Full text of CPI Detailed Report : September 1957

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

Released October 25, 1957
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR SEPTEMBER 1957
Consumer prices in U.S. cities advanced 0.1 percent between August
and September 1957, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Higher prices for housing, apparel, and most other major groups of goods and services more
than offset substantial reductions in food prices. Prices of commodities other than foods
as veil as services each rose an average of 0*4 percent during the month* The Consumer
Price Index, advancing to its 13th consecutive record high, was at 121.1 (1947-49=100),
3*4 percent higher than a year ago.
FOOD
Food prices dropped 0.8 percent between August and September as more
plentiful supplies of fresh produce became available. This is the first month since last
March in which food prices have declined. The September food price index, at 117.0 percent of the 1947-49 average, was 3.4 percent higher than a year ago.
Prices of fresh fruits fell 8.7 percent, due primarily to sharp reductions in prices of apples, as the beginning of the autumn harvest replenished depleted supplies. Prices of bananas and grapes also were lower, but orange prices advanced. Fresh
vegetable prices dropped 7.5 percent, with lower prices for most items in the group, especially lettuce, potatoes, sweetpotatoes, tomatoes, and onions. Prices of processed fruits
and vegetables showed little change on the average and the decline for the fruits and vegetables group as a whole averaged 5.4 percent.
The decline of 1.4 percent in average prices of meats, poultry, and
fish resulted primarily from lower prices for frying chickens (down 5.8 percent) and for
all cuts of pork; prices of bacon fell 2.4 percent, ham 3.4 percent, and pork chops 2.3
percent. Beef and veal prices were 0.4 percent higher on the average, due to a rise of
2.0 percent in prices of chuck roast.
Prices of dairy products registered their largest monthly advance
since July 1954, as fresh milk prices rose in half the cities surveyed in September. Egg
prices advanced 8.9 percent to a national average of 65 cents a dozen. Prices of coffee
dropped 3*4 percent. Lunches in restaurants were 0.5 percent higher than last month.
HOUSING
The advance of 0.5 percent in the housing index resulted from higher
prices in all its component subgroups. Housefurnishings prices registered their largest
monthly increase since February 1957, as higher prices were reported for kitchenware,
household textiles, and some appliances. Residential rents were up 0.2 percent and costs
of home repairs and maintenance advanced 0.4 percent. The rise of 0.8 percent in prices
of solid fuels and fuel oil resulted from seasonal price increases for anthracite and
bituminous coal. Gas and electricity averaged 0.4 percent higher, due to increased bills
for gas.
OTHER COMMODITIES
Apparel prices rose 0.7 percent, primarily because fall and winter
AND SERVICES
clothing (especially women's and girls 1 ) returned to the market at
prices higher than the end-of-season sale prices. Women's and girls1 wool coats, women's
wool dresses, girls' wool skirts, and men's wool suits and sweaters had higher price tags.
The advance of 0.6 percent in the reading and recreation group
resulted from higher prices for newspapers, toys, and movie admissions. Higher fees for
group hospitalization insurance and for professional services were the major factors in
the rise of 0.3 percent in costs of medical care.




2
Total transportation was unchanged on the average as transit fares
advanced in a few cities and private transportation costs declined 0.1 percent; further
reductions in dealers' prices of new automobiles (down 1.3 percent) more than offset
higher prices of used cars, tires, gasoline, and increased automobile insurance rates.

TABLE 1:

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

1957

Indexes (19A7-A9=100)
Aug.
July
Sept.
June
1957
1956
M
1957

121.1

121.0

123.4
118.7
114.5

120.8
122.8

118.7

114.6

118.5
114.4

108.4

108.2

Sept.
Group

All items—
All items less food
All items less shelter
*A11 commodities
*A11 commodities less food
•Durables—
— —
*Nondurable8
*A11 services*A11 services less rent

—

112.6
108.6

123.0

112.1

116.7

116.0

139.8

138.3
139.3

138.8

112.2

116.3
137.9
138.9

117.1
119.4
114.8
111.0

109.4
104.8
113.9
133.6
134.1

101 .8
103
100 .7
100 .3
99 .4
102 .4
99
107 .9
107 .0

.0

.0

Year

1939
59.4
69.1
55.4
51.6
59.4
57.3
58.7
80.4
73.5

Percent change to September 1957 from—
June
Sept.
Aug.
Year
July
1957
1957
1950
1956
19?9

0.1
All items less f o o d - — —
— —
All items less shelter—
All commodities
All commodities less f o o d — — — —
Durables——-—-—
—
Nondurable s
All s e r v i c e s - — —
All services less rent

— —

.3
0

- .1
.4

.2

.6
.4
.4

0.2
.5
.2

.1

.4
.4
.3
.7

.6

3.4
3.4
3.4
3.2
2.9
3.6
2.5
3.9
4.3

19.0
19.8
17.9
14.2
13.3

6.1

103.9
78.6
U4.3
121.9

89.6
89.5

17.9

98.8

30.7

90.2

28.6

72.6

(1947-49=$!.00)**

Sept.

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar—

Aug.

3-957

1257.

July
1957

Sept.
1956

June
1950

Year
1939

•0.83

$0.83

•0.83

•0.85

•0.98

•1.68

* These indexes have been revised to reflect changes in the classification of items
included in Shelter. See Table A (p. 6-a) for explanation and complete table of revised
index numbers.
** 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 2s

3

Consumer Price Index -- United States city average, all Items and i i—inlllj groups
indexes and percent changes for selected dates
Indexes (19*7-*9»100)
September
1957

Group

August
1957

This
month
All items
Food 1/
Food at home — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
—
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

—
—

Household operation - - - —

—
—
—

—
—
—

—
—

Public —
Private —
Medical ear*
—
Personal care
— — — —
Reading and recreation —
Other goods and services

—

—

—

2 months
ago

September
1956

June
1950

Tear
1939

Last
year

Pre-Korea

Pre-World
War II

121.1

121.0

120.8

117.1

101.8

59.*

117.0
131.2
110.3
113.1
lilt .8
U5.0

117.9
116.6
131.0
111.9
111.5
121.3
113.8

117.1i
116.1
130.8
109.5
110.5
126.9
111.7

113.1
111.7
126.6
101.3
109.8
11* .8
115.1?

100.5
100.5
102.7
106.1
92.3
102.5
9*.l

*7.1
*7.1
57.2
*1.6
*9.8
*6.3
*8.*

126.3
135.7
113.7
136.8
10b .8
128.3

125.7
135.li
113.3
135.7
103.9
128.0

125.5
135.2
112.3
135.9
10*.l
127.9

122.5
133 Jb
112.2
130.5
103.3
123.7

10*. 9
108.7
102.7
107.6
97.*
99.6

76.1
86.6
10*. 9
56.*
53.*
68.*

107.3
109.3
99.8
128.1
92.3

106.6
108.8
98.6
128.3
92.0

106.5
108.8
98.6
128.1
91.9

106.5
108.3
99.6
126.0
92.0

96.5
98.1
93.3
102.1
88.*

52.5
50.8
54.5
50.3
40.6

135.9
181.1
125.5

135.9
180.6
125.6

135.8
180.2
125.6

128.6
173.0
116.7

109.9
117.9
106.6

70.2
81.3
65.5

139.0
125.1
113.3
126.7

138.6
12lu9
112.6
126.7

138.lt
12b.7
112 Jb
126.6

13U.0
120.5
108.1i
122.7

105.*
99.2
102.5
103.7

7 2 . 6

U5.5
—

Housing 2/ — ,
Rent
—
—
—
—
—
—
Oas and electricity
— — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil

Men's and bqys'
—
Women's and girls'
Footwear
—
—
—
Other apparel
—
—

Last
month

July
1957

Percent change to September 1957
August
1957
All items

—

Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakexy products
teats, poultry, and fish

0.1
-

.8
.9
.2
- i.li
l.h
- 5.1|
1.1
.5

—

Other foods at ham
Food away from home

Rent
— — — — — — — —
Oas and electricity
—
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnlshings
— — — —

Other apparel

——

Reading and recreation — —
Other goods and services jJ

—

-

.5

—

.2
.8
.9
.2

— —

-

0
.3
.1
.3
.2
.6
0

June
1950

Year
193?

0.2

3.1

19.0

103.9

4
.5
.3
.7

3 .It
3.14
3.6
8.9
3.0
0
- .3
lu2

16.li

1*8 .li
1*5.2
129.k
165.1
127.1
1*7.9
137.6

9.5

Uw9
27.8
luO

22.5
12.0
22.2

(V)

(*/)

20.U

66.0
56.7
8.It
1*2.6
96.3
87.6

.6
.It
1.2
.7
.7
.3

3.1
1.7
1.3
lu8
1.5
3.7

.8

.8
.9
•2
1.7
.3

11.2
ll.li
7.0
25.5

10*.*
115.2
83.1
151.7
127.3

.1

5.7

•5

lu7
5.7

23.7
53.6
17.7

93.6
122.8
91.6

3.7
3.8

31.9
26.1

U.5

io.5

3.3

22.2

91.5
109.9
79.8
79.5

1.2
0
.1*

.1
.li
.3
.8
.1

l/ Includes restaurant meals not shown separately.
2/ Includes home purchase and other home-owner costs not shown separately*
Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and "miscellaneous services11 (such as
legal services, banking fees, burial services, etc.).
*/ Hot available.




from:

September
1956

.5

-

7 0 . 6

July
1957

3.0
.9

.7
.5
1.2
- .2
.3

— — — — — —

Public
Private

—

•

-

59.6
6 3 . 0

2lu8
10.7
27.1
7.6
28.8

4

TABLE 3*

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

August
1957

September
1957

City

United States city average ••

1/

..,..,-

September
1956

June
1950

tear
1939

121.1

121.0

117.1

101.8

59.4

12lu3
122.8
122.0
118.3
121.9

12U.1
123.0
121.2
118.7
121.6

120.3
119.7
117.8
115.1
118 U»

102.8
102.8
101.3
100.9
101.6

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

June
1950

Year
1939

Cities priced monthly % /
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York

September
1957

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 3/
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco-—
Cities priced in February, May,
August, November
3/

Houston

— - — —

—

Seattle-—

— —

— - — -

Cities priced in January, April,
July, October
3/
Boston——
— —
Kansas C i t y — —
Minneapolis——
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon—

1/
2/
2/
U
3/

—

— — - — —

Jane
1957

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

122.8
122.1
117.8
123.7
119.1

121.7
121.1
116.U
122.8
117.2

119.1
118.2
113.5
118.8
115.7

100.li
103.5
100.2
102.0
101.6

July
1957

April
1957

July
1956

April
1950

122.1
121.7
121.6
120.7
122.2

117.8
117.6
117.7
117.3
118.6

120.2
120.1*
119.8
118.8
121.6

58.3
57.9
58.1*
59.3
58.6

h/ 101.3
" 101.6
101.2
101.1
100.9

Tear
1939

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.lt
Year
1939

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

101.2
ioi.U
5/ 102.1
~
99.9
101.5

This index on the base of 1935-39=100 is 202.5
Rents priced bimonthly.
Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly.
Mfcy 1950.
June 1950.

TABLE 4»

Consumer Price Index — Percent changes fron August 1957
to September 1957
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

All
items

City

0.1

United States city a v e r a g e —
ChicagoDetroit
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia




-

.2
.2
.7
«3
•2

Food

Housing

Apparel

0.5

0.7

- 0.8
-

•9
.5
•U
.9
.7

-

.7
.2
.7
.1
.9

2.1
•5
1.3
.8
1.6

Transportation
0
-1.1
- .9
1.2
- .li
.2

Medical
care
0.3
„1
0
0
0
0

Fersonal
care
0.2
.2
- .2
- .2
.1
0

Reading
and
recreation

Other
goods &
services

0.6

0

2.5
1.1
1.0
.3
.3

0.1
0
.2
- .1
.1

TABLX 5 : Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
September 1957 Indexes and pereemt changes, June 1957 to September 1957
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in September 1957
U.S.
City
Atlmmta
Average

Group

Balti- Chicago Cincinnati
more

Detroit

lev
York

Los
Angeles

5

Philadelphia

St.
Louis

Sam
Francisco

Indexes (19*7-49.100)
All items
Food
Food at bene — - — - — — — — — —
Cereals and bakery products —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
— —
Fruits and vegetables - —
Other foods at bone —

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

—
—

Men's and boy*'
Women's and girls*

Public —
Private

—
— —

—

Medical care — - — — —
Reading and recreation — —
Other goods and services

121.1

122.2

121.7

124.3

120.9

117.0
115.5
131.2
110.3
113.1
114.8
115.0

115.*
11^.5
124.2
112.2
113.6
120.8
107.4

118.1
11*. 9
127.0
110.4
111.9
115.1
114.1

114.0
111.8
123.2
102.8
111.7
113.*
119.5

119.7
118.3
131.8
112.8
11*.6
119.9
120.1

126.3
135.7
113.7
136.8
104.8
128.3

130.2
136.3
119.*
121.5
109.9
135.8

121.1
131.8
101.4
13*.6
100.7
121.6

136.1
161.1
11*.6
139.7
102.3
132.9

12*.2
1*0.8
122.8
1*0.0
98.5
133.2

113.2
129.5
108.9
118.8

103.8
129.7

107.3
109.3
99.8
128.1
92.3

113.8
107.0

108.3
106.2
104.7
106.3
97.*

111.5
116.2
102.0
131.5
96.9

107.3
108.*
99.8
13*.*
90.*

10*. 3
110.*
93.6
123.9

108.6
112.7
100.*
129.2

8 7 . 0

135.9
181.1
125.5

llt.3
188.3
123.0

1*7.8
ier.3
129.9

1*3.7
19*. 3
12*. 9

132.*
182.1
121.0

139.0
125.1
113.3
126.7

131.9

144.8
119.3
125.1
131.6

1*1.7
126.8
119.5
121.2

1*0.*
127.8
107.0
123.5

136.2

93.3

126.2

113.8
132.0

!1

122.8

122.0

118.3

121.9

122.1

123.5

118.7
117.0
12*.8
108.1
112.2
1?4.2
117.5

119.*
116.*
139.7
113.5
109.*
113.0
113.9

116.6
11*. 2
135.2
109.8
11*. 5
107.*
11*. 1

120.7
118.5
133.0
112.*
117.*
121.9
ll*.l

117.8
11*.5
12*.6
106.*
105.5
120.3
122.2

119.*
117*7
1*0.1
112.6
> 116.5
117.2
113.2

128.6

131.0
1**.3
118.0

122.0
111.1
l**.l
105.1
126.0

121.7
123.8
103.*
1 3 * . 0
110.3
127.8

125.0
1*3.0
103.8
150.0
10*.6
131.5

125.3
139.9
136.3

8 * . 8

106.7
108.7
98.5
129.2
96.1

107.8
107.1
102.7
126.0
9*.5

105.3
108.3
96.6
126.2
96.5

107.5
108.6
100.6
131.2
90.3

131.7
153.9
127.3

131.5
15*. 8
127.5

137.1
189.0
117.6

139.8
187.*
119.2

1**.*
205.3
12* .6

150.7
182.6
137.*

1*6.7
129.7
111.5
135.7

131.O

129.*
116.*
116.2
126.1

1*0.8
130.6
117.0
128.6

15*.9
127.7
96.9
126.*

137.8
120.0
113.1
12*.1

—

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

—
—

— — — — — — — — — —

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

—
—
—

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

—

—

—

—

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

— —
—

—
—

0.7

0.8

0.4

1.1

1.0

.7
.7
.5
3.2
2.8
- 9.5
5.0

1.5
1.9
- .1
2.7
.4
- 1.9
5.5

.5
.4
- .1
2.7
- .6
- 5.9
3.7

.2
.2
2.2
3.6
- 9.*
3.*

.8
.7
.2
2.*
- .2
-6.3
5.1

.6
.5
1.2
1.1
.2
.5

.5
.1
0
0
.5
.7

.3
.3
1.1
- 3.6
- .4
0

.7
.2
1.3
.2
.4

1.3
1.0
1.7
.9
.5

2.9
1.0
5.8
- .6
2.2

.4
2.4
.1

- 1.1
14.6
- 3.7

.8
.7
1.3
1.7

.5
0
1.5
1.9

1/ Change Tram July 1957 to September 1957.




1.0
1/ .2
.5
2.1
.5
.5

.7
.9
*.5
6.7
- .6

2.0
.7
5.2
.2
1.3

2.2
2.0
3.2
0
2.*

.7
0
.9

3.2
15.9
.3

1.9
10.*
.7

0
.2
.5
1.3

.3
.5
2.9
1.1

.2
.6
.7
1.5

-

•

—

128.9
102.1
123.5

June 1957

Percent change from

—

September 1 9 5 7

to

0.2

0.8

0.3

.2
.3
.1
3.1
*.2
-13.9
*.5

1.*
1.6
1.9
6.3
3.*

.9
m.
0
2.2
5.7
-11.2
5.0

-

- 8 . 3

2.8

0
—

-

. 8

.7
.2
.*
.8

. 8

1/.6
0
. 7

-

.1
—

0
.1
.1

.2

1.5
1.8
1.6
.3
3.2
3.3
- *.5

*.*

0.7

0.6

.9

1.0

. 8

0
2.6
6.1
-10.4
*.9

.3

.3
.5
0

1.*
1/ .2
0
*.6
.3
- .2

0
*.7
.7
- .1

. 8

1.1
1.5
.8
.7
1.1

.8
- .2
1.8
.5
.5

3.3
.2
6.1
1.8
1.9

1.0
1.0
1.2
.2
1.6

5.6
- 1.5

0
• 1.0

0
-1.3

.1
0
0

1.0
8.6
- .7

. 5

- .1
.8
.8
.6

.1
.3
1.2
1.5

-

-

.3
.5
.9
7.1

-

.2
1.7
1.9

. 8

.*
2.0
5.5
- 8.2
*.2
-

.1
.7
.8
.3
.7

-

105.7
119.9

.3
.3
.8

- -

-1.*
.3

-

.2
.5
.6
.5
0
.6
0
.7

-

.9
2.*

TABIC 61 C o B s w r Price Index — Food and its subgroups
September 1957 indexes and percent changes, August 1957 to September 1957
U.S. city average and 20 ] « i f cities
Total
food at 1Mme

Total food
City
Percent
change

Index

U.S. city average
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
— — - —
Chicago
— — —
Cincinnati — — —
Cleveland — - —
Detroit
—
Bouston
—
—
Ifcnsas City
Loe Angeles
—
Minneapolis
— —
lew York
Philadelphia —
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg. —
St. Louis
San Francisco
—
Serantom
— — —
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

—

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—

Index

117.0

- 0.8

115.5

115.H
118.1
117.U
llfc.O
U9.7
115.0
118.7
llli. 7
111.9
119.1*

-

ill* .5
111*. 9
115.6

115.5
116.6
120.7
118.3
117.7
117.8
119.U
113.1*
118.1
118.3

- .1
- .9
- .7
- .5
- 1.1
- o3

.3
.3
.1
.9
.1*
.8
.5
.5

-

1 1 1 . 8

118.3
113.1
117.0
112.8
109.8
116.!*

2 . 1

.1*

. 8

- l.k

TABIC 7l

131.2

.2
.2

1 3 1 . 2

. 1

.5
0
129.1
!*.l
1 & . 3 - .1
0
121.1*
126.6
.2
.5
139.7

106.1
10B.1
105.9
108.3
113.5

0
1.5

130.1
135.2
133.0 129.3
131*.7
12l*.6 11*0.1
127.1
Ui0«6
128.9 -

103.5
109.8
112.1*
109.0
112.1
106 .li
112.6
109.8
111.6
108.6

Goreals and bakery products;
Flour, wheat — — — — — — —
5 ib.
Biscuit mix —
—
—
—
—
20 oz.
Corn meal —
—
—
—
—
—
n>.

.6
- iJk
.7
.7
- 2.7
-

•

—
—

20 oz.
12 oe.
—
ib.
—
ib.
—
7 oz.
—

Hamburger —
—
—
—
—
—
Veal cutlets —
—
—
—
—
Pork chops, center cut — — — — —
Bacon, sliced — — — — — —
Ham, whole — — — — — — —

September
1957
Cents

"5EX
26.8

12.8

n>.
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.

22.1

23.2
18.9
29.1
2U.7
98.0
55.1

76.6
W*.l

119.1
90.8
85J*
61*.3

72.7
Frankfurters — — — — — —
ib.
Luncheon meat, canmed — —
12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to*cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen — — —
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned —
—
ie oz.
Tuna fish, canned —
—
a to
oz.
Dairy products;
Milk, fresh, (grocery) — — —
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream — — — — — — — — Pt.
Butter — — — — — — — —
ib.
Cheese, American process — — — — ib.
Milk, evaporated — — —
i4£-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — — — —
10 oz.
Orange juice concentrate —
6 oz.
Peas, green — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green — — — — —
10 oz.
Fresh:
Apples — — — — — — — —
ib.
Bananas —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Oranges, size 200 — — — — — doz.
Lemons — — — — — — — —
ib.
Grapefruit *
eaoh
* Friced only in season.
1/ Hot available.




1 . 0

- 1.7

17.6

—

1 . 0

123.2

1 3 1 . 8

.1*
.1
. 2

0
0
J*
.1
.1
.1
.7

Percent
change

Dairy
products
Index

Fruits and
vegetables

Percent
change

Index

Other
foods at hoae

Percent
change

Index

Percent
change

110.3

- 1.1* 113.1

1.1*

lli*.3

- 5.1*

115.0

1.1

112.2

-

2.9
1.7
.3
2.2
1.7
1.9
.5
1.5
.1*
.5

113.6
111.9
117.8
111.7
1U*«6
107.1*
112.2
112.3
102.0
109.1*

3.0
- .5
1.5
.5
- .1
3.0

120.8
U5.1
115.9
113.U
119.9

107.U

.3
- 5.5
3.7

12l*.2
117.3
108.5
113.0

-

1.5
.1*
1.2
1.2
.7
.9
1.2
.6
.2
.3

- L.O
- 1.7

107.1*
111*. 5
117.1*
lllwl
117.2
105.5
116.5
113.1*
118.7
116.6

2.7
1.9
.3
2.0
0
2.7
6.1
2.6
.3
0

119.1
107.1*
121.9
11U.9
107.3
120.3
117.2
105.3
112.6
117.1

110.1*
108.3
102.8
112.8

-1.1*

•
-

1.3
2.7
2.5
1.2
2.6
.6
2.3

.1*

1 1 1 . 1

1.5
.1
2.9
h.3
1.8
8.U
U.7
3.6
8.9
1.0

- U.5
-

8 . 1

• 1*.2
- i*.9
- 2.6
- 3.1
- .3
-1U.7
- U.5
-6.3

UU.l
111.3
119.5
120.1
118.3
117.5
112.7
107.2
113.9
123 J*
lllwl
UU.l
12U.6
117.0
122.?
113.2

2.3
.8
. 8

1.3
- 1.0
1.2
.1*

1 1 2 . 0

113.3
116.0

.8

-

.1*
1.2

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

Food and unit

Boiled oats —
—
—
—
Corn flakes —
—
—
—
Bread, white — — — —
Soda crackers —
—
—
—
Vanilla cookies — — — —
Heats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak — — — — —
Chuck r o M t
—

0 . 2

Index

12U.2
127.0 -

-

1 . 0

Percent
change

.3
•
.5
.1
• l.l
.7
• 1.0
•
.7
•
.9
- 2.6
.7

_

•

116.9
116.3
1U*.5
117.7
U3.1
117.2
116.3

Index

Meats, poultry,
and fish

- 0.9

lllwl*

- 2.3
-

Percent
change

Cereals and
bakery products

August
1957
Cents
"5EX

26.8

12.7
17.5

22.2

23.2
18.9
29.1

2tu6

98.1
5U.0
76.0
Ui.3
118.5
92.9
87.5

66.6

72.6

59.8
1*5.7
1*7.2
1*2.9

59.3
U5.5
1*9.7
1*3.2

62.5
32.1

62.5

23.8
25.3

23.3

21*.8

7U.6
57.8
1U.7

29.5
73.7
57.8
H*.7

1*6.6

29.6

25.7

18.0
19.7

21* .0
U*.5

1*6.6

32.1

25.5
17.7

19.6
21* .1
(1/)

17.8

lF.6

63.9

61.3

18.0

18.1

Food and unit
Fresh—Continued
Peaches » —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Strawberries • —
—
—
pt.
Grapes, seedless * —
—
—
ib.
Watermelons * — — — — —
ib.
Potatoes —
—
—
—
—
10 ib.
Sweet potatoes — — — — — —
ib.
Onions . — — - — — —
ib.
Carrots —
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
Lettuce — — — — — — —
head
Celery — — — — — — —
ib.
Cabbage — — — — — — — —
ib.
dean8, green — — — — —
ib.
Canned^
Orange juice — — — — 46-oz. can
Peaches —
—
—
—
can
Pineapple — — — — —
#2 can
Fruit cocktail — — — —
#303 can
Corn, cream style — — — — #303 can
Peas, green — — — — —
#303 can
Tomatoes
#303 can
Baby foods —
—
4& to 5 oz.
Dried:
Prunes — — — — — — —
ib.
Beans — — — — — — —
ib.
Other foods at home:
Tomato SOUp —
—
lOj- to u-oz. can
Beans with pork
16—oz. can
Pickles, sweet — — — — —
74 oz.
Catsup, tomato — — — — —
14 oz.
Coffee —
—
—
—
—
—
lb. o&n
Coffee
lb. bag
Tea bags — — — — — —
Pkg. of id
Cola drink, carton — — — — —
36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogens ted — —
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 0z.
Eggs, Grade A, large « • — » — — — doz.
Gelatin, flavored — — — — 3 to 4 oz.

September
1957
Cents
TKT

21.1
56.1
13.3

8.2

16.7
18.3
H».li

8.1*

19.9
19.7
33.8
3U.7
31.2

26.0

17.1
21.5
15.1

10.1

33.3
16.3
12.3

ll*.6
27.1
21.7
99.3
78.2
23.7
27.1
96.9
29.7

23.0

37.1*
53.7
55.6
21* .9
27.1*
lt.5
61*.9

8.8

Labor D.C. - BLS58-0332

6-*

TABLE Ax Consumer Price Index—Revised indexes for special groups
of commodities and services, December 1952 to date i/
(1947-49=100)

Year and month

All
commodities

All
comodities
less food

Durable
eoamodities

Nondurable
eoamodities
less food

All
services 2/

All
servioes
less rent 2/

1952J

December

111.6

109.8

113.8

109.1

121.9

122.5

1953:

Average-—
March—
— — —
J^na——<———
September
December——

111.3
110.7
111.5
111.7
111.0

110.0
110.0
109.8
110.2
110.0

112.6
113.4
112.8
112.3
110.9

110.1
109.7
109.6
110.7
111.1

124.2
122.7
123.8
125.4
126.2

124.6
123.3
124.3
125.6
126.3

1954:

Average
March
June
September
December

—

110.2
110.6
110.8
109.7
109.1

108.6
109.4
108.6
107.7
108.1

108.3
110.1
108.7
106.2
107.0

110.6
110.9
110.4
110.4
110.4

127.5
126.8
127.3
128.1
128.5

127.7
126.9
127.5
128.4
128.7

1955:

Average
M a r c h — — — —
June
September
De c e m b e r — — — —

109.0
109.0
106.9
109.2
108.7

107.5
107.6
107.0
107.3
108.1

105.1
106.2
104.7
103.7
105.1

110.6
110.2
109.9
111.1
111.6

129.8
129.0
129.6
130.4
130.9

130.1
129.2
129.9
130.8
131.3

1956:

Average
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
NovemberDecember

110.1
108.3
108.3
108.5
108.7
109.3
110.3
111.2
110.6
111.0
111.7
111.8
111.8

108.9
107.7
108.0
108.1
108.0
108.1
108.0
108.4
108.7
109.4
110.6
111.0
111.1

105.1
104.2
104.3
104.3
104.0
104.2
103.8
104.1
104.5
104.8
107.4
107.9
108.0

113.0
111.5
111.9
112.1
112.2
112.1
112.3
112.8
113.0
113.9
114.3
114.6
114.7

132.6
131.2
131.3
131.2
131.5
131.8
132.3
132.9
133.3
133.6
133.7
133.9
134.4

133.0
131.6
131.7
131.6
131.9
132.2
132.7
133.2
133.8
134.1
134.2
134.A
134.9

111.9
112.3
112.4
112.8
113.0
113.7
114.4
114.6
114.5

111.2
111.4
111.9
112.1
111.8
111.9
112.2
112.1
112.6

108.2
108.3
108.6
108.8
108.3
108.4
108.2
108.4
108.6

114.7
115.0
115.6
115.8
115.6
115.8
116.3
116.0
116.7

135.0
135.7
136.3
136.7
137.2
137.5
137.9
138.3
138.8

135.6
136.5
137.1
137.6
138.1
138.4
138.9
139.3
139.8

1957:

Average
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August—
September

—

— —

—

1/ Total Shelter was formerly included in the index of All Services and Shelter, but individual items of Shelter
were not included in any other commodity or service classification. The revised indexes shown above are the result of
the distribution of the Shelter items to commodities or services, as indicated below, from March 1953 forward. Indexes
for dates prior to March 1953 were not affected by the revision.
Durable commodities
Water heaters
Kitchen sinks
Sink faucets
Porch flooring
Nondurable eoamodities
House paint
Paint brush

2/
y

Replaces All Services and Shelter.
Replaces All Services less Shelter.
Labor D.C. - BLS58-1018




Servicep
Rent
Home purchase
Real estate taxes
Mortgage interest
Property insurance
Repainting garage
Repainting rooms
Reshingling roof
Refinishing floors

BrlftffimlfimtrlOTof ttw Cfl
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 St*tefj they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals,
filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner
and clerlcal~warker families patronise*
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
46 cities* Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months#in other cities* Almost all prices are obtained
by personal visits of the Bureau's trained representatives*
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending* City
data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent* Index numbers are computed on the base 1947-49 5 100*
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 citiest
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, V 0 Virginia
Evansville, Indians
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand forks, H* Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

Huntington, V. Virginia
laconia, Mew Hampshire
Lodi, California
Iynchburg, Virginia
MadiU, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Hewark, Ohio

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Bawlins, Vyoming
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 dty indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price
levels or in living costs between cities*
A description of the index is contained in ELS Bulletin 1140, *The Consumer
Price Indexs A layman's Guide,11 which m j 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 rare technical,
description of the index appears in BIS Bulletin 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
Statistical Series." Reprints of chapter 9, pertaining to the CPI, pure 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 Sent for periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of
goods and services from 1947 to date*
BLS Regional Offices

^J1^1*
50 Seventh St*, HI
So** 23




341 Minth Ave*
Zone 1

Chicago
105 Vest Adams St*
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St*
Zone 11

IABGR - D. C.

Boston
18 Oliver St*
Zone 10

OCCUPATIONAL WAGE SURVEYS
(BLS Bulletins

1202-1 through 17)

The U. S . Department of L a b o r ' s Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s has r e l e a s e d the l a s t of this
y e a r ' s occupational wage surveys for major labor markets. The studies cover 17 areas and were
conducted during the winter 1 9 5 6 - 5 7 . The individual bulletins provide earnings information on about
6 0 jobs s e l e c t e d from s e v e r a l c a t e g o r i e s : Office c l e r i c a l , professional and t e c h n i c a l , maintenance
and powerplant, and custodial and material movement.
In addition to areawide averages and distributions of workers by earnings c l a s s e s for
each j o b , information is provided wherever p o s s i b l e by major industry division, including manufacturing, public u t i l i t i e s , finance, trade, and s e r v i c e s .
Also presented for all areas except Memphis and Minneapolis-St. Paul are data for paid
holidays; paid v a c a t i o n s ; scheduled weekly hours; health, insurance, and pension p l a n s ; minimum
entrance r a t e s ; and shift differential p r a c t i c e s .
The areas covered, survey date, bulletin number, and price are as f o l l o w s :

Atlanta
Birmingham
Boston
Buffalo
Chicago
Cleveland
Dallas
Kansas City
L o s Angeles-Long B e a c h
Memphis
Minneapolis-St. Paul
New York City
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland (Oreg.)
San Francisco-Oakland
Seattle

April 1957
January 1957
September 1956
September 1956
April 1957
October 1956
October 1956
December 1 9 5 6
March 1957
February 1957
March 1957
April 1957
November 1 9 5 6
December 1 9 5 6
April 1957
January 1957
August 1 9 5 6

1202-16
1202-10
1202-4
1202*2
1202-15
1202-3
1202-5
1202-6
1202-11
1202-13
1202-14
1202-17
1202-7
1202-9
1202-12
1202-8
1202-1

Cents
25
20
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
20
20
25
25
25
25
25
25

Send orders (accompanied by check or money order) to the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, Washington 2 5 , D. C . , or to any of the following U. S . Department of
Labor's Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s regional o f f i c e s :

Boston
18 Oliver Street

New York
341 Ninth Avenue

Atlanta
50 Seventh Street, N. E.

Chicago
105 West Adams Street

San Francisco
630 Sansome Street

Labor D.C. - BLSb8-0?09
UNITED STATES -DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS