Full text of CPI Detailed Report : May 1957

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Released June 25, 1957
U.S. DEPARTMENT (F IABCR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D* C»
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FCR MAI 1957

Consumer prices in United States cities rose 0*3 percent betveen
April and May 1957, primarily because of a seasonal advance in food prices, according
to the U*S* Department of labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics* In other major groups of
goods and services, lover prices for recreation and transportation were offset by
increases for housing, medical care, personal care, and "other goods and services
The Consumer Price Index for May 1957 was 119*6 percent of the 1947-49 average, 3#6
percent higher than a year earlier* Consumer prices have declined once in the past 15
months (in August 1956), and in May 1957 reached a record high for the 9th consecutive
month*
FOCD

Food prices advanced 0*7 percent betveen April and May, as prices
of fresh produce and meat rose seasonally* The food index in May
vas 114*6 (1947-49=100), 3*2 percent higher than a year ago, but 1*7 percent belov the
August 1952 peak* Food prices vere higher in 40 of the 46 cities surveyed in May*
Fresh fruit prices
14*4 percent to a national average price
advanced 5*8 percent, chiefly because of
24*2 percent for onions, and 2*7 percent
percent*

rose 4*4 percent, with apple prices increasing
of 20 cents a pound* Prices of fresh vegetables
seasonal increases of 10*6 percent for tomatoes,
for potatoes* Prices of cabbage fell 13*5

Meat prices rose 2*1 percent, as advances vere reported for all
cuts of beef, pork, and lamb* Bacon prices vere up 4*2 percent, pork chops 2*5 percent,
and round steak 2*0 percent*
The increase of 0*2 percent in the price of cereals and bakery
products reflected higher prices for bread and flour* Restaurant meal prices edged up
0*1 percent*
Prices of eggs and milk fell seasonally and coffee prices,
declining for the sixth consecutive month, vere 1*6 percent lover than a month earlier*
HOUSING

The housing index rose 0*1 percent, as increases for rent, household operation, and home maintenance costs more than offset
seasonal price reductions for fuels and housefurnishings * The price advance of 0*7
percent for household operation reflected higher water rates in several cities* Higher
prices vere reported for painting services and roof repairs* In housefurnishings widespread reductions were reported for refrigerators and some household textiles* Anthracite
prices dropped 4«4 percent, bituminous coal vas down 1*9 percent in price, and fuel oil
prices declined 1*1 percent*
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

The increase of 0*3 percent in medical care reflected further
advances in fees for professional and hospital services and higher
prices for prescriptions and drugs* The personal care index
reflected higher prices for toilet soap in most cities and some scattered increases for
beauty shop services*

Apparel prices remained at
their April level, as reductions for
1
vomers rayon dresses and nylon hose and girls
cotton dresses offset higher prices for
f
loen's vool suits and women's and children s shoes*




2

The decline of 0*4 percent for recreation resulted primarily fron
sale prices for sporting goods and toys* There were some advances in prices of newspapers and movie admissions*
Transportation costs as a whole decreased 0*1 percent. New car
prices continued to decline as dealers gave larger concessions, and prices of gasoline
and motor oil were also lower, but prices of used cars advanced*

TABLE 11 Consumer Price Index—United States city average, all items and special groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates
May

All itemsAll items less foodAll items less shelterAll commodities
All commodities less foodDurable 8Non-durablesAll services and shelterAll services less shelter-

tatere

Apr.

1957

1957

119.6
122.3
117.1
112.7
111.1
106.7
115.5
136.7
139.5

119.3
122.3
116.9
112.5
111.5
107.3
115.7
136.2
139.0

<

=

(1947-4 ? 1W)
Mar.
May
1956
1957

118.9

122.0

116.5

112.1

111.3
107.1
115.5
135.8
138.7

115.4117.9
113.3
109.0
107.5
102.5

112.2

131.5
134.8

June
1950

Year
1939

101.8
103.0
100.7
100.3
99.4
102.4
99.0
107.9
107.0

59.4.
69.1
55.4
51.6
59.4
57.3
58.7
80.4
73.5

Percent change to May 1957 from —

All i t e m s — — —
— —
All items less food—
—...
All items less s h e l t e r - — — - — —
—
All c o m m o d i t i e s — — — - — - —
All commodities less foodDurables
-—• —
Non-durables—- - - — — ••••— All services and shelter
All services less shelter

. . . .

May
1957

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar—

Apr.
1957

Mar.
1957

May
1956

June
1950

Tear
1939

0.3
0
.2
.2
- .4
- .6
- .2
.4
•4

0.6
.2
.5
.5
- .2
- .4
0
.7
.6

3.6
3.7
3.4
3.4
3.3
4.1
2.9
4.0
3.5

17.5
18.7
16.3
12.4
11.8
4.2
16.7
26.7
30.4

101.3
77.0
111.4
118.4
87.0
86.2
96.8
70.0
89.8

(19A7-A9=t1.00)*
Mar.
Apr.
May
1957
1957
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

$0.87

$0.98

$1.68

$0.84 $0.84

$0.84

* To calculate purchasing power of the soneuner dollar on any other base, divide
the index for the desired base date by the index for the comparison date.




TABU! 2: Consumer Price Index -- United States city are rage, all items and ccmodity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates

3

Indexes (191*7.1*9.100)
Group

All items

May
1957

April
1957

March
1957

May
1956

This
month

Last
month

2 months
ago

Last
year

Pre-Korea

119.6

119.3

118.9

115.4

101.8

113.2

111.0

Food 1/
Pood at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish —
Dairy products - — - —
Fruit* and vegetables
Other foods at home — — — <

114.6

Housing 2/ — — — — —
Rent — —
—
Gas and electricity — - — « . . - ,
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation - - - - - - —

125.3
134.7
112.3
135.4

Apparel
— — — —
Men's and boys'
—
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel

—
—

Transportation
Public
Private

—

— «
— .

113.8

113.0
130*4
103.7
110.0
122.5
109.9

111.4

112.1
130.1

102.0

129.8
100.6

111.0

116.1
111.6

127.3

125.2
134.5
112.4
138.1
105.1
126.4

124.9
134.4
112.4
139.2
104.9
126.2

106.5
109.0

108.8

110.5
118.7

104.2

106.5

98.6

110.7

106.8

108.8

109.5
124.7
95.5
107.5
121.5
110.9
120.9

132.2
111.8
127.9

102.6
122.4

104*8

107.0

June
1950

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
iok.9

108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6

96.5
98.1

127.8
92.0

98.7
127.3
92.0

99.3
127.6

122.8

93.3
102.1
88A

.

135.3
176.8
125.4

135.5
176.8
125.5

135.1
175.8
125.2

127.1
172.5
117.1

109.9
117.9

106.6

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

137.3
123.4
111.4
124.3

136.9
123.3

136.4
122.9
110.5

131.9

105. k

—

—

—

111.8

124.2

92.2

124.2

97.9

91.1

119.6

108.2
121.5

Percent change to May 1957
April
1957

March
1957

All items

1956

99.2
102.5
103.7

from:
June
1950

Tear
1939

0.3

0.6

3.6

17.5

101.3

Food
— — — — —
— — — <
Food at hone
—
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — — — - —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at hoae
Food away from hone

.7
•8
.2
1.7
- o5
3.2
- 1.0
.1

1.2
1.4
.5
3.1
- .6
5.5
- 1.5
.4

3.2
3.2
4.6
8*6
2.3
.8
- .9
3.3

14.0
12.4
27.0
- 2.3
19.2
19.5
16.8
(V)

143.3
139.9
128.0
149.3
120.9
164.6
127.1
(4/)

Housing 2/
— — — — —
Rent
— — — — — —
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
—
Household operation
—

.

.1
.1
- ..1
- 2.0
- .9
.7

.3
.2
- .1
- 2.7
- .7
.9

3.6
1.9
.4
5.9
1.6
4.0

19.4
23.9
9.3
25.8
7.0
27.8

64.7
55.5
7.1
140.1
95.1
86.1

Apparel — — — — — — — — —
Men's and boys'
Women'8 and girls'
Footwear — — — — — — — «
Other apparel

0
.2
.1
.4
0

-

.3
.2
.7
.2
.2

1.6
1.9
.7
4.1
1.0

10.4
11.1
5.7
25.2
4.1

102*9
114.6
80.9
154.1
126.6

.1
0
.1

.1
.6
.2

6.5
2.5
7.1

23.1
50.0
17.6

92.7
117.5
91.5

.3
.1
.4
.1

.7
•4
.8
.1

4.1
3.2
3.0
2.3

30.3
24.4
8.7
19.9

89.1
107.0
76.8
76.1

Transportation
Public
Private

— «
— .
—
—

— — — — — —

Medical care
Personal care —
Heading and recreation
Other goods and services

-

-

—
—-•

-

-

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




TABLE 3: Consumer Price Index — All items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)

4

City
United States city average

1/

May
1957

April
1957

May
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

119.6

119.3

115.4

101.8

59.4

122.2
121.9
120.8
117.2
119.8

122.0
121.4
120.6
116.9
119.7

118.6
118.0
116.9
113.0
116.2

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

May
1956

May

1950

Year
1939

Cities priced monthly: 7j
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia
-

-

Houston
— —
Scr&ntonSeattle
Washington, D . C .

—

February
1957

May
1957

Cities priced in February, May,
August, November 2 /
—
—
—

Cities priced in January, April,
July, October 2/
• < - • • • ••
Kansas City
••
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon—-• •• •

— ••• —

121.7
121.1
116.4
122.8
117.2

120.4
120.5
115.5
122.2
117.5

117.3
116.8
112.1
117.1
114.4

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

April
1957

January
1957

April
1956

April
1950

Year
1939

120.2
120.4
119.8
118.8
121.6

119.0
119.8
119.4
118.8
120.1

115.2
116.4
115.6
115.2
116.4

101.2
101.4
102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

June
1950

Year
1939

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

120.6
119.9
118.1
120.2
122.3

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati—™—
- • ••
St. Louis —• -• •
San Francisco
• •••-••••••••—

March
1956

December
1956

March
1957

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 2/

lj

116.8
115.2
114.3
115.7
116.8

119.5
119.5
117.5
119.1
121.6

3/

1/ This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 200.0.
£ / Hants priced bimonthly.
2/Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly.
A/June 1950.
3/ May 1950.

TABLE 4s

Consumer Price Index — Percent changes froo April 1957
to
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and coonodity groups

City
United States city a v e r a g e —
ChicagoDetroit
Los Angeles
Hew York
Philadelphia




All
items

Food

0.3

0.7

.2
.4
.2
.3
.1

.4
•8
0
.9
1.0

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

Personal
care

0.1

0

- 0.1

0.3

0.1

.2
.3
.2
.1
.5

0
0.2
.2

.1
.2
0
.7
0

0
.2
.1
0
.3

Housing

-

May 1957

-

.3
.4
#6
.1
.1

-

Reading
and
recreation

Other
goods &
services
0.1

- 0.4
-

.8
.3
.3
.6
.7

-

.1
.3
.2
0
0

TABI£ 5: Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
May 1957 indexes and percent changes, February 1957 to May 1957
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in May 1957
U.S.
City
Average Chicago

Group

Los
CleveDetroit Houston Angeles
land

New
York

Philadelphia Scrantoi Seattle

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
119.6

122.2

121.7

121.9

121.1

120.8

117.2

119.8

116.4

122.8

114.6
113.0
130.4
103.7
110.0
122.5
109.9

112.0
109.9
122.9
96.6
110.8
119.2
116.3

112.7
110.6
123.6
100.5
104.2
119.2
114.2

116.8
115.0
125.0
101.3
107.6
137.1
112.7

112.2
110.0
121.2
99.2
109.0
120.8
109.7

116.9
113.5
134.1
105.1
105.5
121.7
111.1

113.8
112.1
135.1
105.2
108.1
116.5
108.8

117.6
115.5
132.5
105.5
114.1
126.3
109.8

112.2
111.7
126.4
103.6
110.1
119.5
107.1

117.3
115.9
116.6
113.4
138.0
129.7
102.6
105.4
117.3 , 115.8
118.0
128.5
109.6
111.0

125.3
134.7
112.3
135.4
104.2
127.3

134.1
160.3
114.0
136.2
102.0
130.8

128.5
156.3
115.4
129.3
101.4
116.7

128.6

129.7
143.3
118.0

122.1

112.2
129.3
109.1
117.8

129.3
138.3
116.2
—

—

101.4
135.8

102.6
129.0

111.1
145.8
104.7
125.5

119.5
123.0
103.4
128.6
109.1
128.2

120.3
127.2
117.7
134.8
104.2
114.1

128.6
141.3
86.6
142.6
103.5
137.0

117.7
125.4
121.0
144.7
99.0
125.8

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

106.5
109.0
98.6
127.8
92.0

109.5
116.8
97.3
131.7
95.7

107.7
112.6
98.5
126.2
94.4

104.7
111.3
94.1
123.5
87.5

109.9
107.1
104.0
136.8
91.4

107.6
111.3
99.6
128.3
84.7

105.8
108.5
96.9
128.5
95.4

104.5
107.0
97.1
123.6
92.8

108.5
111.0
100.5
133.0
91.6

108.3
111.5
100.8
129.6
87.2

103.8
107.7
97.1
123.1
86.7

Transportation
Public
Private
•

------

135.3
176.8
125.4

139.2
167.7
124.5

132.1
170.9
123.5

132.1
145.8
129.1

134.4
166.5
129.3

133.4
154.8
129.6

138.2
189.0
118.8

141.4
187.4
121.0

135.1
190.6
121.2

138.3
180.1
126.7

136.2
156.6
129.9

—

137.3
123.4
111.4
124.3

141.3
126.2
116.1
119.9

149.3
126.0
120.2
125.0

146.2
130.3
110.4
126.4

129.4
131.0
112.9
125.9

130.0
129.0
100,4
121.4

129.3
115.2
115.6
124.7

140.5
130.0
115.5
126.6

125.3
125.5
134.4
117.7

139.0
129.2
112.0
131.9

131.7
120.1
108.1
134.1

_ 0.3

All items
Food
—-—
Food at home — —
— —
Cereals and bakery products
Meat8, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Housing
—— •
Rent
Gas and electricity •
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings — —
Household operation

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

—

—
— — —

— — —

—

—

Percent change from February 1957
0.8

0.6

1.1

0.7

0.5

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

.9
.9
1.0
2.3
- no
5.2
- 2.7

1.0
1.0
.7
2.8
- .2
5.3
- 3.2

.9
.9
1.1
2.7
- 3.9
6.2
- 2.1

.8
.7
1.4
2.8
- 4.5
6.6
- 2.7

.1
.3
0
2.6
- 3.3
.9
- 2.3

.5
2.3
.2
- .9
- 1.6

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

.6
.4
- .1
- 2.8
- .8
1.4

.9
1/ 1.1
.2
- 4.7
- 1.7
1.9

2.1
.6
.4
- 4.6
.4
1.6

.2
.3
.3
.4

.6
.4
.1

.6
J / .2
0

- 2.3
2.7

- 1.6
.2

.1
- 3.1
.2
.4

Men's and boys' — — — — - — —
Women's and girls' — —
Footwear

.4
.4
.4
.5
.3

.1
.4
.3
.2
0

.2
.4
.1
.8
.3

.4
.6
.4
.2
.2

1.0
1.0
1.5
- .4
.4

.7
.5
1.1
.2
.6

1.1
.7
.8
1.4
1.1

.7
0
•8

1.7
0
1.8

.7
0
.8

.4
0
.5

.2
.2
.6
.9

- .3
- .4
- 1.6
1.4

.4
1o2
.6
.3

.9
.3
6.7
- .1

All items

Transportation
Public
Private
Medical care
Other goods and services

•7
.6
.7
1.3
.7
1.3
.2

J/ Change from torch 1957 to Msiy 1957.




-

-

»1
0
.2

0
0
0

1.3
.8
- .2
.1

1.4
.7
- .3
.2

-

1.0

—

-

-

-

-

-

—

117.2

to }fey 1957

0.4

1.1

0.1

0.8

0.5

0

.8
.8
1.7
1.7
- 1.2
5.1
- 3.0

.9
.6
.9
1.1
1.7
5.8
2.5

1.4
1.5
.7
3.2
1.3
6.0
- 3.3

1.2
1.7
.3
3.8
.7
5.3
- 2.2

.5
.9
0
9.2
.4
1.1

-

.3
.6
- 2.0
- 7.5
1.0
1.7

.2
.6
0
0
- 1.6
7.1

1.8
.4
3.9
.1
.9

.6
.3
1.3
.1

.5
.7
.2
.3

.4
0
.5

.8
0
.9

.7
0
•8

.1
.5
6.9
.3

.7
.2
- 1.0
.8

1.8
1.2
.2
.7

•

2

—

1.1

—

-

-

_
1/
-

-

-

-

-

£

.2
0
.3

-

1.4
1.1
.7
.3

-

-

• J

-

—

-

-

-

0
.2
.3
.3
.2
2.3
2.8
1.3
.2
.2
4.6
1.1
0
.4
.4
.6
.1
4.9

TABLE 6: Consumer Price Index — Food end its subgroups
Ifay 1957 indexes and percent changes, April 1957 to May 1957
U.S. city arerage and 20 large cities
[>9Vr-*9-IOCT}
Total
food at home

Total food
City

Percent
change

Index

Index

Percent
change

Cereals and
bakery products
Index

Percent
change

Meats, poultry,
and fish
Index

Dairy
products

Percent
change

Percent
c hange

Index

U.S. city average — - 114.6

0.7

113.0

0.8

130.4

0.2

103.7

1.7

110.0

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
— — — —
Chicago — - — — — —
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Detroit
—i.
Houston - - — - — —

112.4
116.0
113.8
112.0
116.4
112.7
116.8
112.2
110.1
116.9

.3
.8
.4
.4
.9
1.3
.8
.1
.4
0

111.0
112.8
111.3
109.9
114.3
110.6
115.0
110.0
107.8
113.5

.2
.9
.2
.5
1.0
1.5
.8
.2
.5
- .2

124.7
127.2
128.1
122.9
131.0
123.6
125.0
121.2
126.5
134.1

0
0
- .2
.2
- .1
1.0
.4
0
0
.2

106.1
103.5
101.8
96.6
105.5
100.5
101.3
99.2
98.1
105.1

1.7
.4
0
1.8
1.5
1.9
1.9
1.4
1.7
1.5

113.5
112.5
110.9
110.8
114.7
104.2
107*6
109.0
107.7
105.5

Minneapolis —
113.1
Hew York
— — — 113.8
Philadelphia
117.6
Pittsburgh
117.3
Portland, Oreg.
117.0
St. Louis
— 115.5
San Francisco
117.2
Scr&nton — —
— — 112.2
Seattle
117.3
Washington, D . C .
— 115.9

.4
.9
1.0
2.2
.9
1.1
- .2
1.0
.9
.6

111.6
112.1
115.5
115.6
115.1
111.7
115.7
111.7
116.6
113.4

.6
1.0
1.2
2.5
1.1
1.5
- .2
1.1
1.1
.6

129.3
135.1
132.5
129.0
131.7
125.3
140.1
126.4
138.0
129.7

-

98.4
105.2
105.5
102.8
105.8
100.9
107.9
103.6
105.4
102.6

1.4
2.0
1.8
3.4
1.8
2.6
- .1
1.3
1.7
.8

104.8
108.1
114.1
111.9
117.0
100.3
109.8
110.1
117.3
115.8

-

.7
.2
.1
.4
0
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2

Fruits and
vegetables

-

-

"

-

-

-

-

-

Index

Percent
change

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 —

—

—

—

—

ib.
oz.
ib.
ib.
oz.
oz.
ib.
ib.
oz.
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.

Veal cutlets — — — — — —
?Grk chops, center cut
Bacon, sliced — — — — —
Ham, whole — — — — — — —

ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.

Iamb, leg — — — — —
— —
Frankfurters — — — — — — - - =

lb.
lb.

Luncheon meat, canned
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen — — —
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned —
—
ie oz.
Tuna fish, canned — — —
e to Qh oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk* fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream — — — — — —
pt.
Butter
ib.
Cheese, American process
ib.
Milk, evaporated —
—
i4fc-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries
10 oz.
Orange juice concentrate — - 0 oz.
Peas, green — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green —
—
—
10 oz.
Fresh:
Apples — — — — — —
—
ib.
Bananas — — — — — — — — — ib.
Oranges, size 200 — — — — — doz.
Lemons —
—
i
—
—
—
ib.
Grapefruit * — — — — — — —
each
* Priced only in season.




19?7
Cents
54.6

26.8

12.8
17.2

22.0

23.0

18.8

29.0
24.7

92.6
52.0
73.4

40.8

117.2

85.0

71.4
62.7
72.8
54*4

44.5

47.1
42.9
45.7
62.4
32.0
22.8
24.4
29.4
74.0
57.4
14.5

26.6

18.1

19.6
23.7
20.0
16.7
54.2
19.3
11.3

April
1957
Cents
54.5
26.9
12.7
17.1
21.9
23.0
18.7
28.9
24.6

122.5

3.2

109.9

- 1.0

.4
.1
1.2
.5
.1
1.0
2.0
.2
.2
.2

1.4
6.0
3.2
- .1
4.6
5.3
3.2
- .4
1.2
- 3.0

102.2
110.4
105.8
116.3
114.9
114.2
112.7
109.7
103.9
111.1

- 2.2
- .8
- .8
- .6
- 1.1
- .3
- .4
- .5
- .8
- .4

.2
.7
.2
0
.4
0
3.3
.2
.8
.1

123.7
116.5
126.3
127.4
120.0
125.1
127.0
119.5
128.5
118.0

2.2
4.6
4.2
8.1
4.0
4.1
3.3
6.0
3.1
3.1

117.3
108.8
109.8
119.9
112.3
117.5
108.2
107.1
109.6
111.0

- .6
- 1.5
- .6
.4
- .4
- .3
- 1.4
- 1.4
- .4
- .6

90.7
50.9
71.3

40.0

117.3
83.1
68.5
61.9
71.7
53.6
44.3
47.5

42.8
45.1

62.2
31.9
23.1

24.6

29.3
73.9
57.4
14.4
27.5
13.7

19.6

23.7
17.5

16.2

54.8

19.0
11.0

19?7

Continued

Peaches * —

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Strawberries * ————
G r a p e s , seedless * —

ib.

pt.

ib.

Watermelons •

—

Potatoes — — —
Sweet potatoes —
—
Onions — — — —
Carrots — — « —

—
—

—
—

—

head
—

—

—

—
—

ib.
lb.
ib.

—

ib.

<
—

—

Beans, green —

—

—

—

—

—

—

Canned:
Orange juice — — — — —
46-oz.
Peaches
— —
#2*
Pineapple — — — — — — —
#2
Fruit cocktail
#303

Corn, cream style — — — —
Peas, green — — — — —
Tomatoes — — — — —
Baby foods — — — —
44
Dried:
Prunes —
—
—
—
—
Beans — — — — — — — - —
Other foods at home:
Tomato SOUp

—

Beans with pork —
Pickles, sweet —
Catsup, tomato —
Coffee — — — — —
Coffee —
—...
Tea bags

ib.

10 ib.
ib.
ib.
—
ib.

—
—

Lettuce —
Celery - —
Cabbage
Tomatoes —

—

Percent
change

119.0
120.0
118.8
119.2
120.7
119.2
137.1
120.8
114.4
121.7

Food and unit
Fresh

Index

0.5

TABLE 7 J Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
Food and unit

Other
foods at home

can
can
can
can

#303 can
#303 can
#303 can

to 5 oz.
ib.
ib.

34.3

10£ to ll-oz. can

12.5
14.6
27.2
23.3
102.5

pkg. of 16

23.6
34.0
99.1
30.0

—

— — —
ie-oz. can
— — — —
7h oz.
— — — —
14 0 z.
— — — — l b . can
i b . b ag

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 0 z.
Eggs, Grade A , large —
— doz.
Gelatin, flavored —
—
3 to 4 oz.

16.0

86.1

22.6
37.3
53.6
55.0

24.8

27.3
4.5
48.7

8.8

Brief Explanation of the CPI

n

The Consumer Price Index (CFI) 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 Stated 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 1 months in other cities. Almost all prices are obtained
by personal visits of the Bureau s 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
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

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
is contained in BLS Bulletin 1140, "The Consumer
M
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 Documents, 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." 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
Zone 23




New York
341 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

LABOR - D . C.

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10