Full text of CPI Detailed Report : October 1959

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R e l e a s e d November 2 5 ,

1959
U . S . DEPAR'MENT OF LABOR
Bureau o f L a b o r S t a t i s t i c s
W a s h i n g t o n 2 5 , D. C.
C0I1SUKER PRICE INDEX FOR OCTOBER 1959

Consumer p r i c e s i n U n i t e d S t a t e s c i t i e s r o s e 0 . 2 p e r c e n t between
September and O c t o b e r 1959^ a c c o r d i n g t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Department o f L a b o r ' s
Bureau o f Labor S t a t i s t i c s .
I n c r e a s e s were r e c o r d e d f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n and a l l o t h e r
m a j o r groups o f goods and s e r v i c e s e x c e p t f o o d , w h i c h d e c l i n e d 0 . 3 p e r c e n t .
Among
t h e n o n f o o d i t e m s , d u r a b l e commodities were up 0 . 7 p e r c e n t , n o n d u r a b l e s 0 . 4 p e r c e n t ,
and s e r v i c e s 0 . 3 p e r c e n t .
The O c t o b e r Consximer P r i c e I n d e x was 1 2 5 . 5 ( 1 9 ^ 7 - ^ 9 = 1 0 0 ) ,
1 . 5 p e r c e n t h i g h e r t h a n i n O c t o b e r 1958TRANSPORTATION

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n p r i c e s advanced l . k p e r c e n t between September
and O c t o b e r , r e f l e c t i n g h i g h e r d e a l e r s ' s e l l i n g p r i c e s f o r 196O
model a u t o m o b i l e s ; g a s o l i n e p r i c e s r o s e 2 . 8 p e r c e n t because o f t h e i n c r e a s e o f 1 c e n t
a gallon i n the Federal excise tax.
P r i c e s o f used cars dropped 2 . 3 p e r c e n t .
Public
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r o s e 0 . 5 p e r c e n t , w i t h h i g h e r t r a n s i t f a r e s i n two c i t i e s .
HOUSING

H o u s i n g c o s t s r o s e 0 . 3 p e r c e n t , w i t h r e n t s , s o l i d f u e l s and f u e l
o i l , and a l l o t h e r c l a s s e s o f h o u s i n g c o s t s h i ^ e r .
The i n c r e a s e
i n r e n t s , r e f l e c t i n g h i g h e r r a t e s i n 13 o f t h e 15 c i t i e s s u r v e y e d t h i s month, was t h e
l a r g e s t m o n t h l y chfitnge s i n c e December 1957* A s l i ^ t i n c r e a s e i n h o u s e f u r n i s h i n g s
p r i c e s was m a i n l y t h e r e s u l t o f h i g h e r p r i c e s f o r s o f t - s u r f a c e f l o o r c o v e r i n g s .
Price
d e c l i n e s f o r l a u n d r y soaps and d e t e r g e n t s were more t h a n o f f s e t b y s c a t t e r e d i n c r e a s e s
i n r a t e s f o r d r y c l e a n i n g and domestic s e r v i c e s .

FOOD
118.was

Th« d e c l i n e o f 0 . 3 p e r c e n t i n f o o d p r i c e s r e f l e c t e d l o w e r p r i c e s
f o r p o r k , eggs, f r e s h f r u i t s , a n d p o u l t r y .
The f o o d i n d e x , a t
1 . 1 p e r c e n t l o w e r t h a n a y e a r ago and 2.'7 p e r c e n t b e l o w t h e J u l y 1958 p e a k .

P r i c e s o f m e a t s , p o u l t r y ^ and f i s h decreased I . 3 p e r c e n t as
l a r g e r seasonal supplies r e s u l t e d i n a d e c l i n e o f 2 . 9 percent i n pork p r i c e s .
Bacon
p r i c e s were down k.2 p e r c e n t , p o r k chops 2 . 6 p e r c e n t , and ham 1 . 6 p e r c e n t .
Average
b e e f and v e a l p r i c e s r e m a i n e d s t e a d y , as s l i g h t l y l o w e r p r i c e s f o r r o u n d s t e a k ,
r i b r o a s t , hamburger, and v e a l c u t l e t s o f f s e t an i n c r e a s e i n chuck r o a s t .
Poultry
prices f e l l seasonally.
Egg p r i c e s d e c l i n e d 2»8 p e r c e n t as s u p p l i e s

increased.

f ^ i c e s o f d a i r y p r o d u c t s were up O.5 p e r c e n t , l a r g e l y because
of seasonally higher prices f o r fresh m i l k .
A r i s e o f 0 . 3 p e r c e n t i n p r i c e s o f f r u i t s and v e g e t a b l e s was
t h e r e s u l t o f an i n c r e a s e o f k.2 p e r c e n t i n f r e s h v e g e t a b l e p r i c e s a n d a decrease
o f 1 . 8 p e r c e n t f o r f r e s h f r u i t s , accopii)anied b y a l i g h t l y l o w e r p r i c e s f o r most
p r o c e s s e d f r u i t s and v e g e t a b l e s .
F r e s h t o m a t o p r i c e s i n c r e a s e d 28 p e r c e n t as l o c a l
s u p p l i e s d i m i n i s h e d ; cabbage p r i c e s were up 12 p e r c e n t , grapes 1 1 p e r c e n t , bananas
9 p e r c e n t , and c a r r o t s ^ p e r c e n t ; c e l e r y , l e t t u c e , and orange p r i c e s were a l s o
higher.
G r a p e f r u i t and a p p l e p r i c e s d e c l i n e d 20 p e r c e n t and 12 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c t i v e l y ,
as l a r g e r s u p p l i e s were a v a i l a b l e ; sweet p o t a t o p r i c e s were down 7 p e r c e n t , and
onions 6 p e r c e n t .




R e s t a u r a n t meal p r i c e s advanced 0 . 1 p e r c e n t .

OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

A p p a r e l p r i c e s r o s e 0,k p e r c e n t , as t h e r e were f u r t h e r s e a s o n a l
advances i n p r i c e s o f women*s w o o l d r e s s e s , c o a t s , s u i t s , and
r a y o n d r e s s e s ; p r i c e s o f f o o t w e a r a l s o advanced.

An advance o f 0.2' p e r c e n t i n m e d i c a l care r e s u l t e d f r o m h i g h e r
r a t e s f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l and h o s p i t a l s e r v i c e s .
The p e r s o n a l c a r e i n d e x was 0 . 3 p e r c e n t
h i g h e r as p r i c e s o f men's h a i r c u t s r o s e i n s e v e r a l c i t i e s , a l t h o u g h p r i c e s o f some
t o i l e t r i e s ( t o o t h p a s t e and t o i l e t soap) were l o w e r .
Reading and r e c r e a t i o n c o s t s were up 0 . 1 p e r c e n t ,
because o f h i g h e r p r i c e s f o r t e l e v i s i o n s e t s and newspapers.




largely

TABLE I t Consuaer Price Index—United States c i t y average
Major group, subgroup, and s p e c i a l group indexes, October 1959
and percent changes froa selected dates
(194.7-4.9=100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to October 1959 from

Indexes
October
1959

September
1959

125.5

125.2

FoodFood at honeCereals and bakery productsNBats, poultry, and f i s h —
Daily products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at hoa
Food avay froa home (Jan. 1953=100)

II8A
115.8
IS^v.l
109.0
116.1
12'+.5
107.0
116.9

118.7
116.2
13^.1
110. If
115.5
12if.l
107.6
116.8

Housing

130.1
li^O.4
121.7
135.5

129.7
lifO.O
121.6
135.0
lOlf.O
135.2

Group
All ite

Rent

Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y Solid fuels and f u e l > i l HousefumishingsHoaeehold operatiox^

lOk.l
135.3

ApparelIfcn's and boys"
Women's and g i r l s » Footvear
— •• —
Other apparel-

lO^.k

TransportationPrivate
Public--

lkQ.3

108.9
101,3
138.5
92.9

109.0
109.2
100.5
137.9
92.9

July
1959

September
1959

October
1958

- -

Year
1939

0.2

0.5

.3
.3
0
- 1.3
.5
.3
.6
.1

- .8
- 1.1
.2
- 2.7
2.5
- 1+.8
1.2
.6

- 1.1
- 1.9
.1
- 4.9
1.4
2.9
- 5.5
3.2

151.4
145.9
134.4
162.0
133.1
168.9
121.1
(1/)

.3
.3
.1
.1+
.1
.1

.9
.6
1.8
1.1
.1
.7

1.7
1.5
3.0
.1
.7
2.2

71.0
62.1
16.0
140.2
94.9
97.8

.1+
.3
.8

1.8
.6
2.5
2.1+
.7

2.0
..9
1.1
6.5
1.2

108.4
114.4
85.9
175.3
128.8

-

-

.k
0

l,k

1.5

•

111.3

195.9

135.3
19^^.9

1.6
.5

1.5
1.6
.9

l+.l
4.2
2.9

111.5
109.8
l4l.O

Medical

152.5

152.2

.2

1.0

3.7

110.1

Personcl care-

132.5

132.1

.3

.9

2.9

122.3

Reading and recreatioEf-

119.7

119.6

.1

.5

2.7

90.0

3.5

86.4

2.5

87.0

1.4

122.4

.8
.3
- 1.1
2.2
2.0
1.1
2.3
2.2
4.4
8.2
.3

127.3
131.1
151.4
104.1
109.8
(i/)
95.4
98.3
148.1
(1/)
80.3

131.6

131.5

.1

.6

A l l items less food--^

129.2

128.7

.k

1.0

A,U items less shelter-

123.2

122.9

.2

CommoditiesNondurable 8 Food
Nondurables less foodApparelApparel less footvea
Nondurables less food and apparelDurable s
—
New
Used cars (Jan. 1953=100)Durables less cars

117.3
118.8
118.If
119.8
109.3
104.2
128.8
113.6

117.0
118.8
118.7
119.3
108.9
103.8
128.2
112.8
135.1
98.3
103.1

.1+
.5
.7
4.7
- 2.3
.2

1.8
1.7
1.2
.1+
3.0
.1
.2

Other goods and servicesSpecial groupsI

Ikl.k

96.0
103.3

-

.3
0
.3

.k

1

-

.3
.1
.8

l.k

Commodities less food-

116.3

115.7

.5

1.0

2.1

95.8

Service sRentServices less r e n t Household operation services, gas,
and e l d c t r i c i t y Transportation servicesMedical care s e r v i c e s Other services J / — —

1^7.3
llfO.lf
1I+9.1

11+6.9
ll+o.o
148.7

.3
.3
.3

1.0
.6
1.1

2.9
1.5
3.2

83.2
62.1
102.9

136.3
182.1
158.1+
133.1

136.2
181.7
157.9
132.6

.1
.2
.3
.1+

1.3
.7
1.2
1.1

2.8
3.7
4.3
2.9

56.7
127.3
124.7
128.3

$0,797

$0,799

.5

- 1.4

-52.7

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=11.00)

-

.3

-

i / Not available.
2 / Includes house purchase, i n t e r e s t , taxes, insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately*
y
Includes house purchase, i n t e r e s t , taxes, insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
aixii beauty shop services, and movies*




MloeUd tetos
TIBIX 2i Cotummr Briot IdA«x—All lUma iiid«x»s and pereest ehangM»
oit7 Afvragt and 20 Xir^i oltlis

TxOmrmm
October
1959

Cltj
Uhitad 3tot«s olty avtrag*-

July
1959

October
1958

-

125.5

124.9

123.7

•

129.3

•
-

128.5
123.7
126.0

128.3
124.14127.6
123.5
124.2

127.3
123.3
125.9
121.5
123.3

Isar
1939
59.4

Piromt dMtB^ to
eumst mosMi Area —
July
Xtar
October
1939
1956

1 ''''
0.5

1.5

111.3

.8
.4
.7
.2
1.4

1.6
1.3
2.1
1.8
2.2

120.6
111.7
112.7
105.8
112.8

CiUai irio«i BODthlj l /
GhloagoDttroitLM Aagtlaa—
Btwlork
RiilftdalFhiaCltitf prlo«d in

- 12k,9

January,

J u l y , October

October
1959
i

April,
2/

July
1959

BostonKansas C i t y MinneapolisPlttsburgh—

126.7
126.9
126.5
126.8
126.3

125.6
126.0
125.4
125.7
126.1

CltlM prioad in

September
1959

June
1959

March, June,
September, December
2/
Atlanta

126.0
127.5
123.6
126.U
130.8

CincinnatiSt. L o u i s San F r a n c i s c o -

CitiM prload In
August, November

August
1959

F e b r u a r y , May,
2/

ClevelandHouston-—
Scranton—
Seattle
Washington, D. C.—

125.8
124.8
121.2
128.9
122.0

125.5
126.6
123.1
126,3
129.6
May
1959
125.3
124.1
120.0
127.9
121.8

59.0
60U
59.2

October
1958

1939

125.4
124.9
124.5
124.5
124.5

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

.9
.7
.9
.9
.2

iMur

June
1959

September
1958
124.6
124.8
122.5
125.3
128.4

August
1958
125.1
124.0
120.4
126.3
121.2

1939

July
1959

W
1939

October
1958
1.0
1.6
1.6
1.8
1.4

1C)7.7
105.7
108.4
118.2
116.6

Tear
1939

September
1958

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

.4
.7
.4
.1
.9

1.1
2.2
.9
.9
1.9

XMT

1939

May
1959

August
1958

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

.4
.6
1.0
.8
.2

116.1
120.2
111.6
113.2
123.2

Xeair
1939

.6
.6
.7
2.1
.7

112.5
109.7
107.2
117.7
102.0

J/ R*nU prload biaonthly,
2/ Foods, fiwlsy and a fov otter itoui porlowl nonthly; ronta and othnr oonoditiM and aarTiooa prlood qnartorlgr.

Pfioa Indax—B»roent changesftpoaSeptember 1^59
U.S. olty averags and fifo citiss prieed nontUy
All itsns and eoanodlty groape

TABIS 3s

Traxaportatlon

t o October 1959

BMdiag
MBdioal PsrM>nal
and
oara
oaro
raortatioB

Clt7

All
it«u

Ifciitad autos e i ^ amags—

0.2

-

0.3

0.3

0.4

1.4

0.2

0.3

.1
.1
.5
.2
.2

-

.5
0
.2
.4
.5

0
0
.2
.4
.2

.1
.7
.5
.3
.2

2.0
0
2.1
1.2
.6

.1
.1
1.8
.1
.1

0
.2
.6
1.1
4.8

Drtrolt
K«v lork •




Food

-

ffottstng Apfarel

-

-

Otbsr
gMUA
soirvioof

0.1

0.1

.3
.3
0
.9
.5

0
0
.1
.2
.1

-

TABSfi 4.1 Canaamr Tr±o» Index—-A^ Itesis aod r i r i M l l t y groupe
October 1959 indexes and percent changes, J u l y 1959 t o October 1959
e i t y arerag* and 10 c i t i e s p r i c e d i n October 1959
U.S.
City
Boston
Arerage

arei^

Chicago D e t r o i t Kansas
City

Los
MinneaAngeles p o l i s

New
York

Philaielphia

Pittsburgh

Portland
Oreg.

Indexes (19i^7-^*100)
All

125.5

126.7

129.3

I2I+.9

126.9

3^8.5

126.5

123.7

126.0

126.8

126.3

118.if
115.8
13^.1
109.0
116.1
12I+.5
107.0

119.6
116.1+
132.0
112.1+
115.9
125.8
102.7

116.2
113.4
129.6
102.5
118.1+
121.5
112.2

118.1
115.1
125.3
IOI+.5
112.8
130.8
109.1

111.9
108.8
126.9
101.7
111.3
115.7
100.2

124.0
119.2
146.3
110.4
113.4
133.1
108.4

117.8
114.5
134.6
105.4
108.4
126.5
112.2

120.4
117.0
141.4
111.1
120.7
119.1
106.5

121.4
118.4
136.9
110.4
121.9
130.0
104.4

120.1
118.3
131.9
109.1
117.9
127.5
116.2

121.1
118.0
140.0
112.9
120.9
117.9
110.6

130.1
Il+OA
121.7
135.5

li+0.0

1J28.2
143.3
122.3
134.7
104.8
137.0

104.0
125.4

127.7
155.7
135.3
126.5
97.4
136.2

127.6
131.7
119.1
136.0
103.9
136.3

124.2

130.0
11+0.6
102.1+
138.6

127.7
143.9
118.1
128.3
110.3
123.3

136.9

135.3

135.8
II+9.I
116.8
135.0
102.7
133.7

105.9
128.5
108.5
140.4

129.6
133.2
140.1
135.1
107.6
142.9

128.1
137.7
10240
143.2
103.9
129.0

109.^
108.9
— 101.3
138.5
- « — — — — — 92.9

107.2
104.5
101.6
131.2
101.2

113.5
115.5
103.0
• II+2.5
97.9

107.8
109.5
98.2
135.6
87.2

107.5
108.8
100.2
130.7
89.3

110.8
112.2
102.2
140.9
85^0

109.3
107.7
104.2
133.2
93.0

107.2
108.2
97.4
138.0
96.0

108.5
108.9
99.1
139.9
94.6

106.8
105.5
98.3
133.9
100.4

113.8
113.6
104.2
145.3
99.6

Tran^?or1at4en — — — — — — « — lk&,3
137'k
Prifate——
—
Public
—
195.9

152.2
11+6.3
168.8

158.3
11+0.6
196.9

ll+l.O
133.8
179.4

156.1
142.0
251.4

144.7
l4l,0
164.3

132.7
125.7
189.6

148.8
130.3
191.4

155.7
135.8
193.4

164.9
139.3
237.7

146.5
I40.2
199.2

I f e d l c a l care

160.7
I3I+.6
118.1+
126.7

159.2
138.1
125.1+
12I+.5

158.0
134.8
117.1
136.8

171.2
135.7
135.7
125.3

149.4
135.0
101.9
132.9

203.2
138.1
125.4
134.8

143.1
125.3
121.8
133.3

158.7
142.9
125.3
132.2

168.1
127.9
110.7
131.2

142.4
133.2
125.1
129.8

0.2

1.4

0.9

0.2

.4
.6
.3
- 2.4
2.6
- 1.7
.1

jood
—
Pooa a t h 6 M
Cereals and kskery product®
ms^ta, pcaltjrjr^, and f i s h —
Daiary prodacts
— — —
F r u i t a and regatables
Otiier foocJs a t hem

—
—
—
—

Boosing
Rent — — — — — — — — — — — —
(9as and e l e c t r i c i t y
—
s o l i d f u e l s and f u e l o i l
seusetumislilnss
—
H d u e t o l d operation
— — —
lesn's and feoye' —
Woian's and g i r l s '
Other apparol

10k. 1

—
— —

Reading and r e « r o a t i o n

— - 152.5
132.5
— 119.7
131.6

—

135.3

—

Percent change f r a i J u l y 1959 t o October 1959

All ttaoKi
rood
rood at kOMS
Cereals and bakery ppodncts
Meats, poaltry, and f l i h
Bairy produ»te
¥SVLU maA •ef^tablee
Otker foode at kOM
lOMias
Oas ctai eleetricity
Solid feels and feel oU
iSMofwateiaais ————
l^osekeld c^esatioa —

0.5

0.9

0.8

0.4

0.7

.8
- 1.1
.2
- 2.7
2.5
- 4,8
1.2

.6
.6
.3
.4
9.5
3.8
.2

.8
.9
.5
- 2.5
1.7
- 4.3
2.4

.1
.3
.6
- 2.5
4.9
- 5.6
3.4

.9
- 1.2
.2
- 3.5
3.2
- 5.0
1.6

.7
1.0
3.2
- 1.2
1.3
0

1.0
.5
1.1
.3
1.2

.1
1/..2
.1
1.6
.3
.6

1.1
1.1
.3
2.2
.6
.1

3.2
.1
5.9
1.3
2.8

2.9
1.3
4.3
2.8
1.7

3.5
2.7
3.4
1.9

2.7
1.1
4.4
1.7
1.7

.9
.6
1.8
1.1
.1
.7

-

—

-

Appwrel
Hsa*s and k«8ys' —
Voeea's and girle'
Foeesiear
Otter asK»rel

1.8
.6
2.5
2.4
.7

Yransyertation
Prttatw——
Publio—

1.5
1.6
.9

-

.3
.4
0

1.9
2.5
0

.9
1.0
0

ation —
Otker aeddtf maSt serrlees

1.0
.9
.5
.6

.8
1.5
2.5
.2

.2
.9
.2
2.6

0
.6
- 3.0
.7

y

-

Change frcM August 1959 t o October 1959-




0.7

0.9

.6
.7
.1
- 1.4
2.2
1.8
1.7

- 1.2
- 1.5
.3
- 1.6
2.7
- 8.1
.2

1.6
2.2
1.7
3.9
3.3
- 5.6
- 1.1

.2

1*6
0

.2
1.2
0
.2
- 2.0
2.3

i/
-

1.7
1.2
2.2
2.8
.1

1.3
1.5
0

2.4
2.5
1.4

.1
.1
2.1
- .3

1.8
.1
- 3.3
.2

-

—

3.0

•

-

-

.3
.5
.2
- 1.8
3.1
- 4.2
1.2

-

.4
.3
.4
- 2.1
.3
- 2.8
2.4

1.1
-5
.1
.8
.2
2.0

.6
2.9
1.3
3.7

.9
.7
2.7
1.2
- 1.1

.9
.2
1.1.
2.1
0

2.7
.1
4.6
3.2
1.8

1.8
1.1
2.3
2.1
1.0

1.6
.5
2.9
.7
.8

5.0
3.9
13.7

1.4
1.7
0

1.3
1.6
0

1.9
2.5
0

1.2

4.8
.5
.4
.6

2.1
1.5
1.3
.2

3.4
5.3
3.8
1.7

6.2
.4
.4
1.2

0
.5
- 7.9
.
.6

-

-

1.8

-

-

.5
.5
.5
0
.3
.3

-

.2
.1
0
1.8
.5
.1

3.9

TABIZ 5t ConsuMT M m Inilex — Food and I t s subgroups
October 1959 indexes and percent changes, September 1959 t o October 1959
U.S. o l t y average and 20 larga c i t i e s
(1947-49=100)
Total
food a t hone

T o t a l food
City

U.S. c i t y average

—

AtlanU
Baltimore
Boston —

Detroit

Percent
change

U.Q,k

- 0.3

115.3
118.1
119.6
116.2
119.0
113.5
118.1

- 1.0 113.5
.6 Ilk. 3
.2 116. k
- .5 ILZ.k
.2 116.3
.6 110.9
0 115.1
0 111.5
.6 108.8
.2 119.2

llk.,1

Kansas City

111.9

12k.O

New lork
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Francisco
Seattle
Washington, D,C.

117.8
120.if
121.4
120.1
121.1
118.3
122.9
115.3
121.1
— - 118.5

-

-

Index

115.8

Ilk.3

.2

,k

117.0
.5 118.if
.5 118.3
. 1 118.0
.3 113.2
. 1 120.If
.9 113.8
.2 118.7
.8 115.8

TABLE 6t

- 5;
Flour, wheat
20 «
Biscuit mix
Com neal
Rice, short grain
Rice, long grain
Rolled oats
Corn flakes
Bread, white
Soda cracKers
Vanilla cookies
Meats, poultry, and f i s h i
Round steak
Chuck roast
Rib roast
HaBiburger
Veal cutlets
Fork chops, center cut
Bacon, sliced
Ham, whole
Lamb, leg
Frankfurters •
Luncheon meat, canned
Frying chickens, ready-to-cock —
Ocean perch, f i l l e t , frozen
—
Haddock, f i l l e t , froaen
Salmon, pink, canned
—16
Tura f i s h , canned
• • 6 to
oz
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
_

_

_

p

t

Butter
Cheese, American process
-144-oz.
MLlk, evaporated
Fruits and vegetables:
Ft>ozen:
Strawberries
Orange juice concentrate
Peas, green
—
Beans, green •
Appl^aOranges, sise 200
Lemons
Grapefruit
hriced only i n season^




13k.1

- 1.1
.7
.3
.6
.2
.8
.1
.1
.7
.2

12k.7

126.9
llf6.3

-

134.6

-

-

.2

.6
.5
.2
.5
0
- 1.0
.2
- 1.0

128.U
132.0
129.6
132.3
128.7
125.3

12k.6

Ikl.k

136.9
131.9
140.0
123.0
149.5
132.3
146.7
130.9

Percent
change

-

-

53.8

Septanber

1959

Cents

53.9
13.0

27.0
13.0

27.0

18.7
20.8
20.4
25.7

18.9
20.9
20.
25.6

19.8

19.7

29.0
2k.k

29.1

2k,k

106.5
63.6
82.9

107.8
62.1
83.0

11^2.5
86.6

89.0

63.1

51^.6

65.9

59.6
74.7
63.3

71^.8
63.5

50.8

50.9

i|.o.6
1^7.0
56.6
63.3
32.1

60.5

lH.7
1^7.3
57.1
62.3
32.6

21^.5

2k.k

25.8
29.7
76.8
58.3

25.6

15.2

26.5

26.4
19.9

29.7
76.6
58.2

15.2

26.3

26.k

22.

19.8
22.7

. lb.

12.ij.

lk,l

- lb.

18.8

17.2
69.8
19.3
16.5

S^sht

•

- 0.3

October
1252_
Cents

Cereals and bakery products:

_

Index

Meats, p o u l t r y ,
and f i s h
Index

0

109.0

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

110.5
107.7
112.4
102.5
110.1
101.5
104.5
102.8
101.7
110.4

.2
.6
.2
0
.1
.7
1.6
0
.1
.1

105.4
111.1
110.4
109.1
112.9
103.5
114.6
108.7
113.9
106.3

Percent
change

Dairy
products
Index

Percent
change

F r u i t s and
vegetables
Index

116.1

0.5

124.5

112.2
- 2.1
117-0
.8 115.9
- 1.7
118.4
- 1.3
115.7
- 2.3'
110.4
- 2.2
112.8
1.5 113.7
2.3 111.3
- .2 113.4

.5
.1
0
0
3.2
.1
.4
.1
.1
0

129.5
121.9
125.8
121.5
126.9
116.6
130.8
124.6
115.7
133.1

.2
1.3
2.0
.1
0
0
.1
.2
.2
.1

126.5
119.1
130.0
127.5
117.9
129.2
128.8
119.3
123.4
125.4

-

1.3

_ 2.1

-

-

1.0
.8
2.0
1.7
1.0
1.7
.2
1.5
.9
2.4

108.4
120.7
121.9
117.9
120.9
107.3
118.9
113.3
118.3
118.5

Other
foods a t home

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

0.3

107.0

- 0.6

- 2.0
.2
1.4
.2
.5
.3
3.0
.8
.8
.8

101.1
106.5
102.7
112.2
109.0
109.1
109.1
103.9
100.2
108.4

.9
.4
- 1.5
- .4
- 1.0
- .4
.2
1.0
- 1.0
.4

2.4
.1
1.0
.7
2.4
.9
- 1.3
.1
1.7
0

112.2
106.5
104.4
116.2
U0.6
113.-^'
107.6
103.8
106.5
108.4

- 1.8
- 2.1
- 2.4
.9
.2
- 1.0
.4
- 2.7
.6
- 1.5

-

Consuaer Price Index — Average r e t a i l prices of selected foods
U.S. , c i t y average

Food and unit

I c e cream

Percent
change

Index

Cereals and
bakery products

. lb.
each

70.5
19.5
13.2

Food and unit
fro sh—Continued
lb.
Peaches *
—
Pt.
Strawberries *
^
lb.
Grapes, seedless •
—
lb.
Watermelons *
10 l b .
Potatoes
_
lb.
Sweet potatoes_
lb.
Onions
- •••
lb.
Carrots
— —
.
head
Lettuce
^
lb.
Celery
—
lb.
Cabbage
_
l
b.
Tomatoes — — lb.
Beans, green •
Canned:
, 4 6 - o z . can
Orange Juice — . # 2 i can
Peaches — Pineapple '
_
#303 can
F r u i t cocktail —
#303 can
Corn, cream style
#303 can
Peas, green
. . ^ # 3 0 3 can
Tomatoes
4 i t o 8 oz.
Baly foods
Dried:
lb.
Prunes ——
lb.
Beans
Other foods at home:
l O i t o 1 1 - o z . can
Tomato soup —
•I
1 6 - o z . can
Beans with pork
,•— — • — ,
16 oz.
Pickles, sliced
.
14 oz.
Catsup, tomato — I
•
l
b
. can
Coffee
-.^.-.Ib.
bag
Coffee
— pVg. o f 18
Tea bags
Cola drink, carton
aiortenlng, hydrogenated
3 ib.
Margarine, colored — — — — — — ib.
L«rd
lb.
Salad dressing •
••
pu
Peanut butter
— ib.
Sugar
•
B lb.
- 2 4 oz.
Corn syrup <
Grape j e l l y — — —
• 12 oz.
• 1 oz.
Chocolate bar
— doz.
Eggs, Grade A, large
Gelatin, flavored —

October

jsm.
SsisStZ

September
1959

17.7
2k.2

21.9

58.3

58.5
12.9
9.2

12.0

8.6
lk,6
23.4
15.0
9.1+
27.0
21.5

13.9
22.7

Q,k
21.1
21.2

51.8

52.1
31^.6

36.8
27.0
19.2
19.7
15.2

36.6
27.3
19.3

20.0

10.1

15.2
10.1

14-0.1

k0,2

17.0

17.2

12.

15.0

26.k
22.k

76.7
58.0
2k,3
29.6

86.0
27.8
18.9
37.2

57.7
26.5
28.3

12.

15.0
26.1^

22.If
76.6
56.9

2k,3
29.5
88.2

27.7
19.1
37.6
55.5
57.5
26.5
28.3
5.1

58.3

9.3
Labor D.C.

9.2

B r i e f E x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e CPI
The Consiamer P r i c e I n d e x (CPI) measures average changes i n p r i c e s o f goods and
s e r v i c e s u s u a l l y "bought "by c i t y f a m i l i e s o f wage e a r n e r s and c l e r i c a l w o r k e r s .
I t is
based on p r i c e s o f about 300 i t e m s w h i c h were s e l e c t e d so t h a t t h e i r p r i c e changes w o u l d
r e p r e s e n t t h e movement o f p r i c e s o f a l l goods and s e r v i c e s purchased b y wage and c l e r i c a l
f a m i l i e s ; t h e y i n c l u d e a l l o f t h e important items i n f a m i l y spending. Prices f o r these
Items a r e o b t a i n e d i n
c i t i e s w h i c h were chosen t o r e p r e s e n t a l l u r b a n p l a c e s i n t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s ; t h e y a r e c o l l e c t e d f r o m g r o c e r y and department s t o r e s , 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 o t h e r t y p e s o f s t o r e s and s e r v i c e e s t a b l i s h m e n t s w h i c h wage-earner and
clerical-worker families patronize.
P r i c e s o f f o o d s , f u e l s , and a few o t h e r i t e m s a r e o b t a i n e d e v e r y month i n a l l
k6 c i t i e s .
P r i c e s o f most o t h e r commodities and s e r v i c e s a r e c o l l e c t e d e v e r y month i n
t h e 5 l a r g e s t c i t i e s and e v e r y 3 months i n o t h e r c i t i e s . M a i l q . u e s t i o n n a i r e s a r e u s e d
t o o b t a i n l o c a l t r a n s i t f a r e s , p u b l i c u t i l i t y r a t e s , newspaper p r i c e s , f u e l p r i c e s , and
c e r t a i n o t h e r i t e m s w h i c h change i n p r i c e i n f r e q u e n t l y .
P r i c e s o f most o t h e r goods and
services are obtained by personal v i s i t s o f the Bureau's t r a i n e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s .
I n c a l c u l a t i n g t h e i n d e x , p r i c e changes f o r t h e v a r i o u s i t e m s i n each c i t y a r e
averaged t o g e t h e r w i t h w e i g h t s w h i c h r e p r e s e n t t h e i r i m p o r t a n c e i n f a m i l y s p e n d i n g .
City
data a r e t h e n combined i n t h e t o t a l i n d e x w i t h w e i g h t s based on t h e 1950 p o p u l a t i o n s o f
c i t i e s they represent.
I n d e x numbers a r e computed on t h e base 19^7-^9«100.
The n a t i o n a l i n d e x ( t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s c i t y a v e r a g e ) i n c l u d e s p r i c e s f r o m t h e
20 l a r g e c i t i e s f o r w h i c h s e p a r a t e i n d e x e s a r e p u b l i s h e d i n t h i s r e p o r t , as w e l l as
from t h e f o l l o w i n g 26 m e d i u m - s i z e d and s m a l l c i t i e s :
Anna, I l l i n o i s
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
C h a r l e s t o n , W. V i r g i n i a
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand F o r k s , N. Dakota
Grand I s l a n d , Nebraska

H u n t i n g t o n , W. V i r g i n i a
L a c o n i a , New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, V i r g i n i a
M a d i l l , Oklahoma
Madison, W i s c o n s i n
M i d d l e s b o r o , Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, Ohio

Pulaski, V i r g i n i a
Ravenna, Ohio
R a w l i n s , Wyoming
San Jose, C a l i f o r n i a
S a n d p o i n t , Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, Ohio

Comparisons o f c i t y i n d e x e s show o n l y t h a t p r i c e s i n one c i t y changed more o r
l e s s t h a n i n a n o t h e r . The c i t y i n d e x e s cannot be u s e d t o measure d i f f e r e n c e s i n p r i c e
l e v e l s o r i n l i v i n g c o s t s between c i t i e s .
A d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e i n d e x and h i s t o r i c a l t a b l e s o f i n d e x numbers f o r t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s c i t y average and f o r 20 large c i t i e s a r e a v a i l a b l e on r e q u e s t t o t h e
Bureau o f Labor S t a t i s t i c s i n Washington o r any o f i t s r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s (addresses b e l o w ) ,
the h i s t o r i c a l t a b l e s i n c l u d e i n d e x numbers f o r A l l I t e m s , Food, A p p a r e l , and Rent f o r
periods f r o m 1913 t o d a t e ; and f o r o t h e r groups o f goods and s e r v i c e s f r o m 1935 t o d a t e .
BLS R e g i o n a l O f f i c e s
Atlanta
1371 Peachtree
S t r e e t , N. E.
Zone 9




New York
3 ^ 1 N i n t h Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams S t .
Zone 3

San F r a n c i s c o
63O Sansome S t .
Zone 1 1
LABOR - D. C,

Boston
I8 O l i v e r
Zone 10

St.