Full text of CPI Detailed Report : October 1960

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25, 1960
U.S.
of

OF LABOR
tatistics
25, D. C.

PRICE

OCTOBER 1960

The October Consumer Price Index, at 127.3
the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of P Labor Statist!
in some food prices, combined with higher prices for new cars, most elements of
and women's and girls' apparel, were the major factors in the increase to a new
Durable commodities rose 0.8 percent, the first: increase reported for this
1960; nondurable commodities and services both advanced 0.3 percent from their
levels.
The 0.6 percent increase in f
for foods for homt
for eggs,
milk, and bread contributed materially to the rise.

prices reflected primarily higher

fresh fruits, tomatoes, pork,
factors were to some extent
m d some fresh fruits. Hov
ever, higher prices for grapefruit and tomatoes
isive damage to Florida
Higher pork prices stemmed from the large reduction in
crops by the September hurricane.
the spring pig crop in response to low prices for hogs at that time. The index for all
foods, at 120.9 (1947-49 = 100), was 2.1 percent above the level for a year earlier.

y low production of milk, with
, and ice cream, resulted in an
. Dairy product prices were 2.0

for milk, cheese
prices of dairy
1959.

principally because of
increased by nearly 5
prices of cereals

bread prices.

Over the past year, bread prices he

o'. 3 percent over the month, led by higher prices for flour.

Retail prices of all fruits anc
(0,2 percent), as all subgroups except ;resh fruits <
of 1.4 percent for frozen fruits ,md vi '..tables was primarily due to higher
for frozen orange concentrate and !
, Seasonal, influences were the
affecting average prices of fresh
r. A decline of 1.3 percent for
more than offset an increase of
^ ^ . e r t tor fresh fruits.
Prices
for some fruits and vegetables in sh
i ripply as a result of the hur

31 Of

2.7

A further iiur -a
(0,8 percent.) i:

for baby food again

for

The transportation index rose by 1.0 percent over the
of the
price cc:<~
by dealers were reduced with
new 1961 models.
This raised
c : price* 4.5 percent compared with
cessions on the new models w ^ : .
, , relatively large for the beginning of the new
season because of large dealer - ' l a
. ; * ur new cars, both 1960 and 1961 models. Prices
were 12,4 percent be lev




a yc,.

. •' •

.

2
Gasoline prices fell 1.2 percent, reflecting price wars in a few
cities and seasonal factors.
Public transportation rates were higher because of higher
local transit fares in one city and scattered increases in railroad coach fares.
HOUSING

Higher prices associated with home ownership and an increase in
rents were primarily responsible for the advance in the housing
index.
Rents rose 0.3 percent in October, being higher in all but one of the 15 cities
surveyed.
Solid and petroleum fuels rose 1.0 percent, with seasonal advances in most of
the cities where coal and oil are priced.

APPAREL

The 0.4 percent increase in the apparel index reflected chiefly
seasonal advances for women's and girls 1 coats and women's wool
dresses and suits.
The increases for women's and girls 1 apparel, however, were smaller
than at the same time last year.
The overall price level for apparel in October was
1.5 percent above a year earlier.

OTHER GROUPS

Higher average prices for all medical services, led by higher
hospitalization insurance rates, brought an increase of 0.3 percent in the medical care index.
However, prices of prescriptions and drugs averaged
0.6 percent lower.
A decline in average prices of toys and movie admissions was largely
responsible for the 0.2 percent decline in the reading and recreation index.
Toy prices
usually increase slightly at this time of the year.
OVER THE YEAR
CHANGES

Higher food prices were responsible for over 40 percent of the 1.4
percent rise in the Consumer Price Index from October 1959.
Nearly
two-thirds of the advance in the nonfood groups was due to higher
average prices for most components of housing, particularly higher shelter costs.
The
1.6 percent decline in the transportation index resulted almost entirely from the
reductions of 2.2 percent for new automobiles and 12.4 percent for used cars.
COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS

Nearly 1.1 million workers are scheduled to receive increases in
wage rates on the basis of the October Consumer Price Index or on
indexes for individual cities. About 975,000 workers, employed
chiefly in automobile and farm equipment manufactures, will receive 2 cents per hour.
Another 80,000 workers will receive increases in wage rates of about 1 cent per hour.
Wages of another half million workers employed by producers of
basic iron and steel or in related industries also are tied to the October Consumer Price
Index, as modified by agreements relating to projected insurance costs which have not yet
been finally determined.




3
TABLE It Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, October 1960
and percent changes from selected dates
(1947-4-9-100 unless otherwise specified)

Percent change to October 1960 from

Indexes
October
1960

Group

All items
Food
—'• ' •
•
Food at home •" •
" ••
••- •
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables--'
Other foods at homo----Food away from hosae (Jan. 1953-100)
Housing
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
—
Household operation
••••— • • ••••••
Apparel-—Man's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear .....
Other apparel- Transportation
Private
Public

» —

—
— —
•
—
•-.,••••——..-.„ . ... -•
-—
—

Medical care
Personal care—

••

— — • •
—

••

—

••• •

Reading and recreation—-—•

— < —

Other goods and services*

September
1960

September
1960

July
1960

October
1959

- -

Year
1939

127.3

126.8

0.4

0.6

1.4

114.3

120.9
118.2
138.5
110.0
118.4
124.8
112.0
119.4

120.2
117.4
137.8
110.2
117.5
124.6
109.3
119.3

.6
.7
.5
- .2
.8
.2
2.5
.1

.2
.3
.7
- .7
2.2
- 7.1
6.9
.4

2.1
2.1
3.3
0.9
2.0
.2
4.7
2.1

156.7
151.0
142.1
164.4
137.8
169.5
131.4
(I/)

132.2
142.5
125.7
136.1
104.0
138.1

132.0
142.1
125.7
134.8
104.1
138.0

.2
.3
0
1.0
- .1
.1

.7
.5
.7
2.4
- .1
.5

1.6
1.5
3.3
.4
- .1
2.1

73.7
64.5
19.8
141.3
94.8
101.9

111.0
112.2
101.8
140.5
93.9

110.6
112.2
101.1
140.2
93.8

.4
0
.7
.2
.1

1.7
1.8
2.4
.5
.9

1.5
3.0
.5
1.4
1.1

111.4
120.9
86.8
179.3
131.3

146.1
134.1
202.6

144.7
132.8
201.7

1.0
1.0
.4

.1
.1
1.1

- 1.6
- 2.4
3.4

108.1
104.7
149.2

157.3

156.9

.3

.6

3.1

116.7

134.0

133.9

.1

.4

1.1

124.8

121.9

122.1

.2

.2

1.8

93.5

132.7

132.7

0

.4

.8

88.0

130.7

130.3

.3

.6

1.2

89.1

-

-

Special groupsi
All items less food

124.8

124.3

.4

.5

1.3

125.3

Gomn»ditie s — —
Nondurable s
—
Food—
— « — —
:—
Nondurables less f o o d — — — .
Apparel
—
—Apparel less footwear— • - -•--•—
Nondurables less food and a p p a r e l —
Durable s—
——
• — — —
New cars—
—
— —
Used cars (Jan. 1953=100)
Durables less c a r s — —
——
—-

118.2
120.7
120.9
120.9
110.8
105.7
129.5
110.9
138.3
84.1
102.8

117.7
120.3
120.2
120.9
110.5
105.3
129.8
110.0
132.4
84.6
103.0

.4
.3
.6
0
.3
.4
- .2
.8
4.5
- .6
- .2

.4
.6
.2
.8
1.7
2.0
.2
- .2
1.6
- 3.4
- .2

.8
1.6
2.1
.9
1.4
1.4
.5
- 2.4
- 2.2
-12.4
- .5

129.1
134.8
156.7
106.0
112.7
(1/)
96.5
93.5
142.6
(1/)
79.4

Commodities less food

115.9

115.6

.3

.4

151.2
142.5
153.4

150.8
142.1
153.0

.3
.3
.3

140.1
186.3
164.3
136.8

139.8
185.8
163,6
136.5

.2
.3
.4
.2

$0,786

$0,789

All items less s h e l t e r — -

-

— —

Service s — —
—
—
—
—
_
R e n t — ~
—
— - — Services less r e n t - - - - - - - - - - - - - - — — —
Household operation services, gas,
and electricity—
— — —
—
Transportation services—
—
I-fedical care service s - ™ — — —
Other services 2 / — — — —
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=11.00)
—

-

.4

-

.3

95.1

.8
.5
.9

2.6
1.5
2.9

88.1
64.5
108.7

.7
.8
.8
1.0

2.8
2.3
3.7
2.8

61.0
132.6
133.0
134.6

.5

- 1.4

-53.3

-

2/ Not available*
2J Includes house purchase, interest, taxes$ insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately,
2 / Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, Insurance* and upkeep services? -shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
and beauty shop services, and movies.




4

TABIC 2s

Consoatr Trio* Tnrtax ill iteeas inda»a and ptrerat ahaogM, eelectad dates
U.S. aity average and 20 large cities

Beroent change to
currant south frcn —

Indexea (1947-49=100)

City
Dnltad Statea city average-

-

October
1960

July
1960

October
1959

127.3

126.6

125.5

59.4

130.7
125.7
130.3
126.1
127.7

130.4
125.8
129.5
124.8
126.9

129.3
124.9
128.5
123.7
126.0

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

October
1960

July
1960

October
1959

129.1
128.2
128.5
129.0
127.2

128.7
127.9
127.5
128.9
127.5

126.7
126.9
126.5
126.8
126.3

September
1960

June
1960

September
1959

127.9
128.7
124.8
127.4
133.0

127.1
128.3
124.6
127.2
132.4

126.0
127.5
123.6
126.4
130.8

August
1960

May
1960

August
1959

127.4
126.1
121.8
129.8
123.2

127.1
125.1
122.1
129.7
123.1

125.8
124.8
121.2
128.9
122.0

July
1960

laar

1939

October
1959

Year

1939

0.6

1.4

114.3

.2
.1
.6
1.0
.6

1.1
0.6
1.4
1.9
1.3

123.0
113.1
115.7
109.8
115.7

Cltlaa prload monthly j/
Chicago • •
Datroit
Loa AngeleaBaw YorkFhlladelphla-

-

Cltlaa prload In January, April,
July, October
2/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, OregonCltlaa prload In March, June,
September, December
2/
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco

-

citles prload In February, May,
August, November
2/
Cleveland
Houston--Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

-

July
1960

Year

1939
61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

October
1959

n

.8
.1
.2

1939

June
1960

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

.6
.3
.2
.2
.5

1.5
.9
1.0
.8
1.7

1939

May
1960

August
1959

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

.2
.8
.2
.1
.1

1.3
1.0
.5
.7
1.0

Tear

Year

-

1939

1.9
1.0
1.6
1.7
.7

.3

-

Year

111.6
107.8
111.7
122.0
118.2

September
1959

Year

1939
119.4
122.3
113.7
114.8
127.0
Year

1939
115.2
111.9
108.2
119.3
104.0

2/ Banta prload blaonthly*
U foods, fuels, and a few othar lteas prload aoathlys renta and other ccanoditiea and serrioes prload quarterly.

TABIS 31

ill
itaaa

City
Ifalted Stataa elty average—

Detroit

Philadelphia




Conauaer Pidoa Index—Bwoent changes tram September 1960 to October 1960
U.S. city average and five cltlaa prload Monthly
All lteas and caaaodlty groups

—

rood

0.4

0.6

.2
.2
.4
.5
.4

.4
.6
.4
.6
.7

Housing

-

-

Apparal

Tranapcrtation

Hsdlcal
oare

0.2

0.4

1.0

0.3

.1
.2
.4
.5
.1

.1
.2
.3
.3
.7

1.3
0.1
.8
.8
1.7

1.1
.1
1.2
- .1
0

Personal
care
0.1
-

.1
.1
.6
.5
0

PttfVng
and
recreation
- 0.2
-

.1
.6
.1

- 1.2

Othar
good* k
wwwices
0
0
0.1
.1
.1
.1

TABIC 4s Consuner Prioe Index—All items and ocnsoAity groupe
October 1960 indexes and percent changes, July 1960 to October 1960

5

U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in
U.S.
City
Average

Group

Boston

Chicago Detroit Kansas
City

Los
MinneaAngeles polis

New
York

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Portland,
Oregon

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
All items

127.3

129 .1

130 .7

125 .7

128.2

130.3

128 .5

126 .1

127.7

129.0

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

120.9
118.2
138.5
110.0
118.4
124.8
112.0

. 120.3
117 .1
134 .8
110 .4
115 .7
123 .4
108 .7

118 .6
116 .0
132 .2
104 .0
122 .4
121 .1
117 .9

119 .6
117 .0
128 .5
105 .2
118 .0
128 .8
112 .0

113.9
110.9
131.9
102.6
111.7
115.7
104.8

127.0
121.1
152.8
109.1
116.0
137.3
109.8

119 .7
116 .6
134 .6
104 .3
109 .9
132 .3
118 .2

123 .2
119 .7
148 .4
111 .3
122 .4
121 .1
112 .2

124.0
120.6
140.1
109.4
124.2
129.9
112.1

122.6
121.3
121.0
118.4
138.4
141.3
111.3
109.7
120.3 , 123.2
120.8
122.9
111.6
123.2

140 .9
156 .9
118 .3
140 .7
103 .9
136 .1

141 .0

129.5
144.3
5/132.1
134.7
102.4
139.5

102.5
128.1

130 .2
157 .7
136 .4
133 .0
96 .4
137 .5

130 .9
135 .8
122 .1
139 .4
106 .1
139 .0

125.6

130 .0
143 .1
102,.1
139,.6

127 .3
141 .7
116 .9
127 .3
109 .8
125 .6

139.2

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

132.2
142.5
125.7
136.1
104.0
138.1

106.7
122.4
111.0
143.5

133.2
135.4
145.2
135.1
107.7
151.5

131.4
138.9
104.6
141.8
102.1
133.1

111.0
112.2
101.8
140.5
93.9

108 .8
107 .0
102 .3
134 .2
101 .8

114,.0
118,.1
101,.5
145,.4
98,.1

108,.2
110,.5
98,.0
136,.4
86,.9

108.7
113.0
99.0
133.7
90.2

112.0
115.1
102.4
141.5
85.7

110,.7
111,.3
104,.6
135,.4
90,.4

109 .9
112,.8
98 .8
141,.5
98,.0

112.2
112.6
103.6
140.9
97.4

107.5
107.4
97.4
137.5
101.2

115.3
116.9
104.1
147.8
101.1

146.1
134.1
202.6

149 .5
142 9
169 1

157,.7
138,.2
206,,9

139,.4
131,.8
180,.6

155.1
140.3
258.1

142.6
135.9
187.2

133,,0
125,.2
199,.2

147,.1
128,.2
192,.4

155.3
135.3
194.3

164.2
135.0
257.9

138.2
131.0
200.1

157.3
134.0
121,9
132.7

163,.3
135,,5
127,.1
127,.4

2/168.5
138,.1
125,.2
122,,8

162,,7
140,,8
119,.5
140..1

174.4
135.7
138.2
125.5

154.3
135.1
103.0
135.4

3/211.5
135,,9
130..0
134.,2

143,.8
125,.1
126..7
133..5

161.7
4/144.6
~122.2
132.6

170.2
128.7
112.4
132.6

151.4
133.9
126.0
130.3

0.1

- 0.2

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

—

Transportation —
Private- — — — —
Public

,

—
—-

Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

- -

Percent change from
All itens

0.6

Food

Food at kflM — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products — - — —
—
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at bom
Housing — — — — — —
Rent — — — — — —
Oas and electricity — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
lousefurnishlngs — —
Household operation

— —
— —
— —
—

Apparel lien's and boys'

V a m b ' i and girls'

—
—

.2
.3
.7
- .7
2.2
- 7.1
6.9

—

—

—

Public

1/
2/
3/
4/
5A

0.6

.8
.,9
•.2
,6
4.,9
-14.,0
6.,7

0
.2
.5
- 1.4
.4
- 6.0
5.9

.3
.3
3.1
- 1.3
1.7
- 4.2
4.2

,7
,8
,1
8
2. 7
- 5.,8
8.,5

1,,1
1.,4
1.,2
- 1.3
4. 2
- 3.,7
8.,3

.7
.8
.9
- 3.0
2.8
- 2.6
7.4

0
4.5
.4
5

,3
I/- •,1
,6
1.5
5
1

.3
.1
- 2.4
2.2
.5
0

7
1
0
4.2
—
4. 1
2
1.
- .7 .
0
- .5

1. 1
1/ 0.8
1. 2
2. 2
8
8

8
9
5
I! 7
- •1

1.9
1.6
2.9
2
1. 2

-

.1

-

1
2

i.2
i.3
6
•

.9
- 1.3
7
•

-

.1
1.1
.6
.4
.2
.4

-

#3
.1
6
1

,4

-

7
2.0
1
1. 1
1

—

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

1.,0

,6
- .,7
,6
.8
- ,7
- ,3
,4
4.,9
-11.,0 . -10.,9
6,,4
7.,1

-

-

-

July 1960 to October 1960

0.,8

_

1.7
1.8
2.4
.5
.9

—

hlmte"*v"<*MMmkMMMaHH>MMM

..2

—

0.6

- 0.,1

6
1.,8
,5
2.,0
1. 1
1

Footwear — — — — — — — —
Other apparel — — — — —
transportation

,1

-

147.6

i.1
.1
.1
2

-

-

6
• 1'
.2
1

-

-

.5
1.8 .
.3'
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1

-

.3
.1
.7
.1

1.1
—

.6
1.3
.7
- .1
- .5
-

.1
.1
.4
1.2
.4
.5
1.2

Change from August 1960 to October 1960.
Revised indexes: July I960 « 166.6; August 1960 « 166.7; September 1960 » 166.7.
Revised index: July 1960 = 213.6.
Revised index: September 1960 = 144.6.
Revised indexes: January.1960 = 132.3; April I960 - 132.6; July 1960 - 135.3.




—

0.2

_

.7
.5
.7
2.4
- .1
.5

—
—

0.,2

0.,3

_

—

127.2

.2
.5
0
.9
.4
.2

1.8
1.3
3.2
- .7
1.2

1.3
1.7
.5

-

5
•
.1
1.1
1.3
2

.2
.3
- 1.1
.1

.2

.

3

-

.2
.3
.2
0
.6
.1

.2
—

4.3
1.9
7.8
.3
2.5

4

- 1.0
- .7
5.0
1

.3
.5
.1
- 2.7
.6
- 4.5
4.0

-

2.1
3. 2
2.4
3
1. 2

•3

.4
.4
1.0
- 1.0
2.1
-11.5
7.6

0
3.2
.4
0

2.6
5
5.9
4
1.6

•4

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

.5
.5
.8
.3
.9

.4
.7
.7

- 1.7
- 2.0
.5

.3
0
.4
0

1.1
- 1.0
- .6
- .1

6
TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
October 1960 indexes and percent changes, September 1960 to October 1960
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49-100)
Total m
food at hone

Total food
City
Index | Percent
change

U.S. city average

—

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dfetroit
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh — .
Portland, Oreg.
St. Louis
San Francisco
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

--

Index

Percent
change

Index

120.9

0.6

118 2

0. 7

138.5

118, 7
121.0
120.,3
118,,6
122.,6
117.,0
119.,6
116.,2
113.,9
127..0

.4
.7
- .1
.4
1.1
.7
.6
.3
.7
.4

117 2
117 0
117.,1
116.,0
119.,8
114.,2
117.,0
113.,0
110.,9
121,,1

6
9
1
4
1 2
1 0
8
3
7
4

126.,1
135.,6
134.,8
132.,2
136.,3
132. 5
128.,5
128.,1
131.,9
152.,8.

119.,7
123.,2
124.0
122.6
121,,3
120,.2
125,,0
117,.0
123,.3
121,.6

.9
.6
.7
.6
.2
1.1
- .2
.9
.1
.7

116,,6
119,,7
120,,6
121,,0
118,,4
115,.3
121..9
115,.4
120,.6
119,.3

3
7
9
7
2
1 2
1
1 1
2
8

134.,6
148.,4
140..1
138,,4
141.,3
126,.0
152,.5
135,,7
150,A
138,.5

TABLE 6:

Food and unit
Cereals and bakery products:
Flour, wheat
5 ib.
Biscuit mix
20 oz.
Macaroni
16 0 X m
Corn meal — - - —
^
Rolled oats
13 ax.
Corn flakes
•- 12
Rice, short grain
ib.
Rice, long grain
lb.
Bread, white
1*,.
Soda crackers
ib.
Vanilla cookies
7 «z.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak
ib.
Sirloin steak
lb.
Chuck roast -lb.
Rib roast
ib.
Hamburger lb.
Veal cutlets —
«...
Pork chops, center cut
la.
Pork roast
lb.
Bacon, sliced
•
— ib.
Ham, whole
lb.
Lamb, leg
r©.
Frankfurters —
---- i0.
Luncheon meat, canned -12 oz.
Frying chickens} ready-to-cook - ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
--lb.
Salmon, pink, canned
16
Tuna fish, canned
-- 6 t»
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery) —
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt .
Ice cream -£ gal.
Butter
—
15.
Cheese, American process ----- £ ib.
Milk, evaporated
cu
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries
3.0
Orange juice concentrate
6 or.
Leiaonade concentrate
6 n,
Peas, green----— - - 10 #z«
Beans, green
9
Potatoes, french fried
-- 9
Fresh:
Apples -------..............
i^..
Bananas
Oranges, size 200 ------•-•>----d»«.
Lemons
ib.
*

Priced only in season.




Cereals and
bakery products

-

1

-

Percent
change

keats, poultry,
and fish

Dairy
products

Fruits and
vegetables

Other "
foods at hone

Index

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

110,,0

- 0.,2

118.,4

0.,8

124.8

0. 2

112.,0

2.5

1 113,,6
1 110,,8
3 110,,4
1. 1 104,,0
1 113,.4
3 106,,3
,2 105,.2
.,4 103,.3
6 102,.6
2'.,8 109,.1

1.,1
1.,3
- 1.,3
,3
,4
,2
,5
- 1..5
,,4
- 1..5

117.,2
116.,6
115.,7
122.,4
118.,1
109,,7
118.,0
115.,5
111.,7
116,,0

,3
0
,4
,1
1,,0
,5
,7
,3
.2
.3

130. 7 - 3.,3
119.9
,4
123.4
,7
121. 1 - 2.,5
127.,6
,9
118.,8
1.,7
128.,8
,9
124.,6
,4
115.,7
1.,0
137.,3
1.,0

107.,1
111.,7
108.,7
117.,9
115.,6
113.,7
112.,0
106,.4
104,.8
109,.8

3.3
2.1
1.1
3.1
3.7
2.0
2.6
2.9
2.5
0.7

- ,,5

118,.2
112,.2
112,.1
123,.2
111,.6
118,.8
107,.3
110,.6
107 .6
116,.2

3.5
2.9
1.8
3.1
1.4
3.7
- .4
3.0
- .3

0. 5

,1
,2
,1
,2
.2
,1
1,,1
,1
1,,5
,1

-,
-,

104,.3
111,.3
109,,4
111,.3
109,.7
104,.9
116,.8
109,.5
113 .0
108 .1

-,
_

- ,>5
- ,.9
- .4
.9
,9

-

0
.1
.3
- 1,.0
.7

109,.9
122,,4
124,,2
120,.3
123,.2
106,.7
120,.7
113,.4
120,.1
122,.4

_

.4
1,.7

2,.6
.6
.5
.4
0

.4
.3
.6

Index

Percent
change

- .

132.,3
121..1
129,,9
122,.9
120,.8
130,.6
130,,4
115,.3
130,.5
122,.7

4,.8
1,.5

.2
.2
2,.0
- 1,.2
1,.7
1,.4
•.3

Percent
change

Index

1

2,4

Average retail prices of selected foods
Consumer Price Index
U.S. city average
October
1960
Cents
55.7
26.8
23.1
13.1
22.1
25.9

September
1960
Cents

20.6

55.3
26.8
22.9
13.1
22.1
25.9
18.5
20.4

28.9
24.5

29.0
24.5

104.9
107.4
59.3
81.3
51.6
140.6
91.1
65.4
68.7
61.0
73.1
62.7
50.2
41.0
47.4
55.2
67.5
32.5

104.8
108.4

25.0
26.4
86.4
76.1
34.8
15.8

24.9
26.3
86.2
75.0
34.2
15.8

26.9
22.7
13.3
20.2
23.0
19,7

26.8
22.1
13.1
20.1
22.9
19.8

13.9
16.4
87.5
20.6

15.4
15.8
84.4
19.8

18.6

20.8

20.6

59.9

81.0
51.7
140.9
90.1
63.7
68.9
60.4
73.3
62.7
50.2
42.2
47.2
55.1
66.5
32.7

Food and unit

Fresh--Continued
Grapefruit *
eaoh
Peaches *
--- lb.
Strawberries *
pt.
Grapes, seedless *
lb.
Watermelons *
lb.
Potatoes
10 lb.
Sweet potatoes -- lb.
Onions
- lb.
Carrots
- lb.
Lettuce
hftftd
Celery
—
Cabbage
- lb.
Tomatoes
lb.
Beans, green
lb.
Canned:
Orange juice
46-*z. ®a*
Pineapple juice ---- 45 l t (
Peaches
oax
Pineapple
#2 « m
Fruit cocktail
#303 •«»
Corn, cream style ---04a
Peas, green
^303 « u
Tomatoes
^303 •«»
Tomato juice
46 ®z. *%,%
Baby foods-t» 5 »z.
Dried:
Prunes
lb.
Beans
j;.,t
Other foods at home:
Tomato soup — - io£ U ll-#z. earn
Beans,with pork------ 15-«x. earn
Pickles, sliced
15
Catsup, tomato
14 » s ,
Potato chips
—•- 4 eZt
Coffee --•
--- lb. ess
Coffee ---lh>
Tea bags ------------- pkfrs ,f 15
Cola drink, carton ------- 35 # z #
Shortening, hydroger.ated — 3 ib.
Margarine, colored
Lard
—
v^ ;
Salad dressing —
Peanut butter
r^.
Sugar
Corn syrup
24 *%
Grape jelly —
1 2 mz<t
Chocolate bar ------------ \ s
Eggs, Grade A, large ------ d«
Gelatin, flavored
3 t® 4 •

October
1960
Cents

September
1960
Cents

18.9

17.4
17.1

24.0

21.9

64.4
12.8
8.6
14.3
16.5
13.4
7.8

66.2
14.3
9.3
14.8
17.3
14.0
7.9
19.3

22.0
21.6

42.5
32.5
33.5
38.1
21.0
19.5
21.4

21.0

32.1
10.5

42.4
32.6
33.5
38.2
27.1
19.4
21.2
16.0
32.1
10.2

39.8
16.5

39.7
16.5

12.4
14.8
26.5
22.7
27.2
74.5
59.0
24.5
30.2
82.8
26.9
19.7
35,9
55.5
59.4
26.7
28.9
5.0
69.9

12.4
14.9
26.4
22.7
27.3
74.7
57.4
24.5
30.1
82.7
26.9
19.7
35.9
55.6
59.2
26.7
29.0
5.1
63.0
9.3

16.0

S.3

7
Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
service^ usually 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
cities which were chosen to represent all urban places in the
United States; they axe 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
k6 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Mail questionnaires are used
to obtain local transit fares, public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and
certain other items which change in price infrequently. Prices of most other goods and
services 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 19^7-^9 « 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
Sandpo int, 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 and historical tables of index numbers for the
United States city average and for 20 large cities are available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics In Washington or any of its regional offices (addresses below).
The historical tables 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 1935 to date.
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
1371 Peachtree
Street, N. E.
Zone 9




New York
3^1 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10

LABOR - D. C.