Full text of CPI Detailed Report : May 1970

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the consumer price index

U.S. C I T Y AVERAGE

for May 1970

AND
SELECTED AREAS




U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
B U R E A U OF LABOR S T A T I S T I C S
July 1970

the consumer price index
a monthly

report

U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF
LABOR
J. D. Hodgson, Secretary

on consumer

BUREAU

including

Geoffrey

OF

LABOR

H. Moore,

STATISTICS
Commis

sioner

price

statistical

and technical

movements
tables

notes.

Consumer Price Indexes
1957-59 = 100

U N I T E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T OF L A B O R

bureau of labor STATISTICS




Commodities and Services

* S e a s o n a l l y adjusted

Latest Data: May 1970

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
FOR
M A Y 1970

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent in May to 134.6 percent of its 1957-59
b a s e . The increase was less than April's 0.6 percent rise because of smaller price increases
for most services and for commodities other than food. The rise in prices of food and
consumer durable goods accelerated from April's p a c e .
After seasonal a d j u s t m e n t , the CPI rose 0.5 percent in M a y , the same rate as in the
previous m o n t h . Prices of both food and consumer durable goods w e r e up contraseasonally and
by more than in A p r i l . Poultry and egg prices fell less than seasonally and prices of fruits,
v e g e t a b l e s , and dairy products rose m o r e than is u s u a l for M a y . The rate of increase in
prices of nondurable goods other than food slowed significantly as gasoline declined after
their appreciable rise last m o n t h . A p p a r e l commodity p r i c e s , after seasonal adjustment, rose
at April's p a c e .
In the 12 months ending in May 1970 retail prices rose 6.2 p e r c e n t . Charges for
consumer services moved up by 8 p e r c e n t , largely on the strength of increases for household
services, and were responsible for nearly half of the advance in the overall index. Prices
of commodities averaged 5.2 percent h i g h e r , led by price increases for f o o d , clothing, and
h o u s e s . Percent changes in the CPI and its major components, along with each component's
contribution to the overall change, over the 12 m o n t h periods ending in M a y 1969 and May 1970
are given b e l o w .
M a y 1969-70

Commodities
Food
Nondurables less food ..

M a y 1968-69

Percent
change

Contribution
to change

Percent
change

Contribution
to change

6.2

100.0

5.4

100.0

5.2
7.0
4.2
4.1
8.0

53.2
25.3
16.4
11.5
46.8

4.3
4.1
4.6
4.1
7.3

51.9
17.4
21.1
13.4
48.1

Services
Charges for consumer services climbed 0.5 percent in M a y , the smallest monthly rise
since last N o v e m b e r . Higher prices for household s e r v i c e s , especially residential rents,
mortgage interest costs, property taxes and insurance, and home maintenance and repair
services led the increase for s e r v i c e s . The overall importance of price increases for transp o r t a t i o n , medical care and "other" services combined equalled that of household services.
The rise in charges for m e d i c a l care services was the smallest since late 1969 as the rate
of advance in p h y s i c i a n s ' and dentists' fees s l o w e d .
Prices of "other" services rose significantly for the second consecutive month
on the strength of increases for college tuition and indoor movie admissions. Less significant increases were recorded for auto repairs and m a i n t e n a n c e , other automotive services,
and public transportation as a w h o l e .
Since May 1 9 6 9 , the increase in service charges has been 8.0 p e r c e n t . Over
one-fourth of this rise was due to increases in mortgage interest costs which reflect both
rate increases and higher house p r i c e s . Large increases w e r e also recorded for automobile
s e r v i c e s , home maintenance and repair services, property taxes and i n s u r a n c e , and rent.
Smaller, but still s i g n i f i c a n t , gains were made in prices of public transportation, doctors'
and dentists' services, gas and e l e c t r i c i t y , housekeeping services, and health insurance.




2

Food
Retail food p r i c e s , which usually decline slightly in M a y , rose 0.3 percent in
May as prices of food purchased in grocery stores and restaurant meals and snacks advanced
0.3 and 0.5 p e r c e n t , respectively. The increase in prices of food away from h o m e , although
substantial, was among the smallest recorded in the past year and significantly smaller than
last month's 1 percent g a i n .
The contraseasonal rise in prices of food purchased for home consumption resulted
primarily from less-than-seasonal declines in prices of poultry and eggs and larger-thanseasonal increases in prices of fresh fruits and vegetables and dairy p r o d u c t s . Despite
the strength in prices of fresh p o u l t r y , prices of m e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish posted their
smallest average rise on a seasonally adjusted basis since their slight decline last O c t o b e r .
Prices of beef and v e a l declined contraseasonally, 0.9 percent after adjustment, as weakness
in prices of nearly all cuts of beef w a s apparent. Movement of prices of pork and other
meats was seasonal, down 0.8 and 0 . 1 p e r c e n t , respectively.
Coffee prices rose significantly again in M a y in continued response to shortage
in supplies of green coffee resulting from weather damage to Brazilian crops. Other foods
showing large price increases in M a y were m a r g a r i n e , salad or cooking o i l , tea b a g s , soft
drinks, and candy b a r s . The increase in prices of margarine and salad or cooking o i l , the
most notable advances in this g r o u p , in large part reflects a tightness in world supplies
of food fats and o i l s .
Retail food prices rose 7 percent in the 12 months ending in May 1 9 7 0 . Price
increases for food at home totalling 6.7 percent m a d e up about three-fourths of the a d v a n c e .
Higher prices for b e e f , p o r k , fresh v e g e t a b l e s , m i l k , bakery p r o d u c t s , and nonalcoholic
beverages all played important parts in the rise in prices of grocery store f o o d . Prices of
restaurant meals and other foods consumed away from home were 8.3 percent higher than their
year-earlier level in M a y . As in A p r i l this was the largest year-to-year increase on r e c o r d .
Nondurables other than food
Retail prices of nondurable goods other than food rose 0.4 percent on both an
unadjusted and seasonally adjusted basis in May; the rise marked the thirty-fifth consecutive
month in which prices for these goods have averaged higher on a seasonally adjusted b a s i s .
Price increases for apparel commodities, particularly women's and g i r l s ' , were
responsible for the m a j o r part of the May advance; they amounted to 0.2 percent after
seasonal adjustment. R e t a i l prices of g a s o l i n e , which climbed sharply in A p r i l in response
to higher wholesale p r i c e s , declined fractionally in M a y . The drop helped to slow the
overall rate of increase in prices of nondurables other than f o o d .
Prices of housekeeping supplies advanced sharply led by higher prices for
household paper p r o d u c t s . Important price increases w e r e also reported for alcoholic
b e v e r a g e s , home-delivered n e w s p a p e r s , magazines and b o o k s , and over-the-counter drug items
in M a y .
Since M a y , last year r e t a i l prices of nondurable commodities other than food have
advanced 4.2 p e r c e n t . A b o u t one-third of this rise resulted from higher prices for apparel,
particularly for men's and women's clothing and women's f o o t w e a r . Approximately half of the
remainder of the advance was due to increases of 10.1 and 5.4 p e r c e n t , respectively, in
prices of tobacco products (primarily cigarettes) and alcoholic b e v e r a g e s .




3

Durables
R e t a i l prices of consumer durable gtpods posted their largest monthly increase in
more than a year in M a y , primarily on the strength of a sharp rise in prices of used cars.
House prices together w i t h the increase for used cars made up about eight-tenths of the
advance for d u r a b l e s . Prices of new cars declined seasonally and prices of household
durables posted their smallest monthly rise since the beginning of the year as appliance
prices declined fractionally.
The rise in used car prices followed a smaller rise in A p r i l and apparently stemmed
from an increase in demand brought about by consumers moving away from new cars or late model
used cars. Used car prices declined steadily from July 1969 through March 1970 and, despite
the substantial increases in the past 2 m o n t h s , w e r e only 0.6 percent higher than yearearlier levels in M a y .
Over the y e a r , prices of consumer durable goods rose 4.1 percent primarily because
of a relatively large increase in prices of h o u s e s . Price increases for household durables,
particularly appliances and furniture, were also important in the r i s e .
Cost-of-Living Adjustments
Approximately 128,200 workers w i l l receive cost-of-living wage increases based on
the Consumer Price Index for M a y . A b o u t 72,400 aerospace workers w i l l receive an 8-cent
hourly pay increase based on the rise in the national index since May 1969. An additional
2,100 workers w i l l receive hourly increases of 8 or 23 cents, based on the rise in the
index over the same p e r i o d . About 2,200 workers in the machinery industry w i l l get an
increase of 9 cents an h o u r , as a result of the rise in the n a t i o n a l CPI since November 1969.
About 22,500 workers w i l l get increases based on the rise in the index between February and
M a y , including 7,000 in farm equipment (6 cents) and 13,800, mainly in the chemical,
machinery and aerospace industries (5 cents).
A b o u t 20,000 workers in P a c i f i c coast shipyards w i l l receive increases of 4 cents
an h o u r , based on the rise in the index for Seattle since May 1969, and 2,000 retail clerks
in Los Angeles and 5,000 bakery workers in New York w i l l receive increases of 3 cents an
hour and 2 p e r c e n t , respectively, as a result of the increases in the indexes for those
areas.
A n additional 43,300 workers whose escalation reviews are tied to the May CPI will
not receive pay adjustments this month because they have already reached the maximums
stipulated in their contracts.
A NOTE ABOUT CALCULATING INDEX CHANGES
Effective with the F e b r u a r y , 1970 r e l e a s e , and continuing thereafter, percent
changes expressed as annual rates w i l l b e computed according to the standard formula for
compound growth r a t e s . These data indicated w h a t the percent change would be if the current
rate w e r e maintained for a 12-month p e r i o d .




4
Movements of the indexes from one date to another are usually expressed as
percent changes rather than changes in the index p o i n t s , because index point changes are
affected by the level of the index in relation to its base p e r i o d , and percent changes
are n o t . The following example illustrates the computation of index point and percent
changes:

Index Point Change
May 1970 CPI (1957-59=100)
less A p r i l 1970 index
Index point difference =




Percentage Change
134.6
134.0

0.6

Index point difference divided by the
index for the previous period:
134.6 - 134.0 x 100 = 0.4
134.0

TABLE 1.

Consumer Price I n d e x — U n i t e d States city average for urban wage earners and clerical w o r k e r s , May 1970
(Unadjusted, unless otherwise

indicated)

Indexes
(1957-59=100 unless otherwise noted)
May
April
May
February
1970
1969
1970
1970

Group

Percent change to May 1970
from
1 Month
1 Year
3 Months
Ago
Ago
Ago
6.2
0.4
1.6

134.6
165.2

134.0
164.4

132.5
162.5

126.8
155.6

-

"

132.4
127.8
128.0
130.5
129.9
136.8
113.7
154.7

132.0
127.4
127.6
130.9
129.5
134.7
113.8
154.0

131.5
127.4
126.3
129.7
128.8
132.4
118.1
151.5

123.7
119.8
121.6
119.9
123.6
130.0
107.1
142.8

.3
.3
.3
-.3
.3
1.6
-.1
.5

.7
.3
1.3
.6
.9
3.3
-3.7
2.1

7.0
6.7
5.3
8.8
5.1
5.2
6.2
8.3

Housing
Shelter 1/
Rent
Homeownership 2/
Fuel and utilities 3/
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

135.1
144.7
123.0
153.3
116.4
121.0
115.8
122.5

134.4
143.7
122.6
152.1
116.3
120.9
115.7
122.0

132.2
140.9
121.8
148.5
114.9
120.6
114.6
120.8

125.8
132.4
118.1
138.0
112.6
117.5
111.2
117.4

.5
.7
.3
.8
.1
.1
.1
.4

2.2
2.7
1.0
3.2
1.3
.3
1.0
1.4

7.4
9.3
4.1
11.1
3.4
3.0
4.1
4.3

Apparel and upkeep 4/
Men's and b o y s '
Women's and g i r l s '
Footwear

131.9
133.9
126.6
147.6

131.1
133.4
125.2
147.2

130.0
131.0
125.4
145.0

126.6
128.1
122.4
139.6

.6
.4
1.1
.3

1.5
2.2
1.0
1.8

4.2
4.5
3.4
5.7

Transportation
Private
New cars
Used cars
Gasoline
Public

129.9
125.9
104.1
127.5
118.6
166.6

128.9
124.9
104.3
121.1
119.2
165.8

127.3
123.3
104.6
117.8
116.7
165.4

124.0
121.2
101.8
126.8
117.3
148.0

.8
.8
-.2
5.3
-.5
.5

2.0
2.1
-.5
8.2
1.6
.7

4.8
3.9
2.3
.6
1.1
12.b

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

142.9
163.6
130.3
135.2
136.1

142.3
162.8
129.8
134.4
135.6

140.7
160.1
129.0
133.2
134.3

135.7
154.5
125.8
130.2
126.9

.4
.5
.4
.6
.4

1.6
2.2
1.0
1.5
1.3

5.3
5.9
3.6
3.8
7.2

132.9
131.5
129.9

132.4
131.2
128.8

131.8
130.7
127.7

-

.4
.2
.9

.8
.6
1.7

-

-

All items less food
All items less medical care

135.5
132.9

134.8
132.2

133.0
130.8

127.9
125.2

.5
.5

1.9
1.6

5.9
6.2

Commodities
Nondurables
Nondurables less food
A p p a r e l commodities

125.8
129.8
127.5
131.2

125.2
129.3
127.0
130.4

124.2
128.4
125.8
129.3

119.6
123.0
122.4
126.0

.5
.4
.4
.6

1.3
1.1
1.4
1.5

5.2
5.5
4.2
4.1

115.9
108.0
154.1
161.0
150.1
145.4

114.8
107.8
153.4
160.1
149.4
144.5

113.7
106.9
150.7
157.1
146.8
139.9

111.3
105.6
142.7
148.1
5/
127.9

1.0
.2
.5
. 6
.5
.6

1.9
1.0
2.3
2.5
2.2
3.9

4.1
2.3
8.0
8.7
5/
13.7

113.7

113.4

112.2

107.4

.3

1.3

5.9

137.2
179.3

136.4
178.4

134.7
175.2

126.4
168.2

.6
.5

1.9
2.3

8.5
6.6

$0,743
.360

$0,746
.362

$0,755
.366

$0,789
.382

- .5

- 1.6

- 5.8

A l l items —
—
A l l items (1947-49=100)

—

-

—

Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
Food away from home

-

Seasonally A d j u s t e d ^
Apparel and upkeep
Transportation

-

Special Groups:

Durables
Household durables
Services less rent
Services less medical care
Insurance and finance (Dec.1965=100)
Utilities and public transportation
(Dec.1965=100)
Housekeeping and home maintenance services
(Dec.1965=100)
Medical care services
Purchasing Power of Consumer Dollar:
1957-59=$1
1939=$1
1/
2/
3/
4/
5/

i
i
I

Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
Includes home p u r c h a s e , mortgage interest, t a x e s , insurance, and maintenance and r e p a i r s .
Also includes telephone, w a t e r , and sewerage service not shown separately.
Also includes infants' w e a r , sewing m a t e r i a l s , jewelry, and apparel upkeep services not shown separately.
Not a v a i l a b l e .

Note:

Index applies to month as a whole not to any specific d a t e .




- 6 -

T A B L K 2 . C o n s u m e r ?rice I n d e x - - T h e U n i t e d States and s e l e c t e d a r e a s for u r b a n w a r e e a r n e r s a n d clerical
all items most r e c e n t i n d e x and p e r c e n t c h a n g e s from s e l e c t e d d a t e s

workers,

Indexes
Pricing
S c h e d u l e 2/

A r e a 1/

1957-59=100

1947-49=100

May

Percent change

Other
bases
April
1970

1970

February
1970

from:

May
1969

U.S. City Average

M

134.6

165.2

0.4

1.6

6.2

Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles-Long Beach
New Y o r k
Philadelphia

M
M
M
M
M

131.1
134.9
133.8
140.7
136.5

165.3
166.3
166.8
169.5
167.6

.7
.8
.2
.4
.6

1.4
2.0
1.7
1.9
1.6

6.1
6.7
5.4
7.6
7.1

—-

April

Boston
Houston
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Pittsburgh —
-

-

1
1
1
1

137.9
132.9
135.1
132.4

2
2
2
2
2
2
2

—

3
3
3
3
3
3
3

February
1970

1970

127.0
134.3

166.7

130.0

164.0

133.9
136.7

168.3
164.6

127.1
120.9

March

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Honolulu (Dec.1963=100)
Kansas City
St. Louis
San F r a n c i s c o - O a k l a n d

1.3
1.5
1.7
2.3

170.8
163.7
167.2
163.1

May

Buffalo (Nov.1963=100)
—
Cleveland
Dallas (Nov.1963=100)
Milwaukee
San D i e g o ( F e b . 1 9 6 5 = 1 0 0 ) Seattle
Washington

January
1970

1970

December
1969

1970

131.9
133.5
129.2

163.3
165.6
157.2

134.6
132.4
136.1

166.6
164.3
172.8

1.4
1.5
1.2
1.2
1.9
1.3
1.6

122.0

1.5
1.2
1.2
1.9
1.1
1.3
1.2

April
1969
6.2
5.9
8.0
5.1

May
1969
5.7
7.2
6.4
5.9
5.7
4.9
6.1

March
1969
5.6
6.2
5.3
5.5
5.1
5.6
5.6

1/
A r e a c o v e r a g e i n c l u d e s t h e u r b a n p o r t i o n of the c o r r e s p o n d i n g S t a n d a r d M e t r o p o l i t a n S t a t i s t i c a l A r e a ( S M S A ) e x c e p t
for N e w Y o r k a n d C h i c a g o w h e r e the m o r e e x t e n s i v e S t a n d a r d C o n s o l i d a t e d A r e a s a r e u s e d . A r e a d e f i n i t i o n s a r e those e s t a b lished for the 1960 C e n s u s a n d do n o t i n c l u d e r e v i s i o n s m a d e since 1 9 6 0 .
2J
F o o d s , f u e l s , a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r i t e m s p r i c e d e v e r y m o n t h in a l l c i t i e s ; m o s t o t h e r g o o d s a n d s e r v i c e s p r i c e d a s
indicated:
M - Every month.
1 - January, April, July, and October.
2 - February, M a y , August, and November.
3 - March, June, September, and December.
N o t e : T h e C o n s u m e r P r i c e I n d e x c a n n o t be used for m e a s u r i n g d i f f e r e n c e s in living c o s t s amonf a r e a s ; it i n d i c a t e s
c h a n g e w i t h i n a r e a s . E s t i m a t e s of d i f f e r e n c e s in living c o s t s a m o n g a r e a s a r e found in the family b u d g e t s .




price

-

7 -

T A B L E 3 . C o n s u m e r P r i c e I n d e x — T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s and S e l e c t e d A r e a s
For U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s and C l e r i c a l W o r k e r s , M a j o r G r o u p s
P e r c e n t c h a n g e from April 1970 to M a y 1970

U . S . City
Average

Group

0.4

A l l items

.3
.5
.6
.8
.4
.5
.4
.5
.4

Food
Housing
A p p a r e l and u p k e e p
Transportation
H e a l t h and r e c r e a t i o n
M e d i c a l care
P e r s o n a l care
R e a d i n g and r e c r e a t i o n
O t h e r g o o d s and s e r v i c e s
1/ See f o o t n o t e 1 , table

I]

Chicago

Detroit

Los AngelesLong B e a c h

New York

Philadelphia

0.7

0.8

0.2

0.4

0.6

.4
,o

.7

1.6
.5
.1
.2
(2/)
.3
- .2

- .2
2.0
.8
.3
(2/)
1.2
.8

.5
.4
1.1
- 1.4
.4
.4
(2/)

.2
.7
.6
.6
.1
.l
(2/)
.3
.3

.2

.6
.7
.4
.1
.4
(2/)
.2
(2/)

2.

2/ Not a v a i l a b l e .

T A B L E 4 . C o n s u m e r P r i c e I n d e x — U n i t e d S t a t e s C i t y A v e r a g e for
U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s and C l e r i c a l W o r k e r s for S e l e c t e d G r o u p s
Seasonally Adjusted
(1957-59=100)

Indexes

Group
i'ay 1970

\pril 1970

F e b r u a r y 1970

P e r c e n t c h a n g e s to:
From:
1 Month
Ago

M a y 1970
3 Months
Ago

Food
Food at h o m e
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish
Dairy products
F r u i t s and v e g e t a b l e s
O t h e r foods at h o m e

132 .9
128 .4
132 .2
130 .3
134 .0
115 .3

132 .4
127 .8
132 .1
130 .2
133 .5
113 # a

131 .8
127 .7
130 .2
128 . o
133 .5
117 .4

.1
.1
.4
1.2

F u e l and u t i l i t i e s 1/
F u e l o i l and coal

116,.4
121,.1

116 .2
120 .5

114 .8
119 .4

.2
.5

1 .4
1 .4

A p p a r e l and u p k e e p 2/
M e n ' s and b o y s '
W o m e n ' s and g i r l s '
Footwear

131..5
133..6
126..1
147..3

131 .2
133 .3
125 .6
147,.2

130 .7
131,.8
126 .5
145,.3

.2
.2
.4
.1

1,,4
.3
1,.4

Transportation
Private
New cars

129..9
125.,9
104.,4

128,.8
124,,5
104,.4

127..7
123..8
104..2

.9
1.1
.0

1,,7
1.,7
,2

Commodities
C o m m o d i t i e s less food
Nondurable
N o n d u r a b l e s less food
Apparel commodities

125.9
122.3
130. 1
127.5
1 3 0 .8

125.3
121.6
129.4
1 2 7 .,0
130. 5

1 2 4 .4
120.6
128.7
126. 1
130. 1

.5
.6
.5
.4
.2

1. 2
1. 4
1. 1
1. 1
5

115.9

1 1 4 .1

1 1 3 .,9

1.0

1 .8

Durables

-

1/ A l s o i n c l u d e s t e l e p h o n e , w a t e r , and s e w e r a g e s e r v i c e not s h o w n s e p a r a t e l y .
2/ A l s o i n c l u d e s i n f a n t s ' w e a r , s e w i n g m a t e r i a l s , j e w e l r y , and a p p a r e l u p k e e p s e r v i c e s not s h o w n




0.4

separately.

0 .8
1 .5
1. 1
.4
- 1 .8

- 8 -

TABLE 5 . Consumer Price I n d e x — U n i t e d States and Selected Areas 1/
For U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s and Clerical W o r k e r s , Commodity Groups
M a y 1970 index and percent changes from F e b r u a r y 1970

Group

U.S. City
Average

Chicago

1 Detroit

|

Los AngelesLonp Reach

New York

Philadelphia

Indexes (1957-59=100 unless otherwise ispecified)
A l l items

134.6

131.1

134.9

133.8

140.7

136.5

Food
Food at home
Cereals and b a k e r y products
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish
D a i r y products
Fruits and v e g e t a b l e s
O t h e r foods at home
Food away from h o m e

132.4
127.8
128.0
130.5
129.9
136.8
113.7
154.7

133.1
131.0
134.1
134.7
138.5
133.3
114.3
143.0

132.1
129.6
124.6
138.6
137.9
127.1
112.9
146.4

128.1
122.3
125.7
120.6
127.9
135.1
105.3
149.1

136.0
128.2
124.4
131.6
122.9
143.5
113.7
168.5

132.3
126.3
129.8
124.2
136.8
136.0
109.8
164.2

Housing
Shelter
Rent
Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
F u e l oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

135.1
144.7
123.0
153.3
116.4
121.0
115.8
122.5

128.3
135.3
116.2
144.6
110.7
114.4
110.9
119.5

135.2
147.3
(2/)
155.4
107.5
114.0
107.9
115.5

139.7
151.0
125.6
159.5
112.7
121.7
118.9

140.3
148.0
(2/)
157.0
115.6
127.0
112.2
134.8

135.4
145.0
126.0
150.0
114.8
126.4
109.5
126.3

A p p a r e l and upkeep
Men's and b o y s '
W o m e n ' s and g i r l s '
Footwear

131.9
133.9
126.6
147.6

124.6
123.5
119.0
141.9

126.3
127.1
118.2
147.1

130.5
132.0
133.6
140.1

137.8
145.1
128.9
148.7

137.7
135.5
125.9
157.1

Transportation
Private
Public

129.9
125.9
166.6

130.5
126.9
154.6

127.0
124.2
145.3

131.0
126.3
160.0

142.8
135.6
175.6

141.6
134.6
179.1

Health and recreation
M e d i c a l care
P e r s o n a l care
Reading and r e c r e a t i o n
Other goods and services

142.9
163.6
130.3
135.2
136.1

137.9
171.8
(2/)
117.9
130.2

147.2
178.7
(2/)
134.1
130.9

134.2
161.4
(2/)
116.7
126.6

150.2
170.3
124.4
148.4
146.1

144.5
174.9
(2/)
127.8
(2/)

-

Percent changes from February 1970 to M a y 1970
1.6

1.4

2.0

1.7

1.9

1.6

.7
.3
1.3
.6
.9
3.3
- 3.7
2.1

- .1
- .2
1.2
.2
.4
3.0
- 5.0
.6

1.5
1.3
.4
.8
1.2
7.9
- 2.6
2.4

.7
.6
1.5
.9
3.1
2.3
- 3.4
1.0

1.0
- .1
- .1
1.1
.7
2.1
- 4.7
4.1

- .2
2.7
.6
.1
1.2
- 4.9
1.9

Housing
Shelter
Rent
Homeownership
F u e l and utilities
F u e l o i l and c o a l
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

2.2
2.7
1.0
3.2
1.3
.3
1.0
1.4

1.7
2.1
3/ 1.0
2.6
.2
.3
.3
1.1

A p p a r e l and u p k e e p
M e n ' s and b o y s '
W o m e n ' s and g i r l s '
Footwear

1.5
2.2
1.0
1.8

2.8
4.7
2.9
2.3

.6
.1
- 1.3
6.1

2.0
2.2
3.4
1.3

.8
3.0
- 1.2
2.3

Transportation
Private
Public

2.0
2.1
.7

2.0
2.3
.0

1.0
1.1
.0

3.1
3.2
.9

1.5
1.6
1.1

2.2
2.7
.2

Health and r e c r e a t i o n
M e d i c a l care
P e r s o n a l care
Reading and r e c r e a t i o n
Other goods and services

1.6
2.2
1.0
1.5
1.3

1.3
2.1
(2/)
1.5
.5

2.0
2.9
(2/)
1.0
4.6

1.7
3.4
(2/)
1.0
.6

1.8
2.3
.6
2.1
1.8

1.3
1.8
(2/)
.6
(2/)

A l l items
Food
Food at h o m e
Cereals and bakery products
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish
D a i r y products
Fruits and v e g e t a b l e s
O t h e r foods at h o m e —
Food away from h o m e

See footnotes at end o f t a b l e .




3.1
3.7
(2/)
4.2
1.7
.3
.1
1.9

1.5
1.8
3/ 1.9
1.7
.8

_

1.4
.7

3.3
4.2
(2/)
6.4
1.7
.2
- .3
2.1

.2

3.1
4.0
3/ 1.8
4.6
2.0
.0
2.8
2.1

-

.0
2.5
2.6
1.7

- 9 -

TABLE 5 . Consumer P r i c e I n d e x — U n i t e d States and Selected Areas 1/
For U r b a n W a g e Earners and C l e r i c a l W o r k e r s , C o m m o d i t y Groups
Continued
M a y 1970 index and percent changes from F e b r u a r y 1970

Group

Buffalo
(Nov.63= LOO)
i

Cleveland

I Milwaukee
Dallas
(Nov.63=100)
1
!

San uiego
(Feb.65=]LOO)

Seattle

Washington

Indexes (1957 - 5 9 = 1 0 0 unless o t h e r w i s e s p e c i f i e d )
127 .0

134 .3

127 .1

130 .0

120,.9

133 .9

136 .7

Food
Food at home
C e r e a l s and bakery products
H e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and v e g e t a b l e s
O t h e r foods at h o m e
Food away from h o m e

128 .1
126 .2
114 .0
129 .1
126 .2
137 .5
120 .8
139 .3

130
127
121
134
133
134
113
148

.8
.8
.5
.0
.4
.2
.8
.4

126 .0
122 .1
116 .9
130 .2
123 .6
124 .0
112 .7
140 .7

129
126
118
131
130
133
113
147

.4
.1
.9
.6
.3
.4
.2
.6

122 .3
119,.0
114 .5
133 .6
116,.9
108,.6
110,.3
131 .2

130,.6
124 .1
116,.8
129,.3
130,.6
131,.0
111,.4
157,.5

136 .2
129 .4
125 .3
128 .8
129 .3
140,.0
122 .4
161 .2

Housing
Shelter
Rent
Homeownership
F u e l and utilities
F u e l o i l and coal
Gas and electricity
H o u s e h o l d furnishings and o p e r a t i o n

126 .9
131 .2
113 .1
134 .6
118 .5
116 .1
121 .1
120 .8

130
134
109
138
119

.5
.1
.3
.6
.7

127 .0
129 .6
115 .3
134 .2
123 .7
132 .9
118,.6
122,.8

127,.5
140 .2
124 .8
146,.8
99,.1

117 .9
120 .9

129 .2
138 .8
111 .1
152 .5
110 .3
106 .1
119 .7

100,.0
110,.0

138 .8
155 .7
128,.2
163 .6
116,.2
116,.2
98,.1
117,.4

132 .4
138 .5
127 .6
143,.1
108,.1
121 .0
107,.0
128,.1

A p p a r e l and upkeep
M e n ' s and boys*
Women' s^and girls'
Footwear

132 .9
142 .8
130 .1
138 .1

131
133
124
151

.7
.6
.1
.4

125 .7
133 .6
121 .6
127 .0

135 .1
131,.6
134 .0
151 .0

117,.9
124,.5
116,.5
124,.5

128,.8
130,.8
128,.4
147,.9

141,.4
139,.0
142,.2
153,.7

Transportation
Private
Public

121 .0
120 .7
124 .1

132 .7
127 .7
165 .9

116 .9
116 .1
128 .3

126,.1
122 .2
178,.8

111,.4
111,.6
107,.2

124,.8
124,.0
132,.8

132,.9
129,.1
155,.7

H e a l t h and r e c r e a t i o n
M e d i c a l care
P e r s o n a l care
R e a d i n g and r e c r e a t i o n
O t h e r goods and services

127 .6
134 .3
123,.4
123 .8
127,.3

148 .7
187,.1
130,.9
130,.1
142,.3

132 .7
144 .3
124,.5
127,.6
126 .9

137,.0
155,.6
134,.8
131,.4
129,.0

118,.3
130,.0
106,.8
112,.5
119,.4

136,.0
154,.8
129,.7
125,.5
132..9

147,.7
189,.6
128,.4
138,.1
131,.2

A l l items

-

-

Percent changes from F e b r u a r y 1970 to M a y 1970
A l l items
Food
Food at h o m e
Cereals and b a k e r y products
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and v e g e t a b l e s
O t h e r foods at home
Food away from h o m e
Housing
Shelter
Rent
Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
F u e l o i l and coal
Gas and electricity
H o u s e h o l d furnishings and operation
A p p a r e l and upkeep
M e n ' s and b o y s '
W o m e n ' s and g i r l s '
Footwear — •

1,.2

1,,9

1.,3

i..6

,.5

.8
.8
2,.5
1..7
3,.0
3..1
- 5,.2
1.,0

1.,1
1..0
2..5
1.,6
.5
4..3
- 2.,8
1.,6

.0
- 1..1
2..0
- 3..4
1..2
3..7
- 3..6
2.,9

,5
,2
1..3
- ..2
1..4
1.,2
2.,1
1.,2

2..2
2..9
1..5
3..3
.0

- ..2

1..6
2..2

2.,0
2..5
1..2
3..2
.3
,0
,8
,8

.7
- 2,,7
1.,3

1.,6
1.,3
2..2
.8

2.,3
1,,5
4..9
.0

- .,9

4.,6
1.,4

2.,6
3.,0
4.,5
,5

1,.4

1..5

1,.2

.9
.6
3,.4
.5
1..2
- ..4
- ,.3
1,,8

1,.9
1,.8
3..0
2..8
4,.5
2..4
- 3..1
2..6

.1
- ,.8
1,.5
.8
- 2,.1
3,.3
- 5,.9
2,.8

1,.7
1,.9
.9
2,,1
1,.5
.0
,0
,8

1.,4
1..1
.4
1..2
4,,0

1,.8
2..7
.7
3,.4
- ,.4

1.,3
1.,2

- <.7
.7

1.,3
1.,8
- ..5
6.,1

1., g
3
4 .,5
,3

- .,5

-

- 1..0
.1
.2
- 5,.9
6,.4
- 4,.6
1..5

-

.0
1.,2

2.,8
,3
.8
,0
,9
1.,7

Transportation
Private
Public

1,•2
1..3
,0

1.,0
1. 2
,0

2. .5
2. ,7
,2

5.,0
3 .,8
16.,6

2.,4
2.,5
,7

,7
,6
1. 5

2.,8
3.,4
,0

Health and r e c r e a t i o n
M e d i c a l care
P e r s o n a l care
R e a d i n g and r e c r e a t i o n
O t h e r goods and services

1.,8
2.,2
1. 1
2.,6
,3

1. 2
1. 4
2 .0
1. 4
6

1.,6
1.,8
- 1.2
3 .,2
1.,3

1. 4
9
2
4 .,0
0

1.,6
2. 8
1. 1
2.,0
3

9
1. 0
1
1. 0
0
1.

1. 4
9
1.4
1. 3
2. 1

1/ See footnote 1 , table 2 .
2/ Not a v a i l a b l e .
3/ Change from M a r c h 1970.




- 10 -

TABLE 6 . C o n s u m e r P r i c e I n d e x — U n i t e d States and Selected A r e a s
For U r b a n W a g e Earners and C l e r i c a l W o r k e r s , Food and its Subgroups
M a y 1970 Indexes and percent changes from April 1970

Food at h o m e
A r e a 1/

Total
food

Total

Cereals
and
bakery
products

Meats,
poultry,
and fish

Dairy
products

Indexes (1957-59=100 u n l e s s otherwise

Fruits
and
vegetables

132.4

127.8

128.0

130.5

129.9

136.8

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo (Nov.1963=100) Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas (Nov.1963=100) —
Detroit
Honolulu (Dec.1963=100)
Houston
Kansas City
Los A n g e l e s - L o n g Beach Milwaukee
Mlnneapolis-St. Paul
New Y o r k
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San D i e g o (Feb.1965=100)
San F r a n c i s c o - O a k l a n d
—
Seattle
Washington

130.0
136.5
136.6

126.2

120.7
134.1
131.9
114.0
134.1
123.8
121.5
116.9
124.6

129.7
134.7
135.9
129.1
134.7
130.6
134.0
130.2
138.6
126.5
125.9
135.2

127.3
127.6
124.6

137.1
140.5
143.9
137.5
133.3
135.3
134.2
124.0
127.1

130.1

128.1
133.1
129.1
130.8

131.0
125.3
127.8

126.0

122.1

132.1
123.2
133.4
136.8

128.1

129.6
120.5
127.0
132.3
122.3

129.4
131.3

126.1
126.8

136.0

128.2

132.3

126.3
125.7
131.7
119.0
123.3
124.1
129.4

128.8
136.3
122.3
129.0
130.6
136.2

116.6
133.6
134.7
125.7
118.9
123.1
124.4
129.8
125.5
134.0
114.5
124.1

116.8
125.3

120.6
131.6
130.2
131.6
124.2
132.6
137.0
133.6
125.5
129.3

128.8

126.2
138.5
125.5
133.4

123.6
137.9
116.9
132.0
142.4
127.9
130.3
139.0
122.9

136.8
120.8
139.7
116.9
123.1
130.6
129.3

Food
away
from
home

specified)

U . S . City A v e r a g e

130.6
126.2

Other
foods
at home

113.7

117.6
114.2
114.8

120.8
114.3
111.1

113.8

136.0

112.7
112.9
114.0
112.3
119.2
105.3
113.2
115.4
113.7
109.8

137.0
139.8

112.0
111.6

121.8
137.2
131.6
135.1
133.4

128.1
143.5

108.6
134.6
131.0
140.0

110.3
108.3
111.4
122.4

Percent Changes April 1970 to M a y 1970
U . S . City A v e r a g e
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo (Nov.1963=100) Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas (Nov.1963=100) —
Detroit
Honolulu (Dec.1963=100)
Houston
Kansas C i t y
Los A n g e l e s - L o n g Beach Milwaukee
Minneapolis-St. Paul
New Y o r k
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
S t . Louis
San D i e g o (Feb.1965=100)
San F r a n c i s c o - O a k l a n d
—
Seattle
Washington

1/
2/

See footnote 1 ,
Not a v a i l a b l e .




0.3

0.3

0.3

- 0.3

0.3

- .5
.4
.5

- .8

1.1
.3
.5
1.6
- .1
1.4
.7
.9
.6

- 1.1
.7
.1
- .5

- .1
.1
.6

- .2
.4
.4

.8

.4
.7

- .2
- .3
.3
.5
.1
.1

.2

.6
.4
- .1

.8
.2

.4
- .3

.5
.4
- .5
.4
.4
.7
.1

.8
- .2

- .4

.2
.7

.2
.2

- .4

.8

- .2
.2

- .9
.7
- .1
.9

- .2
.8
.2

.2
1.1
.0
.4

.4
.6
.3

.3
- .5

.8

.2

- .2
- .2
.8
.2
- .2
- .6
- 1.5

- .2

.0
- .4
- .7
.3
.1
- .3
- 1.2
.1
- .9

- .8
- 2.8

- .2

.2
.5
1.0
- 1.1
.0
.1
.3
.4
2.4
- 2.6
.0
.2
.5
- .1
- .1
2.4
.3

.2

- .1

1.6

- 0.1

.2

- 2.2

1.6
1.1
- 1.9
3.7
1.0
.9
.3
5.1
.5
.4
1.5
.7
2.6
1.9
1.3
2.0
3.1

0.

- .1
.7
- l.l
- .3

.2
.3
.1

- .5
. .8
- .2

.2

.4
.4
.4
- .5
- .4
.3
- .9
.6

.2
2.6
2.5
3.3

.1
.1
- .3

.8

j|
1.

(2

.1
(2i

- 11 -

TABLE 7. Consumer Price I n d e x — U n i t e d States City A v e r a g e
For U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s and C l e r i c a l W o r k e r s , F o o d I t e m s
M a y 1970 I n d e x e s and percent c h a n g e s from selected d a t e s
(1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)
Index
Mav 1970

I t e m or G r o u p

Unadjusted

Food away from home
Restaurant meals
S n a c k s 1/
Food at h o m e
C e r e a l s and b a k e r y p r o d u c t s
Flour
C r a c k e r m e a l 1/
Corn flakes
Rice
Bread, white
B r e a d , w h o l e w h e a t 1/
Cookies
L a y e r cake 1/
C i n n a m o n rolls 1/
M e a t s , p o u l t r y , and fish
Meats
Beef and v e a l
S t e a k , round
S t e a k , s i r l o i n 2/
S t e a k , p o r t e r h o u s e 1/
R u m p r o a s t 1/
Rib roast
Chuck roast
Hamburger
B e e f l i v e r 1/
Veal cutlets
Pork
Chops
L o i n r o a s t 2/
P o r k s a u s a g e 1/
Ham, whole
P i c n i c s 1/
Bacon
Other meats
L a m b chops 1/
Frankfurters
H a m , c a n n e d 1/
B o l o g n a s a u s a g e 1/
S a l a m i s a u s a g e 1/
L i v e r w u r s t 1/
Poultry
Frying chicken
C h i c k e n b r e a s t s 1/
T u r k e y 1/
Fish
S h r i m p , f r o z e n 1/
F i s h , f r e s h or f r o z e n
Tuna fish, canned
S a r d i n e s , c a n n e d 1/
Dairy products
Milk, fresh, grocery
Milk, fresh, delivered
M i l k , f r e s h , s k i m 1/
M i l k , evaporated
Ice cream
Cheese, American process
Butter
S e e f o o t n o t e s a t end of

table.




132.4
154.7
154.8
134.6
127.8
128.0
113.2
135.7
130.5
115.0
134.1
125.3
104.7
121.5
118.5
130.5
135.0
135.9
129.0
124.3
129.2
124.2
142.7
128.0
142.8
1 21.8
171.8
134.8
135.1
143.6
150.4
129.0
138.5
137.1
137.9
141 .2
138.2
136.7
139.5
132.0
132.9
97.1
95.3
109.2
119.5
142.3
127.8
153.0
126.0
130.8
129.9
126.6
134.0
129.2
129.7
103.4
157.2
121.0

Seasonally
adjusted
132.9
-

128.4
-

132.2
137.3
136.4
129.9
-

143.6
128.6
144.1
-

172.0
139.8
141.9
-

132.6
-

141.0
138.7
-

139.5
-

°6.6

_
-

142.2
-

1 52.8
-

130.3
127.4
-

156.9
121.5

P e r c e n t Chanpje to May 1970 from -May
April 1970
1969
Seasonally
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
adjusted
0.3
.5
.4
.4
.3
.3
- .9
1.0
.4
.2
.6
- .3
1.3
- .2
.3
- .3
- .4
- .4
- 1.6
- .2
- 1.0
- .7
- .1
- 1.5
.3
.6
.4
- .8
- .4
.1
- .1
- 3.4
- 1.0
- .8
- .1
- .6
.6
- 1.2
- .1
.2
.8
.0
- .1
- .2
.4
.9
.8
.3
1.2
1.2
.3
.1
.1
.7
1.4
.7
- .1
.7

0.4
-

.5
-

.1
- .1
- .9
- 2.2

_
-

-

- .1
- .8
.4
-

.5
.0
.4
-

- 2.8
-

- .5
- .0
-

1.2
-

3.3

_
-

e

-

.1
-

.1
.0
-

- .4
.7

9

7.0
8.3
8.3
8.5
6.7
5.3
.9
13.7
2.0
2.7
5.5
4.8
3.8
6.7
5.9
8.8
9.4
6.3
3.9
3.0
3.2
6.0
3.3
5.3
8.7
11.1
11 .4
13.5
10.4
10.6
15.7
16.1
14.0
15.8
11.2
3.7
13.1
17.2
12.8
11.3
10.2
4.1
.6
4.6
21.1
9.9
8.1
15.9
10.5
5.7
5.1
4.9
5.3
6.2
4.8
4.7
7.6
2.6

-

12 -

TABLE 7. Consumer Price I n d e x — U n i t e d States City Average
For U r b a n W a g e E a r n e r s and C l e r i c a l W o r k e r s , F o o d I t e m s
M a y 1970 Indexes and p e r c e n t c h a n g e s from s e l e c t e d d a t e s - - C o n t i n u e d
(1957-59-100 u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e s p e c i f i e d )
Index
M a y 1970
Seasonally
Unadjusted
adjusted

Item or Group

F r u i t s and v e g e t a b l e s
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Bananas
O r a n g e j u i c e , f r e s h 1/
Grapefruit
Grapes *
Strawberries * —
Watermelon *
Potatoes
Onions
A s p a r a g u s * 1/
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery —
C u c u m b e r s 1J
Lettuce
P e p p e r s , g r e e n JL/
S p i n a c h 1/
Tomatoes
Processed fruits and vegetables
Fruit cocktail, canned
P e a r s , c a n n e d 1/
G r a p e f r u i t - p i n e a p p l e j u i c e , c a n n e d 1/
Orange juice c o n c e n t r a t e , frozen
L e m o n a d e c o n c e n t r a t e , f r o z e n 2/
B e e t s , c a n n e d 1/
P e a s , green, canned
Tomatoes, canned




160.1

170.0
(3/)
134.6
(3/)
160.8
174.6

128.1
(3/)
166.9

180.0

—

C a r b o n a t e d f r u i t d r i n k 1/
P r e p a r e d a n d p a r t i a l l y p r e p a r e d f o o d s 37
B e a n s o u p , c a n n e d 1/
C h i c k e n s o u p , c a n n e d 1/
S p a g h e t t i , c a n n e d 1/
M a s h e d p o t a t o e s , i n s t a n t 1J
P o t a t o e s , f r e n c h f r i e d , f r o z e n 2/
Baby foods, canned
S w e e t p i c k l e r e l i s h 1/
P r e t z e l s 1/
December 1963-100.
April 1960-100.
P r i c e d o n l y in s e a s o n .
July 1961=100.

134.0
146.5
143.0
99.4
129.3

(3/)

B r o c c o l i , f r o z e n 1/
Other food at h o m e
Eggs
Fats and oils:
Margarine
S a l a d d r e s s i n g , I t a l i a n 1/
S a l a d o r c o o k i n g o i l 1/
Sugar and sweets
Sugar
Grape jelly
Chocolate bar
S y r u p , c h o c o l a t e f l a v o r e d 1/
Nonalcoholic beverages
C o f f e e , can and bag
C o f f e e , i n s t a n t 4./

T/
2/
3/
4/

136.8
151.5
149.7
101.6
123.7
90.1

138.9
194.3
117.3
160.5
154.6
138.9
344.4
117.5
145.2
118.3
106.3
105.6
105.5
92.4
97.0
115.9
122.0
133.3
121.3
112.9
113.7
97.7
111.4
103.2
134.7
131.8
119.6
132.3
133.2
110.6
115.2
103.6
114.7
104.8
163.0
130.0
110.1
111.1
102.3
123.2
110.7
93.5
112.5
117.6
110.1

180.6
122.7
162.3
137.3

123.9

P e r c e n t C h a n g e to M a y 1970 fromApri 1 970
Seasonally
Unadjusted
adjusted

1.6
2.4
5.9

.2

1.1
.2
5.1
(3/)
- 5.0
(3/)
4". 4
- .4
16.4
- 3.9
1.7
24.7
27.8
10.9
14.9
- 2.0
- 8.7
.3

0.4

.5

1.1
- 2.4
- 1.3
- .3
(3/)
7.4
(3/)

- l.o
- 4.8

- 8.0
3.0
17.3
10.5

- 14.4

.1
.7
.3

91.8

- .2
.5
- .3
- .9

2.0
-

115.3
108.1

.2
-.1
- .1
- 5.7
2.4
q
2.7

1.0

.6
.8

2.4
.3

l.l

1.4

.5

1.2

.6
1.2
.3
.5
.3
.4

.1

.3
.4
- .3

.1

1.2
3.3

- 13 TABLE 8 . Consumer Price I n d e x — U . S . City A v e r a g e
For Urban W a g e Earners and Clerical Workers
Indexes for Selected Items and Croups May 1970
and P e r c e n t Changes from Selected Dates
(1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)

Item or G r o u p

Housing
Shelter 1/
Rent
Homeownership costs 2/
M o r t g a g e interest rates
Property taxes
Property insurance rates
M a i n t e n a n c e and repairs
Commodities 3/
Exterior house paint
Interior house paint
Services
Repainting living and dining rooms
Reshingling roofs
Residing houses
Replacing sinks
Repairing furnaces
Fuel and utilities
:
Fuel oil and coal
Fuel o i l , //2
Gas and electricity
Gas
Electricity
Other utilities:
Residential telephone services
Residential water and sewerage services
Household furnishings and operation 4/
Housefurnishings
Textiles
Sheets, percale or muslin
C u r t a i n s , t a i l o r e d , polyester m a r q u i s e t t e
B e d s p r e a d s , chiefly c o t t o n , tufted
Drapery f a b r i c , cotton or rayon/acetate
P i l l o w s , b e d , polyester or acrylic filling
S l i p c o v e r s , ready m a d e , chiefly cotton
Furniture and bedding
Bedroom s u i t e s , good or inexpensive quality
Living room s u i t e s , good and inexpensive
quality
Lounge c h a i r s , upholstered
Dining room suites
S o f a s , upholstered
S o f a s , dual purpose
Aluminum folding chairs 6/
Cribs

Other
Index
Bases

1970

134.4
143.7
122.6
152.1
149.1
138.2
153.6
148.8
117.8
119.9
114.6
146.7
187.9
165.6
137.1
149.1
152.9
116.3
120.9
117.8
115.7
123.1
108.0

0.5
.7
.3
.8
.1
.9
.3
.7
.5
.0
.3
.8
2.0

104.9
151.0
122.5
112.2
116.2
121.8
113.2
116.8
127.3
106.3
112.7
126.6
100.5

104.8
151.0
122.0
112.0
116.7
123.6
113.3
117.8
127.0
107.4
1 11.8
126.0
100.4

.1

.4
.2
- .4
- 1.5
- .1
- .8
.2
- 1.0
.8
.5
.1

1.5
5.3
4.3
3.1
1.6
3.0
1.9
- .4
4.3
- 2.2
3.0
4.1
(5/)

1 27.9
121.9
100.2
118.7
122.6

.2
.5
.0
.3
.6

3.9
6.9
(5/)
4.2
6.1

Dec.63
June 64
Dec.63
Dec.63

128.1
122.5
100.2
119.1
123.3
114.7
121.4
107.4
104.2
113.7
113.1
S7.1
92.9
81.5
87.3
100.2
101.9
101.3
(6/)
107.4

111.8
120.0
106.9
103.8
113.7
111.8
87.1
92.9
81.6
87.5
100.7
102.1
101.3
(6/)
107.2

2.6
1.2
s
#
.4
.0
1.2
.0
.0
- .1
- .2
- .5
- .2

.2
3.7
1.1
.0
2.3
4.7
1.8
3.0
.1
2.8
3.3
2.8
2.1
(6/)
3.7

Dec.63
Dec.63
June 64
Dec.63

138.3
120.8
121.4
120.1
103.3

138.1
120.7
121.2
120.5
103.3

.1
.1
.2
- .3
.0

4.4
2.3
6.9
3.4
1.0

110.0
138.5
129.4

109.8
136.4
127.8

.2
1.5
1.3

3.7
9.0
9.7

185.5
141.5
165.5
150.0
132.5
140.4

184.8
140.9
165.5
149.8
132.1
139.8

.4
.4
.0
.1
•3
•A

7.9
6.3

Dec.63

Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63

Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63

Dec.63
Dec.63

Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63
June 64
Dec.63

Dec.63




April

P e r c e n t Change to Hay 1970
•From:
April 1970
May 1969

135.1
144.7
123.0
153.3
149.2
139.4
153.2
149.9
118.4
119.9
115.0
147.9
191.7
167.1
137.4
150.4
153.7
116.4
121.0
118.0
115.8
123.2
108.2

R u g s , soft surface
R u g s , hard surface
Appliances 7/
Washing m a c h i n e s , e l e c t r i c , automatic
Vacuum c l e a n e r s , canister type
Refrigerators or refrigerator-freezers electric
R a n g e s , free s t a n d i n g , gas or electric
Clothes d r y e r s , e l e c t r i c , automatic
Air c o n d i t i o n e r s , d e m o u n t a b l e 6 /
Room h e a t e r s , e l e c t r i c , portable 6 /
Garbage disposal units
Other h o u s e f u r n i s h i n g s :
D i n n e r w a r e , earthenware
F l a t w a r e , stainless steel
Table l a m p s , with shade
Lawn m o w e r s , p o w e r , rotary type 6/
Electric d r i l l s , hand held
Housekeeping supplies:
Laundry soaps and detergents
Paper napkins
Toilet tissue
Housekeeping services:
Domestic s e r v i c e , general h o u s e w o r k
Baby sitter service
Postal charges
L a u n d r y , f l a t w o r k , finished service
Licensed day care s e r v i c e , p r e s c h o o l child
Washing machine repairs

Indexes
. Mav 1970

Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63 (

7.4
9.3
4.1
11.1
11.1
8.7
4.3
7.4
.8
3.5
3.0
10.2
11.8
9.7
7.7
11.2
12.7
3.4
3.0
2.7
4.1
5.8
2.6

,9

.2
o
.5
.1
.1
.2
.1
.1
.2
#

.0

.0

(6/)
.2

.0

i

I

7.4
4.2
7.2

- 14 T A B L E 8 . Consumer Price I n d e x — U . S . City A v e r a g e
For U r b a n Wage Earners and C l e r i c a l W o r k e r s — Continued
Indexes for Selected Items and G r o u p s , M a y 1970
and Percent Changes from Selected Dates
(1957-59=100 unless o t h e r w i s e specified)

Item and G r o u p

A p p a r e l and u p k e e p 8/
Apparel commodities
A p p a r e l c o m m o d i t i e s less footwear
M e n ' s and b o y s '
Men's:
T o p c o a t s , w o o l 6/
S u i t s , year round w e i g h t
S u i t s , t r o p i c a l w e i g h t 6/
Jackets, lightweight
S l a c k s , w o o l or w o o l b l e n d
S l a c k s , cotton or m a n m a d e blend
Trousers, w o r k , cotton
S h i r t s , w o r k , cotton
S h i r t s , b u s i n e s s , cotton
T - s h i r t s , chiefly c o t t o n
Socks, cotton
H a n d k e r c h i e f s , cotton
Boy's:
C o a t s , a l l p u r p o s e , cotton or cotton blend 6_/
Sport c o a t s , w o o l or w o o l blend 6 /
D u n g a r e e s , cotton or cotton blend
U n d e r s h i r t s , cotton
W o m e n ' s and g i r l s '
Women's:
C o a t s , h e a v y w e i g h t , w o o l or wool blend; _£/
C a r c o a t s , h e a v y w e i g h t , cotton _6/
S w e a t e r s , w o o l or a c r y l i c 6/
S k i r t s , w o o l or w o o l b l e n d $_/
S k i r t s , c o t t o n or c o t t o n blend 6/
B l o u s e s , cotton
D r e s s e s , s t r e e t , chiefly manmade fiber
D r e s s e s , s t r e e t , w o o l or w o o l blend 6/
D r e s s e s , s t r e e t , cotton 6/
H o u s e d r e s s e s , cotton
Slips, nylon
—
Panties, acetate
Girdles, manmade blend
B r a s s i e r e s , cotton
H o s e , n y l o n seamless
A n k l e t s , cotton
G l o v e s , f a b r i c , nylon or cotton
H a n d b a g s , r a y o n f a i l l e or plastic
Girl's:
R a i n c o a t s , v i n y l p l a s t i c or chiefly cotto.n Jj/
S k i r t s , w o o l or w o o l blend-6/
D r e s s e s , cotton
S l a c k s , cotton hj
S l i p s , cotton blend
R o b e s , d u s t e r s t y l e , quilted tricot or
p e r c a l e 6_/
Handbags
Footwear
Men's:
S h o e s , s t r e e t , oxford
S h o e s , w o r k , high
Women's:
S h o e s , s t r e e t , pump
Shoes, evening, pump
Shoes, casual,.pump
H o u s e s l i p p e r s , scuff
Children's:
S h o e s , oxford
S n e a k e r s , b o y s ' , oxford type
Dress s h o e s , g i r l s ' , strap
Miscellaneous apparel:
Diapers, cotton gauze
Yard g o o d s , cotton
Wrist w a t c h e s , m e n ' s and w o m e n ' s
Apparel s e r v i c e s :
D r y c l e a n i n g , m e n ' s suits and women's dresses
—
A u t o m a t i c laundry s e r v i c e
L a u n d r y , m e n ' s shirts
T a i l o r i n g c h a r g e s , hem adjustment
Shoe r e p a i r s , w o m e n ' s h e e l lift




Other
Index
Bases

Indexes
May 1970

,' April 1970

Percent change to M a y 1970
From:
April 1970

131.9
131.2
128.0
133.9

131.1
130.4
127.1
133.4

0.6

(6/)
160.2
138.4
125.1
132.7
123.4
117.1
126.5
124.2
134.6
122.6
115.1

(6/)
159.8
137.4
125.3
131.8
123.0
117.2
126.4
124.1
134.1
122.6
114.4

(6/)
.3
.7
- .2
.7
.3
- .1

(6/)
(6/)
130.1
131.6
126.6

(6/)
(6/)
129.5
130.9
125.2

(6/)
(6/)
.5
.5

(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
136.3
129.7
156.5
(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
115.6
113.3
121.4
129.2
99.1
120.1
111.2
119.3

(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
(6/
135.2
127.1
158.9
(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
114.7
112.7
121.3
128.4
98.9
120.1
110.6
118.8

(6/)
(6/)
129.4
(6/)
107.3

(6/)
(6/)
135.1
(6/)
107.5

- .2

(6/)
117.4
147.6

(6/)
115.7
147.2

1.5
.3

145.3
142.9

144.7
142.6

.4
.2

Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63

157.3
126.7
138.7
127.7

157.3
125.8
138.3
127.7

.0

Dec.63
Dec.63

146.6
122.6
138.3

146.3
122.0
137.5

Dec.63

104.9
127.6
103.8

104.8
126.8
103.7

136.0
113.2
129.0
128.8
126.5

135.7
113.1
128.8
128.4
126.3

June 64
Dec.63

Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63

Dec.63
Dec.63
Sept.61
Mar.62

Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63

Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63

Dec.63
Dec.63
Dec.63

.6

.7
.4

.1

.1
.4

.0
.6

1.1

(6/)
(6/>
(6/)

.8

2.0
1.5
(6/)
(6/)
(6/)

.8

.5
.1

.6
.2

.0

.5
.4

(6/)
(6/)
4.2

(6/)

(6/)

.7
.3

.0
.2

.5

.6

.1

.6
.1

.2
.1
.2
.3
.2

- 15 TABLE 8
Consumer Price I n d e x — U . S . City A v e r a g e
For U r b a n Wage Earners and Clerical Workers — Continued
Indexes for Selected Items and G r o u p s , May 1970
and Percent Changes from Selected Dates
(1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)

Item and G r o u p

Transportation
Private 9/
A u t o m o b i l e s , new
A u t o m o b i l e s , used
G a s o l i n e , regular and premium
M o t o r o i l , premium
T i r e s , n e w , tubeless
A u t o repairs and m a i n t e n a n c e 10/
Auto insurance rates
Auto registration
Parking f e e s , private and m u n i c i p a l
Public
L o c a l transit fares
Taxicab fares
Railroad f a r e s , coach
A i r p l a n e f a r e s , chiefly coach
Bus f a r e s , intercity
Health and recreation
M e d i c a l care
Drugs and prescriptions
Over-the-counter items
M u l t i p l e vitamin concentrates
A s p i r i n compounds
Liquid tonics
A d h e s i v e b a n d a g e s , package
Cold tablets or capsules
Cough syrup
Prescriptions
Anti-infectives
Sedatives and hypnotics
Ataractics
Anti-spamodics
Cough preparations
Cardiovasculars and anti-hypertensives
A n a l g e s i c s , internal
Anti-obesity
Hormones
P r o f e s s i o n a l services:
P h y s i c i a n s ' fees
General p h y s i c i a n , office visits
General p h y s i c i a n , house visits
O b s t e t r i c a l cases
Pediatric c a r e , office visits
P s y c h i a t r i s t , office visits
H e r n i o r r h a p h y , adult
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
D e n t i s t s ' fees
F i l l i n g s , a d u l t , a m a l g a m , one surface
E x t r a c t i o n s , adult
D e n t u r e s , full upper
Other professional services:
E x a m i n a t i o n , p r e s c r i p t i o n , and dispensing of
eyeglasses
Routine laboratory tests
H o s p i t a l service charges:
Daily service charges
Semiprivate rooms
"Private rooms
Operating room charges
X - r a y , diagnostic s e r i e s , upper G . I .
Personal care
Toilet goods
T o o t h p a s t e , standard dentrifrice
T o i l e t s o a p , hard m i l l e d
Hand l o t i o n s , liquid
Shaving c r e a m , aerosol
Face p o w d e r , pressed
D e o d o r a n t s , cream or roll-on
Cleansing tissues
Home permanent refills
P e r s o n a l care services
M e n ' s haircuts
Beauty shop services
W o m e n ' s haircuts
Shampoo and w a v e s e t s , plain —
Permanent w a v e s , cold




Other
•Index
Bases

•Indexes
May 1970

. April

1970

.Percent change to May 1970
From:
M a v 1969
April 1970

129.9
125.9
104.1
127.5
118.6
142.8
118.6
142.9
179.5
140.9
132.3
166.6
185.2
131.5
121.1
117.8
128.6

128.9
124.9
104.3
121.1
119.2
142.6
118.6
142.1
178.6
140.9
131.7
165.8
183.9
131.5
121.1
117.8
128.6

0.8
.8
- .2
5.3
- .5
.1
.0
.6
.5
.0
.5
.5
.7
.0
.0
.0
.0

4.8
3.9
2.3
.6
1.1
4.5
2.6
7.5
13.5
5.0
11.8
12.6
16.0
5.4
5.7
6.4
8.4

142.9
163.6
101.4
109.2
92.7
109.2
101.9
121.4
112.7
116.4
90.5
63.1
114.2
90.7
102.4
118.0
100.4
105.2
107.2
94.2

142.3
162.8
100.9
108.6
92.0
108.1
101 .9
119.8
112.6
116.0
90.3
63.0
113.7
90.7
102.2
118.1
100.0
105.3
106.0
93.6

.4
.5
.5
.6
.8
1.0
.0
1.3
.1
.3
.2
.2
.4
.0
.2
- .1
.4
- .1
1.1
.6

5.3
5.9
2.1
2.1
.3
2.8
1.0
3.8
3.1
1.1
2.1
.0
7.3
.8
1.3
8.0
3.6
2.1
4.5
- .7

Dec. 63

165.6
168.3
173.6
161.1
151.3
135.0
129.6
156.1
151.2
153.3
148.9
133.2

164.3
167.3
172.5
159.2
148.7
134.7
128.7
154.2
150.7
152.5
148.9
132.7

.8
.6
.6
1.2
1.7
.2
.7
1.2
.3
.5
.0
.4

7.3
8.0
6.6
8.4
7.9
4.5
4.6
6.0
5.3
6.0
4.4
4.6

Dec. 63

136.9
121.3

136.7
121.2

.1
.1

4.7
3.1

283.1
279.8
272.3
180.9
129.4
130.3
113.3
114.4
126.2
111.5
102.1
131.6
95.8
116.4
98.4
151.3
161.0
141.2
126.4
159.0
109.6

282.3
279.1
271.4
180.3
128.1
129.8
113.0
114.7
124.3
111.3
102.3
131.0
95.9
116.0
98.3
150.5
159.7
140.9
126.3
158.6
109.4

.3
.3
.3
.3
1.0
.4
.3
- .3
1.5
.2
- .2
.5
- .1
.3
.1
.5
.8
.2
.1
.3
.2

12.2
12.6
11.4
9.8
6.0
3.6
2.6
1.1
1.9
3.5
- .2
6.1
.4
7.9
.0
4.6
5.2
4.1
3.9
4.5
2.9

Dec .63

Dec,.63
Dec .63
Dec .63

Dec,.63
Dec,.63
Dec,.63
Dec,.63
Dec,,63
Dec,,63
Dec.,63
Mar.,60
Mar.,60
Mar.,60
Mar.,60
Mar.,60
Mar.,60
Mar.,67
Mar,,67
Mar.,67

Dec.,63
Dec.,63
Dec.,63

Dec. 63
Dec. 63

Dec. 63

Dec. 63

Dec. 63

- 16 T A B L E 8 . Consumer Price I n d e x — U . S . City A v e r a g e
F o r Urban W a g e Earners and C l e r i c a l W o r k e r s — Continued
Indexes for Selected Items and G r o u p s , M a y 1970
and Percent Changes from Selected D a t e s
(1957-59=100 unless o t h e r w i s e s p e c i f i e d )

Item and G r o u p

R e a d i n g and r e c r e a t i o n 11/
Recreational goods
T V s e t s , p o r t a b l e and c o n s o l e
TV r e p l a c e m e n t tubes
R a d i o s , p o r t a b l e and table m o d e l
Tape recorders, portable
Phonograph records, stereophonic
M o v i e c a m e r a s , Super 8 , zoom lens
F i l m , 3 5 m m , color
Golf b a l l s , liquid center
B a s k e t b a l l s , r u b b e r or v i n y l cover
Fishing r o d s , fresh water spincast
Bowling b a l l s
Bicycle, boys'
Tricycles
•
Dog f o o d , canned or boxed
Recreational services
Indoor m o v i e a d m i s s i o n s
Adult
Children's
Drive-in movie admissions, adult
B o w l i n g f e e s , evening
Golf greens fees
TV r e p a i r s , p i c t u r e tube r e p l a c e m e n t
F i l m d e v e l o p i n g , b l a c k and w h i t e
R e a d i n g and e d u c a t i o n :
N e w s p a p e r s , street sale and d e l i v e r y
M a g a z i n e s , s i n g l e copy and subscription
Piano lessons, beginner
Other goods and.services
Tobacco products
C i g a r e t t e s , n o n f i l t e r t i p , r e g u l a r size
C i g a r e t t e s , f i l t e r t i p , king s i z e
Cigars, domestic, regular size
Alcoholic beverages
Beer
W h i s k e y , s p i r i t b l e n d e d and straight bourbon
W i n e , d e s s e r t and table
A w a y from h o m e
F i n a n c i a l and m i s c e l l a n e o u s p e r s o n a l expenses:
F u n e r a l s e r v i c e s , adult
B a n k s e r v i c e c h a r g e s , c h e c k i n g accounts
L e g a l s e r v i c e s , short f o r m w i l l

Other
Index
Bases

Indexes
M a y 1970

April :1970

'Percent c h a n g e to M a y 1970
From:
. April 1970
M a y 1969

Dec..63

135,.2
99,.9
80,.1
118,.3
76,.6
90,.4
98,.3
82,.0
100,.0
104,.2
117,.9
119,.0
101,.7
110,.5
113,.1
110,.8
135,.9
217,.9
212,.8
234,.8
168,.9
115,.2
141,.5
98,.6
117,.7

134 .4
99 .6
80 .0
117 .5
76 .5
90 .3
97 .8
81 .4
99,.7
103 .8
117 .2
119 .0
101,.5
110 .8
111.6
110,.4
135,.0
215 .4
210,.9
230 .6
168 .1
115 .2
139 .3
98 .7
117,.6

0.6
.3
.1
.7
.1
.1
.5
.7
.3
.4
.6
.0
.2
- .3
1.3
.4
.7
1.2
.9
1.8
.5
.0
1.6
- .1
.1

3.8
1.3
.0
2.3
.0
- 1.4
.8
- 3.5
1.0
.0
4.2
1.3
3.2
1.4
4.2
3.0
5.2
10.4
10.8
8.9
7.6
4.2
5.8
- 3.6
- 1.9

Dec..63
Dec..63

161..5
130,.5
128,.2

160,.4
129,.3
128.2

.7
.9
.0

5.1
3.3
4.9

Dec.,63
Dec.,63

136,.1
156..7
164..4
157,.2
108,.6
123.,1
118..5
112..5
119.,4
129..3

135 .6
156,.4
164,.1
156,.8
108,.6
122..5
118..2
111..8
118..9
128..4

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

7.2
10.1
10.1
11.5
2.4
5.4
3.8
3.0
9.7
7.3

Dec.,63
Dec..63
Dec.,63

119.,3
110.,0
146.,1

119..0
110..0
145..6

.3
.0
.3

4.1
1.9
9.9

132.,1
122. 3
125.,3
160. 0
156.,1
152.,3

131.,5
121.,6
125.,0
159.,1
155.,5
151.,4

.5

5.3
4.1
4.2
10.3
10.1
5.3

Dec,.63
Dec,.63
Dec,.63
Dec,.63
Dec,.63
Dec..63
Dec,.63
Dec..63
Dec,.63
Dec..63
Dec,.63
Dec,.63
Dec..63
Dec..63

Dec..63
Dec..63
Dec..63

Mar..59

Other special groups:
A l l items less s h e l t e r
C o m m o d i t i e s less food
N o n d u r a b l e s less food and a p p a r e l
H o u s e h o l d s e r v i c e s less rent
Transportation services
Other services
1/ A l s o
2/ A l s o
3/ - Also
4/ Also
and m o v i n g

includes
Includes
includes
includes
expenses.

.6
.2
.6
.4
.6

h o t e l and m o t e l rates not shown separately.
h o m e p u r c h a s e costs not shown separat-el*p i n e . s h e l v i n g , furnace air f i l t e r s , packaged dry cement m i x , and shrubbery not shown s e p a r a t e l y .
V e n e t i a n b l i n d s , n a i l s , carpet sweepers, air d e o d o r i z e r s , s t e e l w o o l scouring p a d s , e n v e l o p e s , r e u p h o l s t e r i n g ,

5/ Not a v a i l a b l e .
6/ Priced o n l y in s e a s o n .
7/ Also includes radios and television s e t s , shown separately under reading and r e c r e a t i o n .
8/ Also includes men's sport s h i r t s , women's and g i r l s ' lightweight c o a t s , w o m e n ' s s l a c k s , cocktail d r e s s e s , bathing s u i t s ,
g i r l s ' s h o r t s , e a r r i n g s , and z i p p e r s not shown separately.
9/ Also includes recapped tires and d r i v e r s ' license fees not shown s e p a r a t e l y .
10/ Includes p r i c e s for w a t e r p u m p r e p l a c e m e n t , motor t u n e - u p , automatic transmission r e p a i r , exhaust system r e p a i r , front
end a l i g n m e n t , and c h a s s i s l u b r i c a t i o n .
11/ Also includes outboard m o t o r s , nondurable t o y s , college tuition f e e s , p a p e r b a c k b o o k s , and college t e x t b o o k s , not shown
separately.




- 17 -

Reliability of Percent Changes in the CPI

A system of "replicated" samples introduced into the index s t r u c t u r e in the 1964
revision permits an e s t i m a t e of sampling error for the C P I . 1/ T h e table below shows
standard errors for m o n t h l y , q u a r t e r l y , and annual percent changes in the CPI for all
items and for nine commodity g r o u p i n g s based on 1969 averages. T h e f i g u r e s m a y be interpreted as follows: the chances are about 95 out of 100 that the p e r c e n t change in the
CPI as computed differs from the corresponding "complete coverage" change by less than
twice the standard e r r o r . Data also are shown in terms of the r e l a t i v e error of the
standard error of percent c h a n g e s . The relative errors tend to d e c r e a s e m a r k e d l y for
successively longer time p e r i o d s , as e x p e c t e d .
Because the CPI is rounded to one decimal p l a c e , some a m b i g u i t y m a y arise in
interpreting s m a l l index c h a n g e s . The table below indicates, for e x a m p l e , that a m o n t h to-month change of 0 . 1 percent in the all-items CPI is s i g n i f i c a n t . B e c a u s e of r o u n d i n g ,
h o w e v e r , a change of this size in the published index m i g h t result from a m u c h smaller
change in the unrounded v a l u e . H e n c e , any particular change of 0 . 1 p e r c e n t m a y or may
not be s i g n i f i c a n t . On the other h a n d , a published change of 0.2 p e r c e n t is almost
always s i g n i f i c a n t , regardless of the time period to which it r e l a t e s .
Standard and R e l a t i v e Errors of Percent Changes in the
CPI Based on 1969 Data

Standard Error
Component

A l l items
Food at home
Food away from home
Housing
Apparel
Transportation
M e d i c a l care
P e r s o n a l care
Reading and recreation —
Other goods and services-

Monthly
Change
.03
.07
.08
.06
.14
.08
.13
.12
.09
.13

Quarterly
Change
.05
.11
.14
.09
.23
.13
.19
.20
.13
.20

R e l a t i v e Error

Annual
Change
.07
.13
.28
.15
.22
.14
.36
.32
.20
.34

Monthly
Change
.07
.10
.13
.10
.25
.13
.24
.36
.33
.25

Quarterly
Change
.04
.07
.08
.06
.18
.10
.12
.20
.15
.14

This replaces the table of average errors based on 1968 data w h i c h was
in the CPI r e p o r t through December 1 9 6 9 .

Annua.
Chang*
.01
.03
.05
.02
.04
.04
.05
.07
.05
.08
included

1/ The method of deriving these estimates is described in a paper by M a r v i n W i l k e r s o n ,
"Measurement of Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index," J o u r n a l of the A m e r i c a n
Statistical A s s o c i a t i o n , September 1 9 6 7 .




- 18 -

Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods
and services usually bought by urban w a g e earners and clerical w o r k e r s , both families
and single persons living alone. It is based on prices of about 400 items which w e r e
selected to represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by
w a g e earners and clerical workers. Prices for these items are obtained in urban portions of 39 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA's) and 17 smaller c i t i e s ,
w h i c h w e r e chosen to represent all urban places in the United States, including
Alaska and H a w a i i . They are collected from grocery and department s t o r e s , h o s p i t a l s ,
filling s t a t i o n s , and other types of stores and service establishments which w a g e
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 c i t i e s . M a i l
questionnaires are used to obtain local transit fares, public utility r a t e s , newspaper p r i c e s , fuel prices, and certain other items which change in price infrequently.
Prices f of most other goods and services are obtained by personal visits of the
B u r e a u s 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 w a g e earners and clerical w o r k e r s . SMSA and city data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1960 populations of SMSA's 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
1
the 23 S M S A s for which separate indexes are published in this report, as w e l l as
from the following additional locations:
Alabama - Florence
Alaska - Anchorage
California - Bakersfield*
Colorado - Denver*
Connecticut - Hartford*
Florida - Orlando*
Indiana - 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 b e l o w ) .




- 19 Bureau of Labor Statistics Regional Offices

REGION I — Boston

REGION II — New York

REGION ill — Philadelphia

Mr. Wendell D. Macdonald
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
1603-A Federal Office Building
Boston, Massachusetts 02203
Phone: 223-6727
(Area Code 617)

Mr. Herbert Bienstock
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
341 Ninth Avenue
New York, New York 10001
Phone: 971-5401
(Area Code 212)

Mr. Frederick W. Mueller
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
F -in Square Building, Room 406
1317 Filbert Stieet
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
Phone: 597-7816
(Area Code 215)

Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont

New Jersey
New York
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands

Delaware
District of Columbia
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia

REGION IV — Atlanta

REGION V — Chicago

REGION VI — Dallas

Mr. Brunswick A. Bagdon
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
1371 Peachtree Street NE.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Phone: 526-5416
(Area Code 404)

Mr. Thomas J. McArdle
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
219 S. Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Phone: 353-7226
(Area Code 312)

Mr. Jack F. Strickland
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
411 N. Akard Street. Room 337
Dallas, Texas 75201
Phone: 749-3641
(Area Code 214)

Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky

Illinois
Indiana
Michigan

Arkansas
Louisiana
New Mexico

Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee

REGIONS VII and VIII -

Kansas City

Mr. Elliott A. Browar
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Federal Office Building
911 Walnut Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
Phone: 374-2378
(Area Code 816)

Minnesota
Ohio
Wisconsin

REGIONS IX and X — San Francisco
Mr. Charles A. Roumasset
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
450 Golden Gate Avenue
Box 36017
San Francisco, California 94102
Phone: 556-3178
(Area Code 415)

Region VII

Region VIII

Region IX

Region X

Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska

Colorado
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
Wyoming

Arizona
California
Hawaii
Nevada

Alaska
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