Full text of CPI Detailed Report : October 1957

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Released November 22, 1957
U.S. DEPARTMENT CF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FCR OCTOBER 1957
Consumer prices in United States cities were unchanged on the
average between September and October 1957, according to the U. S. Department of Labor's
Bureau of Labor Statistics• This was the first month since August 1956 in which consumer
prices have not advanced. Lower food prices were offset "by price advances for other
nondurable commodities and for services, while durable goods prices were unchanged. The
Consumer Price Index for October was 121.1 (1947-49=100;, 2.9 percent higher than a year
ago.
FOOD

Food prices dropped 0*5 percent between September and October, as
plentiful supplies of meat and fresh fruits continued to reach the
markets* The declines represented a continuation of the seasonal decreases begun in
September. The October food price index at 116.4 percent of the 1947-49 average, was 1.3
percent below the August 1957 peak, but 2.9 percent higher than a year ago.
Average prices of meats, poultry, and fish dropped 3.6 percent with
lower prices for most cuts of meat and poultry. Bacon prices fell 11.7 percent, ham
3.8 percent, and pork chops 3.0 percent. Prices of frying chickens dropped 6.0 percent.
Beef and veal prices were down 1.3 percent on the average, led by a decline of 1.7 percent
in prices of round steak.
Prices of fresh fruits fell 2.9 percent on the average, primarily
because of a continuing decline in the price of apples, 15*3 percent during the month.
Prices of bananas, oranges, and grapes rose slightly. Fresh vegetable prices were up
2.4 percent, as sharp increases for tomatoes, green beans, and lettuce more than offset
moderate decreases for most other items in the group. Prices for processed fruits and
vegetables showed little change in general and the decline for fruits and vegetables as a
whole averaged 0.3 percent.
Egg prices advanced seasonally (7.1 percent) to a national average
of 70 cents a dozen. Prices of dairy products increased chiefly as a result of increases
for fresh milk in 15 cities. Coffee prices continued to decline, dropping 2.6 percent
during the month. Prices of restaurant meals advanced slightly.
HOUSING

The housing group index rose 0.2 percent, as increases were
reported for all its component subgroups except house furnishings.
Residential rents continued to climb, with an average advance of 0.2 percent. Prices of
coal rose seasonally and bills for gas and electricity were up slightly. Most of the
increase of 0.3 percent for household operation was because of generally higher prices
for laundry soaps and detergents, although laundry, dry cleaning, and domestic service
rates also advanced* Housefurnishings prices were unchanged on the average, as higher
prices for kitchenware were offset by reductions in prices of some appliances. Costs of
home repairs and maintenance declined 0.1 percent, the first month since January 1957 in
which they have not advanced.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

Apparel prices rose 0.4 percent, traceable to an advance of 0.8
percent in prices of women's and girls' clothing, especially wool
coats, suits, skirts, and rayor dresses. Higher shoe repair prices
reflected increased costs of materials and labor.
The rise of 0.5 percent in medical care was influenced by higher
fees for professional services and group hospitalization insurance. A general advance in
prices of toothpaste, together with higher prices for toilet soap and personal care
services, resulted in an increase of 0.9 percent in the personal care index.




2

The reading and recreation group index was up 0.1 percent, as higher
prices were reported in several cities for television sets, television repairs, and newspapers; prices of sporting goods were lower.
Transportation costs declined 0.1 percent, reflecting further
reductions in dealers' prices of new automobiles prior to the introduction of 1953 models,
and lower prices for gasoline. Prices of used cars, tires, auto repairs, auto insurance,
and transit fares advanced.

TABLE 1:

Consumer Price Index—United States city average, all items and special groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates

Indexes (1947-49=100)
Sept.
Oct.
June
Aug.
1956
1957
1950
1957

Oct.
1957

Group

All items less food
—~—.—...
All items less shelter
All commodities—
—
—
All commodities less food— Durables
——
—
Non-durables—
—
All services• — — — —
All services less rent
—
—

121.1
121.1
123.7
123.4
118.6
118.7
1U.3
114.5
112.8
112.6
108.6
108.6
117.0
116.7
139.2
138.8
U 0 . 3 i 139.8

Year
1939

101.8
103.0
100.7
100.3
99.4
102.4 i|
99.0 !
107.9 I!
107.0 '|
ii

121.0
117.7
123.0
120.2
118.7
115.5
114.6
111.7
112.1
110.6
108.4 Ij 107.4.
116.0 !; 114.3
138.3
133.7
139.3
134.2

59.4
69.1
55.4
51.6
59.4
57.3
58.7
S0.4
73.5

Percent change to October 1957 f r o m —
Sept.
1957
i
i|
I
All items less food
—-—
All items less shelter-—
All commodities
All commodities less food
Durables—
Non-durables
—
All services
—-—
—
All services less r e n t —

0
0.2
- .1
- .2
.2
!
0
.3
!
!
.3

—
—
—

!i

h

Aug.
J2SL
0.1
.6
- .1
- .3
.6
.2
.9
.7
.7

Oct.
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

2.9
2.9
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.1
2.4
4.1
4.5

19.0
20.1
17.8
14.0
13.5
6.1
18.2
29.0
31.1

103.9
79.0
114.1
121.5
89.9
89.5
99.3
73.1
90.9

! June
| 1950

Year
1939

| $0.98

$1.68

(1947-49=41.00)*
Oct.
1957
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar- : $0.83

Sept«
1957
$0.83

Aug.
1957

Oct.
1956

$0.83

$0.85
i

|
I

*To calculate purchasing power of the consumer dollar on any other base, divide the
index for the desired base date by the index for the comparison date.




TABUS 2: Consumer Price Index — United States city average, all items and coamodity groups
Indexes and percent changes for selected dates

3

Indexes (19^7-^9.100)
October
1957

Group

This
month
All items

September
1957

August
1957

Last
month

2 months
ago

October
1956
Last
year

June
1950

Year
1939

Pre-Korea

Pre-World
War II

121.1

121.1

121.0

117.7

101.8

59.^

Food 1/
Food at home — — —
C e r e a n d bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products - —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home
—

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

117.9
116.6
131.0
111.9
111.5
121.3
113.8

113.1
111.7
126.8
100.8
110.7
113.9
115.8

100.5
100.5
102.7

U7.1
U7.1
57.2
M.6
U9.8

Housing 2/
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
—
Household operation —

126.6
136.0
113.8
137.6
104.8
128.7

126.3
135.7
113.7
136.8
104.8
128.3

125.7
135.4
113.3
135.7
103.9
128.0

122.8
133.4
112.0
132.9
103.6
124.2

lOfc.9
107.6
91.h
99.6

56. k
53^
68. k

107.7
109.4
100.6
128.3
92.5

107.3
109.3
99.8
128.1
92.3

106.6
108.8
98.6
128.3
92.0

106.8
108.2
100.1
126.2
92.1

96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1
88.U

52.5
50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6

135.8
181.6
125.4

135.9
181.1
125.5

135.9
180.6
125.6

132.6
173.0
122.9

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

139.7
126.2
113.4
126.8

139.0
125.1
113.3
126.7

138.6
124.9
112.6
126.7

134.1
120.8
108.5
123.0

105. h
99.2

72.6

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

—-

—

Medical care
Personal care —
—-———
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services j/

—

Percent change to October 1957
September
1957
All items

Rent
—
Gas and electricity — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
Household operation — —
Apparel
Women's and girls'
Other apparel
—
—

Personal care
———-•
Reading and recreation —
Other goods and services jJ

—

U6.3

U8.U
76.1

86.6

108.7
102.7

10U.9

59.6

102.5

63.0

103.7

70.6

from:
June
1950

|

Y -ar
lc<3°

2.9

19.0

103.9

- 1.3
.3
- 5.0
2.4
- 5.6
2.1
.5

2.9
2.7
3.6
5.5
3.2
.5
.3
3.8

15.8
14.1
27.9
.2
23.7
11.7
23.5
UJ)

147.1
143.5
129.7
155.5
129.3
147.3
140.1
U/)

3.1
1.9
1.6
3.5
1.2
3.6

20.7
25.1
10.8
27.9
7.6
29.2

66.4

0
.3

.7
.4
.4
1.4
.9
.5

57.0
8.5
144.0
96.3

o4
.1
.8
.2
.2

1.0
2.0
0
.5

.8
1.1
.5
1.7
.4

11.6
11.5
7.8
25.7
4.6

105.1
115.4
84.6
155.1
127.8

2.4
5.0
2.0

23.6
54.0
17.6

93.4
123.4
91.5

4.2
4.5
4.5
3.1

32.5
27.2
10.6
22.3

92.4
111.7

- 0.5
- .7
.2
- 3.6
1.0
- .3
1.0
.1
.2
.2
.1
.6

- .1
.3
- .1
.5
.9
.1
.1

-

1.6

.6

- .1
.6

- .2
.8
1.0

.7
.1

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




October
1956

92.3
102.5
9^.1

0.1

0

Food at hone
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish —
Dairy products —
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at hone — — - — —
F o o d away from home

Transportation
Public
Private

August
1957

106.1

88.2

80.0

79.6

4

TABLE 3 s Consumer Price Index — All items indexes for selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)

October
1957

City
United States city average

September
1957

October
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

1/ 121.1

121.1

117.7

101.8

59.4

124.7
122.7
122.2
118.4
122.0

124.3
122.8
122.0
118.3
121.9

121.1
120.0
118.5
115.7
118.6

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

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
102.1
99.9
101.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

June
1950

Year
1939

Cities priced monthly 2J
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York

- -

Cities priced in January, April,
July, October 2/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon

June
1957

September
1957

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 2J
Baltimore
St. Louis

Cities priced in February, May,
August, November 2/
Cleveland
Houston
Washington, D. C.

U

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

August
1957

May
1957

August
1956

May
1950

Year
1939

122.8
122.1
117.8
123.7
119.1

121.7
121.1
116.4
122.8
117.2

119.1
118.2
113.5
118.8
115.7

100.4
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

£/ 101.3
101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

1/ This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 202.5.
2/ Rents priced bimonthly.
2/ 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 September 1957 to October 1957
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

City
United States city average—
Chicago
Detroit
Los AngelesNew York
Philadelphia-




0.3
.1

.2

.1
.1

Reading
and
Personal
recreation
care

Food

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

- 0.5

0.2

0.4

0.1

0.5

0.9

0
- .3
- .3

.1

.2

.2

.4

.1

.3
0

.2

1.9
.7
1.0

.4

.3
.4

3.5
0
0
0
0

All
items

-

-

.1

.2

0

1.0
.1

.1

.6

.6

0.1
2.3
.9

1.1

.2

.1

TABUS 5: Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
October 1957 indexes and percent changes, July 1957 to October 1957
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in October 1957
U.S.
City
Kansas
Average Boston Chicago Detroit City

Group

Los
MinneAngeles apolis

New
York

Phila- Pitts- Portland3
delphia burgh
Oregon

Indexes (19*7-^9.100)
All items

—

—

—

121.1

122.0

124.7

122.7

121.8

122.2

122.2

118.4

122.0

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

116.4
114.7
131.4
136.3
114.2
114.5
116.2

116.6
114.7
129.8
104.9
120.7
115.3
110.8

114.0
111.6
125.1
99.0
112.5
114.6
121.5

118.3
116.4
124.9
104.4
112.2
125.5
119.0

112.2
109.9
126.6
102.6
111.7
107.0
109.4

119.0
115.5
140.4
108.7
109.6
114.5
114.6

115.5
114.2
130.0
100.9
109.2
118.7
125.4

116.5
114.3
135.6
106.7
115.7
108.6
117.0

120.4 117.5
116.9
118.1
115.9
115.3
133.0 129.3
135.0
108.0
108,9 105.2
120.0 114.2 , 117.3
120.1 113.7
108.5
116.4 126.2
116.5

Housing
Rent
Gas and electricity — - — - —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings — —
— — —
Household operation —

126.6
136.0
113.8
137.6
104.3
128.7

129.9
138.7
111.5
138.6
104.7
125.7

136.1

124.4
140.1
122.8
120.1
101.9
130.3

132.3

104.2
119.8

127.5
150.2
124.8
131.3
99.8
128.4

122.1
124.4
111.1
143.8
135.2
126.2

122.2

114.6
139.7
102.4
132.9

128.7
149.0
112.4
129.5
108.6
119.1

Apparel
—
Men1s and boys' — - —
Women's and girls' — —

107.7
109.4
100.6
128.3
92.5

105.9
104.5
130.4
123.7
104.4

111.3
116.2
101.7
131.5
96.8

103.9
110.2
93.3
123.7
86.3

135.7
108.0
99.2
123.0
88.4

108.5
113.1
100.3
128.5
84.6

1-38.2
109.7
102.5
124.8
94.0

135.8
181.6
125.4

145.7
167.5
138.6

143.4
194.3
124.6

131.3 • 138.8
214.0
153.9
127.3
126.9

131.5
154.8
127.5

139.7
126.2
113.4
126.8

149.0
127.6
110.2
, 124.8

146.7
127.6
122.2
121.2

146.7
132.1
110.5
135.6

131.0
129.3
101.0
123.5

Other apparel — — — - — — —
Public

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

—

152.4
126.5
125.2
126.4

Percent change from
All items

0.2

Food
Food at home — — — — — — — — —

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

Rent

- .9
- 1.2
.5
- 2.9
3.3
- 9.8
4.0

—

—

Solid fuels and fuel oil —
Housefurnishings — — — — — —
Household operation

Men'* and boys'

—

Women'• and girls' —
Footwear
—
Other apparel

—

—

—

—

—

Public
Private
Medical care — —
Personal care - — — —
Other goods and services

—

119.5
—

121.9

103.4
138.3
111.1
129.1

124.1
128.2
129.5
131.1
108.1
135.2

126.6
136.1
102.0
149.0
106.6
127.5

107.0
108.6
98.8
129.6
96.2

108.2
107.3
103.1
126.7
94.6

107.3
108.0
100.2
125.4
101.4

111.9
114.6
102.8
134.9
98.5

118.6
166.8
112.7

136.9
189.0
117.3

139.5
187.4
118.9

145.5
217.1
121.6

129.2
176.9
123.5

170.1
134.8
121.0
131.6

129.4
117.6
116.4
126.1

140.8
131.4
116.9
128.4

146.8
123.7
105.8
126.8

139.5
130.1
120.4
126.9

July 1957

to

—

October 1957

- 0.1

0.5

- 0.3

0.1

0.9

0.5

0

0.7

0.3

- 0.2

1.4
1.5
1.0
2.1
5.2
-11.2
1.9

- 1.4
- 1.8
1.6
- 4.4
2.6
-11.0
4.7

- 1.3
- 1.8
0
- 1.6
2.7
-14.0
4.8

- 1.7
- 2.2
0
- 3.8
3.5
-14.0
4.5

1.1
.7
1.2
- .9
3.9
- 2.7
2.7

.1
0
.3
- 1.7
4.3
- 9.3
6.5

- 0.7
- 1.0
.4
- 2.8
6.0
-10.0
3.4

- .6
- 1.0
.2
- 2.9
2.8
- 7.4
3.3

- 1.4
- 1.8
.2
- 3.0
2.1
-12.1
4.0

- 1.4
- 1.7
2.3
- 3.1
.1
- 9.3
1.7

- .2
1/ .7
.5 - .7
1.0
.2
1.1 - .3
.2
.9

.2
.3
3.3
0
- 2.9
.2

1.8

.2
1/ .6
.2
- .6
1.1
.2

1.8

1.4
- 7.5

.8
.4
0
0
1.4
2.7

0
6.5
2.0
.8

1.1
0
1.5
0
1.7
4.2

.4
.4
0
0
.9
4.5

1.3
.1
2.4
.2
.7

2.0
.1
3.2
2.2
1.1

1.9
- 1.1
4.6
.5
1.2

.8
.6
.4
2.5
.5

1.3
11.1
- 1.5

- 1.7
0
- 2.0

-

.9
.6
1.3
1.3
.7
.6

.2
1.5
.5
- 3.1
1.1
1.7

1.1
.6
2.0
.2
.7

2.0
.8
3.6
0
1.4

1.9
- .5
5.0
.1
1.3

.2
.4
.4
- .2
- .6

2.1
- .5
4.5
1.1
1.1

.8
1.7
.8
0
- .1

1.3
.3
2.7
.6
.8

o
.8
.2

0
.9

0
- 1.0

- .6
5.6
- 1.7

.5
0
.6

- .6
0
- .6

- 2.3
0
- 2.6

.9
1.2
.9
.2

•3
1.0
- .5
- .2

3.7
1.0
5.4
0

.3
1.9
- .1
.7

1.3
.9
1.1
.2

.4
.1

.7
6.4
.9

.2

.2

1/ Change from August 1957 to October 1957,




—

121.1

.7

—

—

1.3
—

.1

-

.4
0
.5
.2

1.6
.2

0

—

.3

0
.3
.1

1.0
.3
0

1.2
1.3
.1

.3

.u
.2

1.5
0

TABUS 61

Consumer Price Index —

rood and its subgroups

October 1957 indexes and percent changes, September 1957 to October 1957
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

C19VM9.100]
Total
food at home

Total food
City
Percent
change

Index

U.S. City average
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston

—
—

—

—
—
—

Frankfurters —

0.2

106.3 - 3.6

114.2

114.5 - 0.3

116.2

0
.2
1.1
1.5
.1
.1
.1
.1
0
.5

106.8
107.0
104.9
99.0
107.7
102.2
104.4
101.6
102.6
108.7

-

4.8
3.1
3.1
3.7
4.5
3.7
3.4
4.0
5.3
4.2

113.5 - .1
2.2
114.4
120.7
2.5
.7
112.5
117.5
2.5
107.6
.2
112.2
0
0
112.3
111.7
9.5
109.6
.2

118.2
114.6
115.3
114.6
119.3
112.7
125.5
117.9
107.0
114.5

- 2.2
- .4
- .5
1.1
- .5
1.4
1.0
.5
- 1.4
1.3

1.6
109.1
1.2
115.5
110.8 - .4
1.7
121.5
120.6
.4
119.6
1.1
119.0
1.3
112.6 - .1
2.1
109.4
.6
114.6

115.5
116.5
120.4
117.5
116.9
116.3
118.4
113.5
117.0
117.9

0
- .1
- .2
- .7
- .7
- 1.3
- .8
.1
- .9
- .3

114.2
114.3
113.1
115.9
115.3
112.6
116.5
113.2
115.9
115.8

-

130.0 - .1
135.6
.3
0
133.0
0
129.3
135.0
.2
124.3 - .2
140.5
.3
0
127.1
140.5 - .1
0
128.9

100.9
106.7
108.9
105.2
108.0
101.2
108.3
105.4
107.4
105.3

-

2.5
2.8
3.1
3.5
3.7
4.9
3.4
4.0
3.8
3.0

109.2
1.7
1.0
115.7
120.0
2.2
114.2
.1
.1
117.3
105.6
.1
116.4 - .1
113.6
.2
118.3
.1
119.4
2.4

118.7
108.6
120.1
113.7
108.5
120.4
117.2
108.6
113.8
115.0

-

125.4
117.0
116.4
126.2
116.5
121.7
112.9
115.6
112.3
117.8

—

—

—

—

—

ib.

—

—
— —

ib.
ib.

—

—

ib.

—

—

ib.

Apples — — — — —
Bananas — — — — — — — —

Orangesize 200 —
—

—
—

ib.
lb.

—
—

Grapefruit *
* Priced only in season.




-

.2
.1
.3
.9
.9
1.7
1.0
.1
1.1
.4

-

1.0

TABLE 71 Consumer Price Index — Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
October
September
Food and unit
1957
1957

Cheese, American process — —
lb.
Milk, evaporated — — — — — i4fc-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — —
10 oz.
Orange juice concentrate —
6 oz.
Peas, green — — — — — — — 10 oz.
Beans, green — — — - —
10 oz.
Fresh:

—

Percent
change

131.4

Butter — — — — — — — —

—

Index

124.2
127.2
129.3
125.1
131.7
129.0
124.9
121.3
126.6
140.4

Luncheon meat, canned — —
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-»cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen — —
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned — — — — io oz.
Tuna fish, canned — — — — 6 to 64 oz.
Dairy products;
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream — — — — — — — - — pt.

Lemons —

Percent
change

Index

- 1.4
- .3
- .8
- .2
- 1.0
- .6
- .5
- 1.2
.1
- .8

—
— —

—

Percent
change

Index

114.7 - 0.7

Cereals and bakery products;
Flour, wheat
5 ib.
Biscuit mix — — — — — — — —
20 oz.
Corn meal — — — — — — — — — — 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:
ib.
Round steak — — — —
Chuck roast —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Rib roast — — — — — — - — —
ib.
Hamburger
— — — ib.
Veal cutlets — — — — — — —
ib.
Pork chops, center cut — — — - ib.
Ham, whole —
Lamb, leg —

Percent
change

Other
foods iat hone

112.9
114.5
114.7
111.6
117.1
112.4
116.4
111.5
109.9
115.5

Food and unit

Bacon, sliced —

Index

Fruits and
vegetables

- 1.2
- .3
- .7
0
- .9
- .5
- .3
- 1.0
.3
- .3

—
—

Percent
change

Dairy
products

116.4 - 0.5

— — —

Minneapolis
— —
lew Tork
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.
St. Louis
San Francisco
—
Scr&nton
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

Index

Meats, poultry,
and fish

114.0
117.8
116.6
114.0
118.6
114.4
118.3
113.6
112.2
119.0

—

Cincinnati
Cleveland
Detroit
Bouston
Kansas City
Los Angeles —

Percent
change

Index

Cereals and
bakery products

doz.
—

lb.

each

Cents
54.9

Cents
54.8

12.8
17.6

12.8

26.8

22.2

23.2
19.0
29.0

24.8

26.8

17.6
22.1
23.2
18.9
29.1
24.7

Fresh
Continued
Peaches *

46.0

44.3
43.1
47.2

62.6
32.1

24.1
25.7

98.0

Strawberries * - — — — —

Grapes, seedless *
Watermelons * - —
Potatoes — — —
Sweetpotatoee —
Onions
——
Carrots
—

pt.

u..
— —
ib.
— . — jo ib,
— — ih.
—
— rt>.
ib.
head

55.1
76.6
44.1
119.1
90.8
85.4
64.3
72.7
59.8
45.7
47.2
42.9
46.6

62.5
32.1

23.8
25.3

29.6

29.6

75.4
57.8
14.7

74.6
57.8
14.7

25.7
18.2

19.6

25.7
18.0
19.7

24.4

24.0

12.3
18.4
65.1
17.8

14.5
17.8
63.9
18.0

ib.
—

—

—

lb.

Tomatoes — —
lb.
Beans, green — — — — —
ib.
Canned:
Orange juice — — — — — — 46-oz. can
Peaches — — —
— #2* can
Pineapple — - —
— #2 can
Fruit cocktail
#303 can
Corn, cream style —
—
#303 can
Peas, green — — — — —
#303 can
Tomatoes — '
#303 can
Baby foods — — — — 44 to 5 oz.
Dried:
Prunes - — — — — — — - — — —

Beans — — — — — — — —
Other foods at home:
Tomato SOUp —

Coffee — — —
Coffee
Tea bags —

—

—

—
—

ib.

ib.

lOj- to ll-0z. can

Beans with pork — — — — —
Pickles, sweet
—
Catsup, tomato —

—

-

October
1957

ib.

—

Lettuce
Cabbage —

-

1.6
2.5
2.0
1.3
.4
.4
.3
3.2
.9
1.6

Cents
—

Celery
96.3
54.3
75.5
43.6
118.5
88.0
75.5
61.7
71.9
59.6

.3
1.1
- 1.5
- 1.0
1.1
.1
0
3.1
1.1
- 1.8

1.0

—

ig-oz. can
7h oz.
—

14 oz.

— — — lb. can
I*, bag
—

—

Pkg.

of ia

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.

21.8
55.9
12.7
8.1
16.0
19.1
13.5
7.9
23.4

22.0
33.9
34.7
34.2
26.0
17.3
21.4
15.2
10.0
33.1
16.3
12.3
14.7
27.3
21.8
96.2
76.9
23.7
27.2
95.8
29.7
22.9
37.3
53.7
55.5
24.9
27.3
4.5
69.5
8.9
Labor D.C. - BLSb8-0332

7
Brief

p f t h e qpi

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; 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 States; 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 axe 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 Bureaufs 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 19> copulations of
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 1947-49 =
0.
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 more 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,11 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.11 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., NE
Zone 23




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