Full text of CPI Detailed Report : May 1956

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Issued June 26, 1956
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MAI 1956
Consumer priees in United States cities rose 0.4 percent between
April and May 1956, according to the U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics. An advance of 1.3 percent in food prices was primarily responsible for the
increase. Prices of all other groups of goods and services either advanced or remained
at their April levels. The Consumer Price Index for May was 115.4- (1947-49 = 100), 1.1
percent higher than in May 1955, and equivalent to the previous high set in October 1953.
FOOD

Food prices shoved their sharpest rise for any month since June 1953,
bringing the food index to 111.0 (1947-49 = 100). The food index
was, however, still 0.1 percent below the level of May 1955, and 4*8 percent lower than
the peak of August 1952.
Prices of food purchased in stores rose 1.5 percent, primarily
because of higher prices for fresh fruits and vegetables, although prices of all major
classes of foods rose. Prices of restaurant meals rose 0.2 percent over the month.
Most fresh fruits and vegetables were higher than in April. The
more than usual seasonal advances in fresh fruit and vegetable prices reflected adverse
weather conditions and heavy export demand for potatoes. Over the month prices of
potatoes were up 19*2 percent, onions 14*4 percent, and green beans 9*0 percent. However,
prices of tomatoes fell 16.0 percent, and celery and cabbage were slightly lower. Apple
prices advanced seasonally, 9*8 percent; oranges, 8.7 percent; and bananas, 9*4 percent;
but prices of fresh strawberries were down 30.3 percent.
Prices of meats
of pork chops rose 5.9 percent, but
increased 9»1 percent. Round steak
were reported for all other cuts of

and poultry were higher than a month earlier; prices
advances for ham and bacon were smaller; lamb
prices were 1.9 percent higher and smaller increases
beef and veal and for poultry.

Prices of dairy products rose 1.0 percent, contrary to the usual
seasonal decrease. Fresh milk prices increased 1.4 percent as higher prices were allowed
under Federal marketing agreements. Butter prices increased 1.5 percent reflecting
higher support prices.
The rise of 0.2 percent in prices of cereals and bakery products
was due mainly to higher prices for flour and soda crackers*
In the "other foods at home" category, higher prices for hydrogenated
shortening, lard, margarine, and coffee offset a reduction of 1.5 percent in egg prices.
HOUSING

Residential rents advanced 0.4 percent, with average increases
reported in 22 of the 36 cities surveyed. The household operation
group index increased 0.2 percent, primarily because of higher water rates in some
cities. Prices of anthracite and bituminous coal declined seasonally. Housefurnishings
prices were slightly lower, on the average, 'as May white sale prices and further reductions for appliances were partially offset by advances in prices of dinnervare, ranges,
and some furniture items.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

A substantial increase in prices of used cars and the nationwide
increase in railroad fares, effective May 1 were the important
factors in the transportation group index advance of 0.4 percent.
New car prices declined 0.4 percent. Sale prices on tires were reported in many cities.




2
The medical care index rose 0*2 percent; the personal care and
"other goods and services19 groups were up 0.1 percent; while apparel and reading and
recreation remained at their April levels.
TABLE C: Consumer Price Index — U.S. and 20 cities, housing and housing subgroups
1955 Annual averages
(1947-49 = 100)

City

:
s
: Total :
J housing
Rent

i Gas and s Solid
: House- :
: electri- :fuels and : furnish- :Household
city
fuel oil
ines
toceration

U.S. city average-

120.0

130.3

110.7

125.2

104.1

119.1

Atlanta————
Baltimore————
Boston————-—
Chicago
Cincinnati

125.1
116.6
120.9
129.9
118.0

133.5
125.9
124.3
150.7
132.2

118.0
99.9
111.0
109.8
119.1

118.4
124.6
126.1
128.1
128.5

107.5
98.2
105.3
106.3
98.8

130.1
112.2
117.6
122.7
124.6

Cleveland
Detroit
Houston —
Kansas C i t y — — —
Los A n g e l e s — — —

122.3
122.3
123.1
121.5
125.7

144.2
141.1
138.1
138.3
139.5

108.9
110.5
106.8
120.9
115.3

123.8
119.7

101.8
107.3
100.6
102.5
105.3

113.5
112.5
127.3
124.6
119.3

Minneapolis—
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon—

122.1
115.7
114.3
116.4
119.0

141.6
118.0
116.5
124.5
130.4

119.1
109.0
102.2
122.2
107.8

117.5
127.4
121.0
117.2
130.6

101.2
104.3
103.2
104.9

120.1
119.3
114.8
119.7
112.6

St. Louis
San Francisco
Scranton
Seattle———
Washington, D.C.—

120.4
116.5
115.4
121.3
116.6

136.5
132.3
123.9
137.4
123.5

103.8
135.0
118.7
88.7
121.3

138.2

102.1
104.0
99.6
103.9
103.2

121.3
109.9
109.8
114.6
120.1

—

114.2
—

—

128.9
130.0
132.9

105.6

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.




TABI25 It

Consumer Price Index — United States city average, all items and conaodity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
May
1956

April
1956

March
1956

May
1955

June
1950

Tear
1939

This
month

Last
month

2 months
*go

Last
year

Are-Korea

Pre-World
War II

115,4

114.9

114.7

114.2

101.8

59.*

111.0
109*5
124.7
95.5
107.5
121.5
110.9

109.6
107.9
124.5
94.0
106.4
116.7
110.8

109.0
107.3
124.4
92.8
106.9
114.8
110.7

111.1
110.0
123.8
102.1
104.0
120.2
108.4

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
98.3
102.5
9*.l

*7.1
*7.1
57.2
*1.6
*9.8

lousing Z/
—
—
—
—
—
—
Rent
— — — — — — — —
Oas and electricity — — — — Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefuraishings
Household operation

120.9
132.2
111.8
127.9
102.6
122.4

120.8
131.7
111.8
129.7
102.7
122.1

120.7
131.6
111.7
130.6
103.1
121.6

119.4
130.3
110.9
122.5
103.7
119.0

10fc. 9
108.7
ioe.7

Apparel
Man's and boys'
—
—
Women*s and girls'
— — —
Footwear
— — — - — —
Other apparel
—
—
—

104.8
107.0
97.9
122.8
91.1

104.8
106.5
98.1
123.0
91.1

104.8
106.6
98.3
121.9
91.1

103.3
105.7
97.3
117.4
90.3

Oroup

All items —

—

Food 1/
Food at home — — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Keats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables
—

—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—

107.6
97.*
99.6
96.5
96.1
93.3

102.1

*8.*
76.1
86.6
10*.9
56.*
53.*
68.*
52.5

(*/)

<*/>

88. V

<5/>

—
—
—
— — — —

—
—

.
—

126.9
172.5
116.9

126.4
170.8
116.5

126.7
170.8
116.8

125.5
164.9
116.2

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

Medical e w e
Personal care
— — — —
Reading and recreation
—
Other goods and services 3/

—
—

—
—
—

131.9
119.6
108.2
121.5

131.6
119.5
108.2
121.4

131.4
119.2
107.7
121.2

127.5
113.9
106.5
119.9

105.%
99.2
102.5
103.7

72.6
59.6

Transportation
Public — —
Private

Percent change to
April
1956
All items

— —

Food 1/
—Food at hosm — — — — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products - — —
—
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
—
—
—
——
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at hosM
—
——
Housing 2/ - — • — — —
Rent — - — - - - — - — — —
Oas and electricity
— Solid ftoels and fuel oil
Housefumishings
—
—
Household operation
— —
Apparel
Men's and boys' — — — —
Women's and girls'
—
Footwear - — — - — — —
Other apparel — — — —

—
— —
—
—
—
—

— —
—
— —
— —

—

—

—
—
—

0.4

0.6

1.3
1.5
.2
1.6
4.1
.1

1.8
2.1
.2
2.9
.6
5.8
.2

.1
.4
0
- 1.4
- .1
.2
0
.5
.2
.2
0

—

—

—
—

—
—

—

— — — — — — —
—— — — —
—
«

-

..............

Medical care
Personal care
Other goods and services

—
"jj

— — <

Tear
1939

13.4

94.3

10.4
9.0
21.4
-10.0
16.5
18.5
17.9

135.7
132.5
118.0
129.6
115.9
162.4
129.1

.2
.5
.1
- 2.1
- .5
.7

1.3
1.5
.8
4.4
- 1.1
2.9

15.3
21.6
8.9
18.9
5.3
22.9

58.9
52.7
6.6
126.8
92.1
78.9

0
.4
.4
.7
0

1.5
1.2
.6
4.6
.9

8.6
9.1
4.9
20.3
3.1

99.6

1.1
4.6

.3

.2
1.0
.1

15.5
46.3
9.7

112.2
78.5

.2
.1
0
.1

.4
.3
.5
.2

3.5
5.0
1.6
1.3

25.1
20.6
5.6
17.2

81.7
100.7
71.7
72.1

1.0

-

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




from:
toe
1950

.1
.5
.7
-6.5
3.4
1.1
2.3

.4

Public
Private

Mwj 1956
May
1955
1.1

1.0

—

—

.
..„
—
- — - — — — — —
-— — — —
—
—
—
—
—— — — — —
—— • — — —

Murtdi
1956

63.0
70.6

-

W)
O/)

80.8

TABIE 2t

Consumer Price Index — All items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

[1935-39-100]
City
May
1956

April
1956

May
1955

115.4

114.9

114.2

118.6
118.0

118.1

117.2

117.4
116.3
112.3
116.0

116.4
115.4

United Statea city average

J«ne
1950

Tear
1939

May
1956

101.8

59.*

192.9

58.6

202*0
199.2
195.0
187.0
193.4

Cities priced monthly:
Chicago — — — . . .
Detroit
Los Angelea
— — — —
Keir York — — - — — — —
Philadelphia

116.7

—

113.0
116.2

ClevelandHouston
ScrantonSeattleWashington, D.C.-

117.3

115.7

116.8
112.1

117.1
114.4
April
1-956

Clties priced in January, April,
July, October g/

115.6

Cities prleed in March, June,
September, December 2/
Atlanta—•
BaltimoreCincinnatiSt. LouisSan Francisc

Tear 1939

April
1956

113.4

101.2

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

185.5
187.4
191.4
195.8

116.1
113.6

117.0
113.8

116.3
December
1955

March
1955

116.8

117.1

114.2

115.3
114.9
113.4

114.2

114.3
115.7

115.6

116.1
115.9

116.8

1956

April
1950

115.2

115.8

Tear 1939

113.5
April
1955

113.4

116.8

115.2
116.4
March
1956

115.2

-Hay"
1950

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

115.3
115.5
111.4

114.6
115.5

116.4

59.2

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

116.6
111.1
116.2
January
1956

115.2

BostonKansas CityMi nneapoliaPittsburghPortland, Oregon-

1955

60.1

101.6

115.5

JteDruary^
1956

59.0
60.*

101.3
100.9

111.8

W
1956

"

Cities prleed in February, May,
August, November 2J

102.8
102.8

115.6

101.4
(b/)l02.1
99.9
101.5
June
1950

199.9
197.7

186.3

200.1'
187.8

,201.6

March
1956

Tear 1939

(^>101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

198.1

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

198.0

192.5
193.1
199.6

l/ These are the same Indexes shovn in column 1, converted to a base of 1935-39:100.
2/ Foods, feels, rents, and a fev other items priced monthly; other commodities and services
prleed quarterly.
3/ June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
y May 1950; formerly priced February, May, August, November.

T A B U 3:

Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from April 1956
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and conmodity groups.

All
items

City

United States city average

—

Cklcmgo

Detroit

—

—

lev Tork
Philadelphia




—

—

—

—

—

Food

lousing

Apparel

to

Transportation

Medical
care

0.4

1.3

0.1

0

0.4

0.2

.4
.5
.3
.6
.2

1.6
1.5
.3
1.6
1.3

.1
.2
.2
.1
.3

- 0.3
- .1
1.2
- .2
- .6

.4
.3
.5
.3
.4

0
.1
.2
.2
0

-

May 1956

-

Personal
care

-

Reading
and
recreation

Other
goods &
services

0.1

0

0.1

.8
.2
0
.1
.5

- 0.1
- .1
0
.1
0

.1
.2
.1
.1
.5

-

TABLE 14-s Consumer Price Index ~ All items and commodity groups
May 1956 indexes and percent changes, February 1956 to May 1956
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in May 1956
U.S.
City
Average Chicago

Group

Cleveland

WashingPhiladelphia Scranton Seattle ton, D.C,

New
York

Los
Detroit Houston Angeles

Indexes (19*7-^9-100)
All items

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

Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oiX
Housefurnishings — — —
Household operation
Apparel — — — —
Hen's and boys'
Women's and girls'

Transportation
Public

—
—
—
—
—

—

— —
— — — — —

—

Medical care - —
Personal care
— — —
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

—

—
—

115.4

118.6

117.3

118.0

116.8

116.7

113.0 J

111.0
109.5
124.7
95.5
107.5
121.5
110.9

108.8
107.1
120.0
89.1
110.3
117.8
117.8

109.2
107.3
119.6
93.2
104.2
116.7
114.3

113.9
112.4
119.8
93.5
108.9
138.9
112.8

107.5
165.4
117.6
90.8
108.7
111.4
109.8

113.0
109.6
128.3
96.2
103.0
121.8
110.1

110.6
109.0
129.2
99.1
102.6
116.6
111.1

120.9
132.2
111.8
127.9
102.6
122.4

129.9

123.6

123.2

—

—

—

113.8
131.3
101.4
127.0

109.1
123.7
100.7
115.0

114.2
123.9
106.9
115.9

125.8
<S—
106.5

126.9
141.7
116.2

—

—

100.5
129.6

104.8
107.0
97.9
122.8
91.1

108.2
113.6
98.5
126.7
94.9

105.7
108.4
98*4
122.3
93.4

102.5
109.7
91.9
118.7
86.8

126.9
172.5
116*9

131.6
166.5
116.4

122*8
165.7
113.9

131.9
119*6
108.2
121.5

136.4
122*8
115.6
117.6

145.5
123.7
114.9
t23.1

112.1

117.1

112.9
111.2
124.6
98.3
107.5
125.3
111.0

108.3
107.3
124.0
93.4
105.2
117.2
106.7

111.8
112.0
111.1
109.9
131.2
121.9
95.9
93.0
112.9 > 112.1
123.6
122.3
108.6
112.1

117.0

115.9
—

101.6
124.6

110.1
133.8
102.3
121.4

103.4
122.2
106.7
119.0

116.3
125.0
120.1
121.4
98.8
109.8

122.3

—

88.8
133.5
100.8
120,8

106.2
105.7
98.6
132.8
90.3

106.1
109.4
98.2
126.9
83.8

103.5
106.2
95.8
122.1
93.9

103.6
104.0
99.0
117.6
91.9

106.3
108.4
99.6
126.0
90.5

106.6,
109.4
99.5
126*3...
86.4

103.6
105.8
97.4
120.3
91.4

125.2
144.3
121.4

124.4
164.2
118.6

124.4
152.9
119.8

131.8
187.9
lfl.8

134.3
186.7
113.3

127.1
190.0
112.9

125.3
178.0
113.6

129.0
154.9
121.9

142.4
127.4
109.5
124.5

126.5
128.9
113.2
122.5

126.8119.6
96*6
116.3

126.7
111.4
105.2
121.2

137.5
127.6
114.9
124.9

121.3
123.7
121.7
116.8

135.3
119*6 .
111.0
128.1

123.4
117.3
106.0
130.8

Percent change from February 1956

All items
Food —
Food at home — — — — — — — —
Cereals and bsricery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — — — — — —
Fruits and vegetable8
Other foods at home
Housing

— —

—

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

—
—
—
—

Wanes's and girls'
Footwear

Transportation
Public —
Private

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Medical care —
—
Personal care - — — — - — - — — —
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

1.3

0.9

0.8

0.9

3.2
3.5
.2
1.7
3.9
11.3
1.1

.7
.1
.2
1.3
- .9
- 1.8
.8

1.4
1.3
.1
1.6
.2
5.2
- .5

1.8
2.3
.2
2.9
- 1.8
7.6
1.3

2.4
2.3
.9
2.4
- 2.4
8.0
2.3

2.8
2.7
3.8
2.4
- 2.3
8.6
2.3

1.5
. 1.9
- .2
2.6
1.6
3.2
1.9

1.9
1.9
.1
0
- .9
7.7
2.7

.9

•4

.5

1.6

- .1
iI/ ) 0
.8
- 9.4
1.3
.3

.8

-

.6
i1/)1.4
0

•3

-

W) .4

1.9
2.3
.9
1.7
2.5
4.6
1.6

2.4
2.8
.3
2*3 .
2*0
8.3
1.2

.2
.5
.1
- 1.6
.1
.8

- 1.0

0
- 4.4
- .4
.5

.2
.5
- .4
1.2
.1

#3

#7

.7
- .7
1.5

.4
.8

0
1.2
- .1

.4
.7
.3

1/ Change from November 1955 to May 1956.




0.8

2.0
2.2
.3
2.0
.2
7.2
1.2

.8
.6
.7
.5

1.0
.3
.3

.1

to May 1956

0.8

1.4

.1

116.6
124.2
123.1
136.2
. 100.4
125.2

0.2

0*3

0
- 2.6
0
.2

—

114.4

1.4

0.7

-

116.2

1.1

-

.2
.1
.6
.8

.j
.5

.1

-

-

.3

-a

.

-

.3
.7
.8
0

.5
- 1.2
1.9
.8

.2
1.4
- .4

.4
.6
.3

-

.7
.4
- 1.1

-1.2
•4
- 1.5

.4
1.3
.3

.3
.2
1.7
.2

.1
0
.5
.2

1.0
1.9
1.3
- .2

.4
1.5

.2
.3
.5
0

-

.8
.3

.7
1.1
.7

.8
1.5
- 1.2

3.6
.2
.6
.4

-

-

.9
.3
1.0
.2

.2

.1

1 3
.9
.9
3.3
.7

-1.7

.4
.8
.4

-

_

-

.7

.3

5.2
.7
- .4
2.6

1.6
- 5.3
1.4
1.5

-

!i

1.5
- .5

-

0
- 1.5
.1
.5

_

.2
.6

-

-

1

.1i
0
- .3
1.4
- .7

1.0

.2

0
1.3
- .8
4.1

-

1.0

0
- 1.9
1.0

1.0

1
n
1 .U.
.2
1.8
.6
.4

•4

.1
.5
1.0
.1

- 1.1

1.0

- 1.6

-

.5
.2
.7
.7

TABUS 5: Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroup*
May 1956 indexes and percent changes, April 1956 to May 1956
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
Total
food at hoaw

City

Percent
change

Percent
change

U.S. city average

Fruits and
vegetables
Percent
change

Percent
change

Percent
change

Other
foods at hone
Percent
change

1.3

109.5

1.5

124.7

0.2

95.5

1.6

107.5

1.0

121.5

4.1

110.9

0.1

1.0
.9
1.7
1.6
1.2
1.4
1.5
.8
1.6
.3

107.3
109.5
107.1
107.1
111.4
107.3
112.4
105.4
105.7
109.6

1.2
1.1
1.7
1.9
1.4
1.6
1.7
.6
1.9
.2

118.3

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

97.3
96.2
94.2
89.1
95.8
93.2
93.5
90.8
89.6
96.2

1.8
.8
2.2
3.1
1.5
.9
1.6
.6
1.7
1.4

108.9
108.9
105.2
110.3
113.8

0
.1
1.1
1.1
2.6
3.2
.2
4.4
3.2
0

118.6

120.0

3.9
4.3
7.3
3.4
3.4
4.9
7.3
2.2
4.2
.6

104.1

.4
.4
.1
.6
.3
.1
.6
.4
.7
.4

.8
1.6
1.3
1.2
1.2
•9
.4
1.5
.2
1.8

109.0
111.2
110.5
112.1
109.1
112.0
107.3
111.1

112.4

1.0
2.0
1.6
1.4
1.5
1.0
.4
1.1
.5
1.9

.1
.3
.1
0
.3
0
0
.1
.2
.3

93.0
99.1
98.3
93.6
97.3
93.1
101.9
93.4
95.9
93.0

1.0
2.6
1.8
1.4
1.7
1.2
.4
.1
1.3
2.0

111.9
102.6
107.5
107.3
112.5
101.5
105.7

1.3
.4
.3
.1
3.0
4.1
.1
.2
.3
.3

130.5

109.2
113.9
107.5

107.6

113.Q

112.9

110.6

112.9

111.8

113.5
111.5
113.2
108.3

111.8

112.0

109.9

ZABIZ 6:

121.6
122.2
120.0
124.6

119.6
119.8

117.6
120.5
128.3

126.4
129.2
124.6
125.6
125.3
119.5

130.8
124.0
131.2
121.9

April
1956

Cereals aad bakery protects;
Flour,
Biscuit ttlx
Corn aeal
Rice
Rolled oats
Cora flakee
Bread, elate
Soda crackers
•anillacookies
Jlaets, poultry, aad fish:

Cents
53.4
26.7
12.5
17.1
19.3

21.8

»7.7
27.4
23.9

84.0
37^7

u>.

Frying efclokeaa, reedy-to*cook
ib.
Oceaa perch, fillet, frozen — ~ ib.
k, fillet, freaen — — i b .
•i pink, canned — — — ™ ie ox.
Tuna fisk, canned — — — — 6 to « o«.
Dairy prodeots:
Milk, fresk, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.

Cheese, American process — — — ib.
Milk, evaporated — — — — ut-os. can
Fruits aad vegetablees
Freaen i
Strawberries — — — « • — — — 10 o*.
Orange Juice concentrate
e or.
Bnii green
io oc.
Beans, green
- —
io ©*.

Freak:
— doz.
lb.

* M e e d only In season.

77.3
54.2
59.4
71.3
51.5
40.4
49.1
41.8
45.4
59.7

32.8
22.2

110.6

103.0

105.2
112.9
112.1

121.8

116.6
125.3
122.0
124.8
125.3
127.2
117.2
123.6
122.3

2.6
5.7
5.0
5.2
4.0
.2
U9
6.6
.4
6.6

13.8

30.2

19.6

21.3
23.1

16.9
54.4

17.6

*ar
1956

Food and unit

105.7
117.8

116.6
114.3
112.8
109.8
105.8

110.1

.2
O
.4
.2
.4
.3
.3
.2
.1
•4

119.5

111.1

111.0
120.0
112.6

119.6
107.1
108.7

108.6

112.1

19.6

30f2

21.2
23.3

15.1
15.5

50.0
17.8

Otter foods at hoaw:
Yegetable soup — — <
Beans vitk pork — ~
Pickles, sweet —
Catsup, tcaato
Coffee
Tea bags
Cola drink, carton
.
Shortening, kydrogenated
Murgarine, colored — — «
Salad dressing
Faanut butter «
C o m syrup
Grape Jelly — —
Chocolate bar — — — - «
Bggs, Grade A, large
Gelatin, flavored

April
1956
Cents
9.7
40.4
66.9
11.9

8.0

12.4
f15.2
14.1
8.5
33.8
25.3
• 46-oz. can
#2* can
#2 can
— - #909 can
— - #903 can
—
#909 can
#909 can
4* to 5 os.

36.5
34.9
33.6

—

lb.
lb.

23.7
28.7
71.7
57.2

16.6
lb.

Oranges, sise 200

108.9
108.7

Fresh—Continued
Grapefruit
Peaches'*
Strawberries * — — - - Grapes, seedless *
Watermelons
Potatoes
Sueetpotatoes —«
Onions — — — —
Carrots
Lettuce
Celery <
Cabbage
Toaatoes — •
Beans, green
Canned:
Orange Juice
Beaches — —
Pineapple
Fruit cocktail
Corn, cream style —
Peaa, green
Toaatoes
Baby foods Dried:

110.6

Frankfurters

104.2

118.5
117.8
122.3
116.7
138.9
111.4
115.7

111.1

Cons—ur Price Index — Average retail prices of sa&ected foods
U.8. city average

Food aad w i t




Dairy
products

111.0

112.6

Waehingtea, D.C

Meats, poultry,
and fish

108.9
112.0
109.7

108.8

Pittsburgh
Portland, Oteg.
St. Lsuis

Cereals and
bakery products

26.2

17.9

21.6

15.4
9.7
35.9

16.1

35.8

14.0
14.5
27.0
23.0
100.3
3*2
32.5
97.3
» 3
i9.r
35.3
53.4

14.0

52.6

23.5
26.4
4.5
57.3
8.5

16.2

[27.0
23.0

100,1
23.2
32.5
94.3
28.9

18.8

34.9
53.4
52.6
23.5
26.3
4.5
58.2
8.4

7
BrttfflxptenftUpBof tfae gfj
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average changes in prices of goods
and services typically 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 46 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
46 cities* Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities* Almost all prices 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 1947-49 = 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
IjrhcSi^urg, 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
loungstown, (Mo

Comparisons of city indexes ehow 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 is contained in BLS Bulletin 1140, "The Consumer
Price Index! A layman's Guide," which may be purchased for 20 cents at any Bureau of
Labor Statistics regional office (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Docur
ments, U* S* Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D* C* A more technical
description of the index appears in BLS Bulletin 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
Statistical Series*11 Reprints of chapter 9> pertaining to the CPI, are available on
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or at any of its regional offices*
Historical series of index numbers for the United States city average and for
20 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 1947 to date*
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
50 Seventh St*, NE
ZoB 2
* 3




New York
341 Ninth Ave*
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St*
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10