Full text of CPI Detailed Report : May 1971

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the consumer price index
a monthly report
on consumer price movements
including statistical tables
and technical notes.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
/. D. Hodgson, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Geoffrey H. Moore, Commissioner

Consumer Price Indexes
Commodities and Services
1967=100
135

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE

130

ALL ITEMS INDEX (as of December 1970)

125

120

ALL SERVICES

37.15%

FOOD

2199%

NONDURABLES LESS FOOD

2381%

DURABLE COMMODITIES

17.05%

//

/

/

y

All Services
\

115

JZ

"•>

All It

110

/r
>

105

100

••^^^

i_Food*

95

V..

Nondurable
Less Food*

^"^™!--*"

y

*

90
""'""

85

1963

1964

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

'Seasonally adjusted
Latest Data: May 1971

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
FOR
MAY 1971

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.5 percent in May to 120.8 of its 1967 base.
Higher prices for apparel, used cars, homes, and postage accounted for half the increase.
The May CPI was 4.4 percent higher than it was a year ago.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the May rise was 0.6 percent compared with
increases of 0.2 to 0.3 percent in each of the first 4 months of this year. In the 3
months ending in May, the CPI rose at an annual rate of 4.2 percent. The 3-month rate
was 2.8 percent in March and in April. The annual rate of change for the 6 months
ending in May was 4.1 percent—higher than the 3.6-percent rate for the 6 months ending
in April, but below the 6.5-percent rate in the 6 months ending in May of last year.
Food prices rose 0.2 percent in May after seasonal adjustment, much less than in
February, March, and April. Prices of nonfood commodities and services, however,
increased more than in the preceding 3 months.
Percent changes in CPI and components, selected periods

Changes in all items
at seasonally adjusted
compound annual rate

Changes from preceding month

All items
Seas,
LJnad j .
adj.
0.4
0.5
.5
.4
.3
.3
.2
.3
.5
.5
.5
.5
.3
.3
.5
.5

Month
May 1970
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.

1971

.b e b .

— ""•"~""T——~"

Mar.
Apr.
May

—

.1
.2
.3
.3
.5

.3
.2
.2
.3
.6

Food
Unadj.
0.3
.3
.5
.1
- .2
- .2
- .5
.3
.2
.3
.9
.7
.3

Seas,
adj.
0.2
- .1
.1
.0
.3
.0
.1
- .1
.0
.5
.9
.9
.2

Commodities ServFrom
From
From
less food
.ces
3 m o s . 6 mos. 12 mos
Seas,
ago-.
ago
Unadj. adj. LJnad j . ago
0.5
6.1
0.5
6.5
0.5
5.9
6.0
.4
.4
6.0
.6
5.9
5.9
.0
5.5
.5
.2
4.8
5.6
.1
4.9
.6
3.9
.3
5.7
.7
5.2
.7
4.5
.5
5.8
1.0
5.0
.5
5.2
.4
5.6
.5
4.7
.6
5.6
.4
5.5
.3
4.9
.6
5,3
.7
- .3
.0
.3
.3
.7

.2
- .1
.2
.2
.7

.0
.2
.0
.2
.6

4.5
4.0
2.8
2.8
4.2

4.9
4.8
4.1
3.6
4.1

5.2
4.8
4.6
4.3
4.4

Food
Prices of food purchased in grocery stores rose 0.2 percent in May, compared
with increases of 1.1 percent in March and 0.9 percent in April. The May slowdown
resulted from smaller price increases for fruits and vegetables, cereal and bakery products, and beef, as well as declines in pork and egg prices. The decline of 3.3 percent
in egg prices, however, was much smaller than usual for May. Prices of dairy products
and restaurant meals and snacks away from home continued to advance.
Meat prices, which rose 2.0 percent in March and 0.1 percent in April,
decreased 0.1 piercent in May—the first decline since January of this year. Pork prices
moved down 1.4 percent in May after falling 2.3 percent in April—sharper than usual
declines in both months—as cold storage holdings continued to rise. Competition from
lower pork prices was a factor in the smaller-than-usual increase in beef and veal prices
in May.




They rose 0.3 percent after rising 1.2 percent in February, 2.0 percent in March, and
1.5 percent in April. Chicken prices declined but not as much as they usually do in
May. Turkey prices advanced sharply. Fish prices continued to rise.
Fresh fruit and vegetable prices rose 1.6 percent in May after advancing about
5 percent in each of the 3 preceding months. The May increase was smaller than seasonal
as larger supplies resulted in sharp price declines for strawberries, bananas, green
peppers, and cucumbers. In addition, price rises for potatoes, cabbages, apples, and
celery were smaller than usual. On the other hand, prices rose more than seasonally for
lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and carrots because of reduced planting of spring crops and
poor weather. Strong demand from processors of citrus fruits piushed up prices for
fresh oranges. The May increase of 0.3 percent in processed fruit and vegetable prices
was smaller than the rise of 1.1 percent in April.
Prices of dairy products rose 0.4 percent in April and again in May. The
April increase was contraseasonal and the May rise was slightly larger than usual.
Prices of most dairy items advanced in April and May except butter. The higher support
rate for "manufacturing" milk and strong demand for cheese and skim milk contributed
to higher prices for these dairy products. The support price for manufacturing milk
for the 1971/72 marketing year, which started April 1, was raised to $4.93 per 100
pounds—85 percent of the March parity equivalent price—up from $4.66 in the previous
year. To achieve this support level, Commodity Credit Corporation raised its purchase
prices 2-3/4 cents per pound for Cheddar cheese (to 54-3/4 cents) and 4-1/2 cents per
pound for nonfat dry milk (to 31.7 cents). The support purchase price for butter, however, was lowered 2 cents per pound (to 68-3/4 cents, Grade A at New York). The lower
support purchase price for butter was made possible by the Agriculture Act of 1970
which suspended until April 1974 the requirement to support butterfat in farm-separated
cream. (See Dairy Situation, Economic Research Service? U.S. Department of Agriculture,
May 1971.)
Commodities Other Than Food
Prices of commodities other than food, which usually do not change much between
April and May, rose 0.7 percent. This was the same as the seasonally adjusted increase
in December of last year and considerably larger than the increase in the first 4 months
of this year. About three-fourths of the May rise resulted from higher prices for
apparel, homes, and used cars. Prices of new cars and gasoline increased instead of
declining as they usually do in May. Prices of most other nonfood commodities, including furniture, housekeeping supplies, newspapers,- and drugs and prescriptions continued to increase. Cigarette prices, rose because of higher taxes in Massachusetts.
Prices declined for a few items, notably carpets and textile housefurnishings.
Apparel prices rose 1.0 percent in May. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the
increase was 0.8 percent, the sharpest since August 1968. Prices of men's and boys1
apparel which have been rising rapidly since February—0.8 percent in March and 0.4 percent in April—on a seasonally adjusted basis, rose 0.7 percent in May. They usually show
no change between April and May. Prices rose for every item in the men's and boys'
apparel category, particularly tropical weight and year-round suits, and slacks.
Rising manufacturers' costs for wages, fabrics, and overhead contributed to higher
prices. In addition, increases in other costs of retailers, particularly wages, were
reflected in the price rises.
Women's and girls' apparel prices rose 1.4 percent in May, almost twice
the usual increase. On a seasonally adjusted basisj the May increase was 0.6 percent
and followed a rise of 0.4 percent in April—the first time this year that women's
and girls' apparel prices advanced in 2 consecutive months. Reintroduction of women's
bathing suits and cotton skirts and girls' cotton dresses and shorts at higher prices




than those which prevailed in the 1970 season accounted for a large portion of the May
rise. Prices also increased for handbags, gloves, and nylon hose. Prices of women's
dresses and cotton blouses, which rose in April, edged down slightly in May.
Gasoline and motor oil prices rose 0.4 percent, instead of declining as they
usually do in May. From January through April, gasoline and motor oil prices declined
steadily. The May increase reflected, in part, an attempt by the industry to strengthen
retail gasoline prices with the advent of the heavy travel season. However, competitive
pressures present in many cities—such as Atlanta, Milwaukee, Dallas, and Los Angeles—
provided some offset.
New car prices, which usually decline about 0.3 percent between April and May,
increased 0.1 percent. The increase reflected a slight decline in the level of concessions
offered to purchasers by new car dealers. May sales of domestic cars were 7 percent higher
than the units sold in May 1970. Sales of domestic cars for the January through May period
were 9.1 percent higher than they were a year ago; however, imported car sales rose 32.0
percent for the period. Prices of used cars rose 2.7 percent in May. An increase in
prices for used cars is usual in the spring months when the demand for used cars is
strongest. The increase this year, however, was about half as large as in May of last year.
Following large increases in 1970, home prices leveled out in the first 3 months
of this year. However, prices rose slightly in April and somewhat more in May. (For a
discussion of factors which influence the behavior of home prices, see "Trends in homeownership and rental costs," by Robert C. Joiner, Monthly Labor Review, July 1970.)
Services
In May charges for consumer services rose 0.6 percent, about the same as the
average monthly rate of increase prevailing for several months prior to February 1971.
In February, March, and April the effects of* decreases in mortgage interest rates moderated
the rise in service costs. The much smaller decline, about 1 percent, in the mortgage
interest rate index in May—entirely due to lower conventional mortgage rates—had no
significant effect on the service index in May. Postal charges, which rose 21.2 percent,
were responsible for one-fourth of the May rise in services. Higher rates were imposed
on all important categories of domestic mail, except regular parcel post. The residential
property tax index rose 1.4 percent, mainly as a result of a sharp rate increase and large
assessment increases in Los Angeles. Residential natural gas charges rose 0.7 percent, the
result of increases in a number of cities. Home maintenance and repair costs rose 0.6
percent in May as charges for interior repainting and roof reshingling were raised.
The rise in the cost of transportation services in May was much smaller than
the increases in recent months. Public transportation fares were unchanged. Parking fees
declined, and charges for auto repairs rose only slightly.
The medical care services index continued to advance at about the same rate as
it did in the preceding 3 months.
Recreational services rose 0.8 percent as prices of*indoor movie admissions,
golf green fees, and film developing charges increased.




Seasonally adjusted monthly percent changes in the index and some of its major
components for the past 6 months are given in the following tabulation:
May

April

March

February

January

December

0.6

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.5

.4
.2
.2
.8

.3
.9
1.0
.3

.5
.9
1.1
0

.1
.5
.5
.3

.1
0
- .3
- .1

.4
- .1
- .2
.3

.3
.7

0
.2

.2
.2

0
0

.3
.2

.4
.9

.6
.3

.2
.4

0
.3

.2
.6

.6
.3

.6
.7

.8
.4
.7
.4

.4
1.0
.6
.1

-1.0

- .5
1.3
.7
.2

.2
.9
.5
1.1

.8
.3
.7
.3

Consumer Price Index:
All items
Commodities
Food
Food at home
Apparel commodities
Nondurables less food
and apparel 1/
Durables
Services 1/
Rent 1/
Household services
less rent
Transportation
Medical care services Other services

.5
.6
.2

±_l Percent changes are based on unadjusted indexes.

Cost-of-Living Adjustments
Approximately 43,000 workers will receive cost-of-living escalator adjustments
based on the May U.S. city average Consumer Price Index or one of the individual city
indexes.
About 23,000 workers will receive wage increases based on the national index.
About 9,800 workers, including 6,000 employees of the Dow Chemical Company in Midland,
Michigan, will receive an increase of 3 cents per hour. About 4,500 employees of the
Caterpillar Tractor Company in Joliet, Illinois, plus 4,000 other workers will receive
increases of 4 cents per hour.
About 20,000 employees of firms belonging to the Pacific Coast Shipbuilders
Association in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington will receive an increase of
3 cents per hour based on the index for Seattle, Washington.
Approximately 9,000 other workers will not receive adjustments because they
have already received the maximum stipulated in their contracts.




A NOTE ABOUT CALCULATING INDEX CHANGES

Effective with the February 1970 release, and continuing thereafter, percent
changes expressed as annual rates will be computed according to the standard formula for
compound growth rates. These data indicate what the percent change would be if the current
rate were maintained for a 12-month period.
Movements of the indexes from one date to another are usually expressed as
percent changes rather than changes in the index points because index point changes are
affected by the level of the index in relation to its base period while percent changes
are not. The following example illustrates the computation of index point and percent
changes.
Percent Change

Index Point Change
May 1971 CPI (1967=100)
less April index
index point difference =

120.8
120.2
0.6

Index point difference divided
by the index for the previous
period:

Effective with the July 1970 release, and continuing thereafter, seasonally
adjusted percent changes in the U.S. All Items Index will be based on seasonal adjustment
factors and seasonally adjusted indexes carried to two decimal places. This procedure
will help to eliminate rounding error in the percent changes.




- 6 TABLE 1.

Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, May 1971
(Unadjusted, unless otherwise indicated)
Indexes (1967=100)
(unless otherwise specified)

Group
May
1971

May
1970

Percent change to May 1971
1 Month
3 Months
1 Year
Ago
Ago
Ago

All items
All items (1957-59=100)

120.8
140.5

April
1971
120.2
139.8

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

118.2
116.3
114.1
115.8
115.1
121.4
115.5
125.3

117.8
116.1
113.9
115.7
114.6
120.0
115.8
124.8

115.9
113.9
112.8
113.6
114.0
112.6
115.7
123.9

114.9
113.8
108.0
117.4
111.3
116.4
111.6
119.4

.3
.2
.2
.1
.4
1.2
-.3
.4

2.0
2.1
1.2
1.9
1.0
7.8
-.2
1.1

2.9
2.2
5.6
-1.4
3.4
4.3
3.5
4.9

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

123.2
127.2
114.7
131.6
114.4
117.2
114.4
118.1

122.5
126.5
114.4
130.9
114.1
117.3
113.9
117.0

122.6
127.3
113.6
132.3
113.1
117.2
112.8
115.9

118.2
122.7
109.4
127.5
106.8
108.4
106.7
113.2

.6
.6
.3
.5
.3
-.1
.4
.9

.5
-.1
1.0
-.5
1.1
0
1.4
1.9

4.2
3.7
4.8
3.2
7.1
8.1
7.2
4.3

Apparel and upkeep 4/
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls' —
Footwear

120.2
121.2
120.4
121.7

119.1
120.3
118.7
121.1

118.1
117.9
118.5
119.9

115.7
117.1
115.2
117.6

.7
1.4
.5

1.8
2.8
1.6
1.5

3.9
3.5
4.5
3.5

Transportation
Private
New cars
Used cars
Gasoline
Public

118.8
117.0
113.9
112.8
104.0
136.4

118.1
116.2
113.8
109.8
103.7
136.4

117.5
115.8
115.2
105.5
106.0
134.4

112.1
110.5
106.1
104.9
106.2
126.1

.6
.7
.1
2.7
.3
0

1.1
1.0
-1.1
6.9
-1.9
1.5

6.0
5.9
7.4
7.5
-2.1
8.2

121.6
128.1
116.5
118.9
119.9

121.2
127.5
116.3
118.4
119.7

120.2
125.8
115.4
117.5
119.1

115.4
119.7
112.8
112.6
115.1

.3
.5
.2
.4
.2

1.2
1.8
1.0
1.2
.7

5.4
7.0
3.3
5.6
4.2

118.4
120.0
118.6

118.2
119.2
117.9

116.1
118.7
117.9

.2
.7
.6

2.0
1.1
.6

121.6
120.4
116.6
117.2
117.4
116.6
120.5

120.9
119.8
115.8
116.6
116.9
116.0
119.3

120.4
119.1
115.2
115.5
115.7
115.4
118.3

116.0
115.6
112.0
113.1
113.9
112.7
116.1

.6
.5
.7
.5
.4
.5
1.0

1.0
1.1
1.2
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.9

116.6
112.7

115.7
112.4

115.0
111.8

111.1
110.0

127.5
129.8
126.7
137.0
119.3
136.0
132.9

126.8
129.1
126.0
136.6
119.0
133.7
132.2

126.6
129.0
126.1
139.5
117.7
132.1
130.2

120.7
122.8
120.4
133.6
111.3
125.0
123.1

.6
.5
.6
.3
.3
1.7
.5

$0,828
.712

$0,832
.715

$0,838
.720

$0,864
.743

-.5

—

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

February
1971
119.4
138.9

115.7
134.6

Seasonally Adjusted^
Food
Apparel and upkeep
Transportation
Special Groups:
All items less food
All items less medical care
Commodities less food
Commodities
Nondurables
Nondurables less food —
Apparel commodities —
Durables
Household durables
Services
•
Services less rent —
Services less medical care
Insurance and finance
Utilities and public transportation
Housekeeping and home maintenance services
Medical care services
Purchasing, Power of Consumer
1967=$1.00
1957-59-$!.00

5.0
2.5

shown separately.
Note:

Index applies to month as a whole, not to any specific date.




4.8
4.2
4.1
3.6
3.1
3.5
3.8

.7
.6
.5
-1.8
1.4
3.0
2.1

5.6
5.7
5.2
2.5
7.2
8.8
8.0

- 7 T

TABLE 2. Consumer Price Index—The 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/
1967=100

1957-59=100

Percent change from:

Other
bases
April
1971

May 1971

February
1971

May
1970

U.S. City Average

120.8

140.5

0.5

1.2

4.4

Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles-Long Beach
New York --Philadelphia

120.6
120.9
118.1
125.2
123.4

137.0
138.9
138.9
148.9
144.1

.3
.7
1.2
.5
.7

1.0
.8
1.6.
1.4
1.3

4.5
•3.0
3.8
5.9
5.6

January
1971

April
1970

April 1971

Boston
Houston
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Pittsburgh

121.7
119.5
120.3
120.9

0.8
.2
.2
1.4

145.9
136.7
139.5
139.1

February
1971

May 1971

Buffalo
Cleveland
Dallas
Milwaukee
San Diego
Seattle
Washington

—

121.4
122.0
120.4
119.1
119.5
115.5
122.2

4/ 133.4
137.7
4/ 130.2
134.5
5/ 125.6
135.8
142.4

December
1970

March 1971
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Honolulu
Kansas City
St. Louis

San Francisco-Oakland

120.4
122.1
119.8
116.7
119.2
118.2
119.1

138.5
141.8
136.0
6/ 125.8

141.4
138.0
141.7

1.5
.4
.5
.1
1.1
.8
1.1

0.8
1.2
1.1
.9
.2
.5
.5

5.7
2.8
3.2
5.0
May
1970
5.0
2.5
2.4
3.5
3.9
1.3
4.2
March
1970
5.0
6.2
5.3
3.1
5.1
4.2
'4.1

\_l 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 I960*
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.
4/ November 1963=100.
5/ February 1965=100.
6/ December 1963=100.
Note: The Consumer Price Index cannot be used for measuring differences in living costs among areas; it indicates
price change within areas. Estimates of differences in living costs among areas are found in the family budgets.




TABLE 3. Consumer Price Index--The United States and selected areas J./for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
major groups percent change from April 1971 to Hay 1971

Group
All items
Food
Housing
Apparel and upkeep
Transportation
Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services —

Los Angeles-^
Long Beach

U.S. CityAverage

Chicago

Detroit

0.5

0.3

0.7

1.2

0.5

0.7

.3
0
.9
1.2
.2
.3
(2/)
.5
0

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

.3
2.4
1.5
.7
.5
.5
(2/)
0
1.2

.3
.3
1.1
.3
.4
.6
(2/)
.7
.1

.3
1.5
.3
.3
.1

.3
.6
.9
.6
.3
.5
.2
.4
.2

New York

Philadelphia

(2/>
.2
(2/)

If See footnote 1, table 2.
2/ Not available.

TABLE 4. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers for selected groups,
seasonally adjusted
(1967-100)

Indexes

Group
May 1971

April 1971

February 1971

Percent changes t o : M a y 1971
From:
3 Months
1 Month
Ago
Ago

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

118.4
116.6
116.5
115.3
118.7
117.6

118.2
116.4
116.2
115.2
119.0
115.9

116.1
114.0
114.2
114.0
113.3
114.4

Fuel and utilities 1/ Fuel oil and coal -

114.3
117.3

113.9
117.2

113.1
116.4

.4
.1

1.1

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

120.0
121.0
120.0
121.5

119.2
120.1
119.3
121.0

118.7
118.7
119.5
120.1

.7
.7
.6
.4

1.1
1.9
.4
1.2

Transportation
Private
New cars

118.6
116.9
114.2

117.9
116.1
113.8

117.9
116.3
114.5

.6
.7
.4

.6
.5
.3

Commodities
Commodities less food
Nondurables — - - — — — --Nondurables less food
Apparel commodities
Durables

117.2
116.6
117.5
116.6
120.3
116.5

116.7
115.8
117.0
116.0
119.4
115.7

115.7
115.4
115.9
115.7
119.0
115.3

.4
.7
.4
.5
.8
.7

17
±J
2j

0.2
.2
.3
.1

-

2.0
2.3
2.0
1.1
4.8
2.8

.3
1.5

-

Also includes telephone, water, and sewerage service not shown separately.
Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, jewelry, and apparel upkeep services not shown separately.




1.3
1.0
1.4
.8
1.1
1.0

- 9 TABLE 5. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas 1/ for urban wage earners and clerical workers, commodity groups,
May 1971 index and percent changes from February 1971

Group

U.S.
City
Average

Chicago

Detroit

Los AngelesLong Beach

New YorkNortheastern Philadelphia

(indexes 1967=100 unless otherwise specified)
All items

120.8

120.6

120.9

118.1

125.2

123.4

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

118.2
116.3
114.1
115.8
115.1
121.4
115.5
125.3

117.7
115.8
115.7
115.3
113.7
118.5
116.2
125.1

117.5
116.3
114.8
118.2
114.6
118.3
113.3
122.9

114.6
113.5
110.5
114.6
113.7
116.1
112.0
117.3

122.8
120.4
115.1
121.2
118.0
126.7
118.5
130.4

119.6
117.5
118.0
115.9
117.9
120.3
116.7
128.7

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

123.2
127.2
114.7
131.6
114.4
117.2
114.4
118.1

119.4
122.8
110.1
128.4
111.1
112.9
109.0
114.3

126.0
133.8
(2/)
137.5
110.2
113.1
110.4
112.6

122.0
125.0
116.0
127.7
115.8

127.2
132.2

119.5
114.5

142.1
113.5
118.4
109.7
122.6

125.4
131.9
118.1
135.4
114.5
117.8
116.3
120.4

Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys1
Women's and girls'
Footwear — — « — — — —

120.2
121.2
120.4
121.7

117.4
117.7
119.5
115.5

115.7
117.6
111.8
121.1

118.4
116.8
122.5
118.4

120.6
125.9
115.5
121.7

121.2
121.6
119.3
124.9

Transportation
Private
Public

118.8
117.0
136.4

126.8
121.5
160.3

115.3
112.6
147.8

113.9
114.0
112.3

129.0
125.0
144.3

123
120
140.0

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

121.6
128.1
116.5
118.9
119.9

123.0
128.5
(2/)
118.9
124.5

122.4
132.6
(2/)
119.1
117.3

118.0
126.6
(2/)
111.2
116.3

125.2
135.3
114.8
123.3
122.1

126.0
135.3

(1/)

(£/)

122.2
(2/)

Percent changes from February 1971 to May 1971
All items

1.2

1.0

0.8

1.6

1.4

1.3

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

2.0
2.1
1.2
1.9
1.0
7.8
-.2
1.1

1.7
1.8
-.9
2.3
1.7
6.6
-.6
1.1

2.5
2.7
2.2
2.2
3.7
7.8
-.8
1.7

1.5
1.6
.7
2.2
2.3
5.3
-1.8
.9

2.2
2.6
1.6
2.4
.4
7.6
.9
1.1

1.5
1.6
1.1
.9
.6
6.3
-.4
1.6

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

.5
-.1
1.0
-.5
1.1
0
1.4
1.9

-.2
-.8

-.6
-1.5
(2/)
-1.9
1.0
-.7
1.0
1.9

1.4
1.5

1.3
1.3
(2/)
1.4
.4
.8
.5
1.7

Apparel and upkeep

1.8
2.8
1.6
1.5

1.9
1.0
3.9

Transportation
Private
Public

1.1
1.0
1.5

1.4
1.8

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

1.2
1.8
1.0
1.2
.7

1.0
1.0
(2/)
1.5
.1

Women's and girls'

See footnotes at end of table.




1 / .5
-1.4
.3
-.5
.6
1.8

0

2/ .7
1.6
.6
1.0
1.2

.6
-.2
3/ .7
-.7
2.5
0
5.0
1.3

1.2
.5
1.3

1.8
.1
3.9
1.4

1.1
5.9
-2.0
1.3

3.6
3.4
4.1
5.9

1.5
1.6
.1

1.6
1.7
.4

.5
.4
.6

.7
.9
.1

.8
.8

2.4
3.8

.2
.5

.7
1.2

.9
1.5

1.1
1.6
1.6
1.3
.5

<£/)

£/)

ill)
.7

(in

- 10 -

TABLE 5. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas 1/ for urban wage earners and clerical workers, commodity groups,
May 1971 index and percent changes from February 1971—Continued

Group

Buffalo

Cleveland

Dallas

indexes

Milwaukee

San
Diego

Washington

1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

All items

121.4

122.0

120.4

119.1

119.5

115.5

122.2

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

120.1
119.0
117.0
116.3
115.7
129.4
118.3
126.0

119.3
118.5
114.3
117.7
120.0
121.9
118.5
124.1

117.3
114.0
115.0
113.1
111.2
117.8
113.7
129.3

115.7
113.9
116.0
113.8
111.5
118.1
111.9
122.6

117.3
114.3
110.4
118.8
113.2
114.8
110.3
124.4

116.0
113.8
111.8
112.8
114.7
115.7
113.9
123.0

120.0
116.0
117.3
112.7
109.8
123.3
119.2
130.4

Hous ing
Shelter
Rent
Homeowner ship
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

123.6
124.3
113.7
126.2
124.4
118.7
129.6
121.2

120.3
120.9
111.2
122.5
118.1

123.6
128.0
111.7
135.4
114.5

126.3
136.1
130.1
138.7
106.3

118.5
119.2

109.0
118.8

120.7
123.1
113.3
126.2
115.0
118.4
117.3
117.9

109.3
111.1

117.4
121.3
107.3
125.2
108.7
118.7
101.0
113.2

121.1
124.1
113.8
129.9
108.9
117.5
111.2
119.8

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

125.0
135.8
125.1
119.0

122.4
120.6
124.3
123.0

118.5
123.2
115.6
120.6

123.8
122.5
124.3
126.4

118.0
119.5
122.7
115.8

117.1
116.7
119.5
117.9

123.3
123.5
124.2
125.5

Transportation
Private
Public

117.0
116.1
125.9

124.6
121.0
148.6

116.4
114.2
144.5

115.1
112.1
151.4

114.1
113.6
121.8

106.4
106.1
108.4

124.4
120.4
146.0

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

120.4
121.6
117.4
122.1
118.8

127.1
138.8
118.0
121.4
124.2

122.3
129.1
119.6
118.9
116.8

120.5
125.7
119.3
119.9
117.2

115.9
121.0
111.4
113.5
115.5

115.9
122.4
113.6
116.3
110.1

124.4
136.3
115.5
118.1
123.5

Percent changes from February 1971 to May 1971
items

1.5

0.4

0.5

0.1

1.1

0.8

1.1

3.0
3.3
1.7
2.0
-.3
14.1
.7
1.3

.6
.6
0
1.6
-1.2
3.7
-1.5

1.8
2.2
1.8
1.3
2.7
7.4
-.1
.9

2.3
2.4
2.7
1.2
2.7
8.8
-.5
1.7

1.5
1.5
1.9
3.1
1.3
3.4
-2.6
1.3

1.8
2.1
1.1
2.5
3.3
5.6
-1.6
.8

2.5
2.7
4.4
1.4
1.2
5.8
2.4
2.1

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

.9
-.5
1.4
-.9
3.2
0
4.7
3.1

-.4
-.8
.5
-1.1
.3

-.7
-1.8
.3
-2.6
0

-.4
-.8
.8
-1.5
.4

-.1
1.5

-.1
-1.0
-.1
-1.2
.2
0
.5
2.0

-.2
-1.0
1.2
-2.1
1.7

1.0

-.6
-1.3
1.2
-1.9
-.1
-1.8
.2
1.1

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

3.6
5.2
4.9
.9

2.3
3.0
2.7
1.6

1.4
2.3
.2
.4

0
0
0

.5
.7
0

.7
.7
0

.6
1.6
1.5
-.3
.1

2.2
-.9
.5
.3

.7
1.2
.8
.7
-.3

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

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

See footnote 1, table 2.
Not available.
Change from March 1971.




-r

0
2.9

.6
.7

0
3.3
1.5

1.5
1.4
2.3
1.4

2.8
-.8
6.7
1.4

0

3.1
3.2
-.5

.4
.5
.1

1.6
1.9
0

1.1
.9
.8
2.0
.3

1.2
1.9
1.3
1.2
-3

.9
.7
-.8
2.3
.1

1.1
1.2
.3
.9
1.4

-2.0

.2
-2.6
-2.9

2.1
2.2
2.1
2.3

- 11 TABLE 6. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food and its
subgroups, May 1971 indexes and percent changes from April 1971

Food at home
Area 1/

Total
food

Cereals

and
bakery
products

Meats,
poultry,
and fish

Fruits

Dairy
products

and
vegetables

Other
foods
at home

Food
away
from
home

(Indexes 1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

U.S. City Average

118.2

116.3

114. L

115.8

115.1

121.4

115.5

125.3

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo ----Chicago
—
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas Detroit
Honolulu
-Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles-Long Beach Milwaukee
Minneapolis-St. Paul
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Diego
San Francisco-Oakland —
Seattle
Washington

118.1
120.2
117.8
120.1
117.7
118.5
119.3
117.3
117.5
116.7
118.3
117.5
114.6
115.7
119.3
122.8
119.6
119.0
117.9
117.3
115.9
116.0
120.0

115.8
118.6
116.3
119.0
115.8
117.5
118.5
114.0
116.3
113.2
114.9
114.8
113.5
113.9
117.1
120.4
117.5
117.3
115.5
114.3
114.5
113.8
116.0

113.5
116.4
113.3
117.0
115.7
112.6
114.3
115.0
114.8
104.5
112.4
114.7
110.5
116.0
120.9
115.1
118.0
115.0
120.1
110.4
109.9
111.8
117.3

112.2
118.3
118.8
116.3
115.3
114.4
117.7
113.1
118.2
113.1
115.0
113.4
114.6
113.8
117.7
121.2
115.9
112.9
110.3
118.8
115.2
112.8
112.7

115.3
116.4
115.0
115.7
113.7
117.7
120.0
111.2
114.6
115.0
114.1
120.8
113.7
111.5
113.5
118.0
117.9
119.3
118.4
113.2
112.6
114.7
109.8

127.5
121.6
120.1
129.4
118.5
124.8
121.9
117.8
118.3
122.8
119.0
112.6
116.1
118.1
117.8
126.7
120.3
127.3
125.1
114.8
119.3
115.7
123.3

115.5
119.6
112.1
118.3
116.2
118.3
118.5
113.7
113.3
110.7
114.1
114.1
112.0
111.9
116.7
118.5
116.7
116.2
110.7
110.3
114.0
113.9
119.2

125.3
126.5
123.2
126.0
125.1
122.3
124.1
129.3
122.9
127.0
130.4
126.1
117.3
122.6
129.2
130.4
128.7
129.2
129.0
124.4
120.9
123.0
130.4

Percent changes April 1971 to May 1971
U.S. City Average
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo
-Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas
-•
Detroit
Honolulu
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles-Long Beach
Milwaukee
Minneapolis-St. Paul —
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis

San Dffiego San Francisco-Oakland Seattle
Washington
1/

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.4

1.2

-0.3

0.4

-.2
.1
-.8
• .2
-.3
.6
-.2
.3
1.1
-.1

-.4
.2
-.9
0
-.4
.8
-.2
.4
1.1
-.1
..5
.0
.2
.4
.3
.2
.1
.5
0
.7
.2
1.4
.2

.4
.3
-.2
.4
-.3
1.1
-1.4
.5
3.1
-.2
.7
.1
-.7
1.3
-.3
.1
.2
1.1
.3
.3
.2
.6
.4

-2.0
-.4
-1.2
-.6
-.8
-.4
.5
-.1
.5
-.1
0
-.4
.4
-.1
.3
.3
.2
-.9
-2.1
1.4
.3
.8
-.3

.2
-.2
-.5
-.6
.4
1.9
-.7
1.5
2.1
.5
.4
.2
1.2
.4
1.1
.2
.3
.2
.9
1.4
1.5
3.0
.7

.5
2.4
.5
1.5
-2.1
2.9
-.7
.9
1.3
-1.1
1.7
1.8
.6
2.3
.9
1.4
-.5
3.3
4.7
1.3
.1
2.7
.7

.3
-.7
-2.9
.2
.9
-.8
.3
-.1
.4
.4
.4
-1.2
-.3
-.4
-.3
-.9
0
.3
-1.3
-.8
-.9
.3
0

.3
0
0
.8
.2
.2
.1
.3
.6
-.1
.2
.2
.2
1.7
.2
.5
.8
.3
0
1.3
.2
.3
.9

.3
.7
.3
.3
.3
.5
.1
.9
.2
1.1
.4

See footnote 1, table 2.




- 12 -

TABLE 7. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food items May 1971
indexes and percent changes from selected dates
(1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

Item or Group

Total food
Food away from home
Restaurant meals
Snacks
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Flour
Cracker meal
Corn flakes
Rice
Bread, white
Bread, whole wheat
Cookies
Layer cake
Cinnamon rolls
•»M e a t s , poultry, and fish
Meats --Beef and veal
Steak, round
Steak, sirloin
Steak, porterhouse
Rump roast
Rib roast
•
Chuck roast
Hamburger
Beef liver
Veal cutlets
Pork
Chops
Loin roast
Pork sausage
Ham, whole
Picnics
-Bacon
Other meats
Lamb chops
Frankfurters
Ham, canned
Bologna sausage
Salami sausage
Liverwurst
Poultry
Frying chicken
-Chicken breasts
Turkey
Fish
Shrimp, frozen
Fish, fresh o r frozen -Tuna fish, canned
Sardines, canned
Dairy products
Milk, fresh, grocery
M i l k , fresh, delivered --M i l k , fresh, skim
M i l k , evaporated
Ice cream
Cheese, American process Butter




Index
May 1971
Seasonally
adjusted
Unadjusted
118.2
125.3
125.0
126.7
116.3
114.1
101.6
130.1
110.2
109.1
112.2
117.0
109.8
119.5
118.0
115.8
115.6
124.6
123.8
122.5
123.1
123.1
125.4
125.1
125.9
113.5
139.6
102.2
102.5
102.5
109.3
102.4
106.8
95.3
114.9
119.4
114.4
107.1
118.4
115.5
114.4
107.8
107.3
108.3
109.6
129.4
116.2
140.0
128.8
132.8
115.1
114.8
117.6
120.2
117.0
105.4
120.7
105.6

118.4

Percent change to May 1971 from—
May 1970
April 1971
Seasonally
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
adjusted
0.3

0.2

.4
.4
.4
116.6

116.5
116.4
124.6
123.7

125.8
125.4
126.2
139.5
104.8
106.3

105.1
96.8
115.5
115.0

.2
.2
.3
.5
.1
.2
.1
.3
.1
-.1
.6
.1
-.1
.3

-.4
1.3
1.2
.3
2.4

-.4
.2
-.4
.6
-1.4
-3.2
-1.1
-2.1
3.0
-2.2
-.3
.5
.7
-.7
2.4

2

3
-.1
-.5
-1. 6

2. 2
6
1
8
-.8
-2. 9

5.0
-.4
1.0
_.2

.4
.1

.4
107.7

129.1

115.3
115.3

120.5
105.7

.5
-.2
-.4
3.9
.6
.8
1.1
-.2
1.0

1.9

5

.4

1

.5
.3
.7
1.0
.4
.3
-.3

4

m2
_# 5

2.9
4.9
4.9
5.5
2.2
5.6
2.6
12.0
8.8
2.7
3.6
6.5
6.8
3.6
7.0
-1.4
-2.5
3.7
4.0
5.1
5.4
4.1
5.1
2.7
2.2
-.9
8.3
-12.9
-11.9
-11.9
-10.8
-12.0
-9.7
-18.1
-1.9
2.6
-3.2
-8.6
-.4
-1.6
.1
-1.3
-.5
-.6
-5.9
10.8
-.5
14.2
13.5
16.0
3.4
3.2
3.3
4.3
5.9
1.0

4.7
1.1

- 13 TABLE 7* Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food items May 1971
indexes and percent changes from selected dates--Continued
(1967=100 unless otherwise specified)
index
May 1971

Item or Group

Unadiusted
Fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Apples
Bananas
Oranges
Orange juice, fresh
Grapefruit
Grapes 1/
Strawberries 1/
Watermelon 1/
Potatoes
, Onions

Asparagus JV
Cabbage
Carrot s
Celery
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Peppers, green
Sp inach
Tomatoes
Processed fruits and vegetables
Fruit cocktail, canned
Pears, canned
Grapefruit-pineapple juice, canned
Orange juice concentrate, frozen
Lemonade concentrate, frozen
Beets, canned
•
Peas, green, canned
Tomatoes, canned
Dried beans
Broccoli, frozen
Other food at home
Eggs
Fats and oils:
Margarine
Salad dressing, Italian
Salad or cooking oil
Sugar and sweets
Sugar -Grape jelly
Chocolate bar
Syrup, chocolate flavored
Nonalcoholic beverages
Coffee, can and bag
Coffee, instant
Tea
Cola drink Carbonated fruit drink
Prepared and partially prepared foods
Bean soup, canned
Chicken soup-, canned
Spaghetti, canned
Mashed potatoes, instant
Potatoes, french fried, frozen
Baby foods, canned
Sweet pickle relish
PretzeIs
1/ Priced only in season.




121.4
125.6
116.2
94.1
120.9
121.6
124.3
(1/)
109.4

07)
115.7
103.4
123.3
129.8
133.7
107.6
151.5
125.3
212.2
129.2
152.2
151.1
117.2
116.6
113.3
121.0
113.2
114.4
106.3
115.3
119.1
117.9
115.5
106.1
116.1
109.7
119.1
119.0
112.2
118.5
130.7
113.6
121.8
122.6
124.3
107.7
125.7
125.9
112.5
113.6
106.5
117.0
110.8
110.1
110.6
116.5
113.4

Seasonally
adiusted
118.7
121.0
111.0
92.3
127.1
133.1
(1/)
113.4

(I/)

112.8
99.1

April 1971
Seasonally
Adjusted
Unadjusted

1.2
1.6
2.5
-1.8

-12.9
14.3

4.5

.2

-.2
5.8

(I/)
(I/)
2.0

-14.9

6.3
.1
2.4

119.9

-12.5
14.2
-1.6

.3

-.2
3.5
.3
.3
-.1
-.2
.5
.2

(I/)
(I/)
-2.1
-6.8

4.6

-.2
-.3
2.7
.1
-.3
-3.3

.7
.6
.1
.3
.1
1.0
0

-.1
-.2
-•4
.2
-.7

.4
.2
.2
-.1
-.1
-.2
.5
-.3
-.1
1.1
.5

(I/)

9.1

(1/)
-8.8
-22.4

1.2
-.5
11.9
-10.2
12.9

-9.4
26.6
-25.4
29.4
15.9
-5.4

9.4
1.4

22.0

6.3
10.0

9.0
2.3
.7

-1.2

3.9
5.7
5.9
7.0

.4

117.6
119.9

4.3
3.0
8.9

2.7

10.3

120.6

Unadjusted

4.3
2.0

121.6
140.9
104.4

133.9

-.3
-.8
-2.2
-3.5

m——
May 1970

13.0

1.5
8.1

4.0
3.5
-4.0

9.2
8.0
9.8
3.6
5.6
4.6
2.3
2.1

4.8
4.6

4.9
3.3
6.3
5.0
3.0
1.4
.6
3.7
2.0
-.4
4.9
5.7
5.6

TABLE 8. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected
items and groups, May 1971 and percent changes from selected dates
(1967=100 unless otherwise.specified)

Item and group
Housing
Shelter 1/
^
Rent
Homeownership costs 2/
Mortgage interest rates
Property taxes
Property insurance rates
Maintenance and repairs
Commodities 3/
Exterior house paint
Interior house paint
Services
Repainting living and dining rooms
Reshingling house roof
Residing house
»
Sink replacement
Furnace repair
Fuel and utilities
•
Fuel oil and coal
Fuel oil, #2
Gas and electricity
Gas
Electricity
•
Other utilities:
Residential telephone services
Residential water and sewerage services r
Household furnishings and operation 4/
•
Housefurnishings
Textiles =
•
Sheets, percale or muslin
Curtains, tailored, polyester Bedspreads, chiefly cotton
Drapery fabric, cotton or rayon/acetate
Pillows, bed, polyester, acrylic, or kapok
•
Slipcover, throws, ready made chiefly cotton
Furniture and bedding
•
Bedroom furniture, chest and dresser
•«Living room suites, good and inexpensive quality •
Lounge chairs, upholstered
Dining room chairs
•
Sofas, upholstered
Sofas, dual purpose
Bedding,mattress.and box springs
Aluminum folding chair 6/
•
Cribs
Floor coverings
Broadloom carpeting, manmade'fibers
Vinyl sheet goods
•
Vinyl asbestos tile
Appliances jl
Washing machines, electric, automatic
Vacuum cleaners, canister type
Refrigerators or refrigerator-freezers .electric -•
Ranges, free standing, gas or electric
Clothes dryers, electric, automatic
Air conditioners, demountable
Room heaters, electric, portable _6/
Garbage disposal units
Other housefurnishings:
Dinnerware, chinaware
Flatware, stainless steel
Table lamps, with shade
Lawn mowers, power, rotary type
Electric drills, hand held
Housekeeping supplies:
Laundry soaps and detergents
Paper napkins
-•
Toilet tissue
Housekeeping services:
" Domestic service, general housework
Baby sitter service
Postal charges
Laundry, flatwork, finished service
Licensed day care service, preschool child
Washing machine repairs




Other
index
bases

Mar. 70
Mar. 70
June 70

Percent change to

Indexes
May 1971

April 1971

April 1971

123.2
127.2
114.7
131.6
117.3
129.6
119.3
131.9
118.1
116.0
113.4
137.9
146.2
141.9
129.0
138.9
141.6
114.4
117.2
115.9
114.4
116.6
112.4

122.5
126.5
114.4
130.9
118.5
127.8
118.8
131.1
117.4
115.5
113.9
137.1
144.6
140.4
128.8
137.9
141.1
114.1
117.3
116.0
113.9
115.8
112.1

0.6
.6
.3
.5
-1.0
1.4
.4
.6
.6
.4
-.4
.6
1.1
1.1
.2
.7
.4
.3
-.1
-.1
.4
.7
.3

4.2
3.7
4.8
3.2
-11.9
7.2
6.0
7.6
4.5
4.4
2.3
8.8
13.0
11.4
6.2
9.2
6.7
7.1
8.1
7.2
7.2
7.5

106.2
132.6
118.1
114.1
110.8
111.7
108.2
107.6
117.7
108.0
111.2
119.1
103.3
115.3
123.6
102.8
116.6
116.7
103.3
118.0
117.5
106.0
101.9
114.4
116.3
105.3
109.3
103.6
107.9
111.3
112.2
110.0

0
0
.9
.1
-.8
-3.3
-1.0
-.5
.5
-.8
0
.3
.5
.3
1.1
-.7
-1.1
.7
0
1.8
.3
-.2
-.3
-.1
.2
.1
.4
.2
0
.6
.1
1.0
(6/)
.1

3.5
13.4
4.3
2.5
2.0
-1.5
-.6
1.1
3.2
5.8
4.2
2.9
2.8
2.0
4.7
2.6
2.5
1.4

109.6

106.2
132.6
117.0
114.0
111.7
115.5
109.3
108.1
117.1
108.9
111.2
118.8
102.8
115.0
122.3
103.5
117.9
115.9
103.3
115.9
117.1
106.2
102.2
114.5
116.1
105.2 '
108.9
103.4
107.9
110.6
112.1
108.9
(67)
109.5

117.9
119.3
121.0
116.8
106.4

117.0
119.4
120.3
116.3
106.3

110.5
127.5
124.5

109.8
126.6
123.6

.6
.7
.7

4.3
6.8
5.0

133.0
128.4
146.6
132.8
117.5
134.9

132.3
128.3
121.0
132.1
117.4
132.9

5
1
21 2
.5
.1
1.5

6.0
4.9
25.3
7.7
3.5
10.5

(£/)

-.1
.6
.4
.1

(5/)
675
3.5
.8
-1.3
5.9
4.4
1.3
1.9
1.0
2.2
3.0
4.1
2.9
(6/)
6.6
.4
4.3
2.5
-2.0

- 15 TABLE 8i Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected
items and groups, May 1971 and percent changes from selected dates--Continued
(1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

Item and group
Apparel and upkeep jJ/
•
Apparel commodities
Apparel commodities less footwear '
Men's and boys'
Men's:
Topcoats, wool or all-weather coats,
polyester blends £/
Suits, year round weight
Suits, tropical weight £/
Jackets, lightweight
.-Slacks, wool or wool blends
Slacks, cotton or manmade blends
-Trousers, work, cotton or polyester/cotton
Shirts, work, cotton or polyester/cotton
Shirts, business, polyester/cotton
T-shirts, chiefly cotton
Socks, cotton or manmade fibers
Handkerchiefs, cotton or polyester/cotton
Boy's:
Coats, all purpose, cotton or cotton blend £/ Sport coats, wool or wooL blend 6/
Dungarees, cotton or cotton blend
Undershorts, cotton
Women's and girls'
Women's:
Coats, heavyweight, wool or wool blend 6/
Carcoats, heavyweight, cotton 6/
Sweaters, wool or acrylic 6/
Skirts, wool, wool blend or manmade fibers 6/ Bkirts, cotton or polyester/cotton
Blouses, cotton or manmade fibers
Dresses, street, chiefly •anmade fiber
Dresses, street, wool or wool blend -6/ <
Slips, nylon
.
Panties, acetate or nylon tricot
Girdles, manmade blend
Brassieres, nylon lace
Hose, or panty hose, nylon seamless
Anklets or knee-length socks, various fibers Gloves, fabric, nylon or cotton
Handbags, rayon faille or plastic
Girls';
Raincoats, vinyl,cotton, or polyester blends 6/
Skirts, wool, wool blends, or acrylic 6/
Dresses, cotton, manmade fibers or blends
Slacks, cotton or chiefly cotton 6/
Slips, polyester blends
Handbags, plastic
Footwear
Men's:
Shoes, street oxford
Shoes, work, high
Women's:
Shoes, street, pump
Shoes, evening, pump
Shoes, casual
HousesUpper8, scuff
Children's:
Shoes, oxford
*
Sneakers, boys', oxford type
~
1
Dress shoes, girls , strap or pump
Miscellaneous apparel:
Diapers, cotton gauze or disposable
Yard goods, polyester blend
"
Wrist watches, men's and women's
Apparel services:
Drycleaning, men's suits and women's dresses
Automatic laundry service
Laundry, men's shirts
Tailoring charge, hem adjustment
Shoe repair, women's heel lift ---.




Other
index
bases

Indexes
May 1971

April 1971

120.2
120.5
120.3
121.2

119.1
119.3
119.0
120.3

(£/)

(£/)

129.7
131.6
112.6
117.3
133.0
112.8
113.4
113.7
119.2
116.2
115.3

129.1
130.1
111.9
116.8
132.5
112.7
112.8
112.4
118.8
114.8
113.0

(6/)
(6/)
122.0
120.0
120.4

(6/)
(6/)
121.2
119.9
118.7

(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
119.4
123.5
126.6
(6/)
10.5
115.0
114.7
120.6
99.4
116.7
109.8
132.3
(6/)

(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
115.0
123.6
126.7
(6/)
110.9
114.7
114.9
120:6
98.9
116.5
109.4
130.2

Percent change to
from:
April 1971
'May 1970
.9
1.0
1.1
.7

(§/)
.5
1.2
.6
.4
.4
.1
.5
1.2
.3
1.2
2.0
(6/)

(£/)
.7
.1
1.4
(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
3.8
-.1

-a

(6/)
-.4
.3
-.2
0
.5
.2
.4
1.6
(6/)
(6/)
3,0
(6/)
-.3
1.3
.5

3.9
3.8
3.9
3.5
(6/)
4.8
5.9
-.4
1.1
6.5
4.1
4.1
3.3"
.1
1.1
2.3
(6/)
(6/)
4.5
.8
4.5
(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
(6/)
.6
4.7
-1.0
(6/)
.5
3.4
2.8
3.7
-.3
1.1
1.8
8.7
(6/)
(6/)
6.1
(6/)
3.2
3.6
3.5

110.2
131.2
121.7

(6/)
(6/)
107.9
(6/)
110.5
129.5
121.1

119.7
118.1

119.1
117.9

.5
.2

4.1
4.5

123.9
120.5
125.2
121.0

123.4
119.9
123.4
120.4

.4
.5
1.5
.5

1.9
2.6
1.7
2.7

122.4
118.8
125.6

122.5
118.4
125.5

-.1
.3
.1

5.0
4.5
5.5

111.8
122.5
112.7

110.9
122.0
112.4

.8
.4
.3

2.2
.9
1.8

117.1
112.6
119.0
127.6
112.3

116.3
115.1
118.8
127.2
109.9

.7
-2.2
.2
.3
2.2

3.9
2.6
4.2
9.3
4.9

111.1

<£/)

- 16 TABLE 8. Consumer Price Index—United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected
items and groups. May 1971 and percent changes from selected dates--Continued

(1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

Item and group

Other
index
bases

Indexes
May 1971

Percent change to
from:

April 1971

April 1971

May 1970

Transportation
Private 9/
--Automobiles, new
Automobiles, used
Gasoline, regular and premium
Motor oil, premium
Tires, new, tubeless
Auto repairs and maintenance _10/
Auto insurance rates
Auto registration
Parking fees, private and municipal
Public
Local transit fares
Taxicab fares
Railroad fares, coach
Airplane fares, chiefly coach
Bus fares, intercity

118.8
117.0
113.9
112.8
104.0
119.3
114.8
128.4
142.1
123.8
134.9
136.4
143.7
119.1
126.2
124.1
130.6

118.1
116.2
113.8
109.8
103.7
119.0
114.6
127.9
141.9
123.8
135.4
136.4
143.7
119.1
126.2
124.1
130.6

.6
.7
.1
2.7
.3
.3
.2
.4
.1
0
-.4
0
0
0
0
0
0

6.0
5.9
7.4
7.5
-2.1
5.0
2.5
7.1
13.9
5.0
9.0
8.2
8.8
4.6
9.9
6.2
12.3

Health and recreation
Medical care - —
Drugs and prescriptions
Over-the-counter items
Multiple vitamin concentrates
Aspirin compounds
Liquid tonics
Adhesive bandages, package
Cold tablets or capsules
Cough syrup
Prescriptions
Anti-infectives
Sedatives and hypnotics
Ataractics
Anti-gpasmodics
Cough preparations
Cardiovasculars and anti-hypertensives
Analgesics, internal
Anti-obesity
Hormones
Professional services:
Physicians1 fees
General physician, office visits
General physician, house visits
Obstetrical cases
-,-Pediatric care, office visits
Psychiatrist, office visits
Herniorrhaphy, adult
Tonsilleetoray and adenoidectomy
Dentists* fees
Fillings, adult, amalgam, one surface
Extractions, adult
Dentures, full upper
Other professional services:
Examination, prescription, and dispensing of
eyeglasses
Routine laboratory tests
Hospital service charges:
Daily service charges
Semiprivate rooms
Private rooms
Operating room charges
X-ray, dlagonstlc aeries, upper G.I.
Personal care Toilet goods
.Toothpaste, standard dentifrice
Toilet soap, hard milled
Hand lotions, liquid
Shaving cream, aerosol -Face powder, pressed
Deodorants, aerosol
— Cleansing tissues
.-HGme permanent wave kits
Personal care services
Men's haircuts
Beauty shop services
Women's haircuts —
,
Shampoo and wave sets, plain
Permanent waves, cold

121.6
128.1
105.5
110.7
97.6
114.0
101.4
123.1
111.6
113.4
101.1
80.2
122.4
100.8
107.4
125.8
111.2
107.8
114.8
94.9

121.2
127.5
105.1
110.4
98.1
113.7
101.7
122.6
110.4
112.9
100.7
80.0
121.9
101.2
106.0
124.8
110.2
107.6
112.9
95.0

.3
.5
.4
.3
-.5
.3
-.3
%
.4
1.1
.4
.4
.3
.4
-.4
1.3
.8
.9
.2
1.7
-.1

5.4
7.0
1.8
4.8
-1.1
8.4
.4
9.5
3.5
5.6
-.6
-13.1
5.6
.1
4.6
5.9
4.2
2.8
7.2
.2

129.2
130.9
130.0
128.8
132.2
124.1
122.7
124.1
126.0
126.8
126.4
123.8

128.5
130.6
129.2
126.9
130.3
123.6
121.8
122.9
125.6
126.4
126.1
123.4

.5
.2
.6
1.5
1.5
.4
.7
1.0
.3
.3
.2
.3

7.4
7.9
6.8
5.7
8.0
4.5
7.8
6.8
6.2
5.9
7.6
5.4

119.6
115.2

118.6
114.9

.8
.3

6.4
3.7

159.6
161.7
156.4
155.2
124.8
116.5
113.5
107.3
112.2
118.1
107.1
123.9
105.1
124.4
110.7
119.6
121.8
118.0
119.0
121.2
110.1

158.8
161.0
155.6
154.5
124.4
116.3
113.5
107.5
111.8
120.3
106.6
123.9
104.9
123.2
110.4
119.3
121.7
117.6
118.8
120.7
109.5

.5
.4
.5
.5
.3
.2
0
-.2
.4
-1.8
.5
0
.2
1.0
.3
.3
.1
.3
.2

12.8
13.2
12.2
10.1
8.3
3.3
3.1
.4
6.6
.4
5.3
3.9
1.0
4.5
1.9
3.5
3.0
3.9
3.9
4.4
2.7




.4
.5

- 17 TABLE 8. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected
items and groups, May 1971 and percent changes from selected dates—Continued
(1967=100 unless otherwise Specified)

Item and group

Other
index
bases

Indexes
May 1971

April 1971

ercent change to
from;
May 1970
April 1971

Reading and recreation 11_/
Recreational goods
TV sets, portable and console
TV replacement tubes
r-Radios, portable and table model
Tape recorders, portable
Phonograph records, stereophonic
Movie cameras, Super 8, zoom lens
Film, 35mm, color
Golf balls, liquid center or solid core
Basketballs, rubber or vinyl cover
Fishing rods, fresh water spincasting
Bowling balls
Bicycles, boys1
--.
Tricycles
Dog food, canned or boxed
Recreational services
Indoor movie admissions
Adult
Children*s
Drive-in movie admissions, adultBowling fees, evening
Golf green fees
IV repair, color picture tube replacement
Film developing, color
--Reading and education:
Newspapers, street sale and delivery
Magazines, single copy and subscription
Piano lessons, beginner

118.9
106.4
100.0
121.9
98.4
94.7
102.3
89.3
108.1
104.5
124.5
110.4
110.5
112.5
111.3
108.4
125.0
138.3
138.0
139.1
139.3
116.0
125.8
98.1
116.2

118.4
106.2
100.1
121.6
98.3
95.1
100.5
88.8
108.1
104.4
123.4
110.2
109.5
111.9
111.1
108.0
124.0
136.6
136.1
137.8
138.0
116.4
124.0
97.8
114.7

.4
.2
-.1
.2
.1
-.4
1.8
.6
0
.1
.9
.2
.9
.5
.2
.4
.8
1.2
1.4
.9
.9
-.3
1.5
.3
1.3

5.6
1.8
.4
5.6
-.7
-.5
2.0
-2.7
1.2
1.3
5.5
-.7
3.1
4.0
2.2
3.3
5.9
7.4
7.2
8.1
8.9
4.6
5.5
.9
5.1

129.8
126.3
120.8

129.3
126.3
120.8

.4
0
0

11.6
7.3
4.2

Other goods and services
Tobacco products
Cigarettes, nonfilter tip, regular size
Cigarettes, filter tip, king size
Cigar8, domestic, regular size
Alcoholic beverages
Beer
Whiskey, spirit blended and straight bourbon
Wine, dessert and table
Away from home
Financial and miscellaneous personal expenses:
funeral services, adult
Bank service charges, checking accounts
Legal services, short form will

119.9
124.7
126.3
126.1
105.9
116.4
112.7
106.0
121.2
125.6

119.7
124.3
125.9
125.7
105.9
116.2
112.8
105.9
120.6
125.1

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

4.2
4.2
4.7
4.0
.7
3.9
3.6
1.0
3.7
5.8

116.3
111.5
133.3

116.2
111.4
133.3

.1
.1
0

3.5
5.4
9.0

119.2
116.6
114.3
130.7
133.1
122.0

118.6
115.8
114.0
129.7
133.0
121.5

Other special groups:
All items less shelter
Commodities less food
Nondurables less food and apparel
Household services less rent
Transportation services
Other services

4.6
4.1
3.2
3.7
9.5
5.4

1/ Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
2/ Also includes home purchase costs not shown separately.
3/ Also includes pine shelving, furnace air filters, packaged dfry cement mix, and shrubbery not shown separately.
4/ Also includes Venetian blinds, window shades, nails, carpet sweepers, utility pails, air deodorizers, steel wool scouring
pads, envelopes, reupholstering, and moving expenses.
5/ Mot available.
6/ Prices only in season.
II Also includes radios and television sets, shown separately under reading and recreation.
8/ Also includes men's sweaters, sport shirts, women's and girls' lightweight coats, women's slacks, cocktail dresses, bathing suits,
girls' robes, cotton and polyester blend skirts, shorts, earrings, and zippers not shown separately.
9/ Also includes storage batteries and drivers' license fees not shown separately.
iff/ Includes prices for water pump replacement, motor tune-up, automatic transmission repair, exhaust systea repair, front
end alignment, and chassis lubrication.
21/ Also includes outboard motors, nondurable toys, college tuition fees, paperback books, and college textbooks, not shown
separately.




- 18 Reliability of Percent Changes in the CPI

A system of "replicated" samples introduced into the index structure in the 1964
revision permits an estimate of sampling error for the CPI. 1/ The table below shows
standard errors for monthly, quarterly, and annual percent changes in the CPI for all
items and for nine commodity groupings based on 1970 averages. The figures may be interpreted as follows: the chances are about 95 out of 100 that the percent change in the
CPI as computed differs from the corresponding "complete coverage" change by less than
twice the standard error.
Because the CPI is rounded to one decimal place, some ambiguity may arise in
interpreting small index changes. The table below indicates, for example, that a monthto-month change of 0.1 percent in the all-items CPI is significant. Because of rounding,
however, a change of this size in the published index might result from a much smaller
change in the unrounded value. Hence, any particular change of 0.1 percent may or may
not be significant. On the other hand, a published change of 0.2 percent is almost always
significant, regardless of the time period to which it relates.
Average Standard Errors of Percent Changes in the
CPI Based on 1970 Data

Standard Error

Component

All Items
<
Food at home
Food away from home
Housing —•—•—•—..t—•———.—

Apparel
Transportation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation —
Other goods and services

Monthly
Change

Quarterly
Change

Annual
Change

.04
.08
.11
.06
.15
.10
.12
.13
.11
.10

.06
.13
.21
.10
.26
.16
.15
.23
.17
.16

.09
.18
.36
.19
.29
.19
.29
.34
.23
.41

This replaces the table of average errors based on 1969 data which was included
in the CPI report through December 1970.

1/ The method of deriving these estimates is described in a paper by Marvin
Wilkerson, "Measurement of Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index," Journal of the
American Statistical Association, September 1967.




- 19 -

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 servipes 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 fares, public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and certain other items which change in price infrequently.
Prices of most other goods and services are obtained by personal visits of the
Bureau's trained representatives.
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each
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 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 1967»100
and are
also available on the base of 1957-59»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 - 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 below)•




Bureau of Labor Statistics Regional Offices

REGION I -Boston

REGION II - N e w Y o r k

REGION III-Philadelphia

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

Mr. Herbert Bienstock
Regional Director
US. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
341 Ninth Avenue, Room 1025
New York, New York 10001
Phone: 971-5401
(Area Code 212)

Mr. Frederick W. Mueller
Regional Director
US. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Penn Square Building, Room 406
1317 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
Phone: 597-7816
(Area Code 215)

Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont

Canal Zone
New Jersey
New York
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands

REGION I V - A t l a n t a

REGION V-Chicago

REGION VI - Dallas

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

Mr. William E. Rice
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
1100 Commerce Street, Room 6B7
Dallas, Texas 75202
Phone: 749-3641
(Area Code 214)

Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky

Illinois
Indiana
Michigan

Arkansas
Louisiana
New Mexico

Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee

Delaware
District of Columbia
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia

Minnesota
Ohio
Wisconsin

REGIONS VII and VIII - Kansas City

REGIONS IX and X - San Francisco

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

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
Idaho
Oregon
Washington




Oklahoma
Texas