Full text of CPI Detailed Report : September 1958

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Released October 23, 1958
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LA
Bureau of labor Statistics
Washington 25, D . C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FCR SEPTEMBER 1958
Consumer prices in United States cities were unchanged on the
average between August and September 1953, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's
Bureau of labor Statistics. Lover prices for food, personal care, and reading and
recreation offset higher prices for apparel, medical care, and transportation.
The September Consumer Price Index remained at 123 #7 percent of the
1947-4-9 average, 2.1 percent higher than in September 1957.
FOCD

Food prices dropped 0.3 percent during the month as lower prices of
fresh fruits and vegetables, pork, poultry, and coffee more than
offset higher prices for eggs, milk, and bread. The September food price index at 120.3
was 2.8 percent higher than a year ago.
Prices of fruits and vegetables declined 3*4 percent. Fresh fruit
prices fell 5.9 percent, due primarily to a sharp reduction in prices of apples, as new
supplies were harvested. Prices of bananas and grapes were down 10*3 and 9*7 percent
respectively. Orange prices advanced 8.7 percent and peaches 3*5 percent. Prices of
fresh vegetables fell 5.3 percent in a general decline which was led by decreases of
11.6 percent for white potatoes and 26.4 percent for sweet potatoes® Trices of fresh
tomatoes were down 5*9 percent, onions 4*3 percent, and carrots 4*1 percent, but green
beans were 13*3 percent higher and lettuce was up 7.5 percent* Prices of processed
fruits and vegetables averaged 0.7 percent higher as canned orange juice advanced 5*3
percent, while canned tomatoes declined 4*0 percent.
Prices of meats, poultry, and fish declined 1.6 percent on the
average. There were reductions of 2.9 percent for pork and 4*5 percent for frying
chickens as marketings of hogs increased seasonally and supplies of young chickens
reached new highs. Bacon prices fell 3.8 percent, ham 3.7 percent, and pork chops 1.2
percent. All beef cuts showed small price declines (less than 0.5 percent), but veal
cutlets and leg of lamb rose slightly. Frankfurter prices were 1.3 percent lower.
Eggs registered a price increase of 13.0 percent, about twice the
usual seasonal rise. Coffee prices dropped 3.2 percent to their lowest level since
July 1950.
Prices of dairy products increased seasonally, reflecting a 1.3
percent advance for fresh milk and a 1.5 percent advance for butter. Cereals and
bakery products rose 0.5 percent, due largely to a rise of 1.0 percent in bread prices.
Prices of restaurant meals rose 0.1 percent.
MEDICAL CARE

The advance of 0.8 percent in medical care prices was due largely
to higher rates for group hospitalization insurance in several
cities, but there were also some increases in fees of physicians and dentists and some
scattered increases in prices of drugs and prescriptions.

APPAREL

Apparel prices rose 0.5 percent. Higher prices were
reported for
1
men's topcoats, women's coats and suits, and girls coats. Among
year-round apparel items, there were increases for women's rayon dresses and men's suits,
but prices were lower for boys' suits, men's and girls' sweaters, women's rayon skirts,
and nylon hose.




2
TRANSPORTATION

Public and private transportation costs each rose 0.2 percent.
Higher prices for used cars, tires, and auto repairs were partially
offset by reductions in prices of gasoline and 1958 model new cars*

HOUSING

The housing index remained at its August level, although most of its
component subgroups were higher. These advances were offset by
decreases in costs of home ownership, especially mortgage interest rates, which dropped
substantially since the last semiannual pricing* Housefurnishings prices rose 0.3 percent as regular prices were reported for some furniture and textile items following
August sales. Seasonal advances in prices of coal and fuel oil resulted in a rise of
1.2 percent for the solid fuels and fuel oil group. Higher gas rates in two cities were
responsible for the increase of 0.4 percent for gas and electricity. Rent and household
operation costs continued to rise, with increases of 0.1 percent each.
OTHER CCMMCDITIES
AND SERVICES

Reading and recreation prices declined 0.1 percent largely because
of lower prices for television and radio sets. The decline of 0.2
percent in personal care resulted primarily from price reductions
for toiletries, especially shampoo.




3

TABLE 11 Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, September 1958,
and percent changes from selected dates
(1947-49=100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to September 1958 from —

Indexes
Group

September
1958

August
1958

August
1958

June
1958

September
1957

Year
1939

123.7

123.7

0

0

2.1

108.2

Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
• - —Other foods at h o n e — —
- • < - —
Food away from hone (Jan* 1953=100)

120.3
118.7
133.5
115.8
114.1
120.7
115.2
113.4

120.7
119.2
132.9
117.7
113.0
124.9
112.8
113.3

- 0.3
- .4
.5
- 1.6
1.0
- 3.4
2.1
.1

- 1.1
- 1.4
.5
- 2.1
2*1
-10.1
3.9
.6

2.8
2.8
1.8
5.0
.9
5.1
.2
2.6

155.4
152.0
133.4
178.4
129.1
160.7
138.0
0/)

Housing 1/
Rent
Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y — —
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings—-———
Household operation

127.9
138.2
118.0
135.2
103.6
132.2

127.9
138.1
117.5
133.6
103.3
132.1

0
.1
.4
1.2
.3
.1

.1
.4
.9
2.7
- .5
.8

1.3
1.8
3.8
- 1.2
- 1.1
3.0

68.1
59.6
12.5
139.7
94.0
93.3

— •
—-— •••—..— • • •
—
— — — — —

107.1
108.3
99.6
130.1
92.0

106.6
108.3
98.5
130.0
91.9

.5
0
1.1
.1
.1

-

.2
.9
.2
1.6
- .3

104.0
113.2
82.8
158.6
126.6

<

141.3
189.8
130.4

141.0
189.5
130.1

.2
.2
.2

1.7
1.1
1.9

4.0
4.8
3.9

101.3
133.5
99.1

146.1

145.0

.8

1.5

5.1

101.2

128.7

128.9

-

.2

.1

2.9

115.9

Reading and recreation- -

116.6

116.7

-

.1

-

.1

2.9

85.1

Other goods and s e r v i c e s — — - — • ••••• — —

127.1

127.1

0

-

.1

.3

80.0

—-

125.8

125.6

.2

.5

1.9

82.1

—

121.5

121.4

.1

.1

2.4

119.3

Commodities • — - -• • • • -•
Nondurables• - - — -•••• —
-—•• •
Food
Nondurables less f o o d —
Apparel
Nondurables less food and apparel—

116.4
118.7
120.3
117.2
107.1
126.0
110.3
130.1
88.4
103.1

116.4
118.8
120.7
116.9
106.5
125.9
109.9
130.6
85.8
103.0

0
.1
.3
.3
.6
.1
.4
3.0
.1

- .2
- .4
- 1.1
.4
.4
.5
c.
•v
- .5
8.2
- .3

1.7
1.7
2.8
.4
- .2
.8
1I .o
A
4.1
6.0
.1

125.6
130.9
155.4
99.7
105.6
91.2
92.5
128.2
0/)
79.9

All items

Appare 1
— — 1
Men's and boys " --•
Women's and girls' -Footwear
Other apparel
Transportation
Public
Private
Medical care
Personal care

—

— —

. ,

•

——•••••

—

-

.4
.5
1.1
.2
.1

Special groupst
All items less food

—

All items less s h e l t e r —

—

few cars—
————-..Used cars (Jan. 1953=100)
Durables less cars • < •• ••

— -

-

/

-

Commodities less food- •• —• •

113.5

113.2

.3

.5

.8

91.1

Services • — — —
R e n t — —
«
Services less rent— • •
• • • ••• • — Household operation services, gas,
and e l e c t r i c i t y — ™ —
Transportation services
— —
Medical care s e r v i c e s — — - —
Other services 2/
—
.

143.0
138.2
144.4

143.0
138.1
144.4

0
.1
0

.5
.4
.4

3.0
1.8
3.3

77.9
59.6
96.5

132.4
175.4
151.2
129.4

132.2
175.0
149.8
130.1

.2
.2
.9
.5

.9
.7
1.8
- .4

3.2
5.6
5.5
1.8

52.2
119.0
114.5
122.0

10*808

10.808

°

-2.2

-52.0

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

-

0

1/ 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
TABLE 2: Oo.:suner Price Index—All items indexes and percent changes, selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

Percent change to
current month from —
June
September
Year
1958
1939
1957

Indexes (1947-49=100)
City

United States city average

•• •

September

June
1958

September
1957

Year
1939

123.7

123.7

121.1

59.4

0

2.1

108.2

127.4
123.8
125.6
121.4
123.4

127.5
124.2
125.1
121.0
123.0

124.3
122.8
122.0
118.3
121.9

58.6
59.0
60.4
60.1
59.2

- 0.1
- .3
.4
.3
.3

2.5
.8
3.0
2.6
1.2

117.4
109.8
107.9
102.0
108.4

Cities priced monthly X/
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
Ne w York
Philadelphia

-

Cities priced in March, June,
September, December 2j
Atlanta

•

Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco—
Cities priced in February, May,
August, November g/
Cleveland
Houston—
—
Scranton
— —
Seattle-Washington, D . C .

September
1958

June
1958

September
1957

124.6
124.8
122.5
125.3
128.4

124.9
124.8
122.7
124.5
128.0

122.2
121.7
120.9
122.1
123.5

August
1958

—
• . — • -•
—

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

—

—

—
—
—

—

May
1958

August
1957

125.1
124.0
120.4
126.3
121.2

125.0
123.7
120.7
126.1
121.3

122.8
122.1
117.8
123.7
119.1

July
1958

April
1958

July
1957

125.4
124.8
124.9
124.7
124.7

124.5
123.7
124.1
123.8
125.0

122.1
121.7
121.6
120.7
122.2

June
1958

Year
1939

-

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

-

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

-

August
1957

.1
.2
.2
.2
.1

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

-

Year
1939
111.3
106.4
105.8
113.3
100.7

1.9
1.6
2.2
2.1
1.8

Api*ril
1958

Year
1939

113.7
115.5
109.8
111.3
119.1

2.0
2.5
1.3
2.6
4.0

.2
0
.2
.6
.3

May
1958

Year
1939

Year
1939

September
1957

July
1957

.7
.9
.6
.7
.2

Year
1939
105.6
102.3
105.8
114.6
113.9

2.7
2.5
2.7
3.3
2.0

j/ Rents priced bimonthly.
2/ Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced month. ; rents and other commodities and services priced quarterly.

TABLE 3<

All
items

City
United States city average—
Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles
Nev Y o r k —
Phi lade lphia-,




Consumer Price Index—Percent changes from August 1958 to September 1958
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and coonodity groups

-

0
0.4
.1
.3
.2
0

Food

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

Reading
ana
Personal
care
recreation

• 0.3

0

0.5

0.2

0.8

- 0.2

• 0.1

.6
.2
.5
.2
.8

0.2
0
.1
0
- .3

1.3
.9
1.2
•8
3.7

.1
.3
.2
0
.2

.1
0
0
3.1
0

-

-

-

.3
.1
.2
.4
.1

-

.4
.6
.2
.3
.3

Other
goods &
services
0
- 0.1
- .3
0
.1
0

TABLE 4: Consumer Price Index — All items and commodity groups
September 1958 indexes and percent changes, June 1958 to September 1958
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in September 1958
U.S.
City
BaltiAverage Atlanta more

Group

Chicago

CincinLos
nati
Detroit Angeles

New
York

Philadelphia

St.
Louis

San
Francisc

125.6

121.4

123.4

125.3

128.4

123.3
120.9
134.6
115.7
118.8
126.5
114.6

122.4
118.5
124.7
113.2
107.3
127.7
123.4

123.9
122.5
147.2
118.8
116.4
126.0
115.8

126.2
146.9
103.8
154.8
104.1
136.7

129.6
145.7
145.2

Indexes ( 1 9 V M 9 - 1 0 0 )
All items
Food at home — — —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables —
Other foods at home —
Rent
GaB and electricity

—

— — - —

Housefurnishings — —
Household operation — —
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'

— —

— — — —
—

Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

123.7

124*6

124.8

127.4

122.5

120.3
118.7
133.5
115.8
114.1
120.7
115.2

118.4
118.0
126.5
118.2
116.5
126.0
108.2

120.3
117.5
128.2
114.5
117.7
116.9
114.1

117.7
115.6
123.7
109.0
112.6
119.5
121.3

122.8
121.0
131.8
118.2
116.2
125.9
119.2

120.3
118.6
125.6
112.5
112.1
125.7
116.8

123.3
119.7
141.1
114.8
110.8
125.6
115.0

121.3
119.5
141.8
116.7
117.8
115.9
115.0

127.9
138.2
118.0
135.2
103.6
132.2

130.7
137.8
126.2
124.9
110.3
138.3

124.7
134.7
108.2
129.5
99.0
131.1

138.4
164.4
128.3
140.8
100.7
136.1

124.2
142.6
121.6
146.0
96.3
134.9

127.6

124.4

117.8
125.9
109.2
122.0

135.3
146.4
131.2
100.6
119.9

115.9
138.3
103.0
132.1

120.6
126.5
103.4
130.8
109.5
133.4

107.1
108.3
99.6
130.1
92.0

114.0
116.0
105.7
139.7
93.6

106.0
106.3
104.5
128.5
92.4

110.8
114.5
101.0
134.1
96.6

106.9
107.7
99.4
134.8
89.9

104.2
109.0
93.9
125.8
86.3

108.5
112.1
99.9
132.0
84.8

106.7
107.9
98.2
131.5
96.3

107.6
108.3
100.9
129.1
94.0

106.5
107.8
99.6
126.6
94.3

108.1
109.3
100.3
135.2
90.3

U1.3
189.8
130.4-

139.9
188.3
131.5

152.2
188.0
134.5

150.1
195.6
131.7

133.1
190.2
120.8

134.7
155.6
130.5

137.3
162.1
133.1

140.1
190.2
120.7

146.7
188.1
126.8

153.3
235.9
129.7

160.7
182.6
147.9

146.1
128.7
116.6
127.1

136.8
131.6
119.6
132.7

149.3
124.2
129.2
138.5

150.7
129.5
123.8
121.2

148.9
130.8
109.6
123.5

152.3
134.0
112.8
135.7

137.6
132.5
101.9
123.9

135.0
122.4
119.2
126.5

148.6
134.4
118.4
128.5

159.0
129.4
96.7
129.1

151.3
123.4
117.4
124.3

0.3

0.6

0.3

.5
.9
.2
- 2.7
2.9
- 7.6
4.3

.2
.1
- .8
- 1.7
5.9
- 5.8
4.2

.1

-

—

1/ 0

0
4.3
- .1
- .7

0
.6
0
5.4
- .8
1.0

123.8

—

—

—

—

106.2
121.6

I
Percent change from
All Items
Food
Food at home
— —
Cereals and bakery products
Meats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

—

lousing — — — - —
Rent — — — — — — — — — — —

- 0.2

0

- 0.1

- 0.2

- 0.3

- 1.1
- 1.4
.5
- 2.1
2.1
-10.1
3.9

- .7
- .7
- .3
- 1.7
2.3
- 6.7
3.3

- 1.7
- 2.2
- .3
- 2.1
.2
-11.2
2.5

- .9
- .9
- .3
- 2.3
1.4
- 7.9
5.2

- 1.0
- 1.9
- .2
- 2.2
.2
- 9.7
3.8

- 2.3
- 2.6
0
- 2.7
2.5
-15.0
3.5

.4
.6
0
- 2.3
.6
- 4.2
3.8

.1
.4
.9
2.7
- .5
.8

-

-

-

.2
1/ .2
- .5

.2
.1
2.5
3.1
0
.8

.4
.5
1.1
.2
.1

.3
0
.3
1.2
.2

—

1.7
1,1
1.9

.4
0
.5

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

1.5
.1
- .1
- .1

lien's and boys'
—
Women's and girls' —
Footwear
— — —

Public —
Private

—

—
—

—
—

—

—
— —
— —

-

-

0
.1
.2
0

1/ Change from July 1958 to September 1958.




to

0

.2
.4
.2
0
.5
1.1

Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurnishings
— — —

June 1958

4.3
5.0
- 1.8
.7

.1
.7
0
7.5
.1
.8

.3
.4
1.3
.5
- 5.1

1.1
- 1.3
3.7
0
.6

1.9
.8
3.8
.1
1.1

1.2
.1
2.1
1.1
1.4

2.8
0
3.4

.5
0
.6

.5
3.3
0

•6
.1
.9
1.7

.1
- .1
- 1.6
- .2

0
.1
.3
.3

-

.4

V .1

-

.2
—

-

0.3

0.4
-

-

.2
.3
2.9
- 1.4
5.2
-10.2
4.5

.2

-

.5
.7
1.2
- 1.6
2.1
- 9.9
5.6
.3
1.0
2.8

1.1
1.2
1.0
.4
2.1
1.0
%2

1.1
.1
2.4
- .2
.6

3.0
- 1.1
7.2
.3
1.8

.5
.2
1.1
.2
- .4

0
0
- .4
1.0
- .3

2.3
0
2.8

2.5
0
2.9

.8
0
1.0

1.7
0
2.2

3.4
14.2
#9

1.8
0
2.1

.7
.1

.6
- .6
- 1.4
- .1

3.2
.7
1.4
0

.3
.2
.3
1.2

.3
.5
.6
. - .2

.3

-

-

-

.3
2.0
- 1.2
1.1

.3
.9
.1
.5

-

September 1958

-

3.3
.1
.7
.2

-

-

•

-

.6
.6

TABIC 5: Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
September 1958 indexes and percent changes, August 1958 to September 1953
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

C19VM9.100]
Total
food at hone

T ota] food
City

Percent
change

Index

Index

U.S. city average
— 120.3
118.4
Atlanta
Baltimore
120.3
Boston
— — — — 120.0
117.7
Chicago
122.8
Cincinnati
117.0
Cleveland
120.3
Detroit
•oust on — — — — — 117.3
113.6
Kknsas City
123.3

- 0.3
- .1
- 1.5
- 1.0
.6
- .6
- 1.0
- .2
.2
.3
.5

Minneapolis
118.1
lew lork
121.3
Philadelphia
123.3
Pittsburgh
121.9
Portland, Oreg.
— 121.6
8t. Louis
122.4
Ban Francisco
— 123.9
Bcranton — — — — — — 118.2
Seattle
122.5
Washington, D.C.
121.7

- 1.1 116.6
.2 119.5
- .8 120.9
.2 120.8
.1 120.3
.9 118.5
1.1 122.5
- .3 118.0
- .2 121.7
- .6 120.0
ZABI£ 6:

118.7
118.0
117.5
118.1
115.6
121.0
115.1
118.6
115.8
111.5
119.7

Cereals and bakery products;
Flour., wheat — — — — — — — —
5 ib.
Biscuit six — — — — — —
20 oz.
Corn meal —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Rice —
—
—
—
—
—
—
ib.
Rolled oats — — — — —
is oz.
Corn flakes — — — — —
12 oz.
Bread, white — — — — — - —
ib.
Soda crackers — — — — — —
ib.
Vanilla cookies — — — —
7 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak —
—
—
ib.
Chuck roast — — — —
ib.
Rib roast — — — — — — —
ib.
Hamburger — — — — — — —
ib.
Veal cutlets — — — — — —
ib.
Pork chops, center cut — — —
ib.
Bacon, sliced — — — — — —
ib.
Ham, whole — — — — — — —
ib.
Lamb, leg — — — — — — —
ib.
Frankfurters — — — — — — —
ib.
Luncheon neat, canned — — — — - 12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to*cook — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen —
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen —
—
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned ---------- is oz.
Tuna fish, canned — — — — e to 64 oz.
Dairy products;
Milk, fresh, (grocery) —
— qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream
pt.
Butter — — — — — — — — — — — — ib.
Cheese, American process — —
lb.
Milk, evaporated — — — 144-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries — — — — —
10 oz.
Orange juice concentrate — — 6 oz.
Peas, green — — — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green — — — — —
9 oz.
Fresh:
Apples — — — — — — — —
ib.
Bananas — — — • • • — . — — — ib.
Oranges, size 200 —
—
—
doz.
Lemons — — — — — — — — —
lb.
Grapefruit *
«aoh




Index

Percent
change

Meats, poultry,
and fish
Index

Dairy
products

Percent
change

-

0.5
.1
.1
- .5
.2
- .2
.2
- .2
.2
.1
0

118.2
114.5
116.6
109.0
118.2
109.8
112.5
112.3
111.2
11A.8

- 1.6 114.1
- 2.2 116.5
- 1.8 117.7
- .1 113.3
- 1.6 112.6
- 1.8 116.2
- 2.4 110.6
- 1.2 112.1
- .4 112.8
- 2.7 101.1
- 2.8 110.8

- 1.3
.4
- 1.1
.1
0
.9
1.2
- .4
- .2
- .7

- 2.3
3.0
.3
1.6
3.3
- .2
.1
- .2
.6
.4

110.1
116,7
115.7
115.0
119.5
113.2
118.8
116.9
118.8
113.6

- 1.8
0
- 2.4
- 1.5
- .8
- 1.7
- 1.5
- 1.4
- .8
- 3.2

134.5
141.8
134.6
132.7
140.2
124.7
147.2
134.9
147.3
131.7

115.8

Percent
change

Index

- 0.4 133.5
- .1 126.5
- 1.8 128.2
- 1.1 132.5
.8 123.7
- .7 131.8
- 1.1 129.9
- .1 125.6
.2 126.1
.4 127.6
.6 141.1

Fruits and
vegetables

103.8
117.8
118.8
116.8
117.3
107.3
116.4
113.3
115.6
118.0

Percent
change

Index

Other
foods 1at hoae
Index

Percent
change

1.0

120.7

- 3.4

115.2

2.1

2.1
.2
.3
.4
0
0
.6
.2
10.1
1.4

126.0
116.9
120.5
119.5
125.9
113. a
125.7
122.6
111.2
125.6

- 1.6
- 9.2
- 7.4
1.6
- 2.7
- 5.0
- 2.9
- .6
- 3.7
4.5

108.2
114.1
109.8
121.3
119.2
117.5
116.8
110.5
108.4
115.0

2.7
1.3
1.1
4.1
2.1
1.8
2.9
1.7
2.5
1.7

.4
1.6
.1
2.5
.1
3.9
2.4
2.5
.1
- .3

121.0
115.9
126.5
122.4
114.3
127.7
126.0
113.5
121.4
124.2

- 5.5

12*3.4
115.0
114.6
123.7
117.3
123.4
115.8
113.8
115.6
117.5

3.0
3.0
2.6
1.6
0
2.9
2.5
2.6
1.5
3.0

-

- 4.8
- 5.0
- 2.2
- 1.3
1.6
4.0
- 5.6
- 2.2
- 2.7

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

Food and unit

* Priced only in season.
1/ Not available.

Percent
chaise

Cereals and
bakery products

Sept*
1958

Aug.
19 58
Cents
55.0

26.8
12.9

18.6

20.3
25.5
19.3

29.2
24.5
103.7
62.4
81.6
53.8
135.0
93.5
83.0
66.3
77.1
66.3
51.6
44.3
45.7

56.2

62.5
33.2

24.0

104.0
62.7
81.7
53.9
134.2
94.6
86.4
68.9
76.8
67.1
50.8
46.5

46.0

55.0
63.4
33.1

25.3
29.7
74.6
57.8
15.1

23.7
25.1
29.7
73.5
57.8
15.1

26.2

26.4

28.9

19.8

23.3
14.4
17.1
87.2

18.0

28.8
19.6

23.2

(1/)

19.1
80.3
17.8

Food and unit
Fre s h — C ontinued
Peaches • —
—
—
—
—
ib.
Strawberries * — — — — —
t.
p
Grapes, seedless * — — — —
ib.
Watermelons * —
—
—
—
ib.
Potatoes — — — — — —
10 ib.
Sveetpotatoes — —
— - — - — ib.
Onions
—
ib.
Carrots
ib.
Lettuce
head
Celery
ib.
Cabbage — — — — — —
ib.
Tomatoes — — — — — — —
ib.
6eans, green — — — — —
ib.
Canned:
Orange juice — — — — — 46-oz. can
Peaches — —
— —
#24 can
Pineapple — — — — — —
#2 can
Fruit cocktail — — — — — #303 can
Corn, cream style — —
#303 can
Peas, green — — — — —
#303 can
Tomatoes — •

*

—

—

Aug.
1958

Cents
15.1

Cents

22.1

24.5

52.2
13.8
9.0
14.5
15.9
14.2
7.0
18.3
19.3

3.4
59.1
18.8
9.4
15.2
14.8
14.3
7.0
19.4
17.0

44 to 5 oz.

43.8
34.2
34.9
26.5
17.8
21.1
16.7
10.1

41.7
33.9
34.8
26.3
17.7
21.1
17.6
10.1

ib.
ib.

33.6
19.2

33.4
19.0

10j- to 11-oz. can

12.4
15.1
27.0
22.2
87.7
69.4
24.1
28.0
92.8
29.1
23.1
37.8
56.8
56.9
26.1
27.8
5.2
68.7
9.0

12.5
15.1
27.1
22.1
89.6
73.0
24.0
27.9
93.9
29.1
22.9
37.9
56.6
56.9
26.0
27.8
5.2
60.9
9.0

—

Baby foods — — — — —
Dried;
Prunes
Beans — — — — — —
Other foods at home:
T<natO SOUp

Sept.
1958

—

#303 can

—

—

Beans with pork — — —
ia-oz. can
Pickles, sweet — — — — —
74 oz.
Catsup, tomato — — — — — —
14 oz.
Coffee — — — — — — —
lb. oao
Coffee —
lb.'b *g
Tea bags — — — — — — — Pkg. of le
Cola drink, carton — — — — —
36 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated —
3 ib.
Margarine, colored — — — — —
ib.
Lard
ib.
Salad dressing — — — — — —
t.
p
Peanut butter — — — — —
ib.
Sugar — — — — — — — —
5 ib.
Corn syrup — — — — — — — 24 oz.
Grape jelly — — — — — — — 12 oz.
Chocolate bar — — — — — —
1 0 z.
Eggs, Grade A , large — — — — — doz.
Gelatin, flavored — — — — 3 to 4 oz.

Labor D . C . - gLS £9-1026

7

BrJ-gf Baptaffitjpfi pf the Pfl

The Consumer Price Index (CFI) 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 4-6 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
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 = 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 is contained in BLS Bulletin 1140, "The Consumer
Price Index: A Layman's Guide," which may be purchased for 20 cents at any Bureau of
Labor Statistics regional office (addresses below) or from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S # Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. A more technical
description of the index appears in BLS Bulletin 1168, "Techniques of Preparing Major BLS
Statistical Series." Reprints of chapter 9> pertaining to the CPI, are available on
request to the Bureau of labor Statistics in Washington or at any of its regional offices.
Historical series of index numbers for the United States city average and for
20 large cities are available upon request. These series include index numbers for All
Items, Food, Apparel, and Rent for periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of
goods and services from 1947 to date.
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
St., NE
250
0 1 1 Seventh
6 2
3




New York
341 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

LABOR - D . C.

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10