Full text of CPI Detailed Report : June 1960

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Released July 22, I960
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JUNE

1960

The Consumer Price Index increased in June to 126.5 (1947-49 = 100),
exceeding the May high by 0.2 percent, the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today.
Price increases for food—chiefly fresh fruits and pork--accounted
for almost all of the rise, but food prices advanced somewhat less than usual for June.
Gasoline prices recovered sharply from an unusually late spring decline and rents
resumed their mild uptrend.
A number of price declines moderated the June increase in the CPI.
Prices fell seasonally for some important foods, chiefly fresh vegetables and eggs. In
addition, new car prices dropped more than usual for June, prices of appliances decreased
for the fifth successive month, and furniture prices also were down.
FOOD

Prices for food bought for home use rose 0.6 percent in J u n e — l e s s
than usual for the month. Restaurant meals continued their longterm price uptrend. By June, average prices for foods were 1.2 percent higher than a
year earlier, chiefly because egg prices were up sharply over the year and prices for
fresh fruits were substantially above 1959 levels.

Fresh fruits continued to increase in price from May to June, as
they normally do at this time of year, chiefly because of dwindling stocks of apples and
reduced supplies of citrus fruits. On the other hand, prices of fresh vegetables
decreased seasonally with expanding supplies. There were particularly substantial
reductions for tomatoes, green beans, and head lettuce. Prices for fresh fruits and
vegetables combined rose 3.5 percent in June. They were 4.2 percent above prices in
June 1959--last year's high--entirely because of higher prices for the fruits.
Pork prices have been rising since February reflecting both seasonal
declines in production and marketings and a substantially reduced pig crop. Prices for
all cuts of pork rose in June. Nevertheless, prices for pork products were still 1.5
percent below a year earlier. In January they were 15 percent below January 1959 prices.
Because of cyclically lower marketings of hogs, this year-to-year differential has been
declining steadily in 1960.
Prices for beef and veal decreased moderately in June for the
second successive month because of larger marketings of fed cattle, which have reached
a record high this year. By June, beef prices were 2.8 percent below the recent cyclical
peak in July 1959.
Prices for eggs declined seasonally, but were 15.6 percent above
the postwar low last June. Poultry prices also went down from May to June. Dairy
products remained unchanged in price, and average prices of cereal and bakery products
resumed their long-term upward trend.
DURABLE COMMODITIES

Prices for durable commodities dropped in June—appliances, furniture, and new cars. Dealers' selling prices of new cars declined
0.9 percent—more than usual for the month. Indications are that dealers' concessions
on standard-size cars have been rising more than customary so far in the model year.
The sizable price decreases are the result of high production, heavy inventories, and
competition from domestic compact cars.




Prices for virtually all household appliances declined in June,
Kitchen and laundry equipment prices—especially for refrigerators and washing m a c h i n e s —
have been falling since February. Price weakness in the major appliance markets has
developed because of declining sales and heavy inventory accumulations. In the case of
washing machines, prices were cut also in June in anticipation of the annual introduction
of new models.
Prices for table model television sets decreased in June after
rising throughout the earlier part of the year. The June downtrend resulted from special
sales and also reflected competition from new 1961 lines, especially the 23-inch sets.
The number and value of sales for TV sets this year have been well above 1959 levels.
Furniture and bedding prices declined in June also, because of
special sales and the introduction of new, iower-priced lines of living room and bedroom suites, sofa-beds, and metal dinette sets. Sales have not held up well recently,
and unfilled orders on the books of furniture manufacturers in the first 5 months of
1960 were substantially below those for the same period of 1959.
NONDURABLE
COMMODITIES

Prices of nondurable commodities other than food rose slightly in
June, reflecting chiefly a sharp rebound of gasoline prices from
a drop in May, and a return to regular prices for household textiles
from prices prevailing during May white sales. Prices for coal and oil for home heating
continued their usual summer decline.

Gasoline prices rose 1.5 percent in June in response to the onset
of the summer farming and motoring season. The June gasoline index, at 134.6, was
2.7 percent above June 1959 but 1.0 percent below the peak reached last year in October,
when the Federal tax increased 1 cent a gallon.
Average apparel prices have been marked by relative stability during
the past quarter because of offsetting influences. Prices for men's and boys' clothing
have been moderately up and those for women's and girls' apparel have been going down.
The increase for men*s and boys' wear has resulted chiefly from higher manufacturing
costs of men's suits, work trousers, and dungarees. Prices for women's and girls'
apparel often decline in the late spring and summer, when retailers reduce stocks in
preparation for active fall selling. By June, prices for all apparel items averaged
1.5 percent above a year earlier, the previous June peak.
SERVICES

Prices for services continued to rise in June, but the uptrend has
been slower during the past several months than at any similar
period in recent years. Prices for medical care services increased less in June (0.1
percent) than in any month since March 1959. Special sales in some places reduced
average dry-cleaning rates. Also, movie admissions averaged lower because a number of
theaters returned to regular prices after the showing of special features.
Rents rose 0.1 percent in June, chiefly because of increases in
large and moderate-size cities. They continued to decline in June in the smaller cities.
COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS

About 600,000 workers will receive wage increases on the basis of
the June CPI. Quarterly escalator adjustments will go into effect
in several aircraft and electrical equipment c o m p a n i e s — 2 cents an
hour for about 235,000 workers and 1 cent for about 115,000 workers. Under contracts
adjusting cost-of-living allowances on a semiannual b a s i s — m o s t l y in the trucking
industry—approximately 200,000 workers will receive a raise of 2 cents and 50*000 will
receive 1 cent.




3
TABI£ It Consumer Price Index—United States city ayerage
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, June 1960
and percent changes from selected dates
(1947-49=100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to June 1960 from --

Indexes
June
1960

May
1960

All items

126.5

126.3

0.2

0.6

1.6

113.0

Food

120.3
117.7
136.1
110.3
115.0
136.1
104.5
118.8

119.7
117.0
135.6
109.7
115.0
132.9
104.9
118.6

.5
•6
,4
.5
0
2.4
- .4
.2

2.2
2.6
.4
2.9
- 1.2
8.9
1.1
.7

1.2
0.9
1.4
- 1.2
2.4
1.2
2.2
2.8

155.4
149.9
137.9
165.1
130.9
194.0
115.9
(I/)

131.3
141.6
124.7
132.3
104.3
137.3

131.2
141.4
124.7
132.9
104.3
137.2

.1
.1
.5
0
.1

0
.3
.5
- 3.6
- .4
.3

1.9
1.5
4.5
- 1.2
.2
2.5

72.5
63.5
18.9
134.6
95.3
100.7

108.9
109.8
99.1
140.1
93.1

108.9
109.7
99.4
139.8
93.2

0
.1
.3
.2
.1

.1
.8
.5
.3
.1

1.5
1.6
.3
4.2
1.4

107.4
116.1
81.8
178.5
129.3

145.8
134'. 1
199.7

145.6
133.9
199.4

.1
.1
.2

.1
.6
3.6

107.7
104.7
145.6

Medical care>

156.1

155.9

.1

.7

3.7

115.0

Personal care

133.2

133.2

0

.4

1.6

123.5

121.1

121.4

.2

.2

2.5

92.2

132.0

131.9

.1

.2

2.2

87.0

Group

Meats, poultry, and fish

Food away from hone (Jan. 1953=100)
Housing 2 /
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
HousefuraishingoHousehold operation ••
1

Men's and boys
1 •
Women's and1 girls
Footwear
•
Other apparel
Private'
Public

• •

•<

—
. • -•

1

•

• • •• ••••

Other goods and services •

May
1960

-

-

-

March
1960

-

-

.5
.6
.2

June
1959

-

Year
1939

Special groupst
All items less food
All items less shelter-—

•• ••

Coanoditie s <
Nondurable s
Food

••

• ••••

Nondurables less food and a p p a r e l Durable o
•
New cars
Used cars (Jan. 1953=100)
»
Durables less cars
Commodities less food •

-

Service o 'Rent
'
Services less rent • • •••••
Household operation services,
and electricity-- •
••
Transportation services •
Medical care services
Other services 3 /
•

—
• • ••••• ••
gas,
—
•• • •
••

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=11.00)

129.7

129.7

0

0

1.7

87.7

124.0

123.8

.2

.7

1.5

123.8

117.6
119.8
120.3
119.6
108.7
103.3
128.7
111.5
136.5
88.4
103.2

117.3
119.4
119.7
119.4
108.8
103.4
128.4
111.9
137.8
88.1
103.5

.3
.3
.5
.2
.1
.1
.2
.4
.9
.3
.3

-

.8
1.3
2.2
0
.1
.1
.2
.9
1.3
2.6
.4

.9
1.4
1.2
1.5
1.4
.9
1.5
1.2
1.3
5.8
- .1

127.9
133.1
155.4
103.7
108.6
<2/>
95.3
94.6
139.5
(l/>
80.1

-

-

115.3

115.3

0

.3

.5

94.1

149.7
141.6
151.8

149.6
141.4
151.7

.1
.1
.1

.3
.3
.3

3.0
1.5
3.2

86.2
63.5
106.5

138.9
184.5
162.5
135.1

138.8
184.3
162.4
135.2

-

.1
.1
.1
.1

.3
.7
.1

3.4
2.9
4.1
2.8

59.7
130.3
130.5
131.7

$0,791

$0,792

-

.1

.6

- 1.5

- 53.0

-

1 / Mot available.
2 / Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately*
J / Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
and beauty shop services, and movies.




4

TABIC 2s

C o a n a i r Prios Index—All items indsxes and psroent changes, selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

Peroent ohange to
current month from

Indexes (1947-49=100)
June
1960

March
1960

June
1959

•—-i 126.5

125.7

124.5

130.1
125.1
129.7
124.9
126.4

129.2
123.9
129.3
124.5
126.0

127.7
123.4
127.0
122.5
124.0

June
1960

March
1960

June
1959

127.1
128.3
124.6
127.2
132.4

126.7
127.7
123.6
126.3
131.6

125.5
126.6
123.1
126.3
129.6

May
1960

February
1960

May
1959

127.1
125.1
122.1
129.7
123.1

126.1
125.6
121.4
129.0
121.9

125.3
124.1
120.0
127.9
121.8

April
1960

January
1960

April
1959

128.3
126.6
127.1
127.9
127.5

126.4
127.0
126.2
126.6
127.2

125.1
125.5
125.1
124.5
125.3

City
United States city average

— • ••• -

—

March
1960

June
1959

Year
1939

59.4

0.6

1.6

113.0

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

.7
1.0
.3
.3
.3

1.9
1.4
2.1
2.0
1.9

122.0
112.0
114.7
107.8
113.5

March
1960

June
1959

Year
1939

.3
.5
.8
.7
.6

1.3
1.3
1.2
0.7
2.2

118.0
121.6
113.4
114.5
125.9

May
1959

Year
1939

1.4
.8
1.8
1.4
1.1

114.7
110.3
108.7
119.1
103.8

April
1959

Year
1939

2.6
.9
1.6
2.7
1.8

110.3
105.2
109.4
120.1
118.7

Tsar
1939

Cities prioed monthly j /

B§v York »

Cities prioed In March, June,
September, December
2/
Atlanta
Cincinnati
St* L o u i s —

—

Cities prioed in February, May,
August, November
2)
Cleveland
Houston--——
— — — — — — .
—
.....
Scranton————-————————-——....
Seattle
Washington, D. C.
Cities prioed in January, April,
July, October
2J
Boston
....... .......
—-—...—-Kansas C i t y —
— — — — — - —
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, O r e g o n — —
— — — — — — — — —

Ysar
1939
58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

February
1960

Year
1939
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

-

.8
.4
.6
.5
1.0

January
1960

Year
1939
61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

-

1.5
.3
.7
1.0
.2

11
J / Rente prioed bimonthly.
2J 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 1960 to June 1960
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

City




Other
goods 6
servioes

Food

0.2

0.5

0.1

0

0.1

0.1

0

- 0.2

0.1

.4
.6
.1
0
0

1.4
.8
.2
0
.7

.1
.1
.4
.2
.2

- 0.2
.3
- .4
- .1
- .4

.4
3.7
- .1
- .5
- .4

0
.1
Q
0
.4

- 0.1
.1
.1
- .5
- .1

- .3
- .1
- .2
- .4
- 2.1

- 1.0
.1
.4
- .1
0

tfaited States eity average—
DetroitLos AngelesKsv York
Philadelphia

Reading
Personal
and
care
reareatlon

All
items

— • • i . • •-

Housing

-

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

TABIC 4.1 Consuner Erioe Index—111 item0 and caanodity groups
June 1960 indexes and percent changes, March 1960 to June 1960
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in Juge 1960
U.8.
City
Atlanta BaltiAverage
more

Group

Chicago Cincinnati

Detroit

New
York

1* a
Angeles

PhilaSt.
delphia Louis

San
Francisco

Indexes ( 1 9 V M 9 . I O O )
126.5

127,1

128.3

130.1

124.6

125.1

129.7

124.9

126.4

127.2

132.4

i
Food at hone
— Cereals and bakery products -Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
—
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at horn — — — — i

120.3
117.7
136.1
110.3
115.0
136.1
104.5

117.6
115.8
126.0
114.0
116.4
134.1
99.9

121.2
117.3
134.6
109.3
116.7
135.2
104.5

118.8
116.3
131.2
104.1
120.4
135.3
109.8

121.5
118.6
136.0
112.7
117.5
134.1
106.9

120.0
117.5
128.7
105.4
112.5
146.7
105.0

126.4
120; 5
148.0
112.0
113.9
139.1
106.2

121.8
118.0
142.6
112.0
115.2
131.7
103.2

122.6
119.5
137.5
111.8
118.4
139.2
102.9

119.6
114.8
124.8
106.2
104.5
137.8
111.4

124.2
121.2
151.2
116.9
117.1
137.1
102.5

131.3
141.6
124.7
132.3
104.3
137.3

135.4
141.0
136.4
130.6
109.1
146.6

128.2
139.2
109.8
128.4
100.5
134.3

140.3

126.9
141.7
116.2
125.4
109.5
125.6

106.7
117.4
110.2
141.9

128.6
150.3
114.7
150.2
103.3
142.6

,136.4
154.8
150.4

104.2
128.2

129.4
134.4
120.8
136.2
105.1
138.1

125.1

130.0
136.2
102.8
138.4

125.9
144.1
133.6
139.1
-96.7
142U

138.6

Rent
- — — — • — — — —
Oas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
—Housefurnishings — —
—
Household operation — — — — — —
l
lien's and boys'
—
—
—
Vooksn's and girls'
Footwear — — — — — — — — —
Other apparel
— — — — — —

108.9
109.8
99.1
140.1
93.1

114.6
118.2
103.7
146.2
93.7

111.8
106.9
105.8
146.1
99.0

112.2
116.1
99.4
144.1
97.7

107.8
108.6
97.9
145.0
89.8

106.0
108.4
95.0
136.1
85.9

110.8
113.3
101.2
141.9
85.1

107.9
109.1
97.0
141.2
97.6

107.3
110.2
95.6
140.5
94.8

108.9
109.6
100.7
136.3
93.9

111.2
110.1
102.3
147.2
92.3

Transportation
— — — — — — —
P r i v a t e — — — — — —
Jfcblic

145.8
134.1
199.7

143.7
135.0
193.8

160.1
138.8
215.4

155.2
135.6
205.7

143*4
131.7
191.4

140.7
133.5
179.4

143.2
136.7
186.5

147.4
128.7
191.4

154.2
134.2
193.4

161.2
137.9
237.1

164.2
151.3
184.8

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

156.1
133.2
121.1
132.0

146.6
140.7
123.0
133.5

167.1
133.5
127.7
140.6

168.0
137.8
125.3
122.7

155.4
129.1
111.8
131.4

159.9
134.1
116.6
140.0

151.2
134.5
102.4
133.6

144.0
124.6
124.6
133.3

161.2
143.4
121.6
132.4

170.2
138.5
100.3
132.9

158.7
130.8
120.2
133.7

All ite*s

—*

y o o d

A w w t

—

—

—

- -

—

141.6
—

107.4
126.6

Perc:ent change froei March 1960 to June 1960
All items

—

0.6

0.3

0.5

0.7

0.8

1.0

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.7

0.6

Food
2.2
Food at hone — — — — — — —
2.6
Cereals and bakery products —
.4
Meats, poultry, and fish
2.9
Dairy products — - — — « — - 1.2
Fruits and vegetables
8.9
Other foods at hoae
1.1

2.3
2.8
- .3
5.2
.1
6.5
1.0

2.5
3.0
1.3
2.3
- .1
11.3
.3

3.2
3.7
.6
2.8
.1
13.4
1.8

3.1
3.5
.4
4.8
.1
9.0
1.6

3.0
3.5
3.1
3.2
- .3
9.2
1.6

1.6
.9
.5
3.1
- 1.0
.6
.3

.9
1.0
.4
- .3
- 3.8
8.8
.3

2.2
2.5
.9
1.8
- 2.2
11.0
1.1

2.5
3.1
1.5
4.8
1.1
6.4
.3

1.2
1.4
.1
4.7
- 2.7
3.2
- .1

lousing
0
Rent
— — — — — — — — —
.3
Oas and electricity
.5
Solid feels and feel oil
— — - 3.6
lousefernishlngs
—
—
— - .4
Household operation
.3

-

.5
.4
2.9
- 5.4
- 1.2
.5

0
.4
.1
- 1.7
.4
- .9

.2

0
- 2.3
.3
- .3

.4
.2
3.5
- 9.0
.5
2.7

- .2
1/-1.0
.6
- 1.7
.5
.5

- .5
.3
3.4
- 6.5
- .7
2.6

.7
1.0
0

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

.3
.5
.2
0
.3

.9
.9
1.0
.8
•8

—

-

—

-

.1

-

.2

-

.4
.4

1/ *7
.1
- 1.6
- .4
- .1

-

.3

0
-13.4
.5
.1

— —
—

.1
.8
.5
.3
.1

-

0
.6
.8
.5
0

.4
.1
.1
2.4
.3

- .3
.6
- 1.3
0
.6

.1
.2
0
0
.2

.7
.8
1.0
.1
.4

.5
.4
- 1.4
.4
- 1.3

-

0
.3
.5
.5
.4

.5
.5
- 1; 2
- .1
- .4

transportation
— — — — — P r i v a t e — — — — — —
Public-

.5
.6
.2

-

.6
.7
0

- 1.2
- 1.5
0

- 1.0
- 1.3
0

- 1.5
- 1.8
0

2.9
3.5
0

- 1.2
- 1.3
0

- .7
- 1.0
0

- 1.0
- 1.3
0

-

.1
.1
0

Medical care
— — • - .
Btrscnal care
— — — — —
Reading and recreation ™ — .
Other goeds and services
—

.7
.4
.2
.2

0
.7
.5
.3

.3
.2
- 3.5
.2

.4
.1
- .2
- 1.0

-

.1
.1
.4
.4

.8
0
- 3.6
.1

1.0
.2
.2
.5

.1
.5
.8
0

.4
.3
- 2.3
.1

-

.1
5.2
1.4
.7

1/




—
—
—
—

-

Change from April 1960 to June 1960.

-

-

-

-

.3
'0

-

-

.4
.4
0
.7
.3
.1
.1

6

U . S . city average

TABI£ 5t Consumer Prioe Index — Food and its subgroups
June 1960 indexes and percent changes, May 1960 to June 1960
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)
Ueats, poultry,
Dairy
Total
Cereals and
Total food
and fish
bakery products
products
food at home
Percent Index Percent Index Percent
Percent
Percent
change
change
change
change
change
115.0
0.4
110.3
0.5
136.1
0.6
117.7
120.3
0.5

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

117.6
121.2
119.0
118.8
121.5
117.1
120.0
114.8
114.0
126.4

.7
.6
.3
1.4
.9
.6
.8
.3
1.2
.2

115.8
117.3
115.6
116.3
118.6
114.4
117.5
111.6
111.4
120.5

1.0
.5
.3
1.5
1.0
.8
.9
.5
1.5

119.3
121.8
122.6
122.1
121.3
119.6
124.2
116.5
122.6
120.9

1.0
0
.7
.1
.7
.9
.1
.6
0

116.2
118.0
119.5
120.4
118.5
114.8
121.2
114.9
120.1
118.5

1.1
.1
.8
.2
1.0
1.2
.1
.5
0
.5

City

—
—

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

126.0
134.6
129.2
131.2
136.0
128.7
128.7
125.5
130.8
148.0

.6
1.1
2.9
.2
.1
.5
2.8
.1
.5
.3

134.9
142.6
137.5
134.3
140.8
124.8
151.2
134.5
147.6
132.4

.5
.4
.1
2.0
.1
.2
.3
.5

114.0
109.3
110.2
104.1
112.7

116.4
116.7
107.7
120.4
117.5

105.4
104.6
104.5
112.0

1.5
.6
.6
.7
2.1
1.6
1.5
.5
1.4
1.4

104.9
112.0
111.8
110.5
111.9
106.2
116.9
109.3
113.4
108.6

.5
1.1
.4
.4
1.4
.8
1.1
1.1
1.0
.4

107.5
115.2
118.4
117.7
121.3
104.5
117.1
109.9
119.6
120.1

106.8

110.1
112.5
112.1
111.2
113.9

Fruits and
vegetables
Index Percent
change
136.1
2.4

Other
foods at home
Percent
change
- 0.4
104.5

-0.1
0
.3
.2
.1
0
- .4
- 3.0
.5
.6

134.1
135.2
137.3
135.3
134.1
130.5
146.7
126.4
123.9
139.1

2.1
4.2
3.9
7.5
2.6
1.4
1.6
5.1
3.4
- 0.1

99.9
104.5
101.5
109.8
106.9
106.8
105.0
101.5
99.3
106.2

- .1
- 1.0
- 1.6
- .6
- .4
- .3
- .8
0
1.1
- .2

0
.3
0
.1
.4
3.1
.3
0
.1
.1

141.8
131.7
139.2
138.8
128.0
137.8
137.1
130.9
136.4
135.5

5.9
2.3
3.4
- .1
2.8
1.7
- 1.4
1.1
- .7
3.6

110.0
103.2
102.9
114.2
106.1
111.4
102.5
101.0
102.6
107.5

- .5
- 1.1
- .1
- .7
0
- .2
- .3
- .3
- .6

-

TABLE 6 s Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
Food and unit
Cereals and bakery products:
Flour, wheat
5 lb.
Biscuit mix
20 oz.
Macaroni
16 oz.
lb
Corn neal
•
*
Rolled oats
is oz.
C o m flakes —
— 12 oz.
Rice, short grain
-.
—
lb.
Rice, long grain
• lb.
Bread, white
ib.
Soda cracjcers
• • • ••• ib.
Vanilla cooicies
—
Heat8, poultry, and fisht
- ib.
Round steak
lb.
Sirloin steak
- ib.
Chuck roast —••
- lb.
Rib roast
- lb.
Hamburger
- ib.
Veal outlets - lb.
Pork chops, center cut <
lb.
Pork roast —
—
- lb.
Bacon, sliced
- lb.
Ham, whole
- lb.
Lamb, leg
- lb.
Frankfurters —..... — —
Luncheon meat, canned
Frying chickens, ready-to-cock — ib.
Ooean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned 1 j
— i e oz.
Tuna fish. canned
-" 6 to si oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, ( g r o c e r y ) — — —
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
^
Ice cream
\ gal.
Batter
— il bb .
Cheese, American process — — — h
«
-14&-OZ. can
Milk, evaporated
Fruits and vegetables:
Fjrosen:
Strawberries
Orange juice concentrate —
6 oz.
Lemonade concentrate
— - - 6 oz.
Peas, green
•10 oz.
Beans, green ••
9 oz.
Potatoes, french fried
9 oz.
Fresh!
Apples
ib.
Bananas •• •••••—
- ib.
Oranges, sise 200 •
• doz.
— lb.
Grapefruit
Prioed only in season*




June
1960
Cents
55.7
26.9
23.0
13.0
22.0
25.7
18.6

20.6
20.1
29.0
24.3

105.8
109.7
61.9
82.3
52.6
143.2

Hay
1960
£fil&fi
55.4
26.9
23.0
13.0

22.0
25.7
18.7

20.6
20.0

28.9
24.3

105.9

110.0

61.2
67.4
61.4
77.1
62.4
50.5
42w7
47.6
55.6
65.5
32.7

63.0
82.4
52.8
143.1
82.3
58.3
66.6
61.3
76.2
62.4
50.5
43.1
47.5
55.8
65.5
32.6

24.1
25.5
87.0
74.2
33.9
15.7

24.1
25.5
86.9
74.3
33.9
15.7

26.4
22.1
13.5
19.8
23.1
19.7

126.5
21.9
13.6
19.7
23.1
19.6

86.0

21.2
16.0
72.4
17.9
15.4

17.9
15.3
69.0
18.3
14.0

Food and unit
Fre sh—Continued
—
lb.
Peaches *
pt.
Strawberries *
_
lb.
Qrapes, seedless *
_
ib.
Watermelons *
10 lb.
Potatoes
—
lb.
Sweet potatoes_
lb.
Onions •••••• ••••
lb.
Carrots — — ••-.
head
Lettuce —
_
ib.
Celery
•
_
ib.
Cabbage
_
ib.
T o mtoe 8 — —
_
ib.
Beans, green •
Canned:
,
46-oz.
can
Orange Juice
Pineapple juice
— — 46-oz. ccan
an
Peaches —
#2*
Pineapple
• #2 can
Fruit cocktail
_
#308 can
Corn, cream style •
_
#303 can
Peas, green
_
#303 can
Tomatoes ••• .
-^jaoa can
Tomato juice - —
46-oz. can
4i to 5 oz.
Baby foods
Dried:
lb.
Prunes
lb.
Beans
Other foods at home:
10& to 11-oz. can
Tomato soup
—
• .i
ld-oz. can
Beans with pork —
- .... , •••. IB oz.
Pickles, sliced —
—
•
14 oz.
Catsup, tomato
—
4 oz.
Potato chips
1 • lb. can
Coffee
—.
lb. bag
Coffee
Tea bags
••••..
1 • pkg. of 16
Cola drink, carton • -' ••• — —
38 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated
3 ib.
Margarine, colored
• • ib.
Lard
• •. ib.
Salad dressing
- pt.
Peanut butter
- — ib.
Sigar

C o m syrup
—
Crape jelly
• •• •
Chocolate bar
Eggs, Grade A , large
Gelatin, flavored

s ib.

.

»a* oz.
••••• 12 oz.

_
-I —

1 oz.
1' doz.

June
1960
Cents

May
1960
Cents

29.1

35.3

7.3

81.0
14.6

10.0

14.1
14.3
14.1
10.9
33.5
23.2

83.3
13.5
10.1
13.0
17.1
13.5
12.3
39.0
27.9

42.3
34.4
33.5
37.8
27.0
19.0
20.5
16.2
31.9

42.3
34.4
33.6
37.8
27.0
19.0
20.3

10.0

31.8
10.0

39.6
16.7

39.5
16.7

12.5
14.9

12.5
14.8
26.4

26.6

16.1

22.6

22.6

27.4
75.7
59.8
24.4
29.9
79.7
26.7
18.5
35.9
55.5
57.2

27.3
75.8
59.5
24.4
29.7
80.4
26.7
18.4
36.0
55.3
57.3

28.6

28.7
5.1
52.9
9.3

26.6

5.1
51.5
9.3

26.6

LABOR - D. C.

7
Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
service^ usually bought b y 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 b y wage and clerical
families; they include all of the important items in family spending. Prices for these
items are obtained in k6 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places in the
United States; they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals, filling
stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner and
clerical-worker families patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
k6 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services axe collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Mall 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
1
services are obtained b y personal visits of the Bureau s trained representatives.
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending. City
data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 19^7-^9 * 100.
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from che
20 large cities for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small cities:
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W . Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N . Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

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

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, 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 and historical tables of index numbers for the
United States city average and for 20 large cities are available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or any of its regional offices (addresses below).
The historical tables include index numbers for All Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent for
periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of goods and services from 1935 to date.
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
1371 Peachtree
Street, N . E .
Zone 9




New York
3^1 Ninth A v e .
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome S t .
Zone 11

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10

LABOR - D . C .

8
Introduction of Thirteen New Prescriptions in CPI
Starting in April 1960, prices for 13 new prescriptions were introduced into
the Medical Care component of the Consumer Price Index as cities were priced replacing
the three former prescriptions. By July I960, prices for these new prescriptions will
be included for all 46 cities. The former prescriptions (which were selected to represent family expenditures for this category as shown by the Bureau's survey of family
expenditures in 1950) were for three relatively simple compounds: a non-narcotic APC
formulation; a standard cough preparation containing a narcotic; and a buffered
penicillin.
The introduction and widespread use of many new drugs since the original list
of prescriptions was established made it advisable to revise the list of prescriptions
priced to reflect current practices. Since it can reasonably be expected that many of
the present volume-selling prescriptions will be replaced by newer compounds, continuity
of indexes in the future will best be maintained by classifying prescriptions into
therapeutic, end-use categories and publishing a composite prescription index based on
the categories shown below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Anti-infectives
Sedatives and hypnotics
Ataractics
Antispasmodics
Antiarthritics
Cough preparations
Cardiovasculars and antihypertensives

Although the effectiveness and the quality of the newer drugs and the compounded prescriptions which result from them is unquestionably superior
to those avail1
able several years ago, the new items were introduced by "linking, * that is, the level
of the index is not affected by the differences in prices on the date of introduction.
The total weight assigned to prescriptions in each city (averaging 0.4 percent in the
U.S. index)will be unchanged but it will be re-distributed among the 7 end-use categories rather than among the 3 former prescriptions.
The end-use categories selected for inclusion in the index were determined
from published national data on frequency of purchase of prescriptions in retail drugstores and with the advice of informed industry and government sources. It is planned
to review the list periodically and revise if necessary to maintain continous end-use
indexes closely related to current usage.




LABOR - D . C .