Full text of CPI Detailed Report : June 1956

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Issued July 24, 1956
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D . C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JUNE 1956
Consumer prices in United States cities, advancing 0.7 percent
above the May level, reached a new high in June, according to the U.S. Department of
Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. An average increase of 2.0 percent in food prices,
partly seasonal, was primarily responsible for the rise. Continued
small advances for
11
housing, medical and personal care, and "other goods and services also contributed to
the increase. Apparel prices were unchanged on the average and prices of transportation
and reading and recreation items declined.
The Consumer Price Index for June, at 116.2 percent of the 1947-49
average, was 1.6 percent higher than a year earlier.
FOOD

The advance in food prices, the largest monthly increase since
January 1951, brought the food index for June to 113.2, 1.7 percent higher than a year ago, but still 2.9 percent below the August 1952 peak. Food
prices increased in all of the 46 cities surveyed.
Prices averaged higher for 65 of the 78 food items priced, with
fresh fruits and vegetables and pork accounting for most of the increase. The average
price of potatoes rose from 80 cents to 92 cents for a 10-pound bag, reflecting
unfavorable growing conditions along the East Coast. Tomatoes at 33 cents a pound
averaged 5 cents higher than in May, and onions at 12.5 cents a pound were at their
highest level since March 1953* Oranges averaged 60 cents a[dozen in June, up 5£ cents
over the month* Apples were 9.2 percent above their May price.
Decreased supplies brought greater than usual seasonal increases
in prices of pork. Chops averaged 9 cents a pound higher than in May and ham and bacon
prices rose about 2£ cents a pound. Beef and veal prices also increased during the
month, but were still 4 percent lower than a year ago. Coffee prices increased 1.7
percent.
Prices of frying chickens declined 1.7 percent, and egg prices
decreased contraseasonally by the same amount.
HOUSING

The rise in the housing index reflected increases in all of its
components except gas and electricity. Residential rents continued
to advance slightly, with average increases reported in 21 of the 35 cities surveyed
in June. Housefurnishings prices increased 0.2 percent, as some textile items returned
to regular prices following May sales, and prices of furniture rose slightly. Lower
prices were recorded for ranges and refrigerators. The advance in the household
operation group reflected generally higher prices for laundry soap and detergents and
continued increases for laundry and dry cleaning services. Solid fuels and fuel oil
rose 0.4 percent on the average.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

Prices of commodities other than foods were relatively stable.
Apparel prices were unchanged on the average for the
third
1
successive month, higher prices for men's and boys
wear and
1
footwear offsetting further reductions in prices of women's and girls apparel. New
and used car prices were down about 1 percent, and small price changes were reported
for tires, gasoline, and motor oil. Prices of sporting goods and toys averaged 1.5
percent lower.




2

On the other hand, higher rates were reported for hospital and
other medical care, barber and beauty shop services, auto repairs, and other consumer
services generally.




NOTICE:

As a result of an incorrect price reported for new
automobiles in Los Angeles, it has been necessary
to make the following revisions of indexes published
for May 1956:
GfOUP
All Items
Transportation
Private Transportation

Reyjgefl Infle^
Apgqleg
U t S t Ave^ag?
(19A7-A9=100)
116.9
125.6
121.2

*
127.1
117.1

(19?S-?9=10P)
All Items
* No change.

195*3

*

TABLE 1:

Consumer Price Index — United States city average, all items and commodity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates

3

Indexes (1947-49-100)
June
1956

May
1956

April
1956

June
1955

June
1950

Year
1939

This
month

Last
month

2 months
ago

Last
year

Pre-Korea

Pre-World
War II

116.2

115.4

114.9

114.4

101.8

59.*

Food 1/
Food at home - — - —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish - — —
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

113.2
112.1
125.2
98.0
107.7
131.4
111.1

111.0
109.5
124.7
95.5
107.5
121.5
110.9

109.6
107.9
124.5
94.0
IO6.4
116.7
110.8

111.3
110.3
124.0
103.8
104.1
119.5
107.7

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
94.1

47.1
47.1
57.2
41.6
49.8
46.3
48.4

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

121.4
132.5
111.7
128.4
102.8
122.6

120.9
132.2
111.8
127.9
1C2.6
122.4

120.8
131.7
111.8
129.7
102.7
122.1

119.7
130.4
110.7
122.7
103.8
119.2

104.9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6

76.1
86.6
104.9
56.4
53. k
68.4

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

104-8
107.5
97.5
123.1
91.1

104.8
107.0
97.9
122.8
91.1

104.8
106.5
98.1
123.0
91.1

103.2
105.6
97.2
117.4
90.1

96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1
88.4

52.5

Transportation — — — — — —
Public
Private

126.8
172.6
116.7

R/ 127.1
172.5
R/ 117.1

126.4
170.8
116.5

125.8
165.1
116.5

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

Personal care

132.0
119.9
107.6
121.8

131.9
119.6
108.2
121.5

131.6
119.5
108.2
121.4

127.6
114.7
106.2
119.9

105.4
99.2
102.5
103.7

72.6
59.6
63.O
70.6

June 1956

from:

June
1955

June
1950

Group

All items

—

Reading and recreation

— — —

Other goods and services jJ

Percent change to
May
1956
All items
Food 1/
Food at home
— — — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Dairy products

—

Other foods at home

Gas and electricity

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—
—

— — —
— — —

—
—

—

—

—

—

- - - — — — — — — — —

—

-

-

-

Transportation
Public
Private
Medical care

—

April
1956
1.1

1.6

14.1

95.6

2.0
2.4
.4
2.6
.2
8.1

.2

3,3
3.9
.6
4.3
1.2
12.6
.3

1.7
1.6
1.0
- 5.6
3.5
10.0
3.2

12.6
11.5
21.9
- 7.6
16.7
28.2
18.1

140.3
138.0
118.9
135.6
116.3
183.8
129.5

.4
.2
.1
.4
.2
.2

.5
.6
- .1
- 1.0
.1
.4

1.4
1.6
.9
4.6
- 1.0
2.9

15.7
21.9
8.8
19.3
5.5
.23.1

59.5
53.0
6.5
127.7
92.5
79.2

0
.5
.4

0
.9
.6
.1

8.6
9.6
4.5
20.6
3.1

99.6

0

1.6
1.8
.3
4.9
1.1

.3
1.1

.8
4.5

.2

15.4
46.4
9.5

80.6
112.3
78.2

3.4
4.5
1.3
1.6

25.2
20.9
5.0
17.5

81.8
101.2
70.8
72.5

.2
0

-

.2

.1

-

.3

-

.1
•3
.6
.2

.3
.3
.6
.3

-

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




Year
1939

0.7

.2

—

(V)
(*/)
(V)
(*/)

U/>

(A/)

U/>
U/)

TABIC 2:

Consumer Price Index — All items Indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 3arge cities

[i9VM9*ioq]

[1935-39-100]

City

United States city average

June
1956

May
1956

June
1955

June
1950

Tear
1939

June
1956

116.2

115.4

114.4

101.8

59.*

194.3

119.5
118.7
117.4
113.8
116.8

118.6
118.0
R/ 116.9
113.0
116.2

117.4
116.7
115.3
111.8
115.5

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.*
60.1
59.2

203.5
200.4
196.2
188.3
194.4

June
1950

Tear 1939

June
1956

y

Cities priced monthly:
Chicago - — — — —
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
—
Philadelphia

--<

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December
Atlanta
BaltimoreCincinnatiSt. L o u i s San Francisco-

June
1956

March
1956

June
1955

118.0
116.6
116.3
117.0
117.9

116.8
115.2
114.3
115.7
116.8

116.0
115.0
113.7
115.9
115.3

May
J956

Cities priced in February, May,
August, November 2/
Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
SeattleWashington, D . C.

117.3
116.8
112.1
117.1
114.4

j

Cities priced in January, April,
July, October g/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon

1

i
I

February
1956

;
i

i

115.7
116.6

!

!

111.1

i
j

116.2
113.4

April
1956

January
1956

115.2
116.4
115.6
115.2
116.4

114.6
115.5
116.1
113.6
116.3

May
1950

May
1955
115.3

115.5
111.4

I
j
I

'

April

!

i,,.

1955

i

113.4
115.2

;

113.8
114.2

!

117.0

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

April
1950

,,

199.9
197.7
186.3
200.1
187.8
April
1956

Tear 1939
61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

101.2
101.4
102.1
99.9
101.5

U

May
1956

Tear 1939

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

116.8
113.5

200.1
200.4
195.8
195.3
201.5

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

U

185.5
187.4
191.4
195.8
201.6

l/ These are the same indexes shown in column 1, converted to a base of 1935-39=100.
2/ Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items priced monthly; other commodities aDd services
priced quarterly.
3/ May 1950j formerly priced February, May, August, November.
\s June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
R/ Revised.
NOTE:

TABLE 3:

This is the final publication of city indexes
on the base of 1935-39 = 100. The U . S .
index will be published until further notice.

Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from May 1956
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

Transportation

City

All
items

Food

Housing

United States city average ---

0.7

2.0

0.4

0

- 0.2

.8
.6
.4
.7
.5

1.7
2.3
1.1
1.9
1.5

.8
.3
.2
.2
.3

- 0.2
- .2
- .3
.3
.1

.2
.4
.1
.2
.5

Detroit
Hew York
Philadelphia




*

Apparel

-

to

June 1956

Medical
ctre

-

Personal
care

0.1

0.3

.1
.2
0
0
.1

.3
.1
.2
.1
0

-

Reading
and
recreation

Other
goods it
services

- 0.6
-

.4
.9
.4
.4
.3

0.2
-

.1
.1
1.6
.2
•1

TABUS
Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
June 1956 indexes and percent changes, March 1956 to June 1956
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in June 1956
U.S.
City
BaltiAverage Atlanta more

Group

Chicago

5

CincinLos
nati
Detroit Angeles

New
York

Fhilalelphia

St.
Louis

San
Francisco

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
All items
Food at home — — —
— Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
—
Fruits and vegetables

Gas and electricity — — — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil — — — Housefurnishings — — — — — —
Household operation — —
Apparel — — — — — — — —
Men's and boys'
— — — —
Women's and girls' — — — —
Footwear
— — — — — —
Other apparel
— —
Transportation
Public

—
—
—
—

— — — — —

Personal care
Reading and recreation — — — —
Other goods and services
— — —

116.2

118.0

116.6

119.5

116.3

118.7

117.4

113.8

116.8

117.0

117.9

113.2
112.1
125.2
98.0
107.7
131.4
111.1

111.3
110.0
118.3
100.0
109.5
130.1
104.0

114.2
112.0
121.8
98.4
109.1
129.9
111.4

110.6
109.1
120.1
91.3
110.7
124.4
118.3

115.3
114.3
124.9
99.6
113.6
131.6
116.8

116.5
115.4
119.6
97.1
109.1
148.7
113.4

114.2
111.0
130.9
97.7
103.3
126.3
109.3

112.7
111.6
129.4
99.6
103.3
128.7
111.5

114.6
113.2
124.7
99.4
107.7
135.0
110.8

113.8
111.9
119.4
96.2
101.7
135.1
120.1

114.5
113.2
130.8
103.7
105.8
'130.5
107.5

121.4
132.5
111.7
128.4102.8
122.6

126.6

115.9

130.9

127.2

117.2

116.2

—

—

—

—

—

—

119.4
117.9
107.8
132.6

99.9
129.6
96.8
117.1

113.8
132.3
101.3
127.3

120.7
135.5
118.0
130.3
97.8
130.1

123.6

—

114.0
123.9
106.9
116.2

116.2

103.4
121.5
107.9
119.3

120.9
139.3
103.8
136.8
100.9
125.9

120.6
135.0
136.3

101.3
125.2

110.0
135.5
102.7
121.4

105.0
110.8

104.8
107.5
97.5
123.1
91.1

110.7
112.4
104.0
130.1
92.2

104.7
103.8
100.0
123.2
95.3

108.0
113.7
97.9
127.0
94.8

104.2
104.0
97.8
130.4
88.1

102.3
110.1
91.1
118.8
87.3

105.8
109.9
97.5
127.0
83.0

103.8
107.2
95.7
122.9
94.1

103.7
104.1
98.8
118.1
91.9

104.3
107.1
96.1
123.8
95.8

105.4
106.8
99.7
124.6
88.8

126.8
172.6
116.7

124.3
154.8
118.3

137.4
186.6
118.8

131.9
166.5
116.7

122.2
163.9
112.2

124.7
144.3
120.7

125.5
152.9
121.1

131.5
187.9
111.5

133.6
186.7
112.5

133.8
187.9
115.7

132.0
130.0
125.0
119.9
107.6
109.4
121.8 ;i126.2

142.2
116.5
116.9
123.9

136.3
123.2
115.1
117.7

137.3
119.4
99.7
120.9

142.7.
127.5
108.5
124.4

126.8
119.4
97.0
118.2

137.6
126.7
111.5 1 127.6
105.6
114.6
125.0
121.4

140.7
118.7
90.2
122.0

128.3
116.5
105.4
118.2

1.1

0.9

—

1

—

1

140.0
180.6
126.4

If
Perc ent change from
All items

3.9
4.5
.6
5.6
.7
14.5
.4

—
—
—

Other foods at home —
Housing

—

—

—

—

—

—

Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings — — — — — —
Household operation — — — — — —
Apparel — —
Men's and boys'
—
Women's and girls'

—
—
— — —
— — —

—
—
—

Transportation
Public
Private

—

—

—

—

Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

—

.6
.7
0
- 1.7
.3
.8

-

-

-

3.2
4.2
.5
6.0
.5
13.4
1.2
.3

0
- 4.4
.2
.7
0
.8
- 1.0
1.1
.8'

.1
1.1

-

.1

-

.5
.6

.1

.5

r

-

—

0
.8
.8
1.0
0

1/ Change from December 1955 to June 1956,




1.0

1.3

Food
Food at home
— — — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — - — —

-

-

March 1956

1.2

1.5

1.7

1.5

1.1

3.6
4.3
.4
>.0
.2
15.3
.6

4.0
4.8
.9
5.9
2.9
12.8

5.2
5.8
.6
7.0
2.4
18.7
.6

5.0
5.8
.3
6.5
4.2
16.5
.5

2.4
2.6
1.9
4.2
.4
6.5
- .5

.4

.9

—

—

.5
1/1.8
- .3
- 3.5
.4
.5

1.0

0
.5
.7
1.6

0
- 1.9
- .6
.5

1.0

-

-

.3

.3

-

—

.6
.3

0
.5
.8
.8
0

.8
1.3
.5
1.3
- .4

.7
- .6
1.7
.2

.1

.4
.2
- 1.3
.8
- .1

.3
1.2
- .3
.7
.2

.8
- .7
1.1
- .3

.1
1.4

.1

.4
.6
.4

- 1.8
.4
- 2.4

1.2
2.9
.8

.5
1.2
.4

.3
- .2
1.3
1.8

.1
.3
1.2
.2

.1

.2
0
- 1.5

.4
1.1
.2

.9
.2
.5
.3

4.2

.7
.6
.2
.2

.1
1.1

.2

2.1

-

-

1.1
1/1.0
0

-

.9
.7
1.0

- 1.0

1.6
- 8.7
- .8
.8

.1

7.4
- .7

.2
.9

.1

.6
.2

-

_

-

.7
-9
0
- 4.7
- 1.3
.2

1/

2.3
.2
3.7

.3
.2
0
.5

1.0
.7
1.0

-

0

.3

.1

.4
.4
.4

.2
.3

3.2 .... 2.8
3.7
3.4
.6
0
4.8
4.3
- 1.8
1.5
13.7
10.3
.6
- .3

.6

.2
.8
.3

-

.2
4.2
- 1.0
17.5
.2

-

- 1.0
- .6
- 2.2
.9
- .6

.1

4.4

.7

.5
.8
- 2.4
1.9
- .3

-

0.9

1.4

—

1.2
.5
1.7
.4

-

to June 1956

-

.3
.3
.4

.1

_

-

.7
.1

.1

.1
.1

- 2.0
.6

TABUS 5: Conswner Price Index — Food and its subgroups
June 1956 indexes and percent changes, May 1956 to June 1956
U . S . city average and 20 large cities

C19VM9.10Q]

Total
food at home

Total food
City

Percent
change

Index

Index

Percent
change

Cereals and
bakery products
Index

Percent
change

Heats, poultry,
and fish
Index

Dairy
products

Percent
change

Fruits and
vegetables

Index

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Other
•foods at home
Index

Percent
change

113.2

2.0

112.1

2.4

125.2

0.4

98.0

2.6

107.7

0.2

131.4

8.1

111.1

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

111.3
114.2
112.1
110.6
115.3
111.9
116.5
108.7
110.1
114.2

2.2
2.0
2.2
1.7
2.4
2.5
2.3
1.1
2.3
1.1

110.0
112.0
110.2
109.1
114.3
110.4
115.4
107.4
108.7
111.0

2.5
2.3
2.9
1.9
2.6
2.9
2.7
1.9
2.8
1.3

118.3
121.8
122.3
120.1
124.9
121.5
119.6
117.4
120.7
130.9

0
.2
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
2.0

100.0
98.4
97.3
91.3
99.6
95.3
97.1
92.6
93.5
97.7

2.8
2.3
3.3
2.5
4.0
2.3
3.9
2.0
4.4
1.6

109.5
109.1
105.0
110.7
113.6
104.3
109.*
108.8
110.6
103.3

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

130.1
129.9
130.6
124.4
131.6
127.9
148.7
120.2
124.2
126.3

9.7
8.310.2
5.6
7.6
9.6
7.1
7.9
7.3
3.7

104.0
111.4
105.9
118.3
116.8
115.4
113.4
109.7
107.1
109.3

.1
.3
.2
.4
.2
1.0
.5
- .1
1.2
- .7

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

114.1
112.7
114.6
115.2
116.1
113.8
114.5
112.0
113.6
114.2

1.1
1.9
1.5
3.0
2.3
2.1
1.1
3.4
1.6
2.0

113.9
111.6
113.2
114.4
115.3
111.9
113.2
111.6
113.2
112.7

1.3
2.4
1.8
3.5
2.9
2.6
1.1
4.0
1.9
2.5

126.3
129.4
124.7
125.5
130.2
119.4
130.8
123.8
132.0
122.3

.1
.2
.1
- .1
3.9
- .1
0
- .2
.6
.3

95.0
99.6
99.4
97.3
100.0
96.2
103.7
98.5
98.0
95.3

2.2
.5
1.1
4.0
2.8
3.3
1.8
5.5
2.2
2.5

111.0
103.3
107.7
107.3
113.4
101.7
105.8
105.3
112.9
112.3

.8
.7
.2
0
.8
.2
.1
.1
0
.2

136.3
128.7
135.0
139.0
132.2
135.1
130.5
134.3
130.4
133.0

4.4
10.4
7.7
13.9
5.9
7.8
2.6
14.6
5.5
8.7

120.0
111.5
110.8
119.9
114.3
120.1
107.5
108.5
109.4
112.5

.4
.4
- .2
- .1
1.5
.4
.4
- .2
.7
.4

U.S. city average
Atlanta
Baltimore

—

— — — —

—
—

TABIE 6:

Cereals and bakery products;
Flour, wheat
5 ib.
Biscuit mix — — — — — — — — 20 oz.
Corn meal —
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
Rice — — — — — — —
—
ib.
Rolled oats — — — — — — —
20 oz.
Corn flakes —
—
—
—
—
12 oz.
Bread, white — — — — — —
it>.
Soda crackers —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Vanilla cookies — — — — —
7 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak — — — — — — —
ib.
Chuck roast — — — — — —
ib.
Rib roast —
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
Hamburger —
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
Veal cutlets — — —
ib.
Pork chops, center cut — — — — — ib.
Bacon, sliced — — — — — — — —
ib."
ib.
Ham, whole — — — — — —
Lamb, leg — — — — — — — —
ib.
Frankfurters —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Luncheon meat, canned
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen — —
ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen —
—
lb.
Salmon, pink, canned — — —
ie oz.
Tuna fish, canned — - — - - 6 to 6h oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery) — - —
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream —
—
—
—
—
—
pt.
Butter
ib.
Cheese, American process — — —
lb.
Milk, evaporated — — —
i4£-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — — —
10 oz.
Orange juice concentrate
6 oz.
Peas, green — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green — — — — —
10 oz.
Fresh:
Apples
<
ib.
Bananas —
—
—
— — ib.
O r a n g e s i z e 200 —
—
doz.
Lemons — — — — — — — —
ib.




-

-

Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average

Food and unit

* Priced only in season.

r.6

-

-

0.2
-

June
1956

Hay
1956

Cents
53.6
26.7
12.5
17.1
19.3

Cents

23.9

53.4
26.7
12.5
17.1
19.3
21.8
17.7
27.4
23.9

85.7

84.0

67.0
37.9

45.5
65.7
37.7

21.8

17.8

27.6
46.1

110.8
86.3

56.6

62.1

74.7
51.7
40.4
48.8
41.9
45.2

60.1

110.6
77.3
54*2
59.4
71.3
51.5
40.4
49.1

41.8
45.4
59.7

32.3

32.8

22.2

22.2

23.7
28.8
71.9
57.2

23.7
28.7
71.7
57.2

30.4
19.7
21.4

30.2

14.0

23.2
18.1
17.1
59.9
17.5

13.8
19.6

21.3
23.1

16.6

16.9
54.4

17.6

June
1956

Food and unit
F r e s h — Continued
Grapefruit *
— —
e a c h
Peaches * — — — — — —
ib.
Strawberries * — — — — —
.
pt
Grapes, seedless * — — —
ib.
Watermelons * — — — — — - —
ib.
Potatoes —
—
—
—
10 ib.
Sweetpotatoes —
—
—
ib.
Onions — — — — —
ib.
Carrots
— —
ib.
Lettuce

Celery
Cabbage — —
Tomatoes — —
Beans, green
Canned:
Orange juice
Peaches — —
Pineapple —

—
—
—

—

—

-

—

—

head

—

— — —
— — - — —
—

ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.

— — — — — 46-oz. can
—
—
§2h can
— — — — —
#2 can

Fruit COCktail —

#303 can

Corn, cream style — — — — #303 can
Pea8, green — — — — —
#303 can
Tomatoes — — — — — — —
#303 can
Baby foods — — — — —
44 to 5 oz.
Dried;
Prunes — — — — — — — — ib.
Beans — — — — — — — — —
ib.
Other foods at home:
Vegetable soup — — — — —
11-oz. can
Beans with pork — — —
16-oz. can
Pickles, sweet — — — — —
74 oz.
Catsup, tomato — — — — —
14 oz.
Coffee — — — — — — —
lb. enn
Tea bags — — — — —
kg. of lfl
P
Cola drink, carton
— — — 36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated —
3 lb.
Margarine, colored — — — — —
ib.
Lard
— ib.
Salad dressing — — — — —
.
pt
Peanut butter — — — — —
ib.
Sugar — — — — — — — —
5 ib.
Corn syrup — — — — — —
24 oz.
Grape Jelly — — — — —
12 oz.
Chocolate bar — — —
1 oz.
Eggs, Grade A , large —
—
doz.
Gelatin, flavored — — —
3 to 4 oz.

Cents
31.1

May
1956
Cents

11.0
28.8

6.1

28.0

79.7
12.5
9.1
12.9
15.9
13.2
7.9
28.4
27.6

37.1
35.1
33.7

35.0
33.6

18.1
21.6

21.6

36.1

35.9

14.0
14.6
26.9
23.1
101.8

14.0

92.3
13.5
12.5
13.7

16.0
14.6

8.6

33.2

26.1
15.2
9.9

16.2

23.2
32.6
99.2

29.2

19.8

35.6
53.5
52.9
23.5
26.4
4.5
56.3
8.5

36.8

26.1

18.0
15.2
9.8

16.1

14.5
27.0
23.0
100.3

23.2

32.5
97.3
29.3
19.8
35.3
53.4

52.6

23.5
26.4
4.5
57.3
8.5

7

Brief Explanation of the CPI

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average changes in prices of goods
and services typically 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 46 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places
in the United Stated 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
46 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 f months in other cities. Almost all prices 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 1947-49 = 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. Kentuc

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 11index is contained in BLS Bulletin 1140, "The Consumer
Price Index: A layman's Guide, which may be purchased for 20 cents at any Bureau of
Labor Statistics regional office (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S # Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. A more technical
description of the index appears in BLS Bulletin 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
Statistical Series." Reprints of chapter 9> pertaining to the CPI, are available on
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or at any of its regional offices.
Historical series of index numbers for the United States city average and for
20 large cities are available upon request. These series include index numbers for All
Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent for periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of
goods and services from 1947 to date.
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
50 Seventh St., NE
Zone 23




New York
341 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

LABOR - D . C .

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10