected dates
(1967=100)

July 1972

Item or group

Unadjusted
Total food
Food away from home
Restaurant meals
?•
Snacks
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Flour
--Cracker meal
Corn flakes
-Rice
Bread, white
Bread, whole wheat
Cookies
Layer cake
Cinnamon rolls
Meats, poultry, and fish
Meats
Beef and veal
Steak, round
Steak, sirloin
Steak, porterhouse
Rump roast
Rib roast
•
Chuck roast
Hamburger
Beef liver
Veal cutlets
Pork
Chops
Loin roast
Pork sausage
Ham, whole
Picnics
Bacon
Other meats
Lamb chops
Frankfurters
Ham, canned
Bologna sausage
Salami sausage
Liverwurst
Poultry -Frying chicken
Chicken breasts
Turkey
Fish
Shrimp, frozen
Fish, fresh or frozen
Tuna fish, canned
Sardines, canned
Dairy products
Milk, fresh, grocery
Milk, fresh, delivered
Milk, fresh, skim --Milk, evaporated
Ice cream
•-Cheese, American process
Butter
-

124.2
131. 3
131. 3
131. 1
122.4
114.4
99.2
135.9
100. 0
109.6
112. 7
119. 7
109.9
120.2
120. 7
129.9
131.3
139.4
137.3
136.9
139.2
135.6
141.0
138.4
138.7
133.0
164.5
124.0
130.7
130. 1
129. 1
113.9
122.7
116.3
124.0
131.6
124.4
113. 0
128.9
126.8
119. 3
111. 8
111.5
113.7
111. 6
142.0
136. 5
151. 5
133.3
146.6
116.8
116. 0
120. 3
121. 9
118. 1
106.5
124.5
104. 7

123.3
131.3
131.3
131. 1
121.4

114.3
99. 1
135.9
99.8
109.6
112.8
119.8
109. 1
120.3
120. 7
128.7
130. 1
138.0
136.5
133.6
135. 7
135.3
139.7
138. 1
137.7
131.4
162.7
121. 9
126.8
127.4
128. 1
115.6
122. 1
114. 1
123.9
129.7
124. 3
114. 6
128.3
126.4
118.9
109.5
108. 1
113.4
112. 0
142. 1
135.8
151.3
133.7
147.5
116. 7
116.2
120.4
121.9
117. 3
106.7
124. 1
104.8

See footnotes at end of table.




Seasonally
adjusted

14

.Tnnp 197?
Seasonally
adjusted
Unadjusted
1.0
.3
.3

.1
1. 2
-. 1
-. 2
.0
-.3
.3

0.6
.2
.2
-.2
.8
-. 3
.0
.2
-. 7
.4

-. 3
.3

-.6

.4
.3
-.5
2.8
3.0
2.7
3.5
3.8
3.9
2.6

-.6

3. 1
4.5
1.5

.0
1.5

5. 1
9. 1
9.3
2.4
1.7
2.3
2.8
1.0

1.6
1.6
.2
.6
1. 1
.8

2. 7
3.6
1.2
.2
.5

.1
1.6
-.5

. 7
-.2

-. 3
.0
.0

-.6
-.2

.0
-. 1

-.2
. 3
-.5
2. 1
2.3
2.2
3.6
2.8
2.4
3. 1
2.6
4. 1
1.3
1. 3
1. 1
3. 1
5.4
6.3
2.0
2.3
.7
2. 2
1.0

.9
2.0
.8
.1
.8
.5
1. 7
2. 1
.8
.4

.6
-.4
1.5
. 0
1.2
-.2
-. 2
.0
. 1
-.8
-.2
.0
-. 1

July 1971
unadjusted
3.7
3.8
4.0
2.4
3.6
.3
-2. 1
3.9
-8.3
.0
-1. 1
1. 1
.0
-. 1
1.6
10. 1
11.6
10. 1
10.4
8. 1
8.7
10.-8
9.0
10.6
8.8
16.2
13.8
18.4
21.0
22.0
16.4
10.6
16.2
20.3

6.8
6.6
8.5
6.7
8.0
8.0
3.3
-.3
-. 7
2.3
-. 5
8.4
14. 9

6.8
3.3
9.2
.7
.8
1.9
1.2
-1.9
-.7
2.0

-.9

Table 7. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food items
indexes and percent change from selected dates—Continued
(1967=100)
Item or group

Fruits and vegetables
-Fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits
Apples
Bananas
Oranges
Orange juice, fresh
Grapefruit
Grapes, Thompson seedless
S trawberries
Watermelon
Fresh vegetables
Potatoes
Onions, yellow
Asparaguss green
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery, pascal
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Green peppers
Spinach
Tomatoes
Processed fruits and vegetables
Fruit cocktail, canned
Pears, canned
Grapefruit-pineapple juice, canned
Orange juice concentrate, frozen
Lemonade concentrate, frozen
Beets, canned
Peas, green, canned
Tomatoes, canned
Dried beans
Broccoli, frozen
Other food at home
Eggs
Fats and oils:
Margar ine
Salad dressing, Italian
Salad or cooking oil
Sugar and sweets
Sugar
Grape jelly
Chocolate bar
Syrup, chocolate flavored
Nonalcoholic beverages
Coffee, can and bag
Coffee, instant
Tea
Cola drink
Carbonated fruit drink
Prepared and partially prepared foods
Bean soup, canned
Chicken soup, canned
Spaghetti, canned
Mashed potatoes, instant
Potatoes, french fried, frozen
Baby foods, canned
Sweet pickle relish
Pretzels
-r

Index
July 1972
Seasonally
Unadjusted
adjusted
128.4
134. 1
134.2
140. 3
105.0
126.9
130.8
152.4
180.9

123.3
125.6
121.4
117.5
102.8
127.0
130.7
135. 7
144.4

a/)

a/)

121.0
134. 2
143.0
148.0
145. 7
122.5
128.9
140.0
119.3
110.8
145.4
137.9
130.4
120.0
121.3
117.7
115. 6
136.0
115.5
121.4
107.6
115.8
137.2
118. 7
115.3
101.9
117.4
109.5
120. 1
120.4
114.5
125.0
130.5
110.4
120.3
117. 2
123.4
108.8
128. 2
127. 8
114. 3
116.2
104.4
119.5
111.5
110.8
110. 1
124. 1
115. 1

1/ Priced on in season.




15

129.8
129.0
122.3
138. 1
154.2
121.4
120.8
121. 2
141.5
112.8
157.5
136.3
127.5
120. 1
121. 2
117.8
115.8
135. 6
117.7
121. 2
107. 7
115.3
137.5
118. 7
116.7
112.2
117.4
109.3
120. 1
120.4
114.3
124.9
130. 2
110.5
120. 2
117. 2
123.4
108.4
128. 1
127.2
114.4
116.4
104.4
119.9
111.4
110.6
110.2
125. 7
114.9

Percent change to July 1972 from—
June 1972
July 1971
Seasonally
unadjusted
adjusted
Unadjusted

0.9
1.4
2.6
6.8
-3. 1
2.9
.2
5.0

0.5
.9
-.2
-. 1
-5.2
.0
.0
-.9

1.9
1.4
1.7
3. 1
7.8
-1.4
3.2
-9.4
5.5

-16.4
.6
15.5
20.4
5.5
-1. 9
-4.9
3.5
-7.4
-8.4
-9.2
2.0
-15.9
. 1
.2
.0
1. 1
.5
-1.5
.0
.4
.3
.2
-. 2
.7
8.2

8.3
1.9
11.7
19.3
2. 1
8. 1
-8.2
-2.6
1.9
-13.8
13.2
-. 2
-16.3
.0
-.4
-.3
1. 1
.4
.2
-.2
-. 1
. 1
.2
-. 1
-. 1
2.7

-.7
.4
-1.2
-.2
-.3
. 1
-. 1
-.6
-.2
.0
-. 7
-.2
.3
-.4
-. 1
-. 1
.2
.5
-. 7
-.2
-. 3
-.2

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

-.9

-.9

-10.4
1.4
6.7
33.2
14.5
-3.8
-21.2
14.5
8.9
-11.6
10.5
6.2
-15.5
2.7
1.9
.7
1.9
4.4
1.5
4.9
.4
-. 1
10.0
.4
-.3
-3. 1
1.6
-.6
.3
.6
1.7
3.8
-.6
-2.6
-1.4
-3.8
-1. 2
.3
1.4
.5
1. 1
2.2
-1.9
2.0
-.8
.0
-.8
5.7
.5

a/)
a/)

a/)
a/)

(I/)

Table 8. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
indexes for selected items and groups, July 1972, and percent changes from selected dates

Item and group
Housing
Shelter 1/
•
Rent
•
Homeownership costs 2/
Mortgage interest rates
Property taxes
Property insurance rates
Maintenance and repairs
Commodities 3/
•
Exterior house paint
Interior house paint
Services
Repainting living and dining rooms
Reshingling house roof
Residing house
Sink replacement
Furnace repair
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Fuel oil, #2
Gas and electricity
Gas
Electricity
r
Other utilities:
Residential telephone services
Residential water and sewerage services T
Household furnishings and operation 4/
Housefurnishings
Textiles =
—
Sheets, percale or muslin
Curtains, tailored, polyester
Bedspreads, chiefly cotton
Drapery fabric, cotton or rayon/acetate
Pillows, bed, polyester, acrylic, or kapok
Slipcover, throws, ready made, chiefly cotton-Furniture and bedding
Bedroom furniture, chest and dresser
Sofas, upholstered
Cocktail table Dining room chairs
Recliner, upholstered
Sofas, dual purpose
Bedding, mattress and box springs—
Aluminum folding Chair
Cribs
Floor coverings
Rugs, soft surface
Rugs, hard surface
Tile, vinyl
Appliances £/
Washing machines, electric, automatic (Vaccum cleaners, canister type
Refrigerators or refrigerator-freezers electric
Ranges, free standing, gas or electric
Clothes dryers, electric, automatic
Air conditioners, demountable
Room heaters, electric, portable
-—
Garbage disposal units
Other housefurnishings: ,
Dinnerware, earthenware
Flatware, stainless steel Table lamps, with shade
Lawn mowers, power, rotary type
Electric drills, hand held
Housekeeping supplies:
Laundry soaps and detergents
Paper napkins
Toilet tissue
Housekeeping services:
Domestic service, general housework
Baby sitter service -Postal charges
Laundry, flatwork, finished service
•
Licensed day care service, preschool child
Washing machine repairs

Other
index

Mar. 70
Dec. 71
Mar. 70
Dec. 71
June 70

See footnotes at end of table.




Indexes
July 1972
129.5
134. 9
119.0
140. 7
117.2
144.9
123.4
141. 1
124.2
117.2
117.4
148. 5
160.5
156.2
135. 9
146. 1
154. 6
120.2
117. 7
116. 5
120. 3
121.2
119.4

16

June 1972
129.0
134. 1
118.8
139.6
117. 1
144. 8
122.6
140.6
123.9
117.4
117.5
147. 8
159.5
156.2
135.2
145. 8
153.6
120. 1
117. 8
116.5
120. 3
121.2
119.5

Percent change to July 1972
fro.
June 1972
July 1971
4. 0
.4
.6
4. 7
3. 1
.2
5.4
. 8
. 1
-.2
. 1
11.0
.7
1.6
.4
4. 8
.2
3.6
-.2
1. 3
2.8
-. 1
.5
5.2
7. 3
.6
.0
6. 1
.5
3. 7
2. 7
. 2
7.0
. 7
. 1
4. 1
-. 1
. 2
.0
.3
.0
4.9
.0
4.4
-. 1
5.2

115. 0
138. 8
121. 1
116.4
113.4
113.4
112.5
110.3
123. 9
104. 7
114. 9
121. 3
104. 8
120.6
100.0
104. 1
98. 0
116. 9
104. 9
125. 8
119. 3
106. 8
101. 7
118. 6
118.2
105. 8
110. 6
103. 8
107.9
111.3
114. 5
110, 9
(7/)
111.0

114. 9
137. 7
121. 0
116.4
114.2
116.7
112. 1
111.6
122.7
108. 1
113. 8
121.5
105. 1
120. 8
100.4
105. 1
98.0
116. 9
104.5
126. 1
119. 0
106.4
101.4
117. 9
118.2
105. 8
110.5
104. 0
107. 9
111.0
114.4
111. 0
(7/)
111. 0

.1
. 8
. 1
. 0
-. 7
-2. 8
.4
-1.2
1.0
-3. 1
1.0
-.2
-.3
-.2
-.4
-1.0
. 0
.0
.4
-. 2
.3
.4
. 3
. 0
.0
.1
-.2
. 0
.3
.1
-. 1
(7/)
.0

5.6
2.8
1.9
1.5
1.9
1. 3
1.6
3.4
3.9
-1. 7
2.4
1.4
.3
.0
(5/)
.9
(5/)
.4
1.0
8. 7
.3
.5
-.4
3. 2
1. 1
. 1
. 8
-.5
-.4
-.4
1.2
-.4
(7/)
. 8

125.4
123. 7
124.4
119. 5
106. 7

123. 7
122. 9
123.0
120. 8
106.0

1.4
. 7
1. 1
-1. 1
.7

5.9
2. 7
2. 1
2.2
. 8

111. 1
131. 7
124.4-

111. 0
130. 6
125.2

-.6

139.4
136. 6
146. 6
139.0
122.4
141. 1

139.2
135.6
146. 6
138.5
122.2
140. 8

. 1
.7
. 0
.4
. 2
. 2

.6

j

'. 8

.5
3.2
.3
3.6
4. 7
.0
3. 8
3. 7
2. 8

'

Table 8. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
indexes for selected items and groups, July 1972, and percent changes from selected dates—Continued
(1967=100)
Item and group

Other
index
bases

Apparel and upkeep ji/
Apparel commodities
Apparel commodities less footwear '
-.
Men's and boys'
Men's:
Topcoats, wool or all-weather coats,
polyester blends
Suits, year round weight
Suits, tropical weight
Jackets, lightweight
Slacks, wool or wool blends
Slacks, cotton or manmade blends
Trousers, work, cotton or polyester/cotton Shirts, work, cotton or polyester/cotton
Shirts, business, polyester/cotton
T-shirts, chiefly cotton
Socks, cotton or manmade fibers
Handkerchiefs, cotton or polyester/cotton --•
Boy's:
Coats, all purpose, cotton or cotton blend—
Sport coats, wool or wool blend
Dungarees, cotton or cotton blend
Undershorts, cotton
Women's and girls'
Women's:
Coats, heavyweight, wool or wool blend —
Carcoats, heavyweight, cotton
Sweaters, wool or acrylic
Skirts, wool, wool blend or manmade fibersSkirts, cotton or polyester blends
Blouses, cotton or polyester blends
Dresses, street, chiefly manmade fiber
Dresses, street, wool or wool blend
<
Slips, nylon
••
Panties, acetate or nylon tricot
Girdles, manmade blend
Brassieres, cotton
Hose, nylon seamless
Anklets, cotton <
Gloves, fabric, nylon or cotton
Handbags, rayon faille or plastic
Girls':
Raincoats, vinyl cotton, or polyester blends
Skirts, wool, wool blends, or acrylic
Dresses, cotton or polyester blends
Slacks, cotton or chiefly cotton
Slips, polyester blends
Handbags, plastic
Footwear
Men's:
Shoes, street, oxford
Shoes, work, high
<-•
Women's:
Shoes, street, pump
Shoes, evening, pump
Shoes, casual
Houseslippers, scuff
Children's:
Shoes, oxford
'
Sneakers, boys 1 , oxford type
Dress shoes, girls', strap or pump
Miscellaneous apparel:
Diapers, cotton gauze or disposable
Yard goods, polyester blende
,
<
Wrist watches, men's and women's
Apparel services:
Drycleaning, men's and women's
Automatic laundry service
Laundry, men's shirts
Tailoring charge, hem adjustment
Shoe repair, women's heel lift




121. 1
121. 3
120. 7
120.4

122. 1
122.4
122.0
121. 9

(1/)
128. 1
131.3
114.0
113.5
133. 1
115. 0
115.4
112. 1
117.4
115. 9
116. 3

&
131. 8
136. 8
114. 8
114. 9
133. 9
114. 7
115.5
113. 7
117.4
116. 7
116. 2

(7/)

(7/)

(in

(in

127.5
120.8
121. 2
(7/)

m

( 7/)
116. 7
123. 4
127. 4
(7/)
110. 8
118. 1
116. 9
122. 1
96. 4
114. 4
109. 9
142. 8

(7/)
(7/)
120. 0
(7/)
110. 5
122. 6
124. 6

17

127.3
120.5
122.6
(7/)

(77)

-0.8
-.9
-1. 1
-1. 2

1. 5
1. 5
1.2
.4

Z

(in

-2.8
-4. 0
-. 7
-1.2
-.6
. 3
-. 1
-1.4
. 0
-. 7
. 1

. 8
5. 0
1.6
-3.2
1.6
1.3
1.3
- 9
-1. 7
.9
1.0

(in

an
.2
.2
-1. 1

w
119.2
&/)
110.2
124. 7
124. 7

(77)

(7/)

4. 0
1.4
1.6
(7/)

(T/)

(77)

(77)

07)

(in
121.4
122. 8
128. 8
(7/)
111.0
118. 1
116. 9
121. 9
96. 0
114.4
111. 7
144. 6

an

-3.9
.5
-1. 1

(II)

-. 2
.0
. 0
.2
.4
. 0
-1.6
-1.2
(7/)

(rl)

(in
1. 7
1.3
2. 3

an

-. i
2. 1
.5
. 7
-2.8
-1.0
-.5
8. 1

m

14. 1

124. 2
123. 2

123. 8
120. 9

. 3
-1. 7
-. 1
.3
1. 9

125.
121.
122.
125.

1
8
8
4

125.9
122.3
126. 1
124. 8

-.6
-.4
-2.6
,5

127. 3
124. 2
130. 1

126. 9
123.5
129. 8

. 3
.6
. 2

4.3
4. 0
4.6

115. 3
119. 1
115. 7

114.5
119.0
115.2

. 7
. 1
.4

2. 7
-2. 7
2. 1

117.5
114. 8
121.0
132.5
115.4

. 1
. 1
.5 .
. 3
. 2

117.
114.
121.
132.
115.

See footnotes at end of table.

Percent change to July 1972
£roa:
June 1972
July

July 1972

6
9
6
9
6

Hi)
. 1
-5. 5
3. 1
4.0
3.6
2.5
2.5
-. 1
2.4

. 7
1. 8
2. 1
3. 6
2.9

Table 8. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
indexes for selected items and groups, July 1972, and percent changes from selected dates—Continued
(1967=100)
Other
index
bases

Item and group

Transportation
Private 10/
Automobiles, new
.
Automobiles, used
Gasoline, regular and premium
Motor oil, premium
Tires, new, tubeless
Auto repairs and maintenance J ^
Auto insurance rates
Auto registration
Parking fees, private and municipal
Public Local transit fares
Taxicab fares
Railroad fares, coach
Airplane fares, chiefly coach
Bus fares, intercity

_.

--

Health and recreation
Medical care - —
Drugs and prescriptions
Over-the-counter items
Multiple vitamin concentrates
Aspirin compounds
Liquid tonics
Adhesive bandages, package
Cold tablets or capsules
Cough syrup
•
Prescriptions
Anti-infectives
•
Sedatives and hypnotics
Ataractics
Anti-Spasmodics
Cough preparations
Cardiovasculars and anti-hypertensives
Analgesics, internal
Anti-obesity Hormones
Professional services:
Physicians' fees
General physician, office visits
General physician, house visits
Obstetrical cases
Pediatric care, office visits
Psychiatrist, office visits
Herniorrhaphy, adult
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
Dentists' fees
Fillings, adult, amalgam, one surface
Extractions, adult
Dentures, full upper
Other professional services:
Examination, prescription, and dispensing of
eyeglasses
Routine laboratory tests
Hospital service charges
Semi-private room rates
Operating room charges
X-ray dianostic series, upper GI
Laboratory test, urinalysis
Anti-infectives, tetracyline, HCL
Tranquilizers, chlordiazepoxid, HCL
Electrocardiogram
Intravenous solution, saline
Physical therapy, whirlpool bath
Oxygen, inhalation therapy
Personal care
Toilet goods
Toothpast, standard dentifrice
Toilet soap, hard milled
Hand lotions, liquid
Shaving cream, aerosol
Face power, pressed
Deodorants, aerosol
Cleansing tissues
Home permanent wave kits
•
Personal care services
Men's haircuts
Beauty shop services
Women's haircuts
Shampoo and wave sets, plain
Permanent waves, cold

Jan. 72

.
•

Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.

.

1

See footnotes at end of table.




18

72
72
72
72
72
72
72

Indexes

Percent change to July 1972
from:
July 1971

July 1972
120. 3
117. 8
111. 0
112. 7
106. 9
123. 9
116. 0
135.2
141. 1
127. 5
147. 1
143. 3
150. 3
133.6
122. 9
129. 2
138. 1

9/119-8
97117. 3
111. 3
9/112. 0
105. 6
123. 4
115. 8
134. 9
140. 7
127. 5
147. 0
143. 0
149. 9
133. 6
122. 7
129.2
138. 1

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

126. 3
132. 7
105. 6
111.2
95. 1
116. 6
101. 2
123.4
114. 2
113.5
100. 9
74. 7
127.4
103. 3
108.0
131. 9
111.5
109. 6
118. 0
92. 5

126. 1
132.4
105. 8
111. 6
95. 0
118. 1
101. 3
123. 6
113. 9
113. 9
100. 9
75.4
126. 5
102. 9
108.0
130. 7
111.4
109. 5
117. 2
92. 8

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

134. 0
135. 1
137. 2
134. 2
135. 9
129. 2
128. 2
129. 8
132. 7
134. 2
132. 8
129. 5

133. 9
135. 0
137. 0
134. 0
135. 8
129. 0
12 8. 2
130. 0
132.4
133. 9
132. 6
129. 1

. 1
. 1
. 1
. 1
. 1
. 2
. 0
-. 2
.2
.2
. 2
. 3

125. 0
120. 7

125. 0
120. 7

. 0
. 0

102.4
174. 9
168. 6
129. 3
102.3
99. 8
101. 7
102. 8
102. 3
102. 1
102. 0

102.
173.
167.
128.
102.
100.
101.
102.
102.
102.
101.

0
8
2
8
0
1
9
8
2
0
9

. 4
. 6
. 8
. 4
. 3
-. 3
-. 2
. 0
vl

120.0
117.3
110. 0
122.5
124. 9
107. 0
135. 0
105. 6
124. 5
109. 2
122. 9
125. 3
121.2
121.2
125. 1
112.6

120. 0
117.4
109.4
122. 6
126. 0
108.2
133. 3
105. 5
125. 1
109. 1
122. 7
125. 1
121. 0
121. 1
124. 7
112. 6

.0
-. 1
.5
-. 1
-. 9
-1. 1
1. 3
. 1
-. 5
. 1
.2
.2
.2
. 1
. 3
. 0

'. 1

0 . 7

Table 8. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
indexes for selected items and groups, July 1972, and percent changes from selected dates
(1967-100)
Item and group

Other
index
hnses

Indexes

Reading and recreation 12/
Recreational goods
TV sets, portable and console
TV replacement tubes
Radios, portable and table mode?
Tape recorders, portable
Phonograph records, stereophonic
Movie cameras, Super 8, zoom lens
Film, 35nm, color
Golf balls, liquid center
Basketballs, rubber or vinyl cover
Fishing rods, fresh water spincasting
Bowling balls
Bicycles, boys'
Tricycles
Dog food, canned or boxed
Recreational services
Indoor novie admissions
Movie admissions, adult Movie admissions, child
Drive-in aovie admissions, adultBowling fees, evening
Golf green fees
TV repair, color picture tube replacement
Film developing, black and white
Reading and education:
Newspapers, street sale and delivery
Magazines, single copy and subscription
Piano lessons, beginner
Other goods and services
Tobacco products
Cigarettes, nonfilter tip, regular size
Cigarettes, filter tip, king size
Cigars, domestic, regular size
Alcoholic beverages
Beer
-Whiskey, spirit blended and straight bourbon
Wine, dessert and table
Away from home (beer)
Financial and miscellaneous personal expenses:
Funeral service, adult
-Bank service charges, checking accounts
Legal services, short form will

July 1972

June 1972

123. 0
108. 1
99.4
131. 8
99. 1
94. 9
107. 5
88.3
108. 0
104. 8
126.2
107. 1
113.9
117. 4
114. 3
111. 0
128.9
144. 1
143. 5
145.5
146. 7
118.4
130. 8
98. 0
116.5

122.9
108. 0

Percent Chang e to July 1 V7<S
from:
June 1972
July 1971

131. 1
99. 1
94. 7
107.2
88.2
108. 1
105. 2
126.3
107.6
114.0
117.0
114. 0
110.6
128. 7
142.5
141.5
145. 2
147. 8
118.6
130. 7
98. 2
116.6

. 1
-. 1
.5
.0
. 2
.3
. 1
-. 1
-.4
-. 1
-.5
-. 1
.3
.3
.4
.2
1. 1
1.4
. 2
-. 7
-. 2
.1
-. 2
-. 1

2. 8
1. 2
-.5
7.9
.7
.9
2.5
-1. 1
-.6
.3
.3
-3. 1
1.9
3. 1
2.4
1.3
2.2
3. 8
3.5
4.5
3.4
1. 8
1. 7
-. 2
... 8

133. 1
133.4
122. 3

132. 8
133.4
122.2

. 2
.0
. 1

2. 1
5.6
1.3

125. 8
134. 0
135.6
136. 1
110. 9
119. 6
113.4
109.0
127.5
131.2

125.6
134. 0
135.6
136. 1
110. 9
119. 1
113. 1
108.5
126. 7
130. 7

.2
.0
.0
.0
. 0
.4
. 3
. 5
.4

3. 8
5.6
5.5
5. 8
4. 3
2.2
. 1
2.5
3. 7
4. 0

121. 3
107.0
150.2

121. 1
107.4
150. 6

. 2
-.4
-. 3

3. 1
-3.4
12.4

123. 1
119.4
118. 2
139. 6
136.3
125. 8

122. 7
119.4
117. 9
138. 9
136.0
125.6

.3
. 0
.3
. 5
.2
.2

2.6
2. 1
2.7
5.4
1. 5
2.6

99.5

o.i

.6

Other special groups:
All items less shelter
Commodities less food
Nondurables less food and apparel
Household services less rent
Transportation services
Other services

\J Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
If Also includes home purchases costs not shown separately.
3^/ Also includes pine shelving, furnace filters, packaged dry cement mix, and shrubbery not shown separately.
4/ Also includes Venetian blinds, nails, carpet sweepers, air deodorizers, steel wool scouring pads, envelopes, reupholstering, and moving expenses.
_5/ Not available.
j>/ Also includes radios and television sets, shown separately under reading and recreation.
]_/ Priced only in season.
87 Also includes men's sport shirts, women's and girls' lightweight coats, women's slacks, cocktail dresses, bathing suits,
girls' shorts,\ earrings, and zippers not shown separately.
j)/ Revised index.
10/ Also includes recapped tires and drivers' license fees not shown separately.
11/ Includes prices for water pump replacement, motor tune-up, automatic transmission repair exhaust system repair, front end
alignment, and chassis lubrication.
12/ Also includes outboard motors, nondurable toys, college tuition fees, paperback books, and college textbooks, not shown
separately.




19

Brief Explanation of the CPI
The national index (the United States city average)
includes prices from the 23 SMSA's for which separate
indexes are published in this report, as well as from the
following additional locations:

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average
changes in prices of goods and services usually bought by
urban wage earners and clerical workers, both families
and single persons living alone. It is based on prices of
about 400 items which were selected to represent the
movement of prices of all goods and services purchased
by wage earners and clerical workers. Prices for these
items are obtained in urban portions of 39 Standard
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA's) and 17 smaller
cities, which were chosen to represent all urban places
in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. They
are collected from grocery and department stores,
hospitals, filling stations, and other types of stores and
service establishments which wage earners and clerical
workers patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are
obtained every month in all 56 locations. Prices of most
other commodities and services are collected every
month in the 5 largest SMSA's and every 3 months in
other SMSA's and 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 location are averaged together with weights
which represent their importance in the spending of all
wage earners and clerical workers. SMSA and city data
are then combined in the total index with weights based
on the 1960 populations of SMSA's and cities they
represent. Index numbers are computed on the base
1967=100, and are also available on the base of
1957-59=100.

Alabama - Florence
Alaska - Anchorage
California - Bakersfield*
Colorado - Denver*
Connecticut - Hartford*
Florida - Orlando*
Indiana - Indianapolis*
Indiana - Logansport
Illinois - Champaign-Urbana*
Iowa — Cedar Rapids*
Kansas - Wichita*
Louisiana - Baton Rouge*
Maine - Portland*
Massachusetts - Southbridge
Michigan - Niles
Minnesota — Crookston
Mississippi - Vicksburg

New Jersey - Millville
New York - Kingston
North Carolina - Durham*
North Dakota - Devils Lake
Ohio - Dayton*
Ohio - 1 indlay
Oklahoma - Mangum
Oregon - Klamath Falls
Pennsylvania — Lancaster*
South Carolina - Union
Tennessee - Nashville*
Texas - Austin*
Texas - McAllen
Utah - Orem
Virginia - Martinsville
Wisconsin — Green Bay*

•Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area

Comparisons of indexes for individual SMSA's show
only that prices in one location changed more or less
than in another. The SMSA indexes cannot be used to
measure differences in price levels or in living costs
between areas.
A description of the index and historical tables of
index numbers for the United States city average and
for 23 large SMSA's are available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, D. C. 20212 or
any of its regional offices.

A Note on Seasonally Adjusted and Unadjusted Data
Because price data are used for different purposes by
different groups, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes seasonally adjusted as well as unadjusted changes
each month.
For analyzing general price trends in the economy,
seasonally adjusted changes are usually preferred since
they eliminate the effect of changes that normally occur
at the same time and in about the same magnitude every
year—such as price movements resulting from chang-




ing climatic conditions, production cycles, model changeovers, holidays, and sales.
The unadjusted data are of primary interest to consumers concerned about the prices they actually pay.
Unadjusted data are also used extensively for escalation purposes. Many collective bargaining contract
agreements and pensions plans, for example, tie compensation changes to the Consumer Price Index unadjusted for seasonal variation.

20

Reliability of Percent Changes in the CPI

are about 95 out of 100 that the percent change in the
CPI as computed differs from the corresponding "complete coverage" change by less than twice the standard error.
Because the CPI is rounded to one decimal place,
some ambiguity may arise in interpreting small index
changes. As the table indicates, for example, a monthto-month change of 0.1 percent in the all-items CPI
is significant. Because of rounding, however, a change
of this size in the published index might result from a
much smaller change in the unrounded value. Hence,
any particular change of 0.1 percent may or may not
be significant. On the other hand, a published change of
0.2 percent is almost always significant, regardless of
the time period to which it relates.
This replaces the table of average errors based on
1970 data which was included in the CPI report through
December 1971.

A system of "replicated" samples introduced into
the index structure in the 1964 revision permits an estimate of sampling error for the CPI. l The table below
shows standard errors for monthly, quarterly, and
Average standard errors of percent changes in the
CPI based on 1971 data

Component

All Items
Food at home
Food away from
home
Housing
Apparel and upkeep. . .
Transportation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and
recreation
Other goods and
services

Monthly
change

Standard error
Quarterly
change

Annual
change

.04
.07

.06
.10

.09
.15

.08
.06
.17
.11
.09
.14

.14
.10
.27
.17
.14
.19

.33
.19
.33
.20
.28
.34

.09

.12

.20

.11

.17

.23

The method of deriving these estimates is described in a
paper by Marvin Wilkerson, "Measurement of Sampling Error
in the Consumer Price Index," Journal of the American Statistical Association, September 1967.

annual percent changes in the CPI for all items and
for nine commodity groupings based on 1971 averages.
The figures may be interpreted as follows: The chances

A Note About Calculating Index Changes
Percent changes expressed as annual rates are computed according to the standard formula for compound
growth rates. These data indicate what the percent
change would be if the current rate were maintained for
a 12-month period.
Movements of the indexes from one month to another
are usually expressed as percent changes rather than
changes in index points because index point changes are
affected by the level of the index in relation to its base
period while percent changes are not. The following example illustrates the computation of index point and
percent changes:




CPI
less previous index
index point differences =

123.8
123.2
0.6

Index point difference divided by the index for
the previous period:
1 2 3 . 8 - 123.2

123.2

x 100 = 0.5

Seasonally adjusted percent changes in the U.S. All
Items Index are based on seasonal adjustment factors
and seasonally adjusted indexes carried to two decimal
places. This procedure helps to eliminate rounding error
in the percent changes.

21

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
REGIONAL OFFICES

HAWAII

r-x
PUERTO RICO

Region I
1603 JFK Federal Building
Government Center
Boston, Mass. 02203
Phone: 223-6762 (Area Code 617)

Region V
8th Floor, 300 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, III. 60606
Phone: 353-1880 (Area Code 312)

Region II
1515 Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10036
Phone: 971-5405 (Area Code 212)

Region V I
1100 Commerce St., Rm. 6B7
Dallas, Tex. 75202
Phone: 749-3516 (Area Code 214)

Region in
406 Perm Square Building
1317 Filbert St.
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
Phone: 597-7796 (Area Code 215)

Region V I I and VIM
Federal Office Building
911 Walnut St., 15th Floor
Kansas City, Mo. 64106
Phone: 374-2481 (Area Code 816)

Region IV
Suite 540
1371 PeachtreeSt. NE.
Atlanta, Ga. 30309
Phone: 526-5418 (Area Code 404)

Region IX and X
450 Golden Gate Ave.
Box 36017
San Francisco, Calif. 94102
Phone: 556-4678 (Area Code 415)




*
**

Regions V I I and V I I I are serviced by Kansas City.
Regions IX and X are serviced by San Francisco.