Full text of CPI Detailed Report : September 1959

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Released October 23, 1959
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR SEPTEMBER 1959
Prices of consumer goods and services in United States
cities rose 0.3 percent between August and September 1959; according to the United
States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices were higher for
all major groups of goods and services except transportation. Food prices rose
0.3 percent, nondurable commodities other than food 0.6 percent, and services O A
percent; prices of durable commodities remained at their August levels.
The September Consumer Price Index was at a new record
high, 125.2 percent of the 19^7-^9 average and 1.2 percent higher than in
September 1958.
HOUSING

Housing costs rose 0.3 percent during the month, with
increases in all component subgroups. The gas and
electricity and solid fuels and fuel oil subgroups advanced 1.2 and 0.8 percent,
respectively, with higher rates for gas and seasonal advances in coal prices.
Housefurnishings were up O A percent primarily because prices of several household
textiles returned to regular levels following August white sales. Prices were also
higher for bedroom suites and toasters, but prices of washing machines and refrigerators were reduced prior to the introduction of new models. A rise of 0.4 percent
in household operation costs was largely the result of higher rates for domestic
service in several cities and further increases in prices of laundry and dry
cleaning services. Prices of home repair and maintenance advanced 0.3 percent,
with increases for most items. Rent continued its upward trend, with a rise of
0.1 percent.
FOOD

Average food prices were up 0.3 percent in September, as
seasonal advances in prices of eggs, dairy products, and
meats more than offset a less-than-seasonal drop in prices of fresh fruits and
vegetables. The food index, at 118.7, was 1.3 percent lower than a year ago and
2.5 percent below the July 1958 peak.
prices, although rising 7 percent during the month
as seasonally lower supplies were further curtailed because of prolonged hot
weather, averaged more than 10 cents a dozen lower than a year earlier. Prices
of dairy products were up seasonally (1.2 percent) as fresh milk and butter
prices increased 1.4 and 3.2 percent, respectively.
Prices of meats, poultry, and fish increased 0.5 percent
largely because of an advance of 4 percent in pork chop prices. Ham prices rose
slightly, but bacon was lower. Beef prices were up 0,1 percent as an increase
in round steak prices was almost offset by a decline for chuck roast. Poultry
prices rose 0.3 percent.
Prices of cereals and bakery products increased 0.1 percent.
Fruit and vegetable prices decreased 1.2 percent as larger
supplies of apples, potatoes, and sweet potatoes became available. Prices of
sweet potatoes fell 18 percent, potatoes 13 percent, apples 11 percent, onions
7 percent, and grapes 6 percent. Lettuce prices rose 31 percent because of




2
adverse weather conditions; peach prices showed an end-of-season increase of 15
percent as supplies were limited; and prices of green "beans and celery were
seasonally higher.
Restaurant meal prices advanced 0.2 percent.
APPAREL

Apparel prices rose 0.9 percent, partly due to the
reintroduction of fall and winter items at regular
prices following end-of-season sales last winter. Higher prices were reported
for women's and girls1 coats, womenfs suits, wool dresses, and nylon hose and for
men's topcoats and slacks. Footwear prices were up O A percent, as men's and
women's shoes continued to advance.
OTHER COMMODITIES
AND SERVICES

An advance of 0.5 percent in medical care reflected higher
hospitalization insurance rates in New York and Minneapolis
Prices were also higher for other medical services and for
prescriptions and drugs.

Reading and recreation costs were up O A percent because of
increases in movie admission charges and higher prices for television sets as new
models were introduced.
The personal care group index increased 0.3 percent, due
almost entirely to higher prices for men's haircuts.
Transportation, down 0.2 percent, was the only major group
of goods and services which did not increase. Declines of 1.0 percent in dealers
selling prices of new cars and 0.8 percent in gasoline prices more than offset
an advance of 1.1 percent in prices of used cars.




3

TABLE It Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, September 1959
and percent changes from selected dates
(1947-49=100 unless otherwise specified)

Percent change to September 1959 from --

Indexes
September
1959

Group

All items
Food

Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables— •
—
Other food 8 at homo • • •• •
•• Food away from home (Jan. 1953=100)
Housing 2J
Rent
Gas and electricity •
Solid fuels and fuel oil
Housefurni shings
Household operation • — - — . . • • • •

••

August
1959

August
1959

June
1959

125.2

121*.8

0.3

0.6

1.2

110.8

118.7
116.2
134.1
110.4
115.5
124.1
107.6
116.8

118.3
115.7
134.0
109.9
114.1
125.6
106.2
116.6

•3
.4
.1
•5
1.2
- 1.2
1.3
.2

- .2
- -3
- .1
- 1.1
2.8
- 7.7
5-2
1.0

- 1.3
- 2.1
.4
- 4.7
1.2
2.8
- 6.6
3.0

152.0
146.7
134.4
165.4
131.9
168.0
122.3
(I/)

129.7
140.0
121.6

129.3
139.8
120.1
133.9
103.6
134.6

•3
.1
1.2
.8
.4
.4

70.4

1.0

1.4
1-3
3.1
- .1
.4
2.3

15.9
139.4
94.8
97-7

108.0
108.8

.9
.4
1.7
.4
.4

1.6

1.8

107.6

1.0

.8

115.0

1.7
2.5

84.4
174.2

1.2

•9
6.0
1.0
3.6
3.8
2.7

106.6
139.7

135.0

104.0
135.2

Apparel
— • •• —
ten1 s and boys1
-1
Women's and g i r l s —
• Footwear• • Other apparel
• .. .. — •••. -

109.0
109.2
100.5

Transportation
Private
Public
•

11*6.1*

—

Medical carePersonal care—

• m,..—•,..

Reading and recreation

•

Other good8 and services • •

••••—- — ••••

137.9
92.9

98.8
137.3
92.5
-

September
1958

.6

.4
1.9
.8
-

.2
.1

.1

Year
1939

61.7

128.8
IO8.5

135.3
194.9

146.7
135.5
194.9

0

•3
•3
1.1

152.2

151.4

.5

1.1

3.9

109.6

132.1

131.7

.3

.8

2.6

121.6

119.6

119.1

.4

1-3

2.6

89.8

131.5

131.1

•3

1.8

3.5

86.3

128.7

128.2

.4

•9

2.3

86.3

122.9

122.4

.6

1.2

121.8

117.0

116.6
118.3
118.3
118.6
107.9
102.7

•

Special groupss
All items less f o o d —
All items less s h e l t e r —

—

—

Nondurable s
—
••• •
Food
Nondurables less f o o d —
—
Apparel—
- • —•••
Apparel less f o o t w e a r — —
Nondurables less food and a p p a r e l Durables
New cars
Used oars (Jan. 1953=100)
Durables less c a r s — — — — — — —
Commodities less f o o d — - —

—

Service s
— —
Rent
Services less rent-*
—>••
••——
Household operation services, gas,
and electricity— —
Transportation services Medical care services—
—
Other services 2/
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=$!•00)

—
—
—
—

118.8
118.7

119.3

.4
•3
.4
•3

.6

108.9
103.8
128.2

127.8

112.8
135.1
98.3
103.1

112.8
136.5
97-2
103.0

115-7

115.3

.3

11+6.9
11*0.0
11*8.7

146.3
139.8
148.1

.4*

136.2
181.7
157.9

.8

132.6

135.1
181.3
157.0
132.2

$0,799

$0,801

•3
•5
- .2
1-3
1.6

.9
l.l
•3
0
-

1.0

1.4
1.1
0

- 1.3
1.8

103.2

1-7
•9
1.7
2.3
3.8

109.0
(1/)
QS.5
/6.9
-37.0

-

2.3

4.8
.2

11.2

0

79.9

(l/)

•9

1.9

94.8

1.0
.4
1.1

2.7
1.3
3.0

102.3

.2

1.4
1.3

.6

1.2
.9

2.9
3.6
4.4
2.5

.5

- l.l

.1

.4

•3

-

.1

-

1.1
.1

126.7
131.1
152.0

•5

.2

-

82.7
61.7

56.6
126.8

124.0
127.4

-

52.6

1 / Not available.
£/ 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

TABI2 2 s Conswer Price Index—111 items indexes and percent changes, selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

Faroe nt change to
current month fraa <

Indexes (1947-49=100)
September
1959

City

June
1959

September
1958

June
1959

Tear
1939

September
1958

125.2

121*. 5

123.7

59.4

0.6

1.2

129.2
124.8
127.8
123-5
125.8

127.7
123 A
127.0
122.5
124.0

127.-4
123.8
126.0
121.4
123.4

58.6
59.0
60.4

1.2
1.1

1.4
.8
1.4
1.7
1.9

September
1959

June
1959

126.0
127.5

125.5
126.6
123.1
126.3

United States city averageCities priced monthly 2/
ChicagoDetroitLos AngelesHev YorkPhiladelphiaCities prioed in March, June,
September, December
2/
Atlanta
Baltimore
—
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco-

123.6

126. 4
130.8

Cities prioed in February, May,
August, November
2/

August
1959

125.8

Cleveland—
Houston
Sc rant on
Seattle
Washington, D. C.-

121K 8

121.2
128.9
122.0
July
1959

Cities prioed in January, April.
July, October
2/

125.6

Boston
— — — - •
Kansas City
—
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, O r e g o n — — —

126.0

125.4
125.7
126.1

September
1958
124.6
124.8
122.5
125.3
128.4

129.6

May
1959

August
1958

125.1

125.3
124.1
120.0
127.9
121.8
April
1959
125.1
125.5
125.1
124.5
125.3

.6
.8
1.5

60.1
59.2

Year
1939

June
1959

Year
1939
59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4

July
1958

Year
1939

125.4
124.8
124.9
124.7
124.7

61.0

1.1
2.2
.9
.9
1.9

.4
.7
.4
.1
.9

58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6

124.0
120.4
126.3
121.2

September
1958

May
1959

August
1958
.6
.6
.7
2.1
.7

.4
.6
1.0

.8
.2

April
1959

July
1958
.2
1.0
.4
.8
1.1

.4
.4
.2
1.0
.6

61.7
60.7

58.1
58.3

2/ Rents prioed bimonthly.
2/ Foods, fuels, and a few other items priced monthly; rents and other oomnodities and services priced quarterly.

TABLE 31

City
Ubited States city averageC h i c a g o — — — — — —
Detroit—— — - — • • • — — —
Los Angeles-• —
— — —
New Y o r k — —
—
Philadelphia




Consumer Price Index—Percent changes from August 1959 to September 1959
U.S. city average and five cities priced monthly
All items and cosnodity groups

All
items
0.3
.7
.9
.'2

.4
1.1

Food

Housing
0.3

0.3
.6

'•9
.3

1.1

.8
.8
.9

-

.1
.1

1.4

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
care

0.9

-

0.2

2.1

-

.2

0

1.9
1.8

1.4
.8

.1

-

.2

2.4

-

.1
.1

Personal
care

0.5

0
2.4
.1

-

Beading
and
recreation

0.3

0.4

.1

1.0

•7
.4
.1
.4

l.l
.2

-

.3
2.6

Other
goods &
services
0.3
0
.8
0
0
1.8

TABU
Consumer Prioe Index—All items and comnodity groups
September 1959 indexes and percent changes, June 1959 to September 1959
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in September 1959
U.S.
City
Average

Group

Atlanta Balti- Chicago
more

Cincinnati

Detroit

NewYork

Los
Angeles

Philadelphia

St.
Louis

* San
Francisc<

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

*

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

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

Men's and boys' —
Vonen's and girls'
Other apparel
Transportation
Private
Public

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

125.2

126.0

118.7

116.5
114.8
124.8
112.9
111.6
132.1
102.0

116.2
134.1
110.4
115.5
124.1
107.6

129.2

123.6

118.8

116.8
114.1
129.8
104.3
118.4

119.2
116.5
132.3
111.6
112.1
127.5
110.1

115.1
128.1
110.0
116.9
122.1

121.2

106.9

112.6

128.2
137.6
110.0
129.1
134.8

140.0
166.0
129.3
140.6
102.4
138.3

114.5
II6.3
105.3
144.3
93.7

111.4
107.9
105.7
140.5
99.2

113.4
115.5
103.1
141.6
97.8

107.4

146.4
135.3
194.9

145.8
137.2
193.8

161.3
i4o.o
215.4

155.2
137.2
196.9

152.2
132.1

144.6
140.3
121.7
133.8

158.8

159.0
138.1
125-8
124.5

104.0
135.2

132.6
139.3
126.2
128.7
109.9
143.8

109.0
109.2
100.5
137.9
92.9

129.7
140.0
121.6
135.0

119.6

Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

127.5

131.5

98.8

133.8
130.9

140.3

125.6
144.0
129.3
147.6
96.2

137.6
107.8
98.0

143.8
89.4

124.8

127.8

123.5

125.8

126.4

130.8

118.1

IO8.9

123.7
119.0
146.1
110.6
113.4
132.0
108.0

120.9
117.6
142.2
112.0
119.2
119.2
108.8

122.0
119.1
137.2
112.6
119.5
128.7
107.0

118.7
113.8
122.2
105.3
107.3
128.1
114.9

122.8
120.4
147.2
114.8
118.8
130.5
107.2

127.7

136.6

123.9

128.7
146.2
110.9
157.3
104.1
137.1

133.4
150.8
150.4
108.4
123.8
110.1
109.0
101.7
144.3
91.4
166.9

115.2
125.2
106.9

112.4
127.0

—

119.3
126.8
110.1
123.1
107.1
109.9
96.7
134.8

147.4
135.3
102.7
125.4
110.2
111.8

101.9
138.7

86.8

85.I

142.1
130.3
191.4

141.0
133.8
179.4

141.7
137.6
164.3

154.5
129.6
111.5
130.9

158.1
135.1
116.8

146.7
134.2

136.8

101.9
132.8

127.1

128.8

119.0
136.0
104.1
136.5

105.9
128.6
108.4
140.4

106.9
108.5

IO8.3
108.9

96.5
137.6
96.3

138.8
94.4

108.2
108.5
100.6
134.8
93.4

154.7
134.7
193.4

159.7
136.3
237.1

154.1
184.8

158.6

169.3
130.9
98.3
132.0

155.0
128.7
117.8
133.1

0.9

147.1
128.5

191.4
143.2
123.9
120.7
133.0

98.9

136.3
125.9
132.3

__

Percent change from June 1959 to September 1959

0.6

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

—

—

-

.2
-3

-

.1
1.1

2.8
- 7.7
5.2

— — —
— —

Apparel
—
—
Men's and boys' — — — — —
Vonen's and girls' s
Footwear
— — — — — —
Other apparel — — — — — —

0.7

.5
.5
.5

.2
.2

-

1.0

- 1.9
- 4.9
4.8

.6
.4
1.9
.8

Rent
Solid fuels and fuel oil
lousefurnishlngs
Household operation

0.4

-

—
—
—
—

P r i v a t e — — — — — - — — • —
Public
Medical care
—
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goeds and services

.1

•3
.1

0
0
-

.6

-

- .3
- 1.3
-

.2

- 4.4
5.4
.8
.1
.2

- 1.4
- .7

1.2
•3
.3
0
- .6
4.6
- 7.3
5.7

.1
.2
.4
.3
.1
- 6.4
5.6
1.1

1.2
1/

.2

.5
2.8
5.6
.2
1.5

0
2.6
.8

1.0

4.3

.2

1.0

1.6
1.0

1.2

2.1

1.7
2.5

.7
1.1
3.0

1.2

.6

.7
1.8
5.6
1.4

3.8
1.9
5.6
3.4
2.3

.3
•3
1.1

1.7
1.9
0

1.0
1.2
0

.9
1.1
0

1.1
.8
1.3
1.8

.2
4.4
.2
0

.1

1.6
1.4
.1

.1
1.2
1.4

.1
1.0

2.9

.8

* Indexes for June 1959 for San Francisco revised as follows:
All items, 129-6
Transportation, 165.0
Private transportation, 152.4
1/ Change from July 1959 to September 1959.




0.4
-

•5
.4 •
.3
1.5

1.1
-

.5
.9
.6

-

.7
4.4
-13.4
6.0

-

3.2
.4
1.1

1.6
2.5
3-1

.6

-

.7
0

5.3
3.5
14.0
.1
.9
1.4
.8

-

1.5

0.1

.8

.6
.6
.2
.5
2.8
- 5.2
6.4

- .8
- 1.1
- 2.2
- 1.3
1.3

1.2
1/ -3

1.1
.1
4.4
2.9

1.3
1.1
3.6

-

1.9

-

.1

.2
1.5

.8

.4

2.2

-

1.2

0.8

.2
.1
- 1.3
4.6
- 7.1
6.4
—

1 / .3

1.3
0
.2
.3

2.0

.1
.1
.1

2.3
- 2.9
3.2

.6
—

.2

.3

0.6

-

.2
.7
.2
3.0
.6

1.9
1.6
2.1
2.1
1.9

.4
.2
1.8
•3

.1
.4
1.4

1.1
0

- .1
- .6
- 1.2
6.8

.8

-

-

.6

3.0
.1
3.4
2.8
.6
4.4
3.1
1.8

1.8
.4
2.0
3.1
3.1

1.2
1.6
0

-

.6
.8

3.3
.5
5.3

.9

1,8

2.2

8.7

5.1

-

.2
.5
.1
- 2.2
2.9
- 5.4
3.6

1.2
.1
1.6
2.3
.7

1.3
1.7

1.2

0

1.2

1.2
.2
- .5
0

.2
3.7
- .4
7.0

1.1

6
TABI£ 5> Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
September 1959 indexes and percent changes, August 1959 to September 1959
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49=100)
Total
Dairy
Cereals and
Meats, poultry,
Total food
food at home
bakery products
and fish
products
Percent
Percent
Percent Index Percent
Percent
change
change
change
change
change
0.1
1
1
6
.
2
110.4
1.2
0.4 134.1
0.5
118.7
0.3
115.5

Fruits and
vegetables
Percent
change
124.1 - 1.2

Atlanta
Baltimore Boston •
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Detroit
Houston — —
Kansas City
Los Angeles

116.5

132.1

Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia —
Pittsburgh •
Portland, Oreg. —
St. Louis
San Francisco
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

118.0

City
U.S. city average

.1

118.8
119.8
116.8
119.2
Ilk.2
118.1
114.1

112.6

.7
.6
.8

.4

1.1

.3
.2

123.7

120.9
122.0
120.7
121.2
118.7
122.8
116.4
120.8
119.5

.4
.8
.9
1.0
0
.8
.7
1.1
0
.5

114.8
115.1
116.8
114.1
116.5
111.8
115.2
111.6

.3
.4
1.0

.7
1.0
.6
1.1
.4
.2
1.0

109.6
119.0

.4
.9

114.7

117.6

1.0
1.0
.1
1.0

119.1
118.9

117.8
113.8
120.4
115.0
118.5

.7

1.1
0
.6

117.0

TABLE 61

September
1959
Cents

Cereals and bakery products:
5 lb.
Flour, wheat
Biscuit mix
20 oz.
Corn meal
lb.
Rice, short grain
— - 1 • ib.
Rice, long grain
it>.
Rolled oats
18 oz.
Corn flakes
12 oz.
Bread, white
lb.
Soda cracjcers
lb.
Vanilla cookies
— 7 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak
—
— lb.
Chuck roast —
lb.
Rib roast
lb.
Hamburger
— lb.
Veal cutlets
lb.
Pork chops, center cut
lb.
Bacon, sliced
lb.
Ham, whole
— — — ib.
Lamb, leg
— lb.
Frankfurters
—
ib.
Luncheon meat, canned
—12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cock — ib.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
ib.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
ib.
Salmon, pink, canned
— 16 oz.
Tuna fish, canned
6 to 64 oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
i*Milk, fresh, (delivered)
itIce cream
— —
...pt.
Butter
-lblb
Cheese, American process
Milk, evaporated
i4i-oz. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries —
10 oz.
Orange juice concentrate
6 oz.
Peas, green — — — — — —
10 oz.
Beans, green — — — — —
9 oz.
Fresh:

53.9
27.0
13.0
18.9

20.9
20.4
25.6
19.7
29.1

24.4
107.8
62.1
83.0

54.6
143.4
89.0
65.9
60.5

74.8
63.5

*

Priced only in season.




.5

112.9
110.0

132.2

.1
.2
.6

113.3

129.8
132.3
128.9
125.2
124.9
126.9
146.1
134.3
142.2
137.2
131.9
139.9
122.2
147.2
132.3
146.6
130.8

doz.
ib.
each

August
1959
Cents
54.1
27.0
13.0
19.0

20.8

20.4
25.6
19.7
29.1
24.5
107.0
62.7

82.5
54.7
142.9
85.4

66.6
60.1

74.9
63.5

50.9

51.0

41.7
47.3
57.1

41.5
47.2
57.9

62.3

61.7

32.6

33.2

24.4

24.1
25.3
29.7
74.3

25.6

29.7
76.6

58.2
15.2

58.2

15.2

26.3

26.2

26.4

26.3

19.8

19.9
22.7

22.7
14.1
17.2

—

.2

.5
.6
.2
.1
0
.1
.3
1.6
.1
.3
1.8
0
.2
.1
.2

.2
.4

.7

112.6

111.0
114.0

105.3

114.8
110.4
114.9
108.9

122.1

.8
0
.4

.7

112.4

1.6

127.0

113.8

.2

.2
•3

111.2
113.4

.5
1.3
.8
1.0
.2
1.5
.9
1.6

108.2
119.2
119.5
117.8
120.9
107.3
118.8
113.5
118.1
118.6

104.4
104.1
110.6
112.0

6.6

112.1
110.3

.6
1.8
1.6
1.2

106.5

115.9
118.4

- 1.9
.2

124.1
121.2
127.5
116.9

111.6
103.9
106.9

104.3

111.6
116.9

.3
.5

.5

1.8

1.9
1.4
.8

2.8
•3
.9

2.8
2.9

.5
0

123.6

114.8

.2
.6
- 3.2
- .9
-

132.0

1.0
1.9
1.6
1.0
1.6

3.9

123.5
119.2
128.7
126.6
115.1
128.1
130.5
119.4
121.3
125.4

-

2.8

Percent
change
107.6

1.3

102.0
106.9
104.3
112.6
110.1
109.5
108.9
102.9
101.2
108.0

2.0

2.1
1.9
1.7
2.2
•5
2.9
.8
2.1
.1
1.5

2.0
1.0
2.6
1.9
2.0
2.9
.2
1.9
.1

-

.7

114.2
108.8

-

.1
1.2

107.0
117.2

- 1.9
- .5
3.4
- 1.5
- 1.4

107.2

110.4
114.9
106.7
105.9
110.1

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

Food and unit

Oranges, size 200
Lemons
Grapefruit * —«...

124.8
128.1

Other
foods at home

69.8

19.3
16.5

15.8
16.8
69.9
17.9
16.5

Food and unit
Fre sh—Continued
— lb.
Peaches
_ pt.
Strawberries *
... lb.
Grapes, seedless * —
— lb.
Watermelons * •
10 lb.
Potatoes
lb.
Sweet potatoeslb.
Onions
• . lb.
Carrots
head
Lettuce
lb.
Celery — •
^ lb.
Cabbage ••—•-—•—
— lb.
Tomatoes
— lb.
Beans, green <
Canned:
46-oz.
can
Orange juice
#24 can
Peaches — —
#2 can
Pineapple
. #303 can
Fruit cocktail
. #303 can
Corn, cream style
- #303 can
Peas, green
- #303 can
Tomatoes
44 to 5 oz.
Baby foods
Dried:
lb.
Prunes — —
lb.
Beans
Other foods at home:
104
to
11-oz.
can
Tomato soup
16-oz. can
Beans with pork
Pickles, sliced —
Catsup, tomato
Coffee
Coffee
Tea bags
Cola drink, carton
Shortening, hydrogenated
Margarine, colored
Lard
Salad dressing
Peanut butter
&igar
Corn syrup «
Grape jelly
Chocolate bar
Eggs, Grade A, large
Gelatin, flavored
3 to 4 oz.

September
2m
Cents

August

1959
Cents

17.7

15.5

21.9

23.2

58.5
12.9
9.2
13.9
22.7
14.5
8.4
21.1

21.2
52.1
34.6
36.6
27.3
19.3
20.0

4.0
67.6
15.8

9-9
14.5
17.4

13.4
8.3

22.0

19.4
51.9
35.6
36.4
27.7
19.6

15.2
10.1

20.4
15.4
10.1

40.2

40.2

17.2

17.3

12.4
15.0
26.4
22.4
76.6

26.4

56.9

24.3
29.5
88.2
27.7
19.1
37.6
55.5
57.5
26.5
28.3

5.1
58.3
9.2

Labor D.C.

12.5
15.0
22.3
76.8
57.0

24.3
29.4
88.9
27.7
19.3
37.7
55.5
57.3
26.5
28.3
5.1
54.3
9.3

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 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 k-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. 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

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
Sandpo int, Idaho
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shenandoah, Iowa
Youngstown, Ohio

Huntington, W. Virginia
Laconia, New Hampshire
Lodi, California
Lynchburg, Virginia
Madill, Oklahoma
Madison, Wisconsin
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Middletown, Connecticut
Newark, 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 S-fcatistics 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

LABOR - D. C.

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10