Full text of CPI Detailed Report : May 1963

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Released June 26, 1963
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MAY 1963
The May Consumer Price Index, at 106.2 (1957-59-100), was unchanged
for the second consecutive month, the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics announced today. Prices increased in May for transportation and medical care,
but were lower for food, apparel, housing, and reading and recreation. The index was up
by 1.0 percent from a year ago, principally because of higher prices for food and
housing, although all major types of goods and services shared in the advance.
FOOD

A decrease of 0.1 percent in average food prices in May was largely
the result of reductions in prices of meats, poultry, eggs, and
dairy products. The effect of these decreases was partly offset by price rises for most
fruits and vegetables and sugar.

Meat, poultry, and fish prices declined 0.3 percent as decreases
continued for all types of meats except lamb. Beef and veal prices were down 0.2 percent
and pork dropped 0.4 percent, with the sharpest decreases reported for veal cutlets and
ham. Lamb prices rose 3*0 percent in May and were 4.0 percent above last year.
Prices for fruits and vegetables advanced 1.7 percent, as most items
were higher. Prices of oranges and orange juice continued to rise, and apples, bananas,
grapefruit, onions, and tomatoes were also higher. However, there were sharp decreases
for fresh corn, lettuce, and strawberries.
Prices of eggs and dairy products continued to decline, with decreases
of 11.3 and 0.1 percent, respectively. Sugar prices advanced 6.2 percent and were 9.4
percent above a year ago.
O^er the last year, food prices have climbed by 1.0 percent, with
restaurant meals up
2.5 percent, fruits and vegetables 4.1 percent, and cereals and
bakery products 1.7 percent. Prices of meats and dairy products continued slightly
lower than a year ago in May.
HOUSING

The housing index declined 0.1 percent from April to May, and was
1.0 percent above a year ago. Housefurnishings costs and electricity
were slightly lower over the month, homeownership costs decreased a little, and solid
and petroleum fuel prices dropped 1.7 percent. Household operation costs and residential
rents both increased 0.1 percent.

OTHER GOODS
AND SERVICES

Apparel prices decreased 0.1 percent in May and were 1.0 percent
above last year. A decline of 0.3 percent in women's and girls'
apparel prices during the month more than offset slightly higher
prices for men's and boys' clothing and footwear.
upward slightly.

The medical care index advanced 0.3 percent, as all items edged

The transportation index climbed 0.4 percent in May, as gasoline
prices advanced 0.7 percent and used cars increased 0.3 percent. New car prices were
unchanged on the average. Reading and recreation prices decreased 0.3 percent, influenced primarily by a decline in movie admission charges.




2

COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS

As a result of the Hay index, cost-of-living allowances will increase
1 cent an hour for about 90,000 workers, primarily in the meatpacking,
aerospace, and chemical industries. An additional 25,000 grocery
department employees of supermarkets will receive a 1 cent increase based on the Los
Angeles index.




3

TABLE 1: Consumer Price Index--United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, Hay 1963
and percent changes from selected dates
(1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)
Indexes

Percent change to
May 1963 from-

Indexes
(1957-59-100)

1947-49.100

1939-100

May
1963

May
1963

Group
May
1962

May
1963

April
1963

April
1963

106.2

106.2

0

0.1

1.0

130.3

219.3

104.2
102.5
109.3
98.0
102.8
113.9
94.5
112.9

104.3
102.6
109.2
98.3
102.9
112.0
96.2
112.8

- 0.1
- .1
.1
- .3
- .1
1.7
- 1.8
.1

- .8
- 1.0
.1
- 4.0
- .8
4.1
- 2.7
.4

1.0
.6
1.7
- 1.6
- .2
4.1
.1
2.5

123.0
119.1
144.9
108.1
116.4
140.8
104.4
a/)

261.1
252.9
253.3
260.0
233.6
304.2
215.8
a/)

105.7
106.6
107.4
102.4
98.4
110.0

105.8
106.5
107.5
104.2
98.5
109.9

-

.1
.1
- .1
- 1.7
- .1
.1

.3
.2
- .6
- 2.3
.1
.6

1.0
1.0
- .3
2.3
- .6
2.4

134.8
146.6
125.2
139.6
102.4
144.2

177.1
169.2
119.4
247.4
191.8
210.8

Apparel
------Men's and b o y s ' — — — — — — — — — . . . . . . .
Women's and girls * — — — — - — - — — — —
Footwear--—
—
—
Other a p p a r e l - - — — — — — — — — — — —

103.7
104.2
101.1
110.3
100.9

103.8
104.1
101.4
110.2
100.9

-

.1
.1
.3
.1
0

.4
.5
.4
.4
0

1.0
1.1
1.1
1.1
.3

111.2
113.3
100.4
144.5
92.9

211.8
223.1
184.3
287.2
228.8

Transportation-—Private-—————
Public

—

107.4
106.0
116.5

107.0
105.5
116.5

.4
.5
0

.6
.7
.2

.1
0
.8

151.3
138.1
216.9

215.5
210.9
266.7

—

116.4

116.1

.3

.7

2.0

168.2

231.8

All items
Food at ho»e----------------------------Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish--—
—
Dairy products—--—
—--—
Fruit® and vegetablesOther foods at h o s e —
Food away from hoae-—------------------Housing 2 / - - — — — - — — — Rent—
Gas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
House furnishings—
Household operation--

—
———...

—-——
-

Medical care-Personal care--

—
—

- — — --—.

—

Reading and recreation

-

February
1963

.2

.5

1.3

138.1

231.8

.3

.6

1.1

128.2

203.5

105.8

.2

.3

.9

135.0

191.4

107.0

107.0

0

.4

.9

134.2

194.2

106.1

106.1

0

0

.9

127.7

230.6

103.6
104.2
104.2
104.2
103.5
102.2
104.7
101.0
4/101.1
115.7
98.3

103.6
104.2
104.3
104.3
103.6
102.3
104.7
100.9
101.1
115.4
98.4

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

.2
.3
.8
.1
.3
.4
.1
.4
- .6
4.5
- .1

.6
1.0
1.0
.7
1.0
1.0
.7
- .5
- .7
.3
- .6

119.7
122.3
123.0
122.0
111.0
105.2
131.6
111.9
4/ 135.9
"
a/>
101.3

232.0
238.1
261.1
207.8
212.9
a/>
199.7
195.3
4/ 238.3
~
a/)
176.9

107.8

107.6

110.7

111.0

106.0

-

Special groups:
All items less food

. — — — — .

—

All items less shelter—
Commodities--

—

— —

Food
————————-.—........
Nondurables less food---Apparel---—
Apparel less footwear-—
Nondurables less food and a p p a r e l Durables—-—
—
New cars
Used cars
Durables less c a r s —
— —
Commodities less food-

Services less rent
Household operation services, gas,
and e l e c t r i c i t y — — — — — — — —
Transportation s e r v i c e s — — — — — — —
Medical care services
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(Reference period-$1.00)
-------

-

-

-

103.0

103.0

0

.3

.4

117.0

196.9

111.1
106.6
111.9

111.1
106.5
111.9

0
.1
0

.5
.2
.6

1.6
1.0
1.6

157.8
146.6
160.4

196.1
169.2
218.3

110.2
112.2
119.5
110.3

110.2
112.0
119.2
110.5

0
.2
.3
.2

.3
.7
.7
.6

1.7
.6
2.5
1.5

144.6
193.9
178.3
142.4

166.2
242.0
252.9
244.2

$0,942

$0,942

.9

$0,768

$0,456

-

0

-

.1

-

1/ Not available.
11 Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately.
3/ Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, Insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
and beauty shop services, and movies.
4/ Revised Indexes:
1957-59-100
1947-49-100
1939-100
March 1963 101.4
136.3
239.0
April 1963 101.1
135.9
238.3




4

TABIX 2s

Con«tM»r Frioe I n d e x — 1 1 1 items indexes and peroent changes, seleoted dates
U.S. city average and 20 large oities
(1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)

Indexes
(1957-59=100)
May
1963

City
United States city average-

February
1963

Percent change to
May 1963 f r o m —
Msy
1962

-

106.2

106.1

105.2

-

105.0
102.4
107.6
107.8
106.2

104.7
102.6
107.8
107.6
106.2

104.6
102.0
106.9
105.7
104.7

February
1963

Indexes
1947-49=300 1939-100

May
1962

May
1963

May
1963

0.1

1.0

130.3

219.3

.3
.2
.2
.2
0

.4
.4
.7
2.0
1.4

132.4
126.3
134.2
129.9
130.4

226.0
213.9
222.1
216.1
220.3

May
1962

May
1963

.8
.3
.9
1.0
1.8

129.5
128.6
127.3
135.0
127.7

218.9
216.1
217.6
228.1
211.4

April
1962

April
1963

April
1963

2.0
.7
.9
.6
2.2

135.3
131.6
131.7
131.0
131.6

221.8
213.3
217.2
225.5
225.7

March
1962

March
1963

March
1963

1.2
1.5
1.2
1.0
1.0

129.9
131.8
127.2
131.3
137.6

222.8
227.7
217.9
221.4
234.8

Cities priced monthly \ J
ChicagoDetroit—
Los AngelesHeir TorkRiiladelphiaCitiee prioed in February, May, August,
Noveaber
2/
Cleveland-—
Houston
—
Scranton
—
Seattle
Washington, D . C .

Msy
1963

~
—

Cities prioed in January, April, July,
October
2/
Boston---——-—
Kansas C i t y — —
Minneapolis—
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon
Cities prioed in
December
2/

— — —

March, June, September,

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati—
St. Louis
—
San Francisco-

February
1963

May
1962

104.3
104.4
106.7
107.4
106.1

104.3
105.0
106.9
107.2
105.6

103.5
104.7
105.7
106.3
104.2

April
1963

January
1963

April
1962

109.2
106.4
106.5
106.3
106.2

108.6
105.9
106.0
106.5
105.7

107.1
105.7
105.5
105.7
103.9

March
1963

December
1962

March
1962

104.9
106.2
104.5
105.8
108.4

104.5
105.7
104.0
106.0
107.8

103.7
104.6
103.3
104.8
107.3

-

February
1963
-

0
.6
.2
.2
.5

January
1963

-

.6
.5
.5
.2
.5

December
1962

-

-

.4
.5
.5
.2
.6

May
1963

2 / Bents prioed bimonthly.
2 / Foods, fuels, and a few other items prioed monthly) rents and other commodities and services prioed quarterly*

TABUS 3s

City

Consumer Price Index—Feroent changes frcm April 1963 to May 1963
U.S. oity average and five oities prioed monthly
All items and commodity groups

All
items
0

tfcited States eity a v e r a g e —
Chicago
Detroit
Rev York • - ••••
Philadelphia




-

0
0.3
.4
.1
.2

Housing

Apparel

- 0.1

- 0.1

- 0.1

-

-

-

Food

.3
.1
.7
0
.1

.1
.1
.1
.2
.4

-

.1
.1
.4
.7
.9

Transportation

Medical
oare

Personal
oare

0.4

0.3

0.2

.8
2.8
- .8
- .2
.2

0
.1
.1
.2
0

.1
.3
.5
.3
.1

Ftsfling
and
recreation

Other
goods k
servioes

- 0.3

0.2

-

.8
.1
.7
.3
0

0
.1
0
.3
0

5

TABLE 4: Consumer Price I n d e x — A l l items and commodity groups
May 1963 indexes and percent changes, February 1963 to May 1963
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in May 1963
Group

U.S.
Chicago
City
Average

Cleve- Detroit Houston
Los
land
Angeles

New
York

Phila- Scranton Seattle Washingto
D. C.
delohii

Indexes (1957-59=100)
106.2

105.0

104.3

102.4

104.4

107.6

107.8

106.2

106.7

107.4

106.1

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

104.2
102.5
109.3
98.0
102.8
113.9
94.5

104.7
103.8
110.7
99.3
110.4
111.1
95.4

100.7
99.3
106.6
97.9
96.7
109.1
90.9

100.7
99.6
103.7
95.2
104.0
107.7
92.8

102.0
98.8
101.2
95.8
99.0
108.0
93.8

105.9
103.3
115.0
95.0
108.1
117.6
90.5

106.3
103.5
112.9
100.5
100.1
115.6
94.0

103.2
101.2
105.7
95.9
100.5
114.9
95.1

103.1
101.9
108.3
96.8
99.4
115.5
95.9

106.7
104.2
107.2
101.1
107.5
117.2
94.2

103.3
101.5
108.8
95.5
101.1
111.1
97.0

Housing
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
House furnishings
Household operation

105.7
106.6
107.4
102.4
98.4
110.0

104.2
104.8
105.7
102.5
100.8
107.6

101.9
101.1
107.4
105.5
95.1
107.4

98.1

108.0
106.7
114.5

109.0

105.5
100.4
98.1
105.5

104.0
99.8
132.5
98.3
107.5

98.3
106.1

100.0
103.1
103.1
112.1

106.7
107.5
102.7
105.7
97.6
115.4

104.8
106.7
104.5
93.4
94.5
111.7

107.2
110.7
100.1
104.2
96.8
115.8

105.1
109.5
103.8
103.1
98.2
113.4

Apparel
Men's 1 and boys'
Women s and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel

103.7
104.2
101.1
110.3
100.9

101.2
102.7
96.2
110.7
98.9

104.3
103.2
101.2
114.6
103.4

104.8
102.3
104.4
111.3
100.7

104.9
105.4
103.9
109.5
101.9

103.9
105.0
102.2
109.1
100.2

103.1
105.0
99.6
110.4
100.0

105.2
105.6
103.8
110.4
101.9

104.7
106.4
103.3
107.4
100.2

106.3
107.7
103.5
113.2
102.5

105.7
104.2
104.0
113.3
104.8

Transportation
Private
Public

107.4
106.0
116.5

107.4
107.6
107.4

107.3
106.0
114.8

103.5
101.3
114.4

102.0
100.1
115.1

111.5
107.6
138.5

105.2
107.0
100.6

111.7
108.3
123.7

107.9
107.6
110.1

108.0
106.7
118.7

106.2
104.9
113.8

Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

116.4
107.8
110.7
106.0

120.0
107.4
100.0
100.9

126.5
105.6
107.0
107.2

115.4
107.7
106.8
108.9

110.0
111.5
110.6
107.2

115.2
105.9
101.7
106.0

116.9
107.2
116.0
106.2

121.1
106.2
100.0
104.4

115.8
114.8
127.9
108.2

110.5
107.5
106.8
110.0

125.1
106.9
111.5
102.6

0.2

0.5

All items

Percent change from February 1963 to May 1963
All items

0.1

0.3

0

- .8
- 1.0
.1
- 4.0
- .8
4.1
- 2.7

.7
.8
.3
- 4.3
0
5.5
- 2.5

- 1.5
- 1.8
.9
- 5.0
- 2.7
3.0
- 3.0

.3
.2
- .6
- 2.3
.1
.6

.6
1/ .2
- .7
- 2.1
.2
0

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

.4
.5
.4
.4
0

Transportation
Private
Public
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

Food at home
Cereals and bakery products-Keats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Housing
Rent
Gas and electricity--Solid and petroleum fuels
Housefurnishings
Household operation

- 0.6

- 0.2

-

-

1.0
1.2
.7
3.4
2.6
4.8
- 2.9

1.0
1.4
2.8
3.3
2.3
- .5
- 1.6

.2

.3
.1
0
- 3.5
- .6
.1

.5
0
.6
.2

-

.4
.5
.2
.6
.4

1.2
.8
1.2
1.9
.7

.3
.1
0
1.1
.2

-

.6
.7
.2

1.7
2.2
0

.1
.1
0

.7
.5
.6
.3

.8
.1
.5
0

6.3
1.2
- .6
.4

1/ Change from March 1963 to May 1963.




-

- 0.2

-

-

-

-

.5
.4
.1
0
0

.4
1.7
- 1.9
.6
- .7

.1
.1
0

- 4.4
- 5.0
0

.2
.4
1.0
0

.3
.6
.3
0

0.2

0

-

1.8
2.4
3.1
5.0
.4
.9
- 3.6

- .5
- .8
- .3
- 2.9
- 1.2
4.8
- 2.6

- 1.1
- 1.6
0
- 4.8
- 2.8
4.8
- 2.6

-

1.2
1.4
3.5
4.3
2.3
6.7
- 1.6

-

.2
.4
.3
- 3.3
1.0
5.8
- 3.5

.1
.1
.6
- 4.8
.7
5.1
0

1.3
1/ .3
- .2

-

-

- 4.9
- 2.2
.3
.2

1.3
1/ .1
~
0
- 2.1
- .5
.6

1.2
.4
0
0
- .9
5.8

.8
.3
- 2.2
- 2.1
1.0
.7

-

-

.3
.2
.8
.2
0

.3
.7
- .6
1.4
.1

-

.7
.2
0
.1
.2
0
0

.1

- 0.2

.2
.4
- .7
- 5.7
.2
1.2

-

.5
0
.8
.9
.3

.9
.9
- 2.4
0
- 1.4

.1
.4
0
.3
.5

-

.4
.4
0

.3
.5
0

.5
.7
0

2.0
2.4
0

-

.6
.7
0

1.6
1.2
3.7

.6
.7
- 1.2
0

.4
.8
5.2
1.1

.2
.4
.2
0

1.0
.3
0
.4

.5
.2
- 1.7
.1

1.3
.6
- .8
0

-

-

-

-

-

6

City

U. S. city average-

TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index—Food and ita aubgroupa
May 1963 Indexes and Percent Changes, April 1963 to May 1963
U.S. city average and 20 large cltiea
(1957-59-100)
Dairy
Cereals and
Maata, poultry,
Total
Total food
bakery
product!
an<1 fiah
pr.oducts
•fogd.lt
Percent
Percent
Percent Index Peisrcent Index Percent
Index
Index
Index
change
change
change
change
change
104.2

0.1

102.5

0.1

109.3

Atlanta————"
Baltimore
Boston--—•——
C h i c a g o — — —
Cine innat i—-----Cleveland———
Detroit——
Houston---Kansas C i t y — —
Los A n g e l e s —

102.3
103.5
106.2
104.7
102.3
100.7
100.7
102.0
102.1
105.9

.4
0
.4
.3
.1
.1
.1
.2
1.2
.7

101.5
100.7
103.9
103.8
100.5
99.3
99.6
98.8
100.8
103.3

.5
.1
.5
.3
.2
0
0
.2
1.4
1.0

105.0
108.1
110.6
110.7
107.2
106.6
103.7!
101.21
108.3
115.0

Minneapolis—
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh—
Portland, Oreg.St. L o u i s — — —
San F r a n c i s c o —
Scranton
Seattle
—Washington, D. C.-

101.7
106.3
103.2
103.2
104.1
103.1
105.9
103.1
106.7
103.3

.3
0
.1

99.8
103.5
101.2
102.8
102.2
100.5
103.6
101.9
104.2
101.5

.3
0
.1
.1
.5
1.3
.8
0

102.1
112.9
105.7
111.2
106.7
106.5
110.7
108.3
107.2
108.8

.1

.4
.9
.6
0
.6
.4

TABLE 6:
Food and unit
Cereals and bakery producta:
Flour, w h e a t — — — — — 5 lb.
-40 oz.
Biscuit m i x — —
M a c a r o n i — — — — — — -16 oz.
Corn m e a l - - — — — — — — — < - l b .
Rolled o a t s — — — — — -18 oz.
Corn f l a k e s — —
— — -12 oz.
lb.
Rice, short grain—
lb.
Rice, long g r a i n — — — —
lb.
Bread, white
----lb.
Soda c r a c k e r s — — — — — —
Sandwich c o o k i e s — — — — -16 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
lb.
Round steak—
lb.
Sirloin s t e a k — — — — — —
lb.
Chuck r o a s t — — — — — —
lb.
Rib r o a s t — — — — — —
lb.
H a m b u r g e r — — — — — —
lb.
Veal cutlets—
—-—
lb.
Pork chopa, center c u t — —
lb.
Pork r o a s t — — — — —
—
lb.
Bacon, s l i c e d — — — — —
lb.
Ham, w h o l e - — — — — - —
lb.
Lamb, leg
lb.
Frankfurtera——
Luncheon neat, canned----- -12 oz.
Frying chickena, ready-to-cook-lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, f r o z e n — — l b .
Haddock, fillet, f r o z e n - — - — - l b .
Salmon, pink, c a n n e d — - — - 1 6 oz.
Tuna fiah, c a n n e d - - — — 6 to 6% oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, ( g r o c e r y ) — — — — q t .
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice c r e a m - — — — — — — — % gal.
Butter-——————————lb.
Cheese, American process
\ lb.
Milk, e v a p o r a t e d — — — 1 4 % oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
S t r a w b e r r i e s — — — — — — 1 0 oz.
Orange juice concentrate—-6 oz.
Lemonade c o n c e n t r a t e — — — 6 oz.
Peas, g r e e n - - — - - - - - — — - 1 0 oz.
Beans, g r e e n — — — - - 9 oz.
Potatoes, french f r i e d — - - 9 oz.
Fresh:
A p p l e s — — — — — — — — l b .
Bananas-——————-———-lb.
Oranges, size 2 0 0 — — — d o z .
Lemons—— — — — — — — l b .

*

.6

.5

0.1

98.0

Fruita and
veg<etablea
Percent
Index
change

Other
fooda at: home
Percent
Index
change

- 0..3

102.8

- 0.1

113.9

1.7

94.5

-

.2
.2
.1
.1
.3
- 1.0
.5
2.5
- 3.0
.1

108.9
110.3
115.9
111.1
112.8
109.1
107.7
108.0
110.2
117.6

0
3.5
.3
0
1.0
2.9
1.0
- .3
- 1.3
- .9

99.4
96.1
96.8
95.4
90.8
90.9
92.8
93.8
96.2
90.5

.5
.7
.6
.4
.1
.2
.2
0
.1
.4

108.4
115.6
114.9
115.6
114.2
111.8
115.6
115.5
117.2
111.1

-

93.0
94.0
95.1
95.4
91.2
94.4
92.2
95.9
94.2
97.0

.3
0
.2
.3
4.7
- .3
- .4
0
.3
- 2.8

96.9
96.6
103.1
99.3
96.5
97.9
95.2
95.8
94.1
95.0

.4
- 1.,4
- ,.2
.2
- .7
0
.6
- .1
- 1..4
.1
-

102.,8
98,,3
96..3
110. 4
103..0
96.,7
104.0
99. 0
102.,4
108.,1

1.3
0
.1
.5
.1
0
0
.2
.3
.1

97.4
100.5
95.9
100.6
99.9
94.7
99.5
96.8
101.1
95.5

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

102.,2
100.,1
100,,5
97.,2
105.,4
102.,4
106.,7
99..4
107.,5
101..1

-

-

Consumer Price Index--Average retail prices of selected foods
U. S. city average
May
April
Food and unit
1963
1963
Cents
Cents
Fresh—Cont lnued
56.6
57.3
Grapefruit------------------each
48.1
48.1
Peaches *
lb.
24.9
25.0
Strawberries * — — — — - — p t .
14.4
14.5
Grapes, seedless *
-lb.
24.1
24.1
Watermelons *
— —
lb.
28.3
28.4
Potatoea
10 lb.
19.3
19.4
Sweet p o t a t o e a — — —
lb.
21.6
21.6
Corn * — — - —
doz. ears
21.6
O n i o n s - - — — — —
lb.
21.6
31.1
Carrota—--------—--—
lb.
31.0
52.3
Lettuce-—
head
52.3
Celery
lb.
Cabbage
lb.
104.7
104.7
107.5
Tomatoea-------------- —
lb.
108.0
59.2
Beana, g r e e n - — —
—-lb.
59.0
82.2
Canned:
82.3
Orange juice---—
--46 oz. can
50.8
51.0
Pineapple juice
46 oz. can
150.0
151.0
Peachea
#2% can
83.1
81.1
Pineapple-#2 can
59.7
59.3
Fruit cocktail
#303 can
64.3
64.4
Corn, cream style
#303 can
60.4
58.2
Peas, green--- — - # 3 0 3 can
71.0
73.1
Tomatoes
#303 can
63.1
62.8
Tomato juice
- — - 4 6 oz. can
50.7
50.2
Baby foods
4% to 5 oz.
40.3
39.7
Dried:
52.5
52.8
Prunea—
lb.
57.3
57.9
Beana—
—
lb.
71.8
72.1
Other foods at home:
34.1
34.3
Tomato soup— 1 0 % to 11 oz. can
Beans, with p o r k - - - — — 1 6 oz. can
24.1
24.0
Pickles, sliced
15 oz.
25.7
25.6
Cataup, t o m a t o — - - - — — — - — 1 4 oz.
84.4
84.7
Potato
c
h
i
p
s
—
—
—
—
—
—
4 oz.
74.8
74.9
C o f f e e — — — — - - - - - - - - - l b . can
36.0
36.2
C o f f e e - - - - - — - - — — — — — — - l b . bag
15.4
15.4
Coffee, i n s t a n t — - — - — — — - 6 oz.
Tea b a g s - — — - - — — —
pkg. of 48
27.4
27.5
Cola drink, c a r t o n - - - - - — - — 7 2 oz.
28.4
30.9
Shortening, h y d r o g e n a t e d — - - 3 lb.
14.0
14.0
Margarine, c o l o r e d - - —
—lb.
21.1
21.1
Lard-—------------------------- lb.
23.5
23.4
Salad d r e s s i n g — - — - - — - - — - — p t .
Peanut b u t t e r — — — - — — - - l b .
18.3
18.3
Sugar
5 lb.
17.1
18.4
Corn syrup
—
24 oz.
16.2
16.5
Grape j e l l y - — — - — — - 1 2 oz.
95.8
99.0
Chocolate b a r — - — — - - — - - 1 oz.
24.1
23.6
Eggs, Grade A, l a r g e — — - - — — d o z .
Gelatin, f l a v o r e d - — — — 3 to 4 oz.

.3
1.9
2.0
4.0
.7
.4
.1
3.3
1.9
2.5

- 1.8

_ 1.6

- .9
- 2.6
1.9
_ 2.5
- 2.0
- 2.1
.5
- 1.5
1.5
„ 3.1

- 1.9
2.2
- 1.6
- 2.9
- 2.2
- 1.8
- 1.0
- 2.8
.4

-

May
1963
Cent a

Cents

16.6

15.8

*

April

*

34.4
*

40.0

*

*
*

64.4
13.6
103.9
11.6
14.4
22.9
14.3
11.5
34.2
26.7

63.0
13.4
115.8
10.8
13.8
28.0
13.8
10.9
28.7
27.9

52.3
32.9
32.6
39.2
25.2
19.3
22.5
15.4
31.6
10.9

50.8
32.9
32.3
39.0
25.3
19.1
22.6
15.4
31.6
10.9

40.0
17.8

40.0
17.8

12.4
15.0
27.0
22.2
28.0
69.0
56.4
92.6
63.8
50.7
83.9
27.3
19.8
37.7
57.7
63.7
28.5
29.7
4.5
48.9
9.9

12.4
15.0
27.0
22.2
28.0
68.7
56.9
92.7
63.0
50.3
85.0
27.4
19.9
37.8
57.6
60.0
28.4
29.8
4.5
55.2
9.8

Priced only in season.




LABOR - D. C.

7

Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
services usually bought "by city families of wage earner^ 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
k6 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Mail 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 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 1957-59 = 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 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).
The historical tables for the U.S. 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, H.E.
Zone 9

Hew York
341 Hinth Avenue
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams Street
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansone Street
Zone 11

Boston
18 Oliver Street
Zone 10

Cleveland
1365 Ontario Street
Zone 14




LABOR - D. C.