Full text of CPI Detailed Report : May 1966

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THE CONSUMER
PRICE INDEX

MAY

1966

U.S. CITY AVERAGE
and
SELECTED AREAS

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
W. Wil ard Wirtz, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Arthur M. Ross, Commissioner




CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES: COMMODITIES AND SERVICES
INDEX 1 9 5 7 - 5 9 = 100

INDEX 1 9 5 7 - 5 9 = 100

125

125

RELATfVE IMPORTANCE
ALL ITEMS INDEX (as of Dec. 1965)

I 20

I 20
ALL SERVICES

34.5%

FOOD.

.

.

22.8%

NONDURABLES LESS FOOD... 2 4 . 6 %
DURABLE COMMODITIES

18.1%

I I5

I I5
All Services

I 10

^

10

«*
/
All It ems ^

III"^

105

I 05
X

Foc

^ ^ ^

Durable s

100

100
X

Nondurable JS Less Food

95

1 1 H i l l Hill

90

90

1957

1958

1959

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




I960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965
Latest Data:

1966
May 1966

Released June 21, 1966
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington, D. C. 20212
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MAY 1966
The Consumer Price Index rose by 0.1 percent in May, the United States
Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today. The increase was
caused mostly by higher costs of homeownership, furniture, women's apparel, medical
care, and cigarettes. Average prices of foods in grocery stores dropped 0.6 percent.
At 112.6 percent of its 1957-59 average, the index was 2.7 percent above a year ago.
Price Changes, April-May 1966
Charges for consumer services went up by an average of 0.3 percent in May.
The most significant increases were for mortgage interest rates, doctors 1 and dentists1 fees, hospital service charges, domestic service, house repairs, and barber
and beauty shops. Services of all types account for more than a third of the typical family budget.
Apparel and footwear prices continued to rise more than seasonally, especially for women's apparel, which advanced by 1 percent as summer lines came on the
market at prices higher than at the end of the season last year. Cigarette prices
continued to rise at retail in response to recent factory price hikes. Used car
prices were up only 0.1 percent in May, considerably less than the usual advance
over April. Prices of new cars declined 0.4 percent.
The drop in food prices was the first since September 1965. Meat prices
declined 1-1/2 percent in May, when increased supplies of pork put downward pressure
on prices of both pork and beef cuts. Poultry and egg prices also dropped, as supplies became more plentiful.
Fruit and vegetable prices, which usually rise at this season, fell in May
because of sharp price declines for cucumbers and green peppers. However, potato
and onion prices increased substantially when unfavorable weather conditions in the
South and Southwest reduced available supplies. Prices of apples and oranges rose
seasonally.
Price Trends, May 1965-May 1966
Higher food prices and increased charges for consumer services have been
responsible for most of the rise in living costs over the past year. In spite of
their recent decline, meat prices in May still averaged 15 percent higher than a
year ago, and poultry prices were up by nearly 10 percent. Egg prices also stood
13 percent above a year ago in May, and prices of dairy products were 5 percent
higher. On the other hand, consumers were paying 5-1/2 percent less for fresh
fruits and vegetables this year, primarily because of an 11 percent drop in average
prices of fresh vegetables.
Charges have increased by an average of about 3-1/2 percent for all kinds
of consumer services since May 1965. The largest increase—nearly 4-1/2 percent—has
been for medical care services. Advances for household, transportation, and other
kinds of services have ranged from 3-1/2 to 4 percent.




Apparel prices have gone up by 2.3 percent over the past year, to a considerable extent because of a 6 percent rise in footwear. Prices of consumer durables, on the other hand, were lower than a year ago, as the result of last summer T s
Federal excise tax cuts and a 3 percent decrease in used car prices.
Cost-of-Living Adjustments
About 206,000 workers will receive cost of living wage increases based on
the May Consumer Price Index. Some 95,000 employees of aerospace firms will receive
3 cents an hour as a result of the rise in the national index since February, and
75,000 meatpacking workers will receive 5 cents an hour based on the change since
November 1965, Other workers will receive increases ranging from 1/2 cent to 6 cents
an hour.




TABLE 1: Consumer Price Index—United States City Average
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, May 1966
and percent changes from selected dates
Indexes (1957-59=100)
May 1966
April 1966
Unad- Seasonally
Unad- Seasonally
adjusted
justed
adjusted
justed

Group
All items

112.6

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

113.5
112.0
114.3
113.9
109.3
119.2
102.8
122.2

k

Shelter 1/
Homeownership 2J
Fuel and utilities 3/
Fuel oil and coal kj
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation -

110.7
113.5
110.2
115.2
108.2
108.0
108.2
104.6

112.5
114.0
112.6
116.0
110.2
115.3
104.0

108.5
109.5

114.0
112.7
114.1
115.6
108.9
119.8
103.6
121.6
110.3
113.0
110.1
114.3
108.3
108.5
108.3
104.4

May
1965
Unadjusted

109.6
114.3
113.2
117
109,

108.2
107.7

107.9
106.2
110.8
100.3
104.2
121.4
100.8
116.9
108.2
110.2
108.8
11C. 8
107.1
104.6
107.7
103.1

Percent change to May 1966 from -April 1966
February 1966
May
1965
Unad- Seasonally
Unad- Seasonally
adjusted
Unadjusted
adjusted
justed
justed
2.7
•

0.3

.5
.9
.7
2.0
.5

.3
1.7

.4
.2
1.0
1.6
2.1
2.3
.7
1.2
1.2
1.2
.4
1.5
1.6
.9
0

0.8
.7
.3
3.3
2.0
.7

5.2
5.5
3.2
13.6
4.9
- 1.8
2.0
4.5
2.3

2.1
2.8

3.8
1.0
3.3
.5

Apparel and upkeep _5/
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear

109.3
109.9
105.0
119.0

109.4
109.9
105.4
119.0

108.7
109.6
104.2
118.1

108.8
109.7
104.5
118.1

106.8
107.0
103.4
112.2

.6
.2
.9

Transportation
Private
Public

112.0
110.5
122.1

112.0
110.5

112.0
110.5
122.1

112.3
110.8

111.4
110.0
121.3

.3
.3

Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services 6J

118.4
126.3
112.0
116.8
114.7

118.1
125.8
111.6
116.8
114.3

115.6
121.8
111.0
115.9
110.6

1.1
1.4
1.1

2.4
3.7
.9

All items less shelter
All items less food

112.4
112.5

112.4
112.2

109 .4
110 .3

.9
1.1

2.7
2.0

Commodities ]_/ —
Nondurables
Durables JJ 8/
Services 9/

108.8
111.3
102.5
121.5

109.0
111.6
102.5

108.8
111.4
102.3
121.1

109.0
111.6
102.3

106 .2
107 .5
102 .9
117 .5

.7
.6
.7
1.5

2.4
3.5
.4
3.4

Commodities less food ]_/
Nondurables less food
Apparel commodities
Apparel less footwear
Nondurables less food and apparel New cars
Used cars
Household durables JJ)/
Housefurnishings

106.3
109.3
108.3
106.1
110.0
97.0
117.5
96.7
98.5

106.4
109.4
108.4
106.3

106.0
109.0
107.6
105.6
109.8
97.4
117.4
96.4
98.3

106.0
109.1
107.8
105.9

105 .2
107 .2
105 .9
104 .6
108 .0
100 .2
121 .1
97 .8
98 .3

1.7
1.4
.6
.2
3.1

Services less rent 9/
Household services less rent
Transportation services
Medical care services

124.1
120.9
123.0
132.1
125.9

123.6
120.2
123.0
131.4
125.5

119 .5
116 .5
118 .7
126 .5
121 .6

1.7
2.4
.3
1.7
1.5

138.2
232.5

138.0
232.3

134 .5
226 .3

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
1957-59=$1.00
$0.8
1947_49=$1.00
.724
1939=$1.00 —
.430

$0,889
.725
.430

$0,912
.743
.442

1.6
1.2
1.8
2.4

1.5
2.3
.5
.5

2.3
2.7
1.5
6.1
.5
.5
.7

Special groups;

Other services 1JL/
All items index on other bases:
1947-49=100
1939=100

jy
2/
3/
4/
5/
6/
JJ
8_/
9/
10/
11/

97.4
117.6

97.4
118.2

0
0
.2

Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs.
'Also includes telephone, water, and sewerage service not shown separately.
Called "Solid and petroleum fuels" prior to 1964.
Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, jewelry, and apparel upkeep services not shown separately.
Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and funeral, legal, and bank service charges.
Includes home purchase costs which were classified under services prior to 1964.
Also includes auto p a r t s , t o y s , and recreational goods n o t shown separately.
Excludes home purchase costs which were classified under this heading prior to 1964.
Called "Durables less cars" prior to 1964.
Includes the services components of apparel, personal care, reading and recreation, and other goods and services.




.7
1.3
1.0
.6
.3

1.0
2.0
2.3
1.4
1.9
3.2
3.0
1.1
3.8
3.8
3.6
4.4
3.5

TABLE 2. Consumer Price I n d e x — T h e United States and Selected Areas
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, All Items
Most recent index and percent changes from selected dates

Indexes
Area 1/

Pricing
Schedule 2/

1957-59-100

1947-49=100

Other
bases

Percent change from:

February
1966

May 1966

May
1965

U.S. City Average

112.6

138.2

0.9

2.7

Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles-Long Beach -

110.2
110.4
114.2
115.2
113.1

139.0
136.1
142.4
138.8
138.9

1.5
.7
.9
.6

2.8
4.1
1.4
3.0
2.7

Philadelphia

January
1966

April 1966

Boston
Houston
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Pittsburgh

116.8
110.9
111.8
113.0

1.2
1.8
February
1966
106.6

109.7

136.2

110.1

138.8

113.7
112.8

142.9
135.8

104.6
101.6

110.3
112.5
109.1

136.6
139.6
132.8

115.3
112.1
114.9

142.6
139.1
145.8

May
1965

104.4

3.5
2.7
3.5
1.8
1.1
2.6
3.0

0.8
1.5
1.2
.5
.4
1.0

December
1965

March 1966

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Honolulu (Dec.1963=100)
Kansas City
St. Louis
San Francisco-Oakland —

3.5
2.8
2.7
2.9

2.5

144.7
136.6
138.3
139.2

May 1966

Buffalo (Nov.1963=100) Cleveland
Dallas (Nov.1963=100) —
Milwaukee
San Diego (Feb.1965=100)
Seattle
Washington

April
1965

1.0
1.4
1.1
.5
.6
.5
1.1

March
1965

3/

2.5
3.9
2.2
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.4

\J Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) except
for New York and Chicago where the more extensive Standard Consolidated Areas are used. Area definitions are those established for the 1960 Census and do not include revisions made since 1960.
2/ Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all cities; most other goods and services priced as
indicated:
M - Every month.
1 - January, April, July, and October.
2 - February, May, August, and November.
3 - March, June, September, and December.
3/ Change from April 1965.




TABLE 3: Consumer Price Index—The United States and Selected Areas 1/
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Major Groups
Percent change from April 1966 to May 1966
U.S. City
Average

Group

All

4 home

.-—m

0.1
-

Food
Housing
Apparel and upkeep
Transportation
Health and recreation
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
1/
2/

—

.4
.4
.6
0
.3
.4
.4
0
.3

Detroit

Chicago

0.3
-

-

Los AngelesLong Beach

0.4

.5
.7
.4
.2
.4
.4
.3
.3
.5

New York

- 0.1

-

.1
.8
0
- .1
.2
.4
- 1.0
.4
.4

-

-

Philadelphia

0

.4
.5
.8
1.2
.1
.2
.7
0
.1

- 0.1
-

.8
.4
.1
.3
0
0
.1
- .2
(2/)

- 0.5
- .1
.6
- .3
.3
.6
.5
.1
.3

See footnote 1, table 2.
Not available.

TABLE 4:

Consumer Price Index—United States City Average
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
Major group indexes, selected dates
(1957-59=100)
Health and recreation
Reading

Date

Apparel

and

All
items

Food

Housing

upkeep

and

Transportation

Total

Medical
care

Personal
care

recreation

Other
goods

and
services

1966:

May
Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.

112.6
112.5
112.0
111.6
111.0

113.5
114.0
113.9
113.1
111.4

110.7
110.3
109.6
109.4
109.2

109.3
108.7
108.2
107.6
107.3

112.0
112.0
111.4
111.1
111.2

118.4
118.1
117.6
117.1
116.9

126.3
125.8
125.3
124.5
124.2

112.0
111.6
111.0
110.8
110.4

116.8
116.8
116.6
115.9
115.7

114.7
114.3
113.8
113.6
113.4

1965:

Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June

May

111.0
110.6
110.4
110.2
110.0
110.2
110.1
109.6

110.6
109.7
109.7
109.7
110.1
110.9
110.1
107.9

109.4
109.2
109.0
108.6
108.2
108.3
108.2
108.2

108.1
108.1
107.8
107.2
106.4
106.1
106.9
106.8

111.6
111.5
111.2
111.0
111.0
111.5
111.2
111.4

116.6
116.4
116.2
115.8
115.6
115.3
115.7
115.6

123.7
123.4
123.0
122.8
122.8
122.7
122.2
121.8

110.0
109.6
109.2
109.2
109.0
108.7
111.0
111.0

115.4
115.4
115.2
114.8
114.3
114.6
115.7
115.9

113.4
113.3
113.3
112.7
112.6
111.5
111.0
110.6

1965
1964
1963
1962
1961
1960
1955

109.9
108.1
106.7
105.4
104.2
103.1
93.3

108.8
106.4
105.1
103.6
102.6
101.4
94.0

108.5
107.2
106.0
104.8
103.9
103.1
94.1

106.8
105.7
104.8
103.6
103.0
102.2
95.9

111.1
109.3
107.8
107.2
105.0
103.8
89.7

115.6
113.6
111.4
109.4
107.3
105.4
91.4

122.3
119.4
117.0
114.2
111.3
108.1
88.6

109.9
109.2
107.9
106.5
104.6
104.1
90.0

115.2
114.1
111.5
109.6
107.2
104.9
92.1

111.4
108.8
107.1
105.3
104.6
103.8
94.3

Annual Average:




TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index—United States and Selected Areas 1_/
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Commodity Groups
May 1966 indexes and percent changes from February 1966

Group

U.S.
City
Average

Buffalo
(Nov.1963=100)

Chicago

Cleveland

Dallas
(Nov.1963=100)

Detroit

Los AngelesLong Beach

Indexes (1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)
All items

112.6

106.6

110.2

109.7

104.6

110.4

114.2

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

113.5
112.0
114.3
113.9
109.3
119.2
102.8
122.2

108.0
107.7
100.3
111.8
101.7
117.4
103.8
109.4

113.6
113.2
113.2
113.6
117.0
117.9

110.0
108.4
110.2
114.1
103.7
115.2
97.4
119.0

109.4
109.8
107.0
116.6
109.0
110.8
102.9
107.7

111.5
110.0
107.3
114.9
109.5
112.9
100.2
120.2

113.0
109.9
119.1
105.9
111.5
122.3
96.2
125.0

Housing
Shelter
Rent
Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

110.7
113.5
110.2
115.0
108.2
108.0
108.2
104.6

104.5
104.0
101.8
104.4
106.7
100.2
109.3
104.3

107.8
109.2
106.5
110.6
105.8
105.6
106.4
105.5

105.1
103.8
101.4
104.2
115.6

101
102
99
104

103.8
104.2

117.0
101.7

97.7
99.3

105.8
102.6
100.6
104.8
100.8

116.3
122.2
111.6
125.8
103.8

Apparel and upkeep
Men's and girls'
Women's and girls'
Footwear

109.3
109.9
105.0
119.0

108.
108.
108.
110.

105.4
106.0
99.8
116.7

108.8
111.2
102.9
120.9

102.2
104.2
99.8
102.3

110.1
106.9
110.3
120.0

109.4
112.8
106.3
116.5

Transportation
Private
Public

112.0
110.5
122.1

105.8
105.8
106.3

109.2
109.3
109.2

112.9
110.7
125.9

102.5
102.5
103.1

110.8
109.3
114.8

118
114
139.9

Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

118.4
126.3
112.0
116.8
114.7

108.3
108.5
107.0
105.4
112.4

113.7
133.0
111.8
101.2
107.6

117.1
134.5
108.8
110.4
112.3

107.8
109.0
105.9
106.9
108.6

120.6
133.8
112.4
116.1
114.0

112.2
122.6
108.3
104.0
109.1

116.1

98.5

110.9
104.5

Percent changes February 1966 to May 1966
All items

0.9

0.8

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

.4
.2
1.0
1.6
2.1
2.3
.7
1.2

.2
.6
0
2.9
0
5.4
2.4
1.8

Housing
Shelter

1.2
1.2
.4
1.5
1.6
.9
0

1.3
1.4
.2
1.6
2.4
1.5
1.8
.3

1.6
1.2
1.8
2.4

Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation
Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear

Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
See footnotes at end of table.




1.1
1.4
1.1
.8
1.0

1.5

1.2

1.5

0.7

1
1.0
3.7
1.8
3.5
1.1
1.2

.2
.2
1.7
1.6
2.8
.6
1.4
2.5

.7
.5
1.3
1.0
4.3
2.8
.9
1.2

1.4
1.1
.6
1.7
3.6
7.1
.1
2.2

.1
0
1.1
.1
1.0
1.3
.5
.6

1.5
1.6
.2
2.2
2.5
0
1.2
.5

2.3
2.8
.3
3.4
1.9

.9
1.1
.1
1.5
1.8

1.9
2.4

.2

.1
.3

2.7
1.8
0
.5
.3

1.3
1.2
.7
3.8

2.3
4.5
1.7
2.5

2.4
.4
3.6
2.7

1.9
1.1
1.2
2.4

1.6
1.7
.3
3.9

.9
0

Transportation
Private
Public

0.8

.3
.3
.1

1.6
1.9
.1

1.9
2.0
0

.5
.6
.1

.9
.6
.3
.9

.4
.4
.5
.6
.7

.9
2.2
.5
.2
1.0

1.3
2.0
.7
2.0

.9
2.1
1.4
1.6
2.2

-

2/

-

(2/)

2/

1.3
1.3
.3
1.7
2.2
.1

.9
1.0
1.1
1.0

.4
.7
.6
.1
.6

TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index—United States and Selected Areas 1/
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Commodity Groups
May 1966 indexes and percent changes from February 1966—Continued

Group

Milwaukee

New York

Philadelphia

San Diego
(Feb.1965=100)

Seattle

Washington

Indexes (1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)
All items

110.1

115.2

113.1

101.6

113.7

112.8

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

113.5
112.5
104.0
115.9
115.0
118.6
105.6
120.4

114.4
111.5
115.7
113.1
103.8
119.8
103.0
127.7

112.5
110.8
109.8
110.2
114.3
118.7
101.3
122.0

106.3
105.7
105.1
113.0
101.4
101.8
101.8
108.0

114.4
112.2
107.8
115.5
116.9
119.1
101.8
124.6

113.
111.
109.9
111.4
111.9
116.5
105.2
124.0

Housing
Shelter
Rent
Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

106.8
105.8
104.0
106.6
110.9
115.9
101.9
106.8

115.0
118.3
116.9
107.6
113.6
108.0
110.2

111.2
113.8
110.7
114.7
106.7
112.6
101.9
105.1

100.5
101.4
100.2
101.8
97.8
100.0
99.8

112.3
116.6
109.8
118.2
110.9
104.0
99.0
104.2

111.0
112.8
115.3
110.4
104.7
105.4
104.4
108.1

Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear

106.9
108.9
103.0
115.4

112.4
113.8
106.7
121.3

114.2
109.2
110.5
121.7

100.6
103.1
98.0
106.8

112.1
115.8
110.6
122.1

112.3
110.4
109.0
122.6

Transportation
Private
Public

110.
110.
111.2

109.5
112.1
101.7

118.3
114.2
136.9

99.3
99.0
4/ 104.3

112.3
110.6
125.1

111.1
110.0
117.7

Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

114.6
119.8
115.4
113.8
110.7

123.2
128.1
110.0
125.8
121.9

117.0
130.4
109.0
112.0

116.4
123.2
110.9
109.8
119.4

118.4
138.3
110.9
116.1
106.5

(2/)

101.0
105.0
96.2
100.0
100.7

Percent changes February 1966 to May 1966
0.5

All items
Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Food away from home

.4
3.5
2.0
3.5
2.6
1.4
3.0

Housing
Shelter
Rent
Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

.6
.7
.5
.7
1.5
0
0
.4

Apparel and upkeep —
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear

.7
0
.6
3.0
.9
0

Transportation
Private
Public
Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
1/
27
2/
47

-

1.4
1.8
2.7
1.0
.9

See footnote 1, table 2.
Change from March 1966.
Not available.
Corrected index: February 1966 is 104.3.




0.9

0.6

0.4

1.0

.2
0

.5
.3
.9
.5
1.6
2.7
2.1
1.8

.3
.8
1.5

1.3
1.4
1.0
.6
4.1
2.9
.4
1.0

.2
2.5
3.9
1.9
.5
1.6
.8
.4
.3
.4
2.2
.2
.4
1.1

2.3
.7
.6

3.6
2.4
1.2
.6
.5
.1

.4
_

o

-

.3
.1
/ .3
.3
1.5
0
0
.3

0
.3

1.1
1.2
.5
1.5
1.6
0
0
.6

3.4

4.4

1.7
1.6
2.2
4.0

1.0
.1
.7
3.0

2.3
1.8
3.5
2.6

.5
.6
0

.9
1.1
.1

.2
.2
0

.8
1.0
0

.9
1.0
0

1.6
2.0
1.5
1.2

.6
1.2
1.1
- .3

.2
1.7
.1
1.3
.5

1.2
1.7
1.7
1.1
.7

.6
1.9
.4
0
.7

.6
.3
.1
2.0
.4
.2
.7
2.0

(2/)

TABLE 6: Consumer Price Index—United States and Selected Areas
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Food and its Subgroups
May 1966 indexes and percent changes from April 1966
Food at home
Area 1/

Total
food

Total

Cereals
and
bakery
products

Meats,
poultry,
and fish

Dairy
products

Fruits
and
vegetables

Other
foods
at home

Food
away
from
home

Indexes (1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)
U.S. City Average

—

Atlanta —
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo (Nov.1963=100)
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas (Nov.1963=100) Detroit
Honolulu (Dec.1963=100)
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles-Long Beach
Minneapolis-St. Paul —
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Francisco-Oakland Seattle
Washington

113.5

112.0

114.3

113.9

109.3

119.2

102.8

122.2

112.0
115.3
115.3
108.0
113.6
110.7
110.0
109.4
111.5
106.2
114.1
116.0
113.0
111.7
114.4
112.5
111.5
117.0
113.9
114.4
113.6

111.4
112.2
112.4
107.7
113.2
109.2
108.4
109.8
110.0
106.4
112.2
115.3
109.9
111.0
111.5
110.8
110.9
115.1
111.0
112.2
111.3

107.6
119.8
115.1
100.3
113.2
111.7
110.2
107.0
107.3
103.3
118.9
117.0
119.1
107.6
115.7
109.8
112.9
113.4
112.1
107.8
109.9

114.4
112.8
116.5
111.8
113.6
113.7
114.1
116.6
114.9
112.0
110.2
116.4
105.9
112.7
113.1
110.2
117.3
119.0
113.6
115.5
111.4

105.8
109.7
103.4
101.7
117.0
106.4
103.7
109.0
109.5
100.5
109.3
118.4
111.5
118.4
103.8
114.3
100.6
116.8
109.2
116.9
111.9

118.3
120.2
121.9
117.4
117.9
117.0
115.2
110.8
112.9
109.2
121.5
119.2
122.3
114.4
119.8
118.7
119.4
120.9
118.1
119.1
116.5

108.4
101.8
102.6
103.8
105.2
97.6
97.4
102.9
100.2
100.3
103.8
106.5
96.2
103.2
103.0
101.3
102.0
104.9
99.3
101.8
105.2

114.2
127.9
127.9
109.4
116.1
119.8
119.0
107.
120.
105.
122.
118.
125.0
114.0
127.7
122.0
114.8
122.5
127.0
124.6
124.0

Percent changes April 1966 to May 1966
U.S. City Avera
Atlanta —
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo (Nov.1963=100)
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas (Nov.1963=100) Detroit
Honolulu (Dec.1963=100)
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles-Long Beach
Minneapolis-St. Paul —
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Francisco-Oakland Seattle
Washington
1/

- 0.4
- .7
- .9
- 1.1
- 1.1
- .5
- .4
- .3
- .7
- .1
- .4
- .6
- .4
- .4
- .6
- .5
- .8
- 1.2
- .1
- .7
.4
- .5

See footnote 1, table 2.




- 0.6
-

1.0
1.1
1.5
1 6
.7
.7
.5
1.1
.3
.6

1.1
1.3
0
.8
.3
1.2

0.2

-

1.5

0.4

-

.3
.1
.3
.2
1.2
.6
.7
.3
.2
.4
.4
.1
1.1
0
.6
.1
2.0
.4
.4
1.1
.7

1.7
1.4
2.1
2.7
2.2
1.5
.9
1.5
.2
2.0
2.0
1.5
2.0
.7
1.2
2.7
1.7
2.1
1.5
2.7

2.2
.5
1.0
1.4
.1
.1
.1
.7
.6
.1
0
2.2
.4
.5
.3
2.5
.2
3.5

-

-

0.5

-

0.8

0.5

.3
1.9
1.7
1.9
1.8
1.3
.3
2.3
2.1
2.0
.2
.7
1.4
1.0
1.5
1.8
2.2
.9
.3
.7
1.7

-

1.3
1.4
1.8
2.0
.1
0
.1
1.4
.8
1.3
1.2
0
1.1
1.9
1.3
2.1
.8
.5
1.2
.6
0

.4
.2
.5
1.0
.3
.7
.8
.4
.7
.3
.2
.5
.6
.1
.2
.3
.3
.1
.1
.6
1.4

-

TABLE 7: Consumer Price Index—Food, Groups, and Items
May 1966 indexes and percent changes April 1966 to May 1966
U.S. City Average
(1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)

Index

Item or Group

Total food
Food away from home
Restaurant meals
Snacks 1/
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products

—

Cracker meal 1/
Corn flakes
Rice — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Bread, white
Bread, whole wheat 1/
Cookies

Layer cake JL/
Cinnamon r o l l s JL/
Meats, poultry, and fish
Meats
Beef and veal
Steak, round
Steak, sirloin 2/
Steak, porterhouse 1/ —
Rump roast 1/
•—
Rib roast
Chuck roast
Hamburger
Beef liver 1/
Veal cutlets
Pork
ChoDS ———
— — — — — —
Loin roast 2/
Pork sausage 1/
Ham, whole
Picnics 1/
Bacon
Other meats
Lamb chops JV
Frankfurters
Ham, canned 1/
Bologna sausage \J
Salami sausage \J
Liverwurst 1/
Poultry
Frying chicken
Chicken breasts 1/
Turkey If
Fish
Shrimp, frozen \J
Fish, fresh or frozen
Tuna fish, canned
Sardines, canned \J
Dairy products
Milk, fresh, grocery
Milk, fresh, delivered
Milk, fresh, skim \J
Milk, evaporated
Ice cream
Cheese, American process
Butter
1/
2/
3/
*

December 1963*100.
April 1960=100.
July 1961=100.
Priced only in season.




Percent
Change

113.5
122.2
122.5
105.6
112.0
114.3
110.5
115.5
120.3
107.0
118.9
108.3
99.2
101.3
104.6
113.9
116.3
113.3
108.3
105.3
110.0
104.9
120.0
108.6
117.4
109.5
127.0
121.6
116.7
127.3
136.5
114.4
127.0
130.5
119.5
119.1
119.3
123.6
116.9
114.5
117.6
95.9
97.0
104.1
106.7
118.2
101.5
123.3
114.6
106.7
109.3
107.0
110.3
103.5
108.3
94.6
128.6
108.0

-

0.4
.5
.5
.3
.6
.2
.6
.3
1.1
.3
.5
.6
.2
0
.8

-

1.5
1.5
1.6
3.6
2.0
2.2
2.7
.2

-

2.3
.2
.2
.6

-

2.4
3.4
3.1
1.7
2.2
3.7
.9
.3
.4

-

1.0
0
.5
.4
.1

-

2.9
4.0
2.3
2.6
1.8
1.5
1.1
3.9
.5
.4
.2
.3
.4
.8
.7
1.0
.2

Item or Group

Fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Apples —•- *
™

-•——————————————

Bananas ———
Oranges
Orange juice, fresh 1/
Grapefruit
Grapes *
Strawberries *
Watermelon *
Potatoes
Onions
Asparagus * JL/
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Cucumbers 1/
Lettuce —
Peppers, green 1/
Spinach 1/
Tomatoes
Processed fruits and vegetables
Fruit cocktail, canned
Pears, canned 1/
Grapefruit-pineapple juice, canned _1/ —
Orange juice concentrate, frozen
Lemonade concentrate frozen 2j
Beets, canned JL/
Peas, green, canned
Tomatoes, canned
Dried beans
Broccoli, frozen 1J
Other food at home
Eggs
Fats and oils:
Margarine
Salad dressing, Italian \f
Salad or cooking oil JL/
Sugar and sweets
Sugar
Grape jelly
Chocolate bar
Syrup, chocolate flavored If
Nonalcoholic beverages
Coffee, can and bag
Coffee, instant J3/
jpg

Cola drink
Carbonated fruit drink 1/
Prepared and partially prepared foods 1/
Bean soup, canned \J
Chicken soup, canned 1/
Spaghetti, canned 1/
Mashed potatoes, instant J7
Potatoes, french fried, frozen 2/
Baby foods, canned
Sweet pickle relish 1/
Pretzels 1/

Index

119.2
126.3
140.3
99.9
114.2
84.0
141.1
132.2

144.6
139.8
110.0
161.8
116.0
100.8
124.5
114.6
157.3
98.2
126.1
110.6
102.1
106.4
97.1
94.3
91.1
102.2
115.1
112.3
125.8
96.3
102.8
98.8
103.6
100.7
120.6
111.0
110.1
116.4
92.9
100.1
100.2
93.8
98.7
100.8
129.0
103.3
99.7
98.1
98.4
105.0
101.6
85.9
104.9
104.5
99.9

Percent
Change

8.1
2.3
4.4
.4
7.5
*
- 10.3
9.1

24.4
.9
3.5
6.2

- 3.7
- 48.5
.7

- 21.2
- 1.1
.2
.4
.6

-

2.3

-

1.3
1.0

.5

.2
.3
.7
.8
.2
.8

-

6.7
.1
.2
2.6
.2
.2

_

o

0
.7
.4
.1
.7

.4
.8
.7
0
.5
.4
.6
.7
.5
.2
.3
.2

10

OLD SERIES

TABLE 8:

Consumer Price Index—Scranton
All items and commodity groups
May 1966 indexes and percent changes from selected dates
(1957-59-100)
Percent change from —
Group

Index
February 1966

May 1965

All items
All items (1947-49-100)

114.1
136.1

0.2

3.3

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

112.
110.
113.
118.
104.
109.0
102.2

0
.1
1.2
.7
1.3
0
1.5

5.0
4.9
1.9
17.2
4.7
- 8.7
2.7

Housing
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
Housefurnishings
Household operation

107.
110.
104.8
98,
98,
113.0

Apparel
Men's and boys1
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel

110.5
111.9
107.8
118.3
103.2

2.0
.6
2.4
4.3
0

4.6
3.0
4.6
8.5
1.6

Transportation
Private
Public

110.2
107.9
125.3

1.0
1.2
0

0
0
0

Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

134.4
119.6
156.7
114.0

.4
.6
.6
.5

6.1
- .3
12.7
.8




.4
1.2
0
- .9
2.3
0

- 6

11
Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods
and services usually bought by urban wage earners and clerical workers, both families
and single persons living alone. It is based on prices of about 400 items which were
selected to represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by
wage earners and clerical workers. Prices for these items are obtained in urban portions of 39 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA's) and 17 smaller cities,
which were chosen to represent all urban places in the United States, including
Alaska and Hawaii. They are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals,
filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage
earners and clerical workers patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in
all 56 locations. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every
month in the 5 largest SMSA's and every 3 months in other SMSA's and cities. Mail
questionnaires are used to obtain local transit f^res, 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
Bureau1s trained representatives.
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each
location are averaged together with weights which represent their importance in the
spending of all wage earners and clerical workers. SMSA and city data are than combined in the total index with weights based on the 1960 populations of SMSAfs and
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 1957-59=100, and are
also available on the bases of 1947-49=100 and 1939=100.
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from
the 23 SMSA's for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following additional locations:
Alabama - Florence
Alaska - Anchorage
California - Bakersfield*
Colorado - Denver*
Connecticut - Hartford*
Florida - OrlandoIndiana - Indianapolis*
Indiana - Logansport
Illinois - Champaign-Urbana*
Iowa - Cedar Rapids*
Kansas - Wichita*

Louisiana - Baton Rouge*
Maine - Portland*
Massachusetts - Southbridge
Michigan - Niles
Minnesota - Crookston
Mississippi - Vicksburg
New Jersey — Millville
New York - Kingston
North Carolina - Durham*
North Dakota - Devils Lake
Ohio - Dayton*

Ohio - Findlay
Oklahoma - Mangum
Oregon - Klamath Falls
Pennsylvania - Lancaster*
South Carolina - Union
Tennessee - Nashville*
Texas - Austin*
Texas - McAllen
Utah - Orem
Virginia - Martinsville
Wisconsin - Green Bay*

*Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area
Comparisons of indexes for individual SMSA's show only that prices in one
location changed more or less than in another. The SMSA indexes cannot be used to
measure differences in price levels or in living costs between areas.
A description of the index and historical tables of index numbers for the
United States city average and for 23 large SMSA's are available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, D. C. 20212 or any of its regional offices
(addresses below).
BLS Regional Offices
1371 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

341 Ninth Avenue
New York, New York 10001

219 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604

450 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, California 94103

John F. Kennedy Fed. Bldg.
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

1365 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44114