Full text of CPI Detailed Report : September 1971

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the consumer price index
a monthly report
on consumer price movements
including statistical tables
and technical notes.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
J. D. Hodgson, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Geoffrey H. Moore, Commissioner
OFFICE OF PRICES
AND LIVING CONDITIONS
Joel Popkin, Assistant Commissioner

Consumer Price Indexes
Commodities and Services
1967=100
135

/'

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE

130

ALL ITEMS INDEX (as of December 1970)

125
ALL SERVICES

/

37.15%

/
/

FOOD

21.99%

NONDURABLES LESS FOOD

23.81%

DURABLE COMMODITIES

17 05%

/

120

All Services
\

115
All It

/

>

/'A

S,

•

110
/'
s'
105

100
\ s'"~
95

Food*

V. .:>

Nondurable
Less Food*

i

90
"

•

'

•

'

85
1963

1964

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

'Seasonally adjusted
Latest Data: September 1971

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
FOR
SEPTEMBER 1971

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.2 percent in September to 122.4 percent of its
1967 base. Prices for apparel commodities, household services, college tuition, and some
other items increased, while prices for food and automobiles declined. The September index
was 4.2 percent above its level a year ago.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the increase in the September index was also 0.2
percent. The food price index declined 0.3 percent between August and September. The
decrease was the first in 1971 and the largest since April 1967. The index of nonfood
commodities increased 0.2 percent, compared with 0.5 percent in August. Charges for
services rose 0.4 percent, slightly less than in each of the 4 preceding months.
TABLE A.

Percent changes in CPI and components, selected periods
Changes * n all items
at seasonally adjusted
compound annual rate

Changes from preceding month
Month

September 1970
October
November
December
January 1971
February
March
April
May
June
juiy

——-—————

August
September

All items

—

Food

Commodities
less food
Seas,
Unadj.
adj.

Services

From
3 mos.
ago

From
From
6 mos. 12 mos.
ago
ago

Unadj.

Seas,
adj.

Unadj.

Seas,
adj.

0.5
.5
.3
.5

0.5
.5
.3
.5

-0.2
-.2
-.5
.3

0.3
.0
.1
-.1

0.7
1.0
.5
.3

0.5
.4
.4
.7

0.7
.5
.6
.6

4.5
5.2
5.6
5.3

5.2
5.0
4.7
4.9

5.7
5.8
5.6
5.5

.1
.2
.3
.3
.5
.6
.2
.3
.2

.3
.2
.2
.3
.6
.5
.2
.4
.2

.2
.3
.9
.7
.3
.8
.5
.2
-.8

.0
.5
.9
.9
.2
.5
.1
.1
-.3

-.3
.0
.3
.3
.7
.4
-.1
.3
.4

.2
-.1
.2
.2
.7
.3
.1
.5
.2

.6
.2
.0
.2
.6
.5
.5
.5
.4

4.5
4.0
2.8
2.8
4.2
5.3
4.9
4.4
3.3

4.9
4.8
4.1
3.6
4.1
4.0
3.9
4.3
4.3

5.2
4.8
4.6
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.4
4.5
4.2

Unadj.

Impact of the Wage-Price-Rent Freeze
Analysis of price data in the September CPI indicates that most of the increase in
the September index for items covered by the freeze occurred before August 15 or was due to
seasonal or other price changes which, under certain conditions, are permissible under the
freeze.
The bulk of the 400 items included in the index are covered by the freeze, but some
important items such as raw agricultural products, taxes, and mortgage interest rates, are
exempt from the freeze. Mortgage interest rates and taxes went up, but prices of raw
agricultural products declined substantially. Excluding the effect of price changes for these
exempt items, the index would have increased 0.4 percent.
A little less than half of this 0.4 percent change was due largely to seasonal
increases in prices of apparel. Some clothing on sale in August had price increases in
September, and fall and winter items reappeared on the market at prices higher than last
spring's sale prices. Regulations of the Cost of Living Council permit certain types of




seasonal increases, but it is not possible to determine from data used in the CPI whether
allowable seasonal increases accounted for all the rise in apparel prices.
Somewhat more than a fifth of the 0.4 percent change reflects price changes of
earlier months. Most services included in the CPI are priced once every 3 months and all
rents are priced every 6 months. The Bureau undertook a special collection and analysis
program to isolate the August to September price change for these items. Virtually all of
the increase in the 4,000 prices analyzed for these services included in the September CPI
occurred before August. More than 5,000 rental units were surveyed for the September CPI,
and only 1 percent reported increases after announcement of the freeze.
Almost a tenth of the 0.4 percent change was due to increased charges for college
tuition. Tuition charges for the 1971-72 academic year were collected in July, August, and
September from a large number of institutions. Tuition fees included in the September CPI
reflect changes from last year, because fees generally change only once a year.
Imports, which are subject to special regulation, were responsible for about 2-1/2
percent of the change. Most of this was due to higher prices for imported apparel items and
cars.
The effect of the freeze on the remaining 20 to 25 percent of the change cannot be
determined specifically. About a third of this residual was due to grocery store food items
covered by the freeze. However, prices in August were collected before announcement of the
freeze. These prices could have been below permissible ceilings when they were collected.
Another large portion of the residual reflects price changes from periods before the freeze
was announced for items such as restaurant meals and gasoline.
The above analysis is of necessity based on averages of prices for many items
collected in many stores in many cities. Some indication of what has happened to individual
prices of the nonfood items included in the CPI may be derived from a special tabulation of
changes in price quotations collected in September and in August after the wage-price-rent
freeze was announced. This analysis, which covers 3,885 prices in the 5 largest cities,
shows that fewer than 8 percent of the prices increased, 87 percent showed no change, and
almost 6 percent decreased.
Price Developments in the Third Quarter
The annual rate of change in the CPI for the 3 months ending in September was 3.3
percent, compared with 5.3 percent for the 3 months ending in June, 4.9 percent in July,
and 4.4 percent in August. The 3-month change for September was the lowest since late 1967,
except for the 2.8 percent rate recorded in the 3 months ending in March, when mortgage
interest rates were declining rapidly. The slowdown occurred primarily in the food component
which declined at an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the 3 months ending in September after
they had advanced at a 6.3-percent rate in the first two quarters of 1971. Prices of nonfood commodities increased less than in the second quarter, a 3.1 percent rate compared with
4.9 percent in the second quarter. The services component rose at a 5.4 percent rate, about
the same as in the second quarter.
Food
The index for food purchased in grocery stores decreased 1.4 percent at an annual
rate after seasonal adjustment in the 3 months ending in September, compared with increases
of about 6 percent in the 3 months ending in March and in June. (See Table B.) During the
third quarter, the food index rose slightly after seasonal adjustment in July, held steady
in August and fell somewhat in September. Lower food prices at the retail level reflected
a substantial decline in wholesale prices of farm products and consumer foods, which began
early in the third quarter.




Sharp price declines in September for fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, and coffee
accounted for much of the decline in retail food prices in the third quarter. Fresh fruit
and vegetable prices, which advanced 12.9 percent in the first quarter, and 26.9 percent in
the second quarter, dropped 13.7 percent in the third quarter. The decline occurred in the
last month of the quarter as supplies of fresh Vegetables from late summer and early fall
crops reached retail markets at the same time, and early season supplies of grapes were
larger than usual.
Egg prices rose much less in the third quarter than they usually do. On a seasonally
adjusted basis, they declined at an annual rate of 50.4 percent. The decline resulted from
a smaller than usual decrease in output. Egg prices increased 3.7 percent in the first
quarter, and 15.5 percent in the second quarter. Coffee prices, which have been trending
down since late 1970 in response to lower wholesale prices for green coffee, decreased
further in September to a level 4.2 percent below the September 1970 level.
Although prices rose for most other food purchased in grocery stores, increases for
the most part were smaller than in both the first and second quarters. The index for cereal
and bakery products rose substantially less than the quarterly increases recorded since late
1969. The record corn crop forecast for this year had a moderating influence on prices of
cereal products. The increase of 1.0 percent at a seasonally adjusted annual rate in the
dairy products index in the third quarter was the smallest since late 1968. All of the
increase occurred between June and July. Beef prices were virtually unchanged in the third
quarter after they increased significantly in the first two quarters of this year. Prices
declined in July and August as production outpaced consumer demand, but in September, beef
prices increased sharply. Pork prices, however, continued to decline on a seasonally adjusted
basis in the June-September period as cold storage holdings remained ample.
In the third quarter prices of some items such as frozen orange juice and salad oils
increased at a faster rate than in the second quarter. Weather damage to citrus crops
earlier in 1971 continued to influence frozen orange juice prices. The rise in salad oil
prices reflected higher wholesale prices of crude and refined vegetable oils during the past
year; these resulted from the strong demand for U.S. vegetable oils.
Prices of food eaten away from home—restaurant meals and snacks—increased at an
annual rate of 5.2 percent, slightly faster than in the second quarter, but less than in the
first quarter.
Commodities less food
Prices of nonfood commodities typically decline slightly in the third quarter.
Prices edge down in July and August because of traditional summer sales and larger concessions on new cars at the end of the model year, and increase in September as seasonal
items, particularly fall and winter apparel items, reappear on the market. This year prices
rose, instead of declining on balance in the June-September period, primarily because of
an unusually sharp rise in gasoline prices in August. However, the seasonally adjusted
annual rate of increase of 3.1 percent in the 3-months ending in September was smaller than
the 4.9 percent rise in the 3months ending in June. The slower pace in the third quarter
resulted from lower prices for cars and smaller increases for many nonfood commodities, including apparel, homes, textile housefurnishings, and household durables.
The new car index decreased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted annual rate basis
in the 3 months ending in September—the first quarterly decline since late 1968. The index
for used cars also declined for the first time since September 1970. The decline in the new
car index reflected, to some extent, the influence of the various facets of the President's
economic stabilization program. The refunding of the excise tax by one U.S. automobile
company on its 1971 model cars in advance of Congressional approval of the proposal to eliminate the excise tax on new cars had a substantial effect on the new car index in August and
September. Also the new car index was affected slightly in both months by the price increase




announced by a large foreign automobile manufacturer after the President's announcement on
August 15. In addition, the wage-price freeze appears to have stimulated wholesale price
reductions on 1971 model cars. Generally, higher prices for new 1972 models help new car
dealers in selling their inventories of old (1971) models. However, the wage-price freeze
apparently moderated this stimulus since auto manufacturers instituted substantial wholesale price reductions on the 1971 model cars shortly after the wage-price-rent freeze was
put into effect.
After declining seasonally in July and August, prices of apparel commodities
increased somewhat more than they usually do in September. On a seasonally adjusted annual
rate basis, the increase of 0.7 percent for the 3 months ending in September was down from
4.4 percent in the 3 months ending in June and was the smallest quarterly increase since the
third quarter of 1965. Prices of men's and boys' apparel declined 2.6 percent, the first
quarterly decline since early 1964. The third quarter decline, which occurred in July and
August, compares with an unusually large increase of 6.2 percent in the second quarter of
1971. Prices increased in September because of higher prices for some year-round items,
which were on sale in July and August, and some seasonal items were introduced at higher
prices than those that prevailed at the end of the last season. Prices of women's and
girls' apparel prices rose 3.0 percent at a seasonally adjusted annual rate—somewhat less
than they had in the second quarter. Footwear prices increased 1.7 percent in the 3 months
ending in September, the smallest quarterly increase since the second quarter of 1965.
Prices for household durables such as furniture, floor coverings, and appliances
all increased at a slower pace than in the second quarter. The overall rise of 2.1 percent at an annual rate in the household durables index in the 3 months ending in September,
was half the increase in the 3 months ending in June. However, it was the same as the
3-month change in September 1970. Furniture prices increased slightly after seasonal adjustment in the third quarter as lower prices for seasonal items were more than offset by higher
prices for upholstered furniture, bedding, and other items.
Price rises accelerated for some nonfood commodities in the third quarter. The
price index for tires, which moved up sharply in July after large increases at the wholesale level, continued to rise in August and in September as price increases were recorded
in some cities which were last priced in June. The increase in September was moderated
by price decreases in some cities, particularly in Detroit. Tire prices rose at a seasonally
adjusted annual rate of 7.1 percent in the third quarter, the sharpest since the third
quarter of 1970, when they rose 7.7 percent. Prices of tobacco products rose 2,0
percent, the sharpest quarterly increase since late 1969; prices rose for cigars and
cigarettes, and taxes were increased on cigarettes in some areas.
Services
The rise in the index for services in the third quarter was about the same as in the
second quarter. Those increases were considerably larger than in the first quarter when
mortgage interest rates were declining sharply. Since June, mortgage interest rates have
been rising and accounted for the faster rise in the household services category compared
with the second quarter. In addition, property taxes and charges for home maintenance and
repair services continued to advance at a rapid pace. The increase in the index for home
repair charges was particularly large in September. Gas and electricity rates also rose
sharply in the third quarter—but the increases occurred early in the quarter. They were
unchanged in September. Property insurance rates held steady in September, for the second
consecutive month ) after large increases from February through July.
Increases in transportation services, rent, and medical care services were smaller
than in the second quarter. The rent index rose 3.2 percent at an annual rate in the 3
months ending in September, the smallest 3-month rise since early 1969. The rise in the index
for medical care services slowed during the quarter as increases in professional fees and hospital charges became smaller. On a seasonally adjusted annual rate basis, the index for




medical care services rose 6.1 percent in the quarter ending in September; it showed a steady
deceleration from the recent peak of 8.8 percent in the first 2 quarters of 1970. The
slowdown in the rise in the index for transportation services was notable. The increase for
the 3 months ending in September was 3.0 percent, down from the increase of 11.1 percent in
the first quarter, and 9.1 percent in the second. Charges for auto repairs continued to
increase but at a slower pace; auto insurance rates, which rose sharply in 1970 and in the
first quarter of this year, moved up at a somewhat slower pace in the second quarter and
leveled out in the third quarter. Auto insurance rates held steady in September. Rate
increases that were to go into effect in September were deferred until after November 13.
In public transportation services, local-transit fares were level during the 3 months ending
in September, but intercity bus fares, which were last priced in June, showed a large increase
in September.
In the other services category, college tuition, priced each year in September, rose
almost 9 percent since last year. Fees for legal services also increased significantly in
September. Mostly because of these increases and a faster rise in charges for men's haircuts, the index for the other services group rose 4.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted annual
rate basis for the 3 months ending in September. The increase was larger than in the quarter
ending in June, but smaller than the increase of 6.2 percent in the first quarter.

TABLE B. Seasonally adjusted compound annual rate of changes in CPI and
components, 1970-71
3-month ending
Sept.
All Items
Food
Food at home
Food away from home
Commodities less food
Nondurables less food
Apparel commodities
Gasoline and motor oil
Durables
New cars
Household durables
Services*
Rent*
Household less rent
Medical care
Transportation
Other services
*Not seasonally adjusted.




June

1
Mar.

Dec.

Sept.

1Q70
June

5.3

4.5

5.9

6.2

2.1
.4
7.3

4.7
7.8

March

3.3

5.3

2.8

-.3
-1.4

6.3
6.0

6.0

0

5.7

5.2

4.9

6.0

-.7
4.0

1.8
.7
5.4

3.1
4.2
.7

4.9

1.0

6.5

4.0

6.3

3.9

1.4

5.0

4.7

4.4

4.9

15.6
1.7
-.3
2.1

-3.0

1.0
-7.2
1.4

4.0
3.8

2.3

7.5

4.7

16.0

1.1

3.3

4.7
7.3
2.2

7.5
1.9
3.3

5.2

3.2

4.6
4.7
7.5

4.7

7.0
6.3
9.3

7.1
4.1
7.5

7.2
3.7
7.6

7.8
7.9
4.8

8.0

8.8

8.7

10.2

9.7
7.5

14.2

5.4
3.2

7.2
6.1
3.0

4.7

6.0
3.2
4.0

9.1
3.3

-4.8
7.3
11.1
6.2

8.9
7.6

5.6

3.5

5.0

2.6
2.9
2.8
-6.7
3.4
2.3
2.2
11.5

4.1
14.8

4.3

A NOTE ABOUT CALCULATING INDEX CHANGES
Effective with the February 1970 release, and continuing thereafter, percent changes
expressed as annual rates will be computed according to the standard formula for compound
growth rates• These data indicate what the percent change would be if the current rate were
maintained for a 12-month period.
Movements of the indexes from one date to another are usually expressed as percent
changes rather than changes in the index points because index point changes are affected by
the level of the index in relation to its base period while percent changes are not. The
following example illustrates the computation of index point and percent changes:
Index Point Change

Percent Change

September 1971 CPI (1967=100) 122.4
less August index
122,2
index point difference •
0,2

Effective with the
percent changes in the U.S.
seasonally adjusted indexes
eliminate rounding error in




Index point difference divided
by the index for the previous
period:
122.4 - 122.2
x 100 = 0.2
122.2

July 1970 release, and continuing thereafter, seasonally adjusted
All Items Index will be based on seasonal adjustment factors and
carried to two decimal places. This procedure will help to
the percent changes.

- 7 -

flLL ITEMS INDEX

130
125
120
115
110
105
100

RND ITS RflTE OF CHflNGE
( 1967 n 100

1962-71

SEP
122.4

CPI FILL ITEMS INDEX
(NOT SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTEO)

95

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN
(SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTEO)

90
85

SEP
0.2

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
-0.1

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTEO)
SEP
3.3

m

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE, SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH

1962
1/

1963

1964

1965

Computed from the unadjusted series.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

- 8 -

TOTflL FOOD INDEX FIND ITS RflTE OF CHflNGE

1962-71

( 1967 = 100 )
130
125
120
115
110
105
100

CPI TOTflL FOOD INDEX
(SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTEO)

95

ERCENT CHRNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN
(SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTEO)

90
85

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE.. SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTEO)
2
10
8
6
4
2
0
-2
-4

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE, SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH

1962
1/

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971

Computed from the unadjusted series.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




- 9 -

COMMODITIES LESS FOOD INDEX RND ITS RflTE OF CHflNGE 1962-71

( 1967 - 100 )

SEMILOG
135
130
125
120
115
110
105

CPI COMMODITIES LESS FOOD INDEX
(SERSQNflLLY flOJUSTED)

100
95
90
85

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN
(SEflSONflLLY flOJUSTED)
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTEO)

SEMI!-

6
4

2
0
-2

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTEO)

SEP
4.0

SEP
3.9

1/

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN"

l..i.

1962
1/

1963

1964

1965

Computed from the unadjusted series.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




1966

1967

• I..i.

1968

1969

1970

1971

- 10 -

FIND ITS RATE OF
( 1967 = 100 )

SERVICES INDEX

130
125
120
115
110
105
100
95

CHANGE

1962-71

CPI SERVICES INDEX
(NOT SEflSONflLLY

90

flDJUSTED)

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 1-MONTH SPflN
(NOT SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTEO)

85

Hfl(;
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 3-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. NOT SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

10

8
6
4
2
0
PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 6-MONTH SPflN
(flNNUflL RflTE. NOT SEflSONflLLY flDJUSTED)

MAtt"

PERCENT CHflNGE OVER 12-MONTH SPflN

1962
1/

1963

1964

Computed from t h e u n a d j u s t e d

1965
series,

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

- 11TABLE 1. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, September 1971
(Unadjusted, unless otherwise indicated)
Group
September

L22L

(Indexes 1967=100)
(unless otherwise specified)
June
August
September
1971
197Q
1971

Percent change to September 197lfrom:
1 Month
3 Months
" 1 Year
_Ago_
_Ago
Ago

All items (1957-59=100)

122.4
142.3

122.2
142.1

121.5
141.3

117.5
136.6

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

119.1
116.9
114.6
119.1
116.1
116.6
115.5
127.6

120.0
118.1
114.5
118.7
116.0
123.6
116.7
127.1

119.2
117.4
114.2
117.4
115.7
125.1
114.7
125.9

115.7
114.2
110.2
117.0
112.5
111.5
115.8
121.5

1.0
.1
.3
.1
5.7
1.0"
.4

- .4
.4
1.4
.3
6.8
.7
1.4

2.9
2.4
4.0
1.8
3.2
4.6
- .3
5.0

125.5
130.1
116.1
135.1
116.3
117.8
115.7
119.4

125.1
129.5
115.8
134.4
116.3
117.8
115.7
119.1

124.0
128.3
115.2
133.0
114.6
117.4
114.6
118.7

120.6
125.9
110.9
131.3
108.4
111.4
107.6
114.2

.3
.5
.3
.5
0
0
0
.3

1.2
1.4
.8
1.6
1.5
.3
1.0
.6

4.1
3.3
4.7
2.9
7.3
5.7
7.5
4.6

Apparel and upkeep 47
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'

120.6
120.8
121.3
122.2

119.0
119.6
118.2
121.5

120.1
121.4
119.9
121.7

117.2
117.9
117.7
118.4

1.3
1.0
2.6
.6

.4
- .5
1.2
.4

2.9
2.5
3.1
3.2

Transportation
Private
New cars
Used cars

119.8
117.8
111.2
111.6
108.7
139.3

120.1
118.1
112.9
112.5
107.9
139.1

119.6
117.6
113.9
114.1
104.9
139.0

113.0
111.2
105.1
104.9
105.5
131.2

- .2
- .3
1.5
- .8
.7
.1

.2
.2
2.4
2.2
3.6
.2

6.0
5.9
5.8
6.4
3.0
6.2

123.6
130.4
117.6
120.5
122.4

123.1
130.0
117.5
119.7
121.8

122.1
128.6
116.8
119.3
120.3

117.7
122.6
114.0
114.7
117.4

.4
.3
.1
.7
.5

1.2
1.4
.7
1.0
1.7

5.0
6.4
3.2
5.1
4.3

118.9
120.4
120.6

119 .2
120 .1
120 .5

119 .0
120 .0
119 .2

.3
.2
.1

- .1
.3
1.2

123.3
121.9
117.8
118.3
118.7
118.2
120.9

122.9
121.8
117.3
118.3
118.6
117.2
119.1

122.2
12.1.1
117.1
117.9
118.1
116.9
120.4

118.0
117.2
113.4
114.2
114.9
114.1
117.7

.3
.1
.4
0
.1
.9
1.5

.9
.7
.6
.3
.5
1.1
.4

4.5
4.0
3.9
3.6
3.3
3.6
2.7

117.2
113.5

117.4
113.4

117.4
113.1

112.5
110.6

- .2
.1

- .2
.4

4.2
2.6

129.9
132.4
129.1
139.6
121.6
140.4
135.6

129.4
131.9
128.6
139.2
121.6
139.4
135.1

128.2
130.6
127.4
137.7
120.0
137.6
133.5

123.5
125.8
123.1
137.2
113.5
128.5
126.5

.4
.4
.4
.3
0
.7
.4

1.3
1.4
1.3
1.4
1.3
2.0
1.6

5.2
5.2
4.9
1.7
7.1
9.3
7.2

$0,817
.703

$0,818
.704

$0,823
.708

$0,851
.732

Shelter 1/
Rent
Homeowner ship 2J
Fuel and utilities V
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation

Public

—

—

———

—

—

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

- 4

Seasonally Adjusted^
Food
Apparel and upkeep
Transpor tat ion
Special Groups;
All items less food
All items less medical care
Commodities less food
Pnimnnd-i M a c

—

Nondurables
Nondurables less food
Apparel commodities
Durables
Household durables
Services ---Services less rent Services less medical care
Insurance and finance
Utilities and public transportation
Housekeeping and home maintenance services -Medical care services
Purchasing Power of Consumer Dollar:
1967=$1.00
1957-59=$!.00
-

---

1/ Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
2/ Includes home purchase, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and maintenance and repairs.
3/ Also includes telephone, water, and sewerage service not shown separately.
4/ Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, jewelry, and apparel upkeep services not shown separately.
Note:

Index applies to month as a whole, not to any specific date.




-12 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
Area 1/

Pricing
Schedule 2/

1967=100

Percent change from:

Other
bases

1957-59=100

August
1971

September 1971

June
1971

September
1970

U.S. City Average

122.4

142.3

0.2

0.7

4.2

Chicago
Detroit
Los Angeles-Long Beach
N.Y.-Northeastern N.J.
Philadelphia

121.8
123.1
120.1
127.5
124.8

138.4
141.4
141.3
151.7
145.7

.2
.2
.4
.5
.9

.7
1.0
1.2
1.1
.6

3.4
4.0
3.7
5.8
4.3

April
1971

July
1970

July 1971

Boston
Houston
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Pittsburgh

Buffalo --Cleveland Dallas
Milwaukee San Diego Seattle --Washington

122.9
121.3
121.9
121.8

122.9
123.3
122.8
121.5
120.9
117.7
123.6

147.2
138.8
141.3
140.1

1.0
1.5
1.3
.7

5.6
3.8
3.4
4.1

August 1971

May
1971

August
1970

3/ 135.1
139.1
3/

132.7

4/

127.0

137.2
138.3
144.0

September 1971

Atlanta
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Honolulu
Kansas City
St. Louis

San Francisco-Oakland - — -

122.3
124.5
121.5
121.3
121.9
120.7
121.1

140.6
144.6
137.9
5/ 130.8
144.7
140.9
144.1

1.2
1.1
2.0
2 0
1.2
1.9
1.1

June
1971
0.0
.8
.7
2.4
1.1
.7
1.0

5.6
2.7
3.5
4.6
4.3
2.7
4.5

September
1970
4.0
5.3
4.0
4.4
4.5
3.5 •

3.8

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 I960.
2/
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.
3_/November 1963=100.
4/February 1965=100.
^/December 1963=100.
Note: The Consumer Price Index cannot be used for measuring differences in living costs among areas; it indicates
price change within areas. Estimates of differences in living costs among areas are found in the family budgets.




-13 TABLE 3. Consumer Price Index—The United States and selected areas JV for urban wage earners and clerical workers, major groups
percent change from August 1971 to September 1971

Group

U.S. City
Average

Los AngelesLong Beach

Chicago

New YorkNortheastern

Philadelphia

NP.W .Tp.rsp.v

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

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.4

0.5

0.9

- 1.1
.1
3.8
_ .5
.5
.2
(2/)
.6
.5

- .8
1.1
.8
- 1.2
.2
.7
(2/)
.2
.3

- .6
.8
1.6
.4
.3
.2
(2/)
.8
.1

- .6

.4
1.3
_ .2
.4
.3
.1
.7
.5

- .3
2.1
3.7
- .5
0
.1
(2/)
.7
(2/)

- .5
.2
- .1
(2/)
.9
.2

V See footnote 1, table 2.
2/ Not available.

TABLE 4. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers for selected groups,
seasonally adjusted

September
1971

Indexes
August
1971

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

118.9
116.6
117.3
116.0
119.3
114.6

119.2
117.2
116.8
116.0
121.8
116.5

119.0
117.0
117.4
115.7
121.2
117.3

Fuel and utilities 1/
Fuel oil and coal

116.5
118.2

116.4
118.5

114.8
118.2

Apparel and upkeep 2/
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear

120.4
120.6
120.8
122.2

120.1
120.3
120.0
121.6

Transportation
Private
New cars

120.6
118.8
114.6

Commodities
Commodities less food
Nondurables
Nondurables less food
Apparel commodities
Durables

118.3
117.9
118.5
118.1
120.5
117.7

Group

y
2/

June
1971

Percent change
From:
1 Month
Ago

to: September 1971

0
- 2.1
- 1.6

- 0.1
- .3
- .1
.3
- 1.6
- 2.3

.1
.3

1.5
0

120.0
121.4
119.9
121.7

.2
.2
.7
.5

.3
-.7
.8
.4

120.5
118.5
115.0

119.2
117.2
114.7

.1
.3
- .3

118.2
117.7
118.4
117.7
120.2
117.5

117.8
117.0
118.0
116.9
120.3
117.2

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

- 0.3
- .5

.4

-

Also includes telephone, water, and sewerage service not shown separately.
Also includes infants' wear, sewing materials, jewelry, and apparel upkeep services not shown separately.




3 Months
Ago

-

1.2
1.4
.1
.4
.8

.4
1.0
.2
.4

- 14 TABLE 5. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas 17 for urban wage earners and clerical workers, commodity groups,
September 1971 index and percent changes from June 1971

Group

U.S.
City
Avpiraprp

New YorkNortheastern
New Jersey
(Indexes 1967=100 unles s otherwise specified)
Chicago

Detroit

Los AngelesLong Beach

Philadelphia

All items

122.4

121.8

123.1

120.1

127.5

124.8

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

119.1
116.9
114.6
119.1
116.1
116.6
115.5
127.6

119.4
117.9
119.4
120.4
115.5
116.1
115.5
125.5

118.4
117.2
116.5
122.1
115.4
113.0
113.6
124.1

115.1
113.6
110.1
116.9
114.2
112.3
111.7
119.3

124.2
121.0
116.0
124.3
118.5
122.6
118.5
134.2

121.4
118.9
119.2
119.5
119.5
119.5
116.3
131.9

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

125.5
130.1
116.1
135.1
116.3
117.8
115.7
119.4

120.5
123.9
111.2
129.5
111.5
113.2
109.2
115.6

130.2
139.5
(2/)
144.1
111.3
113.9
112.1
113.7

125.1
128.2
117.2
131.4
121.9
124.3
116.2

130.7
135.6
(2/)
146.8
119.8
120.2
113.8
124.6

127.3
136.9
120.6
141.1
111.0
111.9
112.9
119.8

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

120.6
120.8
121.3
122.2

120.4
118.4
124.5
117.7

116.3
117.7
113.1
120.4

119.8
118.0
123.4
121.9

123.0
124.1
122.9
121.2

121.0
124.7
119.3
123.1

Transportation
Private
Public

119.8
117.8
139.3

126.7
121.2
161.2

115.4
112.6
148.9

117.0
117.2
113.5

130.0
125.1
148.8

123.8
121.0
140.7

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

123.6
130.4
117.6
120.5
122.4

124.0
129.9
117.6
120.2
124,8

124.9
136.4
(2/)
121.6
118.3

118.7
127.7
113.4
112.0
116.7

127.6
137.3
(2/)
124.9
125.8

127.8
140.1
(2/)
124.8
124.0

-

Percent changes from June 1971 to September 1971
All items
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
Hous ing
Shelter
Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation
Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Transportation
Private
Public
Health and recreation
Medical care
Personal care
Reading and recreation
Other goods and services
See footnotes at end of table.




0.7

0.7

1.0

1.2

1.1

0.6

- .1
- .4

- .3
- .4

- .2
- .3

.2

2.0
,9
.2

.2
1.7
1.4

- .1
- .6
- .8

- .2

.4
1.4
.3

.5
1.4
.3

.5
.1
.4
1.4
1.3

- 6.8

- 5.8
- .5

- 7.1

.7
1.4

1.2
1.4
.8
1.6
1.5
.3
1.0
.6

3/

.3

.6
.6

.8
1.1

2.0
2.6

.6

(2/)

.9
- .1
- 4.1
- .4

3/

- 6.6

- 4.2

1.4

1.3
1.6

.6
1.8

2.0
2.0

1.6
1.3

1.1
3.6

.5

(2/)

1.3
.4
.3
.2
.1

3.1
.1
.7
0
.6

2.2
5.0
3.6
.8

1.5
4.5
.8
2.0
1.1

.7
.4
1.4

.9
.9
.5
1.9

- 1.9

1.2
.4

2.3
.6
3.7
1.9

.2
.2
.2

1.1
1.3
.1

- .3
- .4

1.2
1.4

.6
.9
.2
.8
.2

1.1
1.9

.4
- .5

.7
1.0
1.7

- .4

.1

(2/)

.7
.9

2.2

3/

.9

4.1
-

3.8
5.0
4.6
1.2

0
2.5

7.4
.1

- .4

1.8
1.9
.1

- .2
- .3

- .3
- .3

0

0

.4
.6

1.4
1.3

2.2

- .4

.7
.2

(2/)

1.0
1.9

.4

.7
(2/)

1.0
- .3

- 15 ~
TABLE 5. Consumer Price Index—United States and selected areas I/for urban wage earners and clerical workers, commodity groups,
September 1971 index and percent changes from June 1971--Continued

Atlanta

Group

Baltimore

Cincinnati

Honolulu

Kansas City

San
FranciscoOakland

St. Louis

(Indexes 1967=100 unless otherwise specified)
All items

122.3

124.5

121.5

121.3

121.9

121.1

120.7

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 --'•

119.0
116.3
114.1
115.5
116.6
124.0
114.1
127.8

122.2
120.2
117.0
120.6
118.0
126.9
118.0
129.9

118.7
117.0
114.7
116.8
117.6
117.5
117.9
125.1

121.4
119.2
105.9
120.4
114.9
136.9
115.1
127.6

120.0
117.5
116.8
117.8
124.2
113.9
115.5
127.9

115.5
113.3
110.1
116.3
114.9
109.0
112.7
123.5

118.8
116.4
119.9
115.1
119.1
120.6
110.7
129.8

Housing
Sh&lter — — — — « — . — _ .

126.6
130.2
114.7
134.7
120.9

122.4
126.8
108.6
135.2
118.6

123.2
128.6
125.3
130.6
108.9

123.1
127.8
109.5
134.9
113.3

126.8
130.8
126.2
132.9
120.2

117.6
121.6

127.1
133.6
110.7
143.1
114.4
114.9
116.0
120.8

114.9
113.0

104.4
113.4

113.7
117.1

116.2
117.3

120.9
123.3
107.8
127.6
115.5
119.7
117.7
119.1

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

116.5
121.0
113.7
113.9

124.6
129.4
120.3
128.1

122.8
125.4
119.4
128.8

117.7
111.8
121.5
114.9

126.3
128.5
128.2
127.9

120.8
120.3
123.4
120.7

120.9
115.9
126.4
123.2

Transportation
Private
Public

116.4
114.6
140.6

119.0
118.5
121.5

121.2
117.7
148.7

4/ 122.9
124.7
5/ 112.9

119.9
118.1
151.9

119.4
118.5
134.2

120.2
117.9
145.1

126.1
137.8
121.1
120.8
117.7

6/126.7
140.0
119.7
124.7
7A19.5

123.6
133.3
120.9
119.1
119.9

119.6
125.9
119.4
119.0
113.3

121.9
126.9
118.6
115.4
125.7

118.7
125.0
113.8
114.9
116.8

122.5
124.9
122.4
115.3
126.9

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

Health and recreation
MGQ-LCc_JL

P

—vcAnoi
{—,^2jVJ—idJL

C3.-T6
/"•^vB__
vuLC

-----•--—•->_————-•.»•_•——-_.._.«-••.-•.
—_____—»
.
——————————————

—— ——

—
—
•

Reading and recreation
Other goods and services

Percent changes from June 1971 to September 1971
All items

0.0

0.8

0.7

2.4

1.1

1.0

0.7

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

.2
- .1
.6
1.6
1.1
6.0
.5
1.2

.6
.1
.3
1.1
.5
1.5
- .6
2.5

- .5
1.0
1.1
1.6
.3
9.3
1.6
1.3

4.1
5.2
.5
5.7
.7
10.9
5.2
1.3

1.0
1.0
.8
1.9
1.1
2.2
2.2
1.0

- 1.0
- 1.6
.1
.3
1.2
- 9.6
- 1.5
1.4

.4
.3
.3
2.7
.8
4.8
1.0
.7

Housing
Shelter

- .9
1.9
.9
2.7
.5

1.6
2.3
.6
3.0
.3

2.9
4.0
1.0
5.8
0

1.4
1.7
.5
2.1
.3

2.2
2.3
.6
3.0
5.6

.6

- .3
- .4
.5
- .8
.4
0
- .1
- .2

0
.2

- .1
.8

.3
1.2

1.6
.3

1.1
.5
.2
.6
3.9
6.0
5.7
.5

1.5
2.3
1.8
1.2

2.3
1.8
3.6
.8

1.0
.6
2.2
- .5

1.0
.8
1.8
- .9

2.5
2.2
4.1
1.4

1.9
.3
3.6
.7

2.4
- .3
5.8
.6

Homeownership
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
Gas and electricity
Household furnishings and operation
Apparel and upkeep
Men's and boys'
Women's and girls'
Footwear
Transportation
Private
Public

- .4
- .5
.2

.3
.2
0

.3
.4
0

- .2
- .2
0

- .3
- .3
.2

.9
.2

- .7
- .8
.1

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

.8
.8
- .1
1.4
.5

2.0
3.6
1.8
1.7
.6

.8
.6
.7
1.9
.4

1.5
1.1
2.5
2.6
- .2

1.3
2.4
2.1
1.1
- .1

.5
1.4
.2
.6
- .9

.3
.9
.6
- .6
.6

June
June
June
June

= 123.1.
- 112.9.
= 124.2.
- 118.8.

1/
2/
3/
4/
5/
6/
7/

See footnote 1, table 2.
Not available,
Change from July 1971.
Corrected Indexes: March
Corrected Indexes: March
Corrected Indexes: March
Corrected Indexes: March




1971
1971
1971
1971

= 116.6;
- 104.4;
- 122.9;
~ 118.4;

1971
1971
1971
1971

- 16 TABLE 6. Consumer Price Index--United States and selected areas for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food and its subgroups,
September 1971 indexes and percent changes from August 1971

Food at home
Area 1/

Total
food

Cereals
Total

and
bakery
products

Meats,
poultry,
and fish

Dairy
products

Fruits

and
vegetables

Other
foods
at home

Food
away
from
home

(Indexes 1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

U.S. City Average

119.1

116.9

114.6

119.1

116.1

116.6

115.5

127.6

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas
Detroit
Honolulu
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles-Long Beach
Milwaukee
Minneapolis-St. Paul —
N.Y.-Northeastern N.J.
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Diego
San Francisco-Oakland Seattle
Washington

119.0
122.2
118.5
119.6
119.4
118.7
118.2
118.6
118.4
121.4
120.1
120.0
115.1
116.8
119.5
124.2
121.4
119.4
118.8
117.8
115.5
116.8
121.3

116.3
120.2
116.6
117.9
117.9
117.0
117.0
114.8
117.2
119.2
115.8
117.5
113.6
115.0
117.2
121.0
118.9
117.4
116.4
114.6
113.3
114.2
117.2

114.1
117.0
112.1.
118.7
119.4
114,
111,
114.4
116.5
105.9
112.1
116.8
110.1
118.2
121.6
116.0
119.2
114.0
119.9
111.0
110.1
110.9
118.2

115.5
120.6
121.6
120.5
120.4
116.8
117.6
116.1
122.1
120.4
117.1
117.8
116.9
117.8
119.1
124.3
119.5
117.3
115.1
120.3
116.3
115.8
115.4

116.6
118.0
114.6
118.0
115.5
117.6
119.9
111.5
115.4
114.9
115.5
124.2
114.2
113.3
117.3
118.5
119.5
119.4
119.1
113.5
114.9
115.2
110.4

124.0
126.9
116.5
112.5
116.1
117.5
119.3
116.5
113.0
136.9
117.9
113.9
112.3
111.3
112.1
122.6
119.5
119.2
120.6
112.6
109.0
111.8
123.7

114.1
118.0
112.8
117.5
115.5
117.9
115.0
113.9
113.6
115.1
115.2
115.5
U1.7
112.8
116.4
118.5
116.3
117.2
110.7
110.1
112.7
114.6
119.4

127.8
129.9
125.4
129.1
125.5
125.1
124.9
132.5
124.1
127.6
135.0
127.9
119.3
(2/)
129.7
134.2
131.9
131.3
129.8
(2/)
123.5
125.0
131.8

Percent changes August 1971 to September 1971
U.S. City Average

- 0.8

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Buffalo
--Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas
Detroit
Honolulu
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles-Long Beach
Milwaukee
Minneapolis-St. Paul —
N. Y.-Northeastern N.J.
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
San Diego
San Francisco-Oakland Seattle
Washington

- .3
- .3
- .6
- 2.0
-

1.1
.8
.7

1.5
.3
.2
.6
.7
2.1
- .6
- .3
- .6
1.0
- .3
- .9
- .2
- .7
-

1/ See footnote 1, table 2.
2/ Not available.




1.0

0.1

0.3

0.1

- 5.7

- 1.0

0.4

.4
.8
.9
- 2.4
- 1.3
- 1.3
- .8
- 1.1
- 1.1
1.9
- .6
- .6
- .9
- .8
- 2.7
- .9
- .6
- .8
- 1.4
- .5
- 1.3
- .6
- 1.2

.1
1.4
.3
.1
.3
.4
- .1
.4
.4
.3
- .1
.3
1.5
1.0
1.5
.6
.3
.3
- .2
1.2
.2
.5
1.7

1.0
- .7
.2
0
.4
- .3
.2
.2
.9
1.2
1.1
.3
.4
.1
1.4
.3
.5
.9
- .6
1.0
- .3
.3
- .3

0
0
- .5
.4
.1
.2
0
.1
1.8
0
.3
.3
0
.1
- .9
0
0
- .1
.6
0
.2
- .3
- .1

- 3.5
- .3
- 5.3
- 12.0
- 6.1
- 5.3
- 4.3
- 5.4
- 7.2
5.3
- 4.9
- 3.6
- 3.5
- 6.1
- 8.7
- 4.7
- 2.9
- 4.9
- 6.0
- 2.9
- 6.1
- 4.0
- 5.4

- .9
- 1.7
.2
- 1.4
- 3.0
- .7
- .9
- 1.2
- 2.2
2.2
- .6
- .6
- .8
- .1
- 1.6
- 1.6
- 1.5
- 1.3
- .6
- 1.2
- 1.4
- .2
- 1.1

.4
1.6
.2
.2
.2
.6
- .2
.6
.1
.6
.5
.6
.3
(2/)
.2
.3
.4
.7
.4
(2/)
.7
.9
.3

-

- 17 TABLE 7. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food items September 1971
indexes and percent changes from selected dates
(1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

Item or Group

Total food
Food away from home
Restaurant meals
Snacks Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Flour
Cracker meal
Corn flakes -Rice
Bread, white
Bread, whole wheat
Cookies
Layer cake
Cinnamon rolls
Meats, poultry, and fish
Meats
Beef and veal
Steak, round
Steak, sirloin
Steak, porterhouse
Rump roast
Rib roast
•
Chuck roast
Hamburger
Beef liver
Veal cutlets
Pork
Chops
Loin roast
Pork sausage
Ham, whole
Picnics
Bacon
Other meats
Lamb chops
Frankfurters
Ham, canned
Bologna sausage
Salami sausage
Liverwurst
Poultry
Frying chicken
-Chicken breasts
Turkey
Fish
Shrimp, frozen
Fish, fresh or frozen -Tuna fish, canned
Sardines, canned
Dairy products
Milk, fresh, grocery
Milk, fresh, delivered --Milk, fresh, skim
--Milk, evaporated
Ice cream
Cheese, American process Butter
-See footnotes at end of table.




Index
September 1971
Seasonally
adjusted
Unadjusted
119.1
127.6
127.3
128.6
116.9
114.6
101.5
131.5
104.2
110.1
113.4
119.1
109.9
121.5
118.6
119.1
118.8
127.7
126.1
127.8
129.5
124.0
130.8
125.9
128.3
114.0
146.0
106.4
109.9
110.0
113.0
103.8
106.7
97.7
117.0
124.7
116.0
108.0
120.4
117.7
114.8
112.2
111.9
112.7
113.3
132.5
119.7
142.5
129.2
138.5
116.1
115.4
118.1
120.8
121.2
106.9
121.8
105.8

118.9
_
_
116.6
_
_
_
117.3
116.9
126.1
124.5
129.2
124.5
127.0
145.3
103.2
105.9
_
103.7
93.5
116.4
_
114.2
109.3
132.9
142.5
116.0
115.3
122.3
105.9

Percent change to September 1971 from-September 1970
August 1971
Seasonally
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
adjusted
- 0.8
.4
.3
.3
- 1.0
.1
.3
.3
- 1.3
.2
.4
.3
- .1
.2
- .4
.3
.3
.7
.6
2.2
1.1
- .1
.7
- .1
.9
- .3
.3
- .5
- 2.8
- 1.0
1.4
.9

- .7
1.1
.5
.4
.3
1.3
.5
.1
.5
.1
.2
- .7
.6
.5
- .2
.1
.1
1.6
.1
.2
0
.4
0
.4
- .2
.1

- 0.3
_
_
- .5
_
_
.4
.4
.7
.7
.2
.2
1.2
.6
- .2
- 1.9
_
.3
.6
.7
0
0
.5
.3
0
- .1
.2
0

2.9
5.0
5.0
4.9
2.4
4.0
2.0
9.7
- .8
3.7
1.9
5.8
4.2
4.8
6.3
1.8
.3
5.5
5.2
8.4
9.0
4.4
8.2
3.0
4.2
- .6
10.9
- 8.7
- 6.9
- 6.1
- 6.3
- 5.1
- 7.1
- 16.1
1.2
5.9
1.0
- 2.6
1.2
1.4
- .2
6.4
7.8
5.4
.9
10.5
3.7
12.0
9.5
16.6
3.2
3.0
2.8
3.5
6.1
.9
5.1
1.0

- 18 TABLE 7. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, food items .September 1971
indexes and percent changes from selected dates--Continued
(1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

Item or Group

Fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables
-Apples
Bananas -Oranges
Orange juice, fresh
Grapefruit
Grapes 1/
Strawberries IV
Watermelon 1/
Potatoes
Onions
Asparagus IV
Cabbage
-—
Carrot s
Celery
Cucumber s
Lettuce
-Peppers, green
Spinach
Tomatoes
Processed fruits and vegetables
Fruit cocktail, canned
Pears, canned
Pineapple-Grapefruit juice, drink
Orange juice concentrate, frozen
Lemonade concentrate, frozen
Beets, canned
Peas, green, canned
Tomatoes, canned
Dried beans
Broccoli, frozen
Other food at home
Eggs
Fats and oils:
Margarine
Salad dressing, Italian
Salad or cooking oil
Sugar and sweets
-Sugar
Grape jelly
Chocolate bar
Syrup, chocolate flavored
Nonalcoholic beverages
Coffee, can and bag
Coffee, instant
Tea
Cola drink
Carbonated fruit drink
Prepared and partially prepared foods
Bean soup, canned
Chicken soup, canned
Spaghetti, canned Mashed potatoes, instant
Potatoes, french fried, frozen
Baby foods, canned
Sweet pickle relish
Pretzels
r —
U

Priced only in season.




m a ex
September 1971
Seasonally
Unadiusted
adiusted

Aueust 1971
Seasonally
Unadjusted
adjusted

116.6
115.3
125.3
98.5
138.3
129.4
171.6
120.3
(1/)
(1/)
115.0
111.3
(1/)
103.4
125.5
111.2
84.8
111.4
90.8
128.1
95.4
118.6
120.2
117.7
114.0
136.3
115.5
117.5
108.0
116.6
129.5
118.4
115.5
102.4

114.6
97.0

5.7
9.5
9.9
1.0
2.2
.9
- 2.4
- 29.1
(1/)
Q/)
- 9.9
- 3.4
(1/)
- 5.5
- 22.9
- 11.5
- 5.8
- 10.2
- 13.7
- .7
- 21.8
.6
.9
.3
- .1
2.0
.6
.8
.4
.3
1.1
- .3
- 1.0
- 6.7

117.6
110.2
123.3
120.2
113.5
121.6
131.4
113.2
121.0
119.1
125.4
108.0
127.0
127.6
113.4
114.7
106.6
117.7
110.4
110.3
111.8
119.5
114.5

_
_
-

1.0
.2
1.4
- .1
.3
- .1
- .2
- .2
- .8
- 2.2
.2
0
.2
.1
- .1
- .1
.3
.1
- 1.3
- .5
0
.5
.4

119.3
119.9
115.2
96.3
129.3
143.6
139.6
<l/>
(1/)
118.4
112.9
(1/)
118.7
128.6
121.5
117.1
132.0
136.0
-

-

- 2.1
- 3.7
.4
- 1.7
- .6
_
- 1.0
- 15.6
(1/)
(1/)
1.6
6.9
_
- 1.1
- 16.1
- 2.2
_
- 6.4
_
- 9.9
_
_
_
_
1.8
_
_
_
_
- 1.6
- 11.4
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_

971 from-September 1970
Unadjusted
4.6
2.5
2.3
- .2
13.8
6.5
12.0
9.7
(1/)
(1/)
- 1.5
2.1
(1/)
- 3.8
20.3
3.3
11.7
- 19.6
2.1
8.5
13.2
7.8
9.5
6.3
2.2
12.2
9.0
6.2
5.2
3.6
22.5
3.7
- .3
- 19.2
9.6
6.4
11.0
3.2
4.0
6.7
1.2
1.2
.4
- 4.2
3.0
1.4
5.9
4.6
3.0
1.8
.7
2.9
1.1
.1
3.0
7.9
5.3

TABLE 8. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected
items and groups, September 1971 and percent changes from selected dates
(1967=100 unless otherwise.specified)

Item and group
Housing
Shelter V
Rent
Homeownership costs 2/
Mortgage interest rates
Property taxes
Property insurance rates
Maintenance and repairs
Commodities 3/
Exterior house paint
Interior house paint
Services
Repainting living and dining rooms
Reshingling house roof
Residing house
Sink replacement
Furnace repair
Fuel and utilities
Fuel oil and coal
r
Fuel oil, #2
Gas and electricity
Gas
Electricity
-Other utilities:
Residential telephone services ***
Residential water and sewerage services r
Household furnishings and operation 4/ Housefurnishings
Textiles =
Sheets, percale or muslin
Curtains, tailored, polyester
Bedspreads, chiefly cotton
Drapery fabric, cotton or rayon/acetate
-•
Pillows, bed, polyester, acrylic, or kapok
Slipcover, throws, ready made chiefly cotton ---•
Furniture and bedding
--•
Bedroom furniture, chest and dresser -:
-•
Living room suites, good and inexpensive quality
Lounge chairs, upholstered Dining room chairs
Sofas, upholstered
Sofas, dual purpose
iedding, mattress and box springs
Aluminum folding chair 5/
Cribs
Floor coverings
Broadloom, carpeting, manmade-fibers
Vinyl sheet goods
Vinyl asbestos tile
Appliances (J
Washing machines, electric, automatic
Vacuum cleaners, canister type
cfrigerators or refrigerator-freezers, electric
Ranges, free standing, gas or electric
Clothes dryers, electric, automatic
Air conditioners, demountable -»Room heaters, electric, portable 5^/ - —
•
Garbage disposal units
~Other housefurnishings:
".nnerware, chinaware —
Flatware, stainless steel
Table lamps, with shade
Lawn mowers, power, rotary type
Electric drills, hand held
Housekeeping supplies:
Laundry soaps and detergents
Paper napkins
'•
—
Toilet tissue
Housekeeping services:
Domestic service, general housework
Baby sitter service
Postal charges
Laundry, flatwork, finished service
Licensed day care service, preschool child
Washing machine repairs




Other
index
bases

Mar.

70

Mar.

70

June 70

Percent change to September 1971

Indexes
September 1971
125.5
130.1
116.1
135.1
118.7
133.1
121.5
136.8
120.9
116.5
115.5
143.7
153.0
150.1
132.8
143.4
148.9
116.3
117.8
116.4
115.7
116.8
114.6

Aueust 1971
125.1
129.5
115.8
134.4
118.1
132.2
121.5
135.8
120.6
115.3
115.2
142.4
151.3
148.8
132.1
143.0
145.9
116.3
117.8
116.4
115.7
116.8
114.6

August 1971
0.3
.5
.3
.5
.5
.7
0
.7
.2
1.0
.3
.9
1.1
.9
.5
.3
2.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.3
.1
.7
3.4
- .2
.4
- .1
1.5
- .7
.1
.1
.2
.4
.5
0
- .2

September 1970
4. 1
3 . ,3
4. 7
2. 9
- 11. 1
7. 6
6. 6
8. 4
5. 0
3. 1
4. 1
9, 8
1 1 . ,2
13. ,4
6. ,8
9 . ,2
10. ,3
7. ,3
5.,7
5..6
7,,5
7,,4
7,,4
7,,1
9, ,9
4, .6
2,.8
2,.5
- ,.5
4, .8
.3
3,.6
4 .7
2 .1
3 .2
3 .0
2 .0
5 .4
2 .9
3 .2
1 .7
3 .8
(5/)
4 .4
1 .5
- .2
6 .5
4 .1
1 .5
2 .9
1 .4
2.2
1 .9
4 .3
(5/)

110.2
135.0
119.4
114.9
111.9
114.0
111.3
107.4
118.8
108.0
111.6
119.7
104.6
116.4
125.6
103.4
117.5
116.3
103.7
(5/)
118.4
106.5
102.2
116.1
116.7
105.8
110.1
104.3
108.3
111.2
113.4
(5/)
(5/)
110.3

110.2
135.0
119.1
114.8
111.1
110.2
111.5
107.0
118.9
106.4
112.4
119.6
104.5
116.2
125.1
102.9
117.5
116.5
104.0
112.8
118.0
106.8
102.7
115.9
116.4
105.7
109.9
104.3
108.2
111.4
113.2
111.0

119.2
121.7
122.2
<!/>
107.2

118.9
121.5
122.3
115.2
106.3

.3
.2
.1

6.2
1.4
5.0
(5/)
.3

111.1
128.3
123.7

111.1
128.1
122.6

0
.2
.9

3 .7
6 .5
3 .9

135.1
132.1
146.6
135.0
119.1
137.4

134.9
130.7
146.6
134.6
119.0
137.3

.1
1.1
0
.3
.1
.1

4 .6
6.1
25 . 3
7 .2
2.8
8 .2

<5/>
110.2

.5
.2
.3
.1
.2
0
.1
.2
.2

.1

- 20 TABLE 8* Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected
items and groups, September 1971 and percent changes from selected dates--Continued

(1967=100 unless otherwise specified)

Item and group

Apparel and upkeep J_l
Apparel commodities
*•
Apparel commodities less footwear
:
Men's and boys'
Men's:
Topcoats, wool or all-weather coats,
polyester blends 5/
Suits, year round weight
Suits, tropical weight 5_/ Jackets, lightweight
Slacks, wool or wool blends
Slacks, cotton or manmade blends
-Trousers, work, cotton or polyester/cotton
Shirts, work, cotton or polyester/cotton
Shirts, business, polyester/cotton
T-shirts, chiefly cotton
Socks, cotton or manmade fibers
Handkerchiefs, cotton or polyester/cotton
Boy's:
Coats, all purpose, cotton or cotton blend 5/ Sport coats, wool or wooL blend 5_/
Dungarees, cotton or cotton blend
Undershorts, cotton
Women's and girls'
Women's:
Coats, heavyweight, wool or wool blend 5_/
Carcoats, heavyweight, cotton $_/
Sweaters, wool or acrylic 5_/
Skirts, wool, wool blend or manmade fibers 5/ Skirts, cotton or polyester cotton 5/
-Blouses, cotton or manmade fibers
------Dresses, street, chiefly manmade fiber
Dresses, street, wool or wool blend $_/ Slips, nylon
--Panties, acetate or nylon tricot
Girdles, manmade blend
Rcassiers, nylon lace
Hose, or panty hose, nylon seamless ----------Anklets, or knee-length socks, various fibers Gloves, fabric, nylon or cotton
Handbags, rayon faille or plastic
Girls':
Raincoats, vinyl cotton, or polyester blends 5/
Skirts, wool, wool blends, or acrylic j/
Dresses, cotton, manmade fibers or blends — - - Slacks, cotton or chiefly cottony/
Slips, polyester blends
Handbags, plastic
Footwear
Men's:
Shoes, street, oxford
Shoes, work, high
•
Women's:
Shoes, street, pump
Shoes, evening, pump
Shoes, casual
Houseslippers, scuff
Children's:
Shoes, oxford -Sneakers, boys 1 , oxford type
~
Dress shoes, girls', strap or pump
Miscellaneous apparel:
Diapers, cotton gauze
Yard goods, polyester blend
Wrist watches, men's and women's
Apparel services:
Drycleaning, men's suits and women's dresses
Automatic laundry service
Laundry, men's shirts
Tailoring charge, hem adjustment
Shoe repair, women's heel lift
-




Other
index
bases

Indexes
September 1971

August 1971

?ercent change to September 1971
from:
August 1971
September 1970

120.6
120.9
120.7
120.8

119.0
119.1
118.6
119.6

121.9
130.5
(5/)
112.2
118.2
132.5
113.7
114.2
113.0
118.8
115.2
115.4

(5/)
127.7
(5/)
112.1
115.4
130.9
113.7
114.0
112.4
119.0
114.9
115.2

(5/)
123.5
123.2
119.6
121.3

(I/)
(V)
122.7
119.9
118.2

121.7
128.0
121.9
131.1
<5/>
122.1
127.5
140.3
111.1
115.8
117.1
122.2
97.9
114.8
109.9
135.6

(5/)
(5/)
(5/)
(5/)
102.9
119.1
126.8
(5/)
111.1
115.7
116.8
121.2
98.6
114.8
109.7
134.2

(5/)
2.5
.6
(5/)
0
.1
.3
.8
- .7
0
.2
1.0

(5/>
3.0
- 2.1
8.4
2.0
2.9
4.5
5.3
- 1.7
- .9
.9
8.2

115.6
105.2
109.3
<5/>
111.0
128.3
122.2

(5/)
(5/)
107.4
<5/>
109.8
126.9
121.5

(5/)
(5/)
1.8
(5/)
1.1
1.1
.6

2.9
- 5.2
4.2

120.9
120.0

119.2
119.5

1.4
.4

4.6

123.2
120.3
124.3
123.4

122.9
119.6
123.5
123.5

.2
.6
.6
- .1

1.4
.9
1.6
2.4

122.8
119.5
127.3

122.4
119.4
126.4

.3
.1
.7

4.3
5.1
7.1

112.7
122.1
113.4

112.5
121.9
113.7

.2
.2
- .3

2.6
.2
2.3

117.1
113.3
119.1
129.6
113.5

116.8
113.2
119.2
129.0
112.4

-

.3
.1
.1
.5
1.0

3.4
1.9
2.7
6.3
4.7

1.3
1.5
1.8
1.0

2.9
2.7
2.6
2.5

<£/>

1.3
3.7

2.2
(5/)
2A
1.2
0
.2
.5
- .2
.3
.2
(5/)
<5/>
.4
- .3
2.6

(I/)
<5/>
(5/)

<£/>

(I/)
-

.4
1.9
6.0
3.4
3.6
.8
- .5
- .3
1.6
(5/)
1.6
4.1
.5
3.1

7.0
(5/)

4.5

(5/)
3.2
1.5
3.2

- 21 TABLE 8. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected
items and groups, September 1971 and percent changes from selected dates—Continued

(1967=100 unless otherwise specified)
Other
index
bases

Item and group

Transportation
Private 8/
Automobiles, new
Automobiles, used
Gasoline, regular and premium
Motor oil, premium
Tires, new, tubeless
Auto repairs and maintenance 9_/
Auto insurance rates
Auto registration
Parking fees, private and municipal
Public
Local transit fares
Taxicab fares
Railroad fares, coach
Airplane fares, chiefly coach
Bus fares, intercity
Health and recreation
Medical care -Drugs and prescriptions
Over-the-counter items
Multiple vitamin concentrates
Aspirin compounds
Liquid tonics
Adhesive bandages, package
Cold tablets or capsules
Cough syrup
•
Prescriptions
Anti-infectives
Sedatives and hypnotics
Ataractics
Anti-Spasmodics
Cough preparations
Cardiovasculars and anti-hypertensives
Analgesics, internal
Anti-obesity
Hormones
Professional services:
Physicians' fees
General physician, office visits
General physician, house visits
Obstetrical cases
Pediatric care, office visits
Psychiatrist, office visits
Herniorrhaphy, adult
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
Dentists' fees
Fillings, adult, amalgam, one surface
Extractions, adult
Dentures, full upper
Other professional services:
Examination, prescription, and dispensing
eyeglasses
Routine laboratory tests
Hospital service charges:
Daily service charges
Semiprivate rooms
Private rooms
Operating room charges
X-ray, diagonstic series, upper G.I.
Personal care
Toilet goods
Toothpaste, standard dentifrice
Toilet soap, hard milled
Hand lotions, liquid
Shaving cream, aerosol
Face powder, pressed - - —
-——.---—
Deodorants, aerosol
Cleansing tissues
Home permanent wave kits
Personal care services
Men's haircuts
Beauty shop services
Women's haircuts
Shampoo and wave sets, plain
Permanent waves, cold




--

--

-

Indexes

Percent change to September 1971
from:
August 1971
Sentember 197p

September 1971

An gust 1971

119.8
117.8
111.2
111.6
108.7
121.5
117.5
131.2
142.9
123.7
136.6
139.3
144.0
131.7
127.7
129.6
135.9

120.1
118.1
112.9
112.5
107.9
121.0
117.3
131.0
142.9
123.7
136.7
139.1
144.0
131.7
127.4
129.6
132.9

- 0.2
- .3
- 1.5
- .8

123.6
130.4
105.7
110.3
95.1
115.1
100.7
124.1
112.0
111.4
101.8
79.9
124.2
102.6
108.1
127.9
112.0
108.3
117.1
94.9

123.1
130.0
105.6
110.2
95.3
114.2
101.3
123.8
112.2
111.3
101.7
80.0
123.8
102.3
108.1
127.3
112.0
108.2
116.6
94.8

.4
.3
.1
.1

5.0
6.4
1.3
2.9

- .2

- 3.2

131.5
133.0
133.6
131.3
133.5
125.7
124.4
128.0
128.2
129.5
127.7
126.0

131.2
132.7
132.0
130.9
133.4
125.7
124.3
128.0
127.9
129.3
127.4
125.6

.2
.2
1.2
.3
.1
0
.1
0
.2
.2
.2
.3

6.7
6.6
7.7
6.5
7.3
4.1
6.6
7.7
6.0
6.1
6.2
5.2

122.1
117.6

121.9
117.2

.2
.3

6.4
5.5

164.4
166.8
160.9
158.0
126.5
117.6
114.6
108.6
115.2
119.7
107.2
124.1
106.4
124.1
111.7
120.8
123.4
118.9
119.4
122.5
110.8

163.5
165.8
160.0
156.7
126.4
117.5
114.5
107.7
116.8
119.0
106.9
124.0
106.0
124.2
111.5
120.6
123.2
118.8
119.2
122.2
110.8

.6
.6
.6
.8
.1
.1
.1
.8

11.5
11.8
11.0

.7
.4
.2
.2
0
0
.1
.1
0
0
.2
0
2.3

6.0
5.9
5.8
6.4
3.0
5.0
2.9
7.5
10.3

4.9
7.9
6.2
5.0
11.9

2.7
6.6
13.4

.8

6.0

- .6

- .5

.2

7.4
3.3
2.3
0

- .2

.1
.1
- .1

.3
.3
0
.5
0
.1
.4
.1

- 11.3
5.3
2.0
4.3
6.4
4.5
2.4
7.0
- .6

of

--

•
,
•

--

--

- 1.4

.6
.3
.1
.4
- .1

.2
.2
.2
.1
.2
.2
0

8.8
6.9
3.2
3.3
.9
6.3
3.5
5.0
2.1
1.3
4.0
2.9
3.1
2.3
3.7
2.4
4.5
3.2

- 22 TABLE 8. Consumer Price Index--United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers, indexes for selected
items and groups, September 1971 and percent changes from selected dates--Continued
(1967=100 unless otherwise Specified)

Other
index

Item and group

hflfiPS

Reading and recreation 10/
Recreational goods
TV sets, portable and console
TV replacement tubes
Radios, portable and table model
Tape recorders, portable -Phonograph records, stereophonic
Movie cameras, Super 8, zoom lens
Film, 35mm, color
Golf balls, liquid center or solid core
Basketballs, rubber or vinyl cover
Fishing rods, fresh water spincasting
Bowling balls
Bicycles, boys 1
Tricycles
Dog food, canned or boxed
Recreational services
Indoor movie admissions
Adult
Children's
Drive-in movie admissions, adultBowling fees, evening
Golf green fees
TV repair, color picture tube replacement
Film developing, color
Reading and education:
Newspapers, street sale and delivery
Magazines, single copy and subscription
Piano lessons, beginner

--

Other goods and services
Tobacco products
Cigarettes, nonfilter tip, regular size
Cigarettes, filter tip, king size
Cigars, domestic, regular size —
Alcoholic beverages
-Beer
Whiskey, spirit blended and straight bourbon
Wine, dessert and table
Away from home
Financial and miscellaneous personal expenses:
Funeral services, adult
Bank service charges, checking accounts
Legal services, short form will

Indexes
September 1971

August 1971

fercent changei to September Ib
from*.
August 1971 September 1970

5.1
1.9
.4
2.7

120.5
107.1
100.0
123.4
98.5
93.0
106.5
89.1
108.4
104.8
125.4
110.8
112.6
113.7
112.0
110.7
126.3
133.9
139.0
138.6
142.5
116.1
128.4
98.5
118.3

119.7
106.9
99.9
122.1
98.4
93.6
105.8
89.3
108.4
104.6
125.3
110.0
112.2
114.0
111.9
110.3
126.1
138.2
138.4
137.8
142.5
116.1
128.8
98.1
117.7

0.7
.2
.1
1.1
.1
- .6
.7
- .2
0
.2
.1
.7
.4
- .3
.1
.4
.2
.5
.4
.6
0
0
- .3
.4
.5

130.6
126.3
121.4

130.5
126.3
120.7

.1
0
.6

7.8
7.3
2.5

122.4
128.9
130.2
130.8
108.5
117.6
113.4
107.0
124.5
127.1

121.8
127.9
129.6
129.6
107.3
117.4
113.3
107.0
123.9
126.8

.5
.8
.5
.9
1.1
.2
.1
0
.5
.2

4.3
4.4
4.2
4.7
2.7
3.8
3.4
1.1
6.0
5.1

118.4
110.9
137.4

118.3
110.9
133.9

.1
2.6

4.0
4.4
9.6

120.4
117.8
116.6
134.2
134.4
123.7

120.3
117.3
116.2
133.6
134.5
122.8

.1
.4
.3
.4
- .1
.7

0

- .3
- 1.5

6.7
- 2.8

1.1
1.6
5.0
.1
4.0
3.9
2.3
4.4
4.4
3.7
3.4
4.4
5.6
5.1
4.7
2.2
5.1

Other special groups:
All items less shelter Commodities less food
Nondurables less food and apparel
Household services less rent
Transportation services
Other services

--•
---

4.3
3.9
4.1
4.0

7.7
4.7

1/ Also includes hotel and motel rates not shown separately.
2/ Also includes home purchase costs not shown separately.
3i/ Also includes pine shelving, furnace air filters, packaged d|ry cement mix, and shrubbery not shown separately.
4/ Also includes Venetian blinds, window shades, nails, carpet sweepers, utility pails, air deodorizers, steel wool scouring
pads, envelopes, reupholstering, and moving expenses.
5/ Priced only in season.
6/ Also includes radios and television sets, shown separately under reading and recreation.
77 Also includes men's sweaters, sport shirts, women's and girls' lightweight coats, women's slacks, cocktail dresses, bathing
suits, girls' robes, cotton and polyester blend skirts, shorts, earrings, and zippers not shown separately.
8/ Also includes storage batteries and drivers' license fees not shown separately,
9/ Includes prices for water pump replacement, motor tune-up, automatic transmission repair, exhaust system repair, front
end alignment, and chassis lubrication.
10/ Also includes outboard motors, nondurable toys, college tuition fees, paperback books, and college textbooks, not shown
separately.
*** Corrected indexes for residential telephone services:
1970 Indexes (1967=100): Jan. 100.7, Feb. 100.5, Mar. 101.6, Apr. 102.4, May 102.5, June 102.5, July 102.8, Aug. 102.9,
Sept. 103.1, Oct. 103.2, Average 102.5. 1971: Jan. 104.8, Mar. 105.9, June 106.5, Aug. 110.2.
1970 Indexes (1957-59=100): Jan. 102.9, Feb. 102.7, Mar. 103.8, Apr. 104.7, May 104.8, June 104.8, July 105.1, Aug. 105.2,
Sept. 105.4, Oct. 105.5, Average 104.8.




- 23 -

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 C P I . 1/ T h e table below shows
standard errors for monthly, quarterly, and annual percent changes in the C P I for all
items and for nine commodity groupings based on 1970 averages. T h e figures m a y 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.
Because the C P I is rounded to one decimal place, some ambiguity m a y arise in
interpreting small index changes. T h e table below indicates, for example, that a monthto-month change of 0.1 percent in the all-items C P I 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 v a l u e . Hence, any particular change of 0.1 percent m a y or m a y
not b e 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.
Average Standard Errors of Percent Changes in the
CPI Based on 1970 Data

Standard Error

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

Quarterly
Change

Annual
Change

.04
.08
.11
• 06
.15
.10
.12
.13
.11
.10

.06
.13
.21
.10
.26
.16
.15
.23
.17
.16

.09
.18
.36
.19
.29
.19
.29
.3,4
.23
.41

This replaces the table of average errors based on 1969 data which was included
in the CPI report through December 1970.

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.




- 24 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 total index with weights based on the 1960 populations of SMSA's and
aru
cities they represent. Index numbers are computed on the base 1967=100
* are
also available on the base o f 1957-59=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.




Bureau of Labor Statistics Regional Offices

REGION 1 — Boston

REGION II — New York

REGION III — Philadelphia

Mr. Wendell D. Macdonald
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
1603-A Federal Office Building
Boston, Massachusetts 02203
Phone: 223-6727
(Area Code 617)

Mr. Herbert Bienstock
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
341 Ninth Avenue, Rm. 1025
New York, New York 10001
Phone: 971-5401
(Area Code 212)

Mr. Frederick W.Mueller
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
F nn Square Building, Room 406
1317 FilbertStieet
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
Phone: 597-7816
(Area Code 215)

Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont

New Jersey
New York
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands

Delaware
District of Columbia
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia

REGION IV — Atlanta

REGION V -

Mr. Brunswick A. Bagdon
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
1371 Peachtree Street NE.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Phone: 526-5416
(Area Code 404)

Mr. William E. Rice
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
219 S. Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Phone: 353-7226
(Area Code 312)

Mr. Jack F. Strickland
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
11OO Commerce St., Rm. 6B7
Dallas, Tex. 75202
Phone'
749-3641
• • • \s • i v* •
/ r \jf \J
I

Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky

Illinois
Indiana
Michigan

Arkansas
Louisiana
New Mexico

Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee

REGION VI -

Chicago

^^^T

(Area Code 214)

Minnesota
Ohio
Wisconsin

REGIONS VII and VIII — Kansas City

REGIONS IX and X — San Francisco

Mr. Elliott A. Browar
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Federal Office Building
911 Walnut Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
Phone: 374-2378
(Area Code 816)

Mr. Charles A. Roumasset
Regional Director
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
450 Golden Gate Avenue
Box 36017
San Francisco, California 94102
Phone: 556-3178
(Area Code 415)

Region VII

Region VIII

Region IX

Region X

Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska

Colorado
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
Wyoming

Anzona
California
Hawaii
Nevada

Alaska
Idaho
Oregon
Washington




Dallas

Oklahoma
Texas