Full text of CPI Detailed Report : September 1961

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Released October 25, 1961
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR SEPTEMBER 1961
Prices of consumer goods and services rose by 0.2 percent between
August and September to a new high of 128.3 (1947-49=100), the U.S. Labor Department's
Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today.
Seasonal increases for apparel and continued higher costs for services
were the major influences in the advance. However, all major nonfood components contributed. Seasonal declines for fruits and vegetables lowered average food prices.
Thus far in 1961, consumer prices have advanced by 0.7 percent, the
smallest increase for a January to September period since 1955. Compared with September
1960, average retail prices were 1.2 percent higher, with increased charges for services
responsible for slightly more than half of the rise.
APPAREL

The 1.1 percent rise for apparel, though not unusual for this season
of the year, was sufficient to carry the apparel index slightly over
the record level of 111.0 (1947-49=100) reached in October 1960. The advance between
August and September was due primarily to seasonally higher prices for new fall wool
clothing for both men and women, which more than offset small declines reported for a
number of other clothing items. The increase of 1.9 percent in average prices of women's
and girls 1 apparel was the largest rise noted for the comparable monthly period since
1955. As a consequence, the index for women's and girls' apparel was at a record high.
However, despite a rise of 0.7 percent over the period the index for men's and boys'
apparel remained 0.3 percent below record levels prevailing in September and October 1960.
HOUSING

Although most housing components advanced slightly over the period,
housefurnishings and rents were most influential. Among housefurnishings, the most significant increase was recorded for household textiles, reflecting the
return to regular prices following traditional August "white sales." Prices of durable
housefurnishings also edged upward for the first time since January. Residential rents
rose by 0.2 percent over the month, the largest increase since October 1960. Most cities
recorded increases. The advance was attributable in part to rising costs to property
owners, particularly higher property taxes. Costs associated with home purchase were
relatively stable over the month as price movements in the various cities were largely
offsetting; average prices over the year, however, were slightly lower,
FOOD

The drop of 0.1 percent in average retail food prices was at ributable
mainly to seasonal reductions for fresh fruits and vegetables and a
continued decline in poultry prices, which more than offset increases for meats, eggs,
restaurant meals, and dairy products. The 0.7 percent increase in restaurant meals
substantially offset the 0.3 percent decline in the food purchase for home consumption
index. The total food index, 121.1, was 0.7 percent above a year earlier, reflecting a
2.5 percent increase in prices of restaurant meals and an 0.4 percent rise in food
purchased for home consumption. Overall food prices have declined by about 0.8 percent
from the record level of 122.0 reached in July 1961.
Prices of fresh fruits and vegetables fell by 6.8 percent as lower
prices were recorded for apples, tomatoes, grapes, potatoes, and all other priced fresh
vegetables except snap beans. In comparison with a year ago, the index for all fruits
and vegetables combined averaged 1.5 percent higher, with advances for most fresh fruits
and processed fruits and vegetables more than cancelling a reduction of about 6 percent
in prices of fresh vegetables.




An 0*9 percent increase in the index for meats, poultry, and fish
was due primarily to a 1.5 percent rise in average prices for meats as nearly all
individual items increased over the period*
Offsetting these increases to some extent
was a further drop (2.3 percent) in poultry prices, reflecting the continuation of record
production.
Seasonal increases for fluid milk largely accounted for the 0.4
percent rise in the index for dairy products. Average retail prices of eggs increased
seasonally by 6.5 percent; their prices remained approximately 5.6 percent below year
earlier levels.
TRANSPORTATION
AND OTHER GROUPS

The transportation index rose slightly (0.1 percent) as continuing
advances in used car prices and gasoline offset small price reductions
for new automobiles. The used car index, up 0.7 percent in September,
has risen almost 20 percent since January, surpassing the 13 percent price recovery
recorded from March to December 1958. The relatively low level of new car sales last
summer did not provide dealers with the usual supply of trade-in cars, and inventories
remained below a 30 days 1 selling supply for the seventh consecutive month. Prices of
new cars declined by 0.6 percent as the 1961 model year came to a close.
COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENT

As a result of the September index, 1- or 2-cent per hour increases
are scheduled for 86,000 workers on the basis of a quarterly review
of their cost-of-living escalator allowances. About 51,000 employees
of transportation and aircraft manufacturing firms will receive 1-cent increases. The
majority of the 35,000 workers scheduled to receive 2-cent increases are aircraft firm
employees, while the remainder work in a variety of industries.




3

TABUS It Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group and subgroup indexes, September 1961
and percent changes fro* selected dates
(1947-49=100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to September 1961 from—

Indexes

laar
1939

September
1961

August
1961

August
1961

June
1961

September
1960

All itema

128.3

128.0

0.2

0.5

1.2

116.0

Food

121.1
117.8
139.7
109.4
119.0
126.5
108.9
122.3

121.2
118.2
139.6
108.4
118.5
132.4
107.6
121.5

- .1
- .3
.1
.9
.4
-4.5
1.2
.7

.2
0
0
1.9
1.4
-6.6
2.7
.9

0.7
.3
1.4
- .7
1.3
1.5
- .4
2.5

157.1
150.1
144.2
163.0
139.0
173.2
125.0
(1/)

132.6
143.9
125.7
137.2
103.8
138.9

132.3
143.6
125.6
136.9
103.2
138.8

.2
.2
.1
.2
.6
.1

.2
.3
- .5
1.2
- .1
0

.5
1.3
0
1.8
- .3
.7

74.2
66.2
19.8
143.3
94.4
103.1

111.1
111.9
102.1
141.5
93.4

109.9
111.1
100.2
141.2
92.9

1.1
.7
1.9
.2
.5

1.4
.4
2.7
.5
.9

.5
- .3
1.0
.9
- .4

111.6
120.3
87.3
181.3
130.0

149.4
136.9
209.4

149.3
136.8
209.1

.1
.1
.1

1.2
1.2
1.0

3.2
3.1
4.5

112.8
109.0
157.6

Nsdical carei

161.7

161.4

.2

.5

3.1

122.7

Personal caro

134.3

134.2

.1

.3

.3

125.3

125.0

124.4

.5

1.2

2.4

98.4

133.8

133.6

.1

.5

.8

89.5

Group

Cereals and bakery products
Dairy products
Food sway from hone (Jan, 1953=100)
Housing 2/
Rent •

•

»

Solid and petroleum fuels
Housefurnisliingo
• •••

••„,••••
•••

Apparel-———
Msn*s and boys1
Women's and girls1

PrivatePublic

•• -

••

Other goods and serviceo

•

•

•

••

Special groupst
132.0

131.6

.3

.6

1.3

91.0

All items less shelter • ••••••••

125.8

125.6

.2

.5

1.2

127.1

Cowaoditie o
• ••
•
Nondurable s
Pood
Nondurable a less food—"—

118.7
121.0
121.1
121.5
111.0
105.7
130.4
111.9
135.4
96.8
102.1

118.4
120.8
121.2
120.7
109.7
104.3
130.0
111.9
136.2
96.1
102.1

.3
.2
- .1
.7
1.2
1.3
.3
0
- .6
.7
0

.6
.5
.2
1.0
1.5
1.6
.7
.6
-1.0
4.6
.3

.8
.6
.7
.5
.5
.4
.5
1.7
2.3
14.4
- .9

130.0
135.4
157.1
107.0
113.1
a/)
97.9
95.3
137.5
a/)
78.2

116.6

116.1

.4

.9

.9

96.3

153.2
143.9
15$. 6

153.0
143.6
155.4

.1
.2
.1

.3
.3
.4

1.6
1.3
1.7

90.5
66.2
111.7

140.8
189.9
169.8
138.2

140.6
189.8
169.5
137.9

.1
.1
.2
.2

0
.3
.6
.4

.7
2.2
3.8
1.2

61.8
137.1
140.9
137.0

$0,779

$0,781

- .3

- .6

-1.3

-53.7

All items less food •

— — —

-

Apparel less footwear ••
Nondurables less food and apparelDurable S "
M.I....
New cars
Used oars (Jan. 1953=100)
Commodities less food' •—

—— • •

Service a • •
— — —
• • •
Rent • •• • •
Services less rent-Household operation services, gas,
and electricity—
••
• •
Transportation serviceo
Medical care serviceo •
•• • • • •
Other services
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(1947-49=41.00)

r

1/ Hot available.
2/ Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep, not shown separately*
J/ Includes house purchase, interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repairs, television repairs, barber
and beauty shop services, and movies*




4

TABIC 2 s

Consumer Prloe Index—All items indexes and percent changes, selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities

Feroent change to
current month from

Indexes (1947-49=100)
September
1961

City
United States city average

June
1961

September
1960

Tear
1939

June
1961

—
Year
1939

September
1960

128.3

127.6

126.8

59.4

0.5

1.2

116.0

131.1
124.9
131.3
126.8
128.4

129.7
125.8
131.4
125.8
127.8

130.4
125.4
129.8
125.5
127.2

58.6
59*0
60.4
60.1
59.2

1.1
- .7
- .1
.8
.5

0.5
- .4
1.2
1.0
.9

123.7
111.7
117.4
111.0
116.9

June
1961

September
1960

.7
- .2
.6
.2
.8

.3
.7
.5
1.4
1.4

Cities prioed monthly ij

Detroit
Los Angeles

-

••

Philadelphia

September
1961

cities prioed in March, June,
September, December
2/
Atlanta-Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco-

128.3
129.6
125.4
129.2
134.9
August
1961

Cities prioed in February, May,
August, November
2/
Cleveland
Houston
Scranton
Seattle
Washington, D. C.

-

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

Kansas City
Minneapolis
—
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon

—
—
—

—

June
1961
127.4
129.8
124.6
129.0
133.8
May
1961

September
1960
127.9
128.7
124.8
127.4
133.0
August
1960

128.7
126.3
124.3
131.8
125.2

127.9
126.1
124.1
131.7
124.3

127.4
126.1
121.8
129.8
123.2

July
1961

April
1961

July
1960

130.4
129.8
129.2
129.6
129.3

130.0
129.5
129.0
129.2
128.3

128.7
127.9
127.5
128.9
127.5

Year
1939
58.3
57.9
58.4
59.3
58.6
Year
1939

May
1961

59.2
59.5
58.5
59.2
60.4
Year
1939

120.1
123.8
114.7
117.9
130.2

August
1960

.6
.2
.2
.1
.7

Year
1939

1.0
.2
2.1
1.5
1.6

April
1961

61.0
61.7
60.7
58.1
58.3

Year
1939

117.4
112.3
112.5
122.6
107.3

July
1960

.3
.2
.2
.3
.8

Year
1939
113.8
110.4
112.9
123.1
121.8

1.3
1.5
1.3
.5
1.4

2 / Rente prioed bimonthly*
2 / Foods, fuels, and a fev other items prioed monthly; rents and other cwnodltles and servioes prioed quarterly*

TABUS 31

Consumer Price Index—Percent changes from August 1961 to September 1961
U.S. oity average and five cities priced monthly
All items and commodity groups

City

All
items

Ifcited States city average—

Detroit--—-"-Hew York
Philadelphia- -




•

•

—

Transportation

Medical
oare

Personal
oare

Resfllng
and
recreation

Other
goods &
eerrioos

Food

Housing

Apparel

0.2

-0.1

0.2

1.1

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.5

0.1

.2
- .7
.2
.3
.3

- .2
-1.7
.4
.4
- .5

.2
- .1
.1
.2
.5

2.2
0.6
.4
1.4
2.6

- .2
-2.3
- .7
- .1
- .4

0
0
.3
0
.5

.1
- .1
.1
.6
0

0
- .3
0
.4
.5

- .2
- .4
.3
.1
.1

T A B U At C o o a u M r Prioe Index—All iteo* and ccmcdlty groups
September 1961 indexes and percent changes, June 1961 to September 1961
U.S. city average and 10 oltles prioed in September 1961
U.S.
City
Avinif

droop

Atlanta Baltimore

Chicago Cincinnati

Detroit

Los
Angeles

5

New
York

Philadelphia

St.
Louis

Indexes (19^7-^9-100)
*

128 3

128 3

129,.6

131,.1

125.4

124,.9

131,.3

126,.8

128.,4

129,.2

134,.9

—
—
—
—
—

121 1
117 8
139 7
109 4
119 0
126,,5
108..9

119 1
117 4
127 1
113 1
117 6
133..5
106,,0

121,.6
116,.1
135,.2
109,.9
117,.4
119,.9
108..7

119,.3
116,.5
133,.6
104,.4
124,.2
124,,5
114.,7

120.8
117."7
132.9
112.5
117.1
126.3
110.7

118,.7
115,.6
129,.6
104,.5
120,.8
122,>8
108,.5

125,.8
119,.4
151,.5
109,.2
117,.3
135,.0
103,.9

122,.7
118,.2
150,.2
108,.4
120,.6
123,.4
108..2

122,.8
118,.8
139,.1
108,.4
122,,0
128..0
109..5

121,.0
115,.4
124..4
106,.6
111,.6
128..8
115.,5

126,.2
122,.6
153,.4
115,.1
122..1
136,.2
106,.5

132,.6
143..9
125.,7
137.,2
103..8
138..9

135.,4
142..0
135..8
130.,6
106..2
149..2

128..8
141..0
109..3
139,.1
99,.5
138..2

141.,5
169.,5
130,.1
141..2
102,.7
138,,8

126.6
144.7
136.7
149.0
95.3
145.0

125,.3

140,.7
152,.0
148,.2

132.,3

123,.0
127,.5
107,.0
124,.2

126..5
132,,9
106..7
130..6
109..5
148..3

128..4
151..2
114..7
158.,0
102..9
142..1

139,.0
161..7
158.,1

102,.0
128,.2

122,.5
144,.8
107..4
139,.3

106..3
130.,1

Apparel
lien's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
— — —
Other apparel — —

111.,1
111..9
102.,1
141.,5
93.,4

115.,1
119.,7
103.,4
149,,6
91,,9

114.,2
109.,6
108.,2
148..0
100.,1

114.,1
116..8
102..8
145.,8
96.,6

108.5
109.9
98.4
145.5
89.6

108..6
110,,8
98..3
136..9
87..5

112.,0
115..0
102,.5
142..3
85..2

110..5
112.,5
98..9
146..0
97..6

Ill,,9
111,.8
103,,3
141,,6
96..6

110.,6
110..8
103.,1
137..8
94.,1

112..3
111..2
103..5
148..7
92..6

Transportation

149,,4
136..9
209.,4

146,.0
136,,5
202,.1

164..4
140,.8
231..5

157.,4
138,,1
205..4

145.9
134.1
193.5

136..7
128,.9
179..1

149..6
140,.1
216.,3

148.,4
129..9
191..0

159.,3
136.,3
211..6

163..0
137.,6
252.,7

167..4
154.,4
187.,1

161,J
134.,3
125.,0
133.,8

149,,7
140,,5
126,.6
133,,6

176..3
132.,6
130.,9
140.,0

170..0
139..6
123.,2
123.,9

161.8
130.1
114.9
130.4

171,.9
142..0
118..7
137..4

154.,1
135..2
104..0
132..6

150..6
124..3
128.,8
131..9

170..9
144.,5
122.,8
133..9

174..2
140..0
114.,6
136..9

163.,1
132.,0
124..3
135.,3

All i t « M

rood at hone
Cereals and bakery products
M a t s , poultry, and fish —
Dairy products
— — — — —
Traits and vegetables
—
Other foods at hone
—

Oas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels*
lousefnrnlshings
—
—
Household operation

—

Private
PublicMedical care
— —
Personal care — —
Beading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

—

—

Percent change from June 1961 to September 1961

0.5

0.7

-0.2

1.1

0.6

-0.7

-0.1

0.8

0.5

0.2

0.8

.2
0
0
1.9
1.4
-6.6
2.7

2.1
2.5
- .1
2.8
.2
3.2
4.5

- .1
- .4
- .3
2.2
- .1
-7.8
2.3

0.8
.7
.5
1.6
2.4
-4.7
3.4

- .2
- .3
-4.6
3.2
- .2
-4.5
1.7

-1.9
-2.1
0
2.0
1.2
-15.9
1.8

- .6
- .9
-1.4
1.6
1.9
-4.6
-2.1

1.2
1.0
.7
1.5
3.9
-4.8
3.9

.3
.3
.1
1.3
1.8
-5.5
3.5

- .6
- .9
-1.1
1.2
.8
-9.6
3.3

0
^ .2
.4
2.0
2.1
-8.1
2.3

.2
.3
- .5
1.2
- .1
0

.1
.4
0
0
-1.4
.2

- .6
.4
- .9
1.4
-1.5
.1

.6
.5
.1
1.9
1.5
.4

.9
0
- .1
7.7
1.3
1.5

.8
0
.8
-1.6
-1.0

0
.4
.1

.3

—
—
—
—
—

.2
2.2
- .2
0

.6
.6
0
6.6
- .5
- .1

.7
2.1
0

- .3
- .5

.1
1/ .7
0
1.2
- .2
.1

—
—
—

1.4
.4
2.7
.5
.9

- .3
-1.1
-1.0
1.7
1.5

.4
.4
.5
.3
.2

2.4
.7
5.3
.1
1.4

1.7
.5
3.5
.2
1.0

.6
0
1.2
- .2
.2

.5
1.1
0
.3
1.7

2.3
.1
4.7
1.0
1.3

2.7
0
5.2
1.4
1.3

- .2
- .3
.2
.3
-2.9

0
.4
- .2
- .3
0

Transportation
—
—
—
—
P r i v a t e — — — — — — — — — —
P u b l i c - — — - - — — - — —

1.2
1.2
1.0

- .2
- .2
0

1.2
1.5
0

3.5
4.3
.2

.8
.7
1.2

1.7
2.1
0

- .1
- .3
1.0

.1
0
0

- .5
- .7
0

- .7
- .9
.1

2.6
2.7
1.2

Medical eara
—
—
—
—
Btrseaal care
—
—
—
—
Heeding and recreation
—
Other goats a m services
—

.5
.3
1.2
.5

1.7
- .8
.5
0

.2
- .2
.4
- .4

- .2
1.2
.4
.2

.1
.8
3.3
- .7

.4
- .1
- .3
-3.0

.5
.1
.5
- .4

.3
1.0
1.2
- .3

.5
.6
.7
.4

.8
.6
3.4
.1

.7
.2
2.7
.1

All items

yoo4
Pood at home —
—
—
Cereals and bakery products
Heats, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
— • — — —
Fruits and Tegetables
—
Other foods at has»
lousing
Bent
— — — —
Oas and electricity
Solid end petroleum
Iousefurnisalngs
leasehold operation

—
—
•
—

—
—

Apparel —
Mam's and boys'
Vanea's and girls'
Feu I pee i
—
—
—
Other apparel
—

— —
— — —
f u e l s
—
—
—
—
—

—

—
—

—
—
—
—

1/ Change from July 1961 to September 1961.




1/

1/

.2
0

6

TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index — Food and its subgroups
September, 1961 indexes and percent changes, August 1961 to September, 1961
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1947-49-100)
Total food
City

Total '
food at bona

Index

Percent
change

Index

—

121.1

-0.1

117.8

-0.3

139.7

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

119.1
121.6
120.6
119.3
120.8
116.5
118.7
117.0
114.6
125.8

.5
- .6
- .7
- .2
-1.0
- .1
-1.7
0
- .3
.4

117.4
116.1
116.4
116.5
117.7
113.3
115.6
113.8
111.0
119.4

.6
- .8
-1.2
- .3
-1.2
0
-1.9
.2
- .7
.5

127.1
135.2
134.2
133.6
132.9
132.6
129.6
128.5
134.7
151.5

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

117.5
122.7
122.8
122.1
124.2
121.0
126.2
116.5
125.1
121.5

0
.4
- .5
- .7
.4
0
1.0
- .2
.2
- .3

113.5
118.2
118.8
120.3
120.4
115.4
122.6
114.6
121.4
118.2

-

137.7
150.2
139.1
142.1
143.1
124.4
153.4
137.1
151.8
138.9

U.S. city average

TABLE 6:

Food and unit
Cereals and bakery products:
Flour, wheat
—
5 lb.
Biscuit mix
— 2 0 »x.
Macaroni
\6 ex.
Corn meal
i*.
Rolled oats
13 ax.
Corn flakes
1 2 ax.
Rice, short grain
lb.
Rice, long grain
lb.
Bread, white
1*..
Soda crackers
lb.
Sandwich c o o k i e s —
16 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak
lb.
lb.
Sirloin steak
Chuck roast
lb.
Rib roast
lb.
Hamburger
lb.
Veal cutlets
lb„
Pork chops, center cut
la.
Pork roast
—
lb.
Bacon, sliced
lb.
Ham, whole
lb.
Lamb, leg
lo.
Frankfurters
lo.
Luncheon meat, canned —
12 ax.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook - lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen-lb.
Salmon, pink, canned
16 «x.
Tuna fish, canned - —
6 t* 6& ox.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
Ice cream---i gal.
Butter
lb.
Cheese, American process
\ ib.
Milk, evaporated
H ^ z . eaa
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
Strawberries - - —
— —
10 « t .
Orange juice concentrate — - 6 «c.
Lemonade concentrate ------- 6 ax.
Peas, green
10 »z.
Beans, green
9 ax.
Potatoes, french fried - - — 9 as.
Fresh:
Apples—
-li.
Bananas
—-----——lb.
Oranges, size 200
---das.
Lemons — - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - l b .

*

Cereals and
bakery products

Priced only in season.




change

0.1

109.4

0.9

.1

113.1
109.9
109.8
104.4
112.5
105.2
104.5
104.6
102.5
109.2

- .3

- .1

.3
-3.6

0

- .1
0

0
- .6
2.2
.7

0
1.4
1.3

- .2
0
.3

- .1

.3

Dairy
products

Fruits and
vegetables

Other
foods at hi

Psroant

Index

change

.1
.1
.7
.7
.4
.1
.9
- .3
.3
- .5

Meats, poultry,
and fish

2.2

.8
.3

.6
0
1.3

change

119.0

0.4

117.6
117.4
112.5
124.2
117.1

.1

120.8

.8

115.9
113.8
117.3

.2
.6

102.5
108.4
108.4
113.0
114.5

0
1.4
3.2

106.6

1.6

115.1
109.1
113.6
107.2

2.1

1.2

1.2

- .2

- .1
.5

- .1

110.6

1.1
.3
1.4

- .1

.3
.3

.1

126.5

-4.5

133.5
119.9
129.0
124.5
126.3
119.7

-1.3
-6.5
-6.7
-4.4
-4.2
-4.2
-11.8
-1.9
-6.3

122.8

108.9

1.2

106

0.7

1.1

108
105
114

.3
1.5
.3
1.7

110
110
108

.2

104
102
103

1.3
2*0

112.6
108.2

1.7
1.9
1.5

.1
1.9

128.7
115.4
135.0

109.1

0

122.8

120.6
122.0

1.2

123.4

.1

128.0

115.3
124.1

-2.1

123.4
122.7

111.6
122.1

0

128.8

2.0
2.2

136.2
113.6

-4.5
-4.6
-5.2
-6.4
-3.5
-4.2
- .2
-9.0

.1
.1

128.0

-2.6

109.5
119.4
111.4
115.5
106.5
107.8
107.3

124.4

-3.1

111.8

113.8
125.3

122.0

-

.6

-0.8

.1

.8

- .2

2.1

- .1
2.3

1.8

.6

Consumer Price Index -- Average retail prices of selected foods
U.S. city average
September
1961
Cent 8
55.8
47.9
23.3
13.4
22.5
26.7
18.5
20.7

20.8
29.0
52.2

102.8
106.6
57.1
79.3
50.5
142.4
90
64
75
61
69
62
50.7
36.2
47.7
54.4
75.5
32.0

August
1961
Cents
55.9
48.1
23.3
13.3
22.5
26.7

18.6
20.7
20.9
29.1
51.6
101.2
106.1
55.8
78.6
49.2
141.8

88.8
63.2
73.5
60.3

68.1
63.1
50.8
37.1
47.6
54.3
75.0
32.2

24.7
26.4

24.5
26.3

86.1

86.2

76.3
36.2
15.8

76.3
36.2
15.9

27.0
24.2
13.7
22.7
19.7

27.0
24.3
13.7
20.3
22.9
19.7

17.6

21.9

20.2

16.2

16.1

84.7
18.7

81.6
18.7

Food and unit

September
Cents

Fresh—Continued
Grapefruit * —
— eaoh
Peaches *
lb.
Strawberries *
— pt.
Grapes, seedless *
lb.
Watermelons *
lb.
Potatoes
10 lb.
Sweet potatoes
lb.
Corn
doz. ears
Onions
— lb.
Carrots
lb.
Lettuce —
bead
Celery—
lb.
Cabbage
lb.
Tomatoes —
lb.
Beans, green
lb.
Canned:
Orange juice
— 46-ax. earn
Pineapple juice
46 ax. eaa
Peaches
eaa
Pineapple
£2 earn
Fruit cocktail
*303 eaa
Corn, cream style
j*303 eaa
Peas, green
^303 eaa
Tomatoes
*303 eaa
Tomato juice
46 ax. e&a
Baby foods
ta 5 ax.
Dried:
Prunes
lb.
Beans
lb.
Other foods at home:
Tomato soup
lo£ ta 11-az. eaa
Beans,with p o r k - - — — 16-ax. eaa
Pickles, sliced
—
1 5 ax.
Catsup, tomato —
14 ax.
Potato chips
4 ax.
Coffee
lb. «»a
Coffee
lb. batf
Coffee, instant
6 oz.
Tea bags
pk*r. mt 16
Cola drink, carton
36 ax.
Shortening, hydrogenated — 3 ib.
Margarine, colored
lb.
Lard
lb.
Salad dressing — - —
p*.
Peanut butter —
— lb.
Sugar
lb.
Corn syrup
24 ax.
Grape jelly
12 ax.
Chocolate bar
1 ax.
Eggs, Grade A, large
— - dax.
Gelatin, flavored
3 ta 4 ax.

August
Cent 8

16.7
16.6

15.6
16.6

23.1
59.4
16.7
59.3
10.5
15.2
15.9
12.7
8.1
19.2
20.1

31.1
4.2
62.6
19.8
66.9
12.0
16.1
16.3
13.2
8.6
24.8
19.8

48.9
32.9
32.7
38.6
26.5
21.1
22.1
15.8
32.7
10.4

48.6
33.8
33.2
38.5
26.7
21.0
22.1
16.0
33.1
10.6

41.8
17.1

41.8
17.0

12.3
14.9
26.5
22.9
28.0
73.1
58.7
92.9
24.5
31.0
92.0
29.0
20.4
38.1
55.7
58.2
27.0
29.2
4.5
59.3
9.7

12.4
14.9
26.5
22.9
27.9
73.5
58.6
94.2
24.6
30.9
91.9
29.3
20.4
38.0
55.7
58.7
27.1
29.4
4.5
55.8
9.7

LABOR - D. C.

7
Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
service^ usually bought by city families of wage earners and clerical workers. It is
based on prices of about 300 items which were selected so that their price changes would
represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by wage and clerical
families; they include all of the important items in family spending. - Prices for these
items are obtained in 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 cure 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 Bureaufs trained representatives.
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending. City
data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 19^7-^9 « 100.
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from the
20 large cities for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small cities:
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W. Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N. Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

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

Pulaski, Virginia
Ravenna, Ohio
Rawlins, Wyoming
San Jose, California
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 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
3kl Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zone 11

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10

LABOR - D. C.




OCCUPATIONAL WAGE SURVEYS
(BLS Bulletins 1285-1 through 1285-82)

The U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics has released all of the
occupational wage surveys for major labor markets conducted in late I960 and early 1961.
The individual bulletins provide earnings information for about 60 jobs selected from several
categories: Office clerical, professional and technical, maintenance and powerplant, and
custodial and material movement.
In addition to areawide averages and distributions of workers by earnings classes
for each job, information is provided wherever possible by major industry division, including
manufacturing, public utilities, finance, trade, and services.
In 42 of the areas, data are also presented for paid holidays; paid vacations; scheduled
weekly hours; health, insurance, and pension plans; m i n i m u m entrance rates; and shift differential practices.
The areas covered, survey date, bulletin number, and price are as follows:

Area
Akron —
—
Albany^-fSohenectady^-Troy .
Albuquerque
.
—
Allentown—Bethlehem—Easton
Atlanta Baltimore .
_
...
Beaumont—Port Arthur
Birmingham _
. .
Boise
—
Boston
... .
Buffalo
Burlington .
.
_ ...
Canton ...
.... .....
Charleston (W. Va.)
, ,
Charlotte
Chicago

.

. .

rinrinnati

Cleveland
. .
.....
Columbus
... —
Dallas
Davenport—Rock Island—Moline
nayton

Denver .

.

- _

Detroit
Fort Worth
Green Bay

Indianapolis .
Tarlcsnn

.......
-,

Tarlr arm-trill*
Kannas

P.ity

Lawrerfce-Haverhill —
Little Rock-North Little Rock
Los Angeles—Long Beach .
Louisville
.
.
Lubbock ..
.
Manrh«ftt<»r

Miami




Payroll
period

Bulletin
number

June 1961
M a r c h 1961
M a y 1961
February 1961
M a y 1961
December I960
M a y 1961
April 1961
M a y 1961
October I960
December I960
M a r c h 1961
December I960
April 1961
April 1961
September I960
April 1961
M a r c h 1961
September I960
January 1961
N o v e m b e r I960
October I960
January 1961
December I960
February 1961
January 1961
N o v e m b e r I960
August I960
April 1961
M a y 1961
December I960
February 1961
December I960
N o v e m b e r I960
June 1961
August I960
M a r c h 1961
February 1961
M a y 1961
August I960
January 1961
D e c e m b e r I960
April 1961

1285-81
1285-51
1285-61
1285-47
1285-73
1285-34
1285-75
1285-53
1285-62
1285-15
1285-31
1285-57
1285-29
1285-60
1285-58
1285-14
1285-66
1285-59
1285-11
1285-38
1285-21
1285-16
1285-41
1285-27
1285-43
1285-37
1285-23
1285-2
1285-63
1285-78
1285-28
1285-42
1285-30
1285-18
1285-79
1285-6
1285-52
1285-49
1285-67
1285-1
1285-35
1285-33
1285-64

Price
(in cents)
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
25
25
20
20
20
20
25
25
20
25
25
25
25
20
20
20
25
25
20
20
20
20
20
25
20
20
25
25
25
20
20
20
20
25

Number
of
copies

Number
Area

Muskegon—Muskegon Heights

_

N e w York ...
Norfolk-Portsmouth and
Oklahoma City
Pater son-Clifton—Passaic —
PhiladelphiaPittsburgh

Bulletin
number

Price
(in cents)

January 1961
M a y 1961
February 1961
February 1961
March 1961
April 1961

1285-39
1285-69
1285-40
1285-46
1285-48
1285-65

25
20
20
20
25
25

June 1961
August I960
October I960
M a y 1961
November I960
March 1961
January 1961
November I960
M a y 1961
M a y 1961
September I960
December I960
M a y 1961
October I960
December I960
M a y 1961

1285-82
1285-3
1285-13
1285-74
1285-24
1285-55
1285-44
1285-19
1285-72
1285-70
1285-5
1285-26
1285-68
1285-10
1285-32
1285-71

25
25
25
20
25
20
25
20
20
25
25
20
20
25
25
25

September I960
January 1961
M a y 1961
August I960
August I960
November I960
March 1961
M a y 1961
March 1961
December I960
November I960
March 1961
November I960
September I960
September I960
June 1961
February 1961

1285-4
1285-36
1285-76
1285-8
1285-7
1285-17
1285-54
1285-77
1285-50
1285-25
1285-22
1285-56
1285-20
1285-9
1285-12
1285-80
1285-45

20
25
20
25
25
15
20
25
25
25
25
15
20
25
25
20
20

Payroll
period

—

-

Portland (Oreg.) — ,
Providence—Pawtueket
Raleigh
-

—

—

,
,, .

Salt Lake City

of
copies

San Bernardino—River side—

Scranton
Seattle
Sioux Falls ., „
SontVi
Toledo

, • ,

Washington, D. C.
Waterloo
Wichita

—

Worcester
_
York ,„. ,..„, , * , „.,.,.

To:
Superintendent of Documents
Government Printing Office
Washington 25, D.C.

ORDER FORM
OR

Bureau of Labor Statistics^—
18 Oliver Street, Boston 10, Mass.
341 Ninth Avenue, New York 1, N.Y.
1371 Peachtree Street, NE., Atlanta 9, Ga.
105 West Adams Street, Chicago 3, 111.
630 Sansome Street, San Francisco 11, Calif.

Enclosed find f
in [ |check, | [money order, or | leash (cash at sender's risk). Make
checks or money orders payable to the Superintendent of Documents.
Twenty-five percent discount for bundle order of 100 or more copies of any one bulletin.
Please send me copies of Occupational Wage Survey bulletins as indicated.




Name __
Address
Zone .

State