Full text of CPI Detailed Report : March 1961

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Released April 26, 1961
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE

INDEX FOR MARCH

1961

The Consumer Price Index remained unchanged in March at 127.5 (194749=100), as lower average prices for commodities offset higher service rates, the
United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
The index
continued to reflect the over-all stability which has characterized consumer prices since
last October.
Most changes where they did occur between February and March were relatively
small.
The more important declines were for food and transportation, especially used cars.
Advances were recorded for housing and reading and recreation, primarily higher movie
admissions.
Compared with a year earlier, average retail prices have advanced 1.4 percent
and remained at the record highs of February 1961 and December 1960.
FOOD

Lower prices for eggs, fresh vegetables, and dairy products combined
with a contraseasonal decline in prices of meats, were largely
responsible for the 0.2 percent decrease in the total food index.
However, the index for
all foods, at 121.2, was 3.0 percent higher than a year earlier.
Further seasonal
increases In egg production were reflected in a decline of nearly 5 percent in average
Egg prices, however, were
egg prices, with decreases reported In nearly all cities.
approximately 17 percent above year ago levels, reflecting the results of substantial
reductions in laying flocks during 1960.
Meat prices declined an average of 0.4 percent as prices of practically all cuts of beef and pork decreased moderately.
The drop in prices was attributed
in part to more plentiful supplies, particularly of pork products.
Meat prices were still
about 5 percent above comparable levels of a year ago, largely due to substantial increases
in prices of pork products.
Nearly all dairy products, led by American processed cheese,
over the period, primarily in response to seasonal influences.

declined

The index of prices for fruits and vegetables rose by 0.5 percent
over the period, with small but widespread advances for most items except fresh vegetables.
Frozen fruits and vegetables, with an increase of 1.2 percent, registered the greatest
gain, principally because of a significant increase in prices of frozen orange concentrate,
reportedly due to light production.
Fresh fruit prices advanced, mainly reflecting higher
prices for apples.
Fresh vegetable prices declined on the average, led by a 10 percent
decrease in prices of lettuce.
Retail prices of fats and oils rose by 1.9 percent, as all items
within this group showed increases, continuing the advance begun in October 1960.
Strong
export demand and increased government purchases have been important factors contributing
to higher prices for edible fats and oils.
HOUSING

The small advance of 0.1 percent in the housing index was due largely
to increases in home purchase costs, housefurnishings, and household
operation.
Nearly all of the remaining elements of housing were unchanged over the period,
including residential rents, gas and electricity, and solid and petroleum fuels.
The
increase in retail prices of housefurnishings was due to higher prices of household textiles and other nondurable housefurnishings.
Average prices of household durable goods
were unchanged.
In the household operation index, higher water rates more than offset a
decline for soaps and detergents.
TRANSPORTATION

A decline of 0.3 percent in transportation prices resulted primarily
from lower prices for used cars and gasoline.
The decline in
dealers' selling prices of used cars followed a sharp advance in February.
Gasoline prices




2
showed mixed movements throughout the country, with the net effect being a decrease of
0.5 percent.
Prices in Midwest cities, particularly Kansas City, Houston, and St. Louis,
returned to regular price levels with the termination of price wars.
On the West Coast,
however, price wars in such cities as Portland, Seattle, and Los Angeles resulted in
sharp reductions in gasoline prices.
The weakness in West Coast prices was ascribed to
seasonally higher inventories, storage limitations and intensified competition.
READING AND
RECREATION;
APPAREL AND
OTHER GROUPS

A 0.6 percent rise in the reading and recreation index stemmed almost
entirely from higher charges for movie admissions in several cities
as other components within this group registered only minor changes.

Seasonal influences, including the early Easter this year, were
primary factors in a rise in apparel prices over the period.
Price advances for women's
and girls' apparel accounted for much of the overall increase as average prices for shoes
and "other" apparel declined.
Scattered increases in fees for professional services and hospital
room rates accounted for nearly all of the 0.1 percent increase in medical care costs.
Over the year, the medical care index has advanced by 3.0 percent, with increased fees
for professional services and higher hospitalization insurance rates leading the rise.
COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENT

Earnings of about 150,000 workers, including employees of some major
aircraft and missile companies, are subject to review on the basis
of the March Consumer Price Index. However, none of these workers
will receive an adjustment in earnings, either on a monthly or quarterly basis, since the
March Consumer Price Index at 127.5 remained unchanged from February 1961 and December
1960 levels.




3
TABLE 1: Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major*group, subgroup, and special group indexes, March 1961
and percent changes from selected dates
(1947-49=100 unless otherwise specified)

Percent change to March 1961 froin

Indexes

Group

All items
Food
*
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and f i s h —
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
• -•
Other foods at home
Food away from home (Jan. 1953=100)

March
1961

February
1961

127.5

127.5

121.2
118.3
139.6
111.4
118.5
127.8
107.6
120.6

121.4
118.6
139.4
111.8
119.0
127.2
108.5
120.3

February
1961

December
1960

March
1960

Year
1939

0

1.4

114.6

- 0.2
- .3
.4
.8
- .7
1.2
- 3.6
.6

3.0
3.1
3.0
3.9
1.8
2.2
4.1
2.2

157.3
151.2
144.1
167.8
138.0
176.0
122.3

0.9
1.3
1.5
3.0
- .8
1.2

74.1
65.2
20.0
150.5
94.6
102.5

0
- 0.2
- .3
.1
- .4
- .4
.5
- .8
.2

d/)

132.5
143.1
125.9
141.3
103.9
138.5

132.4
143.1
125.9
141.3
103.7
138.3

. 1
0
0
0
.2
.1

109.8
111.4
99.9
140.9
92.6

109.6
111.3
99.5
140.9
92.9

.2
.1
.4
0
.3

- .7
- .5
- 1.2
.1
- 1.5

.9
2.3
.3
.9
- .4

109.1
119.3
83.3
180.1
128.1

Transportation
Private
Public—

145.7
133.4
205.7

146.2
133.9
205.7

.3
.4
0

-

.5
.8
1.4

- .5
- 1.1
3.9

107.5
103.7
153.0

Medical care

159.6

159.4

1.0

3.0

119.8

Personal care

133.6

133.8

.7

124.2

Reading and recreation

123.4

122.7

.6

.9

2.1

95.9

Other goods and services

132.6

132.6

0

.1

•7

87.8

All items less food

130.9

130.8

.1

. 1

All items less s h e l t e r —

125.0

125.0

0

0

Gommoditie s
Nondurable a
Food
Nondurables less food
Appare1
Apparel less footwear
Nondurables lees food and apparel
Durable s
New care
Used cars (Jan. 1953=100)
IXirables less c a r s — — —

118.0
120.7
121.2
120.7
109.6
104.2
130.0
109.9
138.1
82.1
102.0

118.1
120.8
121.4
120.6
109.4
104.0
130.1
110.3
137.9
84.1
102.1

-

. 1
.1
.2
.1
.2
.2
.1
.4
.1
2.4
.1

—

115.4

115.5

-

.1

•—

152.2
143.1
154.6

151.9
143.1
154.2

.2
0
.3

140.4
188.2
167.3
137.6

140.2
187.7
167.1
137.1

$0,784

$0,784

Housing 2J
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels 4/
House furnishings
—
Household operation
Appare 1
Man's and boys 1
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel

—

>
— —
•

-

.2
.2
.2
3.1
0
.1

.1
-

.1

-

-

.1

Special groupsJ

Commodities less food
Services
Rent
Services less rent- • • • •
—••
Household operation services, gas,
and electricity
Transportation s e r v i c e s —
Medical care services
Other services 2 /
••
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=*!. 00)

-

89.4
125.6
128. 7
134.8
157. 3
105.6
110.4
(1/)
97.3
91.8
142.3
(1/)
78.0

- .3
- .2
- .2
- .2
- .8
- 1.0
0
- .8
- .6
- 1.1
- .8

-

1.1
2.0
3.0
.9
.9
1.0
.9
2.3
.1
9.6
1.5

-

-

.3

94.3

.5
.2
.7

2.0
1.3
2.2

89.3
65.2
110.3

.1
.3
.1
.4

.3
.7
1.2
.6

1.5
2.3
3.7
2.0

61.4
135.0
137.3
136.0

0

0

- 1.5

-53.4

.4

Not available.
Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately.
Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
and beauty shop services, and movies.
4/
Change i n d e s i g n a t i o n o n l y ; o t h e r w i s e t h i s s e r i e s i d e n t i c a l with CPI subgroup p r e v i o u s l y d e s i g n a t e d as " S o l i d f u e l s
and f u e l o i l . "




1/

-

.9
1.5

T A B U 21

C o n m « » r Price Index—All items Indexes and percent ehangea, selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

Peroent change to
current month fron

Indexes (1947-49=100)

City

March
1961

December
1960

March
1960

United States city average

127.5

127.5

125.7

59.4

130.2
125.8
130.9
126.1
127.7

130.6
125.8
131.0
126.3
128.0

129.2
123.9
129.3
124.5
126.0

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

March
1961

December
1960

March
1960

127.7
129.5
124.8
128.9
133.8

127.7
129.3
125.0
127.9
133.9

126.7
127.7
123.6
126.3
131.6

February
1961

Noyember
1960

128.3
125. 1
123.5
130.8
124.5

127.9
126.4
123.9
130.5
123.8

126. 1
125.6
121.4
129.0
121.9

January
1961

October
1960

January
1960

129.3
127.6
127.8
129. 2
128.8

129.1
128.2
128.5
129.0
127.2

126.4
127.0
126. 2
126.6
127.2

December
1960

Tear
1939

March
1960

—
Year
1939

0

1.4

114.6

- 0.3
0
.1
.2
.2

0.8
1.5
1.2
1.3
1.3

122.2
113. 2
116.7
109.8
115.7

Cities prloed monthly l /
Chicago
Detroit
Los A n g e l e s — —
Hew Tork
Philadelphia
Cities prloed in March, June,
September, December
2/
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

-

cities prloed in February, May,
August, November
2/

Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D. C.

-

Cities prloed in January, April,
July, October
2/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon

-

February
1960

-

December
1960

Year
1939
58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

0
.2
.2
.8
. 1

-

59.2
59.5
58.5
59 . 2
60.4

.3 '
- 1.0
- .3
.2
.6

Year
1939
61.0
61.7
60. 7
58.1
58.3

119.0
123.7
113.7
117.4
128. 3
Year
1939

February
1960

-

1.7
.4
1.7
1.4
2.1

October
1960

January
1960

.2
.5
.5
.2
1.3

2.3
.5
1.3
2.1
1.3

-

Year
1939

.8
1.4
1.0
2.1
1.7

November
1960

Tear
1939

March
1960

116. 7
110.3
111 . 1
120.9
106.1
Year
1939
112.0
106.8
110.5
122.4
120.9

J / Rents priced bimonthly.
2 / foods, fuels, an) a few other lteas priced Monthly; rents and other covnodltles and services priced quarterly.

TAB It 3*

All
items

City

Obi ted States city a v e r a g e —
Chicago
—
Detroit
Los Angeles
lev Y o r k —
Philadelphia




Consumer Price Index—Percent change® from February 1961 to March 1961
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and coaaodity groups

—
—

—
~

0
- 0.2
.5
- .4
- .1
- .2

rood

Housing
0. 1

- 0.2
-

.5
.2
. 1
.2
.4

Apparel

-

. 1
. 3
0
0
.2

0.2

-

.2
.5
0
. 2
.6

Transportation
r 0.3
- 1.0
- 2.0
- 2.7
.3
. 1

Medical
care
0.1
0
.1
. 0
.1
.2

Personal
care

- 0.1
-

.4
. 1
.4
.4
. 1

Reading
and
recreation

Other
goods 4
servioes
0

0.6
. 1
- 1,1
0
.1
- .2

0.2
.2
.4
0
.1

-

TABUS 4t

Consumer Prioe I n d e x — A H ltmma

and ocaeaodity groupe
5

March 196?, indexes and percent changes, December 1960 to March 1961
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in
U.S.
City
Average

Group

Atlanta Baltimore

Chicago Cincinnati
Indexea

All ite*a
Food
Cereala and bakery product®
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy producta — —
Fruita and vegetables
— —
Other foods at bona —

—

—

Rent
Gaa and alectricity — — —
Solid and petroleum fuels i f —
Household operation

Men's and boye'
Vaaen'a and girla 1

—

—

Other apparel — — — — —
Transportation
Private
Public—

—
—

Medical care

—

Beading and recreation
Other gooda and aerricea

Detroit

Los
Angeles

New
York

Philadelphia

St
Louis

San
Francisc<

133.8

(19VM9-100)

127.5

127.7

129 .5

130 .2

124 .8

125 .8

130 .9

126 .1

127.7

128 .9

121.2
118.3
139.6
111.4
118.5
127.8
107.6

117.4
115.6
126.6
115.5
117.1
124.4
102.6

121 .0
116 .5
135 .3
112 .1
117 .5
119 .8
107,.5

118 .7
116 .1
132 .5
106 .2
121 .3
124 .6
112 .9

121 .5
118 .6
139 .2
113 .5
117 .8
127 .1
109 .0

121.1
118 .2
130 .4
106 .8
119 .7
135,.4
108 .0

128 .1
122 .3
153 .3
110 .4
116 .6
143 .9
107 .6

122 .5
118 .6
149 .1
112 .4
120 .0
122 .7
105 .7

123.3
119.5
138.9
112.7
121.8
128.4
106.6

121 .4
126.6
123.6
116 .0
126 .0
152.7
107 .8
115.5
110.8 , 123.5
141.6
132 . 1
105.6
113 .8

132.5
143.1
125.9
141,3
103.9
138.5

136.1
141.5
135.8
139.8
107.8
148.8

129,.7
140,.1
110,.2
140,.7
100,.1
136,.6

141 .0
168 .3
129 .7
145 .5
101 .9
138 .2

126 .1
144 .5
136 .7
152 .6
94 .9
143,.1

126 .9

131 .8

122 .4
128 .5
109,.1
123.9

140 .3
151 .0
148 .0

121 .8
149 .6
107 .4
138 .8

129 .4
150 .8
114.7
162 .5
103 .9
141 .9

137.5
158.1
152.3

101 .8
128,.9

126.9
131.4
106.7
138.3
109.8
148.0

109.8
111.4
99.9
140.9
92.6

115.6
120.8
104.5
148.2
90.4

114,.3
109..0
109..3
146..5
100.,1

112 .7
116,.6
99 .5
146,.3
97,.4

107,.6
110,.2
96,.2
145,,6
89,.1

108,.5
111,.5
97,.5
137.,7
87.,5

112,.2
115,.3
103,.0
141,.6
84,.6

108 .6
112 .5
95 .8
144,.3
96,. 1

110.1
112.0
100.3
139.6
96.0

111 .0
111 .9
102 .9
138 .0
96,.3

111.6
110.8
102.7
148.3
91.7

145.7
133.4
205.7

144.1
134.3
202.1

160.,3
136.,5
231.,5

152,.5
132,.7
205,.0

142,.8
131,.0
191,.2

135.,5
127.,5
179.,1

142,, 5
132,.5
214,.1

146,.8
128,.2
191,.0

156.6
133.3
211.6

163 .4
138 .0
252,.5

164.9
152.1
184.8

159.6
133.6
123.4
132.6

145.6
139.8
127.8
133.6

175.,8
132.,8
132. 6
140. 0

170,.3
137,.8
126.,4
122.,7

2/161.0
129,,7
111.,1
131.,3

163.,7
142.,0
119. 1
141. 6

153.,0
135.,4
103.,2
133.,4

148,.5
122,.9
127.. 1
132.,4

162.7
144.5
121.0
132.7

172,,5
139,.2
106.1
132.4

161.2
132.3
120.4
135.0

0.,8

- 0.1

.5
.7
.2
1.5
- 2.6
1.3
- 4.0

,3
- 1.,1
0
.7
1
- 1. 9
- 4. 0

.3
.2
0
.4
.2
4.2
- 3.3

0
5. 5
1. 0
4

.2
.2
0
10.4
- 1.2
.8

.1
.7
0

-

,2
0
0
1
0
•4

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

- 1.6
.8
- 2.2
- 1.1
- 1.2

5
5

-

1. 0
0
•8

-

6
7
0

.3
.4
2.2

7
4 ^1
6. 7

3
6
0
8

.2
.6
.9
.1

--

- -

- -

- -

105.3
130.2

Percent change froai December 1960 to March 1961

0

0

- 0.2
- .3
.4
.8
- .7
1.2
- 3.6

- 0.7
- .8
.2
1.4
- .8
- .7
- 3.9

.2
.2
.2
3.1
0
.1

0
.4
.1
0
.3
.3

All items
Food
Food at koeie
Cereals and bakery producta
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy producta
— — — —
Fruits and regetablea
Other foods at b o M
lousing
—
—
—
—
—
Rent
Oaa and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
Iousefurnlshlngs
Iouaehold operation

—

—
—
—

—

V
—

—
—

—

—

—

—

1.0
.1
.9
- .1

.1
.1
.7
.1

.7

—

—

—

1
V - •2
- .2
1. 3
2
- 1.0

2.1
2.5
0

Public
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goeds aad aerricea

-

l3
.,4
3
,7 .
- 1.4
2.,0
- 3.4

1.4

- 1.2
.1
- 1.5

—

-

-

-

0

- 0,,2

-

-

_ 2. 1
_ 2. 8
0

-

—
—
—

—

-

2
.6

- 1.2
- 1. 3
- 2.3
6
•8

—

—

_
-

- 0.,3

- .6
o
- .6
- .1
- 3.3

—

Women's and girls'
— — — —
Footwear
— — — — — — —
Otker apjarel
— — — — —

Apparel

-

0. 2

-

9
.1
9
0

0. 8
-

- 0., 1

- 0.,2

- 0.2

0
.,1
4
7
2
1.5
- 3.0

,2
,5
3
1.4
- 2. 3
1.4
- 4.0

-

6

4

-

-

-

-

1/

'1
1

-

.8
8

-

1/

--

-

-

1
o
5
1
- 1.6

-

_

-

-

0

- 3.9
14. 8

4
2
.7
2

5
1. 1
- .3
1. 1

1
3
- 1.0
3

.

-

i, 3

0

_

-

.

-

-

7
.3
4. 3
0

- 1.2
.2
.2
.1
0
.1
.8
.8
9

<

0
.4
0
- 1.1
- .1

V Change from January 1961 to March 1961.
2/ Revised indexes: Dec. 1960 - 160.3; 1960 annual average * 156.4.
3/ Change in designation only; otherwise this series identical with CPI subgroup previously designated as "Solid fuels
and fuel oil."




6
TABLE 5 :
Consumer P r i c e I n d e x — Food and i t s s u b g r o u p s
March 1961 i n d e x e s and p e r c e n t c h a n g e s , F e b r u a r y 1961 t o March
U . S . c i t y a v e r a g e and 20 l a r g e c i t i e s
(1947-49-100)
Total
food at heme

Total food
City
Percent
change

Cereals and
bakery products

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

U.S. city average

121.2

0.2

118.3

-

0.3

139.6

0.1

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

117.4
121.0
120.3
118.7
121.5
115.9
121.1
116.0
115.5
128.1

.4

115.6
116.5
116.5
116.1
118.6
112.6
118.2
112.6
112.5
122.3

-

.4

.2

-

.9
.6
.7
1.1
.2
.5
1.5
.3

126.6
135.3
136.0
132.5
139.2
131.9
130.4
128.9
135.7
153.3

115.5
118.6
119.5

-

.3
.3

.1

-

.6

120.8

-

.7
.3
.3

134.9
149.1
138.9
139.7
141.6

--

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

--

119.0
122.5
123.3
122.6
122.7
121.4
126.6
117.7
124.7
121.3

.1
.6

.5
.5
.9

.2
.3
1.4

.1
.2

.2
.4
.5

.6

.1

.1
0
0
.2

118.9
116.0
123.6
116.3
122.0
118.3

0
-

-

-

.2
.1

.1
.2

126.0
152.7
136.5
150.4
139.4

Consumer Price

Food and unit
Cereals and bakery
Flour, wheat
Biscuit mix
Macaroni
Corn meal
Rolled oats
Corn flakes
Rice, short grain
Rice, long grain
Bread, white
Soda crackers
Sandwich cookies
Meats, poultry, and

products:
5 ib.
20 ax.
15 C Z m
,
13 ez.
12 «x.
lb.
lb.
v.-.
ib.
lb.

ib.

Sirloin steak
lb.
Chuck roast
lb.
Rib roast
lb.
Hamburger
lb.
Veal cut lets
lb „
Pork chops, center cut
la.
Pork roast
lb.
Bacon, sliced
lb.
Ham, whole
lb.
Lamb, leg
lo.
Frankfurters
lo.
Luncheon meat, canned
12 cz.
Frying chickens, r e a d y - t o - c o o k - lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
lb.
Salmon, pink, canned
16 cz.
T u n a fish, canned
6 t»
oz.
Dairy products:
qt.
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
q t.
Ice cream
\ gal.
Butter
lb.
Cheese, American process
£
Milk, evaporated
14^-»z. eta
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries
10 ,1.
Orange Juice concentrate
6 «t,
Lemonade concentrate
6 • ».
Peas, green
10 • z.
beans, green
9 ez.
Potatoes, french fried
9 #1.
Fresh:
Apples
It.
Bananas
lb.
Oranges, size 200
d#z.
Lemon 8
lb.
*

Priced only in season.




March

February

Cents

x m
Cents

56.3
27.1
23.2
13.2
22.4
26.1
18.5
20.6
20.9
29.1
51.7

56.1
27.0
23.3
13.1
22.3
26.0
18.5

105. 7

106.2

108.0

62.8
70.5
62.7
72.3
63.2
50.3
42.5
47.0
55.6
72.8
32.2

109.1
62.7
82.7
52.6
145.1
87.7
63.3
70.8
62.8
71.8
63.3
50.4
42.4
47.2
56.1
72.0
32.3

24.7
26.2
86.4
76.3
36.4
15.9

24.8
26.2
87.0
76.6
37.1
15.8

27.1
25.8
13.5
21.1
23.2
19.6

27.1
25.2
13.3

16.6
74.9

15.7
15.8
73.5

20.9

21.2

62.3
82.2
52.3
144.2

86.8

16.0

.1
.3
.5
.5

.2
.4
.4

.1
.1

.1

.1
0

.1

1.3

.1
.2

Dairy
proAicts

Fruits and
vegetables

Index

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

Index

111.,4

- 0.4

118. 5

- 0.,4

127. 8

115.,5
112.,1
111.,0
106..2
113..5
105.,9
106.,8
104.,1
104.,9
110,,4

-

.4
.5
.8
1.1
.7
.7
.5
.7
.4
1.2

117. 1
117. 5
112. 9
121.,3
117.,8
107.,2
119.,7
115.,4
116.,5
116.,6

.2
.4
.8
.4
1.3
.1
0
.5
.1
.5

110.,2
120.>9
121.,8
120,.9
125..1
110..8
123,.5
114,.1
125..0
122,.6

105..0
112,.4
112..7
112,.9
110,.5
107,.8
115,.5
111,.2
113,.9
110,.4

-

_

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

.5
.1
2..3
.9
1,.1
2,.5
.4
1,.1
8,.9
.3

124. 4
119. 8
127. 6
124.,6
127.,1
120.,4
135.,4
123.,3
119.,0
143.,9

.4
.7
.5
.1
.2
0
.3
.1
.4
.1

131.,7
122..7
128.,4
123.,4
125.,0
132,,1
141..6
124,.3
136,.6
120,.8

Index - Average retail prices of selected
U.S. city average

20.6
20.9
29.1
51.6

fish:

Round steak

.3
.4

Keats, poultry,
and fish

1961

21.0
23.1
19.7

Other
foods at hose

Percent
change
0. 5

_

7
,2
,,9
,7
.2
- 1.,0
,3
,3
.8
1..9

- ,

_

.5
1..5
.7
- 2,.0
1,.5
- 1,.0
2,.2
1,.6
.8
1,.3

Percent
change
107.6

102.6

.5

107.5
104.1
112.9
109.0
108.4
108.0
104.4
101.0
107.6

1.2

112.0
105.7
106.6
118.6
108.4
113.8
105.6
104.7
104.7

.3
1.9
1.4
.7
.9

.5

.1

1.3
.9
.1
.4
.9

1.6

.1

1.0

1.1
.5
2.3

110.0

foods

Food and unit

Fresh--Continued
Grapefruit *
eaoh
Peaches *
lb.
Strawberries *
p t.
Grapes, seedless *
lb.
Watermelons *
lb.
Potatoes
10 lb.
Sweet potatoes
lb.
Onions
lb.
Carrots
lb.
Lettuce
h«ad
Celery
it.
Cabbage
lb.
Tomatoes
lb.
Beans, green
lb.
Canned:
Orange juice
46-e*. oam
Pineapple juice
46 •*. o a a
Peaches
oam
Pineapple -eaa
Fruit cocktail
*303 eaa
Corn, cream style
j*303 oaa
Peas, green
*303 eta
Tomatoes
*303 eaa
Tomato juice
46 ez. eaa
Baby foods
^ ta 5 ez.
Dried:
Prunes
lb.
Beans
!•>.
Other foods at home:
Tomato soup
lo£ t» 11-ez. eaa
Beans,with pork
1V-«I. eaa
Pickles, sliced
15 »z.
Catsup, tomato
14 ax.
Potato chips
4 #z.
Coffee
- lb. o.n
Coffee
ib. bag
Tea bags
-- p k?. af 16
Cola drink, carton
36 ez.
Shortening, hydrogenated — 3 ib.
Margarine, colored
lb.
Lard
lb.
Salad dressing
pi.
Peanut butter
lb.
Sugar
5 1*.
Corn syrup
24 ex.
Grape jelly
12 .z.
Chocolate bar
1
Eggs, Grade A, large
daz.
Gelatin, flavored
3 te 4 ax.

March
1961

February
1961

12.2

12.6

65.0
15.9
9.7
15.5
14.6
12.8
9.1
30.5
27.3

65.5
15.2
9.8

49.1
32.8
33.6
38.5

47.4
32.7
33.6
38.5

26.8

16.0
16.3
13.5
9.4
29.9

28.5

26.8

20.5

20.3

33.1

16.3
32.8
10.7

21.8
16.2
10.6

21.8

41.3
16.9

41.2

12.5
14.9
26.5

12.5
14.9
26.5

22.8

22.8

27.4
74.4
58.8
24.4
30.4

27.4
74.6
59.3
24.5
30.6
85.2
27.4
20.3
36.0
55.7
59.4
26.9
29.0
4.5

86.8
27.9
21.3
36.5
55.8
59.4
26.9
29.1
4.5
57.8
9.4

16.8

60.6
9.4

LABOR -

D.

C.

7

Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
service^ usually bought by city families of wage earners and clerical workers. It is
based on prices of about 300 Items which were selected so that their price changes would
represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by wage and clerical
families; they include all of the important items in family spending. Prices for these
items are obtained in k6 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places in the
United States; they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals, filling
stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner and
clerical-worker families patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
k-6 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Mall questionnaires are used
to obtain local transit fares, public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and
certain other items which change in price infrequently. Prices of most other goods and
services are obtained by personal visits of the Bureaufs trained representatives.
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending. City
data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 19^7-^9 * 100.
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from the
20 large cities for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small cities:
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W. Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N. Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

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

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpo int, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, Ohio

Comparisons of city indexes show only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another. The city indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price
levels or in living costs between cities.
A description of the index and historical tables of index numbers for the
United States city average and for 20 large cities are available on request to the
Bureau'of Labor Statistics in Washington or any of its regional offices (addresses below).
Hie historical tables include index numbers for All Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent for
periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of goods and services from 1935 to date.
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
1371 Peachtree
Street, N. E.
Zone 9




New York
3^1 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10

LABOR - D. C.