Full text of CPI Detailed Report : May 1954

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Issued June 22, 195kU.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - MAY 195^
Consumer prices in U.S. cities advanced 0.3 percent between April and May,
according to the U.S. Department of Laborfs Bureau of Labor Statistics. The increase,
vhich halted the downward movement of the last three months, mainly resulted from
advances of 0.8 percent in food prices and 0.3 percent for housing. Other groups of
goods and services were substantially unchanged during the month.
The all items index for May was 115.0 percent of the 19^7-^9 average, 0.9
percent higher than a year ago, and 13#0 percent above the June 1950 level. On a
1935-39 base, the May index was 192.3*
FOOD

The rise of 0.8 percent in food prices, the largest monthly increase since
June 1953, brought the food index for toy to 113#3 (19^7-^9 z 100). ffcis
was 1.1 percent higher than a year ago and 12.7 percent above the level of June 1950.
Food prices averaged higher in
of the k6 cities surveyed.
Fresh vegetable prices rose sharply during the month. Supplies of torn
vegetables were curtailed by cold weather. Prices of tomatoes and lettuce were up
almost 20 percent; onions, 18 percent; and potatoes, 11 percent. Prices of green beans
were nearly 6 percent lower than a month ago. Oranges and apples rose about 5 percent
between April and May, and strawberry prices dropped 20 percent. Prices of frozen
orange juice concentrate advanced 11 percent, and canned orange juice rose slightly,
bringing to an end the downward movement in prices which began last fall as a result of
the large Florida orange crop.
Coffee prices continued upward during May, to reach an average of $1.18 a
pound.
Prices of most meats advanced during the month, reflecting recent increases
at wholesale. Round steak and pork chops were up almost 2 percent; ham,
percent;
and bacon, 1 percent. Poultry prices declined about 3\ percent between April and May,
as young chickens continued in abundant supply.
Egg prices, reflecting heavy production, dropped for the seventh consecutive
month, from an average of 79*5 cents a dozen last October to 53*8 cents a dozen in May.
A reduction in the size of chocolate candy bars resulted in a price increase of 2 percent.
Prices of all dairy products except ice cream showed further declines, reflecting seasonal decreases and continued effects of the reduction in support prices on
April 1.




2

HOUSING

Average increases of 0.1 percent were reported for residential rent
and gas and electricity "between April and May. Prices of laundry
soap and detergents continued to rise* Anthracite prices dropped 5*2 percent, while
bituminous coal and fuel oil were down about 2 percent. Substantial reductions in prices
of sheets and some other household goods were reported in May sales. The rise in the
housing index between April and May, however, was due mainly to the introduction at this
time of changes which occurred during the past year in rates for mortgage interest, real
estate taxes, and fire insurance on homes.
OTHER COMMODITIES
_ AM) SERVICES

Price changes in other groups during May were relatively small. A
few stores reported small Increases for men's business shirts and
undershirts, while some shoe stores marked down children's shoes
for special sales. Some physicians and dentists raised their fees, and hospital services
advanced slightly. Persona.1 care services were up, as were toilet soap and cleansing
tissues• Prices of television sets decreased as new models came on the market at lower
prices.




LS54-3896

TABLE 1.

GROUP

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — U.S. CITY AVERAGE ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Dates
INDEXES (1947-49 = 100)
May
195*1
This Month

April
1954
Last Month

March
1954
2 Months Ago

May
m
Last Year

June
1950
Pre-Korea

Year
1939
PreWorld War II

ALL ITEMS

115.0

114.6

114.8

114.0

101.8

59.4

FOOD 1/

113.3

112.4

112.1

112.1

100.5

47.1

112.8
121.3
111.0
103-5
114.6
114.5

111.8
121.1
110.5
104.6
110.0
113.6

111.4
121.2
109.5
108.0
107.8
112.3

111.7
118.4
109.2
107.8
115.2
110.3

100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
94.1

47.1
57.2
41.6
49.8
46.3
48.4

118.9

118.5

119.0

117.1

104.9

76.1

128.3
107.7
120.9
105.9
117.2

128.2
107.6
123.9
106.1
116.9

128.0
107.6
125.8
107.2
117.5

123.0

121.8
107.6
114.7

108.7
102.7
107.6
97.4
99.6

104.9
56.4
53-4
68.4

104.2

104.1

104.3

104.7

96.5

52.5

107.3
98.5
115.9
90.9

107.1
98.4

107.2

116.1

99.0
116.1

90.4

90.0

107.4
99.4
115.1
92.5

98.1
93-3
102.1
88.4

129.1
125.1
113.0
106.4
120.1

129.1
124.9
112.9
106.5
120.2

129.0
124.4
114.1
108.2
120.1

129.4
120.7
112.8
108.0
118.0

Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
HOUSING 2/
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation
APPAREL
Men's and boys' —
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel
TRANSPORTATION MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

106.6

86.6

y

v
v
y

109.9
105.4
99.2
102.5
103.7

68.9
72.6
59.6
63.0
70.6

PERCENT CHANGE TO MAY 1954 FROM:
April
1954

March
1954

May
1953

June
1950

Year
1939

ALL ITEMS

0.3

0.2

0.9

13.0

93-6

FOOD 1/

0.8

1.1

1.1

12.7

140.6

0.9
0.2
0.5
- 1.1
4.2
0.8

1.3
0.1
1.4
- 4.2
6.3
2.0

1.0
2.4
1.6
- 4.0
- 0.5
3.8

12.2
18.1
4.6
12.1
11.8
21.7

139.5
112.1
166.8
107.8
147.5
136.6

0.3

- 0.1

1.5

13.3

56.2

0.1
0.1
- 2.4
- 0.2
0.3

0.2
0.1
- 3.9
- 1.2
- 0.3

4.3
1.0
- 0.7
- 1.6
2.2

18.0
4.9
12.4
8.7
17.7

48.2
2.7
114.4
98.3
71-3

0.1

- 0.1

- 0.5

8.0

98.5

0.2
0.1
- 0.2
0.6

0.1
- 0.5
- 0.2
1.0

- 0.1
- 0.9
0.7
- 1.7

9.4
5.6
13.5
2.8

I'
V
I!

0
0.2
0.1
- 0.1
- 0.1

0.1
0.6
- 1.0
- 1.7
0

- 0.2
3-6
0.2
- 1.5
1.8

17.5
18.7
13.9
3.8
15.8

87.4
72.3
89.6
68.9
70.1

Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
HOUSING 2/
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation
APPAREL
Men's and boys' —
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel
TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE —
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES ^J

V

1/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately.
2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately.
3/ Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services" (such as legal services, banking fees, burial
services, etc.).
4/ Not available.




TABLE 2.

COWSWER PRICE INDEX — ALL IT0IS INDEXES FOR SELECTED DATES
U.S. CITY AVERAGE AMD 20 LARGE CITIES

(

City

1 9 4 7 - 4 9 = 1 0 0 )

(1935-39 - 100)

May
195*

May
1953

June
1950

Year
1939

115.0

114.0

101.8

59.4

!
S
\

192.3

117.3
116.9
115.9
112.9
115.3

1 1 4.6
115.8
115.3
111.4
113.8

102.8
102.8
IOI.3.
100.9
101.6

56 6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

!
1
!

199.8
197.3
IO?. 7
186.8
191.9

May
195*

May
1953

May
1950

Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D. C.

115.3
116.7
112.3
116.3
113.7

113.7
116.8
112.0
116.2
113.5

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

CITIES PRICED IN JANUARY, APRIL,
JULY, OCTOBER 2/

April
195*

April
1953

April
1950

112.9
115.5
116.3
114.5
114.8

111.7
11^.3
115.1
112.8
115.4

101.2
101.4
102.1 2 /
99.9
101.5

March
1954

March
1953

June
1950

117.0
Ilk .8
Ilk. 2
116.9
116.5

116.7
Ilk. 2
112.6
114.7
115.5

101.3 4 !
101.6 ~
101.2
101.1
100.9

U.S. CITY AVERAGE

May
1954

I'

CITIES PRICED MONTHLY:
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York Philadelphia
CITIES PRICED IK FEBRUARY, MAY,
AUGUST, NOVEMBER 2/

Boston —
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Ore.
CITIES PRICED IN MARCH, JUNE,
SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER 2/
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

May
1954
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

196.5
1Q7.6
186.6
i9p.e
186.7
April
1954

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

181.8
186.0
192.6
194.6
198.8
March
1954
198.4
197-3
192.3
195.1
199.1

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

2/ Foods, fuels, rents, and a fev other items priced monthly; other commodities and services priced quarterly.
3/ June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
\J May 1950J formerly priced February, May, August, November.

TABLE 3-

City

All
Items

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — PERCENT CHANGES FROM APRIL 19 5 4 TO MAY 1954
U.S. City Average and Five Cities Priced Monthly
All Items and Commodity Groups

Food

Housing

Appa-rei

Transportation

Medical
Care

Personal
Care

Reading

&
Recreation

U.S. CITY AVERAGE —
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles —
New York
Philadelphia -




0.3

0.8

0.3

0.1

0.7
0.2
0.2
0.4
0.2

1.2
0.1
0.3
0.7
1.1

1.0
0
0.5
0.2
- 0.1

0
0
- 0.1
- 0.1
- 0.6

0

0.2

1.0
0.1
0.1
0.3
0.1

1.3
0.1
0
0

C

'

Other
Goods &
Services

0.1

- 0.1

- 0.1

0
0.2
0.6
- 0.1
0.1

0
0
- 1.3
0.7
- 0.1

0.2
0
0
0.2
0

5

TABLE 4. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — ALL ITEMS AID COMMODITY GROUPS
May 1954 Indexes and Percent Changes, February 1954 to May 1954
U.S. City Average and 10 Cities Priced in May 1954
I U.S.
1 CITT
IAVERAGE

GROUP

1
Los
jCleveChicago 1 land Detroit Houston Angeles

New
York

Philadelphia

Scranton
Seattle

Washing
ton,
D. C.

Hay 1954 Indexes (19^7-^9 « 100)
All. I 1 M 8
FOOD
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry and fish
Dairy products
—
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at hone

115.0

117.3

115.3

116.9

116.7

115.9

112.9

115.3

112.3

116.3

113.7

113.3

111.7

113. k

116.2

112.2

113.4

111.8

115.6

112.8

113.1

112.9

112.8
121.3
111.0
103.5
ilk.6
114.5

111.0
1x6.8
106. 4
102.1
112.7
121.4

110.8
136.3
108.6
97.4
110.3
118.8

115.4
117.8
109.8
KA.l
125.0
117.2

111.4
118.4
107.9
106.7
111.0
113.8

112.3
122.5
110.7
103.2
115.4
111.0

111.4
U3.2
110.5
100.6
108.8
115.9

114.8
120.8
113.4
105.3
116.6
115.9

112.8
119.5
111.2
105.6
112.7
113.8

113.1
121.9
110.6
103.5
120.6
111.3

112.1
120.7
107.2
110.8
110.1
113.3

118.9

126.1

119.4

123.9

11% *

713.4

114.7

119.4

116.8

102.3
112.4
107.9
113.7

123.0
112.2
88.5
125.7 127.3
100.7 106.2
109.6 112.3

123.0
118.1
125.5
107.2
114.8

122.1

123.8

128.3
107.7
120.9
105.9
117.2

•

„

_

„

106.3
122.9
107.3
120.6

106.8
120.5
102.8
110.6

110.3

106.5

138.5
109.5

118.8

-

-

109.5
110.0

101.2
128.5

107.6
106.8

108.7
122.1
106.1
118.9

104.2

108.1

104.6

102.6

106.7

103.7

103.9

105.1

106.1

106.1

102.5

IO9.2
97.1
116.8
93.4

109.3
94.3
112.6
87.4

106.8
100.7
127.2
89.2

109.4
97.0
114.0
82.5

106.7
98.2
115.4
94.1

104.9
103.3
110.8
92.6

108.0
100.8

—

107.3
98.5
115.9
90.9

114.1
101.1
117.5
94.1

109.2
101.2
117.3
86.7

105.5
97.0
115.2
90.8

TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE
READING AND RECREATION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

129.1
125.1
113.0
106.4
120.1

122.7
129.5
114.6
114.0
119.9

120.8
124.1
119.3

125.2
119.6
119.3

127.4
122.6
117-3
99.2
115.2

124.0 129.8
119.7 131.0
112.5 110.4
115.4 107.7
116.1 127.1

127.1
117.2
111.4
105.3
127.0

HOUSING - — —
Heat
Oas sad electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil •eueeftmlshlngs —
leasehold operation

—-

APPAREL
Men's and boys'
WOMB'S and girls' -

Footwear
Other apparel

133.7
122.8
113*2
107.5
119.0

Percent Change —

111.0

111.0

125.0

119.5

13*. 5
123.9
107.4
104.8
121.5

137.3
123.7
117.1
110.0
123.4

120.3

92.3

February 1954 to May 1954

ALL ITEMS

0

0.5

0.1

0.4

- 0.2

- 0.6

0.1

0.1

- 0.8

0.1

- 0.4

FOOD

0.6

0.4

0.3

1.3

- 0.6

- 0.8

1.1

1.0

0.3

0.9

1.8

0.9
- 0.4
1.4
- 5.6
6>
i.a

3.0
- 1.8
1.9
- 7.2

1.6
0.2
l.i
4.1
9.4
1.4

-

1.0

0.3

Food at home — — —
— — - —
Cereals and bakery products Meats, poultry and fish — —
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
HOUSING

— —

-

—

0
0.3
0.2
4.2
1.2
0.1

Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings — —
Household operation

0.5

APPAREL
Men'8 and boys' — — — —
Women's and girls'
Footwear
—
Other apparel — - — — — —
TRANSPORTATION — —
KEDICAL CARE
PERSONAL CARE
READING AND RECREACTION
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES

0.7
0 "
1.2
5.0
6.1
0.4

——

-

0.1
1.0
0.2
0.6

0.8
0.8
- 1.5
j- 0 . 1
I
1/ Change from November 1953 to May 1954.




!
1s
j
s
\!
!!
I
f

1.5

0.1

j

|

_

»

0
- i.3
3.1
1.2
- 1.8
- 0.3 - 0 . 7
-

° iI- 0.1
i

0.7
0
- 0.9
- 0.5
0.1

•

8.1

tI
- ii
r
* 1

0.5
- 0.4
0
0.5

-

-

0.3
0.8
0.1
1.1

V. J
0.2
0.3
- 2.8
0.1

0.5
0.1
0.1
3.6
0.1
0.3

-

0.7
0.2
0.3
2.1
2.3
- 3.1

0.9
- 0.4
1.6
- 6.7
7.5
2.2

1.0
- 0.6
1.2
- 5.2
6.1
2.6

1.1
0.5
0.3 - 0.1
1.6
0.5
- 6.3 - 2.3
6.7
5.9
1.1
0.9

1.6
2.2
1.9
- 2.9
5.5
1.5

0.2

- 0.3

- 0.1

- 0.2

- 1.5

0.9

- 0.8

0

1/ 0.9
0

_

„
0
- 9.4
- 1.6
0.1

1/ 0 . 9
~
0
-10.2k
- 1.6
1.9

0
0
0.1
0.7

1 / 0.2
0
- 5.9
- 0.9
0.1

o.s
- 0.5
0.1

- 1.0
- 0.4

- 0.9
- 1.5

0
- 8.5
- 0.9
- c.3

- o.s

0.2

- 0.5

- 1.0

- 0.9

- 0.3

0.1

- 0.9

0.1
- 0.2
- 0.9 - 2.0
- 0.4
0
- 0.1
0.3

- 0.4
- 1.6
0
0.2

0.6 - 1.1
- 0.2 1.7

0.4
0.3
0.2
1.2

- 0.1
- 2.1
0.5
0.6

- 0.8 - 0.4
0.6
1.2
j1-0.5 - 1 . 1
| - 2.4 - 2.6
0.2
- 0.2

0.1
- 0.1
- 0.1
- 0.5
0.5

- ^ 4
0.1
- 0.4
- 2.0
- 0.2

- 2 ^
1.2
- 0.8
- 3.0
- 0.1

- 0.8
c!i
- 0.9
- 4.7
- 0.2

-

•

„ 0.4

-

-

0.8
0.7
1.3

0.8
0
- 0.2
0.6

-

0.7
1.5
0.5
o.s
0. i

- 0.2
0.3
- 0.8
- 0.9
-0.1

-

.

City

TABIE 5. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX — FOOD AND ITS SUBGROUPS
May 195* Indexes and Percent Changes, April 195* to May 195*
U. S. City Average and 20 Large Citiee
(l9*7-*9 = 100)
Meats , Poultry
Dairy
Total
Cereals &
Products
Food at Home
Baker y Products
& JFish
Total Food
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Index Change
Index Change
Index Change
Index Change Index Change
0.8

112.8

0.9

Atlanta — —
— •11*.1
Baltimore — —
11*. 9
Boston — — — — — — 110.1
111.7
11*. 8
Cincinnati —
Cleveland
— 111.*
Detroit —
—
— 116.2
112.2
Houston
Kansas City — — — 108.6 Los Angeles
113.*

1.2
0.9
0.7
1.2
1.0
1.1
0.1
0.1
0.*
0.3

113.5
11*.2
109.2
111.0
11*.*
110.8
115.*
111.*
107.9
112.3

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

0.5
0.7
1.1
1.3

112.7
111.*
11*. 8
11*. 3
112.9
11*.*
11*. 1
112.8
113.1
112.1

U.S. CITY AVERAGE

113.3

112.7
111.8
115.6
11*. 8
112.9
115.8
11*. 7
112.8
113.1
112.9

0.6
0.8
0.7
0.9
0.*
1.7

Fruits &
Vegetables
Percent
Index Change

Other
Foods at Home
Percent
Index Change

103.5 - 1.1

11*. 6 *.2

11*. 5

0.8

112.9
112.6
107.8
112.7
111.7
110.3
125.0
111.0
105.1
115.*

6.7
2.2
*.5
6.7
5.5
*.9
1.0
0
0.1
1.6

108.*
11*. 8
108.7
121.*
120.*
118.8
117.2
113.8
109.7
111.0

1.0
2.3
1.1
1.1
0.8
1.0
1.0

123.1

2.*
5.2

119.5
1.3
115.9
0.3
0.1
115.9
12*. 1
0.6
112.6
0.5
123.0
0.6
111.2
1.7
113.8 - 0.3
111.3 - 0.5
1.6
11?.?

0.2

111.0

0.5

1.*
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.1
1.3
0.2
0.*
-0.5
0.*

116.0 - 0.1
121.7 - 0.2
0.1
U9.3
116.8 - 0.3
118.6
0.2
116.3 - 0.3
0
117.8
118.* - 0.1
120.3
0
0
122.5

118.*
113.7
106.7
106.*
115.7
108.6
109.8
107.8
107.2
110.7

0.*
0.6
0.7
0.6
0.2
0.9
0
0.7
-0.5
1.0

108.1 107.2 102.9 102.1 103.5 97.* 10*. 1 106.7 96.6 103.2

0.2
0.6
1.3
2.2
0.1
0.3
1.7
2.3
3.1
0

0.7
0.7
1.2
1.5
0.8
1.0
0.9
1.3
0.5

12*.6 - 0.1
0
125.2
0
120.8
1.2
122.5
115.* - 0.2
0
116.5
0
127.5
0.1
119.5
121.9 - 0.1
1.8
120.7

10* .2 0.*
110.5 0.1
113.* 0.9
108.1 1.0
11*. 8 0.7
112.1 1.5
110.7 0.3
111.2 1.1
110.6 -0.1
107.2 1.5

100.6 105.3 107.2
106.9 96.8
105.7
105.6 103.5 110.8 -

0.6
1.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.2
1.3

121.3

101.8

0.*

1.0

108.8
116.6
11*. 3
11*. 1
122.1
121.1
112.7
120.6
110.1

6.0
6.1
2.8
2.1
1.9
8.1
*.3
3.8

1.8

0.5

- 0.6

TAB IE 6. RETAIL FOOD PRICES FOR MAT AND APRIL 195*
U.S. City Average

Food and Unit

May
195*

April
195*

CEREALS AND BAKERY PRODUCTS!
(Cents) (Cents) Fresh (continued)
Flour, wheat
53.8
Oranges, size 200
5 lb.
53.7
20 oz.,
Biscuit mix
Lemons
27.5
27.5
lb.,
Corn meal
Strawberries
12.5
12.5
lb.
Rice
Potatoes
19.7
19.7
20 oz.
Rolled oats
Sweetpotatoes
18.5
18.5
C o m flakes
21.8
12 oz.
Onions
21.9
Bread, white
lb.
17.0
17.0
Carrots
Soda crackers
lb.
Lettuce
27.1
27.1
23.6
23.6
Vanilla cookies
OS.
Celery
7
MEATS, POULTRY AND FISH:
Cabbage
Round steak
lb.
Tomatoes
88.3
89.9
Chuck roast
lb.
51.2
Beans, green
51.7
Rib roast
lb*
70.0.
69a Canned
Hamburger
lb.
Orange juice
*0.9
*0«7
Veil cutlets
lb»
Peaches
110,9
110.9
IV
Pork ckoppj center cut
Pineapple
88.5
90.3
88.*
Bacon, sliced
lb.
Fruit cocktail
89.5
72.8
lb.
Ham, whole
Corn, cream style
73.9
lb.
Lsmb, leg
Peas, green
7*.*
7*.l
56.0
lb.
Frankfurters
Tomatoes
55.9
52.2
12 oz.
Luncheon meat, canned
Baby foods
51.7
lb.
Frying chickens, dressed
Dried
*5.*
*3.5
lb.
5*.6
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook
Prune8
53.1
**.o
lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
Navy beans
**.3
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
*9.6
*9.8 3THER FOODS AT HOME:
16 oz.
Salmon, pink, canned
51.2
Vegetable soup
52.3
Tuna fish, canned
39.6
Beans with pork
7 oz.
39.3
DAIRY PRODUCTS:
Gherkins, sweet
21.2
qt.
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
Catsup, tomato
21.5
qt.
22.2
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
22.5
Coffee
29.6
pt.
29.6
Ice cream
Tea
70.0
69.6
lb.
Butter
Cola drink
carton
lb.
Cheese, American process
Shortening, hydrogenated
57.7
57.3
l*.o
Milk, evaporated
1* l/a oz. can
13.9
Margarine, colored
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES:
Lard
Frozen
Salad dressing
Strawberries
12 oz.
36.8
Peanut butter
36.7
6 oz.
Orange juice concentrate
18.5
16.7 Sugar
10 oz.
19.2 Corn syrup
Peas, green
19.*
10 oz.
Beans, green
2*. 5
2*. 5 Grape Jelly
Fresh
Chocolate bar
16.8
lb.
Apples
15.9
Eggs, Grade A, large
Bananas
16.0
lb.
16.3 Gelatin, flavored




May
' 195*

Food and Unit

doz.
lb.
pt.
15 lb.
lb.
lb.
lb.
head
lb.
lb.
lb.
lb.

(Cents)
52.6
18.*
31.0
7*.3
1*.6
7.8
13.*
18.1

April
195*
(Cents)
50.1
18.0
38.7

66.9

23.8

13.*
6.6
12.*
15.1
12.6
7.*
28.6
25.2

*6 oz. can
#2 1/2 can
#2 1/2 can
#2 1/2 can
#303 can
#303 can
#2 can
* 1/2-5 oz.

33.0
32.8
38.7
*l.l
18.2
21.3
17.3
9.8

32.8
32.9
38.6
*1.1
18.*
21.3
17.2
9.8

lb.
lb.

30.3
17.*

11 oz. can
16 oz. can
7 1/2 oz.
1* oz.
lb.
1/* lb.
of 6, 6 oz.
lb.
lb.
lb.
pt.
lb.
5 lb.
2* oz.
12 oz.
1 oz.
doz.
3-* oz.

1*.3
1*.5

12.7

7.6
3*.l

30.0
17.3

28.0
35.8
*9.0
52.7

1*.3
1*.*
30.1
22.2
113.6
33.*
31.1
3*. 5
29.5
26.7
35.8
*9.1
52.5

25.3
*.6
53.8
8.5

25.1
*.5
55.5
8.5

29.8
22.3
118.0
33.9
31.9
3*.7

29.8

23.6

23.6

BRIEF EXPLANATION 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 every month in each
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
months in l6 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
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill, 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. ll*J-0 - "The Consumer
Price Index - A Laymanfs 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 20 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.