Full text of CPI Detailed Report : September 1968

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CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES: COMMODITIES AND SERVICES
'(Seasonally Adjusted)
1957-59=100
140

1957-59=100
140
135

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE
A L L ITEMS INDEX (as of Dec. 1967)

ALL SERVICES

35.28%

FOOD

22.54%

NONOURABLES LESS FOOD _ 24.54%
DURABLE COMMODITIES

17.64%

ALL SERVICES

NONDURABLES LESS FOOD*
95
I960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU




OF

LABOR

STATISTICS

Latest

Data:

;

September 1968

Released October 29, 1968

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington, D. C. 20212
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR SEPTEMBER 1968

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.2 percent in September to 122.2 (1957-59=100).
The increase was the smallest recorded since September 1967 and follows the slowdown noted
in August which was attributed mainly to decreased growth rates in mortgage interest charges
and durable goods prices. The principal causes of the increase for September were higher
apparel prices and service charges. Food prices dropped for the first time since November
1967 and prices of 1968 model cars were off slightly. Over the past year the index has
risen 4.4 percent, propelled almost equally by advancing service charges and nondurable
commodities prices. Food has contributed a fifth of the annual rise and durables about
one-tenth.
Nondurables less food
Prices of nondurables other than food continued to advance in September. After a
contraseasonal upswing in August, the index rose more than normally expected in September.
Greater than seasonal increases were posted in prices of apparel commodities; they accounted
for about 60 percent of the advance for all items. The advances for apparel occurred in a
strong retail market as increased wholesale costs of woolen, worsted, and synthetic fabrics
for clothing and of leather for footwear were passed on to the consumer. Higher wage costs
at all levels were another underlying factor in the advance.
The womenfs and girls1 apparel index jumped 2.3 percent in September, the largest
August to September increase since 1962; it brought the index to 6.7 percent higher than a
year earlier. Prices for fall and winter coats, skirts, and dresses were substantially
higher than those prevailing on comparable clothes before last yearfs clearance sales. For
example, women's street dresses were over 9 percent higher than last September. Men's and
boys1 clothing prices also advanced, primarily because of increases for tailored clothing.
Footwear prices increased another 0.8 percent, equal to last month's rise.
Increased state sales taxes were responsible again this month for a rise in
tobacco products prices. Increases for textile house furnishings reflected returns to
normal levels after traditional August "white sales," as well as strong demand for bedspreads, pillows, curtains, and drapery fabric. Increases also were recorded for over-thecounter drug items.
The only significant decline in September was for gasoline and motor oil prices
which dropped 0.7 percent, seasonally adjusted. Generally widespread increases for gasoline
were outweighed by sharply competitive price decreases in the Los Angeles and Kansas City
areas.
Services
Service prices rose 0.4 percent in September, the same as in August, to a level
nearly 6 percent higher than last year. Higher physicians' fees and increased hospital
service charges were responsible for the acceleration of the medical care services index to
a level 0.7 percent higher than August and nearly 7 percent higher than a year ago.
Rents, up 0.3 percent, continued their persistent rise. Increases were spread
throughout the country; the scarcity of multifamily rental units and the slow rate of home
building, together with higher maintenance costs, taxes, and insurance, were responsible
for the increases. Higher costs of operation have resulted in higher hotel and motel room




rates. Because of a significant moderation in the rate of advance for mortgage interest,
homeownership costs were up only 0,2 percent in September compared with 0.8 percent in
August and 1.3 percent in July. Residential property taxes rose as reassessments and rate
increases were reported in several cities; homeowners* insurance rates also increased.
Home maintenance services advanced at nearly twice the August rate, in response to earlier
wage increases and wholesale price rises for materials.
Other services have continued to advance steadily. Auto repairs rose in
September, as persistently increasing parts and labor costs have pushed prices to a record
level. Auto insurance rates and parking fees continued to advance. Barbers have raised
the prices of haircuts because of higher union rates and supply costs. Bowling fees and
movie admissions also advanced.
Food
In spite of the continuing rise in restaurant prices, food prices on the average
were slightly lower this month, on the strength of a 7 percent decline in prices of fresh
fruits and vegetables. Despite sharply reduced prices on seasonally abundant apples,
potatoes, grapes, tomatoes, and cucumbers, the average prices of fruits and vegetables fell
less than usual for September. Meat prices rose less than usual in September, pork prices
fell as supplies were increased, and beef and veal prices increased only slightly. Shoppers
paid over 10 percent more for eggs as production and cold storage holdings declined. Prepared and partially prepared foods averaged higher, because of rising labor and packaging
costs.
Durables
Prices for the last of the 1968r<model new cars dropped 0,7 percent, only about
half the usual September decrease. Prices for household durables increased much more
rapidly than they had in August. Furniture prices rose markedly as prices for the fall
selling season advanced in response to last spring's factory increases. Strong replacement
demand and increased wholesale prices, combined with the usual seasonal demand, pushed up
appliance prices. A small increase was noted for floor coverings as wool broadloom prices
firmed.
Cost '-of ^Living Adjustments
About 19,000 workers will receive pay adjustments as the result of increases in
the national and city indexes for September. About 10,000 will receive a 3-cent-an-hour
pay raise based on the advance in the national index since June. Other increases will
range from 2 to 7 cents I




TABLE 1X Consumer Price Index—United States City Average
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
Major group, subgroup, and special group indexes, September 1968
and percent changes from selected dates
Indexes (1957-59=100)
September 1958
August 1968
Unad- Seasonally
Unad- Seasonally
adjusted
justed
adjusted
justed

Group
All itei

122.2

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

120.4
116.8
119.8
115.5
121.6
122.9
107.4
138.0

Housing
Shelter 1/

120.4
125.3
115.7

Homeownership 2/
Fuel and utilities 3/
Fuel oil and coal kj
Gas and electricity
•
Household furnishings and operation

129.1
110.5
115.8
109.3
113.9

121.9
120.0
116.3
113.0
121.4
127.0
106.2

110.5
117.2

120.5
117.1
119.6
115.3
121.5
128.2
105# 5
137.2

120.1
125.0
115.4
128.8
110.7
115.7
109.7
113.3

September
1967
Unadjusted

Percent change to September 1968 from-August 1968
September
1967
Unad- Seasonally
Unad- Seasonally
adjusted
justed
ad j us ted Unadjusted
justed
0.2

117.1
119.7
115.8
114.0
121.6
125.6
105.3

110.9
117.7

115.9
112.9
118.4
113.4
117.3
115.6
102.4
130.8
115.0
118.7
112.8
121.1
109.4
112.3
108.9
108.8

Apparel and upkeep _5/
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear

122.2
123.2
118.5
134.0

122.1
123.0
118.1
134.1

120.3
121.2
115.8
133.0

121.0
121.7
116.5
133.3

115.1
115.5
111.1
126.4

Transportation
Private
Public

119.5
117.2
138.7

119.7
117.4

120.0
117.7
138.6

120.0
117.7

116.8
114.8
133.0

-

.1
.3
.2
.2
.1
- 4.1
1.8
.6

-

.2
.2
.3
.2
.2
.1
.4
.5

4.4
0.3
.4
.9
• .2
1.1

.4
.4

1.1
.9
1.0
2.0
.6
5.5
4.8
1.7
1.4
2.0
.7
2.4
.2
.3
.1
.9

0.7
.3
-

.9
.4
1.2
1.8

.1
0

3.9
3.5
1.2
1.9
3.7
6.3
4.9
5.5
4.7
5.6
2.6
6.6
1.0
3.1
.4
4.7

.9
1.1
1.4
.6

1.9
2.6
1.7
1.7

1.8
2.4
1.4
1.8

6.2
6.7
6.7
6.0

.3
.3

.2
.2
.2

.1
.1

.1

2.3
2.1
4.3

1.6
1.7
2.3

.4
.4

131.1
146.4
121.5
126.7
124.4

130.5
145.5
120.9
126.3
124.2

124.9
138.5
116.4
120.5
119.7

.5
.6
.5
.3
.2

1.1
1.4
1.2
.9
.7

5.0
5.7
4.4
5.1
3.9

All items less shelter
All items less food
All items less medical care
Commodities 7/
Nondurables
Durables ]_/ %l
'•

121.5
123.0
120.8
116.1
119.6
107.6
136.0

121.2
122.6
120.5
115.9
119.2
107.7
135.5

116.7
117.7
115.8
112.0
114.9
104.8
128.7

.2
.3
.2
.2
.3
.1

.9
1.2
1.1
.9
1.2
.2
1.6

4.1
4.5
4.3
3.7
4.1
2.7
5.7

Commodities less food JJ
Nondurables less food
Apparel commodities
Apparel commodities less footwear
Nondurables less food and apparel New cars
Used cars
Household durables \\J
Housefurnishings

113.9
118.9
121.5
119.0
117.4
98.4
126.7
102.0
105.4

Services less rent 9J
Household services less rent Transportation services
Medical care services
Other services JL2/

140.5
137.0
133.8
158.2
140.3

All items index on other bases:
1947-49=100
1939-100

150.0
252.4

Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services §J

•

Special groups:

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
195 7-59=$l.00
$0,818
1947-49»$1.00
.667
1939=$1.00
.396
1/
2/
3/
4/
5/
6/
2/
87
9/
10/
11/
12/

116.1
119.4
107.9
114.0
118.8
121.3
118.6
101.0
125.2
105.5

115.8
119.0
107.8

-

.4

110.0
114.1
114.1
111.7
114.1
96.1
126.2
98.4
101.2

.4
.7
1.7
1.9
.1
- .7
(10/)
.4
.5

140.0
136.7
133.6
157.1
139.7

132.3
128.1
128.9
148.0
132.4

.4
.2
.1
.7
.4

149.6
251.8

143.7
241.8

$0,820
.668
.397

$0,854
.696
.414

113.5
118.1
119.5
116.8
117.3
99.1
(10/)
101.6
104.9

113.7
118.5
120.3
117.7
100.4
(10/)
105.2

.3
.3

.6
O0/)

1.2
2.0
2.1
.7
- 1.7
(10/)
—.7
.7
1.7
2.5
.4
1.7
1.0

Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs.
Also includes telephone, water, and sewerage service not shown separately.
Called "Solid and petroleum fuels" prior to 1964.
Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, jewelry, and apparel upkeep services not shown separately.
Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and funeral, legal, and bank service charges.
Includes home purchase costs which were classified under services prior to 1964.
Also includes auto parts, toys, and recreational goods not shown separately.
Excludes home purchase costs which were classified under this heading prior to 1964.
Not available due to insufficient data.
Called "Durables less cars" prior to 1964.
Includes the services components of apparel, personal care, reading and recreation, and other goods and services.




.9
.9
.5
.9
1.1
1.8
1.7
.3

(12/)
.9

3.5
4.2
6.5
6.5
2.9
2.4
.4
3.7
4.2
6.2
6.9
3.8
6.9
6.0

- 4.2

TABLE 2: Consumer Price Index—The United States and Selected Areas
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, All Items
Most recent index and percent changes from selected dates

Indexes
Pricing
Schedule If

Area 1/

1957-59=100

1947-49=100

Percent change from:

Other
bases

September 1968

August
1968

June
1968

September
1967

U.S. City Average

122.2

150.0

0.2

1.1

4.4

Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles-Long Beach
New York --Philadelphia

119.8
121.2
122.8
125.9
123.8

151.1
149.4
153.0
151.7
152.0

.4
.5
0
.6
.7

1.3
1.2
.7
1.9
1.5

4.2
5.1
3.1
5.2
5.0

124.7
119.3
121.8
120.0

Boston
Houston
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Pittsburgh

April
1968

154.5
147.0
150.7
147.9

0.9
1.1
1.2
.5

4.0
4.4
5.4
4.3

August 1968

May
1968

August
1967

115.7

Buffalo (Nov.1963=100) —
Cleveland
Dallas (Nov.1963=100)
Milwaukee
San Diego (Feb.1965=100) Seattle
Washington

120.0

149.0

117.4

148.1

123.2
123.1

154.8
148.2

113.7
110.0

San Francisco-Oakland

—

3
3
3
3
3
3
3

121.2
122.4
120.3

150.0
151.9
146.4

124.4
122.7
125.5

154.0
152.3
159.3

1.2
.8
.9
1.3
1.2
1.7
1.7
June
1968

September 1968

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Honolulu (Dec.1963=100)
Kansas City
St. Louis

July
1967

July 1968

112.8

1.8
1.5
1.4
1.2
.2
1.2
1.0

4.8
6.0
4.4
3.3
3.9
4.2
4.9
September
1967
4.8
4.1
4.9
4.1
3.6
4.2
4.2

1/ Area coverage includes the urban portion of the corresponding Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) except
for New York and Chicago where the more extensive Standard Consolidated Areas are used. Area definitions are those established for the 1960 Census and do not include revisions made since 1960.
If Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all cities; most other goods and services priced as
indicated:
M - Every month.
1 - January, April, July, and October.
2 - February, May, August, and November.
3 - March, June, September, and December.




TABLE 3: Consumer Price Index—The United States and Selected Areas 1/
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Major Groups
Percent change from August 1968 to September 1968
U.S. City
Average

Group

Los AngelesLong Beach

Chicago

All items

0,2

0.4

0.5

Food
Housing
Apparel and upkeep
Transportation
Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

.1
.2
1.6
.4
.5
.6
.5
.3
.2

0
.2
2.9
.2
.2
.3
1.2
0
0

0
1.0
1.9
.2
.2
.7
.2
.1
.1

1/
2/

0.2
.4
1.7
• 2.4

.2
0
.5
0
.2

New York

Philadelphia

0.6

0.7

.1
.1
3.4
.2
.6
.7
.9
.5
.5

.5
.5
3.5
.2
.2
.6
.3
.3
(2/)

See footnote 1, table 2.
Not available.

TABLE 4:

Consumer Price Index—United States City Average
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
Major group indexes, selected dates
(1957-59=100)
Health and recreation

ate

Apparel
Housing

upkeep

Transportation

and

All
items
1968:

Annual Average:

Total

Medical
care

Reading
and
recreation

Other
goods
and
services

Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.

122.2
121.9
121.5
120.9
120.3
119.9
119.5
119.0
118.6

120.4
120.5
120.0
119.1
118.8
118.3
117.9
117.4
117.0

120.4
120.1
119.5
118.7
117.8
117.5
117.2
116.9
116.4

122.2
120.3
119.7
119.9
119.5
118.4
117.6
116.6
115.9

119.5
120.0
119.8
119.7
119.1
119.0
119.0
118.6
118.7

131.1
130.5
130.2
129.7
129.2
128.8
128.3
127.5
127.1

146.4
145.5
145.1
144.4
144.0
143.5
142.9
141.9
141.2

121.5
120.9
120.4
120.1
119.6
119.0
118.4
117.6
117.6

126.7
126.3
125.9
125.6
125.3
124.9
124.2
123.0
122.7

124.4
124.2
123.9
123.5
122.6
122.5
122.4
122.1
121.9

Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.

118.2
117.8
117.5
117.1

116.2
115.6
115.7
115.9

116.0
115.5
115.3
115.0

116.8
116.6
116.0
115.1

117.9
118.3
117.7
116.8

126.6
126.2
125.5
124.9

140.4
139.7
139.0
138.5

117.2
116.9
116.5
116.4

122.2
122.0
121.4
120.5

121.4
121.0
120.3
119.7

1967
1966
1965
1964
1963
1962
1957

116.3
113.1
109.9
108.1
106.7
105.4
98.0

115.2
114.2
108.8
106.4
105.1
103.6
97.8

114.3
111.1
108.5
107.2
106.0
104.8
98.5

114.0
109.6
106.8
105.7
104.8
103.6
99.5

115.9
112.7
111.1
109.3
107.8
107.2
96.5

123.8
119.0
115.6
113.6
111.4
109.4
97.0

136.7
127.7
122.3
119.4
117.0
114.2
95.5

115.5
112.2
109.9
109.2
107.9
106.5
97.1

120.1
117.1
115.2
114.1
111.5
109.6
96.9

118.2
114.9
111.4
108 .-8
107.1
105.3
98.5

Sept.
Aug.
July
June

May

1967:

Food

Personal
care




TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index—United States and Selected Areas IV
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Commodity Groups
September 1968 indexes and percent changes from June 1968

Group

U.S.
City
Average

Atlanta

Baltimore

Chicago

Cincinnati

Detroit

Honolulu
(Dec.1963-100)

Indexes (1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)
All items

122.2

121.2

122.4

119.8

120.3

121.2

112.8

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

120.4
116.8
119.8
115.5
121.6
122.9
107.4
138.0

118.9
116.1
113.2
117.2
114.2
122.8
112.7
129.0

123.4
119.1
124.1
117.4
116.7
133.6
109.3
141.5

122 .3
120 .5
124 .4
117 .8
135 .3
123 .1
109 .0
130 .5

117.6
114.1
113.6
115.6
117.1
123.5
103.1
136.0

119.0
116.1
115.1
119.4
128.0
111.4
106.1
134.8

112.8
112.2
112.5
113.8
113.2
114.0
106.8
114.5

Hous ing
Shelter

120.4
125.3
115.7
129.1
110.5
115.8
109.3
113.9

122.4
124.0
111.7
127.6
114.0

116 .2
119 .1
111 .0
122 .9
108 .6
108 .5
108 .2
113 .1

115.1
116.6
104.9
122.1
106.5
112.1
109.0
113.2

116.7
120.9
124.5
103.6
106.4
105.1
110.4

117.4
124.4
111.4
133.3
100.3

110.7
120.3

119.5
123.6
113.8
127.5
108.8
118.8
101.2
118.1

99.4
107.2

Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys 1
Women's and girls'
Footwear —

122.2
123.2
118.5
134.0

123.3
122.9
116.3
136.3

124.0
125.7
117.0
147.8

118 .4
116 .3
115 .4
130 .9

127.3
130.7
119.8
146.4

121.0
121.5
119.7
131.4

111.6
106.7
116.5
112.0

Transportation
Private
Public

119.5
117.2
138.7

115.4
112.9
129.3

119.9
117.8
126.6

117 .3
116 .4
124 .2

121.4
117.8
151.8

118.8
116.0
137.2

103.9
106.4
92.3

Health and recreation
Medical care
—
Personal care
Reading and recreation*
Other goods and service

131.1
146.4
121.5
126.7
124.4

128.9
143.5
130.3
125.0
116.7

128.2
159.9
121.9
122.3
113.0

125 .9
153 .7
121 .8
109 .9
117 .5

130.2
153.2
113.9
125.5
120.8

133.5
154.9
127.1
126.4
120.0

113.
122,
106,
107,
116.1

—

——

Homeowner ship
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

Percent changes June 1968 to September 1968
All items

1.1

1.8

1.5

1.3

1.4

1.2

1.2

1.1
.9
1.0
2.0
.6
5.5
4.8
1.7

1.8
1.8
.3
2.6
.4
3.2
5.5
2.0

1.7
1.6
.6
1.5
.7
.5
5.4
2.2

1.8
1.4
1.6
2.8
1.0
4.6
4.7
3.2

1.1
1.2
1.2
2.8
1.0
4.1
4.8
.7

.9
.9
3.1
2.7
2.4
-10.1
5.4
1.2

.9
.9
1.6
1.2
.1

Housing
Shelter —
Rent —
Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

1.4
2.0
.7
2.4
.2
.3
.1
.9

2.4
3.2
.3
4.1
0

1.3
1.7
.4
2.1
.6
0
.1
.3

1.2
1.7
.1
2.3
.7
4.0
.8
.5

1.8
2.5

0
2.1

1.8
2.3
.7
2.9
1.2
0
.8
.9

Apparel and upkeep Men 1 8 and boys 1 —
Women*8 and girls'
Footwear

1.9
2.6
1.7
1.7

1.8
4.0
1.6
.1

2.1
4.0
1.7
1.7

2.1
1.9
2.2
1.9

5.2
4.1
6.9
6.6

2.5
4.4
2.2
2.3

2.6
2.9
3.4
1.2

.2
.2
.2

.3
.3
.1

.4
.5
0

.1
.1
0

.1
.1
0

.9
.4

.2
.2
0

1.1
1.4
1.2
.9
.7

2.1
2.8
2.6
2.0
.3

.9
1.5
1.8
.6
.3

1.0
.7
2.7
.3
1.3

1.0
1.1
.4
1.9
.7

1.0
.9
.6
.4
1.9

1.3
1.7
.3
1.0
2.0

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

Transportation
Private
Public
Health and recreation —
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and service

See footnotes at end of table.




(1/

2.9
.1
0
.2
.9

• 2.1

3.4
.5
1.6
2.0
1.2
2.4
.1

0
1.2

TABLE 5: Consumer Price Index—United States and Selected Areas 1/
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Commodity Groups
September 1968 indexes and percent changes from June 1968—Continued
Group

Kansas City

Los AngelesLong Beach

Philadelphia

St. Louis

San FranciscoOakland

Indexes (1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)
122.8

125.9

123.8

122.7

125.5

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

123.9
121,2
124.4
119.6
130.5
123.8
111.9
133.5

118 .0
112 .2
120 .2
106 .1
118 .7
127 .1
97.6
138 .6

121.6
116.5
119.3
115.7
112.7
127.7
107.6
143.8

121 .1
116 .7
116 .0
112 .2
127 .4
127 .1
106 .2
145 .0

124 .7
120 .8
123 .7
120 .5
133 .8
128 .4
105 .4
140 .1

118 .8
113 .6
117 .6
112 .4
117 .0
120 .6
103 .0
141 .8

Housing

118.5
120.3
107.4
125.6
117.9

125 .2
132 .3
115 .4
137 .8
106 .1

124.7
129.1

112,.5
113,.2

116 .6
119 .8
110 .1
122 .2
108 .0
110 .7
109 .9
115 .7

131 .8
142 .0
138 .0
143 .8
102.3

118.7
111.6

130.6
110.6
121.4
111.0
121.1

120 .2
122 .6
116 .1
124 .2
109 .6
122 .1
102 .7
117 .8

108 .4
115 .3

Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear

129.5
129.3
129.4
140.3

121,.7
124..9
121..8
129,.6

129.0
132.8
126.0
13S.1

130 .2
125 .6
126 .0
139 .9

123 .7
122 .8
124 .3
133 .4

126 .5
123 .6
124 .1
131 .8

Transportation
Private
Public

120.2
117.0
148.4

123.,0
118.,4
154.,5

120.6
119.7
127.3

128 ,6
123 .1
155 .9

121 .3
119 .5
129 .0

119 .3
121 .1
103 .4

Health and recreation —
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services -

138.8
154.2
122.8
139.3
128.8

124. 8
142. 7
115.,6
111. 9
121.0

136.8
150.0
117.7
138.3
132.3

130 .9
155 .3
115 .7
120 .2
125 .4

132 .8
140 .6
124 .4
133 .2
128 .6

130 .3
146 .7
130 .3
116 .3
127 .6

All items

— -

Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

124.4

Percent changes June 1968 to September 1968
0.2

0.7

1.9

1.5

1.2

1.0

.8
.8
.7
1.4
2.5
4.6
.5

.6
.3
.2
2.1
.6
5.8
3.4
1.3

1.6
1.7
1.7
1.6
1.0
2.8
6.1
1.8

1.6
1.9
.7
1.4
.2
.2
6.8

.7
.5
3.1
1.2
0
4.9
3.1
1.4

.6
.1
.2
1.5
.7
7.9
3.7
3.1

1.2
1.3
.4
1.7
.4

1.6
2.0
.5
2.4
0

2.0
2.9

.2
1.0

.9
1.4
.6
1.7
1.1
.9
1.5

1.8
2.0
1.3
2.4
0

1.5
1.1

4.6
.1
.2
.1
.9

1.6
2.4
.5
2.7
.1
.1
0
1.2

Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls' —
Footwear

3.9
3.2
5.5
3.8

2.4
1.8
3.5
2.0

3.7
4.0
5.5
1.5

3.2
4.1
3.6
2.0

3.2
3.1
4.2
3.5

1.9
3.9
1.8
.2

Transportation
Private
Public

4.7
5.0
.4

2.5
2.6
.4

.5
.7
0

.5
.6
.1

.1
.2
.1

.2
.2
0

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

1.6
.5
1.1
4.0
.5

1.0
1.1
.6

1.6
2.2
1.1
1.3
1.7

1.1
2.9
.5
.2
.6

1.5
1.5
1.1
1.2
1.9

.7
.8
1.0
1.0
.1

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

Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
•
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

1/ See footnote 1, table 2.
2/ Change from July 1968.




•

6.1

1/

0
1.5

TABLE 6: Consumer Price Index—United States and Selected Areas
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Food and its Subgroups
September 1968 indexes and percent changes from August 1968

Food at home
Area 1/

Total
food

Cereals
Total

and
bakery
products

Meats,
poultry,
and fish

Fruits

Dairy
products

and
vegetables

Other
foods
at home

Food
away
from
home

Indexes (1957-59=100 unless otherwise specified)

U.S. City Average

120.4

116.8

119.8

115.5

121.6

122.9

107.4

138.0

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo (Nov.1963=100) Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas (Nov.1963=100) —
Detroit
Honolulu (Dec.1963=100)
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles-Long Beach Milwaukee
Minneapolis-St. Paul
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Diego (Feb.1965=100)
San Francisco-Oakland —
Seattle
Washington

118.9
123.4
123.6
114.7
122.3
117.6
118.8
114.7
119.0
112.8
120.8
123.9
118.0
119.6
118.3
121.6
121.1
117.7
124.7
113.1
118.8
119.9
123.8

116.1
119.1
118.5
112.7
120.5
114.1
115.9
112.7
116.1
112.2
117.0
121.2
112.2
117.8
115.4
116.5
116.7
115.2
120.8
110.4
113.6
114.4
119.6

113.2
124.1
120.9
105.8
124.4
113.6
113.8
110.1
115.1
112.5
126.7
124.4
120.2
110.5
111.8
119.3
116.0
119.9
123.7
108.9
117.6
108.4
112.8

117.2
117.4
120.1
113.8
117.8
115.6
118.7
115.4
119.4
113.8
111.7
119.6
106.1
118.3
113.7
115.7
112.2
118.2
120.5
117.8
112.4
114.6
116.6

114.2
116.7
115.6
116.5
135.3
117.1
121.5
122.0
128.0
113.2
119.5
130.5
118.7
129.6
126.7
112.7
127.4
115.0
133.8
108.7
117.0
125.9
124.9

122.8
133.6
128.1
114.6
123.1
123.5
123.8
110.7
111.4
114.0
128.0
123.8
127.1
122.3
115.5
127.7
127.1
120.5
128.4
106.9
120.6
123.4
127.4

112.7
109.3
108.6
110.9
109.0
103.1
103.9
107.1
106.1
106.8
107.9
111.9
97.6
108.9
111.2
107.6
106.2
104.9
105.4
104.8
103.0
102.4
116.3

129.0
141.5
145.7
126.3
130.5
136.0
135.8
122.6
134.8
114.5
137.3
133.5
138.6
(2/)
131.3
143.8
145.0
133.2
140.1
(2/)
141.8
142.7
140.3

Percent changes August 1968 to September 1968

-

U.S. City Average
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo (Nov.1963=100) Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas (Nov.1963=100) —
Detroit
Honolulu (Dec.1963=100)
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles-Long Beach Milwaukee
Minneapolis-St. Paul
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Diego (Feb.1965=100)
San Francisco-Oakland —
Seattle
Washington
1/
_2/

.1
1.5
0
.1
.1
.3
0
.6
.2
.3
.2
.2
.1
.1
.5
.7
.1
.9
.3
.1
.7

See footnote 1, table 2.
Not available.




-

-

-

-

-

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.1

-

.7
.4
0
1.7
.2
.1
.1
.3
.1
.5
.2
.2
.1
.3
.2
.1
.6
.7
.1
1.2
.1
.3
.3

.2
.4
.2
.7
1.1
1.1
.3
.3
.1
.4
.4
.4
.3
.5
.6
.1
.7
2.0
1.4
1.3
.3
1.9
.4

2.3
.8
.3
.4
.4
.2
.7
.5
.5
.5
.1
.1
.1
.9
.3
.3
.6
1.0
.5
.9
.4
.1
1.2

.9
0
.1
.3
.6
.5
.9
.1
.1
.5
.2
.2
.5
.1
.3
.3
.1
4.6
.1
.2
.2
.2
1.3

-

4.1

3.8
.7
2.7
-11.2
6.3
.7
3.6
2.1
5.3
0
.4
1.4
-

5 8
4.9
4.1
1.6
5.3
2,1
.6
1.2
1.0
1.8

0.6

2.5
3.5
1.9
1.1
2.3
1.2
2.1
1.6
3.3
.9
1.4
1.9
.7
1.7
1.9
2.4
2.9
1.7
1.2
3.0
.9
0
3.6

1.3
1.5
.4
0
.9
.1
.1
.2
.1
.7
.3
.3
.1

(1/)

.2
.8
.2
.3
.9
(2/)
1.3
1.3
1.4

TABLE 7: Consumer Price Index—United States City Average
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Food Items
September 1968 indexes and percent changes from selected dates
(1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)
Index
September 1968
Seasonally
Unadjusted
adjusted

Item or Group

Total food
Food away from home
Restaurant meals
Snacks 1/
Cereals and bakery products
Flour
—
Cracker meal 1/
Corn flakes
Bread, white
Bread, whole wheat 1/
Cookies
Layer cake 1/

—

Cinnamon r o l l s JL/ —
Meats, poultry, and fish
Meats
Beef and veal
Steak, round
Steak, sirloin If
Steak, porterhouse \J Rump roast JL/ —
Rib roast
Chuck roast
Hamburger —
Beef liver .1/
Veal cutlets
Pork
Chops
Loin roast 2/ —
Pork sausage JL/
Ham, whole
Picnics 1/
Other meats
Lamb chops 1/
Frankfurters
Ham, canned 1/
/
Bologna sausage 1/

—

Salami sausage JL/
Liverwurst 1/
Poultry
Frying chicken —
Chicken breasts V
Turkey 1/
—
Fish
Shrimp, frozen JL/
Fish, fresh or frozen
Tuna fish, canned
Sardines, canned 1/
Dairy products
Milk, fresh, grocery —
Milk, fresh, delivered
Milk, fresh, skim JL/
Milk, evaporated
Ice cream —
Cheese, American process
Butter
See footnotes at end of table.




120.4
138.0
138.3
119.1
116.8
119.8
112.0
117.4
128.5
110.7
125.9
116.7
100.9
110.0
108.2
115.5
118.0
119.1
113.5
113.5
118.9
109.9
126.7
110.0
122.1
107.4
144.1
117.4
123.0
128.7
128.0
112.2
115.8
115.7
120.3
129.1
118.7
115.3
120.3
115.5
116.8
94.5
96.0
105.5
99.2
124.8
109.5
126.1
111.9
122.7
121.6
119.6
124.9
119.0
121.3
99.1
140.5
116.6

120.0

116.3

113.0
115.5
117.2
112.6

125.0
108.3
120.7
144.0
112.2
118.3

111.1
108.5
119.8
118.0

94.0
125.1
126.2
121.4
118.9

141.5
116.5

Percent change to September 1968 f r o m —
August 1968
September
Seasonally
1967
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
adjusted

0.1
.6
.6
.4
.3
.2
.3
.3
.2
.1
.2
1.0
0
.1
0
.2
.1
.3
.1
.1
.3

0.3

.4
.5
.5
.5
.5
.3
.3
1.1
1.0
.7
1.6
.5
0
.4
.4
.5
.2
.2
.4
10
.7
1.2
1.4
.4
.7
.2
.2
.5
.1
.1
.2
.3
.1
.1
.1
.2

1.0
2.5
.7

.4
-

-

.9
.7
1.3
0

.6
.6

-

1.4
-

.1
.2
.1

-

.4
-

-

3.9
5.5
5.5
5.1
3.5
1.2
1.8
.5
.4
1.7
2.3
2.0
.8
4.8
.4
1.9
1.5
3.1
2.5
2.3
3.0
2.8
3.2
2.2
4.0
1.2
6.2
1.1
.6
.6
1.5
.2
2.5
4.4
1.3
2.5
.5
1.1
3.1
2.2
.4
4.1
5.5
3.7
2.6
3.0
.3
1.4
1.9
7.8
3.7
4.4
4.9
5.4
3.1
.4
3.8
.2

10

TABLE 7: Consumer Price Index—United States City Average
For Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Food Items
September 1968 indexes and percent changes from selected dates--Continued
(1957-59-100 unless otherwise specified)
Inde
September 1968
Seasonally
adjusted
Unadjusted

Item or Group

Fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Apples
Bananas
•
Oranges
Orange juice, fresh 1/
Grapefruit
Grapes 3/
•
Strawberries 2/"**"
Watermelon 3/ —
Potatoes
Onions
Asparagus
1/.3/
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery —
Cucumbers 1]
Lettuce —
Peppers, green 1/
Spinach 1/
•
Tomatoes
———————•-»—•——————-——
Processed fruits and vegetables
Fruit cocktail, canned
JTQCLFS f

C&HIlGfl

A / . "" "•™~™ » r r ^ mn^m- m-r <- •« — n~ -n .1—i .. 1-1 « M

Grapefruit-pineapple juice, canned 1/ —
Orange juice concentrate, frozen
Lemonade concentrate, frozen 2/
Peas, green, canned
Tomatoes, canned
Broccoli, frozen 1/
•
Other food at home
eggs
———

Fat8 and oils:
Salad dressing, Italian 1/ Salad or cooking oil 1/
Sugar and sweets

Chocolate bar
Syrup, chocolate flavored 1/
Nonalcoholic beverages
Coffee, can and bag
Coffee, instant 4/-—
Cola drink
Carbonated fruit drink 1/
Prepared and partially prepared foods 1/
Bean soup, canned 1/
Chicken soup, canned 1/
Spaghetti, canned 1/
Mashed potatoes, instant 1/
Potatoes, french fried, frozen 2/
Baby foods, canned
Sweet pickle relish 1/
Pretzels 1/
1/ December 1963-100.
2/ April 1960-100.
3J Priced only in season.
4/ July 1961=100.




122.9
128.6
168.7

95.3

u

167.0
87.2
188.9
114.5
(3/)
(3/)
13*2.0
137.9
<3/>
132.1
109.2
99.5
97.9
122.4
122.9
102,1
95.3
116.1
109.1
116.9
97.9
89,6
87.8
111.4
122.0
128.7
125.5
102.1
107.4
109.4
101.8
102.1
121.9
120.7
113.6
119.7
119.5
101.7
101.6
87.4
98.9
100.6
149.7
117.9
103.5
100.9
96.2
112.6
102.8
88.5
110.5
110.6
106.3

127.0
135.4
163.5
93.4
154.3
157.7
140.5
(3/)
(3/)
136.2
138.7
151.1
112.5
104.4
127.1

129.1

90.4

106.2
102.1

Percent change to September 1968 from-Aueust 1968
September
Seasonally
1967
Unadjusted
adjusted
Unadjusted
- 4.1
- 7.0
-17.6
.7
6.1
.5
1.0
-20.5
(3/)
(3/)
-10.1
- 7.2
(3/)
.2
- 7.4
- 9.9
-15.1
3.9
-13.6
- 1.8
-10.5
.3
0
- 1.1
2.3
1.5
.5
.4
.2
- 1.0
1.4
1.0
1.8
10.4
-

.6
.6
.1
.2
.1
.1
.6
.2
.1
0
0
.4
.3
.1
.7
0
.2
.8
.6
1.4
.6
1.2
.2

1.1
1.3
- 2.5
1.6
1.8

-

1.6
3.0

(V)
(V)
1.5
5.5
7.2
.4
- 6.0
5.3
-

.2

1.1

.9
.4

6.3
6.8
9.2
- 3.8
31.0
19.9
9.8
6.9
(3/)
(3/)
"•6
5.9
(3/)
11.4
- 2.0
-10.8
- 6.5
14.1
7.1
4.5
9.8
5.5
5.8
16.1
2.4
23.4
.9
2.7
.1
2.1
8.4
2.1
4.9
21.7
-

1.6
.2
- 1.9
4.5
.6
2.4
13.1
1.4
2.5
.3
2.6
.4
7.3
7.9
2.1
.8
0
1.8
1.5
4.2
2.5
3.5
1.6

Table 8: Percent Change in Prices for Selected Groups in the Consumer
Price Index and the Wholesale Price Index
(Seasonally adjusted except where indicated)
August 1968 to
September 196S
CPI
WPI
0.2
0.4
CONSUMER PRODUCTS

0.3
0.6
.3

.7

.4

Food and beverages at home

1.2

.8
Household furnishings and supplies

-

.1

-

.7

.4
-

.4
1.0

-

.3

0.7

.4

.6

.3

Appliances

.5

.8

Furniture and floor coverings

.4

0
.1

.4

^CONSUMER SERVICES

—

.1

0 4

—— - ——— --— «»--.

-

-

•Utilities and public transportation
•Housekeeping and home maintenance services

.6

1.0

.5

.9

.6

.2

1.0
3.6
.3

.3
.4

0
-

1.1
.8

-

.2

-

1.2

0.4

.7

1.4

1.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.3

.1

.7

2.0

1.0
1.7

-

.6
.4

.9

.8

.5

.1
.6

1.9

.2

1.3

.9

.2

.4

-

.1

-

.5

- 5.5

1.1

.3

1.0

.4

1.2

.5

.4

1.3

.8

.8

.7

1.4

.5

4 4

3.7
3.8
3.3

2.7

2.7
3.0
4.3

-

2.3

1.3

7

2.3
.2
.9
.3

-

.2

-

.4

-

.8

.6

-

1.5

-

1.7

-

3.0

1.0
3.3

1.7
- 3.8
1.1

2.4
1.8
4.8
4.0

1.4
1.2
3.5
1.5

5 7
-

1.3

-

8.3

.1

-

1.5

-

1.3

-

7.8

-

6

.2

2.7

3.4

]^ 5

1 4

3.2

3

0 9

Sept. 1967 to
September 1968
WPI*
CPI*

.8

.5

.2

1 6

.3

-

.2

- 1.0

-

1.6

- 1.1

-

.5

1 8

.7

.5
.7

.8

2.0

- 1.1

0.4

1.1

1.1

1.8

.3

0.9

0.7

.7

.2

Sept. 1967 to
December 1967
CPI
WPI

1.3

00

.3

.2

1.1

00

.4

June 1968 to March 1968 to December 1967
September 1968 June 1968
to March 1968
CPI
WPI
CPI
WPI
WPI
CPI

2 6
7

-

•Medical care services

.7

-

1.7

-

1.2

-

2.1

-

1.6

-

6.9

-

•Personal care services

.6

-

1.5

-

1.5

-

1.6

-

1.2

-

5.8

-

•Other services

.4

-

1.1

-

1.4

-

2.2

-

1.3

-

6.1

-

WHOLESALE PRICES:
Type of Product:

Processed foods and feeds

-

1.4

-

- 1.6

-

2.0

-

2.6

-

-

- .4

-

-

.1

-

.6

-

1.9

-

-

.3

-

.4

-

.2

-

1.1

.2

-

.5

-

.1

-

.2

-

Chemicals and allied products

-

-

1.5

-

.1

-

2.3

-

.8

-

2.5

-

.2

-

0

-

4.5

-

.2

-

.7

-

.3

-

.6

-

.9

-

2.5

Lumber and wood products

-

1.8

-

4.7

-

2.5

-

4.3

-

.7

-

12.8

Pulp, paper and allied products

-

.3

-

.7

-

.5

-

.2

-

.6

-

1.0

-

.8

-

.4

- 1.8

-

2.2

-

1.7

-

2.5

-

.4

-

1.0

-

.7

-

.9

-

.9

-

3.5

-

.4

-

.5

-

.6

-

1.2

-

.6

-

3.0

5
-

Intermediate materials, supplies and components

-

Crude materials

-

Producer

-—

5

7

.3

-

.5

-

.8

-

-

.8

-

.5

-

- 1.7

-

1 2

2 9

.7

-

.9

-

1.3

-

.2

-

1.1

-

.7

-

2.5

.8

-

2.2

-

1.1

-

2.4

3.7

NOTE: The price chances shown for Consumer Products and components are for roughly comparable classes of finished consumer pro iucts fi om the
CPI and WPI. A brief description of the classes of items contained in each group is included at the end of this report. Complete listings of
inclusions in the CPI and WPI groupings will be furnished on request.
•Based on data unadjusted for seasonal variations.




12
Reliability of Percent Changes in the CPI

A system of "replicated" samples introduced into the index structure in the 1964
revision permits an estimate of sampling error for the CPI. J7 The table below shows
standard errors for monthly, quarterly, and annual percent changes in the CPI for all items
and for nine commodity groupings based on 1967 averages. The figures may be interpreted as
follows: the chances are about 95 out of 100 that the percent change in the CPI as computed
differs from the corresponding "complete coverage" change by less than twice the standard
error. Data also are shown in terms of the relative error of the standard error of percent
changes. The relative errors tend to decrease markedly for successively longer time periods,
as expected.
Because the CPI is rounded to one decimal place, some ambiguity may arise in
interpreting small index changes. The table below indicates, for example, that a month-tomonth change of 0.1 percent in the all-items CPI is significant. Because of rounding,
however, a change of this size in the published index might result from a much smaller change
in the unrounded value. Hence, any particular change of 0.1 percent may or may not be
significant. On the other hand, a published change of 0.2 percent is almost always significant, regardless of the time period to which it relates.

Standard and Relative Errors of Percent Changes in the
CPI Based on 1967 Data

Component
All items -Food at home
Food away from home
Housing
Apparel
Transportation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation Other goods and services

Monthly
Change
.03
.08
.06
.04
.16
.07
.12
.14
.08
.10

Standard Error
Quarterly
Annua1
Change
Change
.05
.11
.12
.07
.24
.12
.17
.19
.12
.14

.07
.16
.27
.14
.26
.14
.26
.34
.15
.20

Monthly
Change
.12
.14
.16
.18
.29
.17
.23
.56
.29
.25

Relative Error
Quarterly
Change

Annua1
Change

.07
.10
.10
.11
.23
.11
.10
.26
.16
.13

.03
.19
.05
.05
.06
.05
.04
.12
.06
.07

This replaces the table of average standard errors based on 1965 data which was
included in the CPI report through January 1968.

1/ The method of deriving these estimates is described in a paper by Marvin Wilkerson,
"Measurement of Sampling Error in the Consumer Price Index," Journal of the American Statistical Association, September 1967.




13

Brief Explanation of the CPI
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures average changes in prices of goods
and services usually bought by urban wage earners and clerical workers, both families
and single persons living alone. It is based on prices of about 400 items which were
selected to represent the movement of prices of all goods and services purchased by
wage earners and clerical workers. Prices for these items are obtained in urban portions of 39 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA's) and 17 smaller cities,
which were chosen to represent all urban places in the United States, including
Alaska and Hawaii. They are collected from grocery and department stores, hospitals,
filling stations, and other types of stores and service establishments which wage
earners and clerical workers patronize.
Prices of foods, fuels, and a few other items are obtained every month in
all 56 locations. Prices of most other commodities and servipes are collected every
month in the 5 largest SMSA's and every 3 months in other SMSA's and 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
location are averaged together with weights which represent their importance in the
spending of all wage earners and clerical workers. SMSA and city data are then combined in the t-otal index with weights based on the 1960 populations of SMSA's and
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 1957-59-100, and are
also available on the bases of 1947-49*100 and 1939-100.
The national index (the United States city average) includes prices from
the 23 SMSA's for which separate indexes are published in this report, as well as
from the following additional locations:
Alabama - Florence
Alaska - Anchorage
California - Bakersfield*
Colorado - Denver*
Connecticut - Hartford*
Florida - Orlando*
Indiana - Indianapolis*
Indiana - Logansport
Illinois - Champaign-Urbana*
Iowa - Cedar Rapids*
Kansas - Wichita*

Louisiana - Baton Rouge*
Maine - Portland*
Massachusetts - Southbridge
Michigan - Niles
Minnesota - Crookston
Mississippi - Vicksburg
New Jersey - Millville
New York - Kingston
North Carolina - Durham*
North Dakota - Devils Lake
Ohio - Dayton*

Ohio - Findlay
Oklahoma - Mangum
Oregon - Klamath Falls
Pennsylvania - Lancaster*
South Carolina - Union
Tennessee - Nashville*
Texas - Austin*
Texas - McAllen
Utah - Orem
Virginia - Martinsville
Wisconsin - Green Bay*

*Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area
Comparisons of indexes for individual SMSA's show only that prices in one
location changed more or less than in another. The SMSA indexes cannot be used to
measure differences in price levels or in living costs between areas.
A description of the index and historical tables of index numbers for the
United States city average and for 23 large SMSA's are available on request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, D. C. 20212 or any of its regional offices
(addresses below).
BLS Regional Offices
1371 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

341 Ninth Avenue
New York, New York 10001

219 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604

450 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, California 94102

John F. Kennedy Fed. Bldg.
Boston, Massachusetts 02203

911 Walnut Street
Kansas City, Missouri

1015 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania




19107

411 North Akard Street
Dallas, Texas 75201

64106

Composition of Index Groupings Appearing in Table 8

Wholesale Price Index

Consumer Price Index
All commodities and services

All Commodities

All commodities except home purchase, used cars,
food and beverages away from home, newspapers,
magazines and books.

Nondurable and durable commodities ready for use by
home consumers except a few individual consumer
products included in WPI groupings of commodities
purchased primarily by industrial firms.

All nondurable commodities except food and
beverages away from home and newspapers, magazines and books.

A combination of indexes listed below. 1/

Food and beverages at home

Food at home, alcoholic beverages at home.

Fresh and dried fruits and vegetables, nuts, and eggs
from the farm products group; and the processed foods
and feeds group, excluding crude vegetable oils and
manufactured animal feeds.

Apparel and accessories

Apparel, footwear, and accessories. 2/

Apparel and some fabrics and sewing materials,
leather footwear, leather gloves, rubber footwear,
watches and clocks, jewelry.

Household furnishings and supplies

Home maintenance nondurables, fuel oil and
coal, textile housefurnishings, housekeeping
supplies.

Textile housefurnishings, fuels for home use (except
gas), soap and synthetic detergents, sanitary papers
and health products, matches, pens and pencils, and
prepared paints, and miscellaneous housekeeping
supplies.

Gasoline and motor oil

Gasoline and motor oil.

Gasoline and automotive motor oil.

Other nondurables

Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, toilet goods,
recreational nondurables, tobacco products.

Pharmaceutical preparations, cosmetics and other
toilet preparations, tobacco products, personal
brushes, and recreational items such as toys, film,
and playing cards.

All durable commodities except home purchase
and used cars.

A combination of indexes listed below. J7

New passenger cars

New cars.

Passenger cars.

Appliances

Household appliances, radio and TV.

Home electronic equipment, room heaters,, and household appliances, excluding electric lamps.

Furniture and floor coverings

Furniture and floor coverings.

Household furniture and floor coverings.

Other durables

Home maintenace durables, other housefurnishings, tires, recreational durables,
except radio and TV.

Other durable commodities throughout the WPI which
are used for home maintenance, including some household geods, tires and tubes, outboard motors, equipment for home workshops and home gardens, recreational items such as photographic equipment, sporting
and athletic goods, musical instruments, and phonograph records, electric lamps, typewriters, luggage
and small leather goods, and caskets and morticians
goods.

ALL ITEMS

CONSUMER PRODUCTS

'•

Nondurable

Durable

CONSUMER SERVICES •

All consumer services.

Insurance and finance

Mortgage interest, taxes and insurance, automobile insurance and other auto expenses. 3_/

Rent

Rent of home or apartment.

Utilities and public transportation

Gas and electricity, telephone, water and
sewer, public transportation.

Housekeeping and home maintenance services

—

Housekeeping and home maintenance services.

Medical care services

Hotels, apparel services, auto repairs and
maintenance, recreational services, reading
and educational services, personal expenses.

WHOLESALE PRICES
Type of product
Farm Product
Processed foods and feeds
Industrial commodities
Industrial materials and equipment

Same as the Wholesale Price Indexes for major groups.

Stage of Processing at wholesale
Finished goods
Consumer
Producer
Intermediate materials, supplies, and
components
Crude materials

The Wholesale Price Stage of Processing Indexes.
The Consumer Finished Goods index differs from the
Consumer Products index in weighting structure and
is based on a larger sample of commodities.

J7 The classification by durable and nondurable commodities is based on CPI classification and is not necessarily the same as the WPI classification in the
Indexes by Durability of Product
27 Same as apparel commodities.
V Includes registration and license fees and parking fees.