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Released November 26, 1956
U.S. DEPARTMENT CF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR OCTOBER 1956

Consumer prices in United States cities advanced 0.5 percent
between September and October 1956, according to the U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau
of Labor Statistics, The Consumer Price Index for October, at a record level of 117.7
(1947-49=100), was 2.4 percent higher than a year ago. Food prices remained unchanged
on the average, but prices of all other major groups of goods and services advanced.
A sharp rise in average prices for automobiles, as some 1957 models were introduced, was
the principal factor in the increase.
FOOD

The food index, at 113.1 percent of the 1947-49 average, was
unchanged for the third consecutive month, reflecting a balance
of divergent seasonal price movements in major classes of foods and of varied price
changes among cities. Food prices in October were 2.1 percent higher than a year ago,
but 3.0 percent below the August 1952 peak.

Prices of fruits and vegetables declined 0.8 percent on the
average, as prices of fresh produce followed seasonal ratterns. Price reductions were
reported for apples (13 percent), potatoes (10 percent;, and onions (16 percent), and
higher prices were reported for tomatoes (26 percent), lettuce (13 percent), and green
beans (18 percent). Over-the-month changes in prices of other fresh produce and for
canned, frozen, and dried fruits and vegetables were small and varied.
Lower prices for pork and poultry offset somewhat higher prices
for beef and veal in the meats, poultry, and fish group. Prices of pork chops and ham
were about 3 percent lower and poultry prices fell at about the same rate, while chuck
roast, rib roast, and hamburger increased from 1 to 2 percent over the month.
The dairy products group advanced less than 1 percent, with higher
average prices reported for milk and butter. Prices of eggs and coffee also increased
about 1 percent and scattered price increases were reported for bread.
HOUSING

The housing index continued to move upward as prices of fuel,
housefurnishings, and household operation advanced. Residential
rents remained at their September levelj bills for electricity declined slightly on
the average.
Higher prices were reported for wool floor coverings, innerspring
mattresses, metal dinette sets, and washing machines* Anticipation of the introduction
of new models was reflected in lower prices for refrigerators. The increase in household operation resulted from higher rates for such services as laundry^ dry cleaning,
and domestic help.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

The transportation index reflected higher prices for most items
of automobile purchase and operation. The increase in new car
prices was the result of both higher list prices for 1957 models
and lower dealers' discounts than were offered at the end of the 1956 model year* Used
car prices also rose substantially and smaller increases were reported for gasoline,
tires, and auto repairs. Public transportation was unchanged on the average.




2

Apparel prices rose 0*3 percent primarily because of higher
prices for women1s wool coats, suits, and dresses, and girls1 wool coats*
Minor increases in other groups of goods and services reflected
scattered advances for medical and personal care services* Television sets and repairs
were generally higher*




s m s & i

July 1956 Rent and Housing group indexes for
Kansas City have been revised as follows:
Group
Rent
Housing

Revised Index
(1947-49=100)
139*3
122*7

TABU 1: Consumer Price Index — United State* city average all item* and commodity group®
Indexes and percent changed for selected dates

3

Indexes (i947.49.lOO)
October
1956

September
1956

August
1956

October
1955

June
1950

Year
1939

This
month

Last
month

2 months
ago

Last
year

Pre-Korea

Pre-World
War II

117.7

117.1

116.8

114.9

101.8

59. 4

rood 1/
Food at home
—
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products - — - —
Fruiti and vegetables — — - Other foods at home

113,1
111.7
126.3
100.8
110.7
113.9
115.8

113.1
111.7
126.6
101.3
109.8
114*8
115.4

113.1
111.8
126.3
99.9
109.2
120.7
113.9

110.8
109.4
123.9
100.9
107.5
108.5
113.9

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9%.l

vr.i
47.1
57.2
41.6
49.8
46.3
48. 4

Housing 2/
Rent

122.8
133.4
112.0
132.9
103.6
124.2

122.5
133.4
112.2
130.5
103.3
123.7

122.2
133.2
112.1
129.5
102.6
123.4

120.8
130.8
111.2
126.3
104.4
120.1

10%. 9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.%
99.6

76.1
86.6
104.9
56.4
53.%
68.4

106.8
108.2
100.1
126.2
92.1

106.5
108.3
99.6
126.0
92.0

105.5
107.7
98.1
124.8
91.5

104.6
106.0
99.5
118.4
91.0

96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1
88.4

52.5
50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6

132.6
173.0
122.9

128.6
173.0
118.7

128.5
172.9
118.6

126.6
167.1
117.1

109.9
117.9
106.6

70*2
81.3
65.5

134.1
120.8
108.5
123.0

134.0
120.5
108.4
122.7

120.3
107.9
122.1

128,7
117.0
106.7
120.6

105.4
99.2
102.5
103.7

72.6
59.6
63.0
70.6

October 1956

from:

Group

All items —

—

Solid fuels and fuel oil
lousefurnishings
Apparel
—
Men's and boys1 —
Women's and girls'
Footwear — — —
Other apparel - —

—
—
—
— — — — — —
— — — — —
— — — —

Transportation
Public
Private
Medical care
—
Personal care
— — — —
Reading and recreation - —
Other goods and services

—

—
—

Percent change to
September
1956
0.5
Food 1/ —

—

— — — — — — — —

Cereal* and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — — —

—
—

Other foods at home

Solid fuels and fuel oil
Household operation — — —

Private

—

—

—

— -

August
1956
0.8

October
1955
2.4

June
1950

Year
1939

15.6

98.1

0
0
.2
- .5
.8
- .8
.3

0
- .1
.4
.9
1.4
- 5.6
1.7

2.1
2.1
2.3
- .1
3.0
5.0
1.7

12.5
11.1
23.5
- 5.0
19.9
11.1
23.1

140.1
137*2
121.7
142.3
122.3
146.0
139.3

.2
0
- .2
1.8
.3
.4

.5
.2
- .1
2.6
1.0
.6

1.7
2.0
.7
5.2
- .8
3.4

17.1
22.7
9.1
23.5
6.4
24.7

61.4
54.0
6.8
135.6
94.0
81.6

•3
- .1
.5
.2
.1

1.2
.5
2.0
1.1
.7

2.1
2.1
.6
6.6
1.2

10.7
10.3
7.3
23.6
4.2

103.4
113.0
83.7
150.9
126.8

3.1
0
3.5

3.2
.1
3.6

4.7
3.5
5.0

20.7
46.7
15.3

88.9
112.8
87.6

.1
.2
.1
.2

.6

4.2
5*2
1.7
2.0

27.2
21.8
5.9
18.6

84.7
102.7
72.2
74.2

i:
.6
.7

\

l/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately.
2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately.
Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services" (such as
legal services, banking fees, burial services, etc.).




4

TABLE 2 s Consumer Price Index — 111 items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)

City
United States city average

J/

October
1956

September
1956

October
1955

June
1950

Year
1939

117.7

117.1

114.9

101.8

59.4

121.1
120.0
118.5
115.7
118.6

120.3
119.7
117.8
115.1
118.4

119.0
116.5
116.3
112.4
115.3

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

October
1956

July
1956

October
1955

April
1950

Year
1939

119.3
118.9
117.4
118.2
119.5

117.8
117.6
117.7
117.3
118.6

114.5
116.2
116.4
113.8
116.2

101.2
101.4
1/ 102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

September
1956

June
1956

September
1955

118.9
117.5
117.1
118.1
119.0

118.0
116.6
116.3
117.0
117.9

117.2
115.5
113.7
116.5
115.6

Cities priced monthlys
Chicago
Detroi t
Los Angeles
New York

—
—
—

Cities priced in January, April,
July, October
Kansas City
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon
Cities priced in March, June,
September, December Zl
Atlanta
Baltimore
CincinnatiSt. Louis
—
San Francisco-—

August
1956

Cities priced in February, May,
August, November 2j
Cleveland
Houston—
Scranton—
Seattle
Washington, D. C.

—

—

May
1956

August
1955

117.3
116.8
112.1
117.1
114.4

119.1
118.2
113.5
118.8
115.7

U

116.0
115.5
111.5
116.6
113.8

June
1950

Year
1939

101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

May
1950

Year
1939

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 196.8.
Foods, fuels, rents, and a few other items priced monthly; other commodities and services priced quarterly.
2/ June 1950; formerly priced March, June, September, December.
Ij May 1950; formerly priced February, May, August, November.

U

TABLE 3: Consumer Price Index — Percent changes from September 1956 to October 1956
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

City

All
items

United States city average—

0.5

Chicago
Detroit
Los AngelesNew York
Philadelphia-




.7
•3

.6
.5

.2

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

0.2

0.3

3.1

0.1

0.1

.2

.4

4.6

.5

.4

1.6

.1

.1

.4
.3

2.4
3.5
.4

0
0

Food

.8
.2

.2

.1
.1
.1

.5

.9

.2

Reading
and
Personal
recreation
care

0.2
.1

Other
goods &
services

0.1

0,2

.1
.1

1.1
.1
.2
.1

.2

1.4

.7
0
0

.5
.3

.2

'

TABLE
Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
October 1956 indexes and percent changes, July 1956 to October 1956
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in October 1956
U.S.
City
Average Boston

Group

Chicago Detroit

Kansas
City

MinneLos
Angeles apolis

New
York

Phila- Pittsdelphia burgh

Portland,
Oregon

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
All items
Food at home — — —
— — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables — — Other foods at home

—
—
—
—

Housing —
Rent
—
Gas and electricity — — — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
—
Housefurnishings — — - — - — —
Household operation
Men's and boys' — — — —
Women's and girls'

— —

Other apparel
Public

Other goods and services

117.7

119.3

121.1

113.1
111.7
126.8
100.8
110.7
113.9
115.8

113.2
110.9
123.7
101.0
114.4
111.5
110.1

110.7
108.8
120.6
94.7
111.4
109.6
122.6

122.8
133.4
112.0
132.9
103.6
12^.2

127.2
133.9
110.7
136.3
106.2
120.8

132.2

106.8
108.2
100.1
126.2
92.1

120.0

118.9

118.5

117.4

115.7

118.6

118.2

115.1
113.6
119.9
99.0
112.1
123.6
118.4

109.9
107.8
123.5
97.4
108.0
111.0
108.5

114.6
110.9
130.8
101.0
105.5
111.8
114.4

113.2
112.1
128.5
95.7
110.6
117.6
123.9

113.6
112.2
130.6
104.0
108.0
113.4
116.2

116.0
114.3
129.9
102.3
114.9
117.2
116.5

115.2
114.8
113.2
113.1
130.0
124.9
100.1
101.0
111.3 , 114.0
111.6
114.4
118.5
125.5

122.6
139.5
121.1
120.7
103.6
127.6

128.1

103.4
128.1

120.2
146.8
124.8
125.1
98.7
122.6

119.1
121.4
110.4
140.2
103.7
124.7

118.1

113.8
135.9
101.9
129.9

126.6
145.7
112.3
126.6
107.7
116.9

103.4
130.1
107.8
120.0

120.2
126.6
127.0
127.9
105.6
124.4

124.7
133.3
107.8
136.0
104.3
117.4

105.3
104.4
100.2
120.2
104.4

110.3
114.5
100.9
130.5
96.2

104.6
110.6
94.6
122.1
87.5

105.1
107.1
98.9
121.9
88.4

107.1
111.4
98.6
127.7
84.3

108.2
108.6
103.8
122.8
94.0

106.3
107.3
99.8
124.9
95.5

107.3
105.3
104.0
122.0
93.9

104.5
106.2
96.2
124.4
99.0

110.0
112.0
102.3
130.9
96.1

132.6
173.0
122.9

145.3
166.9
138.3

139.9
166.5
125.5

128.5
144.3
125.1

130.9
187.3
121.6

129.3
152.9
125.2

117.9
165.6
111.9

137.7
187.9
118.5

137.5
186.7
116.9

143.5
194.0
123.4

126.9
164.1
122.4

134.1
120.8
108.5
123.0

139.5
124.3
110.1
121.6

138.0
124.1
115.5
119.0

143.2
128.4
109.6
124.7

149.8
124.0
118.8
122.2

128.0
120.1
97.2
120.0

149.8
124.6
117.0
127.4

127.9
112.6
107.2
123.7

138.1
127.8
115.2
125.6

143.8
119.3
106.3
122.8

132.9
121.1
118.3
121.8

—

Percent change from

All items

0.6

1.3

0.5

- 0.2

1.1

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

- 1.5
- 1.8
.8
1.5
1.8
-15.8
2.7

- .9
- 1.6
.7
1.7
4.0
-16.9
2.4

- 1.9
- 2.3
.2
1.8
1.7
-18.0
2.5

- 3.3
- 4.0
0
- .1
2.6
-22.6
2.8

Housing
—
Rent
— — — Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Souse furnishings — — — — —

.8
.2
.3
3.3
.8
1.0

1.4
.9
.4
4.1
.1
0

Apparel
Men's and boys' — — — — — —
Women's and girls'
Footwear
— — — — — — —
Other apparel — —

1.4
.5
2.1
1.6
.8

2.4
.5
4.6
- .3
1.2

1.7
.7
2.3
1.7
1.2

1.8
.5
2.7
2.3
.2

Transportation
Public — — —
Private

3.8
.2
4.5

7.2
0
9.5

4.7
0
5.8

Medical care

1.1
.6
.7
.7

.5
.2
2.C
1.7

1.0
.2
0
1.4

Beading and recreation
Other goods and services

.8
—

0
2.0
.7
1.4

—

116.2
—

July 1956

- 0.3

- 1.0
- 1.6
1.9
3.4
- 2.5
-12.9
1.1

.2
.6
.2
2.0
1.8
-10.6
3.2

- 1.8
- 2.8
1.7
.9
- .3
-18.4
2.7

1.0 2/- .1
1/ 1.0 2J .1
3.2
- 1.3
2.2
3.5
.8 - .3
.6
.3

.5

1.0

0.6

0.8

0.8

.4
.6
.6
3.1
1.9
-11.8
2.3

- 1.3
- 1.6
4.2
- .3
3.1
-16.3
2.9

- .9
- 1.4
- .6
1.9
3.3
-15.2
2.5

- 1.3
- 2.4
- .1
- .2
.4
-15.4
2.3

-

-

2.0
1.7

.7
.7
0
.6
1.1
- .1

.8
.5
.2
3.2
.6
2.5

1.4
.3
3.2
- .6
.8

.8
.6
1.1
.1
.5

1.4
.6
2.5
.7
1.0

1.7
0
2.0

6.8
0
8.0

.9
0
1.0

.4
.1
1.7
0

8.3
.2
.7
.2

.6

0
—

-

-

1/ Change from April 1956 to October 1956.
2/ Based on revised indexes for July 1956s Rent 139*3 and Housing 122.7.




to October 1956

0.3
-

.4
1.5

-

-

—

119.5

1.7
0
5.9
1.0
.3

.1
.9
0
6.1
- .2
1.4

1.1
1.0
0
.2
1.1
- .9

2.0
.1
3.9
1.2
1.3

3.3
.9
5.2
2.4
2.1

1.0
.8
.6
2.1
.1

1.8
.8
2.5
2.9
.5

2.2
0
2.4

4.2
0
5.7

1.5
0
2.0

5.3
0
6.7

3.3
0
3.7

.3
.1
.4
.8

.9
.9
1.5
1.8

.2
0
.3
.3

6.1
.1
1.4
.2

1.1
.7
1.8
.5

—

TABU 5: Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
October 1956 indexes and percent changes, September 1956 to October 1956
TJ.S* city average and 20 large cities
[>9Vr-*9«ioa]
Total
food at home

Total food
City
Index

Percent
change

Index

113.1

0

111.7

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland.
Detroit
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles

111.7
llb.l
113.2
110.7
lib.6
111.7
115.1
110.3
109.9
lib.6

- 0.2
- .3
- .8
- .1
- .8
- .1
- .5
.2
.2
.8

110.b

0.5

lll.b
110.9
108.8
112.9
110.1
113.6
108.7
107.8
110.9

.b
.9
.2
.9
.1
.7
0
.3
.6

113.2
.9
113.6
.2
116.0
.1
lib.8 - .3
115.2
.3
lib.5 - .2
115.8
.b
110.5 - .1
lib.5
.3
113.7 - 1.1

112.1
112.2
lib.3
113.1
113.2
111.3
lib.8
109.9
llb.O
112.0

.1
.3
0
.7
.5
.2
.6
.2
.b
1.3

—.
— .

Minneapolis
New York
— — .
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg. —
St. Louis
San Francisco
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D.C. «

TABLE 6:

Cereals and bakery products;
Flour, wheat —
—
5 ib.
Biscuit nix — — — — — — — —
20 oz.
Corn seal —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Rice — — — — — — — —
ib.
Rolled oats — — — — — — — 20 oz.
Corn flakes — — — — — —
12 oz.
Bread, white — — — — — —
ib.
Soda crackers — — — — — —
ib.
Vanilla cookies — — — —
7 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak — — — — — —
ib.
Chuck roast — — — - — - — — ib.
ib.

Hamburger —
—
—
—
—
Yeal cutlets —
—
—
—
—
Pork chops, center cut — — — — —
Bacon, sliced — — — — —

ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.

Ham, whole —

ib.

—

—

—

—

—

-

—

Lamb, leg — — — — — — —
ib.
Frankfurters — — — — — — — — — lb.
Luncheon meat, canned
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen —
ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen — — —
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned — — — — — 16 oz.
Tuna fish, canned —
—• 6 to 6h oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered) —
qt.
Ice cream — — — — — — — — — pt.
Butter —

—

—

—

ib.

Cheese, American process — — — ib.
Milk, evaporated —
—
ui-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — — —
10 oz.
Orange juice concentrate — — 6 oz.
Peaj, green — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green —
—
—
10 oz.
Fresh:
Apples — — — — — — — — — ib.
Bananas — — — — — — — — — ib.
Oranges, size 200 — — - —
doz.
Lemons — — — — — —
lb.

* Priced only in season.




Dairy
products

Percent
change

Fruits and
vegetables

Percent
change

Other
foods at home

Percent
change

Percent
change

115.8
108.1
116.1

126.8

0.2

100.

- 0.5 110.7

0.8

113.9

117.8
122.0
123.7
120.6
12b. 8
121.9
119.9

.3
.2
.2
0
0
.1
.2
2.1
2.1
.2

102.
101,
101,
9b.
102.
98.
99.
9597.

-

112.6
109.7
llb.b
lll.b
11U.1
107.6
109. b
108.0
105.5

0
.3
2.7
1.1
.2
3.1
.1
.1
2.7
.1

119.2 113.3 111.5 109.6 111.0 110.0
123.6 llb.b 111.0 111.8

1.9
1.9
3.7
2.0
3.1
0
.8
1.3
.b
0

110.1
122.6
122.3
120.0
118. b
113.6
108.5
llb.b

2.1

95.7 - .6 110.6
10b.0 - .3 108.0
102.3 - .9 liu. 9
100.1 - 1.3 111.3
101.0 - 2.0 llii.o
98.1
0 106.3
10b. 6 - .5 112.ii
99.7 - 1.1 108.1
100.9 - .6 116.0
99.3 - 1.1 115.8

.3
.8
2.7
.b
.1
.2
1.7
.2
2.6
.2

117.6
113. b
117.2
llb.b
111.6
116.5
117.8
lio.b
llb.l
113.0

1.5
1.3
1.3
2.8
1.3
1.9
0
.6
.9
5-b

123.9
116.2
116.5
125.5
118.5
12b. 3
llb.b
113.6
116.0
116.3

1.6
.b
.1
.6
.9
.2
1.7
.b
1.0
.5

120.1
123.5
130.8
128.5
130.6
129.9
12b. 9

130.0
120.9
137.7
12b.b
136.6
123.0

.1
.1
.1
0
.1
.2
.2
.1
.1
.2

101,

l.b
1.2
2.3
.7
l.U
1.6
1.2
.6
.8
.3

112.1

- 0.8

-

0.3
1.0
.6
.7
1.0
.1
.2
.6

Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average

Food and unit

Rib roast — — — — — — - — —

Meats, poultry,
and fish

Percent
change

Percent
change

U.S. city average

—.

Cereals and
bakery products

Oct.
1956
Cents
53.1
26.7

Sept.
1956
Cents
53.2
26.7

12.6

12.6

17.2

17.2
19.3
21.9

19.3
22.0
18.3
27.7
2b. 2

96.6

18.2
27.7
2b.2

5b.5
77.0
bO.O
112.8
8U.9
61.7
59.8
69.7

96.9
53.b
76.2
39.b
112.8
87.9
60.5
61.b
70.9

bl.l
b6.0
U2.2
U5.0
61.b

bO.b
b7.0
b2.0
b5.0
60.9

31.8

31.8

23.2
2b.7
29.0
73.b
57.2
lb.3

23.0
2b. 5
29.0
72.3
57.3
lb.3

29.0
19.8
20.b
23.3

29.2
20.1
21.2

13.2
17.1
69.5

15.1
16.9

52.2

20.1

52.0

22.9

68.2
19.8

Food and unit
Fre s h — C ontinued
Grapefruit * — — — — — — —
Peaches * —

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Cents

Cents
lb.7

ib.

—

ib.

Carrots —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Lettuce — — — — — —
head
Celery — — — — — —
— ib.
Cabbage
ib.
Tomatoes — — — — — — —
ib.
Beans, green — — — —
ib.
Canned:
Orange juice — — — — — — 46-oz. can
Peaches — — — - — —
§zh can
Pineapple —
—
—
—
#2 can
Fruit cocktail — — — —
#303 can
Corn, cream style — — — — #303 can
Peas, green — — — — — — — #303 can
Tomatoes — — — — —
#303 can
Baby foods — — — — — — 4& to 5 oz.
Dried;
Prunes — — — — — — — — —
ib.
Beans —
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
Other foods at home:
T o m a t o SOUp
—
t
o
Beans with pork — — — — —

Sept.
1956

each

Strawberries * —
—
—
pt.
Grapes, seedless * — — — — — ib.
Watermelons * — — — — —
ib.
Potatoes — — — — — —
10 ib.
Sweetpotatoes
— — . . ib.
Onions —

Oct.
1956

ll-oz. can
16-oz. can

Pickles, sweet — — — — —
7h oz.
Catsup, tomato — — — — — — —
14 oz.
Coffee
lb. can
Tea bags — — — — — —
pkg. of 16
Cola drink, carton —
—
36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated —
3 ib.
Margarine, colored — — — — —
ib.
Lard
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
Salad dressing — — — — —
pt.
Peanut butter — — — — — —
ib.
Sugar — — — — — — — — —
5 ib.
Corn syrup — — — — —
24 oz.
Grape Jelly — — — — —
12 oz.
Chocolate bar — — — — — —
1 oz.
Eggs, Grade A, large
—
doz.
Gelatin, flavored —
—
3 to 4 oz.

20.9

19.2

51.7
11.9
7.5
13.5
17.9
12 .b
6.9
21.0

57.7
13.1
9.0
lb.l
15.9

12.6
7.2

16.6

21.6

18.2

39.5
3b.5
33.8
26.2
17.9
21.b
15.1

38.8
3b.7
33.7
26.3
18.2
21.3

15.0

10.0

10.0

35.6
16.3

16.2

12.2

12.2

lb.6
26.9
23.1
109.0
23.2
33.0
97.2
29.1

lb.6
27.1
23.2
108.0
23.2
32.9
97.3
29.2

20.6
35-b
53.6
53.1
2b.1
27.0
b.5
63.3
8.5

36.2

20.1
35.5
53.6
52.9
2b.0
26.7
b.5
62.7
8.b

7
qLJM^EI

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average changes in prices of goods
and services typically bought by city families of wage earners and clerical workers. It
is based on prices of about 300 items which were selected so that their price changes
would represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by wage and
clerical families 5 they include all of the important items in family spending® Prices
for these items are obtained in 46 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places
in the United Statefj they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals,
filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner
and clerical-worker families patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
46 cities* Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities* Almost all prices are obtained
by personal visits of the Bureau's trained representatives*
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending* City
data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent* Index numbers are computed on the base 1947-49 = 100*
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from the
20 large cities for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small cities:
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W. Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N* Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Huntington, W. Virginia
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill, 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

Comparisons of city indexes show only that prices in one city changed nore or
less than in another. The city indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price
levels or in living costs between cities.
A description of the index is contained in BLS Bulletin 1140, "The Consumer
Price Index: A Layman's Guide," which may be purchased for 20 cents at any Bureau of
Labor Statistics regional office (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. A more technical
description of the index appears in BLS Bulletin 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
Statistical Series.n Reprints of chapter 9> pertaining to the CPI, are available on
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or at any of its regional offices.
Historical series of index numbers for the United States city average and for
20 large cities are available upon request. These series include index numbers for All
Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent for periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of
goods and services from 1947 to date.
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
50 Seventh St., M
20X16 2
3




New York
341 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

LABOR - D. C.

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10