Full text of CPI Detailed Report : October 1962

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

Released November 28, 1962
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR OCTOBER 1 9 6 2

The Consumer Price Index receded slightly from its September peak,
with a decline of 0.1 percent in October, the United States Department of Labor's
Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today. Lower meat prices were primarily responsible for the decline. The Consumer Price Index for October, at 106.0 percent of the
1957-59 average (130.1 on the former base of 1947-49=100), was 1.3 percent higher than
a year earlier, mostly because of price increases for food and services.
FOOD

Food prices fell 0.5 percent between September and October 1962,
largely because of a more than seasonal decline of 2.2 percent in
meat prices, as farmers resumed unrestricted marketing of livestock. Prices dropped
for all cuts of beef and pork, particularly fresh pork cuts, bacon, chuck roast,
sirloin steak, and rib roast.
Fruit and vegetable prices were lower seasonally. Prices of apples
and lettuce were off sharply, but prices of oranges and tomatoes advanced. Prices of
dairy products, cereals and bakery products, and most other foods rose slightly over
the month.
Since October 1961, food prices have risen by 1.8 percent, led by
advances for meats, poultry, and fish (4.6 percent); fruir« and vegetables, (2.6 percent); and cereals and bakery products (2.2 percent).
OTHER GOODS
AND SERVICES

Transportation costs rose 0.3 percent this October, largely because
automobile dealers offered smaller discounts on the new 1963 models
than on the olutgoing 1962 cars. Prices of automobile insurance and
tires were also higher, while prices of used cars and gasoline declined*

Apparel prices were up 0.3 percent, as higher prices were reported
for men's suits, slacks, work clothing, and under-wear, women's coats, suits, and
nylon hose; and girls' cotton dresses.
A decline of 0.5 percent in the reading and recreation group index
was due mainly to reductions in movie admission charges following the showing of
special features, although prices of radios and television sets were also slightly
lower.
Mousing costs edged up 0.1 percent, with advances of 0.2 percent for
rent and 1.1 percent for solid and petroleum fuels.
Medical care prices averaged 0.2 percent higher in October as
increases for physicians' fees, hospital rooms, and hospitalization insurance more than
offset declines for prescriptions and drugs. The personal care index also rose slightly
over the month as price increases for barber and beauty shop services outweighed
declines for toilet goods.
COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS

Wages of 985,000 workers will be increased by 1 cent an hour based
on the rise in the index over the quarter ended in October. Of
these, 780,000 are in the automobile and automobile parts industries
(the majority at General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., and Chrysler Corp.), 110,000 are
in the farm equipment industry, and most of the remainder are employed by the aerospace
industry and a variety of metal-working firms. Increases of 2-4 cents an hour will go
to 11,000 other workers as a result of quarterly, semiannual, or annual reviews using
the national index.




2

TABLE 1: Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, October 1962
and percent changea from selected datea
(1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)
Indexes
(1957-59-100)

Indexea

Percent change to
October 1962 from —

1947-49-100

1939-100

October
1962

October
1962

Group
October
1962

September
1962

September
1962

July
1962

October
1961

106.0

106.1

-0.1

0.5

1.3

130.1

218.9

104.3
102.9
108.0
104.1
104.3
102.0
98.1
111.8

104.8
103.5
107.9
106.3
104.2
102.2
97.8
111.5

- .5
- .6
.1
-2.1
.1
- .2
.3
.3

.5
.5
.1
3.3
.8
-7.2
4.3
.8

1.8
1.7
2.2
4.6
- .8
2.6
-1.3
2.9

123.1
119.6
143.2
114.8
118.1
126.1
108.4
(l/>

261.4
253.9
250.2
276.2
237.0
272.4
224.0
(1/)

105.0
106.1
108.0
102.4
98.8
107.6

104.9
105.9
108.0
101.3
98.7
107.6

.1
.2
0
1.1
.1
0

.2
.4
0
2.7
- .2
.1

.9
1.2
.2
.9
- .7
1.3

133.9
145.9
125.9
139.6
102.9
141.1

175.9
168.4
120.0
247.4
192.6
206.2

104.9
104.2
104.0
109.6
101.6

104.6
104.0
103.6
109.5
101.2

.3
.2
.4
.1
.4

1.9
1.0
3.6
.4
.8

1.0
1.0
.9
1.3
.5

112.5
113.3
103.3
143.6
93.6

214.3
223.1
189.5
285.4
230.4

108.1
106.9
116.0

107.8
106.7
115.7

.3
.2
.3

1.2
1.4
.3

1.3
1.0
3.1

152.3
139.3
216.0

216.9
212.7
265.6

114.9

114.7

.2

.3

2.3

166.0

228.8

Personal care

106.9

106.8

.1

.1

2.2

136.9

229.9

Reading and r e c r e a t i o n — — — — — — —

109.5

110.0

- .5

- .5

1.1

126.8

201.3

105.6

105.6

0

0

.6

134.5

190.7

All itess less food

106.7

106.6

.1

.6

1.1

133.8

193.7

All items less shelter

106.1

106.1

0

.7

1.3

127.7

230.6

104.0
104.4
104.3
104.6
104.8
103.8
104.5
102.0
102.5
119.4
98.6

104.1
104.7
104.8
104.6
104.5
103.5
104.6
101.6
100.4
120.5
98.6

- .1
- .3
- .5
0
.3
.3
- .1
.4
2.1
- .9
0

.9
.9
.5
1.3
1.9
2.3
1.0
.5
1.4
2.0
- .1

1.1
1.4
1.8
.8
1.1
.9
.8
.3
-1.3
5.8
- .4

120.1
122.6
123.1
122.5
112.3
106.8
131.4
113.0
137.8
(1/)
101.7

232.9
238.5
261.4
208.6
215.6
Q/>
199.3
197.2
241.6
(1/)
177.4

103.6

103.4

.2

1.1

.6

117.7

198.0

109.8
106.1
110.5

109.8
105.9
110.5

0
.2
0

0
.4
0

1.7
1.2
1.7

155.9
145.9
158.3

193.8
168.4
215.5

108.7
110.8
117.8
109.1

108.6
110.5
117.5
109.3

.1
.3
.3
- .2

.1
- .8
.5
0

1.1
.7
3.1
1.9

142.6
191.5
175.8
140.8

163.9
239.0
249.3
241.5

$0,943

$0,943

'0

- .5

-1.4

$0,769

$0,456

All items

—

Cereals and bakery p r o d u c t s — — — —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Fruits and vegetables-----Food away from

-------

h o m e — — — — — —

Rent-——
Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y — — — — — — —
Solid and petroleum f u e l s — — — — — —

Men's and b o y s ' — — — — — — — —
Women's and g i r l s ' — — — — — — —
F o o t w e a r — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Other apparel
TransportationPrivate
Public-

------

Special groups:

Food
Apparel leaa f o o t w e a r — — — —
Nondurables less food and a p p a r e l D u r a b l e s — — — — — — — — — — — — —
New c a r s — —
Durables less cars

Rent
—
Services lass r e n t —
Household operation services, gas,
and e l e c t r i c i t y — — — — — —
Transportation services--------Medical care services
—
Other services V---------------------Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(Reference period-$1.00)

-

1/ Not available.
2/ Includes house purchasa, interest, taxas, insurance, and upkaap, not shown separately.
3/ Includes house purchase, Interest, taxas, insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repairs, television repaira, barber
and beauty shop services, and aovles.




TABU 2 s Consumer Price Index—All items indexes and peroent changea, eeleoted dates
U.S. city average and 20 large oltlea

3

(1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)

Indexes
(1957-59=100)
October
1962

City
Halted States city average-

July
1962

Percent change to
October 1962 f r o m —
October
1961

July
1962

Indexes
1947-4W0C 1939-100

October
1961

October
1962

October
1962

106.0

105.5

104.6

0.5

1.3

130.1

218.9

105.0
102.8
107.2
107.2
105.8

104.5
101.9
106.8
106.4
105.3

104.1
101.7
105.5
105.3
104.8

.5
.9
.4
.8
.5

.9
1.1
1.6
1.8
1.0

132.4
126.8
133.7
129.2
129.9

226.0
214.8
221.3
214.9
219.5

October
1961

July
1962

October
1962

October
1962

105.4
104.6
104.4
105.0
104.6

.9
1.0
.2
.3
.5

134.1
132.5
131.0
131.0
130.5

219.8
214.7
216.0
225.5
223.8

Cities priced monthly j/
ChioagoDetrolt
Loe AngelesSew XorkPhiladelphiaCitiea priced in January, April, July,
October 2/

October
1962
108.2
107.1
105.9
106.3
105.3

Boston
----Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, OregonCitiee priced in March, June, September,
December 2/
Atlanta
Baltimore-—————
Cincinnati—
St. Louis
San F r a n c i s c o — - -

— —
—
—

— — —

Citiea priced in February, May, August,
November

2}

Cleveland-—Houston
—
Scranton
SeattleWashington, D . C.

—
—

107.2
106.0
105.7
106.0
104.8

October
1961
2.7
2.4
1.4
1.2
.7

September
1962
104.7
106.0
104.3
105.6
107.5

June
1962
104.0
104.8
103.3
104.4
107.5

September
1961
103.6
104.4
103.0
104.1
106.3

June
1962
.7
1.1
1.0
1.1
0

September
1961
1.1
1.5
1.3
1.4
1.1

September
1962
129.6
131.5
126.9
131.0
136.4

September
1962
222.4
227.2
217.4
221.0
232.9

August
1962

May
1962

August
1961

May
1962

August
1961

August
1962

August
1962

103.6
102.5
104.2
104.9
104.0

.3
- .1
.3
.4
.6

128.9
128.9
126.5
134.1
3/ 126.2

217.9
216.5
216.2
226.6
3/ 208.8

103.8
104.6
106.0
106.7
3/ 104.8

—

July
1962

103.5
104.7
105.7
106.3
104.2

.2
2.0
1.7
1.7
.8

2/ Bents priced bimonthly.
2/ Foods, fuels, and a fev othe~ items priced monthly) rents and other commodities and services priood quarterly*
3/ Revised.

TABUS 3 s Consumer Price Index—Bsroent changes from September 1962 to October 1962

U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and oemmodity groups

City
Baited States city averageChicago •••
Detroit
lev Tork
Philadelphia




All
items

Food

-0.1

-0.5

- .2
0
0
- .1
- .2

-

.9
.1
.3
.7
0

Prilling
Msdioal Personal
and
oare
recreation
oare

Other
goods *
services

Apparel

Transportation

0.1

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.1

-0.5

0

.1
- .2
.1
.2
- .2

- .1
- .1
- .1
.6
0

.1
.7
.8
.5
- .5

.8
0
.1
- .3
- .2

.2
- .1
- .1
1.1
- .8

.1
.9
.2
.2
.6

-0.1
0
- .3
.7
- .1

-

4

TABLE 4: Consumer Price Index—All items and commodity groups
October 1962 indexes and percent changes, July 1962 to October 1962
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in October 1962
U.S.
City
Boston Chicago Detroit Kansas
Average
City

Group

MinneaLos
Angeles polis

New
York

Philadelphia

Pitts- Portland
Oregon
burgh

Indexes (1957-59=100)
106.0

108.2

105.0

102.8

107.1

107.2

105.9

107.2

105.8

106.3

105.3

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

104.3
102.9
108.0
104.1
104.3
102.0
98.1

105.7
103.7
108.3
106.7
99.3
105.7
98.6

105.7
105.0
108.7
107.3
110.6
99.7
100,0

101.5
100.6
104.8
101.8
107.0
93.9
97.6

104.5
103.9
108.5
103.5
108.2
102.5
100.4

105.6
103.5
116.7
101.0
106.7
106.8
93.4

101.5
99.9
101.0
101.5
102.4
96.7
98.0

106.3
103.7
108.5
104.8
104.3
103.9
97.9

104.8
103.3
105.1
102.5
104.7
107.4
98.6

102.8
102.4
107.1
107.1
99.7
98.0
99.2

104.5
103.0
10k .6
105.7
106.9
103.3
96.4

Housing

105.0
106.1
108.0
102.4
98.8
107.6

109.7
115.7
103.9
100.6
100.1
11'2.0

103.5

105.5
103.2
109.3
112.4
97.9
111.4

106.3

108.1
112.1
105.4
101.0
103.2
108.9

102.7
98.9
97.5
114.6

106.4
106 n
111.7

99.4
104.1

103.4
106.0
104.0
103.1
96.8
103.8

104.3

106.3
104.7
100.8
106.2

97.8
94.6
105.2
99.9
97.9
103.1

101.7
112.8

104.7
104.5
102.5
105.0
95.0
107.8

Apparel
Men's 1 and boys'
Women s and girIs'
Footwear
Other apparel

104.9
104.2
104.0
109.6
101.6

105.3
101.9
106.6
109.2
101.1

102.4
102.6
99.9
108.9
99.5

105.3
102.9
105.9
109.3
102.3

104.7
105.0
102.9
112.2
98.5

104.4
104.6
104.0
108.4
99.5

103.2
104.8
100.9
109.6
97.0

105.6
105.3
104.4
111.4
101.2

106.8
104.6
107.9
109.9
103.6

101.6
101.9
98.0
110.5
99.4

104.3
106.1
101.5
110.5
99.0

Transportation-Private
Public
-

108.1
106.9
116.0

110.0
103.7
131.6

106.7
106.6
107.9

105.8
104.1
114.4

109.4
109.0
111.8

113.5
109.6
140.4

110.0
108.9
117.9

105.6
107.3
100.8

109.2
108.2
113.1

111.0
106.6
125.9

104.8
103.6
112.5

Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

114.9
106.9
109.5
105.6

113.4
107.5
118.1
101.7

118.7
107.1
100.6
101.0

114.8
106.3
106.0
109.1

114.2
111.9
112.5

114.1
103.0
103.6
105.7

129.1
107.0
112.8
104.4

114.6
106.2
110.2
104.8

120.4
105.2
99.6
104.3

123.2
102.8
108.4
105.2

109.8
110.0
110.5
103.8

All items

Gas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
Housefurnishings
Household operation

111.0

115.5

Percent charige from July 1962 to October 1962
0.5

0.9

0.5

0.9

1.0

0.4

0.2

0.8

0.5

0.3

0.5

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

.5
.5
.1
3.3
.8
-7.2
4.3

1.3
1.4
.2
4.2
1.3
-4.9
4.0

0

.3
.3
- .2
4.4
.8
-10.7
4.7

.8
.9
.4
4.8
- .1
-8.1
5.5

.6
.7
-1.4
2.9
.1
-3.9
4.6

- 1.0
- 1.2
- 3.2
2.6
- .2
-12.8
5.2

1.4
1.4
- .3
3.3
2.0
-3.8
4.1

1.0
1.0
- .7
2.7
2.3
-3.0
2.2

.4
.5
.6
3.1
2.5
-9.5
4.0

.9
1.2
.3
3.9
1.9
-6.3
4.2

Housing
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
Housefurnishings
Household operation

.2
.4
0
2.7
- .2
.1

.8
.8
0
.7
.5
.7

.1
0
0
0
- .4
.3

.2
- .1

.3
1/ .4
0
1.9
- .2
0

0
2.0
- .6
0

.2
0
.1

- .1
.2

.2
0
0
4.5
.2
- .2

- .2

.1
3.9
0
1.0

.1
.3
7
2.7
.2
- .4

.3
- .3

.8
.5
0
5.0
- .9
.1

1.9
1.0
3.6
.4
.8

1.4
.5
2.5
0
1.3

1.1
.7
2.4
- .5
.3

1.1
.1
1.8
1.2
.6

4.6
1.4
9.4
.6
1.7

1.7
1.2
2.9
.5
.4

2.7
1.4
3.7
3.9
1.7

2.8
.7
5.8
.3
1.4

3.0
.4
6.2
.4
.9

.4
- .3
1.2
0
- .8

2.3
1.6
3.6
.7
1.6

1.2
1.4
.3

1.1
1.7
0

2.5
3.1
0

5.8
7.1
0

3.9
4.6
0

.5
.6
0

3.1
3.5
0

.3
.3
0

.2
.3
0

.2
.1
0

-1.0
-1.2
0

.3
.1
- .5
0

.4
.4
1.8
- .1

.8
0
- .3
- .8

.1
- 1.1
- .8
.1

.1
0
- .1
.2

- .1
- .3
.3
- .7

.5
0
- 1.9
0

- .1
1.5
- .8
.8

- .1
-2.0
0
0

.7
- .6
.2
.1

.4
.6
-2.7
.1

All items

Apparel
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel
Transport at ion
Private
Public
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

1/ Change from August 1962 to October 1962.




0
-1.5
3.6

.1

-9.4
4.4

.5

1/-

-

5

City

TABLE 5: C o u w c r Pries Index—Food and its subgroups
October 1962 Indexes and percent changes, September 1962 to October 1962
U.S. city average and 20 large cItlea
(1957-59-100)
Dairy
Cereals and
Meats, poultry,
Total
Total food
bakery producti
products
and fish
Percent
Percent
Percent
Index
Index
Index
Index
change
change
change
change
change

JttBfc

U. S. city average--

104.3

102.9

A t l a n t a — — — —
Baltimore-—
—
Boston
—
Chicago
Cincinnati——
Cleveland———
D e t r o i t — — — —
Houston——————
Kansas City
Los A n g e l e s —

103.9
104.2
105.7
105.7
103.0
101.7
101.5
103.6
104.5
105.6

103.4
101.4
103.7
105.0
101.9
100.4

Minneapolis——
Mew York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.
St. Louis
—
San Francisco------S c r a n t o n — — — —
Seattle——————
Washington, D . C.---

101.5
106.3
104.8
102.8
104.5
103.8
105.6
104.1
105.9
103.4

.3
.7
.4

TABLE 6:
Food and unit
Cereals and bakery products:
Flour, w h e a t — — — — — — 5 lb.
Biscuit m i x — — — — — — 4 0 oz.
M a c a r o n i - — — — — — — — 1 6 or.
Corn m e a l — — — — — — l b .
Rolled o a t s — — — — — — — 1 8 o z .
Corn f l a k e s — — — — — — — 1 2 oz.
Rice, short grain
lb.
Rice, long g r a i n — — — — — — l b .
Bread, white
.——lb.
Soda c r a c k e r s — — — — — — — l b .
Sandwich c o o k i e s — — — — — — 1 6 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round s t e a k — — — — — — — — l b .
Sirloin s t e a k — — — — — — l b .
Chuck r o a s t — — — — — — — — l b .
Rib roast
lb.
Hamburger———————————lb.
Veal c u t l e t s — — —
lb.
Pork chops, center c u t — - - — l b .
Pork r o a a t - — — — — — — — — l b .
Bacon, s l i c e d — — — — — — — l b .
Han, w h o l e - — — — — — — l b .
L a ^ , leg
lb.
Frankfurtera—
— — — — — — l b .
Luncheon swat, c a n n e d — - - - - 1 2 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook-lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, f r o z e n — l b .
Haddock, fillet, f r o z e n — — l b .
Salmon, pink, c a n n e d — - — - 1 6 oz.
Tuna fish, c a n n e d — — 6 to 6% oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, ( g r o c e r y ) — — — q t .
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice c r e a m — — — — — — — % gal.
B u t t e r — — — — — — — l b .
Cheese, American process
% lb.
Milk, e v a p o r a t e d — — — 1 4 % oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
S t r a w b e r r i e s — — — — 1 0 oz.
Orange juice c o n c e n t r a t e — 6 o z .
Lemonade c o n c e n t r a t e — — — 6 oz.
Peas, g r e e n — — — — — — 1 0 oz.
Beans, g r e e n — — — — 9 oz.
Potatoes, french f r i e d — - 9 oz.
Fresh:
A p p l e s — — — — — — — l b .
B a n a n a s — — — — — — — — l b .
Oranges, size 200---dor.
lb.

*

Other
fooda at hose
Percent
Index
change

108.0

0.1

104.1

-2.1

104.3

0.1

102.0

-0.2

98.1

104.8
107.9
108.3
108.7
109.7
104.1
104.8
105.7
108.5
116.7

.6
0
.1
-1.9
.3

- .5
0

104.0
102.5
106.7
107.3
103.2
104.3
101.8
102.5
103.5
101.0

-2.3
-2.0
.1
-2.7
-2.8
-2.8
-2.0
-1.3
-3.3
-1.1

102.8
98.8
99.3
110.6
101.3
99.5
107.0
100.0
108.2
106.7

.6
.1
.2
.2
- .1

101.0
103.9
103.5

- .6
- .5
- .3
-1.1
-1.0
-1.1
- .1
- .9
- .9
- .3

102.5
100.8
105.7
99.7
101.9
99.1
93.9
103.2
102.5
106.8

-1.9
- .4
-1.0
-1.3
-1.5
-1.2
.5
-1.0
.1
.4

103.1
98.9
98.6
100.0
96.5
95.0
97.6
95.6
100.4
93.4

99.9
103.7
103.3
102.4
103.0
102.1
103.4
102.9
103.4
102.1

-1.2
- .8
0
- .8
- .3
-1.1
.3
.1
- .9
.5

101.0
108.5
105.1
107.1
104.6
106.1
106.4
109.2
107.2
109.0

- .4
- .1
.4
.2
- .3
0
- .2
.5
.1
- .1

101.5
104.8
102.5
107.1
105.7
104.4
104.1
104.7
105.6
102.4

-2.3
-2.3
-2.7
-1.7
- .9
-3.2
- .6
-1.2
-2.0
-1.2

102.4
104.3
104.7
99.7
106.9
102.3
106.8
101.5
106.4
103.0

96.7
103.9
107.4
98.0
103.3
100.7
107.7
100.1
102.9
99.8

-

100.6

-1.0
- .7
0
- .6
- .3
- .4

Fruits and
vegetables
Percent
Index
change

.2

.2

.2

.2

.4
-2.3
.3
- .1
-2.8
.4
2.7
0
.2
.9

1.0

- .2
0
2.4

.1
.1
3.4

-1.1

- .3
-1.3
1.4
2.7
- .9
2.5

98.0
97.9
98.6
99.2
96.4
97.8
94.8
99.3
96.8
98.6

0.3
1.0
.7
- .8

.6
.5
.1
1.3
.6
.9
- .4
.5
- .6
-1.6
- .2
.1
.3
.4
- .2
- .5
.1

Consumer Price Index—Average retail prices of selected foods
U. S. city average
October
1962
Cents

September
1962
Cents

57.4
48.2
24.9
14.2
23.9
27.8
19.3
21.5
21.2
31.1
52.3

57.2
48.0
24.9
14.2
23.8
27.7
19.3
21.6
21.2
31.1
52.3

111.2
114.9
65.0
87.0
53.4
150.2
91.9
67.0
73.6
62.9
74.1
64.7
50.7
40.8
50.9
55.6
75.1
34.8

112.6
117.5
66.6
88.8
53.9
149.8
99.7
71.4
75.8
63.9
74.1
64.2
50.4
41.8
50.3
55.2
75.9
35.3

24.5
26.2
85.4
75.0
36.1
15.5

24.5
85.1
74.8
36.1
15.4

27.1
19.8
13.5
20.9
22.9
18.7

27.1
19.7
13.4
20.8
22.9
18.8

13.8
16.6
93.0
20.6

16.0
16.1
87.1
20.5

26.2

Food and unit
F r e s h — C o n t inued
Grapefruit———————--each
Peaches *
lb.
Strawberries
* — — — — p t .
Grapes, seedless *
——lb.
Watermelons *
lb.
Potatoea
10 lb.
Sweet p o t a t o e s - — — - —
lb.
Corn * — —
— d o z . ears
Onions----—
— — — — — l b .
Carrots-—-———-—-—-——lb.
Lettuce-————--—head
Celery
lb.
C a b b a g e — — — — — —
lb.
Tomatoea————
—---—lb.
Beans, g r e e n — — —
lb.
Canned:
Orange j u i c e - — — - — — 4 6 oz. can
Pineapple j u i c e — . — — - 4 6 oz. can
P e a c h e s — — — — — — — - — - # 2 % can
P i n e a p p l e — — — — — - — — # 2 can
Fruit c o c k t a i l - — - — - - — # 3 0 3 can
Corn, cream s t y l e — - — - # 3 0 3 can
Peas, g r e e n - - — - - - - — — # 3 0 3 can
Tomatoes
--#303 can
Tomato j u i c e - - - - — — — 4 6 o z . can
Baby f o o d s - — - — - — — 4 % to 5 oz.
Dried:
Prunes-----------------------lb.
Beana—------------------lb.
Other foods at hoaw:
Tomato s o u p — — — 1 0 % to 11 oz. can
Beans, with p o r k - — — — 1 6 oz. can
Pick lea, sliced
15 or.
Cataup, t o m a t o — — — — - — 1 4 oz.
Potato chips-4 oz.
C o f f e e - — — — — - —
lb. can
Coffee
lb.
Coffee, instant
6 oz.
Tea b a g s — — — — — p k g . of 16
Cola drink, c a r t o n — — — 72 oz.
Shortening, h y d r o g e n a t e d — — 3 lb.
Margarine, c o l o r e d — — — — — — l b .
L a r d — — — — — — — — — — — — - — l b .
Salad d r e s s i n g — — - — — — - — p t .
Peanut b u t t e r — — — - — — — - — l b .
Sugar
5 lb.
Corn s y r u p — — — — — — — 2 4 o z .
Grape j e l l y — — — — — — 1 2 oz.
Chocolate b a r — — — — — 1 o z .
Eggs, Grade A, l a r g e — — — d o z .
Gelatin, f l a v o r e d — — . — 3 to 4 oz.

October
1962
Cents

September
1962

15.6

16.3
18.0

61.5
13.7
*
10.0
14.6
18.1
12.8
8.3
22.4
23.3

62.3
14.8
69.1
10.3
14.7
19.7
12.9
8.4
19.8
22.7

40.5
33.0
32.0
39.1
25.5
19.8
22.5
15.6
31.9
10.8

40.8
32.7
32.2
39.1
25.5
19.9
22.5
15.5
32.0
10.8

39.8
17.4

40.1
17.3

12.3
15.0
26.8
23.0
27.9
71.1
56.5
91.8
24.6
50.2
85.4
28.0
20.2
38.4
57.8
58.8
27.4
29.7
4.5
59.7
9.9

12.3
15.0
26.7
23.1
27.9
71.4
57.5
91.9
24.5
50.1
85.6
27.9
20.2
38.3
57.5
58.8
27.4
29.7
4.5
58.9
9.8

Priced only in season.




LABOR - D . C.

6
Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
services usually bought by city families of wage earner^ 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 k6 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 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
38
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 1957-59
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 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 for the U.S. 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
341 Ninth Avenue
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams Street
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome Street
Zone 11

Boston
18 Oliver Street
Zone 10

Cleveland
1365 Ontario Street
Zone 14




Labor - D. C.