Full text of CPI Detailed Report : June 1957

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Released July 24, 1957
U. S . DEPARTMENT OP LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25» D» C.
CONSUMER FRIGE INDEX FCR JUNE 1957
Consumer prices in United States cities advanced 0*5 percent
between May and June 1957, according to the U* S* Department of labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics* Although seasonally higher food prices were the principal factor in
the rise, prices averaged higher in all major groups of goods and services except transportation* At 120*2 percent of the 1947-4-9 average, the Consumer Price Index in June
reached a record high for the 10th consecutive month, and was 3 #4 percent higher than in
June 1956*
FOffi

Food prices rose 1*4 percent between May and June, due largely to
advances in prices of fresh fruits and pork* The June food index
was 116*2 (1947-49=100), 2*7 percent higher than a year ago, but 0*3 percent below the
August 1952 peak*
Prices of fresh fruits increased more than the usual seasonal
advance during the month, as apples rose 13*7 percent and banana prices advanced 8*5
percent* Prices of lemons declined* Fresh vegetable prices declined 1*2 percent, due
primarily to reductions of 15*6 percent for tomatoes and 22*0 percent for green beans*
Prices of lettuce advanced 16*6 percent and potatoes were up 2*8 percent* Prices of
canned and frozen orange juice declined*
Higher prices were reported for all cuts of meats and frying
chickens* The U* S* average price of pork chops rose from 85 to 93 cents a pound and
bacon was up from 71 to 75 cents a pound* Prices of frankfurters rose 3«7 percent
and hamburger 3*3 percent* Fish prices averaged slightly lower*
Prices of food away from home rose 0*7 percent on the average as
higher prices for restaurant meals were reported in 16 of the 22 cities surveyed in June*
Egg prices declined 1 *6 percent and prices of catsup were down
4*8 percent on the average* Cereals and bakery products continued to rise slightly and
dairy products remained at their level of a month earlier*
HOUSING

The advance of 0*2 percent for housing resulted from increases of
0*4 percent in prices of housefurnishings, 0.2 percent for
residential rents, and 0*2 percent for household operation* Gas and electric bills were
unchanged on the average while coal and fuel oil prices averaged slightly lower than in
May* The rise in housefurnishings was primarily the result of higher prices for household textiles following Hay sales* The household operation index reflected the continued
upward movement of rates for laundry and dry cleaning services* Costs of home
maintenance and repairs averaged higher as prices of paint and painting services
advanced*
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

The medical care index rose 0*4 percent as rates for group
hospitalisation insurance advanced in a few cities; there were
also further increases in fees for professional services and in
prices of prescriptions and drugs*

The increase of 0*4 percent in the reading and recreation group
was primarily the result of higher prices for newspapers in several cities*




a
In personal care prices were higher for men's haircuts and there
were scattered advances for toiletries®
Apparel prices edged up 1 0*1 percent as higher prices were reported
1
for men ® suite and shoes* Moment and girls apparel prices averaged slightly lower,
with seasonal reductions in prices of rayon dresses*
The transportation index remained at its May letrel as larger dealer
concessions for new cars and seasonal reductions in prices of tires were offset by higher
prices for used cars, gasoline and motor oil, and auto repair services*
TABIE 1* Consumer Prise Index—United States city average, all items and special groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates

GcmipAll items—
— —
——
——
All items leas f o o d — —
All items less shelter—
—
All commodities—
— — — —
*X1 commodities less food
— —
Durables——
—
Non-durables—————
All services and s h e l t e r — — —
A H services less s h e l t e r — — —

June
1957

May
1957

(19A7-;1.9=100)
April June
1956
1957

120.2
122.5
117.8
113.5
111.3
106.7
115.7
137.0
139.9

119.6
122.3
117.1
112.7
111.1
106.7
115.5
136.7
139.5

119.3
122.3
116.9
112.5
111.5
107.3
115.7
136.2
139.0

116.2
118.1
114.1
110.0
107.4
102.0
112.3
131.9
134.9

June
1950
101.8
103.0
100.7
100.3
99.4
102.4
99.0
107.9
107.0

Tear
1939
59.4
69.1
55.4
51.6
59.4
57.3
58.7
80.4
73.5

Percent change to June 1957 from —
May
1957
All i t e m s — - —
. —
All itema less f o o d — — — — —
All items less shelter
—
All commodities
All commodities less food--..——• •
Durables——
— — —
Non-durable s
—
All services and s h e l t e r — —
All services less shelter-

0.5
.2
.6
.7
.2
0
.2
.2
.3

April
1957
0.8
.2
.8
.9
- .2
- .6
0
.6
.6

June
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

3.4
3.7
3.2
3.2
3.6
4.6
3.0
3.9
3.7

18.1
18.9
17.0
13.2
12.0
4.2
16.9
27.0
30.7

102.4
77.3
112.6
120.0
87.4
86.2
97.1
70.4
90.3

June
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

#0.86

10.98

$1.68

(1947-49=11.00)*
June
1957

May
1957

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar— 10.83 $0.84

April
1957
10.84

* To calculate purchasing power of the consumer dollar on any other base, divide
the index for the desired base date by the index for the comparison date*




TABLE 2t

Consumer Price Index — United States city a v e r a g e , all items and commodity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Indexes

Group

A l l items

May
1957

This
month

Last
month

120*2

119.6

119.3

116.2

101.8

5 9 ^

116.2
1U.7
130.6
106.9
110.0
126.8

114.6

113.3

100.5

47.1

1 1 3 . 0

1 1 2 . 1

100,5

130.1
102.0
110.5
118.7

47.1

130.4

113.2
112.1
125.2

1 0 9 . 5

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

125.5
135.0
112.3
135.3
104.6
127.6

127.3

106.6
109.1
98.5
127.8
91.9

.

Men's and b o y s '
— — — —
W o m e n ' s and g i r l s ' -— —
Footwear
—
—
—
—
—
Other apparel
— — — — — —
Transportation —
Public
Private

Medical care

-

—
—
—

—

— — — — — — — —

Reading and recreation - —
Other goods and services 3/ —

—

14-9*100)

June
1957

Food 1/
Food at home —
-— —
Cereals and bakery products —
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

—

(19*47-

3

103.7
110.0
122.5
109.9

April

June

June

1 9 5 7

1 9 5 6

1 9 5 0

2 months
ago

Last
year

1 1 1 . 0

Year
1 9 3 9

Pre-World
War II

Pre-Korea

5 7 . 2

1 0 2 . 7

9 8 . 0

106.1

107.7
131.4
111.1

1 0 2 . 5

U l . 6

49.8

9 2 . 3

4 6 . 3
4 8 . 4

9*4.1

125.2
134.5
112.4
138.1
105.1
126.4

121.4
132.5
111.7
128.4
102.8

104.9
108.7
102.7
107.6

122*6

99.6

106.5
109.0
98.6
127.8
92.0

106.5
108.8

104.8
107.5

127.3
92,0

123.1
91.1

135.3
176.8
125.4

135.3
176.8
125.4

135.5
176*8
125.5

172.6
116.7

117.9
106.6

137.9
124.2
111.8
124.6

137.3
123.4
111.4
124.3

136,9
123.3

132.0
119.9

105.4

72.6

107,6
121 ©S

99.2
102.5

59.6

111.8

125.3
134.7
112.3
135.4
1 0 4 . 2

98*7

124.2

76.1
86.6
104.9
56.4
53.4
68.4

97.4
96.5

52.5

50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6

90.1
93.3

97.5

102.1

88.1*

126,8

70.2
81.3
65.5

109.9

63.0
70.6

103.7
j

Percent change to
May
1957
A l l items
Food
Food a t home — —
—
Cereals and bakery products
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish
Dairy products — — - —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods a t hone — — —
Food away from home

Gas and electricity — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings

0.5
1.4
1.5
.2
3.1
0
3.5

—-

-

-

-

Public
Private —

.4
.7
.2
.2

Household operation

Other a p p a r e l

April
1957
0 . 8

2.1
2.3
.4
4.8
- .5
6.8
- 1.4

.8

2.7
2.3
4.3
9.1
2.1
-

19.2

4.2

126.2

W )

W )

19.6
24.2

64.9

.1
.1
.1

.1
.3

1.7
1.5
3.8
.9

10.5
11.2
5.6
25.2
4.0

.1

6.7
2.4
7.5

23.1
50.0
17.6

.7
.7
0
.3

4.5
3.6
3.9
2.3

30.8
25.2

0

-

.1
0

0

0

.4
.2

-

l/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately,
2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs n o t shown separately.
Includes tobacco, alcoholic b e v e r a g e s , and "miscellaneous services" (such as
legal services, banking f e e s , b u r i a l services, e t c . ) .
k/ N o t a v a i l a b l e .

120.9

16.4

- 1.4

28.1

-

146 .7
143.5
128.3
157.0

23.7

4.1

.1

I

3.5

.9

.2
.4
.1

102.4

15.6

14«1
27.2
•8

Year
1 9 3 9

18.1

.2

-

f

1 9 5 0

.4

0
.1

.4
.6




3 . 4

f roi') *
June

.2
.4
- .1
- 2.0
- .5

0

-

June 1957
June
1956

3.4
1.9
.5

9.3

5.4
1.8

25.7

1.0

7.4

173.9

55.9

7.1

139.9
95.9
86.5
103.0

114.8
80.7

154.1
126.4

92.7
117.5
91.5
89.9

9.1

108.4
77.5

20.2

76.5

TABLE 3*

Consumer Price Index — All items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)

City
United States city average

1/

June
1957

May
1957

June
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

120.2

119.6

116.2

101.8

59.4

122.9
122.5
121.0
117.9
120.1

122.2
121.9
120.8
117.2
119.8

119.5
118.7
117.4
113.8
116.8

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

June
1957

March
1957

June
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

121.2
121.2
119.7
121.3
122.8

120.6
119.9
118.1
120.2
122.3

118.0
116.6
116.3
117.0
117.9

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

May
1956

May
1950

Year
1939

Cities priced monthly: 2/
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia

•—-—
—

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December
Atlanta
Baltimore

-—

—

—

St. Louis
San Francisco

—•

Cleveland-———
Houston—-——-—

- — — — — — — — — — |

Seattle
Washington, D . C .
Cities priced in January, April*
July, October 2/
Boston
— —
Kansas C i t y - —
Pittsburgh
Portland, O r e g o n — — -

1/
2j
2/
Lj

February
1957

May
1957

Cities priced in February, *4ay,
August, November J/

-••• • —

-

- —

U

121.7
121.1
116.4
122.8
117.2

120.4
120.5
115.5
122.2
117.5

117.3
116.8
112.1
117.1
114.4

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

April
1957

January
1957

April
1956

April
1950

Year
1939

120.2
120.4
119.8
118.8
121.6

119.0
119.8
119.4
118.8
120.1

115.2
116.4
115.6
115.2
116.4

101.2
101.4
£/ 102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 201.0.
Rents priced bimonthly.
Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly.
Ifey 1950.
June 1950.

TABLE 4*

Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from
May 1957
to
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

City
United States city a v e r a g e —
Chicago
Detroit
Los AngelesNew York
Philadelphia




All
items

Food

Housing

0.5

1.4

0.2

.6

1.4

.5

.5

1.8

.6

1.6

.2
.3

.7
.9

0

.2

0

.4

Apparel

Transportation

0.1

0.4

.2

0

0.2

.5

.2
.1
.1

Medical
care

-

.5

.1

- 1.2

0

.1
.2
.2
.1

June 1957

Personal
care

0.6
0
.1

.1
.3
.2

Reading
and
recreation
0.4

0

.1
0

.3

.1

TABLE 5t Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
June 1957 indexes and percent changes, March 1957 to June 1957
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in June 1957
U.S.
City
Average Atlanta

Group

Baltimore
Chicago

Cincinnati
Detroit

Los
Angeles

New
York

Philadelphia

St.
Louis

San
Francis©

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

!

Food
Food at home -«•---—————
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and f i s h
Dairy products — — — - — — —
Other foods at home
Housing
— . —
Rent - — — —
Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y

—

-

—

-——
— —

Housefurnishings —————-—-Household operation — —
Apparel — — — — — — — —
Men's and boys' — —
Women's and g i r l s ' ————
—
Other apparel

—

Public —

—

—

—

—

Medical care
— —
Personal care — — — — — — —
Reading and recreation — — - -

120*2

121.2

121.2

122.9

119.7

122.5

121.0

117.9

120.1

121.3

116.2
114.7
130.6
106.9
110.0
126.8
109.5

113.7
112.4
124.3
109.2
113.2
123.1
101.8

117.5
114.4
127.1
107.5
112.6
122.3
110.0

113.6
111.6
123.0
100.6
107.8
125.2
115.6

118.8
117.5
131.5
110.2
114.8
128.0
114.3

118.9
117.3
124.9
104.8
107.7
144.3
112.4

117.7
114*6
137.1
106.8
105.8
123.2
110.8

115.6
113.6
135.2
107.4
108.3
120.9
108.7

118.6
116.6
132.6
108.9
113.6
127.6
109.3

118.2
116.7
113.6
116.8
140.1
125.1
109.8
104.3
109.8
100.0
131.0 ' 130.8
117.3
107.9

125.5
135.0
112.3
135.3
104.6
127.6

129.5
136.2
119.4
121.5
109.3
134.8

121.5
131.4
100.3
139.6
101.1
121.6

134.8
,—
114.0
136.8
101.3
132.3

123.3
139.6
117.5
131.2
99.1
132.1

128.6
147.8
112.4
129.3
109.3
117.9

129.9

120.0
103.4
128.1
110.0
128.1

124.6
141.9
103.8
143.2
103.9
131.6

124.9
139.2
136.3

103.1
129.4

122.1
123.2
111.1
143.9
105.0
125.5

106.6
109.1
98.5
127.8
91.9

112.3
113.4
105.2
135.0
92.8

105.2
105.2
99.0
127.0
95.3

109.3
117.0
97.0
131.3
95.7

105.0
106.3
96.7
134.4
88.3

104.2
111.2
92.9
123.5
87.6

107.4
111.0
99.6
128.3
83.9

105.9
108.9
96.8
128.6
95.6

104*4
106.9
96.8
123.8
92.7

104.3
107.2
95.5
126.0
95.0

107.3
109.2
100.0
130.6
90.3

135.3
176.8
125.4

133.8
164.3
127.7

146.7
187.3
128.8

139.2
167.7
124.5

129.9
165.0
120.2

132.3
145.8
129.3

132.7
154.8
128.8

138.4
189.0
119.1

139.7
187.4
119.2

143.0
189.1
125.5

149.8
182.6
136.5

137.9
124.2
111.8
124.6

132.3
128.2
112.1
129.6

144.8
119.1
124.5
129.9

141.3
126.2
116.1
119.9

140.1
127.1
106.3
121.7

146.3
130.4
110.5
126.7

130.3
129.1
100.4
121.2

129.5
115.5
115.3
125.4 •

140.7
130.2
115.6
126.7

154.4
127.3
96.1
125.0

137.2
119.5
114.1
121.2

Percent change from
All items

— —

118.0
—

March 1957

—

122.8

—

107.2
119.5

to June 1957

—-

1.1

0.5

1.1

1.1

1.4

1.2

0.5

1.6

0.1

0.9

0.4

Food — — — _ — — » „ « — « »
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables — —
Other foods at home — —

2.7
3.0
.6
6.3
- .6
9.2
- 1.9

1.7
1.7
3.7
4.1
.1
4.5
- 2.8

2.3
2.6

3.6
4.1
.3
7.4
.6
13.4
- 2.2

3.5
3.7
.5
7.3
2.5
12.7
1.5

.9
1.4
2.6
3.6
.4
2.1
- 1.5

2.9
3.0

5.4
.1
8.5
- 1.9

3.1
3.4
.6
8.8
- 1.5
9.5
- 2.4

2.1
2.1
.4
5.3
- 2.1
7.1
- 1.7

1.6
2.4
- .2
7.0
- 3.1
7.9
- 1.9

1.7
2.0
•4
4.3
- 3.1
10.1
- 2.0

Rent — — — — - —
—
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
— — — — — —

.5
.4
- .1
- 2.8
- .3
1.1

.2
1.1
.1
.3
0
.2
- 4.3 - 4.0
.7
.9
2.2
- .1

1.0
—
0
- 3.0
- 1.1
1.1

.2
.9 1/
.3
- 7.0"
_
- .6
.4

-

.5
.1
0
- 5.9
- .7
- .1

-

-

.2
.3
.8
.2
.3 .

-

-

-

-

-

—

.1
.6
.2

- 1.3
0
- 1.5

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

1.1
1.1
1.2
.3

.2

Apparel — — — — — — — — — — —
Men's and boys' — — — — — —
Women's and girls'
Footwear
— — — — — — — — —
Other apparel
Transportation
Public
Private

— — — — — — —

-

1/ Change from April 1957 to June 1957.




-

- .1

.4 - .1
1.0
.3
.8 - .8
0
.7
.2 - .5
-

.4
0
.5

.2
- 1.2
2.6
1.2
.2
.4

-

.3
.4
.9
.2
.1

-

.3
.1
.6
0
.2

-

_
-

-

.7
1.0
.2
.3
.7
.4
.2
.5
.9
.1
.2

5.5
.7
10.0
- 1.6
-

.8
1/
0
- .1
—
- 4.4
- 1.3
.4
.5
.3
.3

-

0
.3
.2
.2
.7

.7

0
- 9.5
- .5
.5

.3
.6
- 1.2
.4
0

- 2.1
0
- 4.6
.7
- 1.1

-

.5
.2
.8
.5
- 1.2

.6
0
.8

.5
0
.6

.5
0
.5

.2
0
.2

0
.6

- 1.3
0
- 1.7

1.5
0
1.9

1.2
.2
- .7
0

.3
.5
5.2
- .2

.1
.2
.3
.3

.6
.5
.6
.1

1.0
.5
5.6
•A

.2
.5
.5
0

0
6.3
- .6
.3

-

-

-

.2
.2
0

- 1.3
.1

-

.3
.4
.9
.1
0
.8
0
.9
.7
.3
.9
0

TABUS 61 Consumer Price Index — food and its subgroups
J m m 1957 l a t a M and percent 'changes, May 1957 to J m t 2957
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

City

Percent
change

U.8. city average

—

Atlanta
Baltimore
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
—
Kansas Cit"^
Los Angeles

Total
food at home
Percent
change

116.2
113.7
117.5
115.3

—

113.6

118.8

—

—

Ilk. 6
118.9
113.3

—

—

117.7

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

112,9

llk.5

115.6

118,6
117.9
117.5
116.7

118,2

llk.2
117.7
117.5

l.k

Ilk. 7

1.5

130.6

0.2

1.2
1.3
1.3
i.k
2.1
1.7
1.8
1.0
2.5
.7

112.k

1.3
l.k
1.5
1.5
2.k
1.9
2,0
1,1
3.1
1.0

12k, 3
127,1
128,k

- .3
- .1
.2
.1
.k
.2
- .1
.2
.1
2,2

1,2
1.6
.9
.5
.k
1 . 0

.9
1.8
.3
l.k

TABUS 7 :

llk.k

113.0
111,6

117.5
112.7
117,3

111,2
111,1
llk.6

113.3

113.6

116,6
116,3
H5.7

113.6

116.8

114,0

117,1
115.3

Cereals and bakery products;
Flour., wheat — — — — —
5 lb.
Biscuit mix — — — — — — — — —
20 oz.
Corn meal —
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
R i c e — — — — — — — —
— ib.
Rolled oats — — — — — — — — — - 20 oz.
C o m flakes — — — — — — — — — 12 oz.
Bread, white — — — —
ib.
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.
Ham, whole — — — — — —
ib.
Lamb, leg — — — — — —
ib.
Frankfurters —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Luncheon meat, canned —
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-»cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen — — —
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned — — — — — ie oz.
Tuna fish, canned - - - - - - - 6 to d£ oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery) —
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream — — — — — — —
pt.
Butter — — — — — — — — — —
ib.
Cheese, American process — — —
ib.
Milk, evaporated —
—
14&-0Z. 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.
Oranges, size 200 —
—
doz.
Lemons — — — — — — — —
ib.
eaoh
Grapefruit*—




1.5
1.3
1.0
.6
•5
-U7
1.0
2.1
.k
1.7

123,0
131.5

123.8

12k.9
121.5

126.6
137.1
129.5
135.2

132.6
128,0

132.1

125,1

lko.l
1 2 7 , 0

137,9
129,7

,2
,1
,1
- ,8
.3
- .2
0
.5
-

. 1

0

Dairy
products

106.9

3.1

110,0

109.2
107.5
10U.9

2.9
3.9
3.0
k.l
k.5
2.8
3.5
2.k
k.8
1.6

1 1 3 . 2

100.6
110,2

103.3
10k. 8
101,6

102,8

106.8
101.0

2.6
2.1
3.2
3.3
2,2
3.k
1.8
k.k
2,8
3.6

107. k
108,9

106.2

108,1
10k. 3
109.8
108.2
108,3

106.3

112.6

112.1

107.8
Uk.8
lOk.k
107.7
109.3
107.7

105.8

105.1
108.3
113.6
111.7
117.2
100.0
109.8

110.1

118.3
116.5

Fruits and
vegetables
Percent
change
0

126.8

3.5

-0.3
.1
1.1
-2,7
,1
,2
,1
.3
0
.3

123.1
122,3
123.k
125.2

3«k
1.9
3.9
5.0
6,0
5,8
5,3
2.1
9,5
1,2

128.0

126,1

lkk.3
123.3
125.3
123.2

130.2

.3
.2
- .k
- .2
,2
- .3
0
0
.9
,6

120,9

127,6
127.7
119,5

131.0
1 3 0 . 8

125.3

126.1

122.8

5,3
3.8
1,0
,2
- .k
k.7
3.0
k.9
-1.9
k.l

Other
foods at hone
Percent
change
109.5

- 0,k

101,8

-

110.0
10k. 9

115.6

Ilk.3

llk.O

112. U

109.3
103.5

110.8
116,0

- 1.1
- ,1
.5

108,7
109,3
118.5

-

117,3
107,9
106,7
109.2
110.3

-

112,0

.k
.k
.9
.6
.5
,2
.3
.k
.k
.3

1.2

.3
.2
.3
.k
.k
#6

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

Food and unit

* Priced only in season.

Cereals and
Meats, poultry,
and fish
bakery products
Percent
Percent
change
change

Juris
1957

May
i?57
Cents
5k.6

26,8

12,8

17,2

22.0

23.0

18.8

29.0

2k. 7

92.6
52.0
73.k
k0.8

117.2

85.0

71.k
62.7

72.8

5k.k
kk.8
k7.1
1*2.9
k5.7
6 2 .k

32.0

22.7
2k, k
29.5
73.8
57.6
lk.6

22.8

25.7
17.6
19.6
23.9

26.6
18.1

22.8

20.0

18,1
55.6

18.2

2k.k
29.k
7k. 0
57.k
lk.5

19.6

23.7

16.7
5k.2
19.3
11.3

Food and unit
F r e s h — C ontinued
- — — —
Peaches *
Strawberries •
—
Grapes, seedless *
—
Watermelons *

lb.
lb.
10 lb.
— lb.
— lb. •
— lb.
- head
— lb.
— lb.
— lb.
— lb.

Potatoes — — —

Sweetpotatoes
Onions
Carrots

Lettuce

Celery
Cabbage

6.I4

59.0
17.k
13.0
lk. 7

18.0
16,2

57.3

16.1

12.3
lk.l
I5.k
15.5
9.1

35.5
3k.8
3k.l

36.1
3k. 7
3k. 1

17.1
21.6
lk.9
10.0

17.1
21.5
2k»8

lb.
lb.

3k.k
16,0

3k.3
16.0

10§- to 11-oz. can
----- 16-oz. can
—
.
oz

12.5
lk.7
27.3
22.2
102. k
86,1
23.6
3k.l
98.6
29.8
22.3
37.2
53.5
55.0
2k.9
27.3
k#5
k7.9
8.8

12.5
lk.6

Pineapple
Fruit cocktail
Corn, cream style
Peas, green

————

Baby foods
Dried:
Prunes
Beans — — — — — —
Other foods at home:

Coffee
Coffee — — — —

27.7

can
can
can
can
can
can
can
oz.

— 46-oz.
•— #2*
#2
— #303
— #303
#303
>— #303
4& to 5

Peaches ---—---—

toaato soup — —

27.2

2 7 . 1

Beans, green ----Canned:
Orange juice

Beans with pork
Pickles, sweet
Catsup, tomato

Cents

8.7
3k. 0
20.6

Tomatoes ---------

TOMStoes

ib.

May

Juno
1?57
Cents

—

—

— —
,—

14 oz.

lb. oea
ft. bag

----- pkg. of Id
Tea bags
Cola drink, carton - - - - - - - - 36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated —
3 lb.
Margarine, colored
— — — — lb.
lb.
Lard
pt.
Salad dressing
lb.
Peanut butter
Sugar
5 lb.
Corn syrup — — — — — —
24 oz.
Grape Jelly — — — — — - — — — 12 oz.
Chocolate bar — — — — — —
1 Q z.
----- doz.
Eggs, Grade A , large
3 to 4 oz.
Gelatin, flavored
—

26.0

J1O.3

26,0

10.1

27.2

23.3
102.5

86,1

23.6
3k. 0
99.1

30.0

22.6
37.3
53.6
55.0
2k.8
27.3
k.5
k8.7
8,8

Labor D.C. - BLS58-0197

g r i f f

fiirilTMttffi

ffE?

i

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average changes in prices of goods
audi 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
vould 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 Statef; 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 fmonths 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 1
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, Mew Hampshire
Lodi, California
Xynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middleeboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna1 Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, Ohio

Comparisons of city indexes show only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another. The city indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price
levels or in living costs between cities*
A description of the index is contained in BLS Bulletin 1140, "The Consumer
Price Indext 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, pre 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
l a n t a

^
50 Seventh St., MX
23




*°rk
341 Minth 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