Full text of CPI Detailed Report : June 1959

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Released July 22, 1959
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JUNE 1959
Consumer prices in United States cities rose 0.4 percent between
May and June 1959, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Seasonally higher (1.0 percent) food prices were largely responsible
for the advance, although prices of all major groups of goods and services except
apparel were fractionally higher. Apparel prices remained at their May level.
Prices of commodities other than food rose 0.2 percent, with nondurables up
0.3 percent and durables 0.1 percent. Service rates were 0.1 percent higher.
The June Consumer Price Index, at 12A.5 percent of the 1947-4-9
average, was at a new record high, 0.6 percent higher than in June 1958.
FOOD

Average food prices increased 1.0 percent in June because of sharp
advances in prices of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly
potatoes. The food index, at 118.9> was still 2.2 percent lower than a year ago,
and 2.3 percent below the July 1958 peak.

Fruit and vegetable prices rose 7.1 percent over the month, with
fresh fruits and vegetables up 10.9 percent.
Potato prices jumped 42 percent, reflecting dwindling supplies of
last yearfs crop and limited shipments of the new crop. Prices of celery, lettuce,
sweet potatoes, and carrots also advanced, but green beans, onions, and tomatoes
were down 32, 23, and 12 percent, respectively, as local supplies began to appear
in the markets. Among fresh fruits, prices of apples, oranges, and grapefruit
advanced, but lemons and bananas were slightly lower. Watermelon prices were
substantially higher than at the end of last season and 15 percent above their
June 1958 level. Prices of processed fruits and vegetables were higher than in
May, largely because of advances for both canned and frozen orange juice.
Prices of meats, poultry, and fish showed no change on the average,
as reductions in prices of frying chickens, chuck roast, and bacon offset higher
prices for pork chops, ham, and round steak.
Egg prices, decreasing for the ninth consecutive month as supplies
continued plentiful, dropped 1.9 percent, to a level 20 percent below that of a
year ago. Coffee prices, declining for the 17th consecutive month, were down
0.8 percent from May and 19 percent from a year ago. Dairy products again declined
0.3 percent as milk prices were seasonally lower. Cereals and bakery products
dropped 0.2 percent on the average as flour prices declined 0.9 percent.
Prices of restaurant meals advanced 0.3 percent.
HOUSING

A rise of 0.1 percent in housing costs reflected increases in prices
of housefurnishings, gas and electricity, rent, and household
operation. Prices of fuel oil and home repairs and maintenance were lower. The
advance of 0.4 percent in prices of housefurnishings resulted largely from increases




2
in prices of household textiles, following May sales, as well as higher prices for
soft surface floor coverings. Some increases in furniture prices were also reported,
but appliances showed little change on the average. The gas and electricity index
rose 0.5 percent, because of an average advance of 0.7 percent for electricity and
0.4 percent for gas. Rent edged up another 0.1 percent as moderate increases were
reported in most cities surveyed. The rise of 0.1 percent in household operation
costs was almost entirely the result of higher prices for laundry soaps and
detergents.
The solid fuels and fuel oil group index dropped 1.0 percent,
as prices of petroleum fuels were reduced 2.5 percent. Home repair and maintenance
costs declined 0.3 percent, as mid-season sales brought lower prices for plumbing
and heating equipment, lumber, and paint. Costs of repair services were higher.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES
taxes in Ohio.

Transportation prices were up 0.2 percent, as used car prices
advanced 1.6 percent and gasoline was up 0.8 percent, largely
influenced by an increase of two cents a gallon in gasoline
Dealers1 selling prices of new cars declined 0.4 percent.

Reading and recreation costs increased 0.3 percent mainly
because of higher movie admission charges. Newspaper prices advanced in several
cities, while prices of television sets declined prior to the introduction of new
models.
A rise of 0.3 percent for medical care reflected higher prices
for drugs, professional services, and for surgical insurance. Personal care costs
rose 0.3 percent, chiefly because of increased charges for men's haircuts in
several cities. Cigarette prices advanced as taxes were increased in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Apparel prices were unchanged on the average as higher prices
for footwear offset reductions for women's rayon dresses, lingerie, and pylon hose,
and scattered declines for men's and boys1 apparel.




TABIC 1s Consumer M o * Index—United State* city i w n p
Major group, subgroup, and special group Indexes, June 1959
and percent change* fron selected dates

3

(1947-49=100 unless otherwise specified)

Piroent change to June 1959 from—

Indexes
May
1959

May
1959

March
1959

June
1958

124.5

124.0

0.4

0.6

0.6

109.6

FoodFood at honeCereals and bakery productsMeats , poultry, and fishDairy p r o d u c t s — — —
Fruits and vegetablesOther foods at honeFood away fron hone (Jan* 1953=100)-

118.9
116.6
134.2
111.6
112.3
134.5
102.3
115.6

117.7
115.2
134.5
111.6
112.6
125.6
102.8
115.2

1.0
1.2
- .2
0
- .3
7.1
- .5
.3

1.0
1.0
.1
.3
- 1.3
11.4
- 4.7
1.1

2.2
3.2
5.7
.5
.1
7.8

152.4
147.6
134.6
168.3
125.5
190.5
111.4

2.6

(1/)

Housing g/^
RentGas and eleotrioitySolid fuels and fuel oilHousefurnishingsHcusehold operation-

128.9
139.5
119.3
133.9
104.1
133.9

128.8
139.3
118.7
135.3
103.7
133.8

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

.2
.3
.7
- 4.6
.3
.1

.9
1.3

69.4

2.1

13.7
137.4
94.9
95.8

ApparelMen's and boys1—Vonen's and girls1
Footwear
Other apparel-

107.3
108.1
98.8
134.5
91.8

107.3
108.2
99.0
133.5
92.1

0
- .1
- .2
.7
- .3

.3
.3
- .2
1.9
0

.6

.6
.3
3.6
.1

104.4
112.8
81.3
167.4
126.1

Transportation-'
Private
Public-

145.7
134.8
192.7

145.4
134.5
192.7

.2
.2
0

.6
.6
.4

4.9
5.3
2.7

107.5
105.8
137.0

Medical

150.6

150.2

.3

.9

4.4

107.4

Group
All iteas-

June
1959

1.0

1.7

0
2.1

Year
1939

61.1

Personal care-

131.1

130.7

.3

1.1

1.9

120.0

Reading and recreation-

118.1

117.8

.3

.7

1.2

87.5

Other goods and servioes-

129.2

128.4

.6

1.5

1.6

83.0

All items less food

127.5

127.3

.2

.5

1.8

84.5

All itens less shelter-

122,2

121.6

.5

.7

.7

120.6

.6
.7
1.0
.3
.3
0
.3
.3
- 1.2
3.5
.1

0

126.0
130.0
152.4

.3

Special groups:

CcnoditiesNondurablesFoodNondurables less food*
ApparelApparel less footwear—
Hoodurables less food and apparel*
Durables- • - ••
- ••••••!•
Hew oarsUsed ears (Jan. 1953=100)Durables less e a r s — —

116.6
118.2
118.9
117.8
107.2
102.4
126.8!
112.8
138.3
93.8
103.3

115,9
117.4
117.7
117.5
107.2
102.6
126.3
112.7
138.9
92.3
103.4

.6
.7
1.0
.3
0
» .2
.4
a
- .4
1.6
- .1

Ccnodities less food-

114.7

114.5

.2

ServioesHent
Servioee less rentHousehold operation services, gas,
and electricity-——
Transportation s e r v i c e s - — — —
Medical care s e r v i o e s — — —
Other servioes 3/-- •
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=11.00)

-

.8

- 2.2

.9
.5
- .1
1.1
2.9
5.7
14*8

- .1

100.7

105.8

U/>
92.4
96.9
142.6

4c?.3

1.6

931
80.8
61.1
100.1

14$. 4
139.5
147.1

145.2
139.3
146.9

.1
.1
.1

.7
.3
.8

2.2

134.3
179.3
156.1
131.4

134.1
179.7
155.8
131.2

.1
- .2
.2
.2

.4
.5
1.2
.9

2.4
2.9
5.1

$0,803

$0,806

- .4

- .6

1.3
2.3

1.2

54.4
123.8
121.4
125.4
52.3

1/ Not available.
2/ Includes house purchase, Interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately.
2/ Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep servioes; shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
and beauty shop servioes, and bovies.




4

TABU 2 s Constaer Trio* Index—All items ladma and percent ohanges, N l i e M dates
U.S. oity average and 20 large eltles

Biroent change to
current month from —

Indexes (1947-49=100)
Jiine
1959

City
United States city a v e r a g e — —

March
1959

June
1958

Tear
1939

March
1959

June
1958

Year
1939

124.5

123.7

123.7

59.4

0.6

0.6

109.6

127.7
123.4
127.0
122.5
124.0

127.2
123*2
126.6
121.7
123.4

127.5
124.2
125.5
121.0
123.0

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

.4
.2
.3
.7
.5

.2
- .6
1.2
1.2
.8

117.9
109.2
110.3
103.8
109.5

June
1959

March
1959

June
1958

June
1958

Year
1939

125.5
126.6
123.1
126.3
129.4

124.3
126.4
122.2
126.0
129.0

124.9
124.8
122.7
124.5
128.0

Cities prioed monthly 1/

Philadelphia
Cities prioed in March, June,
September, December
7j

Cincinnati' •
••••••
St, Louis
— - — — — . -—
San Francisco-————

-

—
•—-

May
1959

Cities prioed in February, May,
August, November
2/
Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
Seattle

—

—

Cities prioed in January, April,
July, October
2tf
Kansas City
Hinneapoli a 1
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon

—
— -

— —

—

February
1959

125.3
124.1
120.0
127.9
121.8

124.8
124.1
120.3
126.9
121.3

April
1959

January
1959

125.1
125.5
125.1
124.5
125.3

125.4
124.5
125.3
124.4
124.2

May
1958
125.0
123.7
120.7
126.1
121.3
April
1958
124.5
123.7
124.1
123.8
125.0

Year
1939

March
1959
1.0
.2
.7
.2
.3

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6
Tear
1939

.5
1.4
.3
1.4
1.1

115.3
118.7
110.8
113.0
120.8

February
1959

May
1958

Year
1939

.4
0
- .2
.8
.4

.2
.3
- .6
1.4
.4

111.7
108.6
105.1
116.0
101.7

January
1959

April
1958

Year
1939

.5
1.5
.8
.6
.2

105.1
103.4
106.1
114*3
114.9

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4
Year
1939
61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

- .2
.8
- .2
.1
.9

1/ Rents prioed bimonthly.
2/ Foods, fuels, and a few other items prioed monthly; rents and other commodities and services prioed quarterly.

TABUS 3 s Consumer Price Index—Percent changes from May 1959 to June 1959
U.S. oity average and five cities priced monthly
All itens and commodity groups

Other
goods &
ssrvioes

City

Food

Uhited States oity average—

0.4

1.0

0.1

0

0.2

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.6

.2
0
.2
.3
.6

1.0
1.5
.6
.7
1.7

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

- 0.5
- .1
- .6
.3
.4

- .3
- 2.8
- .8
.1
.1

.1
.1
.3
.1
.9

.2
0
.6
.2
.3

1.4
.4
1.0
- .1
- .3

.1
0
.2
.1
i
/
1.6

Chicago • 1
Detroit
Los Angeles-----Hew York • ••••»•
Philadelphia




—

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Reading
Medical Personal
and
care
care
recreation

All
items

TABIS 4* Consumer Price Index—All items and cam»o4ity groups
June 1959 indexes and percent changes, March 1959 to June 1959

U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in
U.S.
City Atlanta Balti- Chicago Cincin- Detroit Los
Average
more
nati
Angeles

Oro«p

Nev
York

PhilaSt.
delphia Louis

San
Francisc*

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

* 124.5

125.5

126.6

127.7

123.1

123.4

127.0

122.5

124.0

126.3

129.4

118.9
116.6

Cereals and bakery products — 134.2
Meats, poultry, and fish
111.6
Dairy products
112.3
Fruits and vegetables
134.5
Other foods at home —
102.3

117.1
115.4
125.4
114.0
113.8
138.9
97.3

118.6
115.3
128.5
111.5
117.1
127.7
101.4

116.4
113.8
129.8
104.9
113.2
130.7
106.5

119.3
116.7
132.8
111.3
112.0
136.2
104.3

118.7
116.3
124.4
107.7
107.7
146.6
102.7

123.6
118.9
146.2
112.0
110.9
136.0
104.7

120.0
117.4
142.1
113.5
114.0
128.3
102.3

121.3
118.4
137.5
113.2
116.2
135.7
100.6

119.7
115.1
125.0
106.7
105.9
140.3
109.3

123.0
121.0
147.0
117.4
115.5
137.9
103.5

128.9
139.5
119.3
— 133.9
104.1
133.9

132.2
139.2
126.2
128.7
110.6
137.9

127.2
137.5
109.8
130.9
99.5
134.5

138.3

124.2
143.3
125.8
139.8
96.0
135.6

126.9
144.2
117.8
126.8
109.9
120.6

136.1

105.3
124.9
108.3
135.8

127.3
148.1
106.2
152.8
106.1
137.2

131.7
149.1
145.2

102.3
124.0

126.1
130.1
119.2
137.0
104.3
132.5

122.4

129.3
137.0
101.6
136.9

107.3
108.1
98.8
134.5
91.8

113.1
115.5
104.2
140.1
93.1

109.1
107.2
103.8
133.0
97.8

109.3
113.4
97.6
137.0
95.6

106.9
107.4
97.7
141.7
89.2

104.8
108.2
94.3
130.7
85.1

108.1
110.0
99.8
135.8
83.5

106.3
108.1
96.3
135.2
96.0

105.3
108.2
94.7
134.6
92.7

106.3
108.1
98.6
130.7
90.6

108.8
108.9
100.1
141.1
90.8

145.7
134.8
192.7

143.3
134.6
193.8

159.7
138.3
215.4

153.8
135.7
196.9

142.9
131.2
191.4

133.9
129.3
157.3

140.9
137.1
162.1

146*0
127.1
191.4

152.8
132.6
193.4

161.8
138.6
237.1

163.7
151.0
182.6

150.6
131.1
118.1
129.2

144.3
134.4
121.5
133.8

158.6
131.7
129.1
140.2

158.8
136.5
124.1
121.0

154.1
129.5
110.4
129.8

157.9
133.9
114.5
135.7

146.9
135.0
103.1
124.4

140.1
123.2
119.8
131.8

153.5
135.6
119.6
130.0

167.3
130.7
98.8
132.0

154.7
124.1
118.3
124.4

Pood

Rent
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefornishlngs — —
Household operation
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'

Public

Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

—

131.1

—

108.2
122.0

Percent change frcm •March 1959 to June 1959
1.0

0.2

1.0
1.9
- Food — — — — — — — — —
1.8
1.0
Food at home - - - - - — — - - - - - .1 - .3
Cereals and bakery products -.3
.9
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — — —
— - 1.3 - .2
14.0
11.4
Fruits and vegetables
—
- 4.7 - 3.5
Other foods at home

1.2
1.2
.2
.6
- .1
12.4
- 4.8

0.6

All items

Rent — — — — — — — — —
Gas and electricity — — —
Solid feels and fuel oil — —
lousefornlsfclngs
—

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

—
—
—
—

— — —
—

—

Transportation — — — — — —
P r i v a t e - - — — — — — —
Public
Medical care
— — — —
Personal care
—
Reading and recreation
Other goeds mad services

1/

—

—

-

.2
.5
.3
.3
0
.7
4.6 - 4.0
.3 - .5
0
.1
.3 .3 .2 1.9
0 -

.1

.1

-

-

.2
.2
0

.9

4.5
1.3
2.4
.8

.9
4.5
- 1.8
0

.7
1.5

-

-

- 1.7
2.9

0.2

0.3

0.7

0.5

0.2

1.3
.9
1.0
1.5
.2 .5
.6
1.2
.1 .4
9.7
13.4
4.8 - 5.2

1.5
1.6
- .3
.7
- .6
13.1
- 4.1

.2
.3
.1
1.1
.1
1.9
- 4.2

.6
.4
- .2
- 1.1
- 3.1
13.2
- 5.0

.7
.7
- .9
.7
- 1.9
11.1
- 4.8

.8
1.0
.2
- .1
.1
10.5
- 4.4

.2 -

-

.4

-

-

.2

0
5.5
.5
1.8

-

.1

.4 •2
1.3 .7
.2 .6
.7
0
1.9
4.8
1.1
0

2.1
8.0
.4

-

.1
.1

.3
.2
3.1
.3
—
- 7.1
•2 - .1
0
.4

—

y

—

.5
- .1
.7
- 1.9

- .1

.1

0
0
0

.7
.8
0

.6
1.0
.4
.3

1.9
.2

1.2
2.5

.1

- .1

.5
0
1.7
- 1.3

1.0
1.2
0

- 2.0
- 2.4
0

1.9
.2
0
5.1

.1
.2
1.8

-

•
-

.2
.4
.3
2.0

1.8
-10.7
.6
1.5
0
.2
.5
1.3
0

.1
0
- .4
1.4

.1

0

.5

.1 i/- .3

—

0
0
.8
.2

- 1.1

1.1

-

.6
.6
.4

Change from April 1959 to June 1959.




.3
.1
.5
.4

-

.6
.9
.4
- 8.3
- .3
.2

-

0.7

0.4

- .1
3.9

.2
.3
0
- 5.8
.4
•2

0.3
.2
.1
.2
1.4
- 1.2
4.8
- 4.5

-

-

.5
.6
0
—

1.2

- .1

2.1
- 2.2

.6
.1
0
2.4
.4

1.3
1.6
0

- .1

- 1.1

0
0

- 1.3
0

.9
.7
- .2
1.3

.3
.2
.7
.2

1.2
.5

-

-

.3
.3

- 1.1

-

2.1
0

TABIZ 5 t Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
June 1959 indexes and percent changes, May 1959 to June 1959
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
[>9V7-*9«ioq]
Total food

Total

Cereals and

Meats, poultry,

Dairy

Fruits and

Other

food at home

bakery products

and fish

products

vegetables

foods at home

City

U.S. city average

—

Atlanta
Baltimore
Chicago
—
Cincinnati
— —
Cleveland — - — —
Detroit
louston
—
Kansas City
Los Angeles
— —

—
—

—

Minneapolis
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh — — — —
Portland, Greg.
St. Louis
San Francisco — —
Bcranton
f — Seattle
Washington, D.C.

—
—
—
—
—
—

Index

Percent
change

118.9

1.0

116.6

1.2

117.1
118.6
118.4
116.4
119.3
114.6
118.7
114.4
113.1
123.6

1.3
1.4
.8
1.0
1.4
.4
1.5
- .2
1.4
.6

115.4
115.3
115.2
113.8
116.7
112.1
116,3
112.2
110.5
118.9

1.4
1.5
.9
1.2
1.7
.4
1.7
0
1.7
.6

118.8
120.0
121.3
120.8
121.8
119.7
123.0
116.6
121.6
119.5

1.1
.7
1.7
1.2
1.5
.8
.6
1.6
.7
.8

115.9
117.4
118.4
119.2
118.3
115.1
121.0
115.7
119.8
116.9

1.4
.9
1.9
1.4
.5
1.1
.8
1.6
.8
.9

134.3
142.1
137.5
132.1
140.1
125.0
147.0
135.5
146.5
131.1

-

TABLE 6 *

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Index

134.2

- 0.2

111.6

125.4
128.5
132.0
129.8
132.8
129.2
124.4
125.7
127.3
146.2

-

.5
.2
.2
.2
.4
.2
.2
.2
.1
0

114.0
111.5
112.7
104.9
111.3
105.3
107.7
106.4
105.5
112.0

0.2
1.1
.2
.3
.6
.4
.3
.5
.8
.1

113.8
117.1
108.6
113.2
112.0
106.7
107.7
113.2
107.8
110.9

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

107.5 - .1
113.5 - .8
113.2
1.3
111.0
.1
114.4 - .3
106.7
.9
117.4
.5
111.1 .7
1.1
115.5
109.7 - .7

104.6
114.0
116.2
114.5
119.9
105.9
115.5
110.3
117.1
117.2

Index

-

-

Food and unit

June 1959

May 1959

Cents
54.4
26.9
13.0
18.9
20.9
20.4
25.5
19.7
29.1
24.5

Cents
54.9
26.9
13.0
18.6
20.9
20.4
25.6
19.7
29.2
24.5

* Priced only in season.




0

-

-

Percent
change

Index

112.3

- 0.3
0
0

-

.8
.1
0

- 3.2
.1
0

-

.1
.2

-

.1
0
0

.1
2.3
.2
.1
- .1
- .2
- .3

Index

Percent
change

Index

134.5

7.1

102.3

- 0.5

8.8
6.2
7.7
7.0
8.4
6.1
9.2
1.5
10.5
3.7

97.3
101.4
97.9
106.5
104.3
104.2
102.7
101.0
95.9
104.7

-

.6
.3
- 1.7
- .9
- .5
- .6
0
- .6
0
- .8

141.5
128.3
135.7
139.5
125.6
140.3
137.9
134.9
134.3
133.1

9.2
6.1
9.2
7.9
1.8
4.9
3.4
11.2
3.1
7.9

107.8
102.3
100.6

- 1.1
- .2
- .2
- .4
- .5
- .8
- .1
- .4
- .1
- .6

111.0

105.6
109.3
103.5
98.6
102.4
104.0

eaoh

108.1
64.5
82.9
55.3
143.3
87.4
68.6
63.1
77.4
63.9
51.2
41.4
47.7
58.8
61.4
33.3

107.7
65.7
83.1
55.3
143.0
85.5
68.8
62.7
76.5
64.2
51.3
42.1
47.5
59.2
61.2
33.4

23.5
24.7
29.7
74.0
58.1
15.2

23.6
24.8
29.7
74.1
58.1
15.2

25.8
25.3
19.8
22.6

25.7
24.7
19.8
22.7

16.6
16.8
69.6
18.1
13.8

15.4
17.0
65.2
18.4
12.3

June 1959

Food and unit
Fresh
Continued
Peaches » —
—
Strawberries * —

Cents
—
—

—
—
— — —

ib.
pt.

30.2

lb.
ib.

30.1
19.2

Grapes, s e e d l e s s * — — — — — jh.
Watermelons * -----------——- ib. 7.2
Potatoes — — — — — 10 ib. 89.6
Sweet potatoes'
— ib. 14.9
Onions - — — — - — — ib. 11.0
Carrots — — — — — — — — — - ib. 14.4
Lettuce — — — — — — — - — — head
15.8
Celery — — —
ib. U . 5
Cabbage — — — — — — — ib.
8.5
Tomatoes
Beans, green

Canned:
Orange juice —

— —
— —

46-02.

can

#2* can
#2 can

Peaches —
—
—
Pineapple — — — — —
Fruit cocktail — — - — — —
Corn, cream style —
—
Peas, green — — — — —

#303 can

Tomatoes

#303 can

----<

Percent
change

138.9
127.7
132.2
130.7
136.2
125.9
146.6
126.0
127.2
136.0

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

Cereals and bakery products;
Flour, wheat — — — — — — — —
5 lb.
Biscuit mix — — — — — 20 oz.
Corn meal — — — — — — — — — ib.
Rice, short grain
lb.
Rico, long grain
lb.
Rolled oats — — — — —
18 os.
Corn 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 —
—
is oz.
Tuna fish, canned — — — — 8 to 6£ oz.
Dairy products,:
Milk, fresh, (grocery) — — —
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream —
—
—
—
—
—
pt.
Butter — — — — — — — —
ib.
Cheese, American process — — — - ib.
Milk, evaporated — — — — — i4i-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — — —
10 oz.
Orange Juice concentrate — — 6 oz.
Peas, green — — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green — — — —
9 0 *.
Fresh:
Apples — — — — — — —
ib.
Bananas — — — — — — — — — — ib.
Oranges, size 200 —
—
doz.
Lemons — — — — — — —
ib.
Grapefruit

*

Percent
change

#303 can

#303 can

Baby foods — — — — —
4h to 5 oz.
Dried:
Prunes — — — — — — — —
ib.
Beans — — — — — — — —
ib.
Other foods at home:
Tomato SOUp
10§- to l l - 0 z . can
Beans with pork — — —
10-oz. can
Pickles, sliced
15 oz,
Catsup, tomato — — — — —
14 oz.
Coffee - - —
lb. o&n
Coffee —
lb. bag
Tea bags — — — — — —
pkg. of 10
Cola drink, carton —
—
36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated —
3 ib.
Margarine, colored — — —
ib.
Lard
— — — — — — — —
n>.
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.

50.3
36.5
36.1
27.9
19.6
20.5
15.5
10.1
40.1
17.3
12.5
15.0
26.6
22.4
76.9
57.1
24.1
29.4
88.2
27.7
19.9
37.8
55.7
56.9
26.4
28.1
5.1
44.2
9.3

Labor D. C.

7
Prief

of

gf ?

The Consumer Price Index (CPl) measures average ohanges in prices of goods and
services usually bought by city families of wage earners and clerical workers. It is
based on prices of about 300 items which were selected so that their price changes would
represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased 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 States; they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals, filling
stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner and
clerical-worker families patronize*
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
46 cities* Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities* Almost all prices are obtained
by personal visits of the Bureaufs 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 cure published in this report, as well as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small citiesi
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Chio
Charleston, V* Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N* Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, looming
San Jose, California
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, Ohio

Huntington, W. Virginia
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Iynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Chio

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 Index: A Layman!s Guide,19 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.w 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 1935 to date*
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
1371 Peachtree
Street, N. E*
Zone 9




New York
341 Ninth Ave*
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St*
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St*
Zone U

LABOR - D* C*

Boston
18 Oliver St*
Zone 10