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.