Full text of CPI Detailed Report : November 1953

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Issued December 23, 1953
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.

EXECUTIVE 3-2420
Mofiatt - Ext. 532

PRICE INDEX

1953
Price Index Declines 0.3 Percent
October and November as Food
Prices Drop l.k Percent

:
:
:
:
:
:
:

This report presents the Consumer Price Index for
November 1953 for the average of U.S. cities and
for individual cities. The measure of price change
from January 1953 forward is based on the revised
index structure* Information about the index revision is given in the February 1953 Monthly Labor
Review or is available upon request.

Retail prices of goods and services bought by the nation1s urban wage earners
and clerical workers turned downward by 0.3 percent in November 1953* interrupting the
gradual rise of the past eight months, the U. S. Department of Labor' s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Food prices, declining for the third consecutive month, dropped
l.k percent over the month and were mainly responsible for the decrease in the All Items
Index. Transportation costs were 0.5 percent lover than in October, and Apparel prices
were unchanged on the average. All other groups of items rose during the month! Housing,
0.2 percent; Medical Care, O A percent; Personal Care, 0.2 percent; Reading and Recreation,
0.3 percent; and Other Goods and Services, O.h percent.
The index for All Items for November 1953 was 115.0 percent of the 1 9 V M 9
average, 0.6 percent higher than a year ago and 13*0 percent above the level of June 1950.
Converted to a base of 1935-39 s 100, the November 1953 index was 192.3.
FOOD

The U.S. Food index fell l.t percent between October and November as average

decreases in retail food prices were reported in all but one of the k6 cities surveyed.
This was the largest monthly decline in food prices since last February when, as now,

prices of meats and eggs dropped considerably.

The November index was 112.0 (191*7-1*9 •

100), 2.6 percent below a year ago, but 11. ^ percent above the June 1950 index.

An average decrease of over 7 percent in pork prices (bacon declining about
11 percent) was accompanied by smaller price reductions in beef and veal (about 2f percent),
lamb (about it percent), other meats (over 1 percent) and poultry (nearly 2 percent). Hog
marketings reached a seasonal peak, and cattle marketings surpassed all previous records.
Fish prices were slightly lower. These combined to produce the sharpest monthly decline
(3*7 percent) in the Meats, Poultry and Fish index since February 19^9.
The decrease of 2.2 percent in the index of Other Foods at Rome was caused
primarily by lower egg prices in nearly all cities. Between October and November, eggs
dropped more than 8 percent in price, marking the end of the previous seasonal advance.
Lard prices also decreased while margarine prices rose in most cities.
Fruit and Vegetable prices decreased 0.3 percent, on the average, but group
hanges and changes in the prices of individual items varied considerably from city to city.
The average of fresh, fruit prices was down slightly. Fresh vegetables averaged a bit




2
higher in price. Increases in fresh produce prices were most frequently reported for
applesj green beans and tomatoes! the latter rising substantially* Prices of lettuce and
oranges were generally lower. Canned fruits and vegetables decreased
percent.
Increases in milk prices in $ew
and
, T/v ~ ilc ig with small advances
in butter prices in many cities accounted for most -R" i" *=• ^V TO-cent. rise in the Dairy
Products index over the month, .Pricey for Cerea'n
'cl&^tv Iroduc+s were up 0*2 percent
on the average * Restaurant meal prices v e ^
0,1 percent*
HOUSING
The rise of 0/2 percent
ibe pjuilr- nc-.^
due
large measure to conf
tinued rent increases, fol l^vinp th^ e: d
• ed*.? n *
"ontr^l o/ . ily
combined with
x
1»
t L^'TV^ E., October and November*
ouy:*
I W ^ . ij p^
sma 1 ler a dva r. cer, fc r
n e * s •tb.
An increase * ~ telephone - a t c.*:r in t h.J rise of 0,3 percent
n'
'-as 4 - ch^t"
* 1 s ' i, k .>rar Wer^ morally
LV<
« ^wer
for Household Operatior, p>*<
s *:e/ vs.s <i
pe^ - i , : VH V }"J H I G V ' r and lower
The Rouse Fiv^, SY1
v
prices were reported
^ , r
* i eras. /jr( - g 4 -z&vi- vitr highei p? i^er were bedroom
r
suites and sheets, wh^"
-- i
returned to
^
:
c'l
Lnr pales. Gas and Elf
v
ectricity was 0.3 perc* :t * s \ -r '.ban in 0c tobe % a o -a- rate.:; vo; e
"need In several
cities. Solid Fuels arid ; iic „ Oil jr-ices rose O.^ pf i ^in* ""uring tn--* ' :rt:\
*
were no significant
APPAREL
>r I -es of App^reJ -emai^M at the October " v'ol
1
movements * Fiona; the s ibg'vapr*. Amorg individual item*, rrfce? o-'
' shirts and topcoats,
woman's sho**o and boys* jackets were higher in a nuinhe~ < f cl^Jfs u M V In others decreases
were reported for women1 s fur coats and rayon >1 cures, ar:,
.

Transportation costs declined
p^c>' :< t b- * we e r "v J / cr arci November, priGROUPS
mar ily as the result of furthe^ iec
Ir
i
r-" c * c
. Prices of
gasoline were lower in a few cities and auto repairs advanced sligntly.
Medical Care costs rose 0,1* percent as additional increases in rates were reported for hospital and professional services*
Personal Care costs increased 0.2 percer.U -? th scat^ei ed reports of higher
prices of toilet soap and other items.
Reading and Recreation was 0.3 percent higher than *r nctcbsr. a-'
litiona!.
motion picture theatres showed special" attractions at inci eased rrxv-i:.
°rlces of spo:"4 i r»r
goods were lower. Price changes for television sets were mired,
ti. seme stores reporting
lower prices for 1953 models and other stores reporting Mg;y r prices "or some new model: *
Other Goods and Services r ose
continued to advance.




Q.k percent during the month, as beer prices

: NOTE: For the convenience of users who have contractual
:arrangements with indexes on the base of 1935-39 - 100,
;the Bureau will continue to publish, on the 1935-39 base,
:during 195*+ the all-items indexes as revised January 1953
:for the U.S. and each of the 20 cities.

TABUS I.

P O K ^ M E K P U C E ira . :
hi
ana

—

a A AVI3*AGS ALL ITEMS AJTD COMMODITY GROUPS
'^unvx- for Selected Dates

November
195^

P
11

V?f

September
1953

November
1952

3

June
1950

GROUP
Tils N'otr.'•

Lf £

n

|!2 Months Ago

INDEXES (19I4.7-.V9 s
115*0

ALL ITEMS

112.0

FOOD 2/
Food" at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry and fish
Cairv products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at horn*

120.6
107.0
110.5
107.it
11U.8

HOUSING

118,9

3/

Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels arid fuel oil
H ouse furnishings
Househo1d operation

Ilia

115 a
111,.6
113.3
120, U

^

ftfi

IVIJV'S

5/

59.^

115,0
115.0
117.5
lit. 3
113.3
ll c .9

1.00.5

113.8
113.5
120.3

U-7.1

100.5
102.7
106 a
92.3
102,5

57.2
1*1.6
U9.8

10U. 9

118.7

118. U

115.7

106.6

126.0
106.9

119.5

12*4.6
108 a
116.0

121.6
108.0
113.3

105.5

105.3

130 a

130,7

123.3

122.8

126.8
107.0

K<-. i nl- L C AR E

r,rii

101.8

Ilk. 3

T*"-ALPORT A'l T^N

a a a p arpFA^ia

115.2

116.7

105.5

PFri ASNAL CA^E

Ilk. 3

100)

107.7
117.4

116,6

h/

Pre-Korea

113.5
109.6

125,7
108a

APPAREL

last Year

111a
110 a

127.3
107.3
125.9
108.3
116.9

Year
1939
PreWorld War II

105.k

108,7
102.7
107,6
97a

u?a

•46a

i'

6/
86.6
lO'i. 9
,;
6a
53.^

99.6

6/

105.2

96.5

52,5

130.7

128.9

109.9

6/

122.6

118,9

105

a

2/

99.2

6/

113 a

113.2

112.9

112 a

108*9

108.6

107.8

107

a

102.5

120,2

119.7

118.5

115.8

IO3.7

y

PERCENT .CHANGE TO NOVEMBER 1953 FROM;
October
1953
ALL ITEMS
FOOD
1-1

2/

nod at 'j0tTi
ar 5 >ak , products
ts ? ro.'^-y anl fish
a a,,
- »dji'js &i , e ^ t a a e s
ther
11" h ® "

t v a -

y

Kent
0 ^ M ^lecr- icity
' j i j 1 \i Is ai d fuel oil
r
r
t • ""f ^rriirtl'* .-J>
"»^hold operation
, -

-

a , CARE

! 1. - „')>< XL CARS
•-F
r a

/ V } AND RECREATION
GO

AT

SERVICES

November
1952

June
1950

Year
1939

- oa 5

0.6

13.0

93.6

-

ia

- 1.6

- 2.6

lia

137.8

- 1,7
0.2
- 3.7
oa
- 0.3
~ 2.2

- 1.9
0.2
- 5.7
0.8
0.8
- 1.6

- 3.1
2.6
- 6A
- 2.5
- 7.3
oa

10,8
17. U
0.8
19.7
U-.8
22.0

136.5
110.8
157.2
121.9
132.0
137.2

7/

oa:

O.U

2.8

13»3

56a

1/

oa

1.0
oa

6.5
1,8
3.5
0.3
3.2

17,1
U.5
17.0
11.2
17a

oa
0.2
0.2

0.3

1,0
0.2
0.8

kj a
2., 3
123.2
102.8

70,9

7/

0.3

9-3

101,0

- oa

0.9

18. b

88,8

z/

oa

0.6

3.7

17.0

69.8

1/

oa

oa

0,9

i-M

9 0 a i>

0.3

1.0

ia

oa-

ia

3.6

- 0.5
^

1953

- 0.3

0 '

1/

September

0,2

6.2

72.9

15.9

70.3

V
If

~ ' **
al ExpTana11 on"at end o F tab lis.
ji 1 fc*-. 'Kood avay from home".
\ lud^s ' Otner shelter"; estimates for rent, home purchase,, and other home owner costs are reflected monthly in total
i
'
uni all items.
. 1
r f >r subgroups cf apparel not yet available.
"
it
'oba<*co, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services"' (such as legal services, banking fees, burial
.oes, etc.).
t t t available.




TABLE 2.

CONSUMER. PP.ICE INDEX l/ — ALL ITEMS INDEXES FOR SELECTED DATES
U.S. Average and 20 Large Cities

( 1

9 ^ 7 - 4 9

=

(1935-39 = 100)

1 0 0 )

City
November
1953

U.S. AVERAGE

3/

October
1953

September
1953

November
1952

June
1950

115.0

115.4

115.2

114.3

101.8

192.3

116.4
116.7
116.1
112.9
114.7

117.1
117.2
116.3
113.3
115.3

116.6
116.9
116.2
113.2
115.2

115.1
115.3
115.1
112.9
114.7

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

198.2
197.0
19^.0

October
1952

April
1950

October
1953

116.6

113.4
115.2

114.8 5/

101.2
101.4

114.7

113.4
115.0

101.5

183.2
186.3
193.1
195.0
201.1

June
1950

September
1953

November
1953

_ /

CITIES PRICED MONTHLY:
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
PMl&delphia

CITIES PRICED IN JAN., APR.,
JULY, OCT. 4/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Ore.

113.3
115.7

116.1

CITIES PRICED IN MAR., JUNE,
-SEPT., DEC. h/

CITIES PRICED IN FEB.,
NOV. k/

AUG.,

Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, I).

99.9

117.0 6/

117.6
115.0
lis. 3

115.0
113.2
115.5
114.5

117.1
116.9

MAY,

101.6
101,2

100.9

May
1950

113.6

November
1953

100.4
103.5
100.2

116.0
113.1
115.6

nil. 3

C.

199.4
197.7
194.2
195.4
199.8

101.3 6/

101.1

November
1952
115.5
117.3
113.4
116.14.

190.9

102.1 5/

September
1952
_

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

186.8

196.8
198.6
188.5
198.9
187.7

102.0

113.3

101.6

2/ These are the same indexes shewn in columns 1, 2 or 3, converted to a base of 1935-39 = 100.
jj/ The U.S. Average is based on prices collected in 46 cities. In addition to the 20 cities listed individually, 26 cities
are included in the national average. Indexes are not calculated for these 26 cities.
4/ Foods, fuels, rents and a few other items priced monthly; other commodities and services priced quarterly.
5/ Sept.1952 and June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
t / August 1952 and May 1950; formerly priced February, May, August, November.

TABLE 3.

City

U.S. AVERAGE
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia




CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 1/ ~ PE? P £5? CHAir^o FROM OOTOB?"!
U.S. Average and Fi-e Cities Priced Mont.il"
All Items an 1 Co*'-: •liT ' "rc^?*.

All
Items

Food

Housing

y

3/

- 0.3

-1.4

~ 0.6
- 0.4

~ 2.1
-1.5

-1.0
-1.3
-1.5

- 0.2

- 0.4
- 0.5
"

1

Transportation

Apparel

« TO NOVEMBER 1-953

Medical
Care

personal.
Care

); /
zf

0*2

0„2
r

o, ;
0.1
- 0.1

Recreation

0

0.2

0.2.

- -.1
0

nation at end of ie\

i
!

5/

0.2

0.3

0.4

- 0.4

0.2

.
-

0,4

0.3
os6
0

- 1,4
0.1

2.0
0.5
0.2

^ -

0,1

Im-

0.3

?
.

Other
Goods &
Services

0.4

- 0,5

0

-

Reading
&

;

o»5

- 0.8
2.0

- 0.4

- 0.1

0.5

TABLE 4. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX l / ~ ALL ITEMS AND COMMODITY GROUPS
November 1953 Indexes and Percent Changes, August 1953 to November 1953
U.S. Average and 10 Cities Priced in November 1953

City

All
Items

Total
Food
2/

Total

Housing
Solid
Gas &
Fuels
Elec&
triFuel
city
Oil

Rent

3/

Housefurnishings

House
hold
Operation

TransAppare1 portation

it/

Medical
Care

Personal
Care

ReadOther
ing & Goods &
Recre- Seration
vices
5/

108.9

120.2

109.3
119.5
112.8
114.9

119.2
120.0
125.2
119.4
114.8
121.0
122.9
115.5

November 1953 Indexes (1947-49 » 100)
U.S. AVERAGE

115.0

116. 4
Chicago
Cleveland
115.5
Detroit
116.7
Houston
117.3
116.1
Los Angeles
He* York
112.9
. 114.7
Philadelphia
113.4
Scranton
116. 4
Seattle
Washington., D.C.

lib. 3

112.0
110.4
110.5
114.4
111.9
112.7
110.7

Ilk. I
111.6
110.8
110.6

118.9
124.2
119.4
121.1
124.1
124.7
115.5
113.3
116.3
118.9
118.3

127.3

137.3

121.9
122.7

107.3

125.9

108.3

106.8

99.9

123.9
123.8
119.2

112.2

131.8
124.3
139.9
127.0
134.0

110.2
105.6
111.0
103.8
110.3
107.7
110.2
103.3
107.9
110.3

110.1
106.5
109.5
108.9
102.3
99.0
118.1

116.9

105.5

130.1

123.3

113.4

120.7
110.8
106.9
128.9
108.1

108.4
105.0
103.4
108.1
104.0

132.8
124.0
126.2
126.9
127.5
133.5
135.4
130.4
132.6
128.4

122.7
127.6
122.0
119.2
121.1
123.4
120.4
119.5
129.5
117.9

114.0
114.5
119.9
120.1
117.9
107.7
116.8
112.7
111.1
111.6

109.2
110.8
125.4
115.2
111.4

-0.4

1.2

0.6

1.2

119.2

105.9
106.9
106.8
107.3
103.8

113.1
107.8

111.5

114.4

103.0

127.2
1

! 127.2

Percent Change -— August 1953 to November 1953
U.S. AVERAGE
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia
Scranton
Seattle
Washington,D.C.

0

0.1
0.3
-0.2
o.4

0.3
0.2

-0.2

0.2

-0.3

0.1

-1.8

0.8

-1.7
-1.5

0.9
1.0
0.8
1.3

-2.0
-0.8
-0.5
-1.2
-2.1
-1.8
-2.5
-2.1+

0.8

0.5
0.3
0.9
0

1.6

1.8 ;;

0.4
0
0

0.9
6/ 1.6

6/

2.6

6/ 3.5

0
0
0.1
0.5
0.3
0
0.9

1.6

0.8

1.1

0.7

0.6
0.2

2.3
0.2

0
0.5

0.6
0.6
1.8
0.3
1.6

2.3
2.1
1.9
0
2.9

1.2

0.9
0.4
0.4
0.5
7.1
0.4
0.3

-0.1

1.1

-1.1

0.1
0.1
1.4
1.1
1.6
3.1

-0.9

0.1
-0.3
-0.2

1.0

1.2
1.1

1.2
0.7
0.4

-1.1

-0.2
-0.5
-0.5
0.4

0.2

-0.5 ;
-0.3

-0.2
0.6
0.5

-1.9
5.1
2.9

0.8

1.0
0.9
2.8

0.4
0.7
-0.1
0.2

6.6
2.2
2.0

0.6

0.8

0.7
1.5
0.1
3.9
3.2
0.2

0.3

i

1.7

1,5

5.6

3.0

1.3

0.1

1.0
1.7
0.7
0.1
1.0

1.1

I
1/ through 5/, see footnotes on table 1 and General Explanation at end of tables.
Z / Change from May 1953 to November 1953.

TABLE 5- CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 1/ — FOOD AND ITS SUBGROUPS
November 1953 Indexes and Percent Changes, October 1953 to November 1953
U.S. Average and 20 Large Cities
(I9I17-U9 « 100)

Fruits &
Vegetables
Percent
Index Change

Other
Foods a t Home
Percent
Index Change

0.4

107.4

-0.3

114.8

-2.2

110.7
111.9
111.6
110.3
112.4

0.5
0
0.3
-0.2
0.4

110.4
108.2
103.4
106.4
110.9

-3.9
0
2.6
0.1

108.1
II3.O
107.2
120.9
| 120.6

-2.8
-1.8
-2.6
-3.4
-3.1

-3.2
-2.7
-4.1
-2.8
-3.4

IO8.3
109.7
110.7
IO8.5
108.6

0.3
0.1
0.3
0.2
0

104.6
115.5
109.7
107.7
105.5

-0.1
1.2
0.9
2.2
1.9

117.6
115.0
114.2
111.7
114.6

-2.2
-3.4
-0.3
-2.2
-2.6

99.9
107.8
108.5
104.2
109.5

-3.8
-2.8
-4.1
-4.1
-4.1

107.0
109.4
114.2
112.4
109.1

0.4
1.2
0.2
0.1
-0.3

116.7
101.5
110.6
111.1
104.2

1.0
-2.0
-0.6
0.4
-0.3

121.0
114.0
114.0

-3.3
-1.8
-2.0

115.3

-1.7
-3.4

106,8
106.9
106.0
105.6
104.9 i

-4.2

109.4 !
3.0
0.2
110.2
0.2
112.8
0
106.9
-0.1
114.3
—-—

117.6
112.1
!105.1
;1109.2
104.2
1

1.5
0.6
1.4
2.4
-1.1

122.5
112.5
113.9
112.2
'111.7

-2.0
-2.8
-2.2
-2.1
-1.8

Dairy
Produ cts
Percent
Index Change

Total Food £/
Percent
Index Change

Total
Cereals &
Meats, Poultry
& Fish
Food at Home
Bakerv Products
Percent
Percent
Percent
Index Change
Index Change
Index Change

U.S. AVERAGE

112.0

-1.4

111.4

-1.7

120.6

0.2

107.0

-3.7

110.5

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Chicago
Cincinnati

112.1
113.1
110.0
110.4
114.6

-2.2
-0.8
-1.4
-2.1
-1.5

111.6
112.4
108.7
109.6
114.3

-2.6
-0.9
-1.6
-2.4
-1.8

115.0
120.7
119.1
117.2
120.0

-0.4
3.5
0.2
0.4
0.5

112.8
109.7
103.9
101.4
110.5

-4.3
-2.9
-4.9
-4.6
-3.7

Cleveland
D-troit
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles

110.5
114.4
111.9
110.2
112.7

-0.9
-1.5
-0.4
-0,8
-1.0

109.7
113.6
111.0
109.9
111.3

-1.5
-1.4
-1.2
-0.9
-1.3

116.9
118.0
115.0
120.3
122.2

0
-0.2
0
0.1
-0.1

103.7
107.6
106.4
104.3
107.6

Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
For H a n d , Ore.

111.9
110.7
114.1
113.5
111.5

111.3
110.4
113.4
113.2
111.0

-1.7
-1.4

122.4
125.0
121.2
119.4
116.9

0.1
-0.2
0.2
0.1
-0.7

115.3
127.1
119.0
122.1

0.3
-0.2
0.5
-0.2
0,3

-1.3
-1.3
-1.5
-1.8

-1.7
-1.5
-2.2

-1.0
II3/7
114,5
-0.9
112.8
-1.4
112.4
-1.7
111 .6
-1.5
111.3
-1.5
-1.2
110.5
-1.1
jll0.8
109.8
110.6
-12
-1.5
1
See footnotes on table 1 and General Explanation

St. Louis
San Francisco
loranton
Seattle
Washington,D.C.




115.3

at end of tables.

-4.5
- #6
-3.0

-1.3

12.U. 2

1,

6

QMSRAL MFLMAfim

The Consumer Price Index (revised January 1953) measures the average change in
prices of goods and services purchased by city wage-earner and clerical-worker families«
The goods and services included in the index "market basket" are those required to maintain the level of living characteristic of such families in 1952 • The quantities and
qualities of the items in the "market basket" remain the same between consecutive pricing
periods, so that the index measures the effect of price change only on the cost of living
of these families.
The indexes are presented on a base of 19U7-iiS^100» The index numbers thus show
the average increase or decrease in prices from the 19U7-U9 average. (For convenience
of users, these indexes are also shown on the base 1935-39«100. Note that they are
calculated using the new samples, items and weights). The city indexes do not indicate
whether it costs more to live in one city than in another. Conparisons of city indexes
show only whether prices have risen more or less in one city than another since the base
period.
The Bureau has been compiling the Consumer Price Index for nearly i|0 years. At
four different times it has been necessary to bring the "market basket" of goods and services up to date and to modernize the samples and methods of calculation. The indexes in
this report are revised as of January 1953• The 11 market basket" is based on extensive
surveys of postwar expenditure patterns of city families, and reflects changes that have
occurred since prewar in the amounts, kinds and qualities of things people buy, as well m
new things that were not part of our pattern of living a few years ago.
About 300 items are priced to estimate the average change in prices of all items
in the "market basket." Among these items are all the ii?portant goods and services that
wage and clerical workers buy. Prices are collected at regular intervals, and the successive prices are coiTpared to determine price changes. The items priced are described
by detailed specifications to insure that as far as possible, the same quality is priced
each time, and that differences in reported prices are measures of price change only.
Prices are obtained in a sample of U6 cities representative of all cTETiFlEn^tlie tlTS.,
including the 12 largest urban areas with populations over 1 million, 9 other large cities,
9 medium-sized cities, and 16 small cities. In each city, prices are reported by stores
of various kinds and by service establishments and individuals (such as physicians and
dentists) from whom wage and clerical workers buy goods and services.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items are priced monthly in all cities.
Prices of most other goods and services are obtained on a regular rotating pricing cyclemonthly in the 5 largest cities, every 3 months in 25 large and medium-sized cities, and
every k months in the 16 smallest cities. In any given month, goods and services other
than foods, fuels and rents are priced in 17 or IB cities out of the U6» Price collection
extends over 3 or J; weeks, centered on the 15th of the month. Prices for a few items
(e.g., auto insurance, railroad fares) are computed from published sources.
Food. Food prices are collected monthly from chain and representative independent
food stores in all U6 cities^ during the first 3 days of the week which includes the l£th
of the month. Prices for restaurant meals are based on menus collected on the regular
pricing cycle for each city as described above.
Rent. Bents are obtained each month by mail from tenants of representative sairples
of dwellings in each of the U6 cities, and once every 2 years by personal visit, when
local samples of dwellings are also reviewed. The rent index measures changes in rent
from one period to another for the same rented dwellings, with the same facilities,
furnishings and services.
~ ~
™
Other Shelter. Materials and services for house maintenance and repair are priced
on the regular city pricing cycle. Prices of houses,* fire insurance rates, mortgage
interest and taxes, which change only occasionally, are obtained annually or biennially,
and changes estimated between pricing dates. Sales prices of houses are obtained from
Records of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration.




Fuels, including Gas and Electricity*

Prices prevailing on the 15th of the month

are collec ted montlily by mail from fNiel dealers and utility companies in U6 cities®

All Goods and Services other than Foods, Fuels and Rents.

Prices are collected

in person, on the city cycle described above, from samples of representative department

stores, apparel and shoe stores, housefurnishings and. appliance dealers, barber shops,
beauty shops, doctors, hospitals, moving picture theaters, etc.

Prices for such items as

newspapers, street car and bus fares, and telephone service are collected by mail.
of used cars are obtained from car dealers through a trade association.

Prices

Price changes for all items in each city are combined in accordance with their
importance in the 11 market basket" for that city to obtain an average price change for that
city. Price changes for the I46 cities are combined for the U.S. with the use of 1950 population data. Each city is given an importance or weight proportionate to the wage-earner
and clerical-worker population it represents in the index* The 12 largest cities, each
weighted by its own population, when combined have about two-fifths of the total weight in
the national index® Each of the 3 other city-size groups has about one-fifth of the total
weight; i.e., the 9 other large cities, the 9 medium-sized cities, and the 16 small cities
City indexes are compiled for the 20 largest of the ho cities priced for the national aver
age. The remaining 26 cities in which prices are collected are*
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W* Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand. Forlcs, N. Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Huntington, W. Virginia
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill5 Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown^ Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, Ohio

The present index, as described above, has been linked (spliced) to the rtinterim
M/^fled*1 Consumer Price Index for 3h cities, issued through December 1952, to form a
m<td avou? series back to 191,3 # 1/
For detailed descriptions of the Consumer Price Index, its uses and limitations,
see the following:
if

The Consumer Price Index/' A Short Description of the Index as Revised, 1953*
The Revised Consumers1 Price Index—A Summary of Changes in the Index and
Suggestions for Transition from the 1 Interim Adjusted1 and 8 Old Series1
Indexes to the Revised Index."
Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 1039s "Interim Adjustment of the
Consumers1 Price Index."
January 1951 Report: "Consumers' Price Index and Retail Food Prices*"
December 1952 Reports ^Consumers1 Price Index and Retail Food Prices®11
55

Monthly Labor Review articles:
The Revised Consumer Price Index
Adjusted Consumers1 Price Indexs
Interim Adjustment of Consumers1
Selection of Cities for Consumer
Revision of the Consumers1 Price

(February 1953) •
Relative Importance of Items (June 1951).
Price Index (April 1951)®
Expenditure Survey-1950 (April 1951).
Index (July 1950)«

1* : leHCece^OT^JS* report^ "Consu^^i^^TiTce Index and Retail Food Prices*11 Tables of
/soased "interim adjusted11 indexes for the U# 5« and for 20 cities are available upon
request•