Full text of CPI Detailed Report : March 1956
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Issued April 25, 1956 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington 25, D. C. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MARCH 1956 Consumer prices in United States cities rose 0.1 percent between February and March 1956, the first advance since November 1955, the U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today. Prices averaged higher over the month for all major categories of family spending except housing and transportation. Housing costs remained at their February level and transportation declined. The Consumer Price Index for March was 114.7 (1947-49 = 100), 0.3 percent higher than in March 1955. FOOD Retail food prices rose 0.2 percent from February to March, following a 5-month decline. At 109.0, the food index was 1.6 percent below its March 1955 level, primarily because the meats, poultry, and fish component was almost 10 percent lower. Price advances for fresh vegetables led the increase, supplemented by higher prices for coffee, fats and oils, and restaurant meals. These increases were largely offset by lower costs of fresh meats, milk, and fresh fruits. Curtailed supplies, following the early freeze in Florida, and some seasonal influences resulted in 4*6 percent higher prices, on the average, for fresh vegetables. Prices of tomatoes were up 29*3 percent, potatoes, 4.3 percent, and lettuce 7.3 percent; however, green bean prices dropped 19.6 percent. Average prices for coffee in cans rose more than 3 cents a pound (from 96.2 to 99.4 cents), and coffee in bags cost 4.1 percent more, reflecting increases in wholesale prices of roasted coffee prior to mid-March. A 2,3 percent increase in prices of shortening led the 1 percent rise in the fats and oils category. Most meat prices declined as supplies continued ample: beef and veal products dropped 1.7 percent; pork products, 1.2 percent (although ham was 2.2 percent higher); poultry, 0.5 percent; and lamb, 1 percent. The 0.5 percent decrease in milk prices and the 0.8 percent drop in prices of fresh fruits were due chiefly to seasonal adjustments; bananas were down 3.9 percent and oranges, 0.7 percent. Canned and frozen orange juice prices rose, 1.2 and 1.8 percent, respectively. HOUSING The housing index remained at its February level of 120.7 percent of the 1947-49 average. Prices of housefurnishings advanced 0.6 percent, reflecting higher prices for living room and bedroom suites, dinette sets, curtains, and towels, which were partially offset by reductions in prices of vacuum cleaners, toasters, and other household appliances. The rise of 0.2 percent in household operation costs reflected higher rates for water and an increase in domestic service rates in Philadelphia. Residential rents edged up 0#1 percent. These increases were counterbalanced by reported moderate declines in costs of home-ownership. OTHER COMMODITIES AND SERVICES Tax changes and increases in rates for services, which typically change in only a few cities in any given month, were important factors in the advances of several group indexes. The change in the Ohio tax on cigarettes accounted for a large part of the 0.2 percent rise in the "other goods and services* component from February to March. The new Pennsylvania sales tax affected most groups of commodities (excluding food and apparel items principally). Higher group hospitalization rates in Detroit contributed substantially to the 0.4 percent increase in medical care costs; the increase in prices of men's haircuts in San Francisco played a similar role in the 0.3 percent rise in the personal care index. Most of the 0*2 percent rise in the reading and recreation group stemmed from higher movie prices in several cities. 2 The 0.2 percent advance in the apparel index resulted primarily from higher prices for shoes, although prices of some items of men1 s and boys1 clothing also rose. Transportation costs dropped 0.2 percent as used car prices fell 2.3 percent, but streetcar and bus fares were increased in Baltimore and Minneapolis* TABLE A: Consumer Price Index — U.S. and 20 cities, all items and major groups 1955 Annual averages (1947-49 = 100) 1/ All ! t items i Food Citv 4 • < « Reading:: Other a• 4ti i»» 4 • « 4i Trans-: s and : goods 4 • • 4: porta-:Medical:Personals; recre-: and Housing LAmoareli tion : care : care : ation iservices U.S. city average 114.5 110.9 120.0 103.7 126.4 128.0 115.3 106.6 120.2 116.3 115.2 — — - 113.8 117.9 113.7 110.2 111.7 109.5 109.1 112.0 125.1 116.6 120.9 129.9 118.0 109.6 102.5 102.1 105.8 103.5 123.6 136.5 134.2 131.5 122.6 124.9 134.7 125.4 129.1 129.0 118.4 109.4 113.4 117.6 113.3 108.1 115.6 107.2 113.5 99.9 121.2 122.9 118.5 117.8 116.3 122.3 122.3 123.1 121.5 125.7 103.3 102.0 106.5 103.0 103.9 120.3 122.2 123.4 125.4 124.7 135.6 132.9 124.3 136.3 123.3 118.0 123.6 121.8 119.3 117.8 115.3 ! 119.2 108.5 ! 124.6 109.3 119.8 115.1 i 117.1 96.8 | 115.3 115.7 j 1U.3 | 116.4 119.0 I \ 104.2 102.4 104.9 102.1 106.5 116.8 128.9 136.3 136.9 123.9 147.0 125.9 135.1 129.7 126.9 119.7 109.4 117.9 116.4 114.7 117.0 ! 125.9 104.4 121.0 112.6 i 123.9 98.4 ! 120.9 115.9 ! 119.6 120.4 116.5 115.4 121.3 116.6 103.8 103.5 106.0 106.3 101.5 133.3 139.5 126.5 127.7 j 129.5 | 140.1 124.4 120.0 132.9 119.4 116.5 110.9 119.1 117.6 112.6 92.1 106.8 119.5 108.6 105.4 Atlanta Baltimore BostonChicago— Cincinnati Cleveland Detroit Houston— Kansas City Los Angeles-—— 115.6 116.5 115.9 115.7 115.6 108.9 113.2 109.9 106.8 111.8 Minneapolis New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh— Portland, Oregon- 116.8 112.2 115.5 113.8 115.1 111.6 110.8 113.0 111.2 110.6 St. Louis— San Francisco—— Scranton — Seattle Washington, D. C. 116.0 115.6 111.4 116.7 113.6 112.3 112.9 108.3 112.1 111.2 iI 122.1 ! 116.2 { 116.1 i 115.7 127.7 : 130.0 j 1/ The U. S. average is based on the 46 cities included in the index during 1955. These figures are weighted averages of indexes available for given months and published in regular monthly reports of the index. NOTE* Effective after release of the June 1956 index, the Bureau will discontinue publication of the U. S. and city indexes for all items on the base 1935-39 = 100. TABIC 1: Consumer Price Index — United States city are rage, all items and coanodlty groups Indexes and percent changes for selected dates Indexes (1947-49.100) Group All items Food 1/ Food at hone Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy products — Fruits and vegetables Other foods at hone — — — lousing 2/ Rent Solid fuels and fuel oil Housefumlshlngs — — — — — — Apparel — — Women's and girls' Other apparel — Transportation Public Private — Medical care — — — Personal care — Reading and recreation Other goods and services 3/ — March 1956 February 1956 This month Last month January 1956 2 months ago 114.3 101.8 59.4 108.8 107.1 124.3 93.6 107.3 113.3 109.6 109.2 107.5 123.9 93.3 107.3 112.6 112.8 110.8 109.7 123.9 102.3 105.4 112.0 111.9 100.5 100.5 102.7 106.1 92.3 102.5 94.1 47.1 47.1 57.2 41.6 49.8 46.3 48.4 120.7 131.6 111.7 130.6 103.1 121.6 120.7 131.5 111.7 130.0 102.5 121.4 120.6 131.4 111.7 129.5 102.0 121.2 119.6 130.0 110.3 126.2 104.6 117.9 10k.9 104.8 106.6 98.3 121.9 91.1 104.6 106.5 98.3 121.3 91.0 104.1 106.0 97.9 120.4 90.7 103.2 105.6 97.4 116.7 90.4 96.5 98.1 93.3 102.1 88.4 52.5 126.7 170.8 116.8 126.9 170.5 117.0 126.8 170.3 117.0 127.3 164.6 118.2 109.9 117.9 106.6 (5/)70.2 81.3 65.5 131.4 119.2 107.7 121.2 130.9 118.9 107.5 120.9 130.7 118.5 107.3 120.8 127.0 113.5 106.6 119.3 105.4 99.2 102.5 103.7 January 1956 59.6 63.0 70.6 from: June 1950 Tear 1939 12.7 93.1 1.0 - 1.6 - 2.2 .4 - 9.3 1.4 2.5 - 1.1 8.5 6.8 21.1 -12.5 15.8 12.0 17.6 131.4 127.8 117.5 123.1 114.7 147.9 128.7 -—. 0 .1 0 .5 .6 .2 .1 .2 0 .8 1.1 .3 .9 1.2 1.3 3.5 - 1.4 3.1 15.1 21.1 8.8 21.4 5.9 22.1 58.6 52.0 6.5 131.6 93.1 77.8 — . .2 .1 0 .5 .1 .7 .6 .4 1.2 .4 1.6 .9 .9 4.5 .8 8.6 8.7 5.4 19.4 3.1 99.6 .5 3.8 - 1.2 15.3 44.9 9.6 80.5 110.1 78.3 3.5 5.0 1.0 1.2 24.7 20.2 5.1 16.9 100.0 - .2 .2 .2 .4 .3 .2 .2 - - .1 .3 .2 .5 .6 .4 .3 l/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately, 2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately. Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services'1 (such as legal services, banking fees, burial services, etc.). 4/ Hot available. 57 Corrected. 72.6 .2 .2 .4 - .5 - .4 2.0 - 1.9 - — (V) (*/) (V) (V) .2 .2 .1 - .9 - .4 1.3 Solid fuels and fuel oil — March 1955 76.1 86.6 104.9 56.4 53.4 68.4 0.3 Other foods at home — Reading and recreation Other goods and services March 1956 108.7 102.7 107.6 97.4 99.6 0.1 Food 1/ Food at home Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish Private Pre-World War II 114.6 0.1 -- -- Pre-Korea 114.6 All items Apparel Tear 1939 114.7 February 1956 — Last year June 1950 109.0 107.3 124.4 92.8 106.9 1U.8 110.7 Percent change to Housing 2/ Rent — — — March 1955 - (£/) U/) (V) 81.0 71.0 71.7 k TABIE $t Consumer Price Index — All items indexes for selected dates U.S. city average and 20 large cities [19^7-^9.100) March 1956 United States city average — - — — February 1956 [1935-39-100] March 1955 June 1950 Tear 1939 March 1956 y 114.7 114.6 114.3 101.8 59.* 191.8 117.7 116.9 116.1 112.2 115.8 118.3 116.4 115.8 112.1 114.7 117.0 116.3 115.1 112.4 115.8 102.8 102.8 101.3 100.9 101.6 58.6 59.0 60.* 60.1 59.2 200.4 197.3 194.0 i85.7 192.7 March 1955 June 1950 Cities priced monthly! Detroit March 1956 Cities priced in March, June, September, December 7j Atlanta Baltimore Cincinnati St. Louis San Francisco December 1955 116.8 115.2 1U.3 115.7 116.8 . 117.1 115.8 114.2 116.1 115.9 February 1956 Cities priced in February, May, August, November 7j Cleveland Houston Seattle Washington, D. C. November 1955 115.7 116.6 111.1 116.2 113.4 — January 1956 Cities priced in January, April, July, October g/ 114.6 115.5 116.1 113.6 116.3 Kansas City — Minneapolis Pittsburgh Portland, Oregon 1/ These are the same indexes shown in column 115.3 114.9 113.4 115.6 115.6 Tear 1939 March 1956 58.3 57.9 58.4 59.3 58.6 198.1 198.0 192.5 193.1 199.6 < 2/)l0l .3 101.6 101.2 101.1 100.9 February 1955 May 1950 February 1956 Tear 1939 116.2 116.7 110.9 117.4 113.7 114.9 115.7 111.7 116.3 113.2 100.4 103.5 100.2 102.0 101.6 59.2 59.5 58.5 59.2 60.4 October 1955 January 1955 April 1950 Tear 1939 114.5 116.2 116.4 113.8 116.2 113.0 115.3 116.5 113.8 114.6 101.2 101.4 ( U ) 102.1 99.9 101.5 197.2 197.4 184.6 198.6 186.2 January 1956 61.0 61.7 60.7 58.1 58.3 184.5 186.0 192.3 193.1 201.4 converted to a base of 1935-39:100. 2/ Foods, fuels, rents, and a fev other items priced monthly; other commodities and services priced quarterly. 3/ May 1950; formerly priced February, May, August, November. ¥/ June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December. TABI£ 3: Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from February 1956 to March 1956 U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly All items and commodity groups City United States city average Chicago Detroit Heir Tork Philadelphia — - All items Food 0.1 0.2 .5 .4 .3 .1 1.0 - .5 .5 .1 .2 .7 Housing Apparel 0 0.2 - 1.1 .1 .2 .2 1.6 - .6 .3 .3 .1 .4 Transportation Medical care Personal care Reading and recreation Other goods & services - 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 - .2 3.6 0 0 1.0 .1 0 .2 - .2 1.6 0 .3 .8 - .4 1.3 0 .1 0 .1 .2 - .4 .1 .6 .2 .5 TABLE k: Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups March 1956 indexes and percent changes, December 1955 to March 1^56 U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in March 1956 U.S. City Average Atlanta Group I CincinLos nati Detroit Angeles Baltimore Chicago New York Philadelphia St. Louis San Francisee Indexes (19^7-^9-100) All items — Food — Food at home Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry, and fish — Dairy products Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home Housing Rent — Gas and electricity — - — Solid fuels and fuel oil Housefurnishlngs — — Household operation Apparel — — — - — — — Men's and boys' - — - — — Women's and girls' Footwear — — Other apparel — — — — — — — — — Public Medical care - — — — Personal care — — — — — Reading and recreation — - — Other goods and services — — — — — 114.7 116.3 115.2 117.7 114.3 116.9 116.1 112.2 115.8 115.7 116.8 109.0 107.3 124.4 92.8 106.9 114.8 110.7 107.9 105.6 118.9 94.3 109.0 114.7 102.8 110.2 107.4 121.3 93.7 108.9 112.7 110.7 106.3 104.1 119.0 86.2 107.6 110.3 117.1 109.6 108.0 124.2 93.1 110.9 110.9 116.1 111.0 109.1 119.2 91.2 104.7 127.6 112.3 111.5 108.2 123.5 93.3 102.9 118.6 109.9 108.8 106.9 129.1 95.6 134.3 109.5 111.3 111.1 109.2 123.9 95.3 109.7 118.7 110.1 110.7 108.2 119.4 91.3 100.2 122.5 120.5 112.1 110.7 130.6 100.0 105.7 121.5 108.3 120.7 131.6 111.7 130.6 103.1 121.6 126.2 135.0 119.4 123.3 107.6 131.7 116.4 126.8 99.9 130.3 97.5 115.2 129.7 153.9 113.3 134.9 101.9 126.7 120.1 122.3 126.5 116.9 115.9 120.1 — 119.3 — — — 113.3 135.0 97.4 129.4 114.3 123.3 107.1 115.2 116.2 101.8 133.1 108.3 118.4 103.3 143.5 102.2 125.6 136.3 101.9 124.3 110.3 135.3 102.7 120.8 104.3 110.9 104.S 106.6 98.3 121.9 91.1 110.7 111.5 105.0 108.5 112.3 100.3 124.6 95.1 105.3 104.6 100.0 129.2 88.6 102.3 109.5 91.3 105.0 108.5 97.0 128.7 91.5 103.7 102.6 99.5 121.1 94.9 117.9 87.3 125.4 33.3 103.7 106.5 96.3 120.3 93.9 104.1 103.9 100.1 117.2 92.0 104.0 105.8 96.4 123.0 95.6 105.3 106.0 100.4 123.2 89.1 126.7 170.8 116.3 124.5 153.6 118.7 136.3 185.8 118.3 130.6 165.3 115.5 121.1 162.3 111.1 124.2 142.7 120.4 125.4 150.3 121.2 131.0 136.7 111.1 136.0 186.0 115.3 132.2 182.6 114.3 139.3 178.5 125.9 131.4 119.2 107.7 121.2 128.8 124.7 110.0 125.8 136.5 116.4 117.1 123.5 135.4 122.5 115.3 117.5 137.2 118.1 100.7 118.4 142.4 127.6 109.2 124.1 126.4 119.6 95.8 |116.1 126.6 111.2 104.3 121.1 137.5 127.2 114.9 125.5 140.4 118.7 91.6 121.9 128.2 ! 116.4 I 107.6 117.5 — k I Percent change from 0 All items Food — - — — — — Food at home — — — — — Cereals and bakery products — Meats, poultry, and fish Dairy products — — — — — Fruits and vegetables Other foods at home - 0.5 - .6 .4 - 1.9 - .7 3.7 - 2.6 lousing - — — — — — — — Gas and electricity Solid fuels and fuel oil — - — — Housefurnishlngs Household operation — — — — — Men's and boys' — — — — — — Women's and girls' Footwear Transportation Public Medical care — — — — — — — Personal care — — — — — — — — Reading and recreation • Other goods and services - 0.3 - 0.5 - 0.7 - - - 1.2 - 1.4 - .4 - 2.9 .5 - .5 - 2.2 .4 .8 2.2 - 2.6 .5 3.7 - 3.8 .2 .4 0 - 2.1 0 4.4 - 2.2 - .7 (l/).4 - .2 0 - .6 .1 .1 .5 - .8 1.8 0 .5 .2 .5 .9 .2 1.3 1.2 1.3 2.0 .7 - .1 0 o 1.1 10.1 .G .2 .6 .2 .6 0 2.6 .6 .2 .5 1.8 .9 1.1 .8 .5 0.1 - - 1.1 - 2.2 (1/) .1 ;i/)i.4 0 3.0 1.9 2.4 - .7 - 3.1 1.8 .4 .1 .4 .2 2.0 - .3 .7 - _— 0.2 - 0.2 0.2 0.9 - 0.3 0.8 .4 .7 .3 - 2.6 .5 .7 .4 - 2.3 .1 0 .4 - 1.8 - .5 .2 .6 .8 .5 .3 .3 .1 .1 - 2.4 2.6 - 1.7 2.6 - 2.4 7.7 - 2.9 8.7 - 2.7 3.0 - 1.1 - .4 - .5 - .2 - 1.2 .4 2.9 - 3.3 .3 1.7 _ - 2.0 1.7 0 4.9 2.8 1.1 0 1.2 - .3 .2 _ - .3 .2 - - - - .2 - .7 0 .6 .3 0 2.0 .3 1.1 - 1.5 - .2 .5 .4 .8 .4 .3 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.3 .8 .5 1.9 - 1.4 2.3 .3 .6 .2 - .2 3.6 .1 .5 0 . ni - 1.1 0 — t1 ^ - - - 1.1 .5 .6 0 i i to March 1956 .7 .6 .5 - 1.1 - i 1/ Change from September 1955 to March 1956. December 1955 .1 1.1 1.9 1.8 .8 0 — 1I n .u 3.7 .7 .6 .1 0 - — .7 0 »Gp 1.0 1.3 - .4 - .1 .4 4.7 - 1.4 1.1 - .6 .5 - 1.9 1.3 - .3 1.2 4.5 .1 i .1 0 .3 .1 - 1.5 .7 - 4.5 3.7 - .2 _ 0 .6 .4 .3 .3 .3 1.4 .2 .9 .9 .8 1.4 .5 1.3 6.5 o - .3 - 1.0 0 - 1.3 - 1.0 0 - 1.1 1.0 2.3 2.3 .2 .2 .1 .2 4.0 2.0 5.1 2.3 - • ! TABLE 5*. Consumer Price Index — Food and Its subgroups March 1956 indexes and percent changes, February 1956 to March 1956 U.S. city average and 20 large cities Total City Atlanta Baltimore Boston — Chicago — Cincinnati — — — — — — — — — — — Detroit Houston Kansas City Los Angeles — — — Minneapolis New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh Portland, Oreg. St. Louis San Francisco — — — Scranton Seattle — — — Washington, D.C. food at Percent change Index U.S. city average Total food Index 109.0 0.2 107.3 107.9 110.2 107.6 106.3 109.6 106.6 111.0 106.1 104.9 111.5 0 .3 0 .5 0 .5 .6 .2 .1 105.6 107.4 104.9 104.1 108.0 104.5 109.1 104.5 102.9 108.2 0 .2 .7 .5 .5 .9 .4 .7 .6 .1 110.4 106.9 109.2 108.8 109.6 108.2 110.7 105.3 109.8 107.9 - - 111.2 108.8 111.1 109.8 110.8 110.7 112.1 106.1 110.9 110.0 .1 TABLE 6: Frankfurters — — — — — ib. oz. lb. ib. oz. oz. ib. ib. oz. ib. ib. — — — Oranges,, size 200 — Lemons — — — — — — — — Percent charge Index Percent change poultry, and f i s h Index Percent change Dairy Fruits products and vegetables Index Percent change Index Percent change 124.4 0.1 92.8 - 0.9 106.9 - 0.4 114.8 1.3 110.7 1.0 .1 0 .2 .1 .3 .3 .3 .2 0 .2 94.3 93.7 91.1 86.2 93.1 89.7 91.2 89.2 87.2 93.8 - 2.0 1.4 1.5 1.6 .9 1.5 .8 .4 1.7 1.0 109.0 108.9 107.6 107.6 110.9 101.7 104.7 104.3 107.3 102.9 .3 0 1.2 0 .2 .5 .1 4.9 .2 .1 114.7 112.7 108.9 110.3 110.9 109.3 127.6 113.9 108.6 118.6 .7 1.2 .6 - 2.0 .6 1.4 2.2 .4 1.2 2.4 102.8 110.7 105.5 117.1 116.1 114.0 112.8 109.3 104.8 109.9 .4 1.2 2.2 .9 1.2 .9 1.1 .4 1.9 - .7 0 .3 .5 .7 .7 .8 .4 .8 .7 .1 125.8 129.1 123.9 125.5 125-0 119.4 130.6 119.1 131.5 121.6 .1 .1 .3 .2 .1 .2 .1 .3 0 .2 91.1 95.6 9ii.3 91.2 92.8 91.8 100.0 91.1 93.1 90.6 - 1.2 - .7 - .7 - .2 - .9 .4 - .7 - .1 - .4 - 2.6 110.7 104.3 109.7 109.9 108.9 100.2 105.7 107.6 111.1 113.3 .4 .2 .4 .1 0 .2 0 .1 0 .2 123.8 109.5 118.7 114.1 119.1 122.5 121.5 111.1 122.3 114.5 .8 1.0 2.3 3.6 1.8 1.6 1.2 3.0 2.1 .8 119.5 111.3 110.1 119.6 114.1 120.5 108.3 108.1 108.7 111.8 - - - - March 1956 February 1956 Cents Cents 53.0 26.9 12.5 17.2 19.2 12.5 17.2 19.2 21.8 17.7 27.6 23.8 81.3 44.2 ib. 37.5 ib. 110.1 ib. 67.3 ib. ib. ib. ib. ib. ib. 52.8 21.8 17.6 27.5 23.8 83.0 45.0 65.9 37.8 112.4 69.2 59.0 34.2 53.9 55.9 64.4 51.3 40.7 50.3 41.8 46.3 58.9 34.0 22.1 22.2 57.1 63.8 51.4 40.7 50.0 41.8 46.0 23.5 28.7 70.8 57.1 13.8 home Percent change 118.9 121.3 122.1 119.0 124.2 119.7 119.2 117.6 120.5 128.5 - 26.8 Index .3 .2 .1 .6 .3 .1 .5 .8 .2 0 - 53.1 Other f o o d s ia t 0.2 - 64.6 do*. * Priced only in season. — Meats, products ib. Luncheon neat, canned — 12 oz. Frying chickens, ready-to*cook — ib. Ocean perch, fillet, frozen — ib. Haddock, fillet, frozen — — — lb. Salmon, pink, canned — — — — — ie o z . Tuna fish, canned — — 6 to Qh oz. Dairy products: Milk, fresh, (grocery) — qt. Milk, fresh, (delivered) — qt. Ice cream — — — — — — — pt. Butter — — — — — — — — — — ib. Cheese, American process — — — ib. Milk, evaporated — — — — — i 4 i - o z . c a n Fruits and vegetables: Frozen: Strawberries — — — — — 10 oz. Orange juice concentrate — 6 oz. Peas, green — — — — — 10 oz. Beans, green — — — 10 oz. Fresh: Apples — — — — — — — — ib. Bananas — and bakery - - - Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods U.S. city average Food and unit Cereals and bakery products; Flour., wheat 5 Biscuit mix — — 20 Corn meal — — — R i c e — — — — — — — — — Rolled oats — — — — — — — 20 Corn flakes — — — — 12 Bread, white — — — — — — — Soda crackers — — — — — — Vanilla cookies — — — — — 7 Meats, poultry, and fish: Round steak — — — — — — — - — Chuck roast — — — — - — — Rib roast — — — — — — Hamburger — — — — — — — — Veal cutlets — — — — — Pork chops, center cut — — — — — Bacon, sliced — — — — — — Baa, whole — — — — — — Lamb, leg — — — — — Cereals home 23.6 28.8 70.8 57.0 13.8 30.2 30.2 19.8 19.4 21.1 21.0 23.4 23.4 16.6 13.9 13.7 17.2 49.8 17.8 18.4 50.1 March 1956 Food and unit Fresh Continued Grapefruit * each Peaches * — — — — — ib. Strawberries * — — — — — - pt,. Grapes, seedless * — — — it>. Watermelons * ib. Potatoes — — — — — — 10 ib. Sv^e+poV< toes — — — ]b. 0n'*~r>6 —-— — lb. Carrots — — : — — - — . . ib. Lettuce -—-heart Celery — — ib. Cabbage — — — — — ib. Tomatoes — — lb. Beans, green — — — — ib. Canned: Orange juice — — — — — 4 6 - o z . c a n Peaches — #2* can Pineapple — — — — — — — #2 can Fruit cocktail — — — — — # 3 0 3 c a n Corn, cream style — — #303 c a n Peas, green — — — — — #303 can Tomatoes — — — — — — #303 can Baby foods — — — — — 4e to 5 oz. Dried; Prunes • • — — — — — — — ib. Beans — — — — — — — lb, Other foods at home: Vegetable soup — — — — — n - 0 z . can Beans with pork 16-oz. can Pickles, sweet — — — — 7* oz. Catsup, tomato — — — — — — 14 oz. Coffee — — — — — — lb. can Tea bags — — — — — — of i d Pkg. Cola drink, carton — — — 36 oz. Shortening, hydrogenated — — 3 ib. Margarine, colored — — ib. Lard — — — — — — — ib. 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. Cents 57.3 11.9 7.8 13.0 14.7 13.2 7.9 42.2 26.4 36.0 34.8 33.5 26.2 17.9 21.6 15.3 9.7 35.6 16.3 14.0 14.6 26.9 22.9 99.4 23.2 32.3 90.6 28.2 18.7 34.7 53.6 52.4 23.5 26.2 4.5 59.3 8.4 1.1 1.5 1.5 .8 2.4 1.7 1.2 1.7 2.0 2.5 BRIEF EXPIANATION OF TBE 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 19Vf~*f-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 vill be representative of the price changes on all items. Prices are collected in W> cities vhlch are representative of all cities in the United States. Foods, fuels, rents, and a fev 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 vage 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, V. Virginia Evansvllle, Indiana Garrett, Indiana Glendale, Arizona Grand Forks, N. Dakota Grand Island, Nebraska Huntington, W. Virginia Laconla, New Hampshire Lodi, California Iynchburg, Virginia Madlll, Oklahoma Madison, Wisconsin Middlesboro, Kentucky Middletown, Connecticut Newark, Ohio Pulaski, Virginia Ravenna, Ohio Rawlins, Wyoming San Jose, California Sandpolnt, 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 Bhows 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 index 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.