Full text of CPI Detailed Report : March 1955
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Issued April 22, 1955 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington 25* D* C* CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MARCH 1955 The Consumer Price Index, at llU*3 percent of the 19U7-U9 average, remained unchanged in March for the fourth consecutive month, the U*S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today* Although there have been periods of extended price stability in earlier years, this is the first time in many years that the index has remained unchanged for as long as four months* The current stability of average prices is further emphasized by the lack of important change over the month among the major categories of urban consumer spending* Average prices for food, total housing costs, and personal care expenditures were unchanged* Rents and costs of household operation, medical care, and reading and recreation edged up 0*2 percent, and gas costs rose 0*U percent* Apparel and housefurnishings prices decreased 0.2 percent, and transportation costs declined 0*1 percent* In none of the h6 cities surveyed for the index did the cost of the family food budget change by as much as 1 percent, and in 3U cities the difference was less than 0*5 percent* FOOD The stability of prices for food at home represents the net effect of price increases for poultry, fresh fruits and vegetables, and eggs, and price decreases for most meats, coffee, and dairy products* Poultry prices continued to rise, advancing 7*6 percent between February and March, as smaller numbers of young chickens appeared in the market* Other meat prices declined over the month, with pork contributing most to the decline* Bacon, off 3*3 percent, and ham, down 3»1 percent, were lower in price in 11 cities* Prices of veal cutlets, round steak, rib and chuck ** roast, and canned luncheon meat were all lower on the average, with decreases occurring in a majority of the cities surveyed* The decline in dairy products resulted mainly from price decreases for milk in 21 cities* Tomatoes, up 12 percent in price, were more expensive in nearly all cities* Among other fresh vegetables, higher prices were exhibited in most cities for celery, lettuce, and both sweet and white potatoes* Prices were lower for green beans (down 16.8 percent), cabbage (d<*rn 10*3 percent), onions and carrots* Fresh orange prices advanced 8 percent, but canned orange juice fell slightly* The March pricing preceded the major freeze over large growing areas late in the month* Coffee prices again moved downward (2*9 percent), averaging 9h cents a pound* Egg prices advanced 2 percent* At 60 cents a dozen, eggs were four percent higher this March than in March 195U, when the sharp price decline of last year began* Prices of food away from home advanced fractionally* HOUSING The housing index in March was 119 »6 for the third consecutive month* Continued advances in residential rents, increased costs of household operation, and higher gas bills were balanced by a decline in housefurnishings prices* The majority of rental units reported no change from February to March, although the changes that did occur included more increases than decreases* However, during the first quarter of 1955# *ore cities reported rent decreases than in the last quarter of 195U« Housefurnishings prices resumed their downward trend, temporarily interrupted in February* Some household appliances and furniture, notably refrigerators, stoves, toasters, and dinette sets, declined in price in the face of 2 sharp competition. On the other hand, some price increases for other types of furniture occurred, reflecting increased costs of lumber and fabric coverings used in their construction* OTHER COMMODITIES AND SERVICES Apparel prices decreased 0*2 percent over the month, with lower prices for girls1 cotton dresses, womenvs rayon blouses, and men's and boys1 cotton apparel, such as business shirts and work clothing • Transportation costs were little changed (down 0.1 percent) as decreases in new and used car prices and automobile insurance were almost counterbalanced by higher prices for gasoline and for public transportation in three cities. Larger price concessions on new cars were reported by dealers in some cities surveyed for the first time this year. Automobile insurance rates were reduced widely in the small and medium sized cities. Medical care costs again rose fractionally (0.2 percent). Higher movie admission charges, particularly to those attending showings of special features, caused the 0.2 percent increase in reading and recreation costs, despite fairly general small decreases in prices of television and radio sets. TABLE 1. 3 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — U.S. CITY AVERAGE ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Dates February 1955 January 1955 March 1954 Last Month March 1955 2 Months Ago Last Year June 1950 Group This Month Pre-Korea Year 1939 PreWorld War II INDEXES (1947-49 = 1 0 0 ) na.3 APPAREL Footwear TRANS PORTATION MEDICAL CARE PERSONAL CARE . « READING AND RECREATION J OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES j/ • . . . 59.4 110.8 110.6 112.1 100.5 47.1 109.7 123.9 102.3 105.14 112.0 111.9 109.6 123.8 lll.il 121.2 106.1 110.7 112.1 109.4 123.4 102.4 I06.ii 110.6 111.3 108.0 107.8 112.3 100.5 102.7 106.1 92.3 102.5 94.1 47.1 57.2 41.6 49.8 46.3 48 k 4 119.6 119.6 119.0 104.9 76.1 130.0 110.3 126.2 104.6 117.9 129.7 109.9 126.2 104.8 117.7 129.5 109.ii 126.1 10U.6 117.7 128.0 107.6 125.8 107.2 117.5 108.7 102.7 107.6 97.4 99.6 86.6 104.9 56.4 53.4 68.4 103. U 103.3 10ii.3 96.5 52.5 105.6 97.ii 116.7 90.1 Solid fuels and fuel oil . . . . Housefurnishings . . . . . . . . 101.3 103.2 . . . . » . . . « . . • « . 114.8 119.6 Rent 114.3 110.8 Food at home • • • • • . . . • • Cereals and bakery products . . Meats, poultry and fish . . . . Dairy products llii. 3 105.6 97.7 116.6 90.6 105.5 97.6 116.7 90.5 107.2 99.0 116.1 90.0 98.1 93.3 102.1 88.4 M V V H 127.3 127.0 U3.5 106.6 U9.8 127.4 126.8 113.5 106.4 119.8 127.6 126.5 113.7 106.9 119.9 129.0 12li.ii llii.l 108.2 120.1 109.9 105.4 68.9 72.6 99.2 59.6 102.5 103.7 63.0 70.6 March 195ii June 19S0 Year 102.5 109.5 PERCENT CHAN® TO MARCH 1955 H U M : February 1955 January 1955 1939 0 0 - o.U 12.3 92.4 0 0.2 - 1.2 10.2 135.2 1.5 132.9 116.6 145.9 111.6 141.9 131.2 0.1 0.1 - 0.2 - 0.7 1.2 - 0.2 * . . . % . . HOUSING 2/ ....... o.U 0.5 lli.O 57.2 O.ii 0.8 0.1 0 1.6 0.3 19.6 7.4 17.3 7.4 18.4 50.1 5.1 123.8 95.9 72.4 - 0.1 - 1.1 6*9 96.6 - 0.3 0.1 - 0.2 • 0 0.2 Dairy products 9.2 20.6 - 3.6 1U.2 9.3 18.9 0 Cereals and bakery products . , 0.1 - 0.2 0 0.1 - 1.5 - 1.6 0.5 O.ii 7.6 4.4 14.3 2.3 - 0.1 0.2 0 0.2 0 - 0.2 O.ii - 0.2 - 0.3 - 0.1 - 1.3 2.1 15.8 0.4 0 - 0.2 0.2 - 0.2 0 READING AND RECREATION OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES 1/ 2/ ^J 4/ . . . . 0.3 0.4 - 0.1 - 0.9 1.3 0.5 - 2.2 - 6.6 - 2.4 3.9 - 2.5 0.3 - 2.1i 0.2 - 0.5 - 1.5 - 0.2 20.5 lii.4 4.0 15.5 Includes restaurant meals not shown separately. 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.). Not available. 4/ E7 TT/ * y 84.8 74.9 90.4 69.2 69.7 k T&hlE 2. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL Tt* m IRDEXPS U.S. CITY AVERAGE AND ?0 LARG'F CV.'TZL SfLECTED DATES (1935-39^100) City March 1955 February 1955 March 195b June 1950 Year 1939 March 1955 1/ U.S. CITY AVERAGE 11U.3 llii. 3 llii.8 101.8 59.^ 191.1 117.0 116.1 115.1 112. U 115. a 117.1 116.3 11U.7 112.5 115.7 116.7 116.5 116.2 112.1 111.9 102.8 102.8 101.3 100.9 101.6 58.6 59*0 60.1* 60.1 59*2 199.3 196.3 192.3 186.0 192.7 March 19Sli June 19*0 CITIES PRICED MONTHLY: CITIES PRICED IN MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER 2/ March 1955 115.3 11U.9 113.h 115.6 115.6 Atlanta Baltimore Cincinnati St. Louis San Francisco CITIES PRICED HI FEBRUARY, MAY, AUGUST, NOVEMBER 2/ December 19*L 115.7 11U. 8 113.3 115. l j 115.7 117.0 llli. 8 llli.2 116.9 116.5 November 19*li February 19*1, February 19** h/ 101.3 ~ 101.6 101.2 101.1 100.9 115.3 116.7 112.3 115.7 113.5 115.2 116.9 113.2 116.2 lllul October 195h January 1951t Apr il 1950 113.0 115.3 116.5 113.8 llh.6 Boston Kansas City Minneapolis Pittsburgh Portland, Oreg. 195.5 197.5 191.0 192.9 197.6 113.5 115.7 116.9 lib.3 115.2 112.7 115.0 116.6 lU.lj ll5.li February 19** 100. h 103.5 100.2 102.0 101.6 101.? 101 Ji 3/ 102.1 " " 99.9 101.5 llli. 9 115.7 111.7 116.3 113.2 CITIES PRICED IN JANUARY, APRIL, JULY, OCTOBER 2/ 58.3 57*9 58.1* 59.3 58.6 May I9*n January 1955 Cleveland Houston Scranton Seattle Washington, D. C. March 1955 59.2 5 9.5 58.5 59.2 60.1 195.8 195.9 185.6 198.6 185.9 January 1955 6I.0 61.7 60.7 58.1 58.3 181.9 185.6 192.9 193.5 198.5 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 and services priced quarterly. 2,/ June 1950 j formerly priced March, June, September, December. 5/May 1950; formerly priced February, May, August, November. TABLE 3. City U.S. CITY AVERAGE CCNSUMER PRICE INDEX — PERCEKT CHANCES PRCM FEBRUARY 1955 TO MARCH 1955 U.S. C i t y Average and F i v e C i t i e s Priced Monthly A l l Items and Commodity Groups All Items 0 - 0.1 0 0.3 - 0.1 0.1 Food 0 - O.L. - 0.3 0.8 - 0.1 0.1 Housing 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0. I t Medical Care Apparel Transportation - 0.2 - 0.1 0.2 0.1 0 - 0.5 0.2 - 0.9 0.2 - 0.1 1.0 0 0.1 0 0 0 1.3 - O.h Personal Care Reading and Recreation Other Goods & Services 0 0.2 0 0 0.3 - 0.6 0 - 0.1 - 0.1 0 0.3 0 o.5 - O.li 0 - 0.3 - o.h o.h 5 TABLE U. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS March 1955 Indexes and Percent Changes, December 195k to March 1955 U.S. City Average and 10 Cities Priced in March 1955 1 U.S. Los New CITY CincinBaltiAVERAGE (Atlanta more Chicago nati [Detroit Angelei York Group Phila- St. delphia Louis San Francisco March 1955 Indexes (191*7-1*9 - 100) liii. 3 • 1 • • . • • •• • • Gas and electricity Solid fuels and fuel oil . . • Housefurnishlngs Household operation • • • • • • Men's and boys Women's and girls' Footwear • • • • « • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • READING AND RECREATION OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES . . • . . • • • • • • • TRANSPORTATION MEDICAL CARE . . • • • • • • • ... .... 115.1 112.1* 115.8 115.6 115.6 110.0 111.7 108.3 111.7 113.0 112.0 111.0 113.3 111.8 113.1 109.7 123.9 102.3 xo5.li 112.0 111.9 108.2 117.9 105.3 108.li 110.0 103.9 110.3 122.0 103.7 108.3 110.0 112.1 106.6 119.2 95.1i 105.5 108.5 117.3 110.7 125.1 102.8 106.5 109.5 117.9 111.6 120.0 100.1 102.8 121*.9 111*. 3 110.2 127.8 101.6 102.9 115.6 111.2 110.0 128.2 106.1* 101*. 2 105.1* 113.3 112.1 121.0 106.3 109.2 111*. 3 112.8 109.2 118.9 101.3 91.5 118.5 120.8 112.3 130.7 106.2 10l*.9 118.2 110.1* 123.9 115.9 128.3 117.3 122.3 122.8 116.1* 111*. 9 119.1* 115.9 130.0 110.3 126.2 10U.6 117.9 132.3 113.3 119.5 107.li 128.5 125.0 100.1 127.2 98.5 110.9 108.li 102.7 105.6 97.lt 116.7 90.li 110.9 102.2 123.2 91.0 127.3 127.0 113.5 106.6 119.8 123.6 122.8 llii.7 107.2 118.0 .. . • ...... • 116.3 103.2 • 113.1* 119.6 • • .• •• 117.0 110.8 Food &t hone . . • • • * « Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry and fish . • Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home • • • • 115.3 111*. 9 Percent _ _ _ 118.7 127.2 100.1 122.3 108.9 119.9 106.5 111.8 113.6 108.8 130.7 107.0 105.1 108.3 119.1 102.3 126.9 106.5 llli.3 103.8 139.6 101.7 119.1* 132.5 103.9 109.3 10h.8 103.1* 102.5 103.1* 102.1 10l*.6 lOli.l 103.1 101.2 99.5 116.7 9 lull 110.0 96.0 120.5 92.9 103.8 98.8 123.0 86.2 107.1* 95.6 112.7 87.1* 108.0 106.1 96.2 9l*.9 118.0 115.8 82.7 93.3 103.8 107.6 103.0 96.7 1 1 1 . 0 119.0 92.2 96.0 10li.9 98.7 116.3 87.8 136.8 13li.li 107.6 115.7 122.6 133.0 123.8 127.5 127.1* 115.3 109.0 113.1 101.0 118.1 116.1 121.3 132.3 119.7 107.9 121*. 7 127.6 122.8 117.1* 97.2 llli.5 130.1 125.«> 108.3 10l*.6 121.0 137.3 12b.k 117.7 112. h 123.5 - 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 - 0.1 1.2 0.8 0.6 - o.l* 1.2 0.7 - 0.8 0.1 0.2 1.7 - 1.0 - 2.9 - 6.8 2.1* 3.7 0.1* 0.2 1.1* 0.3 0.3 0.2 7.1 0.1 - 0.1* - 1.6 Change - - December 0 0.1* - 0.3 0 0 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.1 - 1.3 3.3 - 0.1 - 0.1 0.8 0.1* 0.1 - 0.1 -1.1 0.3 - 0.2 - 0.7 - 0.7 li.3 - 0.1* - 0.1 0.7 APPAREL ••• 0.1 - 0.3 0.1 0 - 0.1 - 0.1* 2.1 0.3 - 2.2 - 1.1* 0 - Iw3 1.2 3.U 0.1* 0.6 - 0.1 0.2 - 2.1 - 3.5 !*.7 1.1 0.9 1.5 0.2 0.7 2.9 - o.)4 - O.I* - 2.6 8.0 1.7 0.6 0.1* - 0.2 - 0.3 - 0.1 - 1.8 « . 2.7 l*.o - 0.7 0 1.3 1.6 - 0.9 0 1.8 _ _ - 0.1 o.5 - 2.3 1.1* 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.7 0.1 0 0.2 0.1 - 1.2 - 1.5 / Housefurnishlngs Household operation _ o.5 1/ 0.8 I/ 0.2 1 0 " 0.1 i.i 0.6 0 0 - 0.8 - 1.7 - 0.6 0.2 - 0.1 - 1 . 5 0 - 0.3 0.3 _ m 0 0 2.8 0.6 0.1* - 2.6 - 0.3 - 0.3 - 0.1* 2.5 0.8 0.7 - 0.1* 3.2 0.3 1.3 0.1 - 0.1 - 0.5 - 0.7 1.2 - 0.3 - 0,1* - 0.2 - 0.7 1.0 - 0.3 Men's and boys' Women's and girls' • • • • • • • • • • Footwear • • « . . » • • • * » • • • • - 0.8 - 1.6 - 0.2 - 1.1 - 0.2 0.6 - 2.8 0 - 0.3 0 - 1.2 - 0.2 - 2.0 0.7 0.3 9.7 - 0.7 - 1.0 - 0.8 1.1 - 0.3 0.1 0.2 - 0.1* - 2.3 - 3.2 - o#U - 0.1 - 0.8 - 0.9 - 0 0.6 - 0.1 0 - 1.7 - 1.5 l.o 0.7 0.1 - 0.7 0.8 - 1.2 0 - 0.3 - 0.1 1.1 0.1 2.2 - 0.1 - 0.2 0.9 0 1.7 0.2 - 1.1 3.7 0.5 - 0.6 0 0.9 - 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 l/ Change from September 195b to March 1955 - o.5 0.3 0 0.1* 0 • - 1.2 0.1* 1.0 - 0.2 1.0 1.5 0.2 0.1 0.8 0.2 - 1.7 - 1.3 _ 1.8 1.2 - 1.1 MEDICAL CARE PERSONAL CARE READING AND RECREATION 11*0.8 123.5 110.9 108.7 115.2 o.h • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 0.2 131*. 8 11*0.3 113.5 92.7 115.0 - 1951* t o March 1955 0.1 - 0.1 Food at home • • • • • • • • • • • • * Cereals and bakery products • • • • • Meats, poultry and fish Dairy products Fruit8 and vegetables *• Other foods at home . . 11*9.1* 110.5 126.2 106.7 121.1 « - 1.1 6 TABLE 5. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — FOOD AND ITS SUBGROUPS March 1955 Indexes and Percent Changes, February 1955 to M?rch 1955 U. 5. City Average and 20 Large Cities (19V7-I19 = 100) Total Food at Home Percent Index Change Total Food City Index U.S. CITY AVERAGE . . 110.8 Atlanta Baltimore Boston Chicago • • • • Cincinnati • . Cleveland • • • Detroit • • • • Houston Kansas City . . Los Angeles 110.0 1 ! • . • • 111.7 109.0 108.3 111.7 108.6 113.0 110.7 . . . 106.9 ! 112.0 • • • • • • • • Minneapolis • • • . Hew York Philadelphia . . . Pittsburgh Portland, Ore. . . St. Louis . San Francisco . . . Scranton Seattle • • • • • • . 111.3 111.0 . 113.3 111.0 . 109.7 111.6 . 113.1 108.7 • 112.i< 110.9 Percent Change 0 Products Percent Index Change Dairy 102.3 - 0.2 I05.b - 0.7 112.0 1.2 111.9 - 0.2 0 0.2 2.b 0.2 3.b 3.3 3.8 0.1 0.6 0.1 110.0 110.0 107.8 108.5 109.5 105.9 12b.9 116.6 103.0 115.6 1.0 1.2 0.3 0.1 2.b 0.2 2.2 3.1 - o.U 3.6 103.9 112.1 107.2 117.3 117.9 116.b 11 bo 3 109.6 105.5 111.2 - 0.2 - 0.1 0.9 - 0.3 O.b 1.0 1.0 - l.b - 1.0 - 0.2 118.3 1.5 105. b 0.3 0.6 lib. 3 107.5 - 0.9 llb.b 2.b 118.5 0.9 118.2 2.2 1.0 108.5 122.0 2.2 107.8 - 0.6 121.9 113.3 112.8 120.9 lC9.b 120.8 lio.b 0.3 0.1 - 0.1 1.3 0.1 1.1 108.2 110.3 107.6 106.6 110.7 107.1i 111.6 109.5 105.2 110.2 - 0.1 0 - 0.3 - 0.7 - O.b - 0.3 - O.b 0.6 - 0.5 0.7 117.9 122.0 119.1 119.2 125.1 120.b 120.0 118.8 120.7 127.8 0.2 - 0.2 0.1 - 1.2 0.2 - 0.2 0 0.1 0.1 0 105.3 103.7 1CO.O 95. b 102.8 99.7 100.1 100.8 96.9 101.6 - 0.9 0.5 0.6 1.5 1.1 0 - 1.2 1.1 - 0.1 0.5 108.b 108.3 108.0 105.5 106.5 99.6 102.8 108.8 108.0 102.9 0.2 - 0.1 0.1 0 o.5 0.1 0.1 0 0.3 0 0.2 lie. 7 110.0 - 0 . 2 112.1 0 110.1 0 109.0 0.6 109.2 - 0 . 2 0.2 112.3 0 108.6 111.9 O.b 0 109.5 125.9 128.2 121.0 12b.b 12b.2 118.9 130.7 118.6 127.5 122.3 0.1 - 0.1 0 - 0.1 0.2 0.1 O.b 0.1 0.1 97.5 106.b 106.3 98.3 101.6 101.3 - 103.1 lCb.2 109.2 109.7 103.5 91.5 10b.9 107.7 108.2 CEREALS AND BAKERY FRGDUCTS: Flour, wheat 5 lb. Biscuit mix 20 oz. Corn meal lb. Rice lb. Rolled oats 20 oz. Corn flakes 12 oz. Bread, white lb. Soda crackers lb. Vanilla cookies 7 oz. MEATS, POULTRY AND FISH: lb. Round steak lb. Chuck roast lb. Rib roast lb. Hamburger lb. Veal cutlets lb. Pork chops, center cut lb. Bacon, sliced lb. Ham, whole lb. Lamb, leg lb. Frankfurters 12 oz. Luncheon meat, canned lb. Frying chickens, dressed lb. Frying chickens, ready-to-cook lb. Ocean perch, fillet, frozen lb. Haddock, fillet, frozen 16 oz. Salmon, pink, canned 7 oz. Tuna fish, canned DAIRY PRODUCTS: qt. Milk, fresh, (grocery) qt. Milk, fresh, (delivered) pt. Ice cream lb. Butter lb. Cheese, American process Milk, evaporated ** h oz. can FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: Frozen Strawberries 10 oz. 6 oz. Orange juice concentrate 1C oz. Peas, green 10 oz. Beans, green Fresh lb. Apples lb. Bananas doz. Oranges, size 200 lb. Lemons gherkins. - 0.2 - 106.2 3C0.9 101.7 100.1 - 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.9 0.5 1.1 0.2 0 - Fruits & Vegetables Index 0.1 - 0.3 111.0 Percent Change 0.7 - 1.8 - 0 0 1.0 - 2.6 - Other Foods at Home Percent Index Change 1.9 0.1 - 1.7 0.7 111.1 110.5 - 112.1 1.1 0.2 RETAIL FOOD PRICES FOR M R H 1955 AND FEBRUARY 1955 AC U.C. City Average March 1955 Food and Unit 0.1 123.9 Meats, Poultry & Fish Percent Index Change - 0.1 0 - O.b - 0.1. - 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.3 o.5 - o.b 0.8 TAELE 6 . * Priced only in season 1/' F o r m e r l y p u b l i s h e d e s s r e e t 0.1 109.7 Cereals & Bakery Products Percent Index Change (Cents) 5b. 1 27.b 12.6 17.8 19.0 22.0 17.7 27.0 23.8 91.0 52.1 71.5 39.7 110.5 7b.3 66.7 59.ii 68.1 53.li b5.h I18.9 59.lt February 1955 (Cents) 5b.l 27.b 12.6 17.6 18.9 22.0 17.7 27.0 23.8 b7.5 5b.6 37.9 92.1 52.6 72.b 39.7 113.0 75.7 69.0 61.3 68.6 53.b b6.3 b6.3 5b.6 b3.b b8.1 5b.2 38.0 21.8 22.9 29.2 71.0 57.8 13.7 22.1 23.2 29.2 71.2 57.8 13.7 li2,7 30.8 17.7 19.5 2b. 2 30.7 17.6 19. h 2b.2 lb.3 17.0 b8.2 18.1 lb.2 16.8 bb.6 18.5 March 1955 Food and Unit Fresh (continued) Grapefruit * Peaches * Strawberries * Grapes, seedless * Watermelons * Potatoes Sweetpotatoes Onions Carrots Lettuce Celery (Cents) 9.5 (Cents) 9.6 5b. 5 15.1 7 .b 13.0 17.b 15.5 7.8 3b.2 22.8 5b.o lb.b 7.7 13.2 17.0 15.1 8.7 30.5 27.b 33.1 #303 can 4 i-5 o z . 32.7 33.b 39.0 b0.7 17.0 21.b 15.0 9.7 lb. 32.7 32.5 lb. 18.8 18.6 11 oz. can lb.2 lb.8 28.2 lb.2 lb. 8 28.3 22.2 97.0 38.9 32.5 35.3 29.3 21.9 35. b 52.6 52.3 23.7 25.8 b.6 59.0 8.6 each lb. pt. lb. lb. 10 lb. lb. lb. lb. head lb. lb. lb. Cabbage Tomatoes Beans, green Canned Orange juice Peaches Pineapple Fruit cocktail Corn, cream style Peas, green Tomatoes Baby f o o d s Dried Prunes Navy beans OTHER FOODS AT HOME: Vegetable soup Beans with pork Pickles, sweet 1 / Catsup, tomato ~ ~ Coffee Tea Cola drink carton Shortening, hydrogenated Margarine, colored Lard Salad dressing Peanut butter Sugar Corn syrup Grape jelly Chocolate bar Eggs, Grade A, large Gelatin, flavored February 1955 lb. 46 oz. can #2 5 can can h #2 h can #2 #303 can #303 can 16 oz. can 7 oz. h 14 &z. lb. i lb. of 6, 6 oz. lb. lb. lb. pt. lb 5 lb. 24 oz. 12 oz. 7/6 oz. doz. 3-4 oz. 22.3 9b.2 bo.2 32.5 35.2 29.2 21.1 35.5 53. b 52.2 23.7 25.9 b.6 60.2 8.6 33.2 38.9 b0.9 i1 17.2 j 21.5 ! lb.9 | 9.7 BRIEF EXPIANATION OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 7 The Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices of goods and services customarily purchased by city wage-earner and clerical-worker families . Index numbers are presented on the base 19^7-^9 « 100, and show the average increase or decrease in prices from the 19^7-^9 average . For the convenience of users, indexes are also calculated on the base 1935-39 • 100. About 300 items are priced for the Index to estimate the average change in prices of a fixed quantity of goods and services from one period to the next. Among these are all the important items that wage and clerical workers buy, and they are selected so that their average price change will be representative of the price changes on all items. Prices are collected in k6 cities which are representative of all cities in the United States. Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items are priced eve*-y month in eacn city. Prices of most other goods and services are obtained every month in the 5 largest cities, every 3 months in 16 other large cities and in 9 medium-sized cities, and every k months in 16 small cities. In each city, prices are reported by representative retail stores and service establishments patronized by wage and clerical worker families. Indexes are calculated for all cities combined (the U.S. city average) and for each of the 20 largest cities. No separate index numbers are calculated for the following 26 medium-sized and small cities which are included in the U.S. average: 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 I^nchburg, Virginia Madlll, 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 In the calculation, price changes on individual items are weighted by their importance in wage-earner and clerical-worker family spending. City data are combined by weighting with 1950 population data to arrive at the U.S. city average. Comparison of city indexes shows only that prices in one city changed more or less than in another. City indexes do not measure differences in price level between cities. A detailed description of the index containing lists of items priced, their weights, cities included, and an explanation of the index calculation, its uses and limitations, is available in Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 11^0 - "The Consumer Price Index - A Layman's Guide," for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. Price 20 cents. A more technical description of the Consumer Price Index is available upon request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, Washington 25, D. C. Historical series of iildex numbers for the U.S. city average and 80 individual 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 19^7 to date.