Full text of CPI Detailed Report : November 1957

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Released December 20, 1957
U.S. DEPARTMENT CP LABCR
Bureau of labor S t a t i s t i c s
Washington 25, D* C.
CONSUMER FRIGE INDEX FCR NOVEMBER 1957
Consumer prices i n United States c i t i e s rose 0*4 percent between
October and November* according t o the U*S* Department of Labor f s Bureau of Labor
S t a t i s t i c s * Higher p r i c e s f o r 1958 model automobiles were l a r g e l y responsible f o r the
increase, although prices were higher f o r most major groups of goods and services* Food
was the only major group i n which prices were lower*
The November Consumer Price Index was 121*6 (1947-49=100), 3*2
percent higher than a year ago*
FOCp

A drop of 0*3 percent i n food prices r e f l e c t e d seasonal declines
i n prices of pork, fresh f r u i t s , and eggs* This was the t h i r d
consecutive month i n which food prices have f a l l e n * The November food price index a t
116*0 percent of the 1947-49 average was 2*7 percent above a year ago but 1*6 percent
below the August 1957 peak*
Average prices of meats, p o u l t r y , and f i s h dropped 1*6 percent,
with reductions f o r most cuts of meat and poultry* Bacon prices f e l l 7*4 percent, pork
chops 3*0 percent, and f r a n k f u r t e r s 0*9 percent* Prices of chickens dropped 0*9 percent
on the average* Beef and veal prices were down 0*3 percent, l e d by declines of 0*7
percent f o r both round steak and r i b roast*
Fresh f r u i t prices f e l l 2*1 percent on the average with oranges
down 6*1 percent and bananas down 4*3 percent* Fresh vegetables were up 2*7 percent as
sharp seasonal price increases i n tomatoes (14*2 percent; and green beans (8*5 percent)
more than o f f s e t moderate decreases f o r some other items of the group* Prices of
processed f r u i t s and vegetables showed l i t t l e change i n general, and f r u i t s and vegetables as a whole averaged 0*1 percent higher*
Egg prices declined seasonally, 1*5 percent* Prices of dairy
products advanced 0*3 percent, w i t h seasonal increases i n fresh milk more than o f f s e t t i n g moderate declines i n other items i n t h i s group*

Coffee prices dropped 0*7 percent, t h e i r 12th consecutive monthly
decrease* Cereal and bakery products increased 0*2 percent, with a l l items advancing
moderately except f l o u r which declined s l i g h t l y * Restaurant meals advanced 0*3 percent*
HOUSING

The r i s e of 0*2 percent i n housing was the r e s u l t of price advances
i n a l l of i t s component subgroups except housefurnishings* Rents
advanced 0*2 percent, with increases reported i n 14 of the 16 c i t i e s surveyed i n
November* Household operation costs rose 0*5 percent as rates f o r telephone and domestic
service continued upward and prices of laundry soaps and detergents also increased*
Prices of gas, e l e c t r i c i t y , and coal were higher than i n October* Prices of housefurnishings declined 0*3 percent as 1957 models of appliances were reduced p r i o r to the
introduction of 1958 models*
OTHER CCMMCDITIES
AND SERVICES

Most of the advance i n consumer prices i n November was due to the
introduction of 1958 model automobiles a t higher l i s t prices and
with lower dealer discounts* Prices of new cars t o consumers averaged 11*5 percent higher than i n October* Gasoline prices also advanced, but prices of
used cars declined* Higher t r a n s i t fares i n several c i t i e s resulted i n a r i s e of 0*7
percent i n the public transportation index*




2
The reading and recreation index rose 0*9 percent as theatres i n
several c i t i e s charged higher admissions f o r special features and prices of newspapers
rose s l i g h t l y *
The advance of 0*4 percent i n costs of medical care r e f l e c t e d
increased charges f o r h o s p i t a l services and higher prices f o r prescriptions and drugs*
Personal care was up 0*4 percent because of higher prices f o r t o i l e t soap, toothpaste,
and beauty shop services*
The r i s e of 0 . 2 percent i n apparel resulted c h i e f l y from increases
i n prices of women's wool coats and rayon dresses, men's wool suits and topcoats, and
shoes*
TABLE 1 s Consumer Price Index—United States c i t y average, a l l items and special groups
Indexes and percent changes f o r selected dates

Novo

1957

Group

A l l items less food
—
A l l items less s h e l t e r A l l commodities——
A l l commodities less food
Durables
Non-durables—
A l l services
— — —
A l l services less r e n t

!

!
|

i'

121.6
124.6
119.2
114.7
113.3
110,9
117.4
139.8
140.9

iI
Ii

!
i

Ind exes (19.47-A9=100)
Nov.
Sept.
June
Oct.
1950
1957
1957
1956
121.1
123.7
118.6
114.3
112.8
108.6
117.0
139.2
140.3

121.1
123.4
118.7
114.5
112.6
108.6
116.7
138.8
139.8

i
J

117.8
120.5
115.6
111.8
111.0
107.9
114.6
133.9
134.4

101.8
103.0
100.7
100.3
99.4
102.4
99.0
107.9
107.0

Year
1939
59.4
69.1
55.4
51.6
59.4
57.3
58.7
| 80.4
73.5

|

Percent change t o November 1957 from

All items—
A l l items less f o o d — — — - — —
A l l items less s h e l t e r — — —
A l l commoditiesA l l commodities less food—
Durables
Non-durable s
A l l services
——
A l l services less r e n t — — —

——___

Oct.
1957

Sept.
1957

Nov.
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

0.4
.7
.5
.3
.9
2.1
.3
.4

0.4
1.0
.4
.2
1.1
2.1
.6
.7
.8

3.2
3.4
3.1
2.6
2.5
2.8
2.4
4.4
4.8

i 19.4
! 21.0
[ 18.4
| 14.4
I 14.5
I
8.3
! 18.6
I 29.6
31.7

' 104.7
! 80.3
115.2
122.3
; 91.6
j 93.5
! 100.0
• 73.9
91.7

I

i

I

i

(1947-49=11.00)*

Purchasing power of the consumer d o l l a r -

Nov.
1957

Oct.
1957

$0.82

$0.83

Sept.
1957
$0.83

Nov.
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

$0.85

$0.98

$1.68

* To calculate purchasing power of the consumer d o l l a r on any other base, divide
the index f o r the desired base date by the index f o r the comparison date*




TABUS 2:

Consumer Price Index — United States c i t y are rage, a l l Items and coanodity groups
Indexes and percent changes f o r selected dates
Indexes (1947-49-100)
November
1957

October
1957

September
1957

November
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

This
month

Last
month

2 months
ago

Last
year

Pre-Korea

Pre-World
War I I

121.6

121.1

121.1

117.8

101.8

59.4

Food 1/
Food at home —————————
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and f i s h
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables —
Other foods at home — —

116.0
1U.1
131.6
104.6
114.5
1U.6
115.6

116.4
114.7
131.4
106.3
114.2
114.5
116.2

117.0
115.5
131.2
110.3
113.1
114.8
115.0

112.9
111.3
127.0
98.8
111.1
115.8
115.2

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
94.1

47.1
47.1
57.2
41.6
49.8
46.3
48.4

Housing 2/ — ,
—
Rent — — — — . = . — —
Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y — - - - - - - - —
Solid fue3,s and f u e l o i l — — —
Housefurnishings
Household operation —

126.8
136.3
1U.3
138.0
104.5
129.4

126.6
136.0
113.8
137.6
104.8
128.7

126.3
135.7
113.7
136.8
104.8
128.3

123.0
133.8
111.8
134.3
103.8
124.5

104.9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.4
99.6

76.1
86.6
104.9
56.4
53.^
68.4

Apparel
Men1s and boys'
Women1s and g i r l s '
Footwear
Other apparel —

107.9
109.4
100.8
129.0
92.6

107.7
109.4
100.6
128.3
92.5

107.3
109.3
99.8
128.1
92.3

107.0
108.4
100.4
126.2
92.1

96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1
88.4

52.5
50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6

—

140.0
182.8
129.7

135.8
181.6
125.4

135.9
181.1
125.5

133.2
173.4
123.5

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

Medical care
—
—
Personal care — — — — — — —
Reading and recreation —
Other goods and services j J

140.3
126.7
114.4
126.8

139.7
126.2
113.4
126.8

139.0
125.1
113.3
126.7

134.5
121.4
109.0
123.2

105.4
99.2
102.5
103.7

72.6
59.6

Group

A l l items

—
-----

Transportation
Public
Private

Percent change to November 1957
October
1957
A l l items
Food
Food at hone
Cereals and bakery products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods a t home
Food away from home —
Housing 2/
Bent —

Men's and boys'

Public
Private

from:
June
1950

Year

1939

0.4

3.2

19.4

104.7

.3
.5
.2
- 1.6
.3
.1
- .5
.3

- .9
- 1.2
.3
- 5.2
1.2
- .2
.5
•4

2.7
2.5
3.6
5.9
3.1
- 1.0
.3
3.8

15.4
13.5
28.1
- 1.4
24.1
11.8
22.8
(A/)

146.3
142.3
130.1
151.4
129.9
147.5
138.8
U/)

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

.4
.4
.5
.9
.3
.9

3.1
1.9
2.2
2.8
.7
3.9

20.9
25.4
11.3
28.3
7.3
29.9

66.6
57.4
9.0
144.7
95.7
89.2

.2
0
.2
.5
.1

.6
.1
1.0
.7
.3

.8
.9
.4
2.2
.5

11.8
11.5
8.0
26.3
4.8

105.5
115.4
85.0
156.5
128.1

3.1
.7
3.4

3.0
.9
3.3

5.1
5.4
5.0

27.4
55.0
21.7

99.4
124.8
98.0

.4
.4
.9
0

.9
1.3
1.0
.1

4.3
4*4
5.0
2.9

33.1
27.7
11.6
22.3

93.3
112.6
81.6
79.6

-

-

-

1/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately.
2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately*
2 / Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services11 (such as
legal services, banking fees, b u r i a l services, e t c . ) .
4/ Hot available.




70.6

0.4

—

Solid fuels and f u e l o i l
Housefurnishings

September
1957

November
1956

63.0

4

TABLE 3*

Consumer Price Index — A l l items indexes f o r selected dates
U.S. c i t y average and 20 large c i t i e s
(1947-49=100)

City
United States c i t y average

1/

November
1957

October
1957

November
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

121.6

121.1

117.8

101.8

59.4

125.6
123.5
122.9
118.6
122.1

124.7
122.7
122.2
118.4
122.0

121.0
120.6
119.1
115.6
118.2

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

Cities priced monthly £ /
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles

Cities priced i n February, May,
August, November
Houston-—
—
Scranton—
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

—
—

•
—

Cities priced i n January, A p r i l ,
July, October 2 /
Boston—
Kansas City—

———

Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon

—

Cities priced i n March, June,
September, December 2 /
Atlanta
Cincinnati———————
St. Louis
—
San F r a n c i s c o - — — — — — — — -

1/
2/
2/
y
2/

•• .

—•

• • ••• —

November
1957

August
1957

November
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

123.3
122.4
117.8
123.9
119.4

122.3
122.1
117.8
123.7
119.1

120.0
119.7
114.9
120.2
115.9

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

October
1957

July
1957

October
1956

April
1950

Year
1939

122.0
121.8
122.2
121.1
121.9

122.1
121.7
121.6
120.7
122.2

119.3
118.9
117.4
118.2
119.5

101.2
101.4
U 102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

September
1957

June
1957

September
1956

122.2
121.7
120.9
122.1
123.5

121.2
121.2
119.7
121.3
122.8

118.9
117.5
117.1
118.1
119.0

June
1950

Year
1939

V 101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

This index on the base of 1935-39=100 i s 203.3.
Rents priced bimonthly.
Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly.
June 1950.
May 1950.

TABLE 4* Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from October 1957 to November 1957
U.S. c i t y average and f i v e c i t i e s priced monthly
A l l items and commodity groups

City
United States c i t y average—
ChicagoDetroitLos Angeles
New York
Philadelphia-




All
items

Food

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

Reading
and
Personal
recreation
care

0.4

- 0.3

0.2

0.2

3.1

0.4

0.4

0.9

.7
.7

- 1.0

.1

.2
0
.3
.2

.4
.3

4.0
4.3

3.0

.2
.3
.3

4.2
3.2
3.5

•2
0

.1
.2

2.5
3.9

.2
0

.5

1.7

.6
.2
.1

-

.2

- .4
- 1.2

.1

.1

1.1

1.0

.1

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

TABIZ 5: Consumer Price Index — A l l items and commodity groups
November 1957 indexes and percent changes, August 1957 to November 1957
U.S. c i t y average and 10 cities priced i n November 1957
U.S.
City
CleveAverage Chicago land
Detroit

Group

Los
Houston Angeles

5

New PhilaWashing^
York delphia Scranton Seattle
D. C.

Indexes (19*7-^9-100)
121.6

125.6

123.3

123.5

122.4

122.9

118.6

122.1

117.8

123.9

—

116.0
114.1
131.6
104.6
114.5
114.6
115.6

114.1
111.7
124.5
98.7
112.7
116.1
121.5

113.7
111.6
129.1
100.5
110.2
110.7
118.3

117.1
115.0
125.2
101.2
111.9
125.9
117.2

112.6
110.2
121.0
98.9
112.4
113.8
113.4

118.8
115.2
140.1
106.9
109.9
114.8
115.1

116.0
113.7
135.9
105.6
117.4
107.6
115.0

119.0
116.6
132.9
107.4
119.9
116.9
114.4

112.2
111.5
131.3
102.9
113.4
104.0
113.0

116.8
116.4
114.2
115.3
129.6
140.9
104.4 103.5
119.3
118.5
116.9 ' 109.7
117.0
111.3

136.4
162.0
114.6
139.9
102.6
133.1

129.4
159.2
115.4
136.3
103.8
116.9

128.7
112.2
128.6
109.0
119.1

130.3
139.1
116.2

133.4
144.7
130.6

122.4

Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y
Solid fuels and fuel o i l — — —
Housefurnishings — — — — — —
Household operation

126.8
136.3
114.3
138.0
104.5
129.4

—

—

100.5
140.4

103.7
122.8

110.9
145.4
104.9
128.2

122.1
124.7
103.4
138.3
110.4
129.2

122.0
128.0
117.7
146.1
103.8
115.9

128.9
143.3
86.6
144.4
103.3
137.3

120.5
126.1
122.7
142.7
100.S
127.1

107.9
109.4
100.8
129.0
92.6

110.9
116.2
100.7
131.7
96.6

109.0
113.5
100.3
127.0
95.1

104.2
110.2
94.0
123.7
85.8

111.3
108.4
106.1
137.6
91.0

108.6
112.9
100.4
128.7
85.2

107.2
108.7
99.0
130.9
96.4

108.2
107.2
103.1
127.0
94.6

109.5
110.6
102.5
133.9
91.9

108.7
112.5
100.9
129.7
87.3

103.6
107.8
96.3
122.8
88.7

140.0
182.8
129.7

149.1
194.3
130.9

138.3
170.9
130.4

137.6
153.9
134.1

139.0
188.0
132.1

133.0
154.8
129.1

140.3
189.0
121.2

144.9
187.4
124.9

141.8
190.6
128.2

141.2
180.1
129.8

141.6
156.6
136.2

140.3
126.7
114.4
126.8 i

146.8
127.9
127.3
121.5

150.8
127.6
120.9
127.2

151.1
132.5
114.0
135.8

129.2
133.4
113.4
128.1

131.2
130.2
104.5
123.6

129.7
118.8
116.5
126.1

140.8
132.1
118.9
128.6

125.5
127.2
135.1
119.3

143.6
131.0
118.0
136.0

133.1
122.4
112.2
136.5

A l l items
Food at home
——
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and f i s h
Dairy products — — — — — —
Other foods at home —

Men' 1 and boys'
Women's and g i r l s 1
Other apparel

—

Transportation -—
Public
Private

———
——

Reading and recreation - - -

—

—

119.4

I
Percent change from
A l l items

August 1957

0.5

1.2

0.4

0.4

0.2

Food
Pood at home
——
——
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and f i s h - - - - Dairy products
—
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home — - — - - - -

- 1.6
- 2.1
.5
- 6.5
2.7
- 5.5
1.6

- .8
- 1.2
1.5
- 6.1
1.4
- 2.0
2.9

- 1.9
- 2.3
4.1
- 7.1
5.7
- 8.7
.9

- 1.8
- 2.4
.2
- 6.8
.2
- 3.4
.9

- 2.3
- 3.2
- .3
- 7.9
.4
- 6.5
1.3

lousing
—
Rent — — — — — — — — —
Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y — - - - - - - - - Solid fuels and fuel o i l
lousefurnishings
—
Household operation ——————

.9
.7
.9
1.7
.6
1.1

.9
.6
.5
.9
1.9
.2

1.3
1.1
0
3.2
2.1
- .1

-

1.0
2.5
.4 1/ -3
10.7
- .2

Men's and boys' — — — — — — —
and g i r l s '
—
Footwear — — — — — — — —
Other apparel — — — — — —

1.2
.6
2.2
.5
.7

1.6
.3
3.8
.2
1.0

1.0
.7
1.5
.6
.6

WOMB'S

1/

-

.1
—.

-

.8
.5
.6
.6

to November 1957

1.4

- 0.1

0.4

0

0.2

0.3

.1
.3
.8
- 5.3
4.2
.6
1.3

- 1.4
- 1.9
.6
- 5.5
4.4
- 8.0
1.6

- 2.1
- 2.6
- .2
- 5.8
2.5
- 8.1
1.1

- 3.4
- 4.0
3.4
- 8.7
2.6
-15.8
1.7

- 2.3
- 2.6
.4
- 7.0
.1
- .8
- 2.2

- 2.7
- 3.5
- .2
- 6.9
2.3
-12.2
2.1

1.2
.7
0
5.3
1.8
1.3

.4
.3
0
2.2
.5
1.0

.5
.6
0
.1
1.7
.1

1.9
.2
0
1.0
1.2
.7

1.2
.1
2.4
1.2
.8

2.0
.1
3.7
.6
1.1

1.2
.5
2.0
.6
•4

.3
.5
- 1.1
.2
- .2

- .6
.1
- 1.4
.1
1.0

-

—

—

.7
2.9

1.4
5.2

.4
.1
1.2
- .2
- 1.2

1.6
.5
3.2
.5
- .3

1.3
2.8
.8
- .1
.7

.2
—

-

-

.1
1.8
.8
1.8

1/

-

Transportation
Public
Private — — — — —

3.0
1.2
3.3

2.6
0
3.3

2.7
0
3.2

3.5
0
4.2

2.5
12.9
1.1

2.3
0
2.6

2.0
0
2.6

3.9
0
5.0

8.4
0
9.9

4*0
0
4.5

2.7
0
3.3

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

1.2
1.4
1.6
.1

3.7
1.1
9.2
.3

.1
1.2
.3
.2

3.0
2.0
3.4
.1

.2
.3
.4
.2

.2
.8
3.4
.2

.2
2.1
.5
- .1

0
1.1
1.9
.1

.1
1.0
.4
.3

.4
.7
.9
.1

1.1
1.5
- .8
.1

J / Change from September 1957 to November 1957*




-

City

U.S. c i t y average —
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
....—
Chicago
—
Cincinnati - . . . . - . . —
Cleveland — . . . .
Detroit
Houston
Kansas c i t y
Los Angeles
Minneapolis
lew York
Ihlladelphia
Pittsburgh
Fortland, Oreg. — —
St. Louis
—
San Francisco
Scranton
Seattle
—
Washington, D.C.

TABUS 6s Coniimr Price Index — Food and i t « subgroups
November 1957 indexes and percent changes, October 1957 to November 1957
U.S. c i t y average and 20 large cities
[>9*7-49-100]
Total
Cereals
and
Meats, poultry,
Dairy
Fruits and
Total food
food at hone
bakery products
and fish
products
vegetables
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
change
change
change
change
change
change
116.0 - 0.3 l l i u l - 0.5 131.6
0.2 10lio 6 - 1.6 rn.5
0.1
0.3 111*.6
113.? - .7 111.7 - l . i 12U.7
.1* 106.3 - .5 111.1 - 2.1 ill*.5 - 3.1
117.1 - .6 113.7 - .7 127.3
.1 105.14 - 1.5 11U.8
.3 112.5 - 1.8
U5.8 - .7 113.6 - 1.0 130.6
.6 103.6 - 1.2 1 2 0 . 6 - ol 112.1 . 2.8
llli.l
. 1 111.7
. 1 121.5 • .5
98.7 - .3 112.7
1.3
.2 116.1
117.3 - 1.1 115.6 - 1.3 131.8
. 1 105.2 - 2.3 117.6
.1 115.8 - 2.9
113.7 - .6 111.6 - .7 129.1
. 1 100.5 - 1.7 110.2
2.1* 110.7 - 1.8
117.1 - 1.0 115.0 - 1.2 125.2
.2 101.2 - 3.1 111.9 - .3 125.9
.3
112.6
- .9 110.2 - 1.2 121.0
.2
98.9 - 2.7 112.1*
.1 113.8 - 3.5
112.3
.1 110.0
. 1 101.5 - 1.1 l l l . l i - .3 110.1
. 1 126.7
2.9
118.8 - .2 115.2 - .3 U*0.1
.2 106.9 - 1.7 109.9
.3
.3 111*. 8

115.6

- 0.5

108.3
115.5
109.9
121.5
119.7
118.3
117.2
113.1*
109.1
115.1

-

115.0
116.0 :

115.0

119.0 116.8 116.8 116.2 118.5
112.? H6.1* 116.8 -

:l!
1.?
.6
.1
.1
•1
1.1
.5
.9

TABLE 7s

Bananas — — — — — —
ib.
Oranges, size 200 — — — — — doz.
Lemons — — — — — — — ib.
Grapefruit »
each




116.6

:
- 1.3

November

October

1957

1957

5 ib.
20 oz.
ib.

Rolled oats — — —
20 oz.
Corn flakes — — — — — 12 oz.
Bread, white - — — - - ib.
Soda crackers --————
ib.
Vanilla cookies
7 oz.
lfeats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak
——
—
Chuck roast
—— ib.
Rib roast
————
ib.
Hamburger ——————————— ib.
Veal cutlets — — — — — — ib.
Pork chops, center cut ————— ib.
Bacon, sliced — — — — —
ib.
Bam, whole — - - — — —
ib.
Lamb, leg — — — — — — — ib.
Frankfurters — — — — —
ib.
Luncheon meat, canmed — — — 12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook — ib.
Ocean perch, f i l l e t , frozen —
ib.
Haddock, f i l l e t , frozen ———— ib.
Salmon, pink, canned ————— is oz
8 t o 0£ oz.
Tuna f i s h , canned
Dairy products;
Milk, fresh, (grocery) —
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream — — — — — —
pt.
Butter
—
ib.
Cheese, American process
ib.
Milk, evaporated — — — i 4 i - o z . can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — —
10 oz.
Orange juice concentrate —— e oz.
Peas, green — — — — — — 10 oz.
Beans, green
— — — 10 oz.
Fresh:

* Priced only i n season.

130.1
135.9
132.9
129.5
135.li

99.6 - 1.3 107.8
121.2
105.6 - 1.0 117.1* - 1 : 1
107.6
1C7.1* - 1.1* 119.9
. 1 116.9
115.1 - .7
lOli.O - 1.1 lli*.2
o 112.2
115.2 - . 1
106.li - 1.5 llY.3
o 111.0
112.5 - .1 12U.1
99.8 - l . l * 105.6
0 121.1
116.6
. 1 1U0.7
107.3 - 1.1* 116.6
.2 118.6
111.5 - 1 . 5
131.3
102.9 - 2.1* 113.1*
.2 10lu0
115.3 - .5 11*0.9
lOh.k - 2.8 118.5
.3
116.9
lU*.2 - l.l* 129.6
103.5 - 1.7 119.3
.1 109.7
Consumer Price Index — Average r e t a i l prices of selected foods
U.S. city average

Food and unit
Cereals and bakery products;
Flour., wheat - — — — —
Biscuit mix —-———
Corn meal
———

113.6
113.7

25.7
18.3

19.6

25.7

18.2

2l*.5

19.6
2l*.l*

12.3
17.6
61.1
19.3

65.1

11.1*

12.3

18.1*

17.8

.1
.2
.1
•2
.3
.2
.1
3.3
.3
.5

Food and u n i t
Fre s h — C o n t i n u e d
—
lb.
Peaches *
-----—
pt.
Strawberries *
—
lb.
Grapes, seedless *
—
lb.
Watermelons *
10 l b .
Potatoes — — — —
lb.
Sweetpotatoes
Onions
—
lb.
Carrots
—
lb.
Lettuce
head
Celery
—
lb.
Cabbage — — — — —
—
lb.
—
lb.
Tomatoes
—
lb.
Beans, green
Canned:
— 4 6 - o z . can
Orange j u i c e
—
# 2 i can
Peaches
#2 can
- —
Pineapple
— #303 can
Fruit cocktail
Corn, cream s t y l e —
#303 can
Peas, green
—
#303 can
— #303 can
Tomatoes
4 i t o 5 oz.
Baby foods
Dried:
Prunes
— — —
lb.
Beans
lb.
Other foods a t home:
i o £ t o 11 - o z . can
Tomato soup
Beans w i t h pork
— •———— 16-oz. can
........
7J oz.
P i c k l e s , sweet
........
14 oz.
Catsup, tomato
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
l
b
. oan
Coffee
— — — — — —
l b . bag
Coffee — —
. . . . . p k g . o f 16
Tea bags
—
—
36 oz.
Cola d r i n k , c a r t o n
3 lb.
Shortening,
fcydrogenated
—
lb.
Margarine, c o l o r e d
—lb.
Lard
Salad d r e s s i n g
—
pt.
—
lb.
Peanut b u t t e r
- 5 lb.
Sugar
- 24 oz.
Corn syrup
Grape J e l l y —
- 12 oz.
— '
1 oz.
Chocolate bar —
—
doz.
Eggs, Grade A , l a r g e
3 t o 4 oz.
Gelatin, flavored —

2.1
- .9
- 2.7
- 1.3
2.3
.6
1.2
- 1*.2
2.7
1*.6

Other
foods at hoae
Percent
change

123.6

lllul*
125.2

116.0

122.1*

113.9
113.0
111.3
117.0

-

.7
0
.8
0
.7
1.1
1.5
.7
.3
ol*

- 1.1*
- 1.7
- 1,7
- .8
- .1*
.6
.9
- 2.2
- o9
'
fl

November

October

1252

l<*7

Cent 8

Cents

23.2

21.8

56.5

55.9

12.3

12.7

8.2

16.7

18.1*
13.3
7.9
26.7
23.9
33.8
3U.1*

8.1

16.0

19.1
13.5
7.9
23 .U

22.0

26„ 0
17.3

33.9
3l*.7
31*. 2
2600
17.3

15.3

15.2

33.0
16.3

33.1
16.3

12.3

12.3
ll*.7
27.3

31*.2
21.1*

10o0

ll*o8

27.3

22.0

95.1
76.9
23.6

21.1*

10.0

21.8

96.2

22.8

76.9
23.7
27.2
95.8
29.7
22.9
37.3
53.7
55.5
2U.9
27.3

68.1*

69.5

8.9

e.9

27.2

95.7
29.6

37.1*
53.6
55.6
25.0
27.1*
!*.5

1*.5

Labor D.C. BLS58-1598

7
Brtef BsptemttW 9f the gpi
The Consumer Price Index (CFI) measures the average changes i n prices of goods
and services t y p i c a l l y bought by c i t y families of wage earners and c l e r i c a l workers*
It
i s based on prices of about 300 items which were selected so t h a t t h e i r price changes
would represent the movement of prices of a l l goods and services purchased by wage and
c l e r i c a l f a m i l i e s ; they include a l l of the important items i n f a m i l y spending. Prices
f o r these items are obtained i n 46 c i t i e s which were chosen t o represent a l l urban places
i n the United States; they are collected from grocery and department stores, h o s p i t a l s ,
f i l l i n g s t a t i o n s , and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner
and clerical-worker families patronize.
Prices of foods, f u e l s , and a few other items are obtained every month i n a l l
46 c i t i e s . Prices of most other commodities and services aire collected every month i n
the 5 largest c i t i e s and every 3 months i n other c i t i e s . Almost a l l prices are obtained
by personal v i s i t s of the Bureau's trained representatives.
I n calculating the index, price changes f o r the various items i n each c i t y are
averaged together with weights which represent t h e i r importance i n family spending. City
data are then combined i n the t o t a l index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
c i t i e s they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 1947-49 = 100.
The national index (the United States c i t y average) includes prices from the
20 large c i t i e s f o r which separate indexes are published i n t h i s r e p o r t , as w e l l as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small c i t i e s :
Anna, I l l i n o i s
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W. V i r g i n i a
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N« Dakota
Grand I s l a n d , Nebraska

Huntington, W. V i r g i n i a
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchtjurg, V i r g i n i a
M a d i l l , Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

Pulaski, V i r g i n i a
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, C a l i f o r n i a
Sandpoint, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, Ohio

Comparisons of c i t y indexes show only t h a t prices i n one c i t y changed more or
less than i n another. The c i t y indexes cannot be used to measure differences i n price
l e v e l s or i n l i v i n g costs between c i t i e s .
A description of the index i s contained i n BLS B u l l e t i n 1140, "The Consumer
Price Index: A layman's Guide,11 which may be purchased f o r 20 cents a t any Bureau of
Labor S t a t i s t i c s regional o f f i c e (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S# Government P r i n t i n g O f f i c e , Washington 25, D. C. A more technical
description of the index appears i n BLS B u l l e t i n 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
S t a t i s t i c a l Series . M Reprints of chapter 9 , pertaining to the CPI, are a v a i l a b l e on
request to the Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s i n Washington or a t any of i t s regional o f f i c e s .
H i s t o r i c a l series of index numbers f o r the United States c i t y average and f o r
20 large c i t i e s are a v a i l a b l e upon request • These series include index numbers f o r A l l
Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent f o r periods from 1913 to date; and f o r other groups of
goods and services from 1947 to date.
BLS Regional Offices

Atlanta
50 Seventh S t . , NE
20116 2
3




New York
341 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams S t .
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome S t .
Zone 11

LABOR - D . G.

Boston
18 Oliver S t .
Zone 10