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.
@FedFRASER