Full text of CPI Detailed Report : September 1963

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Released

October 30, 1963
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington 25, D. C.
CONSUMER PRICE

INDEX FOR SEPTEMBER

1963

The Consumer Price Index remained unchanged at 107.1 (1957-59=100)
f
in September for the second consecutive month, the United States Department of Labor s
Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today. Lower prices for food and transportation
offset price increases for several other types of consumer goods and services. The
index was 0.9 percent above a year ago, principally because of higher costs of services,
particularly those associated with housing, medical care, and recreation. Prices of
commodities were only 0.5 percent higher than in September 1962.
FOOD

Food prices fell by 0.6 percent in September, largely because of
seasonally lower prices of fresh fruits and vegetables, which more
than offset seasonally higher egg prices. Fresh apples and grapes dropped more than 20
percent in price. Potatoes, onions, and tomatoes showed smaller declines. Orange prices
declined again in September, but frozen and canned orange juice continued to advance.
Prices of sugar at retail dropped 8.6 percent over the month, but
remained 14.7 percent above a year earlier. However, prices of products containing
sugar (candy, soft drinks, and jelly) continued to advance.
Poultry prices rose a little, while meats were unchanged, on the
average.
Over the past year, food prices averaged 0.6 percent higher, principally because of an increase of 5.8 percent in prices of fruits and vegetables. There
were smaller price increases for all other classes of foods except meats, poultry, and
fish, which were 4.5 percent below a year ago.
OTHER GROUPS

Transportation costs declined by 0.4 percent in September, largely
because of lower prices for gasoline and new cars. Prices of used
cars, tires, auto repairs, and insurance advanced.
Residential rents continued to rise, fuel prices were up seasonally,
and housing upkeep and textile housefurnishings also moved up.

Apparel prices climbed 0.8 percent in September,
but were only
1
slightly higher than last year. Prices of women's and girls apparel advanced 1.3
percent during the month, as fall and winter items returned
to the stores at prices
1
higher than at the end of last season. Men's and boys clothing prices rose by 0.5
percent.
Costs of services continued to increase in September and were 1.9
percent higher than a year earlier. The largest advances over the past year have been
for auto insurance and registration fees, movie admissions, medical services, home
repairs and maintenance, and laundry, dry cleaning, and postage.
COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS

Adjustments based on the national index for September will bring
increased cost-of-living allowances of 1 or 2 cents an hour to
about 80,000 workers. Of these, 40,000 aerospace employees and
11,000 workers in the public transit industry will receive 1 cent, another 5,000
workers in the aerospace industry and 5,200 public transit employees will receive 2
cents; the remaining 18,800 workers are employed in various industries. In addition,
about 22,000 employees will receive increases based on reviews of city indexes. These
include 9,000 ordnance and scientific instrument workers, who will receive 1- and 2-cent




quarterly increases (7,000 at 1 cent and 2,000 at 2 cents) based on the New York index;
11,000 meat department employees of supermarkets, who will receive a 2-cent semiannual
increase based on the Los Angeles index; and 1,800 public transit workers, who will
receive a quarterly increase of \ cent based on the Baltimore index.




3

TABLE 1: Consumer Price Index--United States city average
Major group, subgroup, arid special group indexes, September 1963
and percent changes from selected dates
(1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)
Percent change to
September 1963 from--

Indexes
(1957-59-100)

Indexes
1947-49-100

1939-100
September
1963

Group
September
1963

August
1963

August
1963

June
1963

September
1962

September
1963

107 1

107,.1

0

0..5

0,.9

131,.4

221.2

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

105
103
109
101
104
108
99
113

4
8
1
5
3
1
5
6

106..0
104..5
] 09,.1
101.,4
104..2
114,,2
98,,0
113,.3

-0.6
- .7
0
.1
.1
-5.3
1.5
.3

.4
.4
- .1
3 .2
1 .5
-6 .5
2 .7
.5

.6
.3
.1
-4,.5
.1
5 .8
1,.7
1,.9

124,.4
120,.6
144..7
112,.0
118,
133,.6
109,.9
(i/>

264.1
256.1
252.8
269.3
237.0
288.7
227.2
(i/)

Housing 2/
Rent
Gas and electricity-Solid and petroleum fuels
House furnishings
—
HousehoId operation----------------------

106
107
108
103
98
110

2
0
0
7
6
7

106.,0
106..8
107..2
102..6
98..3
110..6

.2
.2
.7
1.1
.3
.1

.3
.3

1 .6
.1
.5

1,.2
L.0
0
2,.4
.1
2,.9

-,

135,.4
147,.1
125,.9
141..3
102,.6
145.,1

177.9
169.9
120.0
250.6
192.2
212.1

Apparel

104 8
105 2
102 5
110 7
101.,4

104,,0
104,,1
101,,2
110,,6
101.,1

.8
.5
1.3
.1
.3

.9
.8
1 .3
.1
.4

.2
1,.2
.1
-1,
1,.1
.2

112..3
114.,4
101,.8
145..0
93,.4

214.1
225.2
186.8
288.2
230.0

107.,9
106,,5
117,,1

108,,3
106.,9
117,.1

- .4
- .4
0

.5
.4
.4

,.2

.1

1,.2

152,.0
138..8
218.,0

216.5
211.9
268.1

Medical care

117,,2

117,,1

.1

.3

2,.2

169.,4

233.4

All items

Footwear-----------—
Other apparel
Transportation-Private
Public

--------------

------------------------

_ .1

-

Personal care

108,,2

108,,0

.2

.4

L.3

138,.6

232.7

Reading and recreation--------

112,.3

112,.1

.2

1 .3

2,.1

130.,0

206.4

Other goods and services--

108.,0

108.,0

0

.4

2,.3

137..6

195.0

All items less food

107,,8

107.,6

.2

.5

1,,1

135,,2

195.7

All items less shelter

107,.1

107,,2

-

.1

.5

.9

128,,9

232.8

104,,6
105.,3
105,,4
105.,2
104.,6
103,,4
105.,5
101,,5
99.,8
120.,1
98.,6

104,,7
105,.5
106.,0
105,,0
103,,8
102,,5
105,,7
101.,4
100.,2
119.,0
98.,5

-

.1
.2
.6
.2
.8
.9
- .2
.1
- .4
.9
.1

.5
.5
.4
.7
.9
1,.0
.5
.2
-1,.4
2,.0
.2

.5
.6
.6
,6
.1
- ,.1
.9
.1
.6
- ,.3
0

120,,8
123,,6
124,,4
123,,2
112,,1
106,,4
132,,6
112.,5
134.,1
Cl/)
101.,7

234.2
240.6
264.1
209.8
215.2
(1/)
201.2
196.3
235.3
(1/)
177.4

Commodities less food

103.,8

103.,6

.2

.5

.4

117..9

198.4

Services
Rent
Services less rent
—-—Household operation services, gas,
and electricity
Transportation services--— — —
Medical care services
Other services 2/—
........

111.,9
107.,0
112.,8

111.,7
106,,8
112.,6

.2
.2
.2

.5
.3
.5

1,.9
1.,0
2..1

158,.9
147,,1
161.,6

197.5
169.9
220.0

I l l , ,1
112.,9
120.,5
111.,3

110.,7
112,,7
120.,4
111.,2

.4
.2
.1
.1

.5
.5
.3
.7

2,.3
2.,2
2..6
1..8

145..8
195.,1
179,.8
143,.7

167.5
243.5
255.0
246.4

$0,934

$0,934

0

.4

- 1 ..0

$0,761

$0,452

Special groups:

Commodities

—

Food
Apparel less footwear
Nondurable* less food and a p p a r e l — - New cars-- — - - —

---------------

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar
(Reference period»$l.00)
------

-,

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




4

T A B L E 2t

Consumer Prioe I n d e x — 1 1 1 items indexes a n d percent o h a n g e s , selected d a t e s
U . S . o i t y average and 2 0 large cities
(1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)

Indexes
(1957-59=100)
September
1963

City
United States oity a v e r a g e -

June
1963

Percent change to
S e p t . 1963 from--

Indexes
1947-49=100
1939=100

September
1962

June
1963

September
1962

September
1963

September
1963

107.1

106.6

106.1

0.5

0.9

131.4

221.2

105.6
103.3
108.6
109.3
107.6

105.2
103.5
107.4
108.7
107.2

105.2
102.8
107.2
107.3
106.0

.4
- .2
1.1
.6
.4

.4
.5
1.3
1.9
1.5

133.2
127.4
135.4
131.7
132.1

227.3
215.8
224.2
219.1
223.2

June
1963

September
1962

September
1963

September
1963

.5
1.0
.8
.9
1.6

130.2
132.9
127.9
132.2
138.6

223.4
229.6
219.1
222.9
236.5

August
1963

August
1963

130.5
130.8
128.4
137.1
128.6

220.6
219.9
219.4
231.7
212.8

July
1963

July
1963

136.0
132.5
133.2
132.9
132.3

223.0
214.7
219.6
228.9
227.0

C i t i e s priced M o n t h l y j /
ChioagoDetroit—
Los A n g e l e s *
New YorkFhiladelphiaC i t i e s priced i n M a r c h , J u n e , S e p t e m b e r ,
December
2/
At1ant a------Bait imore
Cincinnat i — —
S t . Louis
San FranciscoC i t i e s priced i n F e b r u a r y , M a y , A u g u s t ,
November
2/

September
1963

June
1963

September
1962

105.2
107.1
105.1
106.5
109.2

104.9
106.8
104.6
105.6
108.9

104.7
106.0
104.3
105.6
107.5

.3
.3
.5
.9
.3

August
1962

May
1963

103.8
104.6
106.0
106.7
104.8

.8
1.7
.8
1.6
.7

1.3
1.5
1.5
2.2
1.9

April
1963

July
1962

.5
.7
1.1
1.5
.6

2.4
1.0
1.9
1.8
1.9

August
1963

Cleveland
—
Houston--------—Scranton
Seattle
W a s h i n g t o n , D . C.-

105.1
106.2
107.6
109.1
106.8

Cities priced i n J a n u a r y , A p r i l , J u l y ,
October
2/

July
1963

Boston--—
Kansas City—
Minneapolis-—-------------------Pittsburgh
P o r t l a n d , Oregon
— — — —

109.8
107.1
107.7
107.9
106.8

May
1963
104.3
104.4
106.7
107.4
106.1

April
1963
109.2
106.4
106.5
106.3
106.2

July
1962
107.2
106.0
105.7
106.0
104.8

August
1962

j / R e n t s priced b i m o n t h l y .
2 / F o o d s , f u e l s , and a f e w o t h e r i t e m s priced m o n t h l y ; r e n t s and other commodities a n d services priced quarterly*

T A B U S 3i

All
items

City
United States city a v e r a g e —
Chicago
—
Detroit
L o s AngelesNew Y o r k — — —
Philadelphia




Consumer Price I n d e x — P e r c e n t changes f r o m August 1963 to September 1963
U . S . city average and f i v e cities priced m o n t h l y
A l l itena and commodity groups

—

—
—

Medical
care

Personal
care

Reading
aid
recreation

Other
goods 6
servloes

Food

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

0

-0.6

0.2

0.8

-0.4

0.1

0.2

0.2

0

-0.1
-1.1
.2
0
.1

-1.4
-1.7
- .1
- .6
- .9

.8
0
.4
0
.2

2.2
1.0
1.3
2.1
1.9

- .9
-5.5
- .3
- .1
.1

0
0
- .1
0
.2

.1
.7
.2
0
.1

0
- .2
.6
- .4
.5

-0.2
- .2
- .1
.1
0

5

TABLE 4: Consumer Price I n d e x — A l l items and commodity groups
September 1963 indexes and percent changes, June 1963 to September 1963
U . S . city average and 10 cities priced in September 1963

Group

U.S.
City
Atlanta BaltiAverage
more

Chicago Cincin- Detroit
Los
nati
Angeles

New
York

Philadelphia

St
Louis

San
Franc is cc

Indexes ; (1957-59=100)
107.1

105.2

107 .1

105 .6

105.1

103.3

108.6

109.3

107 .6

106 .5

109 .2

Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products-M e a t s , poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

105.4
103.8
109.1
101.5
104.3
108.1
99.5

104.1
103.7
104.5
101.3
100.9
109.5
103.9

105 .4
102 .8
115 .0
99 .6
98 .4
106 .7
100 .0

106 .1
105 .4
109 .6
104 .2
110 .9
104,.8
101,.3

103.2
101.6
107.0
102.1
100.8
106.2
95.5

101.3
100.1
102.7
98.8
104.9
98.1
98.5

107.0
104.3
117.4
98.0
107.8
114.2
93.4

107.4
104.8
111.5
103.0
103.0
110.1
99.6

104 .3
102 .3
104 .7
99,.2
103 .0
106 .5
101 .2

105 .3
103 .3
106 .1
102 .7
102 .5
107 .5
99 .5

107 .2
105 .0
110 .7
103 .3
106 .3
112 .2
96 .6

Housing
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
Housefurnishings
Household operation

106.2
107.0
108.0
103.7
98.6
110.7

104.3
104.4
111.4
104.1
94.5
117.6

106,.6
107,.4
102,.5
107,.6
96,.6
114,.5

104,.9
105,.1
105,.7
103..8
101..3
110,.2

102.8
102.6
110.7
104.6
98.7
110.0

98.1

110.0

106.2
99.5
97.7
105.5

108.6
107.5
114.5

107,.5
108,.4
103,.7
108,.8
97,.3
116,,2

103,.7
104,.5
108,.5
103,.5
96,.8
112..2

111,.0
117,.9
110 .0

100.9
105.9

105.7
106.2
104.0
112.5

98,.1
114,.2

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

104.8
105.2
102.5
110.7
101.4

103.9
103.4
102.2
111.7
99.7

106..9
105..6
105..5
118,.2
97..7

102..5
102..3
99..8
109,.9
100,,6

103.9
106.0
99.8
113.0
98.4

106.7
103.8
108.3
110.3
101.8

105.5
107.5
104.0
108.5
100.9

107.1
108.2
105.7
111.3
102.5

107..1
106..5
107.,0
110..8
103.,1

105..0
106..1
103..6
109.,2
101..0

105,.3
104,.3
104..0
111..3
103..6

Transportation
Private
Public

107.9
106.5
117.1

106.9
106.7
108.1

108.,5
105.,1
123..2

105..7
105..4
107.,4

108.8
107.5
117.8

101.1
98.5
114.4

112.8
109.1
138.5

106.3
108.3
100.6

111.,8
108..4
123,,7

108.,2
106,,1
116,,6

108.,4
109.,4
101..1

Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

117.2
108.2
112.3
108.0

113.6
109.0
108.5
102.6

127..5
107..6
104..1
104,,4

120,,8
107.,4
100,,1
101,,6

115.8
106.8
111.7
105.6

123.2
107.1
112.3
109.0

115.3
106.3
103.7
107.2

116.9
107.6
116.5
111.4

121..8
106,.7
103,,7
110,.0

115,,3
110.,0
119.,3
110.,2

118,,7
112,,9
108,,7
108,,7

All items

Percent change from June 1963 to September

1963

0.5

0.3

0.,3

0..4

0.5

- 0.2

1.1

0.6

0..4

0..9

0,.3

Food
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products-M e a t s , poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Other foods at home

.4
.4
- .1
3.2
1.5
- 6.5
2.7

.4
.7
- .2
3.7
- 1.7
- 3.5
2.3

,6
,4
3.,7
1.,6
2.,0
- 6 .,6
1.,8

,2
,2
,1
3.,9
,6
- 9.,7
4 .,6

.3
.3
.7
3.7
.1
- 6.7
2.6

- .7
- .9
- 1.1
2.1
.9
-11.8
4.5

.7
.6
.3
3.5
- .1
- 2.4
1.4

.5
.6
- 1.0
2.9
3.2
- 6.5
3.2

.2
- .2
- ,9
3,,0
2..2
- 8.,9
2..3

.4
•5
- .,2
4,,6
,2
- 7,,7
3,.9

.2

Housing
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid and petroleum fuels
Housefurnishings
Household operation

.3
.3
- .1
1.6
.1
.5

.7
.2
0
0
1.0
1.6

,3
,3
,1
2.,2
,3
0

,7
i/ !,3
0
i.,3
0
2.,5

-

.1

.2

-

.4
.6
.7
.1

.5
1/ .2
0

,2
1/ «,3
0
6..1
- 1,.2
•.1

,5
0
0
2,,4
,1
0

.9
.8
1.3
.1
.4

.3
.1
.2
1.1
.2

1.,4

6
3!,5
1.,2
.,1
1.,1

- ,,3

.5
.4
.4

- 1.2
- 1.4
0

,6
,6
0

.3
.4
1.3
.4

.1
.9
.3
.3

All items

Apparel
Men's and b o y s '
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Other apparel
Transportation
Private
Public
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

1/

Change from July 1963 to September




1963.

0

2.5
.1

0
1.3
0
.1
2.4
2.0
4.1
0
1.3

1.7
1.8
1.9
1.2
.4

1.6
1.2
3.4
- .9
1.0

1.6
2.5
1.5
- .1
1.9

6
8
0

- 1.3
- 1.8

.4
.4
.9

- 1.8
- 2.2
0

3.4
4.1
0

5
2

6
2

0
1.0
.5
.5

.1
.6
1.4
- .4

.1
1.0
2.0
.8

.4

7
- 3.4

-

.5
.4
0
7.7
.3
.1

2. 3
,4
5.9
4
2. 3

1.1
-

-

.6

2

-

0

1
7

-

_

-

,8
2.,5
,2
•,1

-

.2
.3
0

,1
,2
0

2. 9
3. 6
0

.4
.4
.3
.9

3
2
3. 6
4

3
4
3
2. 5

0
0

2..0
.4
- 3..9
1., 7

-

.3
.1
0

- 1.,0
,4
0
,4

,3
0

,3

1.,0
,6
,4

6
TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index—Food end it* subgroups
September 1963 Indexes and Percent Changes, August 1963 to September 1963
U.S. city average and 20 large cities
(1957-59-100)
Cereals and
Dairy
Meats, poultry,
Total
Total food
and fish
products
food at h o n e bakery producti
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Percent
Index
Index
Index
Index
Index
change
change
change
change
change

City

U. S. city a v e r a g e -

105.4

- 0.6

103.8

- 0.7

109.1

0

101.5

Atlanta
Baltimore—
BostonChicago—
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Detroit
HoustonKansas City
Los Angeles

104.1
105.4
108.1
106.1
103.2
102.2
101.3
105.3
105.0
107.0

.7
.3
.8
- 1.4
.5
.4
- 1.7
.6
.2
.1

103.7
102.8
105.3
105.4
101.6
101.0
100.1
102.8
104.2
104.3

.7
.5
- 1.3
- 1.7
.6
.4
- 2.0
.7
.3
.3

104.5
115.0
110.3
109.6
107.0
107.1
102.7
106.7
108.9
117.4

- 0.4
.1
- 1.0
0
3.7
.2
.3
.1
.1
.3

101.3
99.6
104.6
104.2
102.1
100.1
98.8
99.6
101.3
98.0

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

101.0
104.8
102.3
103.1
104.0
103.3
105.0
103.0
105.0
103.1

.4
.8
- 1.0
- 1.0
.8
.2
.1
0
.3
.6

100.0
111.5
104.7
110.2
107.2
106.1
110.7
108.0
108.1
108.8

.7
.4
.3
.6
.1
0
.1
.1
.6
.1

100.0
103.0
99.2
104.0
103.6
102.7
103.3
100.7
103.7
97.8

—
-----—
—

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

102.9
107.4
104.3
103.6
105.5
105.3
107.2
104.8
107.6
105.0

-

TABLE 6:
Food and unit
Cereals and bakery products:
Flour, wheat-— —
5 lb.
Biscuit mix-40 o z .
Macaroni
— - - 1 6 oz.
Corn meal
lb.
Rolled oats-- - 1 8 oz.
Corn flakes
12 o z .
Rice, short grain
-lb.
Rice, long grain--- —----------lb.
Bread, w h i t e — —
-——lb.
Soda c r a c k e r s —
lb.
Sandwich c o o k i e s — — — —
-16 oz.
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Round steak--—---------------lb.
Sirloin steak
lb.
Chuck roast
lb.
Rib roast
lb.
Hamburger---------------------lb.

Veal c u t l e t s — — — —
— lb.
Pork chops, center cut
lb.
Pork roast--------.-------lb.
Bacon, sliced----—-----------lb.
Ham, w h o l e - - - — - - - - - - - - - - - - - l b .
Lamb, leg
lb.
Frankfurters----lb.
Luncheon meat, canned-------12 oz.
Frying chickens, ready-to-cook-lb.
Ocean perch, fillet, frozen
lb.
Haddock, fillet, frozen
lb.
Salmon, pink, canned-16 oz.
Tuna fish, canned--—--6 to 6% oz.
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh, (grocery)
—qt.
Milk, fresh, (delivered)
qt.
Ice cream
% gal.
Butter
—
—-——lb.
Cheese, American process
% lb.
Milk, evaporated--—---14% o z . can
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen:
S t r a w b e r r i e s - - - - - - — — — 10 o z .
Orange juice concentrate—-6 o z .
Lemonade concentrate---6 oz.
Peas, g r e e n - — - - —
10 oz.
Beans, g r e e n - - - — . 9 0 z .
Potatoes, french fried—---9 oz.
Fresh:
Apples
—lb.
Bananas——
lb.
Oranges, size 2 0 0 - — -doz.
Lemons-—-—-----—
—-lb.

*

-

-

-

-

-

FruiLts and
veg<stables
Percent
Index
change

Other
foods at home
Percent
Index
change

0.1

104.3

0.1

108.1

- 5.3

99.5

1.5

.8
.7
.9
.9
0
.6
.8
.9
1.0
.2

100.9
98.4
99.9
110.9
100.8
99.7
104.9
102.4
103.1
107.8

.2
.2
.8
.1
0
.1
0
.3
.1
.1

109.5
106.7
113.7
104.8
106.2
105.8
98.1
110.9
109.1
114.2

- 4.0
- 3.8
- 7.6
- 8.8
- 6.1
- 3.4
-11.4
0
- 4.3
.6

103.9
100.0
100.6
101.3
95.5
95.6
98.5
98.7
102.1
93.4

1.2
2.1
1.3
1.7
.7
1.6
2.7
1.8
1.5
0

1.1
.7
.3
.2
1.1
.9
.3
1.3
.1
.8

103.9
103.0
103.0
99.8
106.2
102.5
106.3
101.5
108.4
103.6

103.1
110.1
106.5
102. 7
111.4
107.5
112.2
106.3
109.6
107.0

-

99.4
99.6
101.2
100.8
95.8
99.5
96.6
101.3
99.0
102.5

2.3
2.5
2.7
1.8
.2
1.3
.1
1.9
1.2
2.4

-

.4
.4
.1
.1
.7
.6
.1
2.4
0
.1

2.1
7.2
7.7
6.3
1.8
3.4
1.0
6.4
2.3
5.0

Consuser Price Index--Average retail prices of selected foods
U. S. city average
September
1963

August
1963
Cents
57.3
48.1
25.0
14.5
24.1
28.4
19.4
21.6
21.6
30.9
52.1
107.0
111.3
60.2
83.4
50.4

151.8
92.7
64.7
73.4
61.0
72.5
63.0
49.2
39.6
52.7
57.4
69.6
33.0
24.4
26.1
85.1
74.9
36.5
15.4
27.7
32.7
14.5
21.1

23.7
18.2
22.5
16.2
92.1
22.1

Food and unit
Fresh—Contlnued
Grapefruit------------each
Peaches *
lb.
Strawberries *
pt.
Grapes, seedless *
lb.
Watermelons *
lb.
Potatoes10 lb.
Sweet potatoes-lb.
Corn *
doz. ears
Onions
lb.
Carrots
lb.
Lettuce
head
Celery
lb.
Cabbage
lb.
Tomatoes
lb.
Beans, green-----lb.
Canned:
Orange juice
46 oz. can
Pineapple juice
46 oz. can
Peaches
#2% can
Pineapple
#2 can
Fruit cocktail
#303 can
Corn, cream style
#303 can
Peas, green
#303 can
Tomatoes
#303 can
Tomato juice
— - - 4 6 oz. can
Baby foods
4% to 5 oz.
Dried:
Prunes-lb.
Beans
lb.
Other foods at home:
Tomato soup
10% to 11 oz. can
Beans, with p o r k - - - - - — - 1 6 oz. can
Pickles, sliced
15 o z .
Catsup, tomato
14 oz.
Potato chips
4 oz.
Coffee
lb. can
Coffee-lb. bag
Coffee, i n s t a n t —
6 oz.
Tea bags--okg. of 48
Cola drink, carton
72 oz.
Shortening, hydrogenated—
3 lb.
Margarine, colored
lb.
Lard
lb.
Salad d r e s s i n g —
pt.
Peanut butter
-lb.
Sugar
5 lb.
Corn syrup
24 o z .
Grape jelly
—
12 oz.
Chocolate b a r - - —
- 1 oz.
Eggs, Grade A, largedoz.
Gelatin, flavored
--3 to 4 o z .

eptemb
1963
21.4
19.8
*
24.0
*
67.3
14.9
67.1
11.4
14.9
21.5
12.7
8 .P

21.1
21.6
56.6
35.0
33.2
39.6
26.1

19.2
22.6
15.6
31.7
10.9
40.1
17.9
12.3
15.0
27.2
22.1

27.9
69.6
56.7
91.9
64.0
55.1
82.4
27.6
19.8
38.2
57.6
67.3
28.9
30.8
4.6
59.0
10.1

Priced only in season.




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 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 ether 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 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 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
1371 Peachtree
Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

341 Ninth Avenue
New York, New York 10001

105 West Adams Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603

630 Sansome Street
San Francisco, California 94111

18 Oliver Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

1365 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44114