Full text of CPI Detailed Report : September 1962

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Released October 26, 1962

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR SEPTEMBER 1962
The Consumer Price Index rose by 0.6 percent in September, the U.S.
Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today. Much of the advance
resulted from substantial increases in meat prices which were attributed to the withholding of livestock from the markets by the farmers. In addition, egg prices rose
seasonally, and apparel prices showed the largest September increase in a decade with
the introduction of new fall and winter clothing.
Consumer prices averaged 1.4 percent higher than a year earlier,
mostly because of increases for food and services. The Consumer Price Index for
September 1962 was 106.1 percent of the 1957-59 average. (On the former base of
1947-49=100, it was 130.2).
FOOD

The food price index advanced by 1.0 percent between August and
September 1962, largely because of higher prices for meats and eggs.
Prices of poultry and milk also increased, but fresh fruit and vegetable prices were off
seasonally.
All cuts of beef were higher, with increases ranging from 4.7 percent
for hamburger to 8.4 percent for chuck roast. Pork chop prices were up by 5.8 percent and
pork roast 7.6 percent. Prices of frying chickens rose 3.6 percent. Egg prices rose by
nearly 15 percent in September as production dropped seasonally, but they were still
almost 1 percent below a year earlier and at their lowest September levels since 1959.
Food prices averaged 2.1 percent higher than a year ago, led by an advance of 7.2 percent
for meats, poultry, and fish, and smaller increases for cereals and bakery products, and
for restaurant meals.
APPAREL

The rise of 2.0 percent in apparel prices was somewhat larger than
the usual increase in September, when consumers begin to buy new fall
and winter clothing in volume. Prices of women's and girls' apparel rose 3.7 percent,
led by increases for coats, wool dresses, and wool skirts. Men's and boys' clothing
prices were 1.1 percent higher, with increases for suits, topcoats, and jackets. Apparel
prices averaged 1.0 percent higher than in September 1961.
OTHER GOODS
AND SERVICES

Transportation costs were up 0.4 percent, largely because of an
increase of 3.8 percent in gasoline prices as price wars ended in
several cities. A decline in dealers' selling prices of 1962 model
automobiles, near the end of the model year, was offset by higher prices for used cars.
Housing costs edged up 0.1 percent, with seasonally higher prices
for both solid and petroleum fuels and a slight increase in rents.

COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS

Based on the September index,, the wages of almost 60,000 workers will
be increased by amounts ranging from 1 to 3 cents an hour. About
one-fifth of these will receive 1 cent, about four-fifths 2 cents,
either in cash or equivalents, while a small group of 1,000 workers will get 3 cents.
About 20,000 other workers will receive from 1 to 3 cents based on city indexes.




2
TABLE 1: Consumer Price Index—United States city average
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, September 1962
and percent cktngu from selected datas
(1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)

Percent change to
September 1962 from —

Indexes
(1957-39-100)

Indexes
1947-49-100

1939-100

September
1962

September
1962

Group
September
1962

August
1962

August
1962

June
1962

September
1961

106.1

105.5

0.6

0.8

1.4

130.2

219.1

104.8
103.5
107.9
106.3
104.2
102.2
97.8
111.5

103.8
102.3
107.8
102.6
103.9
105.2
95.2
111.4

1.0
1.2
.1
3.6
.3
-2.9
2.7
.1

1.3
1.4
.5
6.6
1.5
-8.7
4.7
.8

2.1
2.1
2.4
7.2
-0.9
- .1
- .8
2.7

123.7
120.3
143.1
117.2
118.0
126.3
108.1
1/

262.6
255.4
250.0
282.0
236.8
272.9
223.3
1/

104.9
105.9
108.0
101.3
98.7
107.6

104.8
105.8
108.0
100.1
98.5
107.4

.1
.1
0
1.2
.2
.2

.1
.3
.3
1.9
- .4
.2

.9
1.1
.2
.6
-1.0
1.6

133.7
145.6
125.9
138.1
102.7
141.1

175.7
168.1
120.0
244.8
192.4
206.2

104.6
104.0
103.6
109.5
101.2

102.5
102.9
99.9
109.3
100.3

2.0
1.1
3.7
.2
.9

1.8
.9
3.1
.4
.8

1.0
1.1
.8
1.4
- .2

112.1
113.0
102.9
143.4
93.2

213.6
222.6
188.8
285.1
229.5

Transportation———————————
Private
Public

107.8
106.7
115.7

107.4
106.2
115.7

.4
.5
0

.5
.7
.1

1.7
1.5
2.8

151.9
139.0
215.4

216.3
212.3
264.9

Medical cere

114.7

114.6

.1

.3

2.5

165.7

228.4

106.8

106.8

0

.7

1.9

136.8

229.6

127.4

202.2

All Iteas

Cereals and bakery products
-Meats, poultry, and f i s h — — —
Dairy p r o d u c t s — — — — — — —
Fruits and vegetables
—
Other foods at h o n e — — — — — —

Housing 2 / — — — — —
Rent
-........
Gas and e l e c t r i c i t y — — — — — —
Housefurnishings——————————
Household o p e r a t i o n — — — — — — — —
A p p a r e l — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Woven's and g i r l s ' — — — — — — —
Footwear
— —
Other a p p a r e l — — — — — — — —

Personal

c a r e — — — — — — — — — —

Reading and

r e c r e a t i o n — — — — — —

Other goods and services

--------

110.0

110.3

- .3

.7

1.9

105.6

105.5

.1

.4

.6

134.5

190.7

106.6

106.2

.4

.5

1.2

133.7

193.5

106.1

105.5

.6

.8

1.5

127.7

230.6

104.1
104.7
104.8
104.6
104.5
103.5
104.6
101.6
100.4
120.5
98.6

103.2
103.5
103.8
103.2
102.4
101.0
103.7
101.7
101.0
119.1
98.7

.9
1.2
1.0
1.4
2.1
2.5
.9
- .1
- .6
1.2
- .1

1.0
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.8
2.1
.8
0
-1.1
2.9
- .2

1.3
1.6
2.1
.8
1.0
.8
.9
.6
- .3
7.3
- .4

120.2
122.9
123.7
122.5
112.0
106.5
131.5
112.6
134.9
1/
101.7

233.1
239.2
262.6
208.6
215.0
1/
199.5
196.5
236.7
1/
177.4

103.4

102.6

.8

.8

.8

117.5

197.6

109.8
105.9
110.5

109.9
105.8
110.6

- .1
.1
- .1

.3
.3
.3

1.8
1.1
1.7

155.9
145.6
158.3

193.8
168.1
215.5

108.6
110.5
117.5
109.3

108.5
111.7
117.3
109.3

.1
-1.1
.2
0

.1
- .9
.5
.6

1.2
.5
3.3
2.1

142.5
190.9
175.3
141.1

163.8
238.3
248.6
241.9

$0,943

$0,948

- .5

- .7

-1.4

$0,769

$0,456

Special groupe:
All item less food

-

All iteas less shelter

.....

Food
Hendurables less food
Apparel less f o o t w e a r — — — — — —
Nondurahles less food and a p p a r e l Durables---———————---------------Used

c a r s — — — — — — — — — —

Gennadi ties less food

—

Services less r e n t - — — - — — — — —
Household operation services, gas,
and e l e c t r i c i t y — — — — — — —
Other services 3/
Pur chasing power of the conswwr dollar
(Reference peri#d-$1.00)

—

1/ Not available.
2/ Includes house purchase, Interest, taxes, Insurance, and upkeep, net shown separately.
3/ Includes house purchase, Interest, taxes, insurance, and upkeep services; shoe repslrs, television repeirs, barker
and beauty shop services, end aovles.




TABU 2s

Consiaeer

3

Index—All items indexes and percent ohangea, selected dates
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)

Indexes
(1957-59=100)
September
1962

City
Onltad States city average-

June
1962

Percent change to
Sept. 1962 from—

Indexes
1947-49-10C 1939-100

September
1961

June
1962

September
1961

September
1962

September
1962

-

106.1

105.3

104.6

0.8

1.4

130.2

219.1

-

105.2
102.8
107.2
107.3
106.0

104.5
101.8
107.0
105.8
104.9

104.0
101.3
105.3
105.2
104.6

.7
1.0
.2
1.4
1.0

1.2
1.5
1.8
2.0
1.3

132.7
126.8
133.7
129.3
130.2

226.4
214.8
221.3
215.1
219.9

September
1961

September
1962

September
1962

.7
1.1
1.0
1.1
0

1.1
1.5
1.3
1.4
1.1

129.6
131.5
126.9
131.0
136.4

222.4
227.2
217.4
221.0
232.9

May
1962

August
1961

.3
.1
.3
.4
.4

0.2
2.0
1.7
1.7
.6

April
1962

July
1961

.1
.3
.2
.3
.9

1.9
1.0
1.2
.8
.4

Cities prload Monthly 1/
ChioagoDetroitLos AngelasBev TorkFhiladelphia
Cities prload in March, June, September,
December
2/

September
1962

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
St. Louis
San Francisco •

.
-

August
1962

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

—
— — — —
— —

103.8
104.6
106.0
106.7
104.6

Citiei prload In January, April, July,
October
2,/
Boston
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oregon

104.7
106.0
104.3
105.6
107.5

July
1962
107.2
106.0
105.7
106.0
104.8

—
—

June
1962
104.0
104.8
103.3
104.4
107.5
May
1962
103.5
104.7
105.7
106.3
104.2
April
1962
107.1
105.7
105.5
105.7
103.9

September
1961
103.6
104.4
103.0
104.1
106.3
August
1961
103.6
102.5
104.2
104.9
104.0

July
1961
105.2
104.9
104.4
105.2
104.4

June
1962

August
1962

August
1962

128.9
128.9
126.5
134.1
125.9

217.9
216.5
216.2
226.6
208.4

July
1962

July
1962

132.8
131.1
130.8
130.6
129.8

217.8
212.5
215.6
224.8
222.7

j/ Rente prload bimonthly.
2/ Foods, fuels, and a few other items prload monthly; rente and other commodities and aeraoes prload quarterly*

TABUS 3S

All
itams

City
felted States oity average—
Chicago
Detroit
Hew York
Philadelphia




Consumer Price Index—Percent changes fraa August 1962 to September 1962
U.S. oity average and five cities priced monthly
All itena and cq—odlty groupe

—

Food

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Medical
oara

Starting
Personal
and
reoreation
oara

Other
goods 4
sarvioas

0.6

1.0

0.1

2.0

0.4

0.1

0

-0.3

0.1

.8
.5
.6
.7
.8

0.9
.8
1.1
1.2
1.2

.3
.3
.2
0
.1

1.9
0.6
2.7
2.8
2.5

3.3
1.6
- .4
- .3
.6

0
.1
- .1
- .1
.2

-0.2
- .9
- .4
- .3
-1.1

- .2
0
.7
- .1
.6

- .8
0
- .2
0
.1

4

TABLE 4: Consumer Price Index—All items and commodity groups
September 1962 indexes and percent changes,
June 1962
to September 1962
U.S. city average and 10 cities priced in September 1962
U.S.
BaltiCity
Atlanta more
Average

Group

Chicago

CincinLos
Detroit Angeles
nati

New
York

PhilaSt.
delphia Louis

San
Francisco

Indexes (1957-59=100)

106.1

104.7

106.0

105.2

104.3

102.8

107.2

107.3

106.0

105.6

107.5

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

104.8
103.5
107.9
106.3
104.2
102.2
97.8

104.3
104.0
104.2
106.5
102.2
104.5
102.1

104.5
101.9
107.9
104.6
98.7
101.2
98.2

106.7
106.2
110.8
110.3
110.4
101.0
99.4

103.7
102.9
109.4
106.2
101.4
103.4
96.0

101.6
100.7
104.6
103.9
106.6
93.4
96.3

105.9
103.8
116.7
102.1
106.8
106.4
93.8

107.0
104.5
108.6
107.3
103.9
104.0
98.5

104.8
103.3
104.7
105.3
101.9
103.9
100.2

104.2
103.2
106.1
107.9
101.4
102.0
97.5

105.0
103.1
106.6
104.7
105.7
106.2
94.4

Housing
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
Hous e furnishings
Household operation

104.9
105.9
108.0
101.3
98.7
107.6

103.9
103.8
109.9
107.7
94.2
113.4

106.0
105.6
104.6
100.4
98.4
113.6

103.4
104.5
106.2
104.7
100.6
105.9

102.0
102.3
110.6
103.6
98.5
107.7

98.0

106.2
105.4
115.5

107.9

105.3
99.7
97.6
103.4

104.5
107.0
102.7
96.9
98.2
115.0

102.0
104.5
108.8
102.8
97.8
105.9

108.9
114.9
111.0

99.2
104.4

105.5
99.1
103.2
108.9

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

104.6
104.0
103.6
109.5
101.2

101.6
103.1
98.6
109.4
97.8

106.8
104.8
106.0
115.6
102.1

102.5
102.8
100.3
108.9
97.8

103.0
104.9
99.8
109.6
99.3

105.4
102.9
106.0
109.3
102.3

104.5
105.2
103.8
108.2
100.6

105.0
104.7
103.5
111.4
100.8

106.8
104.6
108.0
109.9
103.4

104.5
103.0
105.1
108.8
98.2

104.4
102.6
103.3
111.2
103.1

107.8
106.7
115.7

107.0
106.6
109.4

106.3
103.8
117.0

106.6
106.5
107.9

108.5
107.3
116.7

105.1
103.3
114.4

112.6
108.6
140.4

105.1
106.7
100.8

109.7
108.8
113.1

110.4
108.8
116.8

107.6
108.3
102.4

114.7
106.8
110.0
105.6

111.5
108.4
107.2
101.7

120.0
107.2
102.3
103.6

117. 7
106.9
100.5
101.1

113.7
100.5
106.7
104.8

114.8
106.4
107.0
109.1

114.0
103.1
103.8
106.0

114.9
2/105.0
110.4
104.1

120.6
106.1
100.2
104.4

114.4
109.6
118.7
106.8

116.3
110.2
107.2
107.7

All items

Transportat ion
Private
Public

,

Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

—

—

—

—

98.2
110.3

Percent change fromi June 1962 to September 1962
0

0.8

0.7

1.1

0.7

1.0

1.0

0.2

1.4

1.0

1.1

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

1.3
1.4
.5
6.6
1.5
-8.7
4.7

1.3
1.6
.1
6.3
- .6
-5.7
3.9

1.5
1.0
0.5
5.9
- .1
-8.5
4.6

1.4
1.4
3.0
7.1
1.8
-11.2
4.4

2.2
2.4
2.1
7.8
0.3
- 4.9
4.8

0.7
.7
- .2
8.9
.7
-13.7
4.7

- .2
- .3
- 1.4
3.3
.1
- 8.2
4.3

3.2
3.5
-0.3
7.8
3.8
-3.3
6.1

2.1
2.2
-0.7
7.1
1.5
-6.2
5.9

1.9
2.2
1.6
9.1
-1.4
-6.3
3.4

- 0.8
- 1.2
.3
2.2
0
-11.9
3.3

Housing
RentGas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
Housefurnishings
Household operation

.1
.3
.3
1.9
- .4
.2

.3
0
0
3.7
-2.9
4.1

.8
.2
.5
- .4
- .7
1.1

.2

.3
1/- .1
0

.1
.3
0
- .3
- .8
1.5

0.1
.1
0
3.6
- .6
- .5

.3
1.0
0

.2
.4

.2
.6
- .1
0

1.8
.9
3.1
.4
.8

.7
•9
1.3
.1
-1.9

1.5
1.3
2.0
1.9
- .5

1.6
1.4
3.1
0
- 1.2

1.4
3.7
.3
.4
- .1

.7
.2
1.0
1.2
.4

2.1
2.0
3.0
.3
2.4

2.6
.1
5.7
.3
1.5

2.5
.5
4.9
.1
2.6

.6
- .3
1.7
- .5
- .5

Transportation
Private
Public

.5
.7
.1

1.2
1.4
0

2.1
2.6
0

1.3
1.7
0

.3
.4
0

3.2
4.0
0

- .4
- .4
0

- .4
- .6
0

.7
.9
0

3.3
4.2
0

.3
.3
0

Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

.3
.7
.7
.4

0
0
0
0

.9
.5
- .4
.2

.4
.2
.1
.7

3.6
.1
.1
.2

.2
.7
.8
6.8

0
.1
.7
- .3

.2
.8
.4
.2

.1
- .4
.6
.2

.4
0
1.0
.2

.4
2.5
- .1
- .1

All items

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

--

1/ Change from July 1962 to September 1962.
7J Revised index August 1962 - 105.3.




.2
o
0
4.6
- .6
.7

1/

-

0
.1
.1
5.6
.3
- .3

-

--

-

.2
2.4
- .2
.1

-

-

--

.3
1/

—

--

-

.2
.3

-

.3
.2
.9
.1
.2

-

5

City

U. g. city averageAtlanta
Baltimore
Boston—-----------C h i c a g o — — —
Cincinnati
Cleveland
D e t r o i t — — —
H o u s t o n — — —
Kansas C i t y — — — —
Lot A n g e l e a — —
Minneapolis--—•——
Maw Y o r k — — —
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Portland, Oreg.----St. L o u i e — —
San Francisco------Scranton————
Seattle
— —
Washington, D. C . —

TABLI 5: Conaumer Price Index—Foo4 and Its subgroups
September 1962 Indexes and percent changes, August 1962 to September 1962
U.S. city average end 20 large cities
(1937-59-100)
Dairy
Cereals and Meats, poultry,
Total
ood
Tocax i
bakery
product!
an flah
producte
ti
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Index
Index
la*IX
Index
Index change
change
change
change
chance
104.8
104.3
104.5
105.7
106.7
103.7
102.4
101.6
104.0
105.1
105.9
102.5
107.0
104.8
103.4
104.8
104.2
105.0
103.8
106.6
103.0

Food and unit

1 0

103.5

0.9
3

104.0
101.9
104.0
106.2
102.9
101.5
100.7
101.,9
104.,8
103.8

J
,9
1,.5
,9
.8
1,.1
.9
1..1
.7
1,.2
1,.2
.9
1,.4
1,.5
.7
1,.5
.6
.4

101.,1
104.,5
103.,3
103.,2
103.,3
103.,2
103.,1
102,,8
104.,3,
101.,6

1.2
1.1
0 3
,4
,9
.8
1,,0
,8
ll,4
1.,2
1.,5
.9
1,.7
1,.4
1..0
1..7
1.,8

.8

1,.8
.7
.4

107.9
104.2
107.9
108.2
110.8
109.4
103.9
104.6
105.5
109.0
116.7
101.4
108.6
104.7
106.9
104.9
106.1
106.6
108.7
107.1
109.1

1962

106.,3

3.6

104.2

0.3

102.2

-2.9

97.,8

2.7

- .1
- .3

106..5
104.,6
106,,6
110.,3
106.,2
107.,3
103.,9
103..9
107.,0
102.,1

3.5
1.9
1.9
4.1
3.6
3.4
3.9
2.9
5.6
3.3

102.2
98.7
99.1
110.4
101.4
99.3
106.6
102.4
107.9
106.8

3
1

0

104.5
101.2
106.8
101.0
103.4
100.3
93.4
104.2
102.4
106.4

-4.1
-3.1
-2.6
-5.2
0.2
-4.0
-5.0
-2.0
-6.1
.2

102,.1
98.,2
99.,4
99.,4
96.,0
94.,9
96.,3
95..0
99..5
93..8

3.7
1.8
1.3
3.1
3.2
2.7
3.0
1.6
3.5
3.8

103,,9
107..3
105,.3
108..9
106..7
107..9
104..7
106..0
107..8
103..6

2.9
4.2
4.1
2.8
3.6
5.4
1.7
4.5
2.8
4.2

105.3
103.9
101.9
99.7
106.7
101.4
105.7
101.7
106.4
100.6

2.6
,7
,1
,2
,9
.9
.1
2.,6
,4
<,9

96.8
104.0
103.9
99.1
103.6
102.0
106.2
97.5
103.8
97.4

-6.3
-1.8
-1.5
-3.7
- .7
-4.4
- .9
-3.6
-2.8
-5.4

97,.5
98,.5
100,.2
99,.4
96,.3
97,.5
94,.4
99 .5
97,.3
98 .5

4.1
3.1
3.1
3.3
2.4
3.2
1.9
3.0
2.2
2.4

0
0

- .5
.2
.1
.3
.3
-1.4
- .9

0
-1.1
.1
1.2
1.4
.1

0
0
- .7

.0
2
2
1
2
3!0
- .,4

- .

- ,
-

mz

Centa

Cents

Flour, w h e a t — — — — — — — — 5 lb.
Biscuit m i x — — — — — — 40 os.
M s c a r o n i — — — — — — 1 6 os.
Corn m e a l — — — — — — l b .
Rolled o a t s — — — — — — 1 8 os.
Corn flakes
—
12 os.
Rice, short g r a i n — — — — — — l b .
Rice, long g r a i n — — — — — — l b .
Bread, white
—lb.
Soda c r a c k e r s — — — — — — l b .
Sandwich c o o k i e s — — — — — — 1 6 ox.
Meats, poultry, and flah:
Round a t e a k — — — — — — — l b .
Sirloin a t e a k — — — — — — — — l b .
Chuck r o a s t — — — — — — — l b .
Rib r o a a t — — — — — — - l b .
Hasfcurger——————————lb.
Veal c u t l e t s — — — — — — l b .
Pork chops, center c u t — — l b .
Pork r o a a t — — — — — l b .
Bacon, siiced------------------lb.
Has, w h o l e — — — — — — — l b .
Lamb, leg
lb.
Frankfurters-----—--—-—--—lb.
Luncheon meat, c a n n e d — — 1 2 os.
Frying chlckena, ready-to-cook-lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frosen——lb.
Haddock, fillet, f r o s e n — — l b .
Salmon, pink, c a n n e d — — 1 6 os.
Tuna fish, canned-——6 to 6% os.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, ( g r o c e r y ) — — — q t .
Milk, freah, (delivered)
qt.
Ice c r e a m — — — — — % gal.
Butter————————————lb.
Cheese, American process
\ lb.
Milk, evaporated——14% os. can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frosen:
S t r a w b e r r i e s — — — — 1 0 os.
Orange juice concentrate—6 os.
Lemonade c o n c e n t r a t e — — 6 os.
Peas, g r e e n — — — — — — 1 0 os.
Beans, g r e e n — — — — — 9 os.
Potatoes, french f r i e d — - 9 os.
Fresh:
Apples——————————lb.
Bananaa
--lb.
Oranges, slse 2 0 0 — — — d o s .

57.2
48.0
24.9
14.2
23.8
27.7
19.3
21.6
31.1
52.3

57.3
47.8
24.8
14.1
23.8
27.5
19.3
21.6
21.2
31.0
52.4

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

106.5
110.7
61.3
83.5
51.5
148.3
94.3
66.4
74.0
62.4
73.3
63.5
50.4
40.4
50.2
55.1
77.5
35.1

24.5
26.2
85.1
74.8
36.1
15.4

24.3
26.1
85.5
74.6
36.1
15.4

27.1
19.7
13.4
20.8
22.9

27.1
20.0
13.2
20.8
22.9
18.8

Lmk,m.......................lb.
*

0.1

TABU 6: Conaumer Price Index--Average retail prices of selected foods
U. 8. city average
September
August
Food and unit

Cereals and bakery products:

21.2

18.8
16.0

16.1
87.1
20.5

21.1
15.9
79.0
19.5

Other
foodi at homi
Percent
Index
chance

Fruita and
veg<Btablea
Percent
Index
change

Fresh—Cont inued
Grapefruit——————-—-each
Peaches * — — — — — — l b .
Strawberries * — — — — — p t .
Grapes, seedless * - — - — — — l b .
Watermelons *
——
lb.
Potatoes
10 lb.
Sweet p o t a t o e a — — — — — — — — l b .
Corn *-——-—........dos. ears
Onions—————————lb.
Carrots————————fib.
Lettuce———————————head
Celery
lb.
Cabbage———.—————lb.
Tomatoea--———————lb.
Beans, g r e e n — — — — — — — l b .
Canned:
Orange j u i c e — — — — 4 6 os. can
Pineapple juice—..—.46 oz. can
P e a c h e a — - - - - — — — - — - # 2 % can
P i n e a p p l e — — — — — — — — # 2 can
Fruit c o c k t a i l — — — # 3 0 3 can
Corn, creasi a t y l e - — — # 3 0 3 can
Peas, g r e e n - - — — — — — — # 3 0 3 can
Tomatoes—
—....#303 can
Tomato juice
— 4 6 oz. can
Baby f o o d s — ^ — — — — 4% to 5 oz.
Dried:
Prunes—
— — —
lb.
Beans
— — — — — — — — — - l b .
Other fooda at home:
Tomato soup
10^ to 11 oz. can
Beans, with p o r k - — — — 1 6 os. can
Picklea, s l i c e d - - — — — — — 1 5 os.
Catsup, t o m a t o — — — — — — — 1 4 os.
Potato chips--4 oz.
C o f f e e — — — — — - - — - - l b . can
Coffee—
— — — - — — - l b . bag
Coffee, i n s t a n t — — — — 6 oz.
Tea b a g s — — — — — p k g . of 16
Cola drink, c a r t o n - — - — - — 7 2 os.
Shortening, hydrogenated——-3 lb.
Margarine, c o l o r e d — — — — — — l b .

{^^•••••••••••••••••••••••••••m lb ,

Salad d r e s a i n g — - — - - — — — p t .
Peanut b u t t e r - — - - - — — — — l b .
Sugar-------------------------5 lb.
Corn s y r u p — — — — — — 2 4 oz.
Grape jelly
-12 os.
Chocolate b a r — — — — - - — — 1 oz.
Eggs, Grade A, l a r g e — — — — d o s .
Gelatin, flavored--———3 to 4 oz.

September
1962
Centa

August
1962
Centa

16,.3
18..0

15.5
16.8

22,.6
62,.3
14,.8
69,.1
10,.3
14,.7
19,.7
12..9
8,.4
19,.8
22,.7

25.9
4.0
68.5
17.3
68.8
11.7
15.8
16.5
15.7
8.4
21.4
21.9

40,.8
32,.7
32,.2
39,.1
25,.5
19,.9
22,.5
15,.5
32,.0
10,.8

41.1
32.7
33.1
39.1
25.9
20.0
22.6
15.6
32.4
10.7

40,.1
17,.3

41.1
17.3

12,.3
15,.0
26,.7
23,.1
27,.9
71,.4
57..5
91..9
24.5
50.,1
85..6
27.,9
20.,2
38..3
57.,5
58.>8
27..4
29.,7
4.,5
58.,9
9..8

12.4
15.0
26.6
23.1
27.9
71.3
57.4
90.3
24.4
50.1
88.1
28.1
20.0
38.3
57.8
58.6
27.4
29.6
4.5
51.3
9.9

•

*

*

Priced only in season.




LABOR - D. C.

6

Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods and
service^ usually bought by city families of wage earner^ and clerical workers. It is
based on prices of about 300 items which were selected so that their price changes would
represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by wage and clerical
families; they include all of the important items in family spending. Prices for these
items are obtained in k6 cities which were chosen to represent all urban places in the
United States; they are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals, filling
stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage-earner and
clerical-worker families patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in all
k6 cities. Prices of most other commodities and services are collected every month in
the 5 largest cities and every 3 months in other cities. Mail questionnaires are used
to obtain local transit fares, public utility rates, newspaper prices, fuel prices, and
certain other items which change in price infrequently. Prices of most other goods and
services are obtained by personal visits of the Bureau's trained representatives.
In calculating the index, price changes for the various items in each city are
averaged together with weights which represent their importance in family spending. City
data are then combined in the total index with weights based on the 1950 populations of
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 1957-59 » 100.
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from the
20 large cities for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following 26 medium-sized and small cities:
Anna, Illinois
Camden, Arkansas
Canton, Ohio
Charleston, W. Virginia
Evansville, Indiana
Garrett, Indiana
Glendale, Arizona
Grand Forks, N. Dakota
Grand Island, Nebraska

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

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

Comparisons of city indexes show only that prices in one city changed more or
less than in another. The city indexes cannot be used to measure differences in price
levels or in living costs between cities.
A description of the index and historical tables of inaex numbers for the
United States city average and for 20 large cities are available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington or any of its regional offices (addresses below).
The historical tables for the U.S. include index numbers for All Items, Food, Apparel, and
Rent for periods from 1913 to date; and for other groups of goods and services from 1935 to
date.
BLS Regional Offices
Atlanta
1371 Peachtree
Street, N. E.
Zone 9




New York
341 Ninth Ave.
Zone 1

Chicago
105 West Adams St.
Zone 3

San Francisco
630 Sansome St.
Zona 11

Boston
18 Oliver St.
Zone 10

LABOR - D. C.