Full text of Monthly Labor Review : August 1953, Vol. 76, No. 8

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Monthly Labor Review
UN ITED STATES DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR • BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
L a w r e n c e R . K l e in , Editor


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CONTENTS

Special Articles
821
826

The Control of Industrial Labor in Communist China
Workmen’s Compensation in the United States: V—Medical Services

Summaries of Studies and Reports
830
832
834
839
842
845
848
851
862
865

1953 Convention of Communications Workers of America (CIO)
The Textile Situation in New England
Operations of the NLRB during 1951-52
Wage Chronology No. 6: Armour and Co.—Supplement No. 3
Wage Chronology No. 7: Swift and Co.—Supplement No. 3
Wage Chronology No. 9: General Motors Corp.—Supplement No. 2
Wage Chronology No. 22: Pacific Gas and Electric Co.—Supplement
No. 1
Wage Chronology No. 36: A. T. & T.—Long Lines Department,
1940-52
Consumer Cooperatives, 1941 to 1951
Injury Rates in Manufacturing, First Quarter 1953

Departments
hi

869
872
875
880
886

The Labor Month in Review
Recent Decisions of Interest to Labor
Chronology of Recent Labor Events
Developments in Industrial Relations
Publications of Labor Interest
Current Labor Statistics (list of tables)

August 1953 • Vol. 76 • No. 8

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The Labor Month
in Review

T he economic consequences of the Korean
truce had been debated for many months in antici­
pation of the event. The first postsigning formal
statement by labor on the subject came from the
Congress of Industrial Organizations. It called
for priority tax relief to low-income groups, lower
prices and higher wages to follow repeal of excise
and excess-profit taxes, selectivity in defense con­
tract cancellations, and increased public works.
As the truce was signed, the economy generally
was continuing to function at a high level, and,
although there were some individual industries
which showed slight weaknesses, most indicators
in June and July were signs of strength. Personal
income in the first half of 1953 was 7 percent
higher than in the 1952 first half. Consumer
buying was at near-record levels. The Federal
Reserve Board index of industrial production at
241 was about even with the past few months.
Nonfarm employment of 49.4 million represented
an increase of 5 million since the outbreak of the
fighting, most of it occurring prior to 1953.
Unemployment-insurance claims were well under
a million, and factory hours held at 40.7. A
revised BLS construction activity estimate for
1953 put the year’s total 7 percent over last
year’s; the July figure in volume and dollar value
was at an all-time high. The machine-tool
industry still had a 7-month backlog of orders.

about 3 years of capacity operation, pro­
duction in steel mills declined in June, and during
July was off 5 to 8 percent. The farm-equipment
and lumber industries showed signs of slumps (in
the latter industry, west coast CIO workers voted
against a strike).
In one declining industry—soft coal—curtailed
employment and hours of work are affecting
industrial relations problems. On August 1,
either union or management could exercise a 60day-notice clause of intent to negotiate a new
agreement, but neither side took advantage of
A fter


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the initial opportunity. Earlier, in anticipation
of the date, there had been some verbal skirm­
ishing. Joseph E. Moody, president of the
Southern Coal Operator’s Association, castigated
the northern owners for being dominated (denied
by the northern group) by the mines owned by
steel companies, which do not have to compete
for consumer markets. He called for a NorthSouth pay differential and a lowering of the 40cents-a-ton welfare fund levy. The United Mine
Workers Journal for August 1 attacked the Moody
statement. It quoted with apparent approbation
the northern spokesman, Harry M. Moses, on the
matter, despite his earlier criticism of John L.
Lewis for allowing too many unorganized mines in
the industry. The miners’ welfare fund, subject
as it is to the vicissitudes of production, received a
serious threat when the Office of Internal Revenue
ruled its income was not tax exempt. The full
import of the ruling was not immediately evident.
P roblems —economic

and political, institutional
and public, national and international—faced the
executive council of the American Federation of
Labor when it met in Chicago, August 10, for
what might prove to be its most important session
in some time and its final one before the Federa­
tion convention September 21.
For one thing, its attitude toward the adminis­
tration and the recently recessed Congress in rela­
tion to matters of labor interest, including the
Taft-Hartley Act, would be revealed.
Of even more significance was the council’s
attitude on internal matters. Up for approval
was the no-raid agreement, already ratified by
the CIO executive board, scheduled to be effec­
tive, presumably for those unions which sign it,
on January 1, 1954. Convention approval would
normally follow the council’s action. There was
some question as to whether all important affil­
iates—e. g., the Teamsters—would sign the no­
raid pledge, considered an important precursor of
unity progress between the two organizations.
I n a report on the recent meeting of the Inter­
national Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the
AFL council received an account of practical ap­
plication of unity of purpose and action. The
AFL, CIO, and United Mine Workers operated in
close harmony to achieve a common political ob­
jective: the election of Omer Becu of Belgium as
m

IV

THE LABOR MONTH IN REVIEW

president to replace Sir Ernest Tewson, whose
keynote speech on “negotiating” with the Com­
munists had been attacked by AFL president
George Mean}'- as a too-soft approach. The
United Mine Workers received a seat on the en­
larged executive board. (In an interesting unity
sidelight, the AFL Seafarer’s Union consented to
admit the CIO National Maritime Union to the
International Transport Workers Federation trade
secretariat; similar consent is being sought for the
CIO United Transport Workers.) There was
some American concern over the manner in which
the Cuban delegation dominated the Latin
American representation.
The AFL council could foresee an interesting
sequel to the ICFTU meeting. In October, the
Communist World Federation of Trade Unions
meets in Vienna. Its offer of a working relation­
ship with the free unions had been contemptuously
turned down (Meany characterized it as dedicated
to slave labor) in the light of worker revolts in
Soviet sections of Germany and other satellite
areas last June and of the continued unrest, since
all propaganda stops are expected to be pulled.
T he hearing before the council of the Inter­
national Longshoremen’s Union on progress in
carrying out the dictates of the council’s ultimatum
to rid itself of the shapeup, graft, undemocratic
procedures, and corrupt officials was preceded by
the somewhat complicated antics of the union to
police itself. It made an abortive effort to oust
Anthony Anastasia, head of the Brooklyn piers.
On the other hand, it is assessing members $5 to
finance a court test against a New York-New
Jersey joint law designed to remove waterfront
rackets and employment depredations.
Two large, unaffiliated railway unions—the
Locomotive Engineers and the Firemen and Enginemen—whose conventions always last several
weeks, met in Cleveland and Boston throughout
July and into August. D. B. Robertson, after 31
years as president of the Firemen, announced his


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retirement. He was succeeded by H. E. Gilbert, a
vice president, in a five-way contest. The En­
gineers chose Guy L. Brown as grand chief to
succeed J. P. Shields, who died shortly before the
convention opened. Later, the Engineers re­
jected a proposal from the Firemen for a merger
of the two organizations.
of Rocco C. Siciliano, labor re­
lations executive for an Illinois oil firm, completed
the roster of assistant secretaries in the Labor
Department. Also named to a Federal labor
post during July was Philip Ray Rodgers, staff
director of the Senate Labor Committee, as a
member of the National Labor Relations Board,
replacing John M. Houston. The long-delayed
atomic energy disputes panel was organized with
Cyrus S. Ching, former Conciliation Service
director, as chairman, and Thomas W. Holland
and Arthur M. Ross, both former Wage Stabili­
zation Board members, and Philip Weiss, former
chairman of the Michigan Mediation Board. The
panel was confronted with a ready-made problem
at 2 of the 3 Oak Ridge AEC plants where 3,500
AFL craftsmen were threatening to resume a
brief strike for a wage increase of 10% cents an
hour. CIO Chemical Workers had previously
accepted a company offer of 5 cents.

T he nom ination

sanctity was given a new interpreta­
tion in a decision (since appealed) handed down
by a Portland, Oreg., Federal district judge in a
case in litigation for 12 years. Montgomery
Ward & Co. was upheld in its damage suit against
common carriers whose union employees by con­
tractual agreement refused to cross Teamster
picket lines. The judge ruled that “ritualistic
recognition of a picket line . . . because of union
pressure . . . has no place in the American way
of life” and that a carrier’s public responsibility
transcended contract obligations to employee
unions as well as its own financial security.
P icket - line

The Control of
Industrial Labor
in Communist China
A lice W. Shurcliff*

E ditor ’s N ote .— This

article is confined, to the
subject of paid industrial workers. No attempt
is made to deal with the important subjects offarm
labor, use of rural labor on rural construction
projects, or forced labor by political prisoners.
An interesting article on Forced Labor in China
TodMy, by Shao-er Ong, recently appeared in the
1953 spring issue of the World Affairs Interpreter
published by the University of Southern California.

I ncreasing control over the industrial labor
market, in order to facilitate the expansion of
industry, has been the keynote of Chinese Com­
munist labor policies. Controls have been directed
specifically toward increasing individual worker
output and toward keeping general wage levels
lower than worker productivity might warrant,
in order to help accumulate capital for industrial
expansion.
As a result of the new controls, workers have
been deprived of much of the freedom they for­
merly enjoyed and have suffered many economic
hardships. Other economic policies, followed by
the Communist regime since it assumed control
of the country almost 4 years ago, have resulted
in an increase in unemployment due both to
decreased job opportunities for unskilled workers
and to unfavorable conditions in rural areas which
have led rural workers to migrate and seek indus­
trial employment in the cities.

Controls 2

The principal types of control introduced by
the Chinese Communist Party follow the Soviet
pattern and include (1) wage differentials which


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favor workers in heavy industry and those with
high output, (2) drives for increased production,
and (3) state direction of industrial hiring.
The primary impact of the controls falls upon
workers in the larger public and private enterprises
which employ about 3 million workers out of a
nonagricultural paid labor force of between 13 and
15 million. Of these 3 million workers, about
500,000 are engaged in mining, 500,000 in the rail­
roads, 600,000 in textile manufacturing, 1 million
in other types of manufacturing, 300,000 in com­
munications, road transport, and shipping, and an
unknown number in certain aspects of the construc­
tion industry.3 While some of these workers are
engaged in enterprises not yet owned or operated
by the Government, the controls are applied
to them insofar as the Government believes ad­
visable to increase output.
Controls are enforced by the Government, which
now owns or controls most of the large-scale indus­
trial enterprises in the country, and by the All
China Federation of Labor (ACFL), the only
trade-union organization permitted to operate.
The policies of the Government and the ACFL are
fully integrated, since the Communist Party runs
both and many Government and Communist
Party officials are also ACFL officials. For in­
stance, Chu Hsueh-fan, Minister of Posts and Tele­
graphs, is concurrently vice chairman of the ACFL
and chairman of the ACFL’s National Federation
of Postmen’s and Telegraphers Trade Unions. In
fact, the Communist Party’s use of the ACFL as
its tool was made quite explicit by the ACFL sec­
retary general, Lai Jo-yu, in a speech of May 2,
1953, in which he used the well-known Leninist
slogan in describing the ACFL as “a powerful
transmission belt between the Communist Party
and the broad masses of the working class.” 4
*Of the Bureau’s Division of Foreign Labor Conditions.
1 The principal sources of information for this article were: (1) U. S. Foreign
Service Reports from Hong Kong; (2) translations made by the U . S. Con­
sulate General in Hong Kong, of material released by the official news agency
of the Chinese Communist regime, the N ew China News Agency, and
printed in the Chinese press; (3) translations of Chinese radio broadcasts.
Material released by the Chinese Communist regime through the press or
radio is recognized as biased, and little credence is given to the statistics
themselves. But this material, combined with a careful study and cross
analysis of other information on this and indirectly related subjects, reveals
some significant trends.
2 For further information, see The Working Class in Communist China,
by Richard L. Walker. (In Problems of Communism, Issue No. 3-4, Vol. 2,
1953, International Information Administration, Washington, D . C.)
2 These estimates are derived largely from trade-union membership reports
and do not include numerous workers in small shops and stores maimed by
unpaid family workers.
* Foreign Radio Broadcast from Peking (Chinese Home Service) of M ay 4,
1953.

821

822

LABOR IN COMMUNIST CHINA

Wage Incentives

To encourage workers to accept employment in
basic industries and to equalize wage rates through­
out the country, the Government has been develop­
ing a new nationwide method of determining wage
rates, modeled on the Soviet system. Some modi­
fications of wage rates have already taken place
in certain industries, especially in Northeast China
(Manchuria), and in the Central South Region
where new “provisional regulations” were pro­
mulgated in August 1952.
These provisional regulations,5 which are be­
lieved to be a model for the entire country, set
three basic factors to be considered by the Govern­
ment in its determination of a given worker’s
pay rate: (1) type of industry, with the highest
rates established for mining and heavy industries
which the Government is trying to expand, and
the lowest rates in the consumer goods industries ;
(2) productive capacity of individual plants, the
large plants having the highest wage levels; and
(3) eight wage grades based on level of skill. A
considerable spread is planned for these eight
grades in order to increase the workers’ desire for
promotion. Technical,6 managerial, and office
personnel have their earnings and allowances set
by the enterprise with the approval of the super­
visory Government office.
Incentives for higher worker output include
gradual introduction of output norms, piecework
pay rates, and bonuses for high output. These
are to be imposed following establishment of the
general wage-rate categories outlined above. The
new regulations rule out supplementary cash
allowances previously given workers for depend­
ents, housing, fuel, and food, but occasionally
permit payment of such perquisites in kind. When
a worker’s total earnings would be lowered by the
new system, the previous earnings may be con­
tinued for a brief period during which he may try
to increase his output.
To make wage incentives consistent over the
large areas of the country where prices vary, the
regime has introduced a system of computing
4 Translation of text of the Provisional Regulation Governing Wages in
State [Public]-Operated Factories, Mines and Communications Enter­
prises, Aug. 16,1952, released by the N ew China N ews Agency.
4 This term, as used in Communist China, includes foremen and certain
categories of workers who would be considered skilled workers in the United
States.


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MONTHLY LABOR

wages in terms of units of purchasing power. This
feature of the wage system is of particular interest
since it is derived from an indigenous practice of
figuring wage rates in terms of the price of rice or
other commodities rather than in terms of unsta­
ble currency. The uniform wage unit is based
upon the selling price of a market basket of com­
modities sold by state trading companies and co­
operative societies. The contents of the market
basket vary according to the local consumption
habits. In East China, for instance, when the
system came into effect in April 1952, a wage unit
represented the value of 0.88 pound of rice, 0.22
foot of white cloth, 0.06 pound of vegetable oil,
0.02 pound of salt, and 2.2 pounds of coal or 2.75
pounds of firewood. The value of the wage unit is
announced at 5-day intervals by the People’s Bank.
On September 8, 1952, the money rates for one
wage unit were 2,551 yuan in Shanghai, 2,268 in
Peiping, 2,796 in Canton, and 2,040 in Mukden.
The wage unit system has been adopted by statecontrolled industrial enterprises and by many
private enterprises.
Productivity Drives

Productivity drives in public and private enter­
prises have been carried on for the most part by
the All China Federation of Labor (ACFL) which
has been impelling workers to raise their output
and to lower production costs through saving raw
materials and introducing improved production
techniques. Special short-term production drives
(emulation campaigns) have also been sponsored for
special causes such as the support of Chinese troops
in Korea and in honor of May Day, Army Day,
and Sino-Soviet Friendship Month. During these
emulation campaigns, workers try to fulfill or
surpass their production schedules through speedups, overtime, and holiday work. Workers with
outstanding production records are given honorary
titles (e. g., “advanced workers” or “labor heroes”)
which entitle them to special honor and to extra
benefits under the social-insurance scheme if they
become ill or injured during the course of their
work. They are also given higher rates of pay,
better housing, and other types of preferential
treatment.
In order to have direct influence over the maxi­
mum number of workers, the ACFL has been con-

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

LABOR IN COMMUNIST CHINA

centrating upon increasing its membership through
political pressure on workers and through special
economic advantages which are available only to
ACFL members. Unemployed members are given
job preference at the Government-operated em­
ployment offices, an important consideration in
view of the serious unemployment situation. A
compulsory social-insurance scheme (financed by
industry and the Government but administered
by the ACFL) provides greater and more exten­
sive benefits for ACFL members than for non­
members.7 The result is a great expansion in
union membership, which the Communists claim
has risen from 1.4 million in 1948 to 10.2 m illion
out of a nonagricultural paid labor force of 13 to
15 million in 1953.8
Labor Market Controls

The Communist regime has gradually tightened
its control over the industrial labor market, carry­
ing out its long-term policy of “ centralized dis­
tribution of labor.”
So far the controls have
been directed primarily toward scientific and
technical personnel and skilled workers who are in
short supply and toward unemployed unskilled
workers who have become an important problem
in their own right.
To alleviate the shortage of scientific and tech­
nical personnel and skilled workers, the Govern­
ment has increased enrollment in universities,
technical schools, and vocational training courses.
Emphasis on increasing the number of such
graduates, even at the expense of quality, is
indicated by an order of 1952 requiring all juniors
majoring in science and technology to be gradu­
ated at the end of the school year, and also by
the short-term vocational training courses for
teaching limited skills for specific jobs, rather
than the broader skills for higher type jobs.
Graduates of universities and vocational train­
ing schools have no choice regarding their em­
ployment, but are assigned to the jobs in accord­
ance with an October 1951 decision of the Govern­
ment Administrative Council regarding “ the
reform of the academic system.” In assigning
graduates, priority is given to production work in
capital construction, factories, mines, communica­
tions, and water conservation. Graduates have
been warned by the Government not to resist
assignment to jobs in remote parts of China.

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823

Unemployed workers are required to register
with local Government employment offices or
labor bureaus under a decision of the Government
Administrative Council of August 3, 1952. Only
those registered are eligible for filling regular job
openings which may occur in public and private
enterprises. Conversely, such enterprises are re­
quired to notify the employment offices of their
regular job openings. Temporary jobs are not,
however, subject to these restrictions. Although
the activities and powers of the employment
offices have been increased by these measures,
administrative facilities and procedures for com­
plete control over the industrial labor market have
apparently not yet been developed.
Additional controls have been introduced in an
attempt to alleviate the problem of unemploy­
ment which has become severe among unskilled
urban workers. These measures include (1) com­
pulsory labor at subsistence wage levels in street
cleaning and other municipal projects for beggers,
prostitutes, and others having no means of support
acceptable to the Communist regime; (2) recruit­
ment for military training and service; (3) move­
ment to distant regions to work on Governmentsponsored development programs under arduous
conditions at subsistence wage levels; (4) forced
return of some of the unemployed to their rural
homes; and (5) work relief, often of a compulsory
nature. The Communists claim that 2.2 million
persons had been reached by these programs by
September 1952. In addition, Communist author­
ities in rural areas have been directed to promote
public works in order to prevent unskilled labor
from flowing into the cities. Public and private
enterprises in which temporary production diffi­
culties or increased efficiency result in excess
personnel have been ordered to retain surplus
workers.
Results of Communist Policies

The overall economic policies of the Communist
regime, as well as the specific controls exercised
i No attempt is made to evaluate the social-insurance scheme in this article,
because of lack of information on the benefits provided as compared to the
benefits advertised.
8 This large increase is not entirely satisfactory, even from the Communist
viewpoint. At the M ay 1953 Congress of the AC FL, criticism was directed
toward some trade-union leaders who “were only after large membership
figures and admitted many persons of nonworker status like those in the
petty handicraft industry and liberal professions.” Foreign Radio Broad­
cast of Report delivered during the 7th A C FL Congress by Hsu Chih-chen

824

LABOR IN COMMUNIST CHINA

over workers, have impaired working conditions,
worker earnings, and employment opportunities.
Lack of data makes it impossible to estimate the
effect of controls on the individual worker’s output.
Communist claims of greatly increased worker
output in industry merely compare present output
with that of 1950 when production was very low
because of war damage and economic dislocations.9
Thus, there is no method of determining whether
the claimed increase in output is equal to the
rapid increase in worker output in other wardevastated countries such as Japan and Western
Germany where workers’ freedom from controls
has been greatly increased in the postwar period.
Special drives to increase worker output have
been accompanied by a large increase in work
accident rates and a deterioration in working con­
ditions—both of which have always compared
unfavorably with Western standards. A Circular
on Disposal of Serious Cases of Injury and Death
Caused by Negligence of Production Safety in
Certain State-Operated Factories and Mines,
issued by the Government on September 17, 1952,
appears to refute claims, made at other times,
that industrial safety has been greatly improved.
. . . the leadership cadres and trade-union workers
of some enterprises . . . simply overlook the life and
health of the workers. They do not actively provide
the necessary safety conditions for the workers and
staff members, nor do they institute or seriously im­
plement the safety system. What is worse, they even
dupe the workers into doing dangerous work. In
certain cases, the regulations and system are drawn
up but no education is given to the workers on the
safety measures, with the result the workers ignorant
of the system violate regulations and labor discipline,
leading to the occurrence of accidents. Another factor
responsible for the accidents is that some leadership
cadres in factories and mines have their work ill
planned, and when time becomes short for the task to
be completed, they start rushing workers blindly by
extra shifts and extra working hours in disregard of
the safety of the workers. It is even more common
that the leadership personnel and trade-union cadres
of the basic organs only care to distribute and check
up the production task but not the safety and health
work, due to their one-sided task viewpoint and
meritism.
• A brief summary of these claims is given in World Economic Report,
1951-52, United Nations, N ew York (pp. 52-53).
10 Foreign Service Report No. 615, Hong Kong, November 2,1950, entitled
“ Speech by Teng Tzu-hui.”
a The Communists had negated the effect of these bonuses earlier by
paying bonuses in non-negotiable government bonds.
n For further information on Japan, see Wage Developments in Japan
During the Occupation, M onthly Labor Review, October 1952.


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MONTHLY LABOR

In the respect of supervision of the safety work,
the organization is far from being sound. In general,
no such system has been instituted yet in the factories
and mines. Where the system has been instituted,
the leadership attaches little importance to it.

The “low wage” policy which the Communists
have instituted in China, as in the Soviet Union
and the European Soviet satellite countries, has
kept wage levels lower than worker productivity
might warrant. The reason for this was clearly
stated by a member of the Chinese Communist
Party Central Committee, at a conference of
heavy industry interests in Hankow.
In keeping the long-term interests of workers in view,
it is imperative that we should avoid eating up our
own capital. All efforts should therefore be made to
acquaint workers with the meaning of the low wage
policy. The readjustment of wages must only be put
into practice after the workers are thoroughly con­
vinced and ready to submit to it out of their own free
will.10

During 1950, and 1951, as the Communists
secured effective control over industry, the lowwage policy was put into effect region by region
and went through two phases. The first phase
consisted of reducing wage rates by about 30
percent in all state-controlled enterprises. These
reductions were alleged to be in response to volun­
tary requests from the workers themselves. A
further reduction in earnings followed a directive
of December 1951, issued by the Economic Com­
mittee of the Government Administrative Coun­
cil, which discontinued the customary substantial
New Year bonuses in public enterprises and cur­
tailed them in private enterprises.11 These reduc­
tions more than canceled the wage increases which
workers had demanded and secured in the earlier
period of Communist control when industry was
still largely under private management. During
the subsequent phase of the program, wage levels
have been allowed to increase slowly, but not
nearly as rapidly as, for instance, in Japan where
workers’ earnings have largely kept pace with
increased output.12
Skilled and semiskilled industrial workers have
apparently not fared as badly, although their
earnings are still very low. The Communists
have publicized various wage increases for skilled
workers and have claimed that in Northeast
China (Manchuria), where earnings levels are the

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

LABOR IN COMMUNIST CHINA

highest in the country, some of the outstanding
workers earned as much as $16 to $22 a month in
1952.13 These figures reveal how very low earn­
ings are. They are much lower than in Japan
where the average monthly industrial earnings in
plants employing over 30 persons were $40 a month
in 1952. (Lack of data prevents a comparison of
earnings in terms of purchasing power.)
Furthermore, the Chinese workers, both skilled
and unskilled, are not free to spend their small
earnings entirely for their own benefit. They
must contribute to numerous special donation
campaigns sponsored by the Government, such as
drives for the purchase of planes and guns for the
Communist armed forces in Korea.
Unemployment. Serious dislocations in the labor
market, brought about by Communist economic
policies, have resulted in a substantial increase in
urban unemployment. In August 1952, the
regime estimated that 3 million people were un­
employed, compared with its 1950 estimate of
1.6 million people. This increase has occurred
in the face of (1) Government reports that paid
employment in factories and other large-scale
enterprises is at an all-time high; (2) unemploy­
ment programs which the Government claims
have reached some 2.2 million persons during the
past 3 years; (3) employment of 5 to 6 million
persons in the regular army, regional district
troops, and in the public security forces; 14 and
(4) expansion of civilian personnel employed by
the Government and the Communist Party from
720,000 in 1949 to 2,750,000 in 1952.15
The reasons for the growth of urban unemploy­
ment are apparently to be found in other sectors
of the economy. For instance, the Government
Administrative Council, at its July 1952 meeting,
reported that rural labor was flowing into the
cities in an unplanned manner increasing the
problem of urban unemployment. This migra­
tion reflects an increase in rural poverty stemming
from the imposition of high farm taxes, the low
official prices set for farm products, and the Gov­
ernment’s forced collection of a large part of the
crops for use in urban areas.
The second major cause of unemployment is the
reduction of employment opportunities in the
trades which the Communists characterize as not
beneficial to the “people’s livelihood,” i. e., per­
sonal service, small stores and shops. The causes
263 6 3 4 — 53------- 2


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825

of distress in these types of enterprise are several.
White-collar workers and other persons, who were
relatively well off under the previous regime, have
suffered a great drop in real purchasing power and
therefore can no longer afford to employ as many
servants and to buy as many other services as
before. Small shops and stores have also suffered
under the new regime because Government trading
companies and consumer cooperatives have taken
over 63 percent of domestic wholesale and retail
trade.16 Small handicraft establishments have
not been able to obtain enough raw materials
because state enterprises have a higher priority
in the allocation system.
Many other private enterprises have had to
close down because of a Government drive against
them, carried out under the guise of an Anti
Corruption Campaign which reached a peak in
1952. During this campaign, merchants and
industrialists were charged with a multitude of
crimes, such as evading taxes, cheating on state
contracts, bribing officials, and stealing state
economic secrets. Large numbers of private
businessmen, particularly in the large cities, were
hailed before “accusation meetings” of their own
workers. Pressure to produce confessions, and
the high fines and punishments meted out led
many businessmen to commit suicide, flee, or go
out of business, thus further reducing employment
opportunities.
Another major source of unemployment is an
increase in the number of women seeking work.
This increase stems, in part, from social pressure
which the Communist Party has brought to bear
on women to liberate themselves from their homes;
and, in part, from the fact that many men are no
longer able to support their wives and daughters
because they themselves no longer have jobs or
because their earnings are insufficient. It is
known that, in setting the wage rates, the Com­
munist regime has assumed that at least two
members of each family will be engaged in paid
employment.
is Calculated, by the United States Consulate General In Hong Kong, on
the basis of the value of the wage units reported, and converted into U. S.
dollars at the prevailing rate of exchange.
i* N ew York World Telegram: World Almanac, 1953. This estimate does
not include 13 million persons in the home guard, who serve on a part-time
basis.
i* United Nations: Economic Survey of Asia and the Far East, Bangkok,
1953 (p. 68).
n United Nations: World Economic Report 1951-52, New York, 1953
(P. 54).

Workmen’s Compensation in the United States
V—Medical Services

B ruce A. Greene *

E q ual i n i m p o r t a n c e to the compensation pay­
ments which an injured worker may receive are the
medical services to which he is entitled under the
workmen’s compensation law. The speed of
recovery for the injured worker, the degree of his
disability, and his restoration to maximum earning
capacity are dependent on the effectiveness of the
medical-aid provisions of the workmen’s compen­
sation law.

Medical Benefit Provisions

All the compensation acts contain some pro­
vision for medical aid to be furnished to injured
workers. In the early legislation, the provision
for medical aid was narrowly restricted as to the
monetary amount, the period of treatment, or
both. In the later development of the acts and
particularly in recent years, the trend has been
toward granting unlimited medical benefits. In
July 1953, full medical aid was being provided by
36 of the 54 State, Territorial, and Federal com­
pensation laws. Seventeen of 36 laws specifically
provide that medical aid must be furnished with­
out limit as to time or amount. The administra­
tive agency, in the other 19 laws, is authorized to
give unlimited medical aid. (See accompanying
table.) The remaining 18 laws impose limitations
on the cost of the medical aid or on the period of
time during which such aid shall be rendered, or
both. All but a few of the medical-aid provisions
826

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o t e .— Previous articles in this series on
workmen's compensation gave an appraisal of
legislative and administrative progress, and dis­
cussed appeals, Federal legislation, and occupational diseases. Subsequent articles will deal
with administration, accident prevention, and
rehabilitation.

E d it o r ’s N

include the furnishing of artificial appliances
wherever necessary.
The efforts to remove any limitations on medical
aid are usually related to the experience that ade­
quate medical aid is economical. Most employers
and insurance carriers generally recognize that the
best medical care reduces their costs by lessening
the period during which such care is needed, and in
many cases, lessening the degree of permanent
disability suffered by the worker. Even in the
States with limitations on medical benefits, it is
not uncommon for the employer or insurance
carrier to provide medical care over and beyond
the legal requirements.
Several organizations and conferences have
adopted recommendations for medical-benefit pro­
visions. The National Conferences on Labor
Legislation have repeatedly recommended un­
limited medical benefits as the desirable standard
for State laws. The medical committee of the
International Association of Industrial Accident
Boards and Commissions (IAIABC), in its 1949
convention report, stated:
Your committee agrees that, in the case of the in­
jured workmen, medical aid should not be restricted
by legal limitations and costs; that disability resulting
from industrial accident or disease should be the
responsibility of industry so long as it continues and
medical aid should be furnished on this basis.
*0f the Bureau of Labor Standards, U. S. Department of Labor.

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION

A recommendation in support of full medical aid
was made in 1952 by a Subcommittee on Industrial
Relations of the American College of Surgeons,
beaded by Dr. Alexander P. Aitken, of Boston.
Statutory provisions relating to medical benefits 1
F u l l B e n e f it s
B y ad­
minis­
B y stat­ trative
ute
author­
ity

Jurisdiction

Arizona
Arkansas 3
California.
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia.
Florida
Hawaii
... .
Idaho .
Illinois 3
Indiana
M ain e3
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota _____
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
N ew Hampshire. _

(2)

(2)

4 X
X

x
4 x

x
X

X
X

4 X
4 X
X

x

B y ad­
minis­
B y stat­ trative
ute
author­
ity

Jurisdiction

New Jersey____
New Mexico_____
New York. __
North Carolina 3_.
North D a k o ta ___
Ohio__ ______ . . .
Oklahoma.. _____
Oregon . _
Puerto Rico_____
Rhode I s la n d ___
South Carolina___
Utah 3______
Washington______
W iscon sin ...........
Wyoming _ ____

* x

4X
X

<x
X
X

<x
4X
X

4X
4X
4X
X
X

4 X

X
X

4 X

x

United States:
Civil employees.
Longshoremen. .

X
X

*x

L im it e d B e n e f i t s
Jurisdiction

Period

A labam a..
Alaska______
C olorado____
Georgia.. ___
Iowa__
Kansas______
K entucky.. . .
Louisiana
Michigan. . .
M ontana.. _ .

90 days
2yrs.
6 mos.
10 wks.6

Amount

120 d a y s8
6 mos.8
12 mos.

$500
1,000
« 500
7 1, 500
1,500
2, 500
1,000

Jurisdiction
Nevada 3_ ___
Pennsylvania.
South Dakota.
Tennessee___
Texas _____
Verm ont3___

Period

6 mos.8
90 days
20 wks.
1 yr.
4 wks.8
180
days13
V irg in ia_____ 60 days8
West Virginia.

Amount

78 $225
n 300
1,500
12 2, 500
73 1, 600

1, 500

1 Data include 1953 legislation up to June 1, 1953, insofar as available.
2 Full medical aid, in the judgment of the Arizona Industrial Commission,
is authorized through a combination of the medical care and rehabilitation
provisions of the law. Medical benefits for occupational diseases are payable
for total disability, maximum $500, and for partial disability due to listed
disease, $250.
2 In case of silicosis or asbestosis, reduced benefits.
4 After an initial period or amount, the administrative agency may extend
the time or amount indefinitely.
1 In case of occupational diseases, reduced benefits.
6 Period may be extended for additional time and amount not exceeding
$250.
7 $1,000 maximum for hospital service and supplies and $500 for medical and
surgical services. Commission may authorize an additional $1,000.
8 In case of occupational diseases, may be extended an additional 90 days.
8 M ay be extended for specified limited period of time.
70 Hospital services also allowed for 90 days, maximum $225.
o Also hospital benefits not to exceed $700.
72 Also hospital charges, 180 days but amount expended for services and sup­
plies shall not exceed $2,500.
is Additional $800 may be authorized. $800 may also be paid for vocational
rehabilitation. No allowance for medical treatment for silicosis.

This committee agreed that “ the need for full
medical care, including rehabilitation, under
competent supervision is recognized.”


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Choice of Physician or Surgeon

The medical-aid provisions of workmen’s com­
pensation laws involve the problem of the method
in selecting the physician or surgeon to attend the
injured worker. Various methods are provided
for under the laws. A survey of the provisions
for selection of attending physicians made by the
statistical committee of the IAlABCin 1949 showed
that, in most States, the law provides for the
choice to be made directly by the employer or
insurance carrier. In a few States, the selection
is made by the worker from a panel made up by
the employer or carrier. In about one-fourth of
the States, the worker has some form of “free
choice” but only a few of these authorize unlimited
“free choice.” In actual practice, it is quite com­
mon for employers or insurance carriers to forego
their legal rights and allow the worker his choice
of a physician.
The National Conferences on Labor Legislation
have always recommended that the worker be
given the choice of physician. In reporting upon
this problem to the 1949 convention, the IAIABC
medical committee stated:
Unrestricted free choice as so often advocated is
not compatible with the best of care— most people
choose their physician or surgeon because of a friend’s
advice, a liking for his personality, an admiration of
his office or equipage, or a report on his charges, if not
for his availability and location alone. Thus, the man
most skilled in pediatrics may be chosen to treat a
fracture— or the man who directed the last family
confinement called to treat a spinal-cord injury. The
best cannot be thus obtained!
On the other hand, the family physician, the trusted
friend of the claimant, can frequently attain results
in cases within his competence far beyond those of his
more skilled but unknown brother.
Free initial choice retains all of these advantages
and, if under advice by a competent, skilled, and un­
biased medical officer of the commission, can lead by
consultation and reference to the best of surgical care.
Your committee, as that of last year, believes that the
trend is in this direction—that the physician of free ini­
tial choice, in conference with a shilled, unbiased medical
officer of the commission, can best arrange for the most
advanced and adequate medical care. In order to prop­
erly accomplish this, the law should place control of med­
ical aid in the compensation authority, and free initial
choice be allowed by ruling of the commission. [Author’s
emphasis.]

828

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION

Supervision of Medical Aid

Supervision of the medical-aid features of work­
men’s compensation laws includes the duties of
ascertaining whether the injured worker is re­
ceiving adequate medical care, checking on the
promptness and completeness of reports required
from attending physicians, regulating charges for
medical services, and evaluating medical reports
and testimony in relation to the cause and extent
of disability. The degree of supervision exercised
over these matters varies widely among the
States. Lack of medical staff is given by compen­
sation officials as one of the main reasons for
failure to provide more adequate supervision.
Less than half of the State workmen’s compensa­
tion agencies have medical personnel and in many
of these States, only part-time medical staff is
available.
The control provisions of some of the workmen’s
compensation laws are meager and ineffective.
The Utah workmen’s compensation act is an
example of a law which gives effective controls to
the Industrial Commission. This law reads in
part as follows:
All physicians and surgeons attending injured em­
ployees shall comply with all the rules and regulations,
including the schedule of fees for their services,
adopted by the commission, and shall make reports
to the commission at any and all times required by
it as to the condition or treatment of any injured
employee, or as to any other matters concerning
cases in which they are employed. Any physician
or surgeon who refuses or neglects to make any report
required by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor,
and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500
for such offense.

In supervising medical care, compensation
officials state that one of the main points to guard
is that the injured worker is treated by a physician,
surgeon, or specialist whose competence to treat
the type of injury sustained has been determined
by recognized medical organizations. Inexpert
medical care often proves expensive and may have
a very harmful effect on the rehabilitation of the
injured worker. For example, improperly han­
dled amputations can leave too long or too short
a stump for effective use of an artificial appliance.
In some instances, the choice of physician who
treats the injured worker has been determined


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MONTHLY LABOR

not by his excellence as a surgeon, but by his skill
as a medical witness. Under proper supervision,
such practices do not exist.
Medical Aid and Rehabilitation

Medical aid includes not only the primary medi­
cal or surgical care, but also the rehabilitative,
convalescent, or post-operative care. This phase
of medical treatment is developing rapidly as the
result of World War II experience in returning
injured servicemen to their line of military duty.
Very few of the workmen’s compensation laws
contain any specific provision for the physical
rehabilitation of injured workers. However, the
medical-aid provisions of many of these laws are
interpreted to include such treatment. The Na­
tional Conference on Workmen’s Compensation
and Rehabilitation, held in Washington in 1950,
recommended that under workmen’s compensa­
tion laws—
(a) Medical care should be defined to include any
treatment and allied medical services necessary to
restore the disabled individual to his maximum level
of physical capacity. Medical aid should be unlim­
ited, encompass physical medicine as well as definitive
medical care and should include the furnishing of
prosthetic appliances, and provide for the proper fit­
ting and training in the use of such appliances.
(b) Full supervision and control over the provision
of medical care within the scope of the workmen’s
compensation act should be given to the workmen’s
compensation agency.
(c) The workmen’s compensation agency should
have qualified medical consultants.

Four rehabilitation centers, exclusively for
injured workers, are operated by workmen’s com­
pensation agencies. They are located in Rhode
Island, Washington, Oregon, and Puerto Rico.
In addition, several similar centers are maintained
by private workmen’s compensation insurance
companies. Also, a number of privately operated
rehabilitation centers are open to all types of
disabled persons, including injured workers. The
experience thus far indicates that these centers
are performing a wonderful service for injured
workers by speeding their return to their former
jobs or to suitable employment. The medical
and compensation cost to the employer or insur­
ance carrier is at the same time being reduced in
cases handled by these centers by shortening the

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION

period and amount for medical care and by less­
ening the extent of the permanent disability.
Improvement of Medical Services

The IAIABC medical committee, in its 1951
and 1952 convention reports, reiterated the rec­
ommendations made as the result of the study of
medical services conducted by the committee in
1949. It submitted as a basis for working out
the details of problems in cooperation with work­
men’s compensation administrators and members
of the medical profession and its organizations,
the following recommended principles :
1. A recognition of the necessity for more adequate­
ly trained and skilled medical and surgical care of
injured workers.
2. A recognition that medical aid to injured workers
should not be limited by cost or other legal prohi­
bition.
3. A recognition that the goal of medical aid in
compensation cases is prompt recovery, minimum
residual disability, maximum physical restoration,
and preparation of the injured worker for resumption
of gainful employment.
4. A recognition that the law should place direc­
tion of medical aid in the compensation administra­
tive authority.
5. A recognition that rehabilitation must begin


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829

with first aid and continue throughout the period of
disability; that, in order for a physician to carry out
his responsibility under workmen’s compensation
medical practice, it is basic for him to consider the
total medical problem, including preparation for the
injured worker’s return to work; that the physician,
therefore, must bring to bear on these problems all of
the skills and disciplines that science and society can
offer and utilize all community resources in the accom­
plishment of such objectives. [Paraphrased from
item 5 of Basic Principles for the Rehabilitation of the
Injured Worker, in a report of the Subcommittee on
Industrial Relations of the American College of Sur­
geons.]
6. A recognition of the necessity for close associa­
tion and cooperation between the compensation
administrative agency and the State, Provincial, and
local medical groups for the purpose of (a) procuring
and giving the medical attention recognized in
Item 3; and (b) securing written reports and advice
necessary for the rehabilitative agency’s case records.
7. A recognition of the need for more expertly
trained and better informed physicians in traumatic
surgery, occupational medicine, and physical medi­
cine, to be achieved by (a) undergraduate specialized
courses in medical schools and colleges; and (b) post­
graduate review by seminars, meetings, and bulletins.

An adequate and successful workmen’s com­
pensation system depends materially on the
extent to which these recommended principles
are carried out.

Summaries of Studies and Reports

1953 Convention of Communications
Workers of America (CIO)
I n a m e s s a g e to the seventh annual convention of
Communications Workers (CWA), its president,
Joseph A. Beirne, reported: “Our union is in good
shape—better than ever before. . . . We are no
longer faced with a crisis each year as was the case
so many times during the past decade as we grew
from a weak, haphazard organization with postage
stamp dues into the great democratic and pro­
gressive union of today.” Mr. Beirne also assured
the delegates, who met in San Francisco during
June 1953, that they need not face a major problem
of the sort that had confronted previous conven­
tions in dealing with structural and financial
matters.
No such problems did develop. Confident of the
strength of the union, the convention accomplished
a great deal of work, debated many points long and
freely and at times heatedly, but conducted its
deliberations without bitterness or rancor. To a
large extent it was a working convention, with few
prepared addresses, whose two outstanding actions
concerned the union’s organizational structure.
Other actions included the adoption of statements
on domestic economic, political, and foreign policy,
and of rules governing the administration of the
union’s defense fund.
Organization and Objectives of the Union

Of particular importance were the convention
votes for the dissolution, before the opening of the
1954 convention, of Districts 10 and 11 (nation­
wide units of Western Electric workers) and for
refusal to grant district status to long-lines oper­
ators throughout the country. These moves had
the effect of carrying to a logical conclusion the
action of the 1950 convention for establishment of
a two-level (local and international) organization.
830

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Under that plan, district offices will be set up only
on a geographical basis and will function as arms
of the executive board.
Minor constitutional changes were also ap­
proved. One of these related to the selection of
the place of the annual convention. The other
affirmed the executive board’s power to return
cases for local retrial on appeals by members
held guilty of offenses against the union. The
convention also unanimously reelected President
J. A. Beirne, Secretary-Treasurer C. W. Werkau,
and International Vice Presidents John L. Crull,
John J. Moran, and A. T. Jones. Also reelected
were 11 District Directors and two National
Directors from the Long Lines and non-Bell
bargaining units.
The convention, as the supreme governing body
of the union, also passed a resolution for the direc­
tion of the executive board on items to be stressed
during collective bargaining negotiations during
the coming year. Included were the following
items: (1) hospitalization and surgical benefits to
be paid for by the company; (2) establishment of
pension plans where none exist and improvement
in minimum payments of existing plans; (3) a gen­
eral wage increase; (4) shortened wage progression
schedules; (5) short hour tours; (6) 6-hour duty
on traffic tours ending after 6 p. m.; (7) reclassifi­
cation of clerical wage rates; (8) job descriptions
for all departments; (9) elimination of area differ­
entials; and (10) elimination of merit systems for
Western Electric and Bell Laboratories.
Recognizing that the strength of a union lies in
its membership, and aware of the fact that a large
number of communications workers still remain
outside of the CWA, the convention passed a
resolution calling for an organizing campaign
aimed at recruiting into membership all those
eligible but not presently belonging to the union.
(Several statements to the convention claimed
union representation of 300,000 workers.) “ Our
legitimate jurisdiction,” read the resolution, “ is

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS CONVENTION

the entire communications industry.” The con­
vention also favored labor unity in its broader
sense, when it pledged “ maximum support and all
possible aid to further mutually agreed-upon steps
required to consummate full and organic labor
unity.”
Finances of the Union

One of the major achievements of the 1952
convention had been the establishment of a fund
for the defense and relief of the union and its
members in connection with labor-management
disputes. Collections for the fund were started
in September 1952, and in June 1953 totaled close
to a million dollars. Operations of the fund had
been conducted under a “ master plan” of general
rules, pending formulation of a set of detailed
rules to be presented to the 1953 convention. The
committee appointed for this purpose proposed
detailed rules for disbursement of funds, admin­
istration, and investment of moneys, as well as a
fuller statement of the fund’s basic purposes and
limitations. In adopting the committee’s report,
the 1953 convention emphasized that the fund
was for emergency use only, that it was not in­
tended for reimbursement of wages lost, and that
its use was to be confined to situations arising out
of strike action or other labor disputes. (For ex­
ample, at the local level, expenditures may be made
at such times for food, fuel, and clothing in cases
of hardship.)
The convention also received and approved the
report of the finance committee, which included
a balance sheet for the fiscal year ended April 30,
1953. The report’s most interesting feature was
the year’s surplus of almost $187,000, which con­
trasted with the record of the previous year, when
the convention had been critical of the executive
board’s failure to stay within the financial re­
sources of the union. The salaries of the union’s
principal officers were increased, in recognition of
the fact that their salaries had not been raised since
1947. The salary of the president was raised to
$17,000, the vice presidents to $12,500, and the
secretary-treasurer to $13,500.
Political Policy

The statement of political policy adopted by the
convention was based on the major premise that

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831

“the existence of this union and of the entire labor
movement might well depend upon the political
climate.” Pointing out that CWA, as a demo­
cratic organization, would never seek to coerce
members into voting in any particular manner,
the statement confirmed the union’s “faith in a
liberal political philosophy” and pledged itself to
“join with free organized labor everywhere to rally
opposition to contrived political hysteria, to the
vested forces of reaction, and to those who would
impose upon America a dead-level of thoughtless
conformity.”
In the political field the convention also endorsed
(1) the principle that all CWA members and their
families should vote; (2) continued support to Po­
litical Action Committees; and (3) proposed legis­
lation for the reform of electoral college procedures
which would provide for more direct election of the
President and Vice President of the United States.
Another resolution of interest was a directive to
the executive board to petition the Congress for
legislation to make possible the erection of a mon­
ument in Washington to the memory of Franklin
Delano Roosevelt.
Domestic Policy

Noting that the American economy was func­
tioning at high and prosperous levels, the state­
ment of domestic economic policy called attention
to the fact that planning and action are necessary
to maintain these levels, and at the same time to
maintain the basic foundation of the democratic
ideals of equal opportunity for all and the preser­
vation of rights of minority groups. The conven­
tion went on record in favor of standby wage, price,
and rent controls; an expanded program of slum
clearance and public housing; and action to solve
the problem of overcrowded schools and low-paid
teachers. The statement warned against prema­
ture tax cuts but indicated solid opposition to a
national sales tax and called for the elimination of
excise taxes on telephone messages.
Amendments to the Taft-Hartley Act were
called for as an affirmative demonstration on the
part of the national administration of its “faith in
and regard for the contributions of the American
labor movement.” However, the convention con­
demned proposals to relinquish to the individual
States responsibility for legislation dealing with
labor-management relations and to exclude utility

NEW ENGLAND TEXTILE SITUATION

832

workers from coverage under national legislation.
Specific and bitter objection was also voiced to
the proposal to restrict strike action in the
utility industry, which is included in a pending
Senate bill. “Utilization of the . . . industry
as an entry wedge to ban strikes,” said the state­
ment, “could have the ultimate effect of denying
this right to all labor and could mean the end of
free labor itself.” In addition, the convention
urged continuation of the “fight for the repeal of
anti-union” laws by Federal, State, and local legis­
lative bodies.
Foreign Policy Statement

The convention also adopted unanimously a
statement on foreign policy, which notes that “the
major issue before the world . . . is still Soviet
communism against the nations of the free world,”
and that “free labor can exist only in a free world.”
Recognizing the obligation of American labor “to
insist upon a liberal and democratic foreign policy
for the United States,” the convention called for
a basic foreign policy which would have as its
objective the halting of Soviet aggression by the
maintenance of an adequate military force and by
strengthening the “economic position of people
in the free world.” To implement these aims,
the CWA pledged continued support to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United Nations,
and the International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions, and called for the maintenance of the
Point Four program and restoration of funds to
the Mutual Security Administration.

The closing moments of the convention were
highlighted by the brief appearance of President
Beirne, who had been prevented from attending
the opening sessions by a serious illness. Mr.
Beirne pointed to the growth of the union through
the years but urged delegates to remember that
unions can decay and that “it is usually the labor
movement that is hit first” by political and
economic changes. “When I see,” he said, “that
we have only gained 20,000 members in 12 months,
when there are 200,000 members outside our
ranks, our progress is not enough.”
— C h a r l e s A. R o t j m a s s e t
Formerly of the Bureau’s Western Regional Office


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MONTHLY LABOR

The Textile Situation
in New England
R e d u c t i o n of wage and workload differentials
between New England and Southern textile mills
and increases in the Northern mills’ productivity
are vital to the maintenance of the industry in New
England, in the opinion of a committee appointed
by the Conference of New England Governors
late in 1951 to study the problem. The commit­
tee’s recently released report 1 contains a number
of recommendations for action to improve the
New England mills’ competitive status, as well as
a wide variety of statistics, testimony by interested
parties, and findings of on-the-spot studies in
seven New England textile towns. Urging the
importance of such action, the committee sharply
opposes any “acquiescence to losses in textiles”
in New England. For, if the region is to maintain
the manufacturing needed to “survive as a flourish­
ing economy . . . it is imperative to keep up the
textile industry.”

Textiles’ Continuing Importance to New England

From April 1951 to the summer of 1952—in the
midst of unparalleled national prosperity—the
New England textile industry experienced sharp
cuts in employment, with predictions that plant
liquidations and migrations to the South would
continue. The committee stresses the importance
of viewing in its historical perspective this crisis
in the industry which has long been the region’s
most important. Although its loss in cotton
spindles has been large over the last 30 to 35
years, New England has maintained its position
in woolens and worsteds, has had a satisfactory
record in rayons, and has increased total textile
production.
Quite apart from the area’s relative position in
the industry, however, the important fact is that,
in New England, the roughly 250,000 workers
employed in textiles at the end of 1951 still rep­
resented 1 in every 5-to-6 manufacturing jobs
1 Report of the N ew England Textile Industry by Committee Appointed
by the Conference of N ew England Governors, 1952, [Seymour E. Harris,
chairman, 234 Littauer Center], Cambridge, Mass. The committee was
composed of 6 members and included labor and management representatives
as well as others.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

NEW ENGLAND TEXTILE SITUATION

and 1 in 11 or 12 of all jobs. Further, the textile
employment figure does not take into account
workers in businesses patronized by textile work­
ers or in subsidiary industries such as textile
machinery and textile financing. It is estimated
that, if the textile industry were liquidated, in­
vestments of about $3 billion would be required
to substitute new manufacturing jobs—and manu­
factured goods must be produced to pay for the
food and raw materials purchased outside the
region. The committee recognizes the importance
of existing efforts to bring in other industries and
of recent gains in this direction. Nevertheless,
these gains have not made up for the losses in
textiles.
Causes for Textile Losses

The major explanation for New England’s de­
cline in textiles, the committee finds, is the fact
that wage costs are much higher there than in the
South, which now accounts for more than half the
Nation’s textile employment. Wage differences
vary according to time, place, and fabrics manu­
factured. On the average, the differential in
hourly earnings has tended to narrow, as the South
has continued its advances in textiles, contracting
from about 50 percent at the beginning of the
century, but still amounting to approximately 10
percent in early 1951. In textiles, wages exclusive
of fringe benefits account for about half of the
value added in the manufacturing process; accord­
ing to the committee’s data, wage differences
account for an even larger proportion of the total
New England-Southern cost differential. Differ­
ences in fringe benefits also seem to be more im­
portant in accounting for the regional cost differ­
ential than is suggested by the small proportion
of total costs represented by such benefits. Among
the various factors to which the “ more favorable”
wage structure in the South is attributed are the
large flow of workers from farms, antagonism to
trade unionism, and the concentration of the
industry in small and hence low-cost communities.
Another element in labor costs is, of course,
the workload, which Northern textile management
frequently complains is far lower for the New
England worker than for his Southern counterpart.
Differences in work assignments between the two
regions “ are frequently exaggerated and cannot


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833

be precisely measured.” Nevertheless, it is the
committee’s view that they are substantial.
These wage and workload differences are not
the only problem, however, and New England
management must take part of the responsibility
for losses, according to the report. The com­
mittee recognizes that, in contrast to the twenties
and thirties, New England’s textile investments in
recent high-profit years have not been much
lower—relative to textile employment—than in
the South (although the available figures are
subject to reservations). Further, the manage­
ment of cotton-textile firms which have survived
in New England is necessarily of a high caliber
and there are many first-rate executives in woolens
and worsteds. In addition, lack of cooperation
among some workers is frequently cited as a
deterrent to increasing productivity. Neverthe­
less, the committee received reports of excessive
managerial staff, failure to modernize, a tendency
to take more profits out of business than in South­
ern mills, plants too large or too small for modern
technology, “ inhospitality to new ideas,” failure
adequately to produce the newer textile blends,
failure to spend enough on research or “ to use
effectively New England’s unparalleled research
facilities,” inadequate support of textile schools,
and reluctance to hire their graduates. Particu­
larly management in the key woolen and worsted
segment, long sheltered from intense Southern
competition and therefore not compelled to
progress in technology and inventiveness, must
now “ awake to its dangers” if it is to avoid the
years of migration already familiar in cotton
textile towns.
Many other factors contribute to the problem
and, though most are much less important than
those described, in combination their significance
is substantial. Among those listed are the higher
costs of Social Security in New England than in
the South (reflecting higher wages and more un­
employment); higher power and fuel costs; the
dearth of raw materials in New England, and its
disadvantageous differential in trucking rates;
heavier taxes and archaic tax structure in contrast
to tax subsidies in the South; smaller Federal aid;
and the inadequacy of State and community
“responsibility and cordiality,” described as “a
matter of outstanding importance, whose sig­
nificance we cannot overemphasize.”

834

OPERATIONS OF THE NLRB

Recommendations

The committee makes many recommendations—
to labor, management, the State and Federal
Governments, and communities—on all the var­
ious factors cited in the report.
First, the wage differential should be reduced—
not by wage cutting, “except in the most unusual
circumstances,” but by a rise in Southern wages
greather than such increases in New England. To
this end, the committee asks that the WalshHealey Act, under which minimum wages are set
for work on Government contracts, “be main­
tained without the encumbrances of the 1952
Fulbright Amendment” to the Defense Produc­
tion Act (authorizing judicial review of minimumwage determinations); that minimum wages be
adjusted to reflect the general wage scale more
expeditiously than in the past; and that the
minimum wage established by the Fair Labor
Standards Act be raised. Further, a spread of
trade unionism in the South is urged as a means
of helping to reduce wage and workload differen­
tials. “Though it is not within our province to
support or oppose the Taft-Hartley Act,” the
committee points out, “we note that abuses of
this act have helped to freeze a situation which
finds unionization retarded in the South to the
disadvantage of New England.”
Because of the difficulties involved in reducing
wage differentials, it is even more important to
equalize workloads, the report states. A new
arrangement for studying and reporting on changes
in workloads is called for, with a permanent com­
mittee of experts set up by labor and management
to expedite changes and even to provide bench­
marks for workloads. In addition, Northern
labor is urged to be more receptive to workload
adjustments, with the trade unions asked to try
harder to educate members to this end. Manage­
ment also should improve its analysis of the prob­
lem and do a better preparatory job when asking
for revisions. Since the greatest worker opposi­
tion arises from fear of unemployment, the
possibility of easing the transition for the dis­
placed workers should be carefully considered;
nor should there be a rigid rule against passing
on to workers the gains from higher workloads
which do not require “greater skills and excessive
work.”

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MONTHLY LABOR

Over and above workload revisions, “increases
in productivity are a must for the New England
industry.” As a part of this program, formation
of a New England textile committee is urged,
with labor, management, community, and govern­
ment representation. Primarily, this committee
and its executive director would help keep the
industry—and particularly the small manufac­
turer—abreast of latest advances in research,
technology, finance, work assignments, markets,
defense contracts, and legislation.
After a number of recommendations on other
facets of the textile problem, the report once more
deplores the “excessive gloom over textiles and
the New England economy generally.” Stressing
the industry’s dependence on investments, the
committee suggests that the press, the public,
and the industry put the recent textile losses into
their historical perspective and thus avoid hasten­
ing the ruin of textiles in New England.

Operations of the NLRB
During 1951-52
T he r e c o r d n u m b e r of representation elections
conducted was the “outstanding development”
in the operations of the National Labor Rela­
tions Board (NLRB) during the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1952, according to the agency’s
report for that year.1 A bargaining representa­
tive was selected in the vast majority of these
elections—units being won by AFL affiliates more
frequently than by CIO unions but generally for
smaller numbers of workers. Most elections were
held without the necessity for formal action by the
agency, as was also true of representation, unionshop, and unfair-labor-practice cases actually
closed during the year. Several of these cases,
as well as the Board’s operations in general, were
affected by the amendment of the Labor Manage­
ment Relations Act in October 1951.

1 Seventeenth Annual Report of the National Labor Relations Board for
the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1952, Washington, 1953.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

OPERATIONS OF THE NLRB

Operations of the Board

The volume of cases coming to the Board con­
tinued at approximately the same high level as
in the preceding year, the report pointed out. A
total of 24,072 cases were on the docket during
the year, of which 18,721 cases were closed—a
decline from the 22,637 closed in fiscal 1951.
This decline was due to staff reductions, which
also brought about a noticeable change in the
character of the agency’s operations. Rather
than slow down action on both petitions for cer­
tification of employees’ collective-bargaining rep­
resentatives and charges of unfair labor practices,
priority was given to the former. In addition,
the processing of representation cases was expe­
dited by simplifying procedures wherever possible.
As a result, the number of representation cases
processed and closed—at both the field staff and
Board level—was higher in fiscal 1952 than in the
preceding year, while the number of unfair prac­
tice cases processed and closed declined. Another
change in type of activity was occasioned by the
1951 amendment, which removed the legal require­
ment that a poll be conducted before a union
could negotiate a valid union-shop agreement.
The amendment also added a new provision
concerning the act’s requirement that a labor or­
ganization must file certain financial data and
non-Communist affidavits executed by its officers
in order to use the Board’s processes in any type
of case. In May 1951, the Supreme Court had
ruled that parent federations, such as the AFL and
the CIO, must have complied with the filing re­
quirements before their affiliated unions might
utilize the Board’s processes. Both federations
had complied—the AFL in November 1947 and
the CIO in December 1949—but certifications
had been issued to their affiliates before their com­
pliance. The amendment provided that no rep­
resentation petition, investigation, election, or
certification should be invalidated by the failure
of the CIO and the AFL to comply at an earlier
date.
At the close of the 1952 fiscal year, 230 national
and international unions (including 121 AFL and
36 CIO affiliates) and 13,465 local unions were in
full compliance with the act’s filing requirements.
At the same time, 37 national and 10,752 local
2 Of these petitions, a minor proportion (482 cases) were filed by employers.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

835

unions were out of compliance; in a number of
instances, however, this was merely because one
officer’s affidavit had expired (an affidavit being
valid only for 1 year), while in others the reports
required were out of date. In two cases (one
arising after the close of fiscal 1952), the Board
investigated administratively the validity of the
union’s compliance. In the first case, the Board
found that the union had failed to designate 3 trus­
tees and 1 sergeant-at-arms as ‘'officers” and to
file their affidavits, and therefore vacated its order
to an employer to bargain. In the second case,
one of the union’s officers had been convicted in a
U. S. District Court for having filed a false nonCommunist affidavit; the Board accordingly can­
celed the union’s bargaining certifications.
Representation and Union Shop Cases

Of the 10,603 representation cases closed during
the year, 10,210 were petitions for selection of col­
lective-bargaining representatives;2 the remain­
ing 393 were petitions for decertification of rep­
resentatives currently recognized. Elections to
select collective-bargaining representatives were
held in nearly two-thirds of the certification cases
closed—largely by agreement of the parties con­
cerned. In 137 other cases, the employer volun­
tarily recognized the union and the remaining onethird were withdrawn, dismissed, or otherwise
closed, as were the bulk of the decertification cases.
Nearly three-fourths of the representation cases
were closed without formal action of any kind by
the agency—i. e., they were settled in the course
of the preliminary investigation made by the
agency’s field staff after a petition had been filed.
An additional 10 percent were also closed by the
field staff after they had either issued a notice of
hearing or held the hearing. Thus, a decision by
the Board itself was required in less than 20 per­
cent of the cases closed. In most of these con­
tested cases, the Board ordered an election.
A total of 6,866 representation elections (both
for certification and decertification and including
cases not yet closed) were held during fiscal 1952—
the largest number conducted in any one year in
the Board’s history. As with the cases actually
closed, three-fourths of the elections were held by
agreement of the employers and unions involved—
also an all-time record number. The bulk of these
elections were held in small units: nearly 40 per-

836

OPERATIONS OF THE NLRB

cent were in units of less than 20 employees and
over half were in units of less than 30.
Collective-bargaining agents were selected in
nearly three-fourths of the 6,765 elections held on
petition for certification—a proportion similar to
that in 1951 and 1950. Nearly 90 percent of the
workers eligible to vote cast valid ballots, and
three-fourths of those voting favored representa­
tion. The units for which agents were chosen
totaled 587,363 employees.
Unions affiliated with the AFL participated in
nearly twice as many of these certification elections
as did CIO affiliates and won a somewhat larger
percentage of the elections in which they took part.
But the smaller size of the units for which AFL
affiliates won representation rights is shown by the
fact that half were in units of less than 20 em­
ployees, in contrast to only a quarter of those won
by CIO affiliates. Therefore, the total number of
workers for which AFL unions won bargaining
rights was only slightly larger, as shown in the
accompanying table.
In 4 out of 5 collective-bargaining elections, only
1 union was involved. Almost all of the rest were
2-union elections, but there were a few 3-union
elections, and some even involved 4 unions. AFL
and CIO unions competed with each other for

MONTHLY LABOR

representation rights in 722 elections in which
222,120 employees were eligible to vote. AFL
unions won 337 and CIO unions 298 of these
elections, giving them the right to represent 94,215
and 98,029 employees, respectively; in most of the
rest, a majority of the employees voted against
union representation.
Both industrially and geographically, the certifi­
cation elections held were quite heavily concen­
trated: two-thirds were in manufacturing indus­
tries and over 40 percent were in the Middle
Atlantic and East North Central States. The
pattern of elections in which representation was
authorized was roughly similar. (Elections in the
wholesale and retail trades accounted for nearly a
fifth of the total, although a slightly smaller pro­
portion than this were union-won.) Units won by
CIO affiliates were more highly concentrated than
those of AFL unions: 80 percent of the CIOaffiliate victories were in manufacturing and over
half were in the two regions cited; less than twothirds of the AFL-won elections were in such in­
dustries and over a third were in those regions.
The large number of elections won by AFL
affiliates, however, meant that they accounted for
over half the elections won in each industrial seg­
ment and in each region except the Territories.

Elections conducted by the N LRB for certification of collective bargaining representatives, July 1, 1951-June 30, 1952

Total elections

Representation rights won by—

No representative
chosen
A FL affiliates

Affiliation of participating unions
Number

CIO affiliates

Unaffiliated unions

Workers Number of Workers Number of Workers Number of Workers Number of W orkers
involved elections involved elections involved elections involved elections involved

T otal_________________________________

6,765

771,346

1,832

187,316

3,075

243,242

1,394

224,236

464

116, 552

One-union elections......................................
A F L ____________________________
CIO
________________________
Unaffiliated ___________ _______

5, 427
3, 502
1,574
'351

376, 899
189,387
164, 841
22, 671

1,708
1,095
548
65

152,091
69, 863
77, 408
4, 820

2,407
2,407

119, 524
119, 524

1, 026

87,433

286

17,851

1,026

87,433

Two-union elections. ------------------------4.FL-CIO
___________ _____ _
AFL-Unaffiliated_________________
A FL -A F L
_____________________
CIO—Unaffiliated _ __ _________
___________________
CIO-CIO
Unaffiliated-Un affiliated_________ _

1,253
651
183
234
167
5
13

362, 296
196,948
35, 707
14,452
113,464
' 298
1,427

115
69
15
17
13
1
0

29, 598
17,946
1,397
' 724
9,460
71
0

625
300
108
217

351
282

130,314
92,037

60

19, 643

65
4

38,050
227

89

65,954

13

1,427

Three-union elections--------------------------AFL-CIO-Unaffiliated________ ____
A F L -A F L -A F L _________________
A F L -A F L -C IO ___________________
A F L-A F L-Un affiliated__.....................
A FL -C IO -C IO ___________________
A F L -U n affiliated-U naffiliated______
C lO -C lO -U naffiliated.. _________
U naffiliated-Unaffiliated-CIO____

81
35
2
30
6
2
1
2
3

26,978
13,931
61
5,960
1,086
108
60
563
5,209

9
3
0
3
2
0
0
1
0

5, 627
3,097
0
2,301
39
0
0
190
0

42
17
2
18
4
1
0

17
6

6,489
5,011

13
9

8,679
3,534

9

927

1

54

Four-union elections_______ ___________
A FL-C IO-Unaffiliated-Unaffiliated.
AFL-Unaffiliated-CIO -CIO ......... . . .

4
2
2

5,173
311
4,862

0
0
0

0
0
0

1
0
1


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

115,360
86,965
14, 667
13; 728

6,183
2,289
61
2,732
1,047
54
0

2,175
0
2,175

286

17, 851

162

87,024

0

0
60
373
4, 712
2,998
311
2,687

0
1

0
497

1
1
2

0
0
0

0
0
0

3
2
1

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

Of the 101 decertification elections, the repre­
sentative involved was decertified in 74 cases in­
volving 4,045 employees. AFL affiliates accounted
for over half of all the units decertified and the
employees in such units.
Union-Shop Cases

An even larger proportion of the union-shop
authorization cases filed were closed by the field
staff than was the case with the representation
petitions. A total of 2,000 union-shop authoriza­
tion cases had already been closed in fiscal 1952
when the amendment of the act, effective October
22, 1951, removed the requirement for union-shop
polls and closed the 718 cases then pending. A
Board decision had been required in less than 2
percent of the 2,000 cases.
The same generalization applies to all such cases
handled by the Board from the time the refer­
endum requirement first took effect on August 22,
1947, to the date of its abolition. A detailed
statistical summary, presented in the 1952 report,
showed that a total of 53,381 such cases were filed
during that period—roughly half during the first
fiscal year and nearly a quarter during fiscal 1949.
All but about 2 percent were closed by the field
staff—largely by elections conducted with the
agreement of the parties concerned. Of all the
elections, less than 10 percent were held on orders
from the regional directors, and only a very few
required a Board order.
In all, 46,146 union-shop elections were held
during the 4-year period. A total of 6,545,001
employees were involved—nearly half of the elec­
tions being held in units of less than 20 employees.
Three-fourths of the workers involved voted in
favor of the union shop, with the result that
negotiation of a union-shop agreement was
authorized in 97 percent of the elections. The
report contained no figures on total numbers of
workers in units in which the majority favored
the union shop. The number of elections won by
AFL affiliates greatly exceeded that won by CIO
unions and in fact represented two-thirds of all
the union-won elections, as shown below. The
generally larger size of CIO units was again
reflected in the number of valid votes cast in favor
of a union shop: such votes cast in elections in
which the petitioning union was a CIO affiliate
actually exceeded those cast in elections involv­

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

837

OPERATIONS OF THE NLRB

ing AFL unions and amounted to nearly half of
all the votes favoring a union-security agreement.
N um ber of polls conducted.
A ug. 22, 19If!-Oct. 22,1951

Total________________________________46, 146
Negotiation of union shop authorized— 44, 823
AFL affiliates____________________ 30,347
CIO affiliates____________________
8, 017
Unaffiliated unions_______________
6, 459
Union shop rejected---------------------------- 1, 323

The 1951 amendment did not alter the require­
ment that a referendum be held among employees
who have indicated a desire to revoke their bar­
gaining agent’s authority to make a union-shop
agreement. In addition to authorization cases,
13 deauthorization cases were closed during fiscal
1952—again almost completely by the field staff.
Unfair Labor Practice Cases

Most of the 5,387 unfair practice cases closed
during fiscal 1952, as in earlier years, also did not
require issuance of a Board order. Nearly half
were withdrawn and another 20 percent were
settled by the parties involved—largely in the
course of the field staff’s preliminary investigation.
(The report noted that, in many instances, with­
drawal of charges actually reflected a settlement
of the issue through the offices of the field staff.)
A quarter were dismissed—also largely after pre­
liminary investigation, although a few went
through the entire process of formal issuance of
complaint, hearing before a trial examiner, and
Board decision, and were finally dismissed in a
court review. Only 354 cases—less than 10
percent of the total—resulted in final determina­
tions that the act was being violated. Of these,
44 were closed by compliance with the trial
examiner’s intermediate report and 149 were
closed by compliance with a Board order, but 161
were closed only after court review.
This overall pattern was generally the same
whether the cases involved charges against em­
ployers or charges against unions—the former
being involved in nearly 4 out of every 5 cases
closed during fiscal 1952, as in previous years.
Thus, of the 354 cases in which violations were
finally found, 265 involved charges against em­
ployers and 89 were against unions. About the

838

OPERATIONS OF THE NLRB

same proportion of each required court action
before the unfair practice was remedied.
Information on the types of charges adjusted
or the types of violations found is not available
in the report for the unfair practice cases actually
closed during the year. However, the most
common type of unfair labor practice charged
against employers has consistently been that of
illegal discrimination against employees because
of their union activities (the most frequent form
being outright discharge). This was charged in
roughly two-thirds of the new cases filed against
employers3 during fiscal 1952; second most com­
mon charge—filed in over a fourth of these cases—
was refusal to bargain in good faith. Causing or
attempting to cause employers to discriminate
illegally against employees because of their lack of
union membership also continued to be the most
frequent charge filed against unions 3 during the
year—appearing in over half such cases. Almost
as frequent a charge against unions, however, was
that of restraint or coercion of employees in the
exercise of their right to engage in or refrain from
union activity, and secondary boycott was alleged
in 16 percent of the cases filed against unions.
Of the other types of charges, each appeared in
less than 10 percent of the cases filed.
Remedial action was taken by employers (by
agreement or order) in over 1,000 cases closed dur­
ing the year and by unions in nearly 300 cases. In
most instances—for both groups—notices were
posted, which usually stated what action had been
taken to remedy the unfair practices, including a
list of names of employees who had been discrimi­
nated against and were receiving back pay or
reinstatement. During fiscal 1952, a total of
1,801 workers were offered reinstatement in their
jobs; 2,758 workers received back pay from em­
ployers and/or unions 4 totaling $1,369,792—an
average of $497 per employee. This average was
much larger than the average back pay awarded
workers in fiscal 1951, in spite of the fact that fewer
workers received back pay in 1952. Other action
taken in small numbers of cases included: workers
put on preferential hiring list;5 employers notified
by the union that it had no objection to reinstate­
ment of discharged employees;4collective bargain­
ing begun; employer-dominated union disestab­
lished, or assistance to a union no longer supplied
by the employer or demanded by the union.


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MONTHLY LABOR

Board Decisions

In its decisions on contested cases of all kinds,
the Board in general continued during fiscal 1952
to follow rules previously developed—sometimes
strengthening or restating the principles involved
or applying them in new circumstances. Occa­
sionally a particular interpretation was modified,
however, and several decisions were made on
questions confronting the Board directly for the
first time.
Among the decisions on questions arising for
the first time were rulings, in unfair practice cases,
that: (1) employer use of the lockout or layoff
as a collective bargaining weapon is prohibited by
the act’s ban on discrimination based on union
activity and employer interference with employ­
ees’ lawful collective bargaining activities; (2) an
employer may legally refuse to bargain during a
slowdown, which is not regarded as concerted
activity protected by the a ct;6 (3) a union’s re­
fusal to furnish employees to employers does not
constitute outlawed secondary activity. Among
its decisions on representation cases, the Board
also adopted a new te s t6 for determining the
reasonable time a collective agreement may
operate as an election b a r:7 contracts of more
than 2 years’ duration may bar an election if a
substantial part of the industry concerned is
covered by contracts of a similar term. (Applying
this test, the Board found that contracts of ap­
proximately 5-year terms could operate as election
bars in the automobile, farm equipment, and
automotive parts industries.) The Board also
ruled for the first time on its jurisdiction over a
labor union in its capacity as an employer; apply­
ing the same standard applied to other employers,
the Board ruled that the union concerned was a
multistate enterprise of the kind over which
jurisdiction is commonly asserted.
s Some of the cases filed charged more than one type of violation.
4 In some cases, a union and an employer are found to have been jointly
responsible for the illegal discrimination. Of the workers cited, 2,671 received
the back pay from employers, 24 from unions, and 63 from both. In such
cases, the union must also notify the employer that it has no objection to
reinstatement of the discharged employees.

8 Where the number of job's available is for some reason insufficient to per­
mit the reinstatement of all workers discriminated against, the Board ordi­
narily orders the employer to place those remaining on a preferential hiring
list.
8 Ruled on after the close of the fiscal year.
7 To encourage stability of labor-management relations, the Board ordi­
narily does not conduct a representation election among employees covered
by a valid collective agreement which still has a period to run.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 6

The Board also had occasion to apply the 1951
changes in the act’s provisions regarding unionshop agreements and compliance of parent federa­
tions. While no representation proceeding is to be
invalidated by the initial noncompliance of the
CIO and the AFL, no liability is to be imposed on
any person for failure to honor any such election
or certification before the amendment’s effective
date; the Board dismissed a number of unfair
practice cases against employers and certain
decertification cases on the basis of this proviso.
Further, though no longer required to obtain
authorization in an employee referendum, a union
can make a valid union-security agreement only if
it has a Board notice of compliance with the filing
requirements; this new provision caused the
Board to rule that a contract made by a union
which was not in possession of such notice could
not bar a determination of representatives.
Compliance status also determined the outcome
of the first union-shop deauthorization case to
come before the Board itself; the union had
entered into the agreement at a time when it was
not in compliance, and the Board therefore ruled
that no valid union-security agreement existed
and dismissed the petition. In a subsequent
case,6 the Board held that the “ contract bar”
principles do not apply to deauthorization pro­
ceedings, which may take place at any time during
the life of an agreement.
Court Action

The volume of the Board’s enforcement liti­
gation during fiscal 1952 exceeded that of any
prior year in the Board’s history. Board orders
were reviewed by the U. S. Court of Appeals in
136 cases of varying types, and in 1 case an order
was reviewed by the U. S. Supreme Court. These
cases went to the courts either on petitions by the
Board for enforcement of orders which had not
been complied with or on petitions for review
filed by parties dissatisfied with the Board
decision. Board orders were enforced in full in
73 cases, with an additional 21 enforced with
modification. A few others were sent back to the
Board for further proceedings, but Board orders
were set aside in most of the other cases (including
8 set aside because of noncompliance by the
complaining union’s parent federation).


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839

The Board also petitioned courts for injunctions
to halt conduct alleged to be an unfair practice in
21 cases—compared with 24 in the previous year.
In three of these cases—one against a union, one
against an employer, and one against an employer
and a labor organization—the injunctions were
sought under the Board’s discretionary power to
do so for any type of unfair practice once a formal
complaint has been issued; all three requests were
granted (one after the close of the fiscal year).
The other 18 injunctions requested were all against
labor organizations charged with certain illegal
secondary activity, the Board being required to
seek an injunction in such cases whenever the
initial investigation reveals “reasonable cause” to
believe that a complaint will be issued. Of these
requests, only 5 were granted; 5 were denied or
withdrawn and 8 were retained on the court’s
docket without hearing because the alleged unfair
practices had been discontinued.
Among various other court cases during the
year were two instituted by the Board to protect
its processes against State encroachment on the
exclusive jurisdiction of the Board and the Federal
courts under the act. The Board’s request for a
preliminary injunction was granted in one and
denied in the other case.

Wage Chronology No. 6:
Armour and Co.
Supplement No. 3
N e g o t ia t io n s —held in accordance with wage­
reopening stipulations in the master agreements
between Armour and Co. and the Amalgamated
Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North
America (MCBW-AFL) and United Packinghouse
Workers of America (UPWA-CIO)—resulted in
agreements signed by the company with the
MCBW in December 1951 and with the UPWA
in February 1952. These supplemental agree­
ments provided for a wage increase affecting all
workers as well as for adjustments to correct
interplant inequities and to narrow the wage

840

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 6

differential between men and women. The Wage
Stabilization Board approved the increases effec­
tive on the dates agreed upon by the company
and the unions.
The reopening in each instance was the second
of three allowed by the 1950 agreements. A third
could take place between February 11 and the
termination date, August 11, 1952.1 Early in
June 1952, both the Packinghouse Workers (CIO)
and the Meat Cutters (AFL) notified the com­
pany that instead of reopening their contracts
they preferred to renegotiate the agreements
scheduled to terminate August 11. Kepresentatives of the company and the unions met period­
ically throughout the summer. Although the
UPWA did not authorize a national strike, spo­
radic work stoppages occurred at various plants
where that union was represented. The UPWA
and the company concluded their bargaining and
agreed to a 2-year contract on October 26, 1952.
The MCBW contract was signed on November 19.

MONTHLY LABOR

The terms of the new agreements, some of which
were subject to approval by the Wage Stabilization
Board, included general wage increases, premium
pay for Saturday work, and an increase in shift
premium pay. For the first time, companyfinanced pensions were provided for by the con­
tracts. In addition, a company-paid insurance
plan was incorporated, under which the benefits
were greater than those provided under a previous
plan. The former plan, maintained chiefly by
employee contributions, had not been included in
the previous contracts. Other changes included
adjustments in many job rates and a further nar­
rowing of the wage differentials between men and
women and between North and South.
On December 11, 1952 the Executive Director
of the WSB approved the general wage increase,
various job-rate increases, and increases for
1 See M onthly Labor Beview, June 1949 (p. 650), October 1950 (p. 474),
and January 1952 (p. 56), or Wage Chronology Series 4, No. 6.

A—General Wage Changes
Effective date

Provision

Dec. 17, 1951 (by agreements of Dec.
21, 1951, MCBW, and Feb. 2, 1952,
UPWA).
Feb. 18, 1952 (by above agreements).

6 cents an hour general
increase.

Mar. 2, 1952 (by above agreements) _.
Oct. 27, 1952 (by agreements of Oct.
26, 1952, UhWA, and Nov. 19,
1952, MCBW).

4 cents an hour general
increase.

Applications, exceptions, and other related matters
Approved by Wage Stabilization Board Jan. 9, 1952.
Reduction in the sex differentials from a range of 5 to
11)4 cents an hour to a range of 5 to 9 cents.1 Ap­
proved by Wage Stabilization Board.
Certain interplant job-rate inequity adjustments to
achieve uniform rating.2 Approved by Wage Stabili­
zation Board.
Further adjustments of job-rate inequities.3 In addition
to job-rate increases, the following adjustments were
made in specific plants:
P la n t location

Increase (cents
per hour)
M en
W om en

Atlanta, Ga________________________
3)4
1)4
Birmingham, Ala___________________
3)4
1)4
Fort Worth, Tex____________________
2)4
2)4
Lexington, K y_____________________
3)4
\y2
Memphis, Tenn____________________
3)4
1)4
Oklahoma City, Okla____________ _
2V2
2)4
Tifton, Ga_________________________
3)4
3)4
Reduction of the sex differential to a uniform 5 cents.
Approved Dec. 11, 1952, by the Executive Director
of the Wage Stabilization Board.
1 The average hourly increase resulting from the application of the reduction
in sex diflerentials amounted to about 2 cents per woman worker
2 In the plants represented by the U PW A , the decision of the Wage Stabili­
zation Board allowed 1,600 inequity adjustments and in M CBW units 250
adjustments. The order counted each increase in grade for a job, amounting
to a rise of 3)4 cents an hour (the spread between pay grades), toward the total
permissible inequity adjustments and limited the increase in pay for any one
job to 15 cents an hour. For example, the parties examining a given job in 10
plants might find that in 6 of the plants the job was classified 5 labor grades
above the common labor rate, in 1 it was 6 and in 3 it was less than 5 grades


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

above the common labor rate—grades 4, 3 and 2. With this distribution it
would be assumed that grade 5 was the proper classification. Accordingly,
grade 4 wTould receive 3)4 cents an hour or a 1-grade increase; grade 3 would
receive 7 cents or a 2-grade increase; and grade 2 would receive 10)4 cents or a
3-grade increase. Therefore, the number of job classifications times the
number of employees in each job adjusted would have to be offset against the
total permissible (1,850). No workers were to be down-graded.
2 In the plants represented by the UPW A the maximum allowance was
1,200 3)4-cent adjustments and in M CBW units, 350 adjustments.

841

WÄGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 6

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

women employees which were designed to reduce
the sex differential to a uniform 5 cents. On
December 18, the remaining contract changes were
approved by the Wage Stabilization Committee
which had replaced the tripartite Board. Most of
the provisions became effective as of October 27,
1952. The new UPWA contract, dated October

26, 1952, runs to September 1, 1954; the MCBW
agreement, dated November 19, 1952, runs to
August 11, 1954. Both provide for wage reopen­
ings every 6 months.
This supplement reports the changes negotiated
subsequent to February 1951, the first reopening
date of the 1950 contracts.

B—Male Unskilled (Common Labor) Hourly Wage Rates, 1951 and 1952
Effective date

Effective date
Plant location

Plant location

Union

Union
Feb. 9, Dec. 17, Oct. 27,
1952
1951
1951

Feb. 9, Dec. 17, Oct. 27,
1951
1952
1951
Baltimore, Md
__
Chicago, 111
Columbus^ Ohio_____
Denver, Colo _ ____
East St. Louis, 111
Eau Claire, Wis
Indianapolis, Ind __
Jersey Citv, N. J
Kansas City, Kans___
Mason Citv, Iowa__
Milwaukee, Wis
_ -_
New York, N. Y_
North Bergen, N. J ___
Peoria, 111
__ _
Pittsburgh, Pa_
Reading Pa
Sioux City, Towa
South Omaha, Nebr__
South St. Joseph, Mo__
South St. Paul, Minn__

MCBW $1. 350 $1. 410 $1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
MCBW 1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. .450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
MCBW
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
MCBW
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
MCBW 1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450

Los Angeles, Calif
Portland, Oreg _
San Francisco, Calif__
Spokane, Wash__

UPWA $1. 450 $1. 510 $1. 550
MCBW
1. 400 1. 460 1. 500
MCBW
1. 490 1. 550 1. 590
MCBW
1. 400 1. 460 1. 500
410
410
410
410

1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450

1. 325
1. 325

1. 385
1. 385

1. 450
1. 450

1. 325

1. 385

1. 450

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

UPWA
Fargo, JN. Dak__ _
Grand Forks, N. Dak_ UPWA
MCBW
Green Bay, Wis_ _
MCBW
Huron, S. Dak_____

1.
1.
1.
1.

UPWA
Fort Worth, Tex_
Fort Worth (Ratcliff), UPWA
Tex.
Oklahoma City, Okla__ UPWA
Atlanta, Ga
__ __
Birmingham, Ala_
Memphis, Tenn______
Lexington, K y_______
Tifton, Ga

UPWA
UPWA
MCBW
MCBW
UPWA

350
350
350
350

290
290
270
270
235

1.
1.
1.
1.

350
350
330
330
295

425
425
405
405
370

C—Related Wage Practices
Effective date

Provision

Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Guaranteed Time
4 hours of nonworked holiday to be credited
against 36-hour guarantee. Previously, en­
tire 8 hours was charged.

Oct. 27, 1952 (MCBW and
UPWA).

Shift Premium Pay
Oct. 27, 1952 (MCBW and
UPWA).

Increased to 9 cents an h o u r __ ____

Premium Pay for Saturday Work
Jan. 3, 1953 (MCBW and
UPWA).


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Time and one-half paid for work on
Saturday as such.

Not applicable to continuous shift operations.

842

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 7

MONTHLY LABOR

C—Related Wage Practices—Continued
Effective date

Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Provision
Jury Service

Feb. 2, 1952 (MCBW and
UPWA).

Employees with 6 or more months’
service paid difference between jury
service pay and amount that would
have been earned on the job.

Payment limited to 15 days in each calendar
year. Maximum not applicable to employees
(1) receiving greater pay for jury service
than would have been earned at work, (2)
absent because of layoffs, vacation, sickness,
or injury or other excused leave of absence,
or (3) with an unexcused absence on the last
scheduled workday prior to service, or (4)
failing to report for work on days when
service on jury was not required.

Insurance Plan
Oct. 27, 1952 (MCBW and
UPWA).

Company-paid plan established, pro­
viding:
Sickness Benefits—For men, $12 a week
for 13 weeks; for women, $9 a week
for 13 weeks;
Life Insurance—For men, $2,200; for
women, $1,900.

Replaced former plan, not included in con­
tracts, under which employees paid 35 cents
a week (men) and 25 cents a week (women).
Former life insurance policies paid $1,200 for
men and $900 for women.

Pension Plan
Aug. 1 1952 (MCBW and
UPWA).

Company-paid plan established, pro­
viding :
Minimum Payment— $105 a month,
including Social Security, for em­
ployees retiring at age 65 with 25
years’ service.

Wage Chronology No. 7:
Swift and Co.
Supplement No. 3
S u p p l e m e n t a l a g r e e m e n t s were signed in De­
cember 1951, January 1952, and February 1952,
by Swift & Co. and three unions—the United
Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWACIO), the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butcher Workmen of North America (MCBWAFL), and the National Brotherhood of Packing­
house Workers (NBPW-Ind.). These supple­
mental agreements followed wage reopenings, in
accordance with provisions in the master agree­
ments, which took place in August 1951. Included
in the new agreements were a general wage


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Retirement at age 65 to be voluntary; employ­
ees could work longer if they wished.

increase and wage adjustments to correct certain
interplant inequities and to narrow the wage
differential between men and women. Approval
of the increases, effective on the dates agreed
upon by the parties, was granted by the Wage
Stabilization Board.
Each of these reopenings was the second of
three provided for in the 1950 master agreements.
In the spring of 1952, the unions announced that
in place of the third reopenings, scheduled to take
place between February 11 and the termination
date of the agreements, August 11, 1952,1 they
preferred to terminate contracts at the latter date
and negotiate new agreements. Discussions began
as early as July 15, 1952, and continued, with
several interruptions, until late October.
1
See M onthly Labor Review, July 1949 (p. 25), October 1950 (p. 474),
January 1952 (p. 57), or Wage Chronology Series 4, No. 7.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

843

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 7

During November, the company and the three
unions signed 2-year agreements providing for
three wage reopenings and for one reopening to
allow negotiations for a hospitalization program.
Both the MCBW agreement, executed November
7, 1952, and the NBPW contract, signed Novem­
ber 13, 1952, expire August 11, 1954; the UPWA
contract, signed November 20, 1952, runs to
September 1 , 1954.
On December 11, 1952, the Executive Director
of the Wage Stabilization Board approved the
general wage change, various job-rate increases,

and increases for women employees designed to
reduce the sex differential to a uniform 5 cents.
The remaining changes were approved by the
Wage Stabilization Committee on December 18,
1952. All provisions except those for Saturday
premium pay and the improved method of com­
puting vacation pay, which became effective
January 5 and January 1, 1953, respectively,
were made retroactive to October 27, 1952.
This supplement reports the changes negotiated
subsequent to February 1951, the first reopening
date of the 1950 contracts.

A—General Wage Changes
Effective date

Provision

Dec. 17, 1951 (by MCBW agree- 6 cents an hour inment of Dec. 21, 1951; NBPW
crease,
agreement of Jan. 4, 1952; and
UP WA agreement of Feb. 7, 1952).
Jan. 21, 1952 (by agreements of ___________________
above dates).
Feb. 18, 1952 (by agreements of ____________________
above dates).

Mar. 3, 1952 (by agreements of
above dates).

Oct. 27, 1952 (by MCBW agreement of Nov. 7, 1952; NBPW
agreement of Nov. 13, 1952; and
UPWA agreement of Nov. 21,
1952).

4 cents an hour increase,

Applications, exceptions, and other related matters
Approved by Wage Stabilization Board, January 1952.
In addition 193 inequity adjustments, averaging 2 cents
an hour, were made, and all rates at the Hallstead, Pa.,
plant were increased 4 cents an hour.
2.5 cents an hour increase to women employees at Ogden,
Utah, and to all employees at Scottsbluff, Nebr.
The WSB approved increases in unskilled women’s rates
so that the spread between unskilled rates for men and
women was reduced from a range of 5 to 14 cents an
hour to a range of 5 to 9 cents an hour. At plants
where the women’s unskilled rate was increased, the
same cents-an-hour increase was made in all women’s
rates. These increases averaged 0.23 cents an hour
for the entire work force.
The WSB, by an amended resolution of Feb. 29, 1952,
approved interplant inequity adjustments which were
to be negotiated by the parties. The adjustments were
limited to a total of 1,120 and equaled one-eighth of a
cent, averaged over all employees.1 These were in
addition to the 193 2-cent adjustments approved in
January 1952.
Further adjustment of job-rate inequities.2 Reduction ofsex differential to a uniform 5 cents.
In addition to job-rate increases, the following adjust­
ments were made in specific plants:
P la n t location

Atlanta, Ga_______________________
Dallas, Tex____ __________________
Fort Worth, Tex___________________
Lake Charles, La___________________
Montgomery, Ala______________________
Moultrie, Ga______________________
Nashville, Tenn_______________________
Ocala, Fla________________________
San Antonio, Tex__________________

Increase
{cents an hour )
M en
W omen

3%

2)4
2)4
3)4
3)4

3)4

3)4

3)4
3)4

1)4
2)4
2)jj
3)4
2)4

1
1)4
___
3)4

1)4 cents increase in 10 authorized rates in South San
Francisco plant to place these rates at their proper levels
and to reduce intraplant inequities.
Approved Dec. 11, 1952, by the Executive Director of
WSB.
1
In the plants represented by the U PW A , the W SB decision allowed a 5 plants and 3 grades above at 4 plants. W ith this distribution, grade 5
was the prevailing bracket rate. Accordingly, the job would be increased
maximum of 800 inequity adjustments, in M CBW units 150, and in N B PW
at plants paying less than grade 5, if recommended by the union and agreed
170. The order counted each job in each department at each plant which
to by the company. The number of workers was disregarded, and no jobs
was increased 1 labor grade (3.5 cents an hour) toward the total of 1,120.
were down-graded.
For example, the parties examining a given job in 22 plants might find that
2 Adjustments in U PW A plants totaled 900; in M C BW plants, 205; in
the job was paid 5 labor grades above the common labor rate at 12 plants
N B PW plants, 375.
(more than one-half the total), 6 grades above at 1 plant, 4 grades above at


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 7

844

B—Male Unskilled (Common Labor) Hourly Wage Rates, 1951 and 1952
Effective date

Effective date
Plant location

Union

Plant location

Union

Feb. 9, Dec. 17, Oct. 27,
1952
1951
1951

Feb. 9, Dec. 17, Oct. 27,
1952
1951
1951
Baltimore, Md
Cambridge, Mass__ __
Chicago, 111
Chicago, 111. (Ham­
mond Plant) __
Chicago, 111. (Omaha
Packing Co.) _
Cleveland, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio . . _
Denver, Colo
Des Moines, Iowa
Hallstead, Pa
Harrisburg, Pa
Harrison-Kearny, N. J_
Jersey City, N. J
Kansas City, Kans___
Milwaukee, Wis _ _
National City, 111
Newark, N. J
New Haven, Conn____
New York, N. Y _____
Omaha, Nebr _
St. Louis, M o.
St. Paul, Minn_
Sioux Citv, Iowa
Somerville, Mass
South St. Joseph, M o..
Springfield, Mass _

MCBW $1. 350 $1. 410 $1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA
1. 350 1. 410 1. 450
UPWA

1. 350

1. 410

1. 450

NBPW
UPWA
MCBW
UPWA
UPWA
UPWA
NBPW
UPWA
UPWA
NBPW
UPWA
MCBW
UPWA
UPWA
UPWA
UPWA
NBPW
UPWA
UPWA
UPWA
NBPW
UPWA

1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 225
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350
1. 350

1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 325
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410
1. 410

1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 365
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450
1. 450

UPWA $1. 450 $1. 510 $1. 550
Los Angeles, Calif
1. 400 1. 460 1. 500
North Portland, Oreg_. MCBW
South San Francisco,
MCBW
1. 490 1. 550 1. 590
Calif
UPWA
1. 400 1. 460 1. 500
Spokane, Wash__
Evansville, Ind
Marshalltown, Iowa__
Ogden, U tah. _ _
Perry, Iowa _
Scottsbluff, Nebr
Watertown, S. Dak___
Winona Minn

UPWA
NBPW
MCBW
UPWA
MCBW
MCBW
UPWA

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

350 1. 410
350 1. 410
350 1. 410
350 1. 410
325 1 1. 385
350 1. 410
350 1. 410

Dallas, Tex
Fort Worth, Tex
Atlanta, Ga__
Lake Charles, La

UPWA
NBPW
UPWA
MCBWNBPW
MCBW
UPWA
MCBW
MCBW
NBPW

1.
1.
1.
1.

325
325
290
21o

1.
1.
1.
1.

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

235
235
290
200
265

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

Montgomery, Ala
Moultrie, Ga__ __
Nashville, Tenn
Ocala, Fla
San Antonio, Tex__

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

450
450
450
450
450
450
450

385
385
350
275

1.
1.
1.
1.

450
450
425
350

295
295
350
260
325

1.
1.
1.
1.
1.

370
370
425
335
400

1 Rate increased to $1.41, effective Jan. 14, 1952. Approved by W SB on March 20, 1952.

C—Related Wage Practices
Effective date

Applications, exceptions, and
other related matters

Provision
Guaranteed Time

Oct. 27, 1952__

4 hours of nonworked holiday to be credited
against 36-hour guarantee. Previously en­
tire 8 hours was charged.

_________

Shift Premium Pay
Oct. 27, 1952______________

Increased to 9 cents an hour_______

_

Premium Pay for Saturday Work
Jan. 5, 1953 __

_____

Time and one-half paid for work on
Saturday as such.

Not applicable to continuous shift operations.

Paid Vacations
Jan. 1, 1953.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Method of computing vacation pay changed.
Based on average earnings in 12 weeks pre­
ceding vacation (excluding holiday and other
weeks in which employee did not work all
scheduled hours).

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

845

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 9

C—Related Wage Practices-—Continued
Applications, exceptions, and
other related matters

Provision

Effective date

Jury Duty
Feb. 2, 1952

_________

Employees with 6 or more months’
service paid difference between jury
service pay and amount that would
have been earned on the job.

Wage Chronology No. 9:
General Motors Corp.
Supplement No. 2

5-vear collective-bargaining agreement1 be­
tween the General Motors Corp. and the United
Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement
Workers of America (CIO) was amended on May
22, 1953. A step toward amending the basic
agreement was taken early in September 1952.
At that time, the union’s National General
Motors Council adopted a resolution calling for a
5-cent limit on the cost-of-living allowance, with
amounts over this allowance to be incorporated in
basic rates; an increase in the annual-improve­
ment-factor adjustment from 4 to 5 cents an hour;
increases in pension payments; elimination of
compulsory retirement; and substantial wage in­
creases for employees in skilled occupations.2
The union argued that long-term agreements
could not remain static in a rapidly changing
economy and that the situation had changed
sufficiently since the adoption of the contract to
require its revision.
The 1950 agreement provided that “the contin­
uance of the cost-of-living allowance is dependent
upon the availability of the official monthly BLS
Consumers’ Price Index in its present form and
calculated on the same basis as the Index for April
1950, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties.”
The “Old Series” Consumer Price Index, on
which the cost-of-living allowance was based, was
scheduled to be discontinued by the Bureau of
T he


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Company policy included in agreement for first
time.

Labor Statistics after December 1952. In order
to provide additional time for parties using the Old
Series index in their contracts to negotiate on the
matter, the President of the United States, in
January 1953, ordered continuation of that index
through June.
In February, the company made an offer which
the union considered inadequate. The offer pro­
vided for inclusion of 14 cents of the 25-cent costof-living allowance in basic wage rates, an increase
of 5 cents an hour for skilled workers, and a
method of conversion to the Revised Consumer
Price Index. Later in the month, at its inter­
national convention, the UAW-CIO adopted
5 basic demands, 4 of which were substantially
similar to the original council resolutions. The
fifth related to conversion to the revised index and
called for protection of the workers’ “full equity”
in the transition from the “Old Series” CPI.
On May 22, the new agreement was reached.
It provided for (1) incorporation of all but 5 cents
of the cost-of-living allowance into the basic rates,
(2) an increase in the annual improvement adjust­
ment to 5 cents, (3) conversion to the Revised
Consumer Price Index in determining cost-ofliving adjustments, and (4) additional increases to
workers in specified skilled occupations. Under
the new escalator provisions, adjustments above
the present 5-cent allowance take place at the rate
of 1 cent for each 0.6-point change; adjustments
below an index of 113.6 (the lower limit of the
5-cent allowance) will take place at the rate of 1
cent for each 0.68-point change in the index. The
1 See M onthly Labor Review, September 1949 (p. 259) and April 1951 (p.
405), or Wage Chronology Series 4, No. 9.
2 Similar action was taken by the presidents of the Chrysler local unions and
by the National Ford Council.

846

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 9

B. Convert the 1.14 “interval” from the 1935-39 to the 1947-49 base, using the
BLS “conversion factor” of 167.2:
1.144-167.2X100 =0.68
C. Convert an “interval” of 1.00 from the 1935-39 to the 1947-49 base, using
the BLS “conversion factor” of 167.2:
1.004-167.2X100=0.6
S tep Three— Construction of cost-of-living allowance table on 1947-49 base:

A. Build the table on a 1947-49 base below the 240 bracket by subtracting
.68 from 113.6 thus:
Lower
lim it

=

113.6

N?
V*-

112.92
• .68

=

112.9

=

230

112.24

=

112.2

=

220

B. Build the table on a 1947-49 base above the 240 bracket by adding .6 to
113.6 thus:
Lower
lim it

+
+

113.6

=

S tep One— M em orandum of understanding form ula:

A. Compute the difference between the “ Old Series” index, plus 0.8 rent
bias, for December 15,1952. and the “Interim Adjusted” index for the same
date:
“ Old Series” Index plus 0.8=191.8
“ Interim Adjusted” Index=190.7
Difference

=

1.1

B. 191.8 falls in the 240 bracket in the present cost-of-living allowance table
Therefore, adjust the lower limit of the 240 bracket by the amount of the
disparity between the two December 15, 1952, indexes:
Lower limit 240 bracket (present table) =191.0
Minus disparity in Dec. 15, 1952, indexes = 1.1
Adjusted 240 bracket

=189.9

S tep Two— Conversion to 1947-49 base period:

A. Convert the lower limit of the adjusted 240 bracket from the 1935-39 to the
1947-49 base, using the BLS “conversion factor” of 167.2:


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

189.94-167.2X100 = 113.6

Cost-of-living
allowance

113.6

=

240

114.2

=

250

114.8

=

260

.6

114.2
.6
114.8

=

Step Four—A d ju s t table to compensate for 190 of cost-of-living allowance added
to base rates:
Old cost- N ew costof-living of-living
N ew table
allowance allowance (.1947-49=100)

170
180
190
200
210
220
230

None
10
20
30
40

Old cost- N ew costof-living of-living
N ew table
allowance allowance ( 1947-49=100 )

110.8 or less
110.9-111.5
111.6-112.1
112.2-112.8
112.9-113. 5

240
250
260
270
280
290

50
60
70
80
90
100

113.6-114.1
114. 2-114. 7
114. 8-115.3
115.4-115.9
116.0-116. 5
116.6-117.1

S u m m a ry of conversion of General M otors’ cost-of-living allowance table
based on December IB, 1952, indexes

Lower lim its of brackets
[1935-39 base]
3
The following memorandum, released by the company, outlines the
method used to convert from the “ Old Series” index to the “ Revised” index:

Cost-of-living
allowance

113.6
.68

II

different rate of adjustment below the 113.6 index
level was adopted to allow any changes below the
present cost-of-living allowance of 5 cents to occur
at the rate at which the allowance was originally
determined under the Old Series index.3 [The new
ratio (1 cent for each 0.6-point change) provides
roughly a 1 percent change in hourly pay for each
1 percent change in the price index.] The first
adjustment based on the new index was made
effective with the payroll period beginning June 1,
and was related to the decline in the official index
between December and April instead of the
greater decline in the “Old Series” index between
January and April.4 By this provision, the agree­
ment prevented General Motors workers from
taking a 2-cent wage cut that would have been due
under the old index on June 1. Movements of the
index do not affect basic wage rates.
Shortly after the culmination of negotiations
with General Motors, the UAW signed similar
agreements with Ford and Chrysler. In addition,
these agreements liberalized pensions and pro­
vided further increases in basic rates of pay for
patternmakers and die sinkers. Subsequently,
General Motors and the UAW signed other sup­
plementary contracts increasing benefits under
the existing pension plan and giving the additional
increase to these skilled workers. All the supple­
mentary agreements, like the Ford and Chrysler
settlements, also liberalized vacation eligibility
provisions for workers automatically retired or
retired by disability.

MONTHLY LABOR

Old costof-living
allowance

After deducting
Old
1.1 (Memo of
“ table” Understanding
formula)

N ew “table”
after shifting
to 1947-49 base
and adding 190
to base rates

N ew costof-living
allowance

170
183.0
181.9
180
184.1
183.0
190
185.3
184.2
110.8 or less
None
200
186.4
185.3
110.9-111.5
10
210
187.5
186.4
111.6-112.1
20
220
188.7
187.6
112.2-112.8
30
230
189.8
188.7
112.9-113.5
40
240
191.0
189.9
113.6-114.1
50
250
192.1
191.0
114.2-114.7
60
260
193.2
192.1
114.8-115.3
70
270
194.4
193.3
115.4-115.9
80
280
195.5
194.4
116.0-116. 5
90
290
196.7
195.6
116.6-117.1
100
land so forth, with 10 adjustment for each 0.6 change in the Revised
Consumer Price Index]
4
In other words, the conversion from the Old to the Official Index was
effectuated in December rather than at a later month.

847

WÄGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 9

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

A—General Wage Changes 1
Applications, exceptions, and other related matters

Provision

Effective date
May 29, 1952 2_______________
June 2, 1952--------------------------Sept. 1, 1952_________________
Dec. 1, 1952__________________
Apr. 13, 1953_________________

4
1
3
1
1

cents an hour increase_____
cent an hour decrease_____
cents an hour increase_____
cent an hour decrease_____
cent an hour decrease_____

May 29, 1953 (by supplemental
agreement of May 22, 1953).
June 1, 1953 (by agreement of
above date).

5 cents an hour increase_____
No change in cost-of-living
allowance.

June 1, 1953 (by supplemental
agreement of May 28).
i General wage changes are construed as upward or downward adjustments
that affect an entire establishment, bargaining unit, or substantial group of
employees at one time. N ot included within the term are adjustments in
individual rates (automatic progression, etc.) and minor adjustments in
wage structure (such as changes in classification or incentive rates) that do
not have an immediate effect on the general plant wage level.
The changes listed above were the major adjustments in wage rates made
during the period covered. Because of fluctuations in earnings occasioned by
nongeneral changes, incentive earnings, payment of premium and special
rates, and other factors, the total of the general changes listed will not neces­
sarily coincide with the change in average hourly earnings over the period.

Annual-improvement-factor adjustment.
Quarterly adjustment of cost-of-living allowance.
Quarterly adjustment of cost-of-living allowance.
Quarterly adjustment of cost-of-living allowance.
Adjustment made at this date because of late release
of Old Series CPI.
The new agreement increased the annual-improve­
ment-factor adjustment by 1 cent an hour.
The new agreement incorporated 19 cents of the
previous 24 cents into the basic wage structure,
provided for quarterly adjustments of the cost-ofliving allowance in accordance with the movement
of the Revised CPI. When the CPI falls below
110.9 the cost-of-living allowance will be 0.3
Skilled occupations (including patternmakers and die
sinkers) in the maintenance, tool and die, pattern,
and engineering departments received an additional
10 cents an hour.
Patternmakers and die sinkers received an additional
10 cents an hour (total additional increases, 20 cents).

1 Cost-of-living allowances and annual-improvement-factor adjustments
from M ay 29, 1951, through Mar. 3, 1952, were not published in the M onthly
Labor Review but were included in Supplement No. 1, Series 4, No. 9.
They were: M ay 29, 1951, 4 cents; June 4, 1951, 3 cents; Sept. 3, 1951, 1 cent;
Dec. 3, 1951, 1 cent; and Mar. 3, 1952, 3 cents.
> The new agreement provided that future cost-of-living adjustments be
based on the Revised Series Consumer Price Index (1947-49=100), as indi­
cated in the table at end of footnote 3, preceding pag*.

B—Hiring and Minimum Job Rates (Automobile Plants in Michigan) 1
Effective date
Mar. 3, 1952 __ ____________
May 29, 1952______________
June 2, 1952___ __ _
Sept. 1, 1952__

Minimum
job rate 2

Hiring
rate 2
$1.
1.
1.
1.

50
54
53
56

$1.
1.
1.
1.

60
64
63
66

i Applicable to the lowest-paid classification in all General Motors plants in
Detroit and in the company’s automobile manufacturing plants elsewhere in
Michigan.

Effective date
Dec.
Apr.
May
June

1, 1952________________
13, 1953_______________
29, 1953______________
1, 1953
_
____

Hiring
rate 2
$1.
1.
1.
1.

Minimum
job rate 2
55
54
59
59

$1.
1.
1.
1.

65
64
69
69

2 includes cost-of-living allowance.

C—Related Wage Practices
Effective date

Provision

Applications, exceptions, and other
related matters

Pension Plan
June 1, 1953 (by agreement
of May 28, 1953).


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Changed to: Company pension— $1.75 a month
for each year of service up to 30 years—to be
supplemented by Federal Social Security bene­
fits. Maximum pension $137.50 a month in­
cluding primary Federal benefits. Minimum
monthly pension, including primary Federal
benefits, remains at $4 for each year to a maxi­
mum of 25. Changes apply to workers already
retired.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance
available to retired employees at
group rates.

848

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 22

Wage Chronology No. 22:
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.1

MONTHLY LABOR

negotiations as to wording. Its terms provided for
general wage increases retroactive to April 1 and
September 1, 1952, as well as for higher shift
differentials, holiday pay, meal allowances, and
other changes.
The contract permitted a reopening 30 days
before March 1, 1953, for negotiating wage adjust­
ments equal to any change in the cost of living
from September 1, 1952, to March 1, 1953. How­
ever, since there was only a slight decrease in the
Consumer Piice Index during the specified period,
no changes in basic rates of pay were made.
The 1943-51 wage chronology is made current
by the following additions.

Supplement No. 1
T h e w a g e a g r e e m e n t between the Pacific Gas &
Electric Co. and the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers (AFL),in effect since January1951, expired on March 31, 1952. The agreement
covering working conditions, effective September
1, 1950, expired August 31, 1952.
Prior to expiration of the latter agreement, a
tentative “basis of settlement” was signed on
August 15, 1952. This understanding provided
the basic conditions of the new agreement, which
was signed on November 17, 1952, after extended

1 See Monthly Labor Review, May 1952 (p. 534), or Wage Chronology
Series 4, No. 22. However, the supplement contains minor differences from
data originally published.

A—General Wage Changes
Effective date

Provision

Apr. 1, 1952 (by agreement of
Nov. 17, 1952).
July 1, 1952 (by agreement of
Nov. 17, 1952).

Applications, exceptions, and other related matters

9 cents an hours increase

__ 'j The average of the April and July increases, over
the entire unit, was 12 cents an hour. In lieu of
> retroactivity covering the period Apr. 1 to Aug.
1.5 percent increase__ ______
31, the parties agreed to a lump-sum payment
J of $95.46 for each employee affected.

B—Weekly Rates for Selected Occupations at Specified Dates, 1951-52
Effective date, minimum and maxi­
mum rates and progression sched­
ules 2
Department and job title 1

April 1,1951
M ini­
mum

Maxi­
mum

July 1,1952
M ini­
mum

See footnotes at end of table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Department and job title 1

Maxi­
mum

Operation, maintenance, and construc­
tion

Cable sp lic e rs-____ ______________
Cable splicers, apprentice-. _ ______
Carpenters, finish____ ______ _______
Clerks, field (water collection). __ _
Collectors (collector and meter read­
ers)___ -_ _____________________
Communications men B-_- _____
Communications men C____ ______ _
Com m unication station-attendantservicemen. _________ ________
Electricians.- - _______ __________
Electricians, apprentice; linemen, apprentice-- _________ ___________
Electrical technicians (communications men A )____ _____ ______ ____
Firemen; gas makers________________
Fitters_______________________ _____
Fitters, apprentice__________________
Fitters, pipe ________ ____________
Groundmeri, helper_________________
Instrument men _________________
Laborers..- . .
_________ _

Effective date, minimum and maxi­
mum rates and progression sched­
ules 2
April 1,1951

July 1, 1952

M ini­
mum

Maxi­
mum

M ini­
mum

Maxi­
mum

$66.72
69.31

3$ 84. 75
3 82.83
2 j80.12
2 171.89

$71.37
74.00

3 $89. 68
3 87. 73
2 j84. 98
2 Ì76. 62

Operation, maintenance, and construc­
tion —Continued

60. 99

3 $90. 31
k85. 08
3 80.12
« 80. 96

73.33
71.89
61.50

2 Î79.09
4 77. 32
4 69. 31

75. 89

7 89. 04
3 84. 75

$66. 72

66.72
80.12
68.04
62. 76

3

2 380.12
4 84. 75
3 74. 57
3 75. 62
2 172. 94
3 75. 62
2 f66. 72
3 80.12
3 61. 50

$71. 37
65. 56

3 $95.32
2 k90.01
3 84. 98
4 85. 83
(5)
(6)
(6)
3 89.68

71.37
91.96
72. 71
67. 36

2j 84. 98
8 94. 50
3 79.34
3 80.41
2 f77. 69
3 80. 41
2 171.37
(8)
3 66.08

Linemen; metermen, senior
M achinists ________________
Maehinist.s, apprent.ip,p
M ain t en an ce m pn (strpat 1i gh t.I
Mechanics (electric maintenance de­
partment)
Mechanics (gas street department)
Mechanics, service (gas service depart­
m ent)___ . . . . . ________
Mpt.p.rmp,n ( electric d epartm pn t.)
Metermen, apprentice; engineers,
building__ _________________ _____
Meter readers
Operators, auxiliary____ . . . . .
Operators, elevator, general office____
Operators, first:
East Bay D iv is io n Station C and Newark
Station G
Contra Costa and 8 other stations
5 other stations_________ ____

3 77.32
3 80. 12
78. 70

2 e80.12
3 76.17

66. 72 2 g74. 75
61.83 2d72.83
73 38 2 Ì76.17
57.03 2 f62.26

3 82.13
3 84. 98
83.53

2 e84. 98
3 80. 97

71.37

2 g79.34
(5)
2 Ì80. 97
2 f66. 85

78.13
61. 54

3 86.13
3 82. 83

3 91. 08
3 87. 73

3 81. 72
3 80.12

3 86. 60
3 84. 98

849

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 22

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

B—Weekly Rates for Selected Occupations at Specified Dates, 1951-52—Continued
Effective date, minimum and maxi­
mum rates and progression sched­
ules 2
Department and job title 1

April 1,1951
M ini­
mum

Maxi­
mum

Effective date, minimum and maxi­
mum rates and progression sched­
ules 2
Department and job title i

July 1, 1952
Maxi­
mum

Mini­
mum

O peration, maintenance, and construc­
tion —Continued

Operation, maintenance, and construc­
tion —Continued

Operators, first—Continued
North Bay Division—
Cordelia, Fulton, Mendocino,
Ignacio____________ ___
Petaluma, Santa Rosa...........
San Francisco DivisionStation A....... .................... .
Other stations:
Group 1_____ _______
Group 2______________
Group 3_______ ____
Group 4______________
San Jose DivisionStation B............................
Station A________________
Davenport...............................
Steam plants—
Sacramento, Station B_____
Humboldt, Donbass III____
Humboldt, Station B_........ .
Three-shift hydro plants and
three-shift substations10—
Schedule I_____ __________
Schedule II..___ __________
Schedule III_____________
Schedule IV............................

Operators, first assistant (East Bay
and San Francisco D ivisions)______
Patrolmen (electric department)_____
Repairmen, appliance____ ____ _____
Repairmen, boiler (L. P. steam plants)
Repairmen, meter (gas departm ent).. .
Servicemen (gas department)________
Servicemen (water department)_____
Servicemen, senior (electric depart­
m ent)_____________________ ______
Tenders, turbine 12____________ _____
Testers, pump, junior_______________
Troublemen_______________ ________
Welders___________ ________- ..............
Welders, certified___________________

$82. 83
86.13

3 $80.12
3 73.47

3 $84.98
3 78.23

3 86.13

3 91. 08

3 82. 83
3 81. 72
3 80.12
3 76.17

3 87. 73
3 86.60
3 84. 98
3 80. 97

3 81.72
3 80.12
3 73. 47

3 86. 60
3 84.98
3 78.23

3 82. 83
2 i86.13
2191.13

3 87.73
2 191. 08
2Ì96.15

$87. 73
91. 08

3 81.72
3 80.12
3 76.17
3 73. 44

3 86. 60
3 84. 98
3 80. 97
3 78.20

April 1,1951

July 1,1952

Mini­
mum

Maxi­
mum

M ini­
mum

Maxi­
mum

$67. 71
69.31
75. 62
73. 76

3 $83.37
H 83. 93
2g77.32
2 178.92
2 e75. 62
3 77. 32
2 c74. 57

$72.38
74. 00
80. 41
78. 52

3 $88.27
h 88. 84
2 g82.13
2 Ì83. 76
2 e80.41
3 82.13
2 c79.34

69.31
78. 92
65.34
77. 32

3 87.34
2 181. 72
4 72. 83
3 87.23
2 f81. 72
3 82. 83

74. 00
83. 76
69. 97
82.13

3 92.30
2 186. 60
1 77. 58
3 92.19
2 f86. 60
3 87.73

Gas S u p p ly and Control D epartm ent

Electricians.
Engineers, compressor..........
Inspectors, m eter.....................
Inspectors, meter, apprentice.
Janitors_____________ ____ _
Maintenance men__________
Mechanics-welders_________
Repairmen, line_______ ____
Repairmen, plant (A )______

1 All job titles and department assignments are as of Sept. 1, 1950, and
Jan. 1,1951, wage schedules.
2 Progression from the minimum to the maximum follows the schedules
listed below as shown in basic chronology, except that those not applicable
are excluded:
(c) 1 year, 2 years.
(d) 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years.
(e) end of 1 year.
(f) 6 months, 1 year.
(g) 6 months, 1 year, 18 months.
(i) end of 6 months.
(j) 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years, 30 months.
(k) 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years, 30 months, 3 years.
3 Single rate established, nonprogression.
4 Range, nonprogression schedule.
3
On Jan. 30, 1952, the N L R B ruled that “collectors and meter readers”
were clerical employees. Workers in these occupations therefore were trans­
ferred to the clerical unit.
}M,6 Employees in these occupations were reclassified to “electricians” and
“electricians, apprentice.”
7
Spread, nonprogression. Workers received the designated station rate
plus a percentage of the difference between the rate of the station and the
maximum of the spread. When 50 percent or more of time during the pre­
vious year was spent on service work, employees received maximum of spread.

78.70
76. 99
66.11

62. 76
71.89
68. 04
68. 04

3 84. 75
2g85. 57
2 f81. 72
2g75.62
2 i64.08
2 f77. 32
3 81. 72
2 f71. 89
2 f71.89

82.53
81. 80
70. 76
67.36
76. 62
72. 71
72. 71

3 89. 68
2 g90. 51
2 f86. 60
2 g80. 41
2 i68. 70
2f 82.13
3 86.60
2 f76. 62
2 f76. 62

8 Classification “ Communications men A ” abolished N ov. 21, 1951; em­
ployees reclassified in occupation shown.
9 Reclassified in accordance with Mar. 29,1952, ruling by N L R B that these
workers in gas plants were professional employees. On Sept. 1, 1952, steam
plant instrument men were transferred to the professional category.
i° Schedules are applicable to various localities as follow s:
S c h e d u l e J—Big Bend, Drum, Electra, Pits No. 1, 3, 5, Stanislaus, Tiger
Creek, Bakersfield, Brighton, Herndon, M idway, Salinas, Santa Maria,
Shasta, Stockton-Station A, Vaca-Dixon.
S c h e d u l e II— Balch, Bucks Creek, Caribou, Coleman, Cresta, D e Sabla,
El Dorado, Kerckhoff, Rock Creek, Spaulding, Salt Springs, A. G.
Wishon, Wise, Bellota, California Avenue, Chico, Davis, M arysville,
Wilson, Panoche.
S c h e d u l e I II — American River, Centerville, Folsom, Kern Canyon, San
Joaquin 1-A, 2, 3, and Crane Valley, Volta, Ashlan Avenue, Kern Oil, Tesla,
Piedra, Sanger.
S c h e d u l e I V — Alta, Angels, Inskip, Kilare, Lime Saddle, Melones, Mur­
phys, Corcoran, Fresno-Station “ O,” Merced, San Luis Obispo, Weedpatch.
11 Spread rate paid at particular location based on percentage of time on
work in various classifications but not less than $2.50 a week above minimum
after 1 year’s continuous service. The maximum rate was paid if 50 percent
of time was spent on higher classification work.
12 Stations A, C, and Oleum.

C—Related Wage Practices
Provision

Effective date

Applications, exceptions, and other related matters
Shift Premium Pay

Sept. 1, 1952________

Changed to: 6 cents an hour for
second shift; 9 cents for 3d shift.
Overtime Pay

Sept. 1, 1952____

Added: Time and one-half for work
outside of regular hours on work­
days.

See footnotes at end of table.
263 6 3 4 — 53------- 3


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

The agreement now also provides time and one-half for
work (1) in excess of 40 hours a week, (2) in excess of
8 hours a day, and (3) on nonworkdays.1

850

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 22

MONTHLY LABOR

C—Related Wage Practices—Continued
Effective date

Provision

Applications, exceptions, and other related matters
Holiday Pay

Added: In addition to holiday pay,
employees paid time and
for all
prearranged or emergency work on
holidays falling on workdays when
employees were not scheduled to
work.

Sept. 1, 1952 __

Shift employees 2 allowed holiday off with pay at discre­
tion of company.
Dual classification: 3
Holiday rate of employee on predetermined schedule
based on rate of work assigned.
Rate for employee not on predetermined schedule based
on classification held on day preceding holiday.

Vacation Pay
Sept. 1, 1952_________

Holiday falling on workday in vacation period not
counted as vacation. Holiday paid for as such and
company could either permit employee to take an
additional day or pay for the day.
Paid Sick Leave

Sept. 1, 1952_ _

___

Dual classification: 3
Pay of employee on predetermined recurring schedule
based on rate received on day preceding absence of 1
day; if absence extended over 2 or more days, pay
based on average straight-time earnings for preceding
4 calendar weeks.
Holiday falling on a workday during sick leave not
counted as leave but paid for as a holiday.
Reporting Time Pay

Sept. 1, 1952______ _

Dual classification: 3
Employee not required to work because of weather paid
(a) regular rate if on predetermined recurring sched­
ule or (6) rate paid day prior to absence if not on pre­
determined recurring schedule unless classification of
work was determined prior to inclement weather, in
which case that rate would be paid.
Employee instructed to report for prearranged work on
nonworkday or holiday guaranteed minimum of 2
hours’ pay, including travel time, at time and onehalf, if given less than 19 hours’ notice not to report.
Meals and Mealtime Pay

Sept. 1, 1952

______

Added: Time and one-half during
regular lunch period and time to
eat meal provided employees re­
quired to advance or delay regular
lunch period for more than 1 hour.

1 The first 3 provisions have been included in the parties’ agreements since
1944 or even earlier. In the basic chronology tne item entered as effective
M ay 26, 1944, should have been noted as an addition rather than a change.
* Shift employees on continuous operations are assigned to duty on one or


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Applicable only under specified conditions.
Shift employees: Paid up to $1.50 when not practical for
company to provide meals.

more 8-hour work schedules. Such employees include watch engineers,
operators, and guards.
3 Dual classification employees are those regularly assigned to two or more
classifications.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 86

Wage Chronology No. 36:
A. T. & T.—Long Lines
Department, 1940-52
T h e Long Lines Department of the American
Telephone & Telegraph Co. is a separate operating
unit of the Bell System, which, together with 21
associated Bell Cos. and several thousand inde­
pendent telephone companies, furnishes telephone
service throughout the United States and to for­
eign countries and ships at sea. It operates toll
lines and related equipment for communication
between and through the territories of the asso­
ciated and independent companies. In addition
to long distance telephone service, it furnishes
various other communication services, including
teletypewriter exchange service, private line tele­
phone and telegraph service, radio and television
program transmission service, and other special
services.
To operate this network, Long Lines employs
approximately 23,000 workers in about 390 local­
ities in the United States. Approximately 100
gangs are maintained to construct and repair long
distance telephone lines. Despite this wide dis­
persal, about one-third of the Department’s em­
ployees are concentrated in the New York metro­
politan area, the site of its headquarters.
Long Lines operations are allocated among func­
tional groups, i. e., accounting, commercial, engi­
neering, legal, personnel, plant, publicity, traffic,
and treasury. Traffic employees who operate the
equipment necessary to establish connections be­
tween various localities, and plant employees who
construct, install and maintain the operating facil­
ities, are the most important numerically. Cleri­
cal employees, who also constitute a large group,
are assigned throughout the various functional
groups.
Employees assigned to various departments are
not only classified by occupation, which determines
rate range of pay, but also by group, which deter­
mines how related wage practices are applied.
With certain exceptions, all employees are classi­
fied as Group A or B depending on their function.1
In essence, Group A encompasses the employees
engaged in construction, maintenance, and switch­
board operation, and Group B includes those em­
ployees performing administrative office and

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851

house-service work. All administrative office em­
ployees, composed of clerks and employees per­
forming desk work, are classified in the B group.
Plant central office employees are classified in both
groups; craftsmen, such as equipment maintenancemen and testboardmen, are in Group A, while
caretakers and report clerks are in Group B. All
plant outside maintenance men are classed A and
plant gang employees are A or B, depending on
occupation. Traffic central office employees, com­
posed almost entirely of operators and service
assistants, are in group A.
Salary rates and progression from the minimum
or starting rate are governed by well-defined
schedules. These schedules explicitly set forth
the amount of time required to move from one
step in the progression to another as well as the
weekly salary increase accompanying each step
upward. Movement up the scale is practically
automatic. Salary rates vary by locality.
Working practices vary among and within de­
partments by occupational group and length of
service. These practices, which were established
departmentally before and for some time after the
first collective-bargaining agreement, are also
highly detailed. In some cases, working practices,
such as holidays observed, also vary by locality.
Since 1919, the year in which the Association of
Employees of the Long Lines Department was
formed, Long Lines employees have been repre­
sented by a number of labor organizations. The
Association of Employees of the Long Lines De­
partment, functioning through an employee repre­
sentation plan, became an independent labor
organization in 1935. In 1939, the employees
organized the Federation of Long Lines Telephone
Workers which was renamed American Union of
Telephone Workers in 1946. During the various
phases of its existence, the union was unaffiliated,
affiliated with the National Federation of Tele­
phone Workers,2 and affiliated with the Telephone
Workers Organizing Committee (CIO). The
National Federation of Telephone Workers was
renamed Communications Workers of America in
1947 and voted to affiliate with the CIO in 1949,
at which time the Long Lines section of TWOC
(CIO) was made Division No. 10 of the national
1 Classification of employees into groups had its origin prior to the enact­
ment of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Group A employees, during that
period, received overtime pay; Group B employees did not.
2 An independent confederation of autonomous local unions organized in

1938.

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 86

852

union. In April 1951, the organizational structure
of CWA was changed to the two-level form of
locals and international, and in May of that year,
CWA-CIO was substituted for Division No. 10 as
the bargaining agent for Long Lines employees.
The first collective-bargaining contract between
the Long Lines Department and the Federation of
Long Lines Telephone Workers became effective in
October 1940. By its terms, the existing wage
schedules and working practices were made a part
of the agreement. Provisions reported under that
date do not, therefore, necessarily indicate changes
in prior conditions of employment. This chro­
nology traces changes affecting full-time employees
since 1940 as provided by collective-bargaining

MONTHLY LABOR

agreements and by directive orders of the National
War Labor Board. The chronology deals with
changes affecting traffic, plant, and clerical em­
ployees. Practices relating solely to employees in
the commercial, engineering, accounting, legal,
personnel, publicity, and treasury departments
are not reported. The working practices for
these employees, however, closely follow those
governing administrative office employees.
The 1952 agreement between the company and
the CWA-CIO contained no wage reopening.
I t went into effect on July 5, 1952, and was
terminated on July 5, 1953, upon the required
60 days’ notice. Negotiations for a new agree­
ment were in progress during July 1953.

A—General Wage Changes 1
Provision

Effective date
Oct. 23, 1940.

No general wage change.

Jan. 1, 1941, to Oct.
8, 1942.

Increases ranging from $0 to $7 a week, de­
pending upon location and position on ap­
plicable schedule. Starting rates in­
creased up to $3.

Oct. 9, 1942.

Increases ranging from $2 to $7 a week, de­
pending upon location and position on
applicable schedule.

Applications, exceptions, and other related matters
First rate progression schedules adopted for plant craftsmen, to become effective Jan. 1,
1941. Eligible craftsmen to be placed on schedule by that date and granted increases
as required to reach the proper rates for the employees’ period of service.
Minimum and maximum weekly rates increased and the progressions for some job classi­
fications were accelerated. The rate ranges were increased as follows, depending upon
location:
W eekly rates
M in im u m M axim u m

Plant central office craftsmen________________________________ $0 to $2
$2 to $7
$2 to $3
Traffic operators____________________________________________ $0 to $3
Adoption of wage-rate schedules for outside plant construction forces during this period
resulted in increases for these employees up to $2 a week. Acceleration of rate of progres­
sion permitted increases for operators up to $4 a week.
Retroactive directive orders of the National War Labor Board, dated July 2 and Oct. 6,
1943. Minimum and maximum weekly wage rates were raised and some progression
wage schedules were shortenened. The rate ranges were increased as follows, depending
upon location:
W eekly rates
M in im u m M axim u m

Oct. 10, 1942, to
Sept. 6, 1945.

Increases ranging from $2 to $11 a week, de­
pending upon location and position on
applicable schedule.

Plant central office craftsmen------------ -------------- ---------------------- $2 to $3
$1 to$5
Traffic operators____________________________________________ $2 to $6
$2 to$4
Plant construction forces------------------------- ------------------------------ $0
$2
All plant construction force employees on the payr oll received an increase of $2 a week.
Acceleration of rate of progression permitted increases up to $7.
Minimum and maximum weekly wage rates were raised and some progression schedules
for job classifications were shortened. The rate ranges of these employees were in­
creased as follows, depending upon location:
Weekly rates
M in im u m M axim u m

Plant central office craftsmen 2 _______________________________ $2 to $6
Traffic operators 3 5__________________________________________ $3 to $7
Plant construction forces_____________________________________ $0
Outside maintenance forces.------------- ------------ ---------------- ------ - $2 to $6
Clerical forces 4 s____________________________________________ $2 to $7

Sept. 7, 1945.

$2 to $8
$3 to $8
$0to$3
$2 to $11
$2 to $7

Rate progression schedule adopted Aug. 4,1944, for outside maintenance forces and clerical
employees with increases retroactive to 1943 for employees at many locations. The
effect of these increases was reflected in increases in minimum and maximum rates
shown above. Plant construction forces received a minimum increase of $2 a week,
except that resulting rate did not exceed applicable maximums.
Increases ranging from $3 to $5 a week to N ew York traffic department employees. In­
creases were as follows:
W eekly rates
M in im u m M axim um

Traffic operators.......................................................................................
Clerical forces.....................................................- ............................. - .........

See footnotes at end of table.


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$5
$3

$5
53

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

853

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 86

A—General Wage Changes 1—Continued
Provision

Effective date
Feb. 1,1946

Increases ranging from $5 to $9 a week, de­
pending upon location and position on
applicable schedule.

Applications, exceptions, and other related matters
Minimum and maximum weekly rates were raised and some progression schedules for
job classifications were shortened. The rate ranges of these employees were increased
as follows:
Weekly rates
M in im u m M a x im u m

M ay 9, 1947.

Increases ranging from $2 to $5 a week, de­
pending upon location and position on
applicable schedule.

June 2, 1948....................................................................................................
Oct. 15, 1948......... .

Increases ranging from $0 to $7 a week, de­
pending upon location and position on
applicable schedule.

$5 to $9
$8
Plant central office craftsmen.
$7
$5 to $6
Traffic operators___________
$5
$6 to"$8
Plant construction forces____
$5 to $7
$7 to'$8
Outside maintenance forces. _
$5 to $7
$5 to $7
Clerical forces............................
New York traffic operators and clerical employees received increases which, when added
to increases previously given on Sept. 7,1945, conformed to the above pattern.
Acceleration of rate of progression permitted increases up to $15 a week.
The rate ranges of employees covered by wage schedules were increased as follows:
W eekly rates
M in im u m M axim u m

$3 to $5
$2 to $4
Plant central office craftsmen.
$2 to $4
$4 to $5
Traffic operators_______ ____
$4
Plant construction forces____
$4
$2 to $4
$3 to $4
Outside maintenance forces..
$2 to $4
$2 to $4
Clerical forces................. ..........
Increases ranging up to $4 were made at certain points. The increases affected about
5 percent of the employees. Traffic operators were not involved.
The rate ranges of employees covered by wage schedules were increased as follows:
Weekly rates
M in im u m M axim u m

Plant central office craftsmen.
Traffic operators___________
Plant construction forces____
Outside maintenance forces..
Clerical forces._____________
July 5, 1950.

July 5, 1951

July 5, 1952.

Increases ranging from $3 to $13 a week, de­
pending upon location and position on
applicable schedule.

Increases ranging irom $2.50 to $10 a week,
depending upon location and position on
applicable schedule.

.
.
.

$1 to $3
$1 to $4
$2
$1 to $4
$0 to $4

$2
$3
$2
$1
$1

to $7
to $4
to$4
to $7
to $6

Reclassification of approximately 100 towns in addition to the adjustment of specific
wage schedules in some areas.
Schedules were reduced to 6)4 years. Prior to this, most employees had been assigned
to 8-year wage schedules and a few employees had been assigned to 7-year wage schedules.
Increases affected about 50 percent of the employees and ranged up to $11 a week.
The rate ranges of employees covered by wage schedules were increased as follows:
Weekly rates
M in im u m M a x im u m

Plant central office craftsmen............................... .............................. . . .
$3 to $5 $6 to $11)4
Traffic operators______ ________________ ____ _______________ _
$3 to $5 $4)4 to $5)4
Plant construction forces________________________________ _____ $3 to $3)4
$5 to $7)4
Outside maintenance forces______________ ____ ___________ ____ $3 to $6 $5)4 to $13
Clerical forces__________________________________________ _____ $3 to $5)4
$3 to $9
The rate ranges of employees covered by wage schedules were increased as follows:
Weekly rates
M in im u m M axim um

Plant central office craftsmen________________________________
Traffic operators________ __________________________________
Plant construction forces____________________________________
Outside maintenance forces.____ ____________________________
Clerical forces_______________________________ ______ ________
1 General wage changes are construed as upward or downward changes
that affect an entire establishment, bargaining unit, or substantial group of
employees at one time. N ot included within the term and therefore omitted
from this tabulation are adjustments in individual rates (promotions, merit
increases, etc.) and minor adjustments in wage structure (such as changes
in specific classification rates) that do not have an immediate and noticeable
effect on the general wage level.
The general changes listed above were the major changes affecting salary
rates during the period covered by this chronology. Because of the omission
of nongeneral changes, the payment of premium and special rates and other
factors, the total of the general wage changes listed will not necessarily coin­
cide with the movement of straight-time average hourly earnings.
2 Included was an increase of $4 in the minimum and $2 in the maximum
rate of the schedule for plant central office craftsmen in N ew York City,
by N W LB directive order, effective Dec. 26, 1944.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

.

$3 to $5
$2)4 to $4
$3)4 to $4
$3 to $7
$2)4 to $5

$4 to $10
$3 to $4
$4)4 to $5
$3J4 to $9
$2)4 to $0

3 Included was an increase of $3 in the minimum and maximum rates of
traffic operators’ schedules in New York City, $5 in Louisville, K y., and $5
in Memphis, Tenn., effective Jan. 10,1944, by N W LB directive order.
* Included was an increase of $3 in the minimum rate and $2 in the maxi­
mum rate of the schedules for certain traffic clerical employees in N ew York
City, Louisville, K y., and Memphis, Tenn., effective Jan. 10, 1944, by
N W L B directive order. Included also in this period was an increase of $3
in minimum and $2 in maximum rates of the schedule for certain plant
clerical employees of N ew York City, effective Dec. 26, 1944, by N W LB
directive order.
8 Included was an increase of $3 in the minimum and maximum rates of
traffic operators’ schedules and $3 in clerical schedules in Detroit, effective
Mar. 28, 1943, by N W LB directive order.

854

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 36

MONTHLY LABOR

B—Related Wage Practices 1
I — T raffic

a nd

P la nt E m ployees

Provisions
Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Effective date
Traffic

Plant

Overtime Pay
Oct. 20, 1940.

Group A : Time and one-half for work—

Central office, Group A : Time and one-half

Traffic, Group A : Applicable evening and

(1) In excess of a normal tour or a basic work­
week.
(2) In excess of scheduled half tour.
(3) On nonscheduled days________________
(4) On second assigned tour if interval be­
tween tours was less than 10 hours.

for work—
(1) On a scheduled day outside of scheduled
or shifted normal tour or half tour
(2) On a nonscheduled d a y ..............................
(3) On a second scheduled tour if interval
worked since previous scheduled or shifted
tour was less than 8 hours.
(4) On a scheduled tour if required to work
16 continuous hours immediately preced­
ing start of tour.

night differentials included in computing
overtime rate after 40 hours.
P la n t, Group A : Overtime rate included
night differentials.

Outside maintenance and gang, Group A :

M ay 9, 1947.

July 5, 1950.

Time and one-half for work—
(1) In excess of 8 hours on a scheduled day. _
(2) On a nonscheduled day.
Group B: If work time was 40 hours or less i . a calendar week, compensatory time off or
straight-time pay for work—
(1) In excess of an assigned tour.
(2) In excess of a basic workweek.
(3) On a nonscheduled day.
Time and one-half for hours in excess of 40 in a calendar week.
Changed to—
Central Office, Group A : Time and one-half
paid for time worked on a second scheduled
tour if interval worked since previous
scheduled or shifted tour was less than 10
hours.
Changed back to 8 hours.______ _________

Night Premium Pay
Oct. 20, 1940

Group A : Specified differentials, ranging

Central office, Group A : Differentials ranging

from $0.85 to $3 a week, paid for work after
7 p. m. Time and one-half for scheduled
tour starting or ending betwen 2 a. m.
and 6 a. m. provided there was no
night differential or other premium.

from $2 to $5 paid employees on regular
night tour. Time and one-half for sched­
uled tour starting or ending between 2 a. m.
and 6 a. m. provided there was no night
differential or other premium.
Outside maintenance and gang, Group A :

Specified differential paid employees on
regular night tour, otherwise time and onehalf for hours worked between 6 p. m. and
6 a. m.
Apr. 6, 1941..

Traffic, Group A , Chicago: Increased night

M ay 18, 1941

G roup A , Cincinnati: Increased
night differential from $2 to $2.50.
P la n t, Group A : Night differential in­
cluded in dismissal pay for night-tour
employees.

differential from $2.50 to $3.
Traffic,

Jan. 30, 1942.

Added—
Group A : Night differential of $6 a week
paid employees with basic weekly rates
of $60 or more.

Dec. 5, 1943

Group A : Night differential $3 a week for

Traffic, Group A : $3 for 8-hour tour at

7-hour tours, $4 a week for 8-hour tours.
Jan. 1, 1946.

Philadelphia which includes additional
60-minute paid relief.
Added—
Group A : Night differential of $7 a week

Apr. 7, 1946...............

Uniform evening and night differentials
established, ranging from $2 to $4 a week,
depending on tour worked.

See footnotes on p. 860.


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paid employees with basic weekly rates
of $70 or more.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

855

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 86
B — R e l a t e d W a g e P r a c t i c e s 1— C o n t i n u e d
I— T r affic

and

P la n t E m ployees — C o n t i n u e d

Provisions

Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Effective date
Traffic

Plant

Night Premium Pay —
June 2, 1948-_ _____

C o n tin u e d

Added—
Group A : Night differential of $8 a week paid

July 5, 1950-_____

Added—
G roup B: Evening and night differential for
Traffic Control Bureau clerical employees.

June 27, 1951______

employees with basic weekly rates of $80
or more.
Added—
Group B: Night differential for cleaners at
New York City and cleaners and janitors
at Philadelphia.
Added—
Night differential of $9 a week paid eligible
employees with basic weekly rates of $90
or more.

Added—
G rou p B , A dm inistrative: W eekly differen­

tials for Treasury Department night
teller at N ew York City.

Traffic, Group A : At Detroit night differ­

July 5, 1952________

ential increased to $5 a week.

Premium Pay for Sunday and Saturday Work
Oet. 20, 1940_______

Group A : One-half time extra for scheduled Sunday work.

Time and one-half for nonscheduled Sunday work. No premium pay for Saturday as such.
G roup B : No premium pay for Sunday or Saturday as such.

Traffic, G roup A : In N ew York and Chi­

cago, straight time extra paid for sched­
uled Sundays worked at the request of
management if a previous Sunday had
been worked in same calendar month.

Holiday Pay
Oct. 20, 1940_______
excused with regular pay.
Group A : If worked, double time for time wit lin normal tour. Time and one-half for work
in excess of normal tour on holidays.
Group B : If worked, compensatory time off or time extra pay for time worked.
Group A : Special payment of $2 for working Group A : Minimum of 3 hours paid when
called to work on excused holiday.
evening or night tours on Dec. 24 and Dec.
31 under specified combinations of Christ­
mas and N ew Year’s assignments.

6 states had only the 5 holidays listed
below.
Holidays were: N ew Year’s Day, Inde­
pendence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving
D ay, Christmas Day, and at least 1
other.2

Mar. 30,1941— _

Traffic, Group A , M in n eapolis: Special $2

Jan. 30, 1942______

payment replaced by double time for
work on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 after 7 p. m.
to end of latest ending evening tour.
At least 1 holiday added in 14 States, in­
cluding the 6 formerly having only 5 holi­
days. At subsequent dates 8 States added
1 more holiday.2

Jan. 1, 1945______
on 3 of preceding 8 Saturdays.
Traffic,

M ay 18, 1945 -

Group

A,

except

M inneapolis:

Special payment for work on Dec. 24 and
Dec. 31 changed to $2 for nightwork
starting at 10 p. m. or later and evening
work ending after 7 p. m. but not later
than 10 p. m.; $3 for nightwork starting
before 10 p. m. and evening work ending
after 10 p. m.
M ay 9, 1947-______

Traffic, Group A , and P la n t central office, Gr oup A : Double time for work in excess of a

normal tour on a holiday.
Group A : Double-time payment plan at

Group A : Minimum of half-day’s worktime

Minneapolis for evening and night work
on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 extended to all
offices.

paid when called to work on excused
holiday.
Group A , Outside maintenance and gangs:

Double time for work in excess of a normal
tour on a holiday.

See footnotes on p. 860.


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856

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 36

MONTHLY LABOR

B—Related Wage Practices 1—Continued
I— T r a f f i c

and

P la n t E m plo yees—

Continued

Provisions

Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Effective date
Traffic

Plant

Vacation Pay
Oct. 20,1940..............

1 week for 1 year, 2 weeks for 2 years. 3 weeks for 15 years of credited service_____________ . .

Oct. 29, 1944..........

Added:—
Employee to receive 1 extra day’s pay if 12 or more full tours were worked In excess of the
established workweeks during first 17 of 18 weeks immediately preceding vacation, onehalf day’s pay if 6 but less than 12 full tours were worked.
Additional day off with pay allowed for scheduled holiday occurring during vacation-----------

M ay 9, 1947...............

Evening and night differentials included in
vacation pay.
T r a f f i c : Special vacation provisions for first
year’s service were applicable in certain
Traffic cities as follows: Memphis and
Louisville—1 week’s pay after 8 months’
service; Boston—2 weeks’ pay after 6
months’ service.

Boston, Louisville, and Memphis Traffic
group changed to same practice as other
Traffic offices.

Severance Pay (Lay-Offs)
Oct. 20,1940.

1 week’s severance pay for each completed year of net credited service up to and including 7
years, plus 2 weeks’ pay for each completed year of net credited service for 8 but less than 15
years, plus 3 weeks’ pay for each completed year of net credited service for 15 or more
years.

M ay 9, 1947..

Changed to:—
1 w eek’s severance pay for each completed year of net credited service up to and including 4
years, plus 2 weeks’ pay for each completed year of net credited service for 5 but less than 9
years, plus 4 weeks’ pay for each completed year of net credited service for 9 or more
years.

Pay computed at regular weekly rate in
effect at date of lay-off. Reengaged
employee to repay excess received over
that which would have been earned at
straight-time rates if retained. Payment
to employee reengaged and laid off re­
duced by any previous severance pay.
Laid-off employees also receive vacation
payments due.

Termination Pay (Dismissals)
Oct. 20, 1940.

1 week’s termination pay in lieu of notice to employees with less than 1 year’s service, 2
weeks’ pay for 1 or more years’ service.

In-Charge Pay
Oct. 20, 1940_______ N o provisionffor in-charge pay____________

M ay 9, 1947_______

A : $1.40 a day paid employees as­
signed to duties of absent supervisor for 4
or more hours during a tour.

G roup

See footnotes on p. 860.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$3 a week paid em­
ployees assigned limited responsibility for
directing the work of 1 or more employees,
or office responsibility for 4 hours in each
of 3 or more of 5 daily tours, or when as­
signed duties of supervisor for 1 week or
more.
C e n t r a l o f f i c e , G r o u p A : Changed to $1.40 a
day for any day assigned in-charge respon­
sibilities for 4 hours or more.
C e n t r a l o ffic e , G r o u p A :

Employees not entitled to payment if dis­
missed (1) at expiration of leave of ab­
sence or period of disability payments,
(2) because of becoming ineligible for
employment under company rules, or
(3) for misconduct. A dismissed em­
ployee was defined as one terminated for
any reason other than transfer, resigna­
tion, layoff, retirement, or death.
Dismissed employees received vacation
payments due.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 86

857

B— Related Wage Practices 1—Continued
I— T r a f f i c

and

P l a n t E m p l o y e e s —Continued

Provisions
Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Effective date
Traffic

Plant

Travel-Time Pay
Oct. 20, 1940_______
business. Except for Plant gang emplojTes, time spent outside of normal working
day not paid for if sleeping car or other first class accommodations were provided.
Gang employees: Straight-time rate paid up
to 8 hours for travel time between 6 a. m.
and 6 p. m. on scheduled days. Straighttime rate paid for all travel time between
6 a. m. and 6 p. m. on nonscheduled days,
Sundays, and holidays. Time spent out­
side of 6 a. m. to 6 p. m. not paid for if
sleeping car accommodations were pro­
vided.
M ay 9, 1947..... .........

P la n t, gang employees: Time traveling in
excess of H hour to and Vi hour from the

job, and time traveling in the course of
the day’s work considered travel time
on company business.
P la n t, outside maintenance employees: Time
traveling from the storeioom to the job,
from one part of the job to another and
from the job to the storeroom considered
travel time on company business.
P la n t, gang employees: Changed to—
Time traveling from the reporting place to
the job, from one part of the job to another
and from the job back to the reporting
place considered travel time on company
business.

Jury Duty or Summons Pay
Oct. 20, 1940_______

Leave ■with full pay granted employees serving on juries or appearing in court as witnesses in
compliance with subpena.

Voting Pay

Oct. 20, 1940_______

June 2, 1948,

_

Employee whose tour did not give oppor­ N o provision for voting pay.
tunity to vote excused with pay for reason­
able period.
Emnlovee elieihle to vote and rennestinv le ave excused with nav for reasonable neriod.
Company to specify period of leave.

Meal Allowance
Oct. 20, 1940

_____

June 25, 1944______

Reasonable meal expense paid if time worked in excess of a normal tour extended over a
meal period. N o pay for meal period.

N ot applicable to Traffic, Group A, outside
maintenance and gang employees.
2 hours in excess of a normal tour defined
as work beyond normal meal period.

Group B : Reasonable meal expense paid on nonscheduled workdays if employee was com­

pensated for such work by equivalent time oft.

Pensions
1940 (plan estab­
lished
1913).

Jan.

1,

Pension provided for employees as follows: (1) men at 60 and women at 55, with at least 20
years’ service; (2) men 55 to 59 and women 50 to 54, with 25 years’ service; (3) any employee
with 30 years’ service not meeting above age requirements; and (4) any employee with 15
years’ service who became totally disabled in the course of employment. Pensions pay­
able monthly with annual amount equal to 1 percent of average annual pay during 10
years preceding retirement or the 10 consecutive years during which employee received
highest wages, multiplied by years of service. Financed entirely by company.
Minimum pensions established at $30 a month except in case of retirement for disability with
less than 20 years’ service.

S e e f o o tn o te s o n p . 860.
2 6 3 6 3 4 — 5 3 --------<t


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Retirement in each case (except men at age
60 and over, women at age 55 and over,
with 20 years’ service) could be at the dis­
cretion of the committee administering
the plan.
Pension amounts might be reduced where a
related pension was payable under the
law. In the case of primary insurance
amount under Social Security the deduc­
tion was one-half the primary insurance
amount or as explained under revision for
N ov. 16, 1949. N ot covered by union
agreement.

858

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 86

MONTHLY LABOR

B—Related Wage Practices 1—Continued
I — T r a f f ic a n d P l a n t E m p l o y e e s —

Continued

Provisions
Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters

Effective date
Traffic

Plant

Pensions— Continued
Jan. 1, 1946M ay 9, 1947.

Minimum pension increased to $50 a month less one-half of primary Social Security benefits.
Contract with the union to the effect that
company would not make changes in
plan that would reduce or diminish bene­
fits or privileges without consent of union.

N ov. 16, 1949............ Minimum pension, including primary insurance benefits of Federal Social Security, in­
creased to $100 a month after age 65 and $75 a month before that age.
Sept. 1, 1952----------- Minimum pensions of $100 per month for retired persons 65 years of age or over to include
only Y i the primary insurance amount of Federal Social Security instead of the full pri­
mary insurance amount.

The benefit involved would he fixed by the
current law for those in retirement as of
Aug. 31, 1952, and by the law in effect at
time of retirement for those retiring after
that date.

Accident, Sickness, and Death Benefits
1940 (plan estab­
lished Jan. 1,
1913).

Jan. 1, 1946-

Company to provide the following benefits:
Accident benefits: Employees physically disabled by reason of accidental injury to receive

(1) total disability—full pay for 13 weeks, half pay for the remainder of the disability but
not more than $20 a week aftei 6 years, (2) partial disability—100 percent of loss in earning
capacity for 13 weeks, 50 percent for remainder of disability. Employees with 15 or more
years’ service to receive full pay for periods specified under sickness benefits for employees
with like years of service;
Sickness benefits: Employees disabled because of sickness, including injuries not arising in
the course of employment, to receive, beginning eighth day, (1) 2 and under 5 years’ serv­
ic e -fu ll pay for 4 weeks, half pay for 9 weeks; (2) 5 and under 10 years’ service—full pay for
13 weeks, half pay for 13 weeks; (3) 10 and under 15 years’ service—full pay for 13 weeks,
half pay for 39 weeks; (4) 15 and under 20 years’ service— full pay for 26 weeks, half pay
for 26 weeks; (5) 20 and under 25 years’ service—full pay for 39 weeks, half pay for 13 weeks;
(6) 25 years’ service or more—full pay for 52 weeks;
Death benefits: (Payable to qualified beneficiaries.) In event of death resulting from acci­
dent arising out of and occurring in course of employment, 3 years’ wages, but not to ex­
ceed $5,000, or amount of benefit payable if death resulted from sickness when greater,
plus $250 burial expense. In event of death resulting from sickness, 4 months’ pay for
employees with 2 to 3 years’ service and an additional month’s pay for each added year
of service, up to 10; minimum benefit, $250;
Benefits in case of death of pensioner: N ot to exceed amount which could have been paid under
sickness-death benefits. Payments at discretion of company.
Changed to—
Death benefits: Maximum of $5,000 where applicable increased to $10,000 in event of death
resulting from accident occurring in course of employment;
Benefits in case of death of pensioner: Mandatory payments to qualified beneficiaries (1) if
death occurred within 1 year of retirement—maximum sickness-death benefit possible if
pensionei had died on last day of active service, (2) if death occurred more than 1 year after
retirement—not less than maximum sickness-death benefits reduced by either 10 percent
for each full year elapsed since retirement or not less than the amount of annual pension,
whichever was greater. Could be supplemented at company discretion with amounts not
to exceed payments under (1). If no qualified beneficiaries, payments at company dis­
cretion to extent necessary for $250 burial expense plus cost of last illness.

M ay 9,1947.

See footnotes on p. 860.


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Amount of payment might be changed if
disability changed from total to partial
or from partial to total. N o payments
for partial disability to be made after 6
years of disability paym ents. N ot
covered by union agreement.
All benefit payments to be reduced where a
law required payment of related benefits.

Contract with union to the effect that com­
pany would not make changes in plan
that would reduce or diminish benefits or
privileges without consent of union.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 86

859

B—Related Wage Practices 1—Continued
II —
Effective date

T r a f f ic E m p l o y e e s O n l y

Provisions

Applications, exceptions, and other related matters

Sick Leave
Oct. 20,1940________

Pay for scheduled days during the first 7 calendar days of the
absence because of illness or quarantine. (Pay treatment for
illness beyond 7th day provided under plan for accident, sick­
ness, and death benefits.)

Jan.30, 1942______ _____
Jan. 1,1945_________

Group A : Employees with (1) 2 but less than 10 years’ service—

payment to start on 3d scheduled day of absence, (2) 10 or
more years’ service—payment to start on 1st day of absence.
Regulations provided certain exceptions in Cleveland.
Group B: Employees ordinarily paid for scheduled days during
first 7 calendar days of an absence period.
Group A : Pay formula not applicable to scheduled days in
excess of 5 in a calendar week.
Group A : Pay formula applicable to 6 scheduled days in a cal­
endar week if 3 or more days in that week were worked.

Pay f o r Absence because o f Death in Family
Oct. 20,1940________ _____

Up to 5 paid days of absence allowed because of death in im ­
mediate family. Up to 3 paid days of absence allowed to
attend funeral of distant relative or close friend.

Immediate family defined as parents, husband, wife, children,
brothers, sisters, or any relative living in same house with
employee.

Absence Pay
Oct. 20,1940 _____________

Group A : Employee absent from work after reporting for duty

paid for tour if part of a session is worked. If such absence
was due to personal illness or injury on the job paid for the
full tour.
Group B: Employee ordinarily paid for full tour if part of full
tour is worked.

III —
Effective date

P lant E m ployees Only

Provisions

Group A : 3 hours’ minimum pay guaranteed for each period of

work during nonscheduled periods not continuous with any
other period of work time or during an excused holiday.

M ay 9, 1947.

June 2, 1948.

See footnotes on p. 860.


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Applications, exceptions, and other related matters

Minimum Call-Out Pay

1
Oct. 20, 1940.

Provisions not applicable for absence occasioned by union activ­
ity unless meeting with management.

Changed to one-half tour minimum
pay for the first call to work on nonscheduled days or excused
holidays. 3-hour minimum at all other times.
Outside maintenance and gang, Group A : H tour minimum
pay for the first call to work on nonscheduled days or ex­
cused holidays. 3-hour minimum at all other times.
Central office, G ioup A :

When more than one period of call-out time was involved and
where the interval between periods of call-out time was less
than 3 hours, total compensation for all such periods not
to exceed that which the employee would have received
had the employee worked continuously from start of first
to end of last such period as a single call-out.

MONTHLY LABOR

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 86

860

B—Related Wage Practices—Continued 1
III— P la n t E m ployees O n l y — Continued
Applications, exceptions, and other related matters

Provisions

Effective date

Shifted Tour Pay
o ffic e , C r o u p A :
Time and one-half paid for hours
worked up to a normal tour, when employee’s tour was
shifted without adequate notice to start 4 hours before or
after starting time of his scheduled tour, or when the em­
ployee worked a scheduled tour which started 4 or more
hours before or after the starting time of his basic tour.

Oct. 20, 1940_______________

C e n tr a l

Board and Lodging
g a n g e m p l o y e e s : Board and lodging normally fur­
nished by company. Amounts ranging from $7 to $13 a week,
depending upon the employees’ weekly basic rate, con­
sidered as the equivalent of board and lodging and paid to
employee when board and lodging was not furnished.

Oct. 20, 1940 ______________

N o n lo c a te d

Jan. 30, 1942_______________

Changed to:
Employee’s basic rates adjusted to include a wage equivalent
for board and lodging and a $7-a-week deduction for board and
lodging was made from the employee’s basic rate when board
and lodging was furnished by the company.

Nonlocated employees were workers normally working at
different locations as required by company.

1 The last enfry unde*- each item represents the most recent change.
2 Additional holidays authorized are as follows:
Holidays in effect July 5,1952

Holidays in effect July 5,1952
Area

A labam a..
Arizona
A rkansas___
California____________
Colorado..
Connecticut______
. _
Delaware
D istrict of Columbia
F lo r id a .______
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois__
Indiana
Iowa . .
Kansas
K entucky. _____.
6 counties
Louisiana:
Except New Orleans
and Lafayette.
N ew Orleans and
Lafayette.
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts________
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

W ash­ Me­
ing­
mo­
ton’s
B ir th ­ rial
Day
day

x
X

x

X

X

X

X

X

x
x
x
x
x

X

Area
Other

Nebraska___________
N e v a d a ..
N ew Hampshire .
Admission Day.

X

x
x

X

Ar­
mi­
stice
Day

x
x

X

x
x
x

Co­
lum­
bus
Day

X

x

Inauguration Day.

x

X

x
x
x

X

x
J e ffe r so n D a v i s ’
Birthday.
Mardi Gras.
x

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
X
X

x

x
X

X

Co­
lum­
bus
Day

Ar­
mi­
stice
Day

X

X
X

X
X

N ew Jersey ________

X

X

N ew M exico.. . .
N ew York ..

X

X

X

X

X

Patriots’ Day.
Patriots’ D ay.

North Carolina___ .
North Dakota____
Ohio. _ _ _ _ _
_____
Oklahoma___
Oregon.
_ _ ...
___
Pennsylvania _
Rhode Island._______ _
South C arolina__
South D akota.
T en n essee__. . . .
Texas . . _______ _ . .
El Paso County
only.
U tah_________________
Vermont__ . . . . .
Virginia.. _______
Washington___________
West Virginia_________
W is c o n sin .._____ __
Wyoming . _

Other

X

X
X

Good Friday.

X

x

W ash­ Me­
ing­
mo­
ton’s
rial
B ir th ­ Day
day

Fast and Election
Days.
Lincoln’s Birthday
and Election Day.

X
X

X

Lincoln’s Birthday
and Election Day.

X
X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
X

X

X

X

X
X

X

Victory Day.

X
X
X
X

X
X

X

X
X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
X
X

X
X

Pioneer Day.
Battle of Benning
ton Day.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

WAGE CHRONOLOGY NO. 36

861

C—Weekly Salary Rates for Plant Central Office Craftsmen, Selected Dates
Jan. 1941
City 1

Mini­
mum

Maxi­
mum

Boston_____________ $18.00 $58.00
Buffalo______________ 18.00 54.00
Chicago,___ _________ 18.00 58.00
Cincinnati___________ 17.00 50.00
Cleveland___________
17.00 52.00
Detroit_____________ 17.00 54.00
Kansas City_________
17.00 50. 00
1 Table covers 14 of a total of 236 cities.

July 1946
Mini­
mum

July 1952

Jan.1941

Maxi­
mum

Mini­
mum

Maxi­
mum

$28. 00 $76.00
29.00 72.00
30. 00 75.00
31.00 69.00
31.00 73. 00
31.00 76.00
31.00 68.00

$42. 00
44.00
43. 50
44.00
45.00
44. 00
44.00

$99. 50
96.00
100. 00
93. 00
96.00
99. 00
95.00

City 1

Mini­
mum

Louisville____________ $17.00
Memphis____________ 17.00
Minneapolis_________
16. 00
New York. _________
18.00
Philadelphia_________
18.00
Pittsburgh__ ______
18. 00
St. Louis____ _______
17.00

July 1946

Maxi­
mum

Mini­
mum

$50.00 $28.00
50.00 28.00
49.00 30.00
63.00 29.00
58. 00 28.00
58. 00 28.00
53.00 31.00

July 1952

Maxi­
mum

Mini­
mum

Maxi*
mum

$67.00 $40.00
67.00 40.00
70. 00 43. 00
80.00 44. 00
75.00 41.00
75.00 41.00
71.00 44.00

$89. 50

89.50
93.50
104.00
98.50

98.50
95.00

The cities shown are the Long Lines operating centers.

D—Weekly Salary Rates for Traffic Central Office Operating Employees, Selected Dates

J a n .1941

City

Junior Service Assistant

July 1946

Jan.
1941

July 1952

M ini­
mum

Maxi­
mum

M ini­
mum

Maxi­
mum

Mini­
mum

M axi­
mum

Boston______ ____ _______ _ $13.00
Buffalo___________________ 15.00
Chicago_________________ _ 15.00
Cincinnati________________ 13.00
Cleveland________________
14.00
D etroit_________ _____ ___
15.00
Kansas C ity ____ _________
13.00
Louisville________________
12. 00
M em phis________________
12.00
Minneapolis______________
14. 00
N ew Y ork.. . . . . ______
16.00
Philadelphia. ____________
14.00
Pittsburgh_______________
14.00
St. Louis_________________
13.00

$25.00
25.00
26.00
24.00
25.00
25.00
22.00
20.00
20.00
23.00
29.00
25.00
25.00
23.00

$27.00
28.00
30.00
27.50
29.00
31.00
27.00
27.00
27.00
27.00
28.00
28.00
28.00
27.00

$41.00
41.00
44.00
41.50
42.50
45.00
39.00
39.00
39.00
40. 00
44.00
41.00
41.00
40.00

$37.50
41.00
42.00
39.00
43.00
44.00
40.00
36.50
36. 50
39.00
42.00
40.00
40.00
40.00

$57. 50
58.50
60.00
58.00
58.50
61.50
56. 50
55.00
55.00
56. 50
60. 50
57.00
57.00
56. 50

July
1946

July
1952

Service Assistant
Jan.
1941

Maximum

$26.00
26.00
27.00
25.00
26.00
26.00

$43. 00
42.00
45.00
42. 50
44. 50
46.00

21.00
21.00
24 00
31.00
27.00
27.00

41.00
41.00
41 no
46. 00
43.00
43.00

July
1946

Service Observer

July
1952

Jan.
1941

July
1946

Maximuna

$59.50
60.50
62.00
60.00
60. 50
63.50
58 50
5 7 .0 0
5 7 .0 0

58 50
62. 50
59.00
59.00
58.50

$30.00
30.00
31.00
29.00
31.00
30.00

$50.00
49.00
53.00
49.50
51.50
54.00

27 00

47 00

25.00
25.00

4 7 .0 0

4 7 .0 0

Maximum

$66.50
67.50
69.00
67.00
67. 50
70. 50
64.00
64.00

28 00
3 5 .0 0

5 3 .0 0

31.00
31.00
28.00

50.00
50.00
48.00

July
1952

69. 50
66.00
66.00
65.50

$30.00
30.00
31.00
29.00
31.00
30.00
27.00
25.00
25.00
28.00
35.00
31.00
31.00
28.00

$47.00
46.00
51.00
46.50
48. 50
51.00
45.00
45.00
45.00
46.00
50.00
47.00
47.00
46.00

$65.50
67.50
69.00
66.
66.

O C n ü i O O 0t ü i $ i O
O O O O O O O O O

Operator

69.
64.
64.
64.
64.
69.
65.
65.
64.50

E—Weekly Salary Rates for Clerical Employees, Selected Dates, Groups and Cities
Group 3 1
Aug. 1944 2

City

M ini­
mum
Chicago___________________
C in c in n a ti____ ________ _
Cleveland.. . . . __________
Kansas C ity. _____________
N ew York______ _ . . . ___
Philadelphia___ _ ________
St. Louis_______________ . _

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

18.00
20.00
19.00
18.00

M axi­
mum
$3 3 . 0 0
29.00
32.00
27.00
34.00
33.00
28.00

Group 4 1

July 1946 ^
M ini­
mum
$30.00
28.50
29.00
27.00
28.00
28.00
27.00

Maxi­
mum

July 1952
M ini­
mum

$4 4 . 0 0
39.50
41.00
38.00
43.00
42.00
39.00

1 Each clerical group is composed of a number of occupations requiring
approximately the same skill or degree of responsibility. Group 3 has 6
occupations among which are file clerk, and typist. Group 4 nas 18 occupa­
tions among which are calculating machine operator, junior draftsman,
payroll clerk, and stenographer.


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«

Maxi­
mum

$4 3 . 0 0
3 9 .0 0
4 3 .0 0

40. 00
42.00
40.00
40.00

$61. 50
53. 50
57.00
53.00
58.00
56.00
53.00

Aug. 1944 2
M ini­
mum
$2 0 . 0 0
2 0 .0 0
2 1 .0 0

18.00
20.00
19.00
18.00

Maxi­
mum
$38.00
33.00
36.00
33.00
40.00
39.00
34.00

July 1946
M ini­
mum
$30. 00
28. 50
29.00
27.00
28.00
28.00
27.00

M axi­
mum
$4 9 . 0 0
43. 50
45.00
44.00
49.00
48.00
45.00

July 1952
M ini­
mum
$4 3 . 0 0
3 9 .0 0
4 3 .0 0

40.00
42.00
40.00
40.00

Maxi­
mum
$67.00
60.00
61.50
60.50
65.50
62.50
60.50

2 Initial schedules; employees at many locations received retroactive increases as a result of the establishement of these schedules,

862

CONSUMER COOPERATIVES, 1941 TO 1951

MONTHLY LABOR

F—Salary Progression Schedule for Operators by City 1
Effective date and number of years’ service
required to reach maximum rates
City

B o sto n ______ _____
Buffalo .
_________
Chicago . ____- ___
C in cin n a ti__- ______
Cleveland __________
Detroit _____________
Kansas City
______

D e­
cem­
ber
1940

Octo­
ber
1942

13
13
13
13
10
13
12

12
12
12
12
12

1943 2 1944 2

9

10
8
8
10

City

Januarv
1945

Feb­
ruary
1946

July
1950

9

8

6A

8
9

Effective date and number of years’ service
required to reach maximum rates

6 A

8
8

8

6 A

6A
6A
6A
6 A

1 Other groups followed the same general pattern as operators. At present
the longest schedule for any Long Lines employees is ( > A years.
2 Various months during the year indicated.
* Effective March 1941.
4
Effective Mar. 2, 1945, the wage schedule was reduced to 10 years and
effective Mar. 16, it was reduced to 8 years.

Consumer Cooperatives,
1941 to 1951
Retail Trade

do the major part of coopera­
tives’ retail business. Although feed, fertilizer,
and farm supplies comprise three-fifths of the farm
cooperatives’ sales, they also do a large proportion
of cooperative retail business in gas, oil, and
consumer-goods (including groceries and appli­
ances). in 1950-51, retail sales by farm coopera­
tives totaled $1.644 billion, of which 60 percent
was farm supplies, 22 percent was petroleum
products (of which over half is used on the farm),
and 18 percent was for groceries, hardware,
building materials, and other consumer goods.
The 1950-51 farm data are not strictly com­
parable with those for earlier years.1 There are,
however, indications that the farm associations
have been steadily expanding their volume of
supply-purchasing business. No estimate of the
position for farm and nonfarm cooperatives
combined is available for 1951.
The total volume of goods sold by cooperatives
(farm and nonfarm) to patrons at retail in 1948
(the latest year for which comprehensive Census
data are available) was slightly over $1 billion.
Of each $1,000 spent in retail stores, cooperatives

F a r m a s s o c ia t io n s


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D e­
cem­
ber
1940

Louisville . . .
.
M em phis____________
Minneapolis ____ . . .
N ew York
_____
Philadelphia_________
Pittsburgh_____
St. Louis_____
-

11
11
3 13
13
13
13
13

Octo­
ber
1942

1943 2 1944 2

Jan­
uary
1945

9
9
12
12
12
12
12

Feb­
ruary
1946

July
1950

8
8

6A
6A
6A

8
8

6A
6A

8

6 A

<8

8

6J á

9
9

10
10
10

— A lbert A . B elm an
Division of Wages and Industrial Relations

took $8.17. The proportion for various commodi­
ties ranged from 30 cents for furniture, furnishings,
and appliances to $224.75 for feed, farm, and
garden supplies.
Cooperative sales in food
amounted to $4.52 per $1,000 (table 1). Twothirds of cooperative retail trade was accounted
for by feed, farm, and garden supplies, and only
18 percent by items that were clearly consumer
goods.
Data published by the Farm Credit Administra­
tion for retail sales of farm cooperatives make it
appear probable that the Census understated the
total volume of cooperative retail trade in 1948.
However, it is not known whether the under­
reporting affected mainly farm or nonfarm co­
operatives, or both equally.
1
Statistics of Farmers’ Marketing, Purchasing, and Service Cooperatives,
1950-51. Farm Credit Administration (Miscellaneous Report 169, March
1953).
Beginning with the crop year 1950-51, the Farm Credit Administration
revised its method of compiling and tabulating data. For the first time,
data were published for all farm cooperatives engaged in supplying their
members (7,335). Formerly, only those associations whose main business
was supply were shown. Also in 1950-51, supplies sold to members were
shown with a commodity breakdown for the first time.
In view of the greater detail now obtained in Farm Credit Administration
schedules on commodities sold by farm cooperatives to their patrons, it seems
advisable to give these data for all farm cooperatives in the same form as
reported. The present totals are not comparable with earlier series for farm
cooperatives published by Farm Credit Administration and Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
The BLS series for nonfarm associations has been discontinued because
of the present impossibility of obtaining both a satisfactory benchmark
figure for the total number of nonfarm cooperatives in a given year and an
accurate measure of year-to-year turnover

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

CONSUMER COOPERATIVES, 19^1 TO 1951

Wholesale Trade

Cooperative wholesales serving mainly local
farm supply associations have prospered and ex­
panded their business in the period 1941-51, ac­
cording to reports recently issued by the Farm
Credit Administration.2 In 1951, the 21 largest
cooperative farm wholesales had sales totaling
$802.2 million, of which 66 percent was producer
goods (feed, fertilizer, seed, insecticides, farm ma­
chinery and equipment, packaging materials, and
steel products); 27 percent was petroleum prod­
ucts and automobile accessories; 3 percent lum­
ber, paint, and maintenance materials; and 4 per­
cent miscellaneous. The last category, which had
declined from 7.4 percent in 1941, includes con­
sumer goods—electrical equipment, groceries, coal,
and other items. In the meantime, the total vol­
ume of goods sold by these farm wholesales much
more than doubled. The volume of the miscel­
laneous goods sold was somewhat larger in 1951
than in 1941, even though they were less impor­
tant in the total business of the farm wholesales.
In addition to these farm cooperative whole­
sales, three regional wholesale cooperatives 3 dis­
tribute mainly consumer goods to cooperatives
with predominantly nonfarm memberships, and
a national manufacturing and distributing coop­
erative,4 serves both farm and consumer needs.
These 4 associations made sales valued at $8.2
million in 1951, earning a net of $283,000 or 3.4
percent of sales. This return compares with 5.5
percent for the 21 major farm wholesales. A com­
parison of the operations of both farm and non­
farm wholesale cooperatives are shown for the
years 1941 to 1951 in table 2.
Over the 11-year period, the farm wholesale
cooperatives had combined net earnings in every
year, which varied between $3.10 and $6.72 per
$100 dollars of sales (the highest rate occurring in
1944). The experience of the 4 nonfarm whole­
sales contrasted sharply with that of the farm
wholesales: 1 nonfarm cooperative suffered losses in
5 of the 11 years, 2 in 4 years, and 1 in 2 years.
The war years were on the whole profitable
2
Operations of Major Regional Purchasing Cooperatives, Farm Credit
Administration (Circular C-148, December 1952).
5
Associated Cooperatives, California; Central States Cooperatives, Illi­
nois; Eastern Cooperatives, Inc., New Jersey.
* National Cooperatives, Chicago.
Its departments in 1951 were groceries
and other commodities, and milking machines; the cereal products division
was liquidated in 1950.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

T able

863

1.— Retail sales: All stores and cooperative stores,
United States, 19J+8
Retail sales (in thou­
sands)

Type of operation

Coopera­
tives

Cooper­
ative
sales per
$1,000
of all
sales

$130, 520, 548 $1,066,841

$8. 1 7

All stores
All types____________________

_

Grocery stores and other food stores
Eating and drinking places. .
General stores and general merchandise
group___ __ ________
Furniture, furnishings, and appliance
group__ __ _ _____
Automotive group______________
Gasoline service stations__________
Fuel, fuel oil, and ic e ..
Lumber, building and hardware group
(including farm machinery)________
Feed, farm, and garden supplies________
All other retail_________________ . .

30, 965, 674
10, 683, 324

139, 863
7,862

4.52
.74

17,134, 718

37,001

2.16

6,914,179
20,104, 054
6, 483,301
2,424,397

2,024
7,724
107, 941
6,348

.30
.38
16.67
2.62

11,151,470
3,146, 859
21, 512, 572

44,414
707, 264
6,400

4.00
224.75
.30

Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census: Retail Trade, 1948 (Bull. N o. 1-R-O ).

for the nonfarm wholesales, and volume of sales
increased rapidly, even when adjusted for changes
in the retail price level, patronage dividends were
paid, and some reserves were built up. These
successes were modest. Nevertheless, these or­
ganizations made plans for and carried out major
expansions in 1945 and 1946.
Business volume of the 4 organizations doubled
between 1945 and 1946 and for the 3 years 194648 averaged 75 percent above 1945. Even when
sales are deflated for price changes, the rise was
33 percent. Each of the nonfarm organizations
expanded both its commercial and noncommercial
activities, taking on new lines or departments,
assuming educational and publishing functions,
or undertaking to pay the costs previously borne
by other organizations. Deficits began to pile
up almost at once, reaching a cumulative total of
more than $700,000 in 1949. (In none of the
“good” war years had combined net earnings
reached even $100,000.) These cooperatives
seemed less able than the farm group to adjust to
the down-turn in food prices which occurred in
1949.
The situation forced drastic curtailment of
operations, reorganizations, and liquidation of
uneconomic activities. By 1950, the phase of
paring down, consolidation, and simplification
had been carried through; three organizations
moved into the black in that year, the fourth in
1951. Balance sheets for 1951 and for 1952
continued to show encouraging gains. However,
the accumulated deficits have not yet in all cases
been wiped out.

864

MONTHLY LABOR

CONSUMER COOPERATIVES, 19U TO 1951

It is too early (mid-1953) to assume permanence
in the apparent recovery from the decline which
followed postwar overexpansion of the major
cooperative wholesales serving nonfarm consumer
societies. The cycle reveals a dilemma: on the
one hand, larger sales volume is necessary to
successful operation; on the other hand, more
credit is required to carry on a large volume of
trade. Urban; cooperatives do not have access,
as the farm cooperatives have, to the Cooperative
Banks in the Farm Credit Administration. In
1951, farm cooperatives borrowed $510 million
for purchasing supplies—a 37-percent increase
over 1950—while volume of purchasing rose only
16 percent, indicating increased reliance on these
banks. In 1952, $600 million was borrowed to
finance supply purchases.
When credit difficulties are overcome and means
are found to finance expansion at the wholesale
level, the anticipated demand sometimes fails to
materialize at the urban cooperative retail level.
Such failure was an important factor in the case
of 2 nonfarm cooperative wholesales. Education
in cooperative principles is often proposed as the
remedy, but such programs (including publica­
tions) cost money too and have helped to roll up
the large postwar deficits.
Attempts to diversify by adding consumer
durable goods lines tended to create complex
problems. However, in urban markets, coopera­
tives recognize that it is increasingly difficult to
attract trade unless stocks handled are both full
and varied.

In spite of the marked prosperity of the large
farm cooperative wholesales as a group, individual
organizations have experienced some of the same
problems as have the nonfarm organizations.
The managements of certain regional wholesale
cooperatives—both farm and urban—are urging
integration of stores of local associations into large
systematized operations with bulk purchasing and
unified store policies, and reduction or separation
of nonproductive, nonpaying activities. These
moves appear to be in conflict with the basic philos­
ophy of the cooperative movement which, in the
United States, has long taken great pride in its edu­
cational activities and in independent voluntary
neighborhood groups forming and financing their
own societies to meet local needs. However, such
groups are becoming less rather than more com­
mon, as immigrant groups lose their cohesiveness
and as general prosperity and mobility increase.
As family incomes rise, consumers insist on wider
choice and the attraction of small patronage divi­
dends diminishes. Even in rural communities, a
recent University of Minnesota study found, “ the
opportunity for the cooperative society to hold
patronage has lessened.” 5 The study cited con­
cludes that a new type of consumer cooperative
may emerge “ very different in ideals and principles
from the so-called traditional organization.”
Another possibility is that cooperatives may con­
centrate more on other fields than retail trade.
* Consumer Cooperatives in Minnesota, by Professor Helen G. Canoyer,
(In Business N ew s Notes, U niversity of Minnesota School of Business
Administration, November 1952).

T a ble 2. —Operations of farm and nonfarm wholesale cooperatives, 1941-51
1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

1942

Major regional farm supply cooperatives:
18
17
18
18
18
21
21
20
18
18
Number of associations 1 _________ ________
Sales, in thousands.- _ _ __________________ $802, 203 $693, 608 $636, 200 $647, 442 $544, 727 $423,963 $360, 755 $348, 759 $276, 379 $220, 902
N et earnings__________________ _______ ______ $44,057 $30,822 $19,819 $38, 320 $29,032 $21, 095 $17,811 $23, 433 $17, 742 $13, 527
Nonfarm wholesales:
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Number of associations 3 . . . _____. . .
$8.047
$3, 250
$8, 209 $15, 680 $17, 015 $21, 267 $19, 575 $24,815 $12, 466 $11, 635
Sales, in thouands---------- ---------------------$72
$70
$94
$17
$124
—$19
$52
-$234
-$486
$283
N et earnings or loss (—), in th o u sa n d s ..______
N et earnings or loss (—) per $100 of sales:
$4.94
$6. 42
$6.12
$4.97
$6. 72
$4.44
$5. 92
$5. 33
$5.49
$3.10
Farm associations------------------------------------- .
$2.15
$0.75
$0. 62
$0. 21
$3.37
$0.63 - $ 0 . 08
$0. 33 - $ 1 . 38 —$2. 29
Nonfarm associations---------- -----------------

1941

17
$169,831
$9. 548
3
$2, 530
$50
$5.62
$1.98

Index numbers (1945=100)
Unadjusted sales volume:
Farm associations---------------- ------ ----------------Nonfarm associations__________ ____ _________
Sales in constant (1945) prices:
Farm associations >.
--------- -------------- . . .
Nonfarm associations 4 ______________________

222.4
65.9

192.3
125.8

176.3
136.5

179.2
170.6

150.1
157.0

117.5
199.1

100.0
100.0

96.7
93.3

76.6
64.6

61.2
26.1

47.1
20.3

153.4
40.3

143.5
85.6

133.6
94.1

125.3
112.9

112.9
112.8

104.9
173.6

100.0
100.0

95.7
95.4

79.8
65.2

69.6
29.3

62.8
26.8

i From 1941 to 1946, associations having an annual farm supply business of
at least $2 million each were included; in 1947, the minimum volume of busi­
ness was raised to $5 million.
3 All known cooperative wholesales outside the farm field are included.
In 1943, National Cooperatives was first included. Prior to that time it
operated as a brokerage agency.
» Adjusted by means of a specially computed wholesale price index weighted


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

in accordance with the types of goods sold by the cooperative wholesales in
1945.
4 Adjusted by means of CPI food component, since food is major item of
business.
Sources: Operations of Major Regional Purchasing Cooperatives 1941-51,
Farm Credit Administration (Circular C-148, December 1952), and Bureau
of Labor Statistics files.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

INJURY RATES IN MANUFACTURING

865

Successful cooperative retail operations are, of
course, possible where favorable social and eco­
nomic conditions are combined with good man­
agement and a convenient source of funds. For
example, the large cooperative shopping center
opened in Akron in May 1952, with vigorous
labor-union participation, has completed a highly
successful first year. However, longer experience
is necessary before this venture can be hailed as a
lasting cooperative achievement.
Outside of the distributive field, cooperatives

have continued the progress of earlier years, in the
field of consumer credit (credit unions), in electric
light and power distribution, in providing medical
care, and to a limited extent in housing.6 The
few State legislatures meeting in 1952 did not
enact any important cooperative legislation.
— J e a n A. F l e x n e r

Injury Rates in Manufacturing,
First Quarter 1953

available, the rates for these months had been
relatively stable. The January 1953 all-manu­
facturing frequency rate of 12.5 was 9 percent
lower than that for January 1952, but was 6 per­
cent above December 1952. In February, the rate
rose 3 percent, to 12.9, and although this was still
6 percent below February 1952, the year-to-year
favorable differential was diminishing. In March,
the rate rose another 4 percent, to 13.4, which was
only 1 percent below the March 1952 level. lUn
contrast, the records for the past 10 years indicate
an average increase between January andFebruary
of only a little more than 1 percent, with a com­
pensating decrease in March which usually brings
the rate back to the January level. The upward
movement shown in the first quarter of 1953 has
so far been of too short duration to be accepted as
a trend, but it does indicate a strong possibility that
the rates for subsequent months of 1953 may be
higher than in 1952.
Frequency rates for the separate industry clas­
sifications presented a mixed picture. Firstquarter 1953 averages, compared with those of the
last quarter of 1952, showed increases for 46

T h e i n j u r y - f r e q u e n c y r a t e 1for all manufactur­
ing during the first quarter of 1953 was the lowest
first-quarter rate on record, according to prelimi­
nary reports received by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. There were, however, some indications
that it may be moving to higher levels.
The all-manufacturing average, 13.0 injuries
per million man-hours worked during the first
quarter of 1953, was 4 percent below the rate for
the same period in 1952. It was, however, 4 per­
cent above the average of 12.5 for the fourth
quarter of 1952. The occurrence of this rise from
the level of the last quarter of the previous year is
not unusual. In the past, it has been a fair indica­
tion of the relative level of the final annual average.
During the peiiod 1943-51, the first-quarter aver­
age in 5 years was higher than that of the fourth
quarter of the preceding year. With one exception
(1944), the increases in the first quarter were fol­
lowed by increases in the final annual averages.
The 4 years showing decreases in the first quarter
compared with the fourth quarter of the preceding
year were years of generally declining injury rates.
Monthly figures for the 1953 first quarter
showed a more pronounced upturn, moving pro­
gressively higher in January, February, and
March; but in most of the years for which data are


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Office of Labor Economics
« See Operations of Credit Unions in 1951 (M onthly Labor Review, Feb­
ruary 1953, pp. 155-158). A more complete report on the subject of con­
sumer cooperatives w ill appear in a fotrhcoming publication.

i
The injury-frequency rate is the average number of disabling work injuries
for each million employee-hours worked. A disabling work injury is any injury
occurring in the course of and arising out of employment, which (a) results in
death or any degree of permanent physical impairment, or (b) makes the
injured worker unable to perform the duties of any regularly established job,
which is open and available to him, throughout the hours corresponding to
his regular shift, on any one or more days alter the day of injury (including
Sundays, days off, or plant shutdowns). The term “injury” includes occupa­
tional diseases.

866

INJURY RATES IN MANUFACTURING

MONTHLY LABOR

the rates for 34 industries showed no distinctive
differences. The greatest concentration of Jan­
uary to March increases was among the machinery
manufacturing and metal-fabricating industries.
The most outstanding changes in individual
industry frequency rates were as follows:
I n ju r y - fr e q u e n c y r a te s
F ir s t

F o u r th

q u a r te r ,
1953

Increases
Leather tanning and finishing.
Canning and preserving___
Scientific instruments
__
Structural clay products____
Metal household furniture__
B o lts, n uts, w ashers, and
rivets.

32.
23.
8.
31.
25.

q u a r te r ,
1952

6
1
3
7
3

26.
18.
5.
29.
18.

7
4
4
2
8

F ir s t
q u a r te r ,
1952

24.
15.
2.
26.
29.

4
0
9
7
4

16. 5

11. 5

15. 0

27.
84.
21.
18.

36.
86.
24.
24.

38.
94.
27.
15.

Decreases
Metal doors, sash, frame, and
trim
Logging __
__
.
Boiler-shop products _
Grain-mill products __ __ _

industries and decreases for 31. But a comparison
of the first-quarter rates for both years indicated
that the 1953 rates were higher for 42 industries
and lower for 47. A more significant comparison
is that between the January and March 1953
rates which showed an upward movement for 50
industries and a decrease in only 25 industries;

4
0
7
6

3
5
8
0

7
6
2
8

As usual, the synthetic fibers industry led the
list of low-rate industries—with a frequency rate
of less than 1 injury per million man-hours
worked during the first quarter of 1953. Other
industries with outstandingly low rates were syn­
thetic rubber, 2.7; rubber footwear, 2.8; aircraft,
3.0; miscellaneous communication equipment, 3.2;
electric lamps (bulbs), 3.4; radio tubes, 3.4; tires
and inner tubes, 4.1; knit goods, 4.8; motor
vehicles, bodies, and trailers, 4.8; ophthalmic
goods, 4.8; and miscellaneous industrial organic
chemicals, 4.9.

Injury-frequency rates for selected manufacturing industries, first quarter, 1953
T

1953

1952

Industry
Jan.
All manufacturing___________________
Food and kindred products:
Meat products______________ _ .
Dairy products________________
Canning and preserving______ _
Grain-mill products___________
Bakery products____________
Cane sugar____________ _
Beet su g a r_____________
Confectionery and related products_____
Bottled soft drinks________
Malt and malt liquors___________
W ines... _____________
Distilled liq u o rs_________________
Miscellaneous food products_______

See footnotes at end of table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Feb.

12.5
17.3
(>)
(')
18.0
15.3
25.8
(>)
10.4
(>)
13.3
(>)
7.8
16.3

Mar.
A
1IQ
0. 4

12 9
17 3
o

n \

IQ
iy. o
m

\ J
n \
v)

117
/. 0U
1i 0k. n
U
Ifi
1 0 . 0K

2 1 .0

13 1
20 1
\ J

14.4
m
w
17.9
m
\J
55
14.3

m
W
11.4
m
w
99. U
0
ZZ

/1 \

w

7i . y
Q

20.5

First
quarter

First
quarter

Fourth
quarter

iQ
lo. n
u

13. 7

12.5

13.5

1C
lo. c\U

18.7
14. 6
15. 0
15. 8
12. 7
16. 4
(■)

18.9
18.1
18.4
24.0
14.9
17.8
(>)

2 0 .1

25. 0
19.0
(>)
7. 7
14.1

24.5
18.4
(9
5.9
16.8

11 0A. «
0
09 11
ZO.
IQ 0P,
lo.
114.
A K
0
on 7/
ZU.

n \
v)

12 0

17 o
1 /. O

/■l\
Kl)

7 1

17.1

8 .1

Annual
average

17.8
22.4
20.9
14.3
19.9
45.7
9. 5
28.8
2 2 .0

24.7
7.1
15.8

867

INJURY RATES IN MANUFACTURING

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

Injury-frequency rates for selected manufacturing industries, first quarter, 1953— Continued
1952

1953
Industry
Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

First
quarter

First
quarter

Fourth
quarter

Annual
average

Textile-mill products:
Cotton yam and textiles___________ ____ ___
Rayon, other synthetic, and silk textiles..........
Woolen and worsted textiles________________
Knit goods____________________ ______ ____
Dyeing and finishing textiles_________ ______
Miscellaneous textile goods........ ........................

9.1
9.4
15.5
4.7
15.3
15.6

8.8
7.1
14.8
4.9
18.3
15.9

8.9
8.1
17.7
4.9
10.3
18.3

8.9
8.2
16.0
4.8
14.5
16.6

9.2
7.2
15.7
5.2
14.7
15.0

8.8
10.0
13.9
5.6
13.2
14.9

8.7
8.8
16.4
5.7
13.9
14.8

Apparel and other finished textile products:
Clothing, men’s and boys’_________ ___ ____
Clothing, women’s and children’s ......................
Miscellaneous fabricated textile products____

6.6
4.4

7.8
5.0

9.0
5.7

7.8
5.0
13.3

7.8
5.4
13.7

7.2
4.9
11.1

8.0
4.8
14.3

86.5

89.5
40.2
54. 6
47.6
36.5
23.8
30.5
34.4
32.8

Lumber and wood products (except furniture):
Logging...... .............. ............................ .................
Planing mills_____________________________
Sawmills-------------------------------------- ---------Sawmills and planing mills, integrated............
Veneer mills_______________________ ______
Millwork and structural wood products_____
Plywood mills______________ _____________
Wooden containers________________________
Miscellaneous wood products..............................
Furniture and fixtures:
Household furniture, nonm etal.____ _______
Metal household furniture_________ _______
Mattresses and bedsprings............. ....................
Office furniture-------- -------------------------------Public-building and professional furniture___
Partitions and fixtures_____________________
Screens, shades, and blinds................................ .
Paper and allied products:
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills...................
Paperboard containers and boxes___________
Miscellaneous paper and allied products_____
Printing, publishing, and allied industries:
Newspapers and periodicals________________
Bookbinding and related products--------------Miscellaneous printing and publishing______
Chemicals and allied products:
Industrial inorganic chemicals-------------------Plastics, except synthetic rubber___________
Synthetic rubber------ ------ ------ ----------------Synthetic fibers____ _____________________
Explosives---------------------------------------------Miscellaneous industrial organic chem icals...
Drugs and m edicines.____________________
Soap and related products................ ..................
Paints, pigments, and related products...........
Fertilizers____________________ ____________
Vegetable and animal oils and fats__________
Compressed and liquefied gases____________
Miscellaneous chemicals and allied products..

(9

84.6

(9

(i)
40.8

(9

24.1
27.3
31.7
27.4
18.1

(9

86.3

(9
(9
44.5
(9

23.6
27.3
31.0
30.5
19.7

(9

80.5

(9
(9
45.6
(9

27.5
26.7
32.3
29.2
21.8

(9

(9

(9

(9
16.7
(9

(9
15.7
(9

(9
13.0
(9

13.3
16.9
14.4

12.7
17.1
12.8

12.7
16.7
17.8

20.0
15.4

(9
(9

8.9

(9
(9
(9

6.7
5.4

5.2
9.2
8.8
11.1

(9
(9
(9
(9

17.1
21.7

(9
(9

6.7
5.9
5.7

25.5
16.5

(9
(9

7.9

94.6

(9

(9

(9

(9

(9

55.6
43.6
25.1
27.1
31.7
29.0
19.9
25.3
20.9
17.8
18.5
15.2

(9

12.9
16.9
15.1
8.2
5.7
7.9

57.3
47.0
21.6
26.5
35.2
32.9
16.4
29.4
16.4
20.1
17.2
16.9

(9

15.4
13.7
15.4
9.4

(9

6.0

52.9
43.4
25.4
30.0
29.4
30.8
16.2
18.8
19.9
14.3
15.4
18.7

18.3
24.5
18.5
16.7
20.6
19.3
19.9

12.8
15.9
13.1

14.3
15.1
15.0

10.8

9.4
10.1
7.5

(9

0)

8.7

4.6
7.7
10.5
9.9

6.2
5.5
2.7
.8
5.3
4.9
8.2
8.8
9.7
14.6
22.3
8.8
23.7

7.5
6.5
4.6
1.2
3.9
6.7
8.1
6.3
11.2
16.4
19.6
11.0
22.3

3.7
6. 4
6.5
9.8
13.9
15.1
25. 5
11. 2
18.8

7.7
6.0
3.7
1. 4
3.6
6. 3
7.7
8.8
11.7
17.5
21.4
10.3
21.1

4.0
2.6
12.2

4.1
2.8
11.5

5.6
3.5
12.1

4.0
3.3
12.2

5.0
3.2
12.2

6.0
5.5

(9
(9
(9

(9
(9
(9

(9
(9
(9
(9

(9
(9
(9
(9

4.9
7.6
7.1
8.0

84.0

(9

7.0
7.2
3.2

1. 1

Rubber products:
Tires and inner tubes________________ ____
Rubber footwear------ ------ ------ ------ ----------Miscellaneous rubber products...................

3.7
2.3
9.5

Leather and leather products:
Leather tanning and finishing_____________
Boot and shoe cut stock and findings---------Footwear (except rubber)----------------- -------Miscellaneous leather products--------------- -

(9
8.7
(9

(9
8.1
(9

(9
8.8
(9

(9
9.7
(9

26.7

(9
9.7
(9

(9
8.4
(9

27.1
23.5
9.7
11.4

8.7
31.5
15.8

10.8
29.7
11.7

9.1
33.7
12.6
18.8

9.5
31.7
13.4
23.1
18.1

10.6
26.7
10.9
19.4
15.3

11.0
29.2
15.3
24.1
17.5

11.0
33.0
15.2
23.3
15.7

5.5
26.6
23.2
16.2
21.5
23.2
16.5
16.8
9.1

5.5
28.6
22.5
15.0
21.1
22.2
12.6
18.9
13.2

6.3
31.8
27.4
13.5
20.1
25.2
15.0
22.9
12.8

5.8
30.3
20.7
14.2
23.9
20.0
10.0
16.7
12.0

6.1
31.7
25.3
15.3
21.9
22.0
13.6
20.2
12.9

Stone, clay, and glass products:
Glass and glass products__________ _____
Structural clay products--------------------------Pottery and related products........... ...............
Concrete, gypsum, and mineral wool---------Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral products.
Primary metal industries:
Blast furnaces and steel m ills............................
Gray-iron and malleable foundries------------Steel foundries----------------------------------- -Nonferrous rolling, drawing, and a llo y in g ...
Nonferrous foundries__________ ______ ____
Iron and steel forgings...------- -----------------Wire drawing....................... — .........- .............. .
Welded and heavy-riveted p ip e ...................
Cold-finished steel.................................... ..........

See footnotes at end of table.


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38.4

(9

19.1

5.3
28.8
20.9
14.4
21.6
18.3
9.1
24.4
13.0

4.5
3.6
12.9
36.4

(9

16.5

5.6
30.4
23.4
14.3
20.1
25.2
12.0
15.5
17.8

23.6

(9

32.6

24.4

868

INJURY RATES IN MANUFACTURING
Injury-frequency rates for selected manufacturing industries, first quarter— Continued
1953

1952

Industry
First
quarter

Feb.
F a b r ic a te d m e t a l p ro d u c ts:
T in c a n s an d o th er t in w a r e ................................ ..
C u tle r y a n d ed g e to o ls ______________________
H a n d to o ls, files, an d s a w s _________ ______ __________
H a r d w a r e ___ _______ ______________________ I I I I I I I I
S a n ita r y w a re an d p lu m b e r s ’ s u p p li e s ..1 1 1 1 "
O il
b u r n e rs, h e a tin g a n d c o o k in g a p p a r a tu s ....... II
S tr u c tu r a l ste e l and o r n a m e n ta l m e ta l w o r k _____
M e ta l d oors, sa sh , fra m e, a n d t r i m . . . .....................................
B o ile r -sh o p p r o d u c t s ___________ _____ ___________ ’
S h e e t-m e ta l w o r k . ............ ..................... .............
S ta m p e d an d p ressed m e ta l p r o d u c ts______I I I I I I I I
M e ta l co a tin g and e n g r a v in g _______ ____________ ~
F a b r ic a te d w ir e p r o d u c ts ____ _____ _______ I .I I I I
M e ta l barrels, d r u m s, k e g s, a n d p a ils ______ I I I I
S te e l s p r in g s _____ _______ ________ _________ ______
B o lt s , n u t s , w a sh e r s, a n d r iv e t s ................ I I I I I I I I
S c r e w -m a c h in e p r o d u c ts _____ _____ _______ I .I I I I I I I I
F a b r ic a te d m e ta l p r o d u c ts, n o t else w h e r e cla ssified 11111
M a c h in e r y (e x c e p t electrica l):
E n g in e s an d tu r b in e s ____________________________
A g r ic u ltu r a l m a c h in e r y a n d tractors'. .I I I I I II I I I ............
C o n s tr u c tio n an d m in in g m a c h in e r y __________1 .1 .1 1
M e ta lw o r k in g m a c h in e r y ........ .............. . . I ____ I . I I I I I I I I '
F o o d -p r o d u c ts m a c h in e r y ........................... I . ” ..........................
T e x tile m a c h in e r y __________________ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I " "
M isc e lla n e o u s s p e c ia l-in d u s tr y m a c h i n e r y l .i l
P u m p s a n d c o m p r e s s o r s .............................
..I .I I I I
E le v a to r s , e sca la to rs, a n d c o n v e y o r s ___ I . I I I I I I I I I I
M e c h a n ic a l p o w e r -tr a n sm issio n e q u ip m e n t (ex ce p t h a ll and
M is c e lla n e o u s gen er a l in d u str ia l m a c h in e r y
C o m m e r c ia l a n d h o u s e h o ld m a c h in e r y _______
V a lv e s an d f it t in g s _________ _____ ___________
B a ll a n d roller b e a r in g s __________ ______ H H ........................
M a c h in e s h o p s, g e n e r a l__________ _____ . . . I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

6.2
20.2
10.6

20.4

13.8
19.2

21.0
20.1

C1)

23.7
14.3
)
18. 5
)
23.0
14.4
15.8

0
0

12.1

11.8

13.1
18.1
11. 5
16.7

12.6

roller bearings)___

13.9
14.7
17.2
12.7
16.4
7.0
13.5
16.2
11.7

E le c tr ic a l m a c h in e r y :
E le c tr ic a l in d u str ia l a p p a r a t u s ............. ..........
E le c tr ic a l a p p lia n c e s __________ _____ ______
I n s u la te d w ir e a n d c a b le __________ _____ H H
...........
E le c tr ic a l e q u ip m e n t for v e h ic le s ___ I I I I I I .............
E le c tr ic la m p s ( b u lb s ) __________________ I ' l I I
R a d io s a n d r e la ted p r o d u c ts ............. ........ I I I I I I ...................
R a d io t u b e s ._______________ _____ _________ I I I I I I I I I I I
M isc e lla n e o u s c o m m u n ic a tio n e q u ip m e n t " ......................... ..
B a t t e r ie s _____________ __________________
E le c tr ic a l p r o d u c ts, n o t e lse w h e r e c l a s s if le d .I I I I I I I I I I I I

10.7
5.7
3.8
5.2
3.0
2.9
5.8
(0

T r a n s p o r ta tio n e q u ip m e n t:
M o to r v e h ic le s , b o d ie s, a n d tr a ile r s......... ................... ..
M o to r -v e h ic le p a rts a n d a cc e sso r ie s____ I .
A ir c r a f t .__________________________________
A ir c r a ft p a r ts _____________________
_____________
S h ip b u ild in g a n d r e p a ir in g __________ H H
B o a tb u ild in g a n d re p a ir in g .................... ...........
R a ilr o a d e q u ip m e n t______ ________________I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ’

2.9
7.1
19.6
(>)
9.1

I n s tr u m e n ts a n d r e la ted p ro d u c ts:
S c ie n tific in s t r u m e n t s _____________ ________ _
M e c h a n ic a l m e a su r in g a n d c o n tr o llin g in s tr u m e n ts
O p tic a l in s tr u m e n ts a n d le n s e s ........................... ..........
M e d ic a l in s tr u m e n ts a n d s u p p lie s ______
O p h th a lm ic g o o d s _____ _____ _________ 1 .1 ”
P h o to g r a p h ic e q u ip m e n t and" s u p p lie s
W a tc h e s a n d c lo c k s ______ _____________________ ____ I II I I I I
M isc e lla n e o u s m a n u fa c tu r in g in d u str ie s:
P a v in g a n d roofin g m a te r ia ls .............. ......................
J e w e lr y , silv e rw a re, a n d p la te d w a r e . - . I I I I I I I I I I I
F a b r ic a te d p la stic s p r o d u c ts ................. ...........I l l
M isc e lla n e o u s m a n u fa c tu r in g ...........- - I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
O rd n an ce a n d a cc e sso r ie s_______________ . . I I I I

i Insufficient data to warrant presentation of average.
..N ote. The monthly and quarterly injury-frequency rates presented in
this table were derived from a sample of about 13,200 establishments, cover­
ing approximately one-third of the employees engaged in manufacturing.
1 hey were adjusted to be comparable with the final annual averages for 1951,


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5.8

8.1

5.1

6.6

9.1
7.2

6. 5
8.7
(05.1
5.9

(0

6.3

12.8
12.1
7.5

9.7
15.4
17.8
11.7
12.9
19.9
24.2
(>)

20.6
19.5
16.7

(019.8
019.5
)
19.1
15.0
11.3
9.6
12.3
19.6
11.9
20.3
14.1
16.9
15.8
12.7
9.9
16.2
7.0

11.8
11.9
12.1
7.4
7.7
12.4
5.3
5.1
5.4
3.9
2.9

10.1
0)
4.5
7.2
3.5

6.1
22.0
0)7.0
8.5
6.9
9.5
6.9
(>)
4.9

10.2

0)9.2
11.1
15.1
8.4

17.5
23.3
20.5
10.9
17.8
23.5

11.4
19.8
19.6

11.1

14.9
20.9
22.4
27.4
21.7
24.8
15.9
26.5

22.1
024.3
)
30.5
16.8
(■)
23.3
)
25.1
16.3
12.4
16.5

20.6
10.8
22.6

0

8.8
16.0
21.6

12.5
14.1
15.9
18.6
16.2
13.3
14.6
15.2
7.8
15.3
11.5
13.9
8.9
8.7
15.4

6.1

1.4
5.9
3.3
3.8
10.9

(0

16.5
14.4
13.4

10.1

13.8
19.8

12.0

17.0
14.2
16.5
15.5
14.4
12.5
15.9
7.3
13.6
13.3

12.6
7.4

8.2

12.9
5.7
3.4
5.5
3.4
3.2
8.9
5.4

4.8
7.3

2.8

6.5
23.8

(08.0

4.8
7.1
3.0

6.6
21.8
0)8.0

7.2
5.3
5.7
8.5
(>)
5.8
7.5
(>)
6.3
15.0
17.1

8.1

8.3
6.5
7.2

8.1
4.8
5.3
7.8

0)

7.2
13.0
14.8

8.0

First
quarter

Fourth
quarter

11.0

10.8
16.7
20.3

11. 7
14.4
18.7

14.9
20.9
18.9
36.3
24.8
25.6
13.4
26.8
16.5
7.9

41.4
26.3
25.8
13.3
28.6
17.6
9.3

15.8
18.0

10.1
13.4
22.2
22.0

38.7
27.2
24.0
13.4
28.6
17.6
9.6

20.2
15.0
12.5
9.2

9.1
14.3
23.7
13.9
13.8
11.9
16.4
17.0
17.6
14.1
16.6
7.3
17.2
11.7
16.0

11.0

21.8
11.5
14.3

11.2
8.1
10.6

16.4
11.4
13.5
17.3
16.6
16.9
17.3
11.9
16.5
7.3
14.6
9.9
12.4

8.0

8.3
14.8
7.1

2.8

5.4
4.0
3.0

10.6
6.0
5.0
6.3
3.9
6.3
21.5
(>)
9.3
2.9
8.5
6.4
9.2
(>)
7.4
9.0

(09.2

14. 1
12.5
7.8

Annual
average

6.8
6.1

13.9
6.3
4.9
5.7
4.3
2.4
13.8

8.0

4.5
7.3
3.4
7.5

22.1
0)7.6
5.4
5.6
3.7

10.8

10.2
13.4
22.0
21. 2

22.0
14.3
13.9
10.7

8. 8
12.7
20.6

13.1
14.4
13.5
17.0
16. 5
16.1
13.1
16.7
7.9
16.7
11.4
14.8
7.3
6.9
14.0
6.5
3.6
5.6
4.5
3.1
13.6
7.4
4.9
7.1
3.6
7.0
23.4
33.9

8.8

5.1
7.0

6.0

4.7
4.8
6.3

9.7
2.3
6.5
7.7

5.8
13.5
10.7
6.5

8.2
12
6.8

(O

15.0

14.2
.0

which were based on a more comprehensive survey covering approximately
60 percent of all employees engaged in manufacturing. All rates shown are
preliminary and are subject to revision when 1952 final annual averages be­
come available. See Monthly Labor Review, December 1952 (p. 644), for
comparable quarterly rates for 1951 and the first 6 months of 1952.

Recent Decisions
of Interest to Labor'
Labor Relations

Ordinance Regulating Loud Speakers Constitu­
tional. A United States court of appeals held 2
that a county ordinance requiring permits for the
use of loud speakers on vehicles upon the highways
is constitutional, and does not abridge the rights
of free speech and assembly. The action was
brought by the secretary of the California State
Federation of Labor on behalf of picketing unions.
The court said that it is the privilege of all
persons to use the public highways, and that the
right of free speech thereon cannot be denied. It
stated, however, that the use of such highways
may be regulated and controlled in order to assure
the safety and convenience of the traveling public.
In the present instance, the loud speakers were
used to transmit sounds sufficient to reach homes
of farmers situated on large tracts of land in the
rural districts. The court held that such use
could be regulated by county ordinance when
such activity created an unwarranted obstruction
to the orderly movement of traffic on the highways.
Discrimination
Charge
Unsubstantiated. A
National Labor Relations Board decision held 3
that the Labor Management Relations Act was
not violated when nonunion employees were paid
for time not worked during a strike, although
employees represented by a different union (AFL)
from the one representing the striking employees
(CIO) were denied such payment.
The Board pointed out that the employees
represented by the AFL union had a no-strike
clause in their contract and for that reason were
not paid for time not worked during a strike of
employees represented by the CIO. The em­
ployer was justified, the Board stated, in relying
on his contract with the AFL union. The striking
CIO employees of course were not paid for time
not worked during the strike.

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Unemployment Compensation

Availability oj Retired Worker. The Appellate
Division of the New York Supreme Court held 4
that a retired industrial insurance agent, 67 years
of age, who was willing to take any selling job or
clerical work paying $40 a week, was not available
for work. The claimant had been retired involun­
tarily, in accordance with company policy, at age
65. He first looked for work at $50 a week, but
reduced his demand to $45 and, later, to $40 a
week. The court affirmed the appeal board’s
determination that claimant’s restrictions kept
him aloof from the labor market. His wage
requirement, the referee had found, was not
reasonable because all the claimant could reason­
ably expect to receive would be the usual rate
paid to inexperienced workers.
The court stated that age alone does not neces­
sarily result in nonavailability, but age, coupled
with restrictions which cut down greatly the
possibility of employment, may fairly result in a
finding of nonavailability.
Libel Action. The New York Supreme Court
held 5 that an employer’s letter to the State indus­
trial commissioner, giving the reason for a worker’s
discharge, could not constitute the basis for a libel
action. The employer’s letter was written in
compliance with a commission regulation requiring
employers to furnish such information. The
court stated that such communications, while not
absolutely privileged, are given a statutory priv­
ilege.
Misconduct. A New Mexico district court held6
that a bus driver, who had been discharged for
alleged misconduct, was not disqualified for un­
employment benefits. Misbehavior alleged by
1Prepared in the U . S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor.
The cases covered in this article represent a selection of the significant
decisions believed to he of special interest. No attempt has been made to
reflect all recent judicial and administrative developments in the field of
labor law or to indicate the effect of particular decisions in jurisdictions in
which contrary results may be reached, based upon local statutory pro­
visions, the existence of local precedents, or a different approach by the courts
to the issue presented.
2 Haggerty v. C ounty of K in g s (Calif. D . C. of App., 4th D ist., Apr. 28,1953).
2 In re Wagner Electric Corp. (105 N L R B N o. 3, M ay 26, 1953).
In re Bourne (N . Y . Supr. Ct., Appell. D iv., 3d D ept., M ay 13, 1953).
« Coyne v. O'Connor (N . Y . Supr. Ct., Nassau Co., Apr. 20, 1953).
« Albuquerque B u s Co. v. M iera (N . Mex. D . C., County of Bernalillo,
M ay 22, 1953).

4

869

870

DECISIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

the employer consisted of the driver’s failure on
one occasion to stop at one of two bus stops at the
same intersection, his advice to another driver to
pass up the same bus stop, and minor grievances
in connection with passengers’ complaints over a
period of years which, after investigation by the
employer, had resulted in no disciplinary action.
The court stated that misconduct, as used in
the unemployment compensation statute, “means
conduct committed in willful disregard or heedless
indifference for the employee’s duties and the
interest of the employer, as distinguished from
conduct resulting from lack of skill, experience or
understanding, or occasional lack of care; and
from mistake or trivial or harmless mischief.”
The court also stated that the statute must be
construed strictly, both against infliction of a
penalty or forfeiture (disqualification from bene­
fits) and against special relief of the employer from
experience-rating charges such as would have
resulted if discharge for misconduct had been
proved.
Religious Objections Good Cause for Refusing Work.
An Ohio court of appeals held 7 that refusal of a
job which required a half day’s work on Saturdays
was for “good cause,” when, if the worker had
accepted, she would have been subject to expulsion
from her church, which teaches that Saturday is
the Sabbath and performance of secular work on
that day violates the law of God. The court found
that the legislature, in providing for consideration
of risk to a claimant’s morals in determining suit­
ability of a job offer, intended to override a
previous case,8 which held “unavailable for work”
a Seventh Day Adventist who refused to work on
Saturdays.
Termination and Vacation Pay. The Indiana
Appellate Court held 9 that termination and
vacation payments equal to 21 weeks’ wages,
paid in a lump sum to an employee who was
separated from service, were made “for” and “in
respect to” the period of 21 weeks immediately
7 Tary v. Board of Review (Ct. of App., Lucas Co., Ohio, June 1, 1953).
8 K u t v. Albers Super M arkets (146 Ohio St. 522, 66 N . E. 2d 643, Supr Ct
Ohio, 1946).

» Schenley Distillers, Inc. v. Review Board of the Indiana E m ploym ent Secu­
r ity D iv. (Ind. Appell. Ct., M ay 18, 1953).
10 In re Fiol (N. Y. Ct. of App., Apr. 24, 1953).
Voris v. E ikel et al. (200 F. 2d 724: U. S. C. A., 5th Cir., Dee. 17, 1952).


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MONTHLY LABOR

following the lay off. A pro rata portion of such
payment consequently had to be deducted from
any unemployment benefit to which the claimant
was otherwise entitled for any week during the
21-week period. The court based its opinion on
the fact that the termination payment, though
voluntary, was made in accordance with the
employer’s standard practice (as set forth in a
bulletin) of making a termination payment of
1 week’s wages for every year of service. It was
also a practice not to reemploy a former employee
within the period covered by such payments
unless he returned that portion of the lump-sum
payment which would otherwise be duplicated
by subsequent salary payments.
Union Rule Not “Good Cause” for Quitting Job.
The New York Court of Appeals held 10 that the
mere existence of a union rule requiring a claimant
to quit his job is not “good cause” for such action,
and would not entitle the claimant to unemploy­
ment benefits. Claimant, a seaman, left his ship
after completing a 75-day voyage, in compliance
with the applicable union rule that he could
remain in continuous employment only for one
round trip, or 60 days, whichever was longer.
The court remanded the case for a determination
whether the union rule was reasonable, in light of
the nature of the industry, the state of the labor
market, and other relevant considerations.
Workman’s Compensation
Notification of Employer or Agent Concerning
Injury. In applying section 12 of the Longshore­
men’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act,
a United States court of appeals ruled 11 that
knowledge of an injury on the part of a gang fore­
man on a particular job is not sufficient to meet
the requirement of bringing knowledge of an
injury to the employer or his agent in charge of
the business at the place where the injury occurred.
Therefore, failure to give written notice cannot
be excused by the fact that such foreman had
knowledge of the injury.
This foreman, the court found, was not the
agent or representative in charge and was not
even a regular employee. His only connection
with the stevedores was that of walking foreman
or gang pusher—and union representative—on
the particular job.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

Ruling that the claim was barred for failure to
give notice or show good cause for such failure, the
court said that the act did not give the deputy
commissioner unlimited discretion to excuse or
refuse to excuse such failure, but set up a standard
to which the deputy commissioner’s decision must
reasonably conform. Excuse of the failure to file
written notice, largely because of knowledge on
the part of the aforementioned gang pusher, was
not in conformity, the court stated, with the
standard set by the statute.
One judge dissented, primarily on the ground
that, regardless of duration of employment, the
foreman having knowledge of the injury was at
that time an employee of the stevedoring company
and was the injured man’s immediate supervisor.
The foreman paid off the stevedores and was the
only representative of the employer known to the
claimant, an illiterate and inexperienced long­
shoreman. In addition, the testimony brought
out the fact that the employer placed a duty upon
this foreman to report injuries to his superior or
to the timekeeper. Consequently, the foreman’s
failure to fulfill his obligation should be visited
upon the employer rather than on the claimantemployee.
The dissenting judge pointed out that the ma­
jority ruling would have the effect either of
striking out the alternative of knowledge on the
part of an employer’s agent or of requiring that
knowledge be acquired first hand by the employer
as an eye witness. This, he indicated, would
create a serious dilemma, as most employers of
longshoremen are large corporations which must
act and acquire knowledge through agents. He
dissented also on the ground that the majority
opinion would have the effect of narrowing the
discretion of the deputy commissioner, which was
assigned to him in broad terms by Congress.
The United States Supreme Court has granted
petition for a writ of certiorari in this case.
Subcontractor’s Employee Injured in Prime Con­
tractor’s Truck. A United States court of appeals
held 12 that an employee of a subcontractor on


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871

DECISIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

an Alaskan construction job might properly be
awarded compensation for injuries sustained while
returning to camp from a recreational trip in a
truck owned and operated by the prime con­
tractor.
A steam fitter, Cecil Vogel, working on a con­
struction job at Fort Richardson, Alaska, went
on Labor Day, 1950, to Palmer, about 40 miles
away, for recreational purposes. Before his return
trip, he met an employee of the prime contractor
and accepted an invitation to ride back to camp
in a truck owned by the prime contractor, which
had been checked out for a recreational trip.
When they were within the confines of the military
reservation but still 2 or 3 miles from the labor
housing camp, an accident occurred on the main
highway, and Vogel was injured. Upon finding
that the injuries arose out of and in the course of
Vogel’s employment, the deputy commissioner
of the Bureau of Employees’ Compensation made
an award of compensation under the provisions of
the Defense Bases Act (an extension of the Long­
shoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Act).
In reviewing the action taken by the deputy
commissioner, the court noted that the two con­
tractors were inter-related, that their employees
were jointly quartered in the labor camp, that
the prime contractor provided transportation as
needed on the job, and that it was customary for
his employees to give rides to employees of the
subcontractor. The deputy commissioner, the
court stated, had the “exclusive and unreviewable
right to draw inferences from the unique character
and isolated place of the employment . . .; its
remoteness from available recreation . . the
benefit . . . of recreation as an economic factor
in industrial relations.” Circumstances and sub­
stantial factors, the court held, “adequately in
law justified the deputy commissioner in finding
. . . that Vogel’s injuries arose out of and in the
course of his employment.”
12

H a s to r f-N e ttle s , In c .

v.

P ills b v r y

(U. S. C, A., 9th Cir., Apr. 16, 1953).

Chronology of
Recent Labor Events

June 1, 1953
M e m b e r s of the International Union of Electrical,
Radio & Machine Workers (IUE-CIO) ratified a contract
with the General Electric Co., which ended an 8-week strike
of 7,000 production and maintenance workers in two Syra­
cuse, N. Y., plants. It provided for a 4^-cent increase in
the automatic progression schedule and some seniority and
apprenticeship adjustments. On June 16, the GE Con­
ference Board of the IUE approved a new national contract
with the company which affected 76,000 employees, in­
cluding IUE members in the Syracuse plants. The 1-year
agreement provides for a general wage increase of 3.15
percent, or an average of approximately 5 cents an hour,
as well as an additional increase of 1 to 8 cents an hour for
certain skilled workers. Comparable increases for salaried
workers, increases in incentive earnings, severance pay on
plant abandonment, and other improvements are also
provided.
(Source: IUE-CIO News, June 8, 1953;
IUE-CIO press release, June 16, 1953.)
M er g er of the 4,100-member Canadian Brotherhood of
Express Employees with the Brotherhood of Railway &
Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express & Station
Employees (AFL) became effective. (Source: Bulletin,
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, June 1953.)
L ocal 102, United Automobile Workers (AFL), engaged in
organizing taxicab drivers in New York City since October
1950, notified its members that it was going out of business.
The AFL executive council, on February 4, 1953, had
ordered the parent auto union to revoke the local’s charter
under penalty of having its own charter recommended for
suspension at the next AFL convention. The ultimatum
was based partly on jurisdictional grounds and partly on
the character of the local’s leadership. (Source: New York
Times, June 2, 1953.)

June 2
T he AFL and CIO unity committees agreed on the essen­
tials of a “no-raiding” pact as the first step in the proposed
organic unity of the two federations (see Chron. item for
Apr. 7, 1953, MLR, May 1953). After ratification by the
federations’ respective executive bodies, conventions, and
constituent unions, the 2-year agreement will become
effective January 1, 1954. Individual unions are banned
from transfering a recognized unit of employees from one
872


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federation to the other if the first union has a contract with
the employer or is certified as bargaining agency by the
National Labor Relations Board. Provision is made for
appointment of an impartial umpire, with power of final
and binding decision, in cases of unresolved disputes
involving interpretation and application of the agreement.
(Source: AFL News-Reporter, June 4, 1953; and CIO
News, June 8, 1953.)
T he NLRB ruled that an employer had illegally refused
to bargain by insisting, for reasons other than national
security, that all union representatives file non-Communist
affidavits with the company. The case in question was
the Square D Co., Los Angeles, Calif., v. United Electrical,
Radio & Machine Workers of America ( UE), Local 1421
(Ind.). (Source: Labor Relations Reporter, June 15,
1953: 32 LRRM, p. 1245.)

June 3
T he International Longshoremen’s & Warehousemen’s

Union (Ind.) and the Pacific Maritime Association ex­
tended their current contract to June 15, 1955, subject to
reopening on June 15, 1954. A dispute over wage in­
creases and changes in the welfare program was submitted
to arbitration. (Source: New York Times, June 4, 1953.)

June 8
T he Federal Wage and Hour Administrator, acting under
the Fair Labor Standards Act, approved a new minimum
wage rate of 75 cents an hour (formerly 65 cents) for
employees in the cement industry in Puerto Rico, effective
July 13, 1953. On June 10, he approved a new 75-cent
minimum (formerly 58 cents) for employees in the banking,
insurance, and finance industries in Puerto Rico, also
effective July 13. On June 15, the Administrator set a
new minimum of 37 cents an hour (formerly 25 cents) for
employees in the straw, hair, and related products division
of the rubber, straw, hair, and related products industry
in Puerto Rico, effective July 20. (Source: Federal
Register, vol. 18, No. 114, June 12, 1953, p. 3366; No.
115, June 13, 1953, p. 3411; and No. 120, June 20, 1953,
p. 3565.)
T he NLRB held, in the case of Jersey Coast News Co.,
Inc., Asbury Park, N. J., and Ralph Ruggiero, that the
employer discriminatorily encouraged union membership
by making certain wage and other payments to union
members, in accordance with their contracts, while refusing
such payments to nonunion members who also were
covered by the agreements. (Source: Labor Relations
Reporter, June 22, 1953: 32 LRRM, p. 1278.)

June 11
T he United Automobile Workers (CIO) and the Inter­
national Association of Machinists (AFL) jointly an­
nounced renewal of their 4-year “no-raiding-of-member­
ship” agreement (see also Chron. item for Jan. 7, 1944,
MLR, June 1944). The scope of the agreement was

CHRONOLOGY OF LABOR EVENTS
expanded to provide for cooperation in collective bargain­
ing with companies having multiple plants already organ­
ized by both unions, and for strike support when an
employer deals with both unions. (Source: New York
Times, June 12, 1953.)

June 12
T h e United Steelworkers of America (CIO) and the United

States Steel Corp. signed an agreement, under a contract
wage reopening, which was immediately followed by simi­
lar contracts with other major basic steel producers. It
provides for an immediate general wage increase of 8%
cents an hour, together with the elimination of the NorthSouth wage differential of 5 cents an hour by July 1, 1954.
The company also agreed to set up joint committees to
study improvements for pension and insurance programs,
but rejected the union’s proposal for a joint study on the
guaranteed annual wage. (Source: New York Times,
June 13, 1953.)
T h e Insurance Workers Union became a full-fledged indus­
trial affiliate of the CIO at a 3-day founding convention in
Cleveland, Ohio. Chartered as a successor to the tempo­
rary Insurance and Allied Workers Organizing Committee
(CIO), the new union will organize all members of the in­
surance industry, including agents and clerical workers.
It replaces the United Office and Professional Workers,
expelled from the CIO in 1950 as Communist-dominated
(see Chron. item for Feb. 15, 1950, MLR, Apr. 1950).
(Source: Journal of Commerce, June 16, 1953; and CIO
News, June 22, 1953.)

873

T he Supreme Court of the United States denied review in
the case of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co. v. Brotherhood
of Railway & Steamship Clerks (AFL), thereby upholding
an injunction requiring the railroad to bargain in good
faith under the Railway Labor Act. After the union’s
certification by the National Mediation Board, the com­
pany took the position that the working conditions of
white-collar employees (a segment in the bargaining unit)
could be determined unilaterally. (Source: U. S. Law
Week, June 15, 1953: 21 LR, p. 3315.)

June 19
A fter a 4-day tieup, the National Maritime Union (CIO)
reached a 2-year agreement with the Committee for Com­
panies and Agents, Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, for leading
tanker companies. It provided for a sliding-scale wage in­
crease of 2 to 6 percent, increased overtime, and other
fringe benefits. On June 20, the NMU signed a similiar
1-year contract for dry-cargo and passenger ships. 4sAt
the same time, the American Radio Association
(CIO) won a 6-percent wage raise and increases in
overtime and penalty rates, as well as additional jurisdic­
tion on ships. On June 26, the Marine Engineers’ Bene­
ficial Association, the third of the CIO marine unions hav­
ing similar contract-expiration dates, signed a 1-year con­
tract with East and Gulf Coast shippers, which provided for
a 6-percent increase in base pay and overtime rates.
(Source: New York Times, June 20-22, 24, 27, 1953.)

June 23
H a w aii members of the International Longshoremen’s

June 15
T he Supreme Court of the United States, 4 to 3, reversed

the lower court and dismissed a Government attempt to
revoke the citizenship of Harry R. Bridges, president of the
International Longshoremen’s & Warehousemen’s Union
(Ind.). The high court remanded the case (Bridges et al
v. U. S.) to the District Court and ordered it to dismiss a
1949 indictment which charged Bridges and two other
union officers with perjury and conspiracy in connection
with Bridges’ naturalization proceedings in 1945 (see
Chron. item for Apr. 11, 1953, in MLR, June 1953). Its
ruling was based on the ground that the general 3-year
statute of limitations applied in this case and that it had
run out at the time of the 1949 indictment. (Source:
U. S. Law Week, June 16, 1953: 21 LW, p. 4457.)
T he Supreme Court of the United States denied review in
the case of Jack Smith Beverages, Inc., Ypsilanti, Mich., v.
The National Labor Relations Board, thereby upholding the
lower court in enforcing a Board order which directed the
disestablishment of an AFL Teamster’s local. The de­
cision had upheld the Board’s findings that the employer
was in interstate commerce and that he had violated the
Taft-Hartley Act by influencing his driver-salesmen to
repudiate their membership in a CIO union and by en­
couraging membership in an AFL union. (Source: U. S.
Law Week, June 15, 1953: 21 LW, p. 3315.)


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& Warehousemen’s Union (Ind.) ended a 4-day protest
walkout which paralyzed the Islands’ docks, sugar and
pineapple plantations, and held up military supplies for
Korea. The unauthorized strike (involving 24,000 work­
ers) began June 19, immediately after a Federal grand
jury convicted James W. Hall, Hawaii director of the
ILWU, and 6 other persons in a Communist-conspiracy
case. The union also doubled its demand for a wage in­
crease. (Source: New York Times, June 23, 1953; and
Journal of Commerce, June 24, 1953.)

June 26
S e t t l e m e n t of a wage-review dispute between the Indus­
trial Union of Marine & Shipbuilding Workers of America
(CIO) and the Bethlehem Steel Co. was announced by the
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. An over-all
wage increase of 7 cents an hour was granted to the 25,000
workers represented by the union in the company’s 8 East
Coast shipyards; the union had demanded 12 cents. All
other conditions of the present 2-year contract remain in
force through June 23, 1954. (Source: New York Times,
June 27, 1953.)

June 27
T h e International Labor Organization ended its 36th an­
nual conference, begun June 4, at Geneva, Switzerland.

874

CHRONOLOGY OF LABOR EVENTS

Senator Irving M. Ives, a United States Government
delegate, was elected conference president. National labor
departments, productivity, holidays with pay, workers’
health, and minimum age for coal mine workers were
among the agenda items considered. The UN-ILO com­
mittee study on Forced Labor, released on June 23, was
subsequently submitted to the Governing Body of the
ILO and the UN Economic and Social Council. (Source:
ILO News, June 1953 and ILO News Service, June 23,
1953; and New York Times, June 5, 1953.)

June 29
A malgamation of two AFL unions—Boilermakers and
Blacksmiths—was officially consummated at a consolidated
convention of the two organizations. The name of the
amalgamated union is International Brotherhoods of
Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers
& Helpers. (Source: Labor, June 27 and July 4, 1953.)

J. P. S h ie l d s , aged 64, head of the Brotherhood of Loco­
motive Engineers (Ind.) died of a heart attack on the eve
of the union’s triennial convention, scheduled to open in
Cleveland on July 6. (Source: Labor, July 4, 1953.)

June 30
T he Governors of New York and New Jersey approved
identical legislation, passed by their respective legislatures,
to regulate the activities of employers and employees in
the Port of New York. Establishment of a bi-State
commission of control is authorized, subject to Con­


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gressional approval, and provision is made for registration
of longshoremen, licensing of pier superintendents, hiring
agents, port watchmen, and stevedores, and for abolition
of the shapeup and public loading. This legislation is the
outgrowth of a 19-month investigation by the New York
State Crime Commission, made at the New York Gover­
nor’s request. (Source: New York Times, July 1, 1953.)
P r e sid e n t E ise n h o w e r signed last-minute legislative
amendments to continue limited defense controls for 2
years and liberalized provisions of the National Housing
Act and related programs for 1 year. Under the Defense
Production Act Amendments of 1953 (see Chron. item for
June 30, 1952, MLR, Aug. 1952), authority is continued to
grant priorities, allocations, stockpiling, and loans to
expand production in the defense program. The Housing
Amendments of 1953 extends several Federal housing loanguarantee and mortgage-insurance programs. (Source:
Public Laws 94, 95, and 98, 83d Cong., 1st sess.)
T he Federal District Court in Portland, Oreg., in the
case of Montgomery, Ward & Co., Inc., v. Northern Pacific
Terminal Co. of Oregon et al., ruled that railroad and truck­
ing companies which refused to cross a picket line and
service Ward’s strike-bound establishment at Portland
during a labor dispute in 1941 were guilty of a conspiracy
in restraint of trade, and were therefore liable for damages.
The court held that the common-law duty of a carrier to
serve shippers is lessened neither by labor contracts nor
by labor policy as expressed in Federal laws. (Source:
Labor Relations Reporter, July 20, 1953: 32 LRRM, p.
2386, and Analysis, p. 45.)

Developments in
Industrial Relations’

T h e c o n c l u s io n o f a g r e e m e n t s in the basic
steel industry and the end of prolonged union
discussion with General Electric were among the
important settlements during June 1953. New
wage contracts were also signed with principal
East and Gulf Coast deep-sea shippers following
a 4-day work stoppage by the National Maritime
Union. Within the labor movement itself, con­
tinued unity talks between AFL and CIO leaders
resulted in a no-raiding pact designed to reduce
the costly organizational campaigns of competing
AFL and CIO affiliates for the same groups of
workers. The I AM—
AFL and UAW-CIO re­
newed and strengthened their previous no-raiding
pact. Elsewhere, a number of AFL and CIO
unions engaged in generally similar discussions
amid speculation over certain possible mergers.

Significant Settlements and Negotiations
Steel. Following relatively brief negotiations, the
U. S. Steel Corp. and the United Steelworkers
(CIO)2 reached an agreement June 12—well
within the reopening period 3—on a general hourly
wage increase of 8% cents, effective immediately.
Other major steel companies agreed to the same
settlement shortly thereafter. The speed with which
these discussions were concluded contrasted with
the more extended bargaining that had marked
earlier postwar contract reopenings and renego­
tiations in the industry.- The agreements with
U. S. Steel and Republic also provided for elimi­
nation of the 5-cent North-South wage differential
in two steps: 2% cents, effective January 1, 1954;
and 2}i cents, 6 months later. In addition, U. S.
Steel acceded to the union’s request for estab­
lishment of a joint committee to study improve­
ments in pension and social insurance benefits.
However, it rejected a proposal for a joint study
on the feasibility of a guaranteed annual wage for


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steelworkers.2 Subsequently, U. S. Steel Corp.
and other major companies announced price in­
creases for certain steel products.
Electrical Products. The General Electric Con­
ference Board of the Electrical Workers (IUECIO) approved the company’s offer of a 1-year
contract providing for a general wage increase of
3.15 percent—averaging about 5 cents an hour—
and additional hourly increases ranging from 1 to
8 cents for some skilled classifications. Other
contract changes included severance pay for
workers laid off as a result of permanent plant
shutdowns, retention of service credits for em­
ployees rehired after furloughs not exceeding 3
years (formerly 1 year), and certain revisions in
incentive pay provisions. The agreement extends
from June 1, but wages and related provisions
were effective June 10.3 Similar wage adjustments
were accepted by the United Electrical Workers
(Ind.).
A proposal by the UE for joint action on the
company’s offer was rejected by IUE. Previously,
a smaller wage offer made by GE under the
March 1953 wage reopening provisions of the
former contracts had been rejected by both
unions.4 The smaller increase had been accepted
by other unions representing GE employees; the
company, at that time, indicated that contracts
with these unions would be adjusted to conform
with any settlement accepted later by IUE.
Shipbuilding. A wage dispute between Bethlehem
Steel Corp. and the CIO Marine and Shipbuilding
Workers was settled June 26 with agreement on
a general hourly wage increase of 7 cents, affecting
about 25,000 workers at 8 East Coast shipyards.2
Previously, members of the union had voted to
strike in support of a proposal for a 12-cent hourly
increase. On the same day, Todd Shipyards
Corp., under a reopening clause, agreed to a
similar wage increase.
Farm Equipment. Negotiations between the In­
ternational Harvester Co. and Local 6 of the
United Automobile Workers (CIO) were sus1 Prepared in the Bureau’s Division of Wages and Industrial Relations.

2See July 1953 issue of the M onthly Labor Review (p. 637).
2See June 1953 issue of the M onthly Labor Review (p. 763).
< See M ay 1953 issue of M onthly Labor Review (p. 530).

875

876

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

pended following rejection of the union’s proposal
for interim wage and pension improvements sim­
ilar to those granted by leading automobile man­
ufacturers. Rejecting the concept that contracts
are “ living documents”,2 the company stated:
“ We disagree with the theory that a contract is
subject to change whenever one of the parties
wants further concessions. Such a document is
not a contract—it is only a temporary memoran­
dum. The only known reason for having a con­
tract is to settle the issues for a specified time.”
The company asserted its willingness, however, to
negotiate a method of converting the contractual
cost-of-living escalator clause to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics’ Revised Consumer Price Index.5
Earlier, International Harvester and AllisChalmers Manufacturing Co. had announced a
2-cent hourly wage reduction, effective June 1,
as a result of the decline in the “ Old Series” CPI
over the quarter ended April 15.
Railroads. The Brotherhood of Railroad Train­
men (Ind.) announced that, in forthcoming con­
tract negotiations with the Nation’s railroads, it
would propose: (1) a “ substantial” wage increase;
(2) improvements in working conditions, to in­
clude liberalized vacation benefits; and (3) inclu­
sion in the basic wage rates of increases received
under contractual cost-of-living escalator provi­
sions. Agreements between the parties extend
until October 1. The union’s general chairmen
were scheduled to meet September 21 to formulate
a detailed bargaining program and to decide
whether to negotiate with the carriers on an in­
dividual or national basis. Fifteen nonoperating
railroad unions, which had served demands late
last month for liberalized vacations, paid holidays,
and a health and insurance program, were pre­
sented by some carriers with counter-proposals
involving rules changes.2
Contract rules and their interpretation also
concerned representatives of the Nation’s car­
riers and officials of the Trainmen and other
operating railroad unions—Engineers, Firemen,
Conductors, and Switchmen. They met in mid­
month to discuss procedures for reducing a large
backlog of unsettled grievances, generally in­
volving interpretation of existing contracts. Rail8See March 1953 issue of M onthly Labor Review (p. 290).
8Mr. Shields died of a?heart attack on June 29, 1953.

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MONTHLY LABOR

road officials had expressed concern regarding
frequent strike occurrences over these matters.
BLE president J. P. Shields 6 stated that no com­
mitments were made or agreements reached at the
meeting but that the discussions were “helpful” .
Subsequently, the unions demanded retraction of
reported statements by railroad executives that
they would seek restrictive legislation unless agree­
ment were reached on a no-strike policy in con­
nection with disputes involving grievances.
Maritime. Members of the National Maritime
Union (CIO) ratified a 1-year contract concluded
June 19 with major East and Gulf Coast dry cargo
and passenger ship companies, thus ending a 4-day
strike.2 It provided for increases in monthly base
pay, on a sliding scale basis: 6 percent for seamen
earning more than $341; 4 percent for those
receiving between $298 and $341; and 2 percent
for employees earning less than $298. Overtime
pay rates were also liberalized. Other contract
terms included improvement in medical provi­
sions, liberalization of transportation pay for
crewmen who leave ship for medical treatment,
inauguration of a system of seniority based on
previous employment, and adjustment of ship
stewards’ working hours. In addition, the em­
ployers agreed to expand the list of seaman classi­
fications subject to hiring hall provisions; however,
“management” personnel such as chief stewards
and bartenders were exempted. The settlement,
which provided for a wage reopening on December
15, 1953, was reached shortly after leading oil
tanker companies agreed to a 2-year contract with
virtually identical provisions.
A 6-percent increase in base pay, overtime, and
penalty rates was provided in 1-year agreements
concluded June 20 between the American Radio
Association (CIO) and East Coast passenger,
freighter, and collier shipowners. Tanker com­
panies, on the same day, agreed to a 2-year
contract providing for similar adjustments. The
settlements also called for higher subsistence
rates and improved vacation provisions for tanker
and collier employees, increased pension and wel­
fare benefits, and medical provisions similar to
those contained in the NMU contract. Subse­
quently, the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Asso­
ciation (CIO) and East and Gulf Coast shippers
negotiated a 1-year contract providing for a 6
percent increase in base pay and overtime rates.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Textile Machinery. An unusual development was
a retroactive wage decrease which stemmed from
an arbitrator’s decision on May 19. The award
ordered a 5-cent-an-hour wage cut for about 2,700
employees of the Saco-Lowell Shops in Maine, but
did not specify the effective date. The company,
which manufactures textile machinery, announced
the decrease would be made retroactive to March
16, the wage reopening date. When the Textile
Workers (CIO) protested that it should be made
effective on the date of the decision, the company
offered to apply the retroactive portion of the cut
against a 4-cent-an-hour improvement factor due
workers in September. This offer was rejected by
the union. In June, the question of the date was
submitted to arbitration and the arbitrator
accepted the March date.
Waterfront Developments

About 5,000 members of the International
Longshoremen’s Association (AFL) held a 1-day
demonstration on June 8 in protest of recommen­
dations by the New York State Crime Commission
for reform of waterfront conditions. The stoppage
was called by insurgent union leaders as New
York’s Governor Thomas E. Dewey opened public
hearings on the Commission’s report.2 Testifying
at the hearings, AFL president, George Meany,
voiced approval of most of the Commission’s
recommendations as well as strong criticism of
the ILA. He stated that he could find “nothing
resembling legitimate trade union activity” in the
ILA’s record and indicated that the union could
not satisfy the AFL’s directive to completely
reform its operations unless present ILA leaders
were expelled. He objected to three of the Com­
mission’s key proposals on the ground that they
would deprive longshoremen of personal rights or
would penalize all unions for the malpractices of
the ILA. The recommendations concerned regis­
tration of dock workers at State hiring offices,
prohibition of “public loaders” or hiring bosses
from membership in the same union as longshore­
men, and establishment of regulations concerning
the internal administration of all unions.
Subsequently, the New York and New Jersey
State Legislatures approved identical bills estab­
lishing a bi-State commission subject to Congres­
sional approval, in order to regulate waterfront
activities. The legislation was based largely on

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877

recommendations by the Crime Commission but
incorporated certain modifications urged by labor
representatives and State officials. It prohibits
labor organizations from collecting dues or assess­
ments from members if any officer or agent is a
convicted felon who has not been pardoned.
Other requirements include licensing of stevedores,
port watchmen, pier superintendents, and hiring
agents; registration of all longshoremen; out­
lawing of public loaders; and substitution of
State-operated employment information centers
for the the shapeup hiring system.
Other developments affecting the East Coast
waterfront situation included announcement by
the ILA of a plan to replace the shapeup hiring
system in the Port of New York with 12 hiring
centers. The centers would be administered
jointly by the union and employers, but financed
solely by employer contributions. It was stated
that the plan would be submitted for consider­
ation to the New York State Legislature, the AFL,
and shipping and stevedoring firms represented
by the New York Shipping Association.
In an effort to forestall possible action by the
AFL to establish a rival union in the Port of
New York, the ILA reportedly indicated willing­
ness to surrender full authority over its affairs
to an administrator who would be appointed by
the Federation. AFL president, George Meany,
indicated approval of the proposal. However, he
stipulated that all members of the ILA executive
council should sign a petition requesting appoint­
ment of the administrator to supervise ILA locals
in the New York area, and agree to transfer all
constitutional powers to the administrator for
at least 1 year.
On the West Coast, the International Long­
shoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (Ind.) and
the Pacific Maritime Association extended their
coastwise contract until June 15, 1955, but agreed
to a wage reopening on June 15, 1954. A dispute
over the union’s proposals for increased wages and
a revised welfare plan was submitted to arbi­
tration. Meanwhile, the ILWU warehouse local
in the San Francisco area negotiated a contract
with the Distributors’ Association of Northern
California providing for an hourly wage increase
of 6% cents and a union shop. The previous union
security provision required only 75 percent of the
employees to maintain their membership. The
ILWU’s leader, Harry Bridges, won a U. S.

878

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Supreme Court decision dismissing an indictment
which charged him and two co-defendents with
perjury and conspiracy in connection with his
naturalization proceedings. The court held that
the indictment “ came too late to be effective”
under the applicable 3-year statute of limitations.
Other Developments

AFL Unions Act to Bar Criminals. As an aftermath of the New York State Crime Commission’s
investigation into the waterfront crime situation,
certain AFL unions took action designed to combat
racketeering elements in the labor movement.
The Jewelry Workers, in convention, unani­
mously voted to amend their constitution to
provide that each international and local union
representative, and candidate for such offices, must
sign an affidavit stating “whether he has ever been
convicted of any crime,” and, if so, the nature of
the crime and the sentence received. The Hatters
recommended establishment, within the AFL, of
a “department of justice” to receive and investi­
gate complaints of evils in unions and “go after
malefactors on the AFL’s own findings.” The
AFL Auto Workers’ New York Local 102 was
dissolved. The 2-year old taxicab local had been
formed by a convicted extortionist, subsequently
indicted on charges of State income tax irregular­
ities. AFL’s executive council previously had
threatened to recommend expulsion of the parent
union from the Federation if it failed to revoke the
local’s charter.7 Following the recent convention2
of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’
Union, its president, David Dubinsky, appointed a
full-time investigator to help safeguard the
organization against intrusion by corrupt elements.
Non-Communist Affidavit. An employer’s refusal
to conclude a contract unless the union’s interna­
tional and local officials signed non-Communist
affidavits constitutes a refusal to bargain in good
faith, according to a unanimous decision by the
National Labor Relations Board in a case involving
the Square D Co., Los Angeles, and the United
Electrical Workers (Ind.). The union was in
compliance with Taft-Hartley non-Communistoath filing requirements at the time of the em­
ployer’s request. After reviewing the past bar7See April 1953 issue of M onthly Labor Review (p. 418).

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MONTHLY LABOR

gaining relationship between the parties, the
Board concluded: “Due consideration of these
facts can lead only to the conclusion that the com­
pany was not actually motivated by any bona fide
concern over the union’s left-wing reputation. . . .
It was motivated by a desire never to reach agree­
ment with the union, rather than by what we
would agree would be a commendable desire to
combat subversive influences.”
The Board pointed out, however, that it might
well be more sympathetic to an employer’s demand
for additional affidavits for bona fide reasons of
national security or defense regulations.
Labor Unity and Cooperation

There were increasing signs during the month of
efforts toward amalgamation and cooperation
within the labor movement.3 2 Progress in these
directions was accomplished in discussions be­
tween the two major labor federations and between
several affiliated unions.
Leaders of the AFL and the CIO on June 2 took
a basic step toward the goal of organic unity by
agreeing on the general purposes and machinery
of a 2-year no-raiding pact.3 The accord received
prompt approval by the CIO executive board and
will be considered by the AFL executive council
at its next quarterly meeting. It will become
effective January 1, 1954, following ratification at
the autumn conventions of the AFL and CIO and
by their affiliates.
The agreement bars organizational raids be­
tween AFL and CIO affiliates in any plant where
either has a contract with the employer or has
been certified by the NLRB as the collective
bargaining agent. Jurisdictional conflicts involv­
ing the right to perform certain work, as well as
strictly intra-federation disputes, were excluded
from the scope of the agreement. Within the CIO,
a voluntary arbitration system for eliminating
raiding between its affiliates had been established
over a year ago, and an AFL committee was
appointed recently to inquire into raiding within
the federation. Disputes over interpretation and
application of the AFL-CIO agreement were
made subject to final and binding decision by an
arbitrator, but no formal disciplinary measures
were provided for noncompliance. The pact was
concluded after a detailed study of statistics on

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

raiding by affiliated unions showed that only
minor net organizational gains had resulted.
In a similar direction, the CIO Auto Workers
and the AFL Machinists agreed to extend indef­
initely their 4-year-old no-raiding pact, and in
addition, to broaden it to include “close coopera­
tion” in collective bargaining and strikes. The
two large unions agreed that, in bargaining with
employers having multiple plants organized by
the Machinists and the Auto Workers, they will
exchange information concerning “plants, loca­
tions, contracts and wage rates, and related
information” ; call joint conferences between the
unions’ representatives; and conduct joint negotia­
tions whenever such action is considered to be
desirable. Moreover, it was agreed that when­
ever one union strikes a company with which the
other union also bargains, each will assist the
other by providing joint economic aid, observing
authorized picket lines, and rejecting any settle­
ment that would “undermine or weaken” the
position of the striking union. These provisions
were expected to have the greatest impact on
the aircraft industry, where the majority of the
workers are represented by either the IAM or the
UAW. In this industry, it was agreed to establish
a joint committee to coordinate collective bar­
gaining procedures and relationships. Similar
coordinating groups will be established in other
industries where both unions have organized a
substantial number of workers.
The IAM-UAW no-raiding agreement pro­
hibits attempts by one union to win bargaining
rights from the other, but does not bar competition
in organizing nonunion plants. As extended,
however, it provides that when one union has
contracts covering 50 percent or more of a multi­
plant company’s production and maintenance
employees, and the other has no contract with the
company, the latter union will not attempt to
organize the company’s workers.
Another expression of inter-union amity oc­
curred in an exchange of letters between Joseph
Curran, president of the National Maritime Union
(CIO), and Harry Lundeberg, secretary-treasurer
of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific (AFL). The
correspondence which was published in the Pilot,
official publication of the NMU, furnished informa­
tion requested by the SUP president concerning
operation of the NMU vacation plan.
Mr.
Curran’s reply also indicated a willingness to

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cooperate fully with the SUP in contract negotia­
tions.
There were reports, too, of merger discussions
between the AFL Teamsters and the CIO Brewery
Workers and between the AFL Electrical Workers
and the CIO Utility Workers. Commenting on
these discussions, as well as on recent reports of
merger meetings involving the AFL Meatcutters
and the CIO Packinghouse Workers,3 CIO execu­
tive vice president, John Riffe, stated that the talks
merely reflected efforts by CIO affiliates to explore
the “possibility of reaching no-raid agreements
with AFL unions in the same field.” He added:
“The purpose of all these discussions has been to
create organizational stability and to free a max­
imum of organizational personnel to the number
one need of the American labor movement, the
organizing of the unorganized. To suggest, on the
basis of these no-raid conversations, that a series
of mergers is imminent is to sensationalize the
facts, draw false conclusions, and cause great
confusion in the ranks of organized labor.”
With regard to these reported mergers, CIO
president, Walter P. Reuther, stated that the dis­
cussions concerned the “implementation of the
no-raiding agreement between the CIO and iVFL.”
In addition, he categorically denied that a recent
meeting between the presidents of the CIO Steel­
workers and the United Mine Workers (Ind.)
concerned a possible merger of the two organiza­
tions.
Within the AFL, two old and outstanding craft
unions—Boilermakers and Blacksmiths—held a
consolidated convention, beginning in late June,
to fix the future policy of the organization and
adopt a consolidated constitution. In June 1951,
the combined International Brotherhood of Boiler­
makers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers,
and Helpers announced that the amalgamation of
the 2 unions had been legally and properly com­
pleted, and provided in detail for implementation
of the amalgamation for the next 2 years. AFL
building trades unions also have made progress in
resolving jurisdictional controversies, according to
a report by John T. Dunlop, chairman of the
National Joint Board for the Settlement of Juris­
dictional Disputes in the Building and Construc­
tion Industry. Although such conflicts continue,
he stated that specific procedures established by
the board for their settlement had reduced their
duration and probably their number.

Publications
of Labor Interest
E ditor’s N ote.—Correspondence regarding publications to which refer­
ence is made in this list should be addressed to the respective publishing agen­
cies mentioned. Data on prices, if readily available, are shown with the title
entries.
Listing of a publication in this section is for record and reference only and
does not constitute an endorsement of point of view or advocacy of use.

Special Reviews
The Continuous Contract— New Basis for Labor Relations.
By John W. Teele. (In Harvard Business Review,
Boston, May-June 1953, pp. 103-112. $2.)
To those beset by the seemingly endless frustrations of
the bargaining table, Mr. Teele’s article echoes an ever­
present fervent hope—there must be a better way. His
contribution to this better way is an analysis of what he
calls the “faulty mechanics” of present-day collective
bargaining and some provocative suggestions for improve­
ment. His proposals are predicated on the assumption
that “something is badly askew in our labor relations
picture.” Conceding that there may be many reasons for
this condition, he emphasizes that the status of the contract
itself is a significant contributing if not controlling factor.
The contract to him is a “truce point” which serves the
prime function of permitting the parties a certain period
between battles during which all energies are directed
toward preparing for the next one. The continuous con­
tract would eliminate this circumstance and would have,
as its distinguishing feature, recourse to continuous dis­
cussion and negotiation rather than to interruption and
spasmodic renewal of labor-management relationships.
It would provide for shorter, simpler, and clearer contracts
than are now the norm.
In discussing what is wrong now, the author concedes
that bargaining has improved, that the parties have become
more mature, and that the processes have become more
professional. He cites as one of the disturbing factors
the increasing participation of legal representatives in
collective bargaining, to whom he imputes a desire for
legal-sounding language. The net result is a decrease in
the flexibility and informality which, to Mr. Teele, are
highly desirable in collective bargaining. He suggests
that the relationship between labor and management in
the periods between the negotiations of contracts is becom­
ing increasingly formal and unnatural. During this period,
the parties are apt to be blind to suggestions made to each
other.
Following his indictment of present practices as he sees
them, Mr. Teele provides his own answer to his question,
880

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“Aren’t there suitable alternatives to the traditional
mechanics of collective bargaining?”. He eliminates im­
mediately, as being mainly ineffective, the use of third
parties, which he identifies in most cases as governmental
forcible intercession; the present emphasis on human
relations; and the use of compensation formulas of which
the escalator clause is projected as the best example.
Superior to these alternatives is a new approach whose
essential features are described as (1) bringing people
together, (2) keeping them together, and (3) creating an
atmosphere favorable to the growth of understanding.
Modifications of the ordinary contract, necessary to
effectuate the procedures described above, would require
the elimination of all reference to termination in the
collective agreement. In its place, there would be sub­
stituted a 90-day cancellation clause and a proviso that
modification of the agreement can take place at any time
on “matters of joint concern.” Within this framework,
the parties would be in discussion and negotiation on a
continuous basis with complete freedom to take up any­
thing.
Thereafter, the author attempts to meet possible objec­
tions to his proposals. Most of these objections he antici­
pates would be based on the excessive time demands
implicit in his proposal, the possibility of too many
amendments to the contract, the effect of management
prerogatives, and the vitiating of the effectiveness of no­
strike clauses. With reference to the effect on manage­
ment and union prerogatives, he notes that “management
can still say 'no’ to any union demands if it is willing, as at
present, to take the consequences. The unions can still
strike if they want to in order to enforce their demands.
In these and other matters, both parties would have as
much discretion as ever.”
The language quoted above provides perhaps the
greatest insight into the weaknesses of the author’s pro­
posal. He states categorically that recourse to tests of
economic strength would be as available to the parties
under his plan as they are now. (It is manifest that from
a chronological standpoint the recourse would be even
more available.) If, as he states, the use of economic
strength would be as permissive as it has been, then his
case must rest on the premise that the parties will be less
inclined to resort to it.
Preliminary to an evaluation of the author’s specific
proposal, a critical examination of his two basic assump­
tions is obviously warranted. First, he attributes to the
collective agreement a greater significance in the day-today relationships between labor and management than
can be supported by experience. Second, he assumes
that the type of continuous cooperative discussion be­
tween management and labor which is the keystone of
his plan does not and cannot exist under present practices
as they apply to contract duration and negotiations.
His first assumption presupposes that the contract
creates the relationships between the parties. Most prac­
titioners will agree that the administration of the contract
reflects the relationships. While the author’s general
thesis that labor-management relationships are bad may,
in itself, be subject to dispute, it is manifest to anyone

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST
identified with the collective-bargaining process that, in
individual situations, the degree of harmonious and coop­
erative relationships varies greatly. This wide variation
would tend to negate any assumption that the term of the
average contract of today is controlling or even significant
in the determination of these relationships. To the extent
that the duration of most contracts follows the pattern
which the author decries, there can be little basis for the
conclusion that the duration itself is significant in the
type of day-to-day relationships that exist.
The second assumption, that continuous discussion does
not exist and is impracticable under the present form of
contract, is inconsistent with recent developments in labor
relations. Despite the tendency toward the expansion of
contracts (which incidentally is attributable in part to the
growing complexity of labor relations rather than to any
innate propensity for verbiage, legal or otherwise), the
need for frequent consultation between management and
labor has been receiving increasing recognition by both
parties. The contract by its very nature becomes less
and less a self-operating instrument regardless of the
strictness of construction that the parties may apply to it.
Newly negotiated health and welfare programs and pension
plans are typical contract provisions making it increas­
ingly necessary that there be joint consideration of mutual
problems.
Finally, the author makes no mention of the affirmative
value of the present-day one-year or longer contract in
providing periods of stability for both management and
labor which are devoted to activities other than prepara­
tion for the coming battle. The search for more construc­
tive devices in labor-management relations must be an
ever-continuing one, but it is not advanced much by
categorical assumptions. It is apparent, by this time,
that there are no short cuts.
— L eo K o tin .
A Policy for Scientific and Professional Manpower. By
National Manpower Council. New York, Columbia
University Press, 1953. 263 pp., bibliography,
charts. $4.50.
This second report of the National Manpower Council
has been described as the first comprehensive survey of
problems and policies in the field of scientific and profes­
sional manpower.
The National Manpower Council is composed of leaders
in industry, labor, education, and public service from all
sections of the country. It was established at Columbia
University in the spring of 1951, under a grant from the
Ford Foundation, to study important manpower problems
in the emergency period and contribute to the better
development and utilization of the country’s manpower
resources.
The Council’s book has two parts. The first is a state­
ment by the Council presenting recommendations to the
Nation for achieving the following broad objectives: (1)
To develop more reliable knowledge about our human
resources; (2) to strengthen the institutions which educate
and train our scientists and professionals; (3) to maintain
a continuous, large flow of students through our colleges
and universities; (4) to expand the opportunities for
2 6 3 6 3 4 — 5 3 -------- 5


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881

capable young persons to secure a higher education; and
(5) to improve the utilization of the available supply of
scientific and professional personnel. The second part,
prepared by the Council’s research staff in consultation
with many specialists in professional fields, reviews the
facts and issues underlying the recommendations.
The recommendations constitute a broad and coordi­
nated program for action by Government agencies, private
business, educational institutions, foundations, and pro­
fessional societies. The following examples indicate the
wide scope of these recommendations. Both Government
and private agencies are called on to intensify their efforts
to collect and analyze information about scientific man­
power. The President is asked to appoint a commission to
study the effect of Government research contracts on “the
primary responsibilities of the colleges and universities to
advance fundamental knowledge and train tomorrow’s
scholars and scientists.” Continued public support of the
program of deferment for qualified college students is
recommended. It is also suggested that the President
initiate a review of the laws and procedures governing the
call-up of reservists, so as to “provide for civilian partici­
pation in determining the distribution of scientific and
professional personnel required to meet military and
civilian needs,” and that management make intensified
efforts to determine the most effective balance between
professional and other types of manpower. In many
respects the Council’s recommendations parallel and thus
give support to the policies outlined in Defense Manpower
Policy Number 8, Training and Utilization of Scientific and
Engineering Manpower, issued by the Office of Defense
Mobilization in 1952.
The 12 chapters which make up the second part of the
book cover such topics as the growth of the professions, the
potential for higher education, the growth and extent of
research and development activity in the United States,
the use of highly trained manpower by the Armed Forces,
and the nature of manpower shortages. Separate chapters
are devoted to the supply-and-demand situation in engi­
neering, physics, teaching, and the medical profession,
respectively. The difficulties encountered in attempting
to apply the usual tools of economic analysis in a discussion
of manpower shortages are briefly considered. The causes
of and possible remedies for both short-run and long-run
personnel shortages are considered at length.
Altogether, the book is an able and concise presentation
of the most significant problems regarding scientific and
specialized personnel. It is especially noteworthy as the
first systematic discussion of the “large-scale concerted
effort” on many fronts which will be required to ensure an
adequate supply.
— H e l e n W ood .

Child and Youth Employment
Child Labor— A Summary of New Jersey and Federal Laws.
New Brunswick, N. J., Rutgers University, Institute
of Management and Labor Relations, 1952. 25 pp.;
processed. (Bull. 2.) Free to New Jersey residents,
10 cents to nonresidents.

882

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

MONTHLY LABOR

Child Fruit and Vegetable Pickers, New York State, 1952.
New York, Department of Labor, Division of Re­
search and Statistics, 1953. 32 pp.; processed.
(Special Labor News Memorandum 38.)

The United Nations and Full Employment. By A. A. P.
Dawson. (In International Labor Review, Geneva,
May 1953, pp. 401-433. 60 cents. Distributed in
United States by Washington Branch of ILO.)

Young Workers in the Seasonal Farm Labor Force, Madison
and Oneida Counties, New York, 1951. New York,
Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Rela­
tions, Women in Industry and Minimum Wage, and
Division of Research and Statistics, 1953. 39 pp.;
processed. (Publication B-66.)

Stabilization of Employment is Good Management. By
Charles C. Gibbons. Kalamazoo, Mich., W. E.
Upjohn Institute for Community Research, 1953. 13
pp., bibliography.
Paper presented at Personnel Conference of American
Management Association, Chicago, February 17, 1953.

The

California Aircraft Employment, 194-0—1952. San Fran­
cisco, State Department of Industrial Relations,
Division of Labor Statistics and Research, 1953. 5
pp., chart; processed.

ILO and Youth. Geneva, International Labor
Office, 1952. 16 pp., illus. Free. Distributed in
United States by Washington Branch of ILO.

Job Supervision of Young Workers: A Report of Discussions
of the Technical Committee on Supervision of Young
Workers, September SO-October 1, 1952. Washington,
U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Stand­
ards, 1953. 23 pp.; processed. Free.
School Attendance and Labor Force Status of Children 10 to
13 Years of Age [in Puerto Rico], October 1952. San
Juan, Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statis­
tics, 1953. 5 pp.; processed. (Special Report on the
Labor Force, 7.)

Education and Training
Digest of Annual Reports of State Boards for Vocational
Education to the Office of Education, Division of Vo­
cational Education, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1952.
Washington, U. S. Department of Health, Education,
and Welfare, Office of Education, 1953. 43 pp.,
charts.
Guide to Films in Economic Education. Washington,
National Education Association, Department of
Audio-Visual Instruction, [1952?]. 50 pp. $1.
Films on various labor subjects are included.
How to Train Supervisors— Manual and Outlines for De­
terminate Discussion. By R. 0 . Beckman. New
York, Harper & Brothers, 1952. 335 pp., bibli­
ography, forms. 4th rev. ed. $4.
Inter-American Seminar on Vocational Education, [held at
University of Maryland, August 3-September 6, 1952]:
Vocational Education Textbooks—Exhibit Catalog.
Washington, Pan American Union, 1953. 57 pp.;
processed. (Inter-American Seminar on Education,
4.) Free.

Employment
Conditions of Full Employment. By Karl Gruber; trans­
lated into English by Jean Meyer. London, William
Hodge and Co., Ltd., 1952. 141 pp., bibliography.
12s. 6d. net. (Also available from British Book
Centre, 122 East 55th Street, New York 22; $2.75.)
Causes and effects of cyclical crises in terms of the
problems involved in maintaining full employment are
dealt with by an economist of the Austrian school.


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Handicapped
Adjustment to Physical Handicap and Illness: A Survey
of the Social Psychology of Physique and Disability. By
Roger G. Barker and others. New York, Social
Science Research Council, 1953. 440 pp., bibliogra­
phies. (Bull. 55, revised.) $2.
Employment of the disabled is discussed in a 27-page
chapter, and references to published material on the sub­
ject make up nearly 6 pages of the volume’s 49-page bibli­
ography.
Characteristics of Recipients of Aid to the Permanently and
Totally Disabled, M id-1951. Washington, U. S.
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Social Security Administration, Bureau of Public
Assistance, 1953. 99 pp., charts; processed. (Public
Assistance Report 22.)
Rehabilitation of the Physically Handicapped. By Henry
H. Kessler. New York, Columbia University Press,
1953. 275 pp. Rev. ed. $4.
Rehabilitation of the Severely Disabled: UM W A [United
Mine Workers of America] Welfare and Retirement
Fund Experience. By Kenneth E. Pohlmann. (In
American Journal of Public Health and the Nation’s
Health, New York, April 1953, pp. 445-451. $1.)
Selected Sources of Free and Inexpensive Information Con­
cerning Vocational Rehabilitation— A Bibliography.
Compiled by Lynn L. and Lillian L. Ralya. Santa
Monica, Calif., the compilers, 1953. 8 pp. 25 cents.

Income
Shares of Upper Income Groups in Income and Savings.
By Simon Kuznets. New York, National Bureau of
Economic Research, Inc., 1953. xli, 725 pp., charts.
(Publication 55.) $9.
Makes use of data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue
and other Federal Government agencies and from private
individuals to provide extensive coverage of characteristics
of upper income groups, of the level of and changes in
income shares and savings, and of techniques of deriving
estimates. Part V contains 185 pages of basic reference
tables.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

Studies in Income and Wealth, Volume 14- By Conference
on Research in Income and Wealth. New York,
National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., [1952?].
268 pp., charts. $3.50.
This is the second of the volumes on income and wealth
devoted entirely to national wealth. The approach in
this volume involves consideration of the asset holdings
of individuals and business enterprises in a general eco­
nomic framework. Included are a new set of national
wealth estimates by Raymond W. Goldsmith, covering
more than 50 years, and several papers by other writers
dealing with the distribution of wealth.
Volume 15 (1953, 227 pp., $3.50) of the series on income
and wealth deals with problems of the size distribution of
income, such as comparisons among the several income
groups, between farm and nonfarm families, and by
geographic region.
Bibliography on Income and Wealth, Volume II, 1948-1949*
Edited by Phyllis Deane. Cambridge, England»
Bowes & Bowes Publishers, Ltd. (for Internationa^
Association for Research in Income and Wealth)»
1953. 109 pp. 37s. 6d.
An annotated international bibliography.

Industrial Accidents and Accident Prevention
Injury Rate Variations in the Boilershop-Products Industry,
1951— A Detailed Analysis of Injury Rates by Product,
Plant Size, Region, and Operating Department. Wash­
ington, U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, 1953. 15 pp.; processed. (BLS Report 28.)
Free.
Industrial Safety. Edited by Roland P. Blake. New York#
Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1953. 474 pp., bibliography
diagrams, forms, illus. 2d. ed. $7.90.
In this new volume, certain chapters of the 1943 edition
have been revised and two new chapters added. One of
the new chapters contains what the preface refers to as
a “down-to-earth” discussion of three theories of accident
occurrence, and the other presents essential elements
of a safety program.
Safety Standards for Federal Installations: Construction,
Maintenance, Repairs, and Demolition. By Federal
Safety Council. Washington, U. S. Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards, 1953. 98 pp.,
illus. Free.
Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories, [Great
Britain], for the Year 1951. London, Ministry of
Labor and National Service, 1953. 232 pp. (Cmd.
8772.) 6s. 6d. net, H. M. Stationery Office, London.
In addition to the usual data on industrial accidents and
diseases, the report contains a review of changes in indus­
trial processes and in measures for worker protection and
welfare in Great Britain during the past 50 years, and a
section on radiological developments in industry and pro­
tection of workers from radiation.


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PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

Safety and Health in the Cane-Sugar Industry in Cuba.
By I. T. Cabrera. (In Occupational Safety and
Health, International Labor Office, Geneva, OctoberDecember 1952, pp. 174-181, illus.; January-March
1953, pp. 13-18, illus. 75 cents each. Distributed in
United States by Washington Branch of ILO.)

Industrial Hygiene
The Greater Industrial Health: Transactions of 17th Annual
Meeting of Industrial Hygiene Foundation of America,
November 20, 1952. Pittsburgh, Pa., Industrial Hy­
giene Foundation of America, Inc., 1953. 94 pp.,
charts, illus. (Transactions Bull. 22.)
Proceedings of the First Annual Conference on Industrial
Vision, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N. J.
[Trenton, N. J., Dr. Andrew W. Fischer, 162 West
State Street, (1953?).] 48 pp., bibliography, charts,
diagrams, illus. 50 cents.
Industrial Noise and Hearing Conservation Programs. By
Meyer S. Fox, M.D. (In Industrial Medicine and
Surgery, Chicago, April 1953, pp. 161-164, bibliog­
raphy, charts. 75 cents.)
Properties and Essential Information for Safe Handling and
Use of Ethyl Chloride. Washington, Manufacturing
Chemists’ Association, Inc., 1953. 15 pp. (Chem­
ical Safety Data Sheet SD-50.) 25 cents.
Protection Against Radiant Heat. By A. M. Wallach. (In
National Safety News, Chicago, June 1953, pp.
30-31, 130-132, illus. 75 cents to nonmembers of
National Safety Council.)
Describes a protective face shield and shows its effec­
tiveness.

Industrial Relations

I

Collective Bargaining and the Emergency Dispute. By
Cyrus S. Ching. (In Temple Law Quarterly, Phila­
delphia, Pa., Spring 1953, pp. 363-367. $1.25.)
Three other articles in this issue of Temple Law Quarterly
deal with emergency disputes: Public Opinion and the
Emergency Dispute, by Louis Stark; The Role of Govern­
ment in Emergency Disputes, by David L. Cole; The
Public Emergency Dispute: Its Various Aspects and Some
Possible Solutions, by M. Herbert Syme.
Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Meeting, Industrial Rela­
tions Research Association, Chicago, III., December
28-29, 1952. Edited by L. Reed Tripp. Madison,
Wis. (Secretary-Treasurer of the Association, Park
and University, Temp. 3, Room 5), 1953. 254 pp.
$3.
Among the topics covered were effective utilization of
the labor force, factors influencing managerial decisions in
industrial relations, role of public opinion in industrial
disputes, and development of pension programs under
collective bargaining.

884

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

Psychology of Industrial Relations. By C. H. Lawshe and
others. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.,
1953. 350 pp., bibliographies, charts.
Outlines the major contributions of industrial psychology
useful to managerial personnel.
Codetermination in German Industry. By Frieda Wunder­
lich. (In Social Research, New York, Spring 1953,
pp. 75-90. $1.)
Deals with labor-management cooperation in West
German industry, as provided by the Works Council Law
of 1952.

Labor Legislation and Court Decisions
The Impact of the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947
Upon the Jurisdiction of State Courts Over Union
Activities. By Sidney G. Handler. (In Temple Law
Quarterly, Philadelphia, Pa., Fall 1952, pp. 111-127.
$1.25.)
Labor Laws of Indiana, 1951—52 Edition: A Compilation of
Indiana Laws Relating to Employment (Including In­
dustrial Codes Relating to Health and Safety Adopted
by the Commissioner of Labor). Indianapolis, Indiana
Division of Labor, [1952?]. 208 pp.
Labor Laws of Ohio, 1952. Columbus, Ohio Chamber of
Commerce, Industrial Relations Department, 1952.
253 pp. $5.50 to members.
Digest of Virginia Labor Legislation. By Merlyn Nelson
Trued. Charlottesville, University of Virginia, Bu­
reau of Population and Economic Research, 1953.
53 pp.
A Summary and Critique of the Law of Peaceful Picketing in
New York. By Emil Schlesinger. (In Fordham Law
Review, New York, March 1953, pp. 20-74. 75
cents.)
Review of court interpretations of New York and Fed­
eral laws.
Legislation Relating to Employment Security Service,
[Japan]. [Tokyo], Ministry of Labor, Employment
Security Bureau, 1952. 112 pp.

Labor Organizations
Democracy in Labor Unions. By Joel Seidman. (In
Journal of Political Economy, Chicago, June 1953,
pp. 221-231. $1.50.)
Democracy in Labor Unions. Princeton, N. J., Princeton
University, Industrial Relations Section, May 1953.
4 pp. (Selected References, 51.) 20 cents.
Jewish Labor in U. S. A.— An Industrial, Political, and
Cultural History of the Jewish Labor Movement,
1914-1952. By Melech Epstein. New York (22
West 38th Street), Trade Union Sponsoring Com­
mittee, 1953. 466 pp., bibliography. $5.50.


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MONTHLY LABOR

I, The Union: Being the Personalized Trade Union Story
of the Hebrew Butcher Workers of America. By
Joseph Belsky. New York, Raddock & Brothers,
Ltd., 1952. xxi, 197 pp., illus. $3.85.
This is LO [Landsorganisationen i Sverige]. Stockholm,
Landsorganisationen i Sverige, 1952. 23 pp., illus.
Describes the organization, functions, and procedures
of the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions.

Minority Groups
Check List of State Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Bias Laws.
New York, American Jewish Congress, Commission
on Law and Social Action, 1953. 27 pp. Rev. ed.
50 cents.
Minority Group Integration by Labor and Management.
By Henry G. Stetler. Hartford, Conn., Commission
on Civil Rights, 1953. 67 pp., map.
A study of the employment practices of the larger em­
ployers, and the membership practices of the larger labor
unions, with respect to race, religion, and national origin,
in Connecticut in 1951.
Employment Practices in Pennsylvania: Report of the Gov­
ernor’s Commission on Industrial Race Relations.
Harrisburg, 1953. 58 pp., chart.
Report of an investigation of discriminatory employ­
ment practices because of race, creed, color, national origin,
or citizenship of the worker. The survey covered 1,229
firms with almost 900,000 employees.
Report on a Survey of Employment Policies and Practices
Involving Minority Groups in Somerset County, New
Jersey. Newark, Department of Education, Division
Against Discrimination, 1953. 13 pp.; processed.
One of a series of studies, in 13 New Jersey counties, of
employment policies and practices as they affect racial and
cultural minorities.
“ We Believe in Employment on Merit, But . . .” By Wil­
fred C. Leland, Jr. (In Minnesota Law Review,
Minneapolis, March 1953, pp. 246-267. $1.75.)
Deals primarily with the procedures and experience of
the Minneapolis Fair Employment Practice Commission,
of which the author is executive director, in administering
the city ordinance prohibiting discrimination in employ­
ment because of race, creed, color, national origin, or
ancestry of an applicant.

Personnel Management
Building Better Employee Relations Through Recreation:
Proceedings of the 7th Annual Industrial Recreation
Conference, Purdue University, Lafayette,
Ind.,
October 19-21, 1952. Edited by Jackson M. Anderson.
Lafayette, Ind., Purdue University, Division of Edu­
cation and Applied Psychology and Division of Adult
Education, 1952. 46 p p.; processed.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR INTEREST

Plant-Centered Recreation for Defense Workers— Organiza­
tion and Administration. New York, National Rec­
reation Association, Inc., 1952. 39 pp., bibliography.

885

Unemployment Compensation Financing in New Hampshire
By Newell Brown and others. Concord, [Department
of Labor], Division of Employment Security, 1953.
243 pp.; processed.

Employee Magazines and Newspapers. By Geneva Seybold. New York, National Industrial Conference
Board, Inc., 1953. 68 pp., forms, illus. (Studies in
Personnel Policy, 136.)

Report of New York State Advisory Council on Employment
and Unemployment Insurance for the Year 1952. New
York (1440 Broadway), 1953. 86 pp.; processed.

A Survey of Bank and Department Store Employee Hand­
books. By William R. Spriegel and E. Lanham.
Austin, University of Texas, Bureau of Business
Research, 1952. 117 pp., bibliography, diagrams.
(Personnel Study 4.) $1.

Annual Report on Benefit Years Established and Terminated
Under the [Canadian] Unemployment Insurance Act,
Calendar Year 1951. Ottawa, Department of Trade
and Commerce, Dominion Bureau of Statistics, 1953.
52 pp. 40 cents.

How to Improve Productivity Through Better Selection [of
workers]. By Robert N. McMurry. Berkeley, Cali­
fornia Personnel Management Association, Research
Division, 1952. 14 pp.; processed. (Management
Report 147.) $1.

Beretning om [Direktoratet for] Arbeidsanvisningen og
Arbeidslfishedsforsikringen, [Denmark], m. m. for Regnskabsäret 1951-52. Copenhagen, 1953. 96 pp.
Report on employment service activities and unemploy­
ment insurance in Denmark in 1951-52.

Lincoln Incentive Management. By James F. Lincoln.
Berkeley, California Personnel Management Associa­
tion, Research Division, 1952. 16 pp.; processed.
(Management Report 142.) $1.

Miscellaneous

Suggestion Systems. By Herbert R. Northrup. New
York, National Industrial Conference Board, Inc.,
1953. 55 pp., diagrams, forms, illus. (Studies in
Personnel Policy, 135.)

Production and Productivity of Labor
Case Study Data on Productivity and Factory Performance:
Fractional Horsepower Motors {Based on Reports Sub­
mitted by Six Selected Plants). Washington, U. S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1953. 170 pp., charts, forms, illus.; processed. (BLS
Report 23.) Free.
The Index of Industrial Production. London, Central
Statistical Office, 1952. 54 pp. (Studies in Official
Statistics, 2.) 2s. 6d. net, H. M. Stationery Office,
London.
Deals with the revision of the interim, index, first pub­
lished in 1948, reflecting changes in the volume of industrial
production in Great Britain.
Labor Productivity in the Soviet Union. By Irving H. Siegel.
{In Journal of the American Statistical Association,
Washington, March 1953, pp. 65-78.)
Discusses available Soviet productivity data. Shows
that Soviet productivity claims are inflated, and concludes
that “there can be no doubt that USSR lags far behind
U. S. in productivity.”

Unemployment Insurance
Financing Unemployment Compensation. New York, Tax
Foundation, Inc., 1953. 40 pp., bibliography. (Proj­
ect Note 32.)


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

The Economics of Defense: A Primer of American Mobiliza­
tion. By Richard V. Clemence. Harrisburg, Pa.,
Stackpole Co., 1953. 138 pp., bibliography, diagrams.
$2.95.
Economics of Mobilization and War. Edited by W. Glenn
Campbell. Homewood, 111., Richard D. Irwin, Inc.,
1952. 196 pp., bibliographies. $2.60.
Government’s Role in Economic Life. By George A.
Steiner. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.,
1953. 440 pp., bibliographies, charts. $6.
The Origins and Development of the American Economy—
An Introduction to Economics. By E. A. J. Johnson
and Herman E. Krooss. New York, Prentice-Hall,
Inc., 1953. 420 pp. $6.65.
Democracy in France—the Third and Fourth Republics.
By David Thomson. London, New York, etc.,
Oxford University Press, 1952. 300 pp., bibliography.
2d ed. $3.
Issued under auspices of Royal Institute of International
Affairs (London).
Public Health and Welfare in Japan— Final Summary,
1951-52. [Tokyo], Supreme Commander for the
Allied Powers, General Headquarters, Medical Sec­
tion, Public Health and Welfare Division, [1952].
136 pp., charts.
Labor and Tin Mining in Malaya. By Nim Chee Siew.
Ithaca, N. Y., Cornell University, Department of
Far Eastern Studies, 1953. 48 pp., map, illus.; proc­
essed. (Data Paper 7.)
Five

Years of Pakistan {August 19J7-August 1952).
Karachi, Pakistan Publications, [1953?]. 301 pp.,
charts, maps, illus. Rs. 3.
Among subjects covered are various labor matters,
refugee rehabilitation, education, and public health.

Current Labor Statistics
A.—Employment and Payrolls
888 Table A -l:
889 Table A-2:
893 Table A-3:
896 Table A-4:
896 Table
Table
Table
897 Table

A-5:
A-6:
A-7:
A-8:

Estimated total labor force classified by employment status, hours
worked, and sex
Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry division
and group
Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries
Indexes of production-worker employment and weekly payrolls in
manufacturing industries
Federal civilian employment by branch and agency group
Employees in nonagricultural establishments for selected States 1
Employees in manufacturing industries, by State 1
Insured unemployment under State unemployment insurance pro­
grams, by geographic division and State

—Labor Turnover
898 Table B -1: Monthly labor turnover rates (per 100 employees) in manufacturing
industries, by class of turnover
899 Table B-2: Monthly labor turnover rates (per 100 employees) in selected groups
and industries

—Earnings and Hours
901 Table C -l:
917 Table C-2:
917 Table C-3:
918 Table C-4:
Table C-5:

Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory
employees
Gross average weekly earnings of production workers in selected
industries, in current and 1947-49 dollars
Gross and net spendable average weekly earnings of production
workers in manufacturing industries, in current and 1947-4 9 dollars
Average hourly earnings, gross and excluding overtime, of produc­
tion workers in manufacturing industries
Hours and gross earnings of production workers in manufacturing
industries for selected States and areas 1

1 This table is included in the March, June, September, and December issues of the Review.
N o t e .— Beginning with the May 1953 issue, data shown in tables A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, C -l, C-2, C-3, and C-4
have been revised because of adjustment to more recent benchmark levels. These data cannot be used with
those appearing in previous issues of the Monthly Labor Review. Comparable data for earlier years are avail­
able upon request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In subsequent issues of the Review, technical notes will
describe these revisions.
886


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

CURRENT LABOR STATISTICS

887

D.—Prices and Cost of Living
919 Table D -l
920
920
921
922

Table
Table
Table
Table

D-2
D-3
D-4
D-5

923 Table D-6
924 Table D-7
925 Table D-8
926 Table D-9:

E.

Consumer price index—United States average, all items and com­
modity groups
Consumer price index—United States average, food and its subgroups
Consumer price index—United States average, all items and food
Consumer price index—all items indexes for selected dates, by city
Consumer price index—all items and commodity groups, except
food, by city
Consumer price index—food and its subgroups, by city
Average retail prices and indexes of selected foods
Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities
(1947-49=100)
Special wholesale price indexes (1947-49=100)

—Work Stoppages
927 Table E -l:

Work stoppages resulting from labor-management disputes

F. —Building and Construction
Expenditures for new construction
Value of contracts awarded and force-account work started on fed­
erally financed new construction, by type of construction
930 Table F -3: Urban building authorized, by principal class of construction and by
type of building
931 Table F -4: New nonresidential building authorized in all urban places, by general
type and by geographic division
932 Table F -5: Number and construction cost of new permanent nonfarm dwelling
units started, by urban or rural location, and by source of funds

928 Table F -l:
929 Table F-2:


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

A : EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

MONTHLY LABOR

A: Employment and Payrolls
T able A -l: Estimated total labor force classified by employment status, hours worked, and sex
Estimated number of persons 14 years of age and over > (in thousands)
1953

1952

Labor force3
June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

Total, both sexes

Total labor force,................................. .......

0

0

(3)

0

Civilian labor force_______ _____ _______
Unemployment.................................. ......
Unemployed 4 weeks or less_______
Unemployed 5-10 weeks..___ _____
Unemployed 11-14 weeks................. .
Unemployed 15-26 weeks...................
Unemployed over 26 weeks...............
Employment............................................
N onagricul tural...................... ..........
Worked 35 hours or more______
Worked 15-34 hours..................
Worked 1-14 hours4__________
With a job but not at work 3.......
Agricultural...................................... .
Worked 35 hours or more______
Worked 15-34 hours___ _______
Worked 1-14 hours 4........ ............
With a job but not at work 4___

64, 734
1, 562
1,042
212
96
124
88
63,172
55, 246
46, 304
4,924
1, 468
2, 550
7, 926
6,334
1,346
178
68

62,964
1,306
656
326
116
150
58
61,658
55, 268
45,988
5,608
1,926
1,746
6,390
4,346
1,578
230
236

62,810
1,582
818
376
146
166
76
61,228
55,158
45, 478
5,660
2,074
1,946
6,070
4, 334
1,320
194
222

63,134
1, 674
812
394
188
184
96
61, 460
55, 740
46, 030
5, 712
2,326
1, 672
5, 720
3,822
1, 324
250
324

0
62, 712
1, 788
930
480
132
160
86
60, 924
55, 558
44, 992
6, 368
2,172
2, 026
5, 366
3, 516
1, 260
254
336

(3)

66, 309

67,047

66,566

67,166

67, 419

67, 642

67,884

62,416
1,892
1,018
456
150
176
92
60, 524
55,072
45,244
5,776
1, 992
2, 060
5, 452
3, 404
1,532
218
298

62,921
1,412
822
280
102
109
97
61,509
55, 812
47,037
5.331
1,968
1,476
5,697
3,877
1,323
248
249

63,646
1,418
850
302
104
108
54
62,228
55,454
45,950
5,934
2,002
1,568
6, 774
5, 254
1,198
194
128

63,146
1,284
704
312
86
104
78
61,862
54,588
45,688
5,220
1,844
1,836
7, 274
5, 080
1,868
218
108

63,698
1,438
830
286
110
152
60
62,260
54, 712
45, 538
5, 214
1,576
2,384
7, 548
5, 774
1,380
212
182

63,958
1,604
872
422
130
122
58
62,354
55,390
43,824
4,924
1,480
5,162
6,964
5,030
1,560
194
180

64,176
1,942
1,174
476
116
106
70
62, 234
54, 636
42,112
5, 016
1,512
5,996
7, 598
5,654
1,610
174
160

64,390
1 ,818
1, 240
288
78
146
66
62, 572
54,402
44,144
5,180
1,642
3,436
8'170
6,482
1,408
184
96

Males
Total labor force_______________ ______

0

0

0

0

0

0

46, 580

46, 571

46,568

46.890

47. 811

48,141

47, 913

Civilian labor force___________________
Unemployment_________ _________
Employment_____________________
N onagricultural........ ............ .........
Worked 35 hours or more___
Worked 15-34 h o u rs.......... .
Worked 1-14 hours4...........
With a job but not at work 8
Agricultural........................ .............
Worked 35 hours or more___
Worked 15-34 hours________
Worked 1-14 hours4. ..............
With a job but not at work 8.

44,862
1,024
43,838
37, 626
33,166
2, 258
634
1,568
6,212
5, 458
568
122
64

43,848
898
42,950
37,470
32, 582
2,822
854
1,212
5,480
4,134
960
184
202

43,898
1,104
42, 794
37, 498
32,382
2, 918
904
1.294
5, 296
4,130
846
140
ISO

43,892
1,108
42, 784
37, 758
32, 686
3, 048
934
1, 090
5, 026
3, 610
946
188
282

43,692
1, 244
42, 448
37, 646
32,066
3, 250
984
1, 346
4,802
3,374
930
204
294

43,334
1,360
41,974
37,166
32,046
2,918
810
1.392
4,808
3,248
1,128
178
254

43,240
965
42,275
37,373
33,215
2. 430
767
961
4, 902
3,615
866
200
221

43,218
814
42,404
36,916
32, 376
2,858
698
984
5,488
4, 616
642
112
118

43,196
714
42, 482
36,662
32,336
2,444
658
1,224
5,820
4, 560
1,012
152
96

43,468
864
42,604
36, 766
32,316
2, 366
542
1,542
5,838
4,800
706
154
178

44,396
1,004
43,392
37, 582
31,362
2,622
494
3,104
5, 810
4,656
870
152
132

44, 720
1,244
43,476
37,316
30. 286
2, 682
562
3, 786
6,160
5,114
778
134
134

1.138
43,326
37, 050
31, 734
2, 490
628
2,198
6. 276
5,450
596
140
90

19, 729

20, 476

19,998

20, 276

19,608

19, 501

19,971

19, 681
447
19, 234
18, 439
13, 822
2,901
1,201
515
795
262
457
48
28

20,428
604
19,824
18, 538
13, 574
3,076
1,304
584
1,286
638
556
82
10

19,950
570
19,380
17, 926
13,352
2, 776
1,186
612
1,454
520
856
66
12

20,230
574
19,656
17, 946
13, 222
2,848
1,034
842
1, 710
974
674
58
4

19, 562
600
18,962
17,808
12,462
2,302
986
2. 058
1,154
374
690
42
48

19. 456
698
18, 758
17,320
11,826
2,334
950
2,210
1,438
540
832
40
26

19,926
680
19,246
17,352
12, 410
2, 690
1,014
1,238
1,894
1,032
812
44

Females
Total labor force................ ..........
Civilian labor force............. .....................
U n e m p l o y m e n t ...........................................
E m p lo y m e n t .......................... ........................

N onagricultural........ ......................
Worked 35 hours or more___
Worked 15-34 hours_______
Worked 1-14 hours4_______
With a job but not at work J
Agricultural_____ ____ ________
Worked 35 hours or more___
Worked 15-34 hours_______
Worked 1-14 hours 4...............
With a job but not at work *

0

0

0

0

19,872
538
19, 334
17, 620
13.138
2, 666
834
982
1,714
876
778
56
4

19,116
408
18, 708
17, 798
13,406
2, 786
1,072
534
910
212
618
46
34

18, 912
478
18, 434
17,660
13,096
2, 742
1.170
652
774
204
474
54
42

19, 242
566
18. 676
17, 982
13, 344
2,664
1, 392
582
694
212
378
62
42

rauiudies are suujeci ro sampling variation wnich may be large in cases
where the quantities shown are relatively small. Therefore, the smaller
estimates should be used with caution. All data exclude persons in institu­
tions. Because of rounding, the individual figures do not necessarily add to
group totals.
* Beginning with January 1953, figures are not entirely comparable with
those for previous months as a result of the introduction of materials from the
1950 Census into the estimating procedure used in deriving current labor
force estimates. However, the differences are minor in most respects. For
explanation, see Census Bureau’s Current Population Reports, Series P-57,
No. 127, M onthly Report on the Labor Force: January 1953.


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0
19, 020
544
18, 476
17, 912
12, 926
3,118
1,188
680
564
142
330
50
42

0
19, 082
532
18, 550
17, 906
13,198
2, 858
1,182
668
644
156
404
40
44

6

3 Total labor force, which consists of the civilian labor force and the Armed
Forces, is not shown for the most recent months because of security
restrictions.
4 Excludes persons engaged only in incidental unpaid family work (less than
15 hours); these persons are classified as not in the labor force.
8 Includes persons who had a job or business, but who did not work during
the census week because of illness, bad weather, vacation, labor dispute, or
because of temporary layoff with definite instructions to return to work
within 30 days of layoff. Does not include unpaid family workers.
Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

889

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

T able A-2: Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry division and group 1
[In thousands]
Annual
average

1952

1953
Industry group and industry
June
Total employees.
M in in g ______ ____

M etal__________
Iron..................
Copper---------Lead and zinc.
Anthracite-------Bituminous-coal.

M ay

April

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

N ov.

Oct.

Sept.

299.5

Crude-petroleum and natural-gas pro­
duction-------- ---------------------------------

829
99.3
39.7
27.0
17.3

833
99.3
38.7
27.4
17.8

56.7
299.6

51.1
309.2

846
100.2

38.0
27.7
18.4
57.4
318.4

July

June

1952

1951

48,892 48,158 47,078 47, 418 47,993 47, 202

49,361 49, 042 48, 854 48,685 48,369 48, 382 50,140 49,310
835
100.5

Aug.

81G
72.1

872
96.4
33.3
25.9

101.7
38.4
27.2
19.6

870
101.9
38.8
27.0
19.6

871
101.3
38.9
26.5
19.5

99.8
39.8
24.6
19.3

893
102.5
40.0
26.4
19.8

784
69.0
6.9
25.1
20.3

26.3
21.3

59.7
325.4

60.5
330.7

62.0
331.2

62.3
330.7

62.8
338.7

63.1
339.6

61.1
267.2

65.3
294.2

63.4
333.8

856

866

37.9
27.5
19.2

101.3

8.0

20.8

271.0

271.8

272.0

275.0

273. 4

271.8

273.6

279.5

281.2

283.3

281.0

276.0

Nonmetallic mining and quarrying.

105.4

102.7

101.7

99.2

97.8

97.6

101.6

104.8

105.6

105.6

106.2

103.6

102.9

102.3

102.0

Contract con stru ction--------- ------- -------

2,579

Nonbuilding construction----- -------Highway and street----------------Other nonbuilding construetion.

2,485
491
213.0
278.2

2,410
452
183.0
269.4

2,301
410
155.2
255.0

2,280
403
150. 3
252.4

2,303
402
147.4
254.6

2,497
460
176.5
283.9

2, 648
524
222.3
301.2

2, 728
569
250.3
318.7

2, 794
584
259.0
324.7

2,812
589
262.6
326.7

2.751
562
249.1
313.3

2, 690
548
241.4
306.5

2,572
501
207.9
293.3

2,588
490
201.3
289.0

Building construction-

1,994

1,958

1,891

1,877 1, 901

General contractors Special-trade contractors..............
Plumbing and heating----------Painting and decorating.............
Electrical work--------------------Other special trade-contractors.

880.0

862.1

823.2

813.2

2,037

2.124
940.4

824.1

1,113.6 1,095. 1,068.1 1, 063. 5 1,076.6 1,148. 8 1,183.8
277.7 278.3 277.5 279.6 282.5 291.5 296.8
147.4 141.0 133.3 128.9 128.7 148.3 162.6
148.8 147.5 147.2 148.8 150.3 154.3 153.2
515.1 554.7 571.2
539.7 529.0 510.1 506.

2,159

2, 210

960.9

2,223

2,189

986.2 1,003.2

2,142

88.0

2,098

2,071

965.7

269.3

919.6

950.2

1,198.0 1,223.3 1, 220.1 1, 200.9 1,175.8 1,151.3 1,147.3
296.8 296.0 295.4 292.0 284.4 286.3 286.9
166.3 178.2 173.9 173.1 164.0 156. 5 155.7
154.6 157.4 157.3 156.2 151.8 151. 3 139.5
580.3 591.7 593. 5 579.6 575.6 557.3 565.3

Ordnance and accessories.

15,402 15, 624 16, 209 16,082
17,179 17,054 17,081 17,135 17,013 16,884 16, 952 16,874 16. 778 16, 680 16,280 8,530
, 833 9,262 9,071
i, 142
10,160 10,108 10,116 10,103 9.989 9, 880 9, 856 9, 750 9, 594 9, 440
6, 791 6,946 7,011
i,872
7,138
7,
240
7.124
7,184
7,019 6,946 6,965 7,032 7, 024 7,004 7,096
169.9 168.3 166.4
77.0
205.3 200.1 193.8 190.5 184.1 181.0 178.6 176.6 176.2 176.0 173.6

Food and kindred products,.................
M eat products—................... - ..........
Dairy products......................... ............
Canning and preserving......... ............
Grain-mill products................... .........
Bakery products......................... .........
Sugar____________________ _______
Confectionery and related products .
Beverages______________ _______ _
Miscellaneous food products----------

1, 505.1 1,470.0 , 438.3 , 436. 5 1, 442.0 , 455. 7
295.4 294.1 299.2 303.0 312.5
127.3 122.5 118.2 116.0 114.4
171.8 160.4 150.3 156.3 159.
123.9 125.5
122.3 120.8 122.
284.2 283.6 282.5
285.2 282.
30.3
28.1
27.8
27.2
27.4
86.3
86.8
84.0
79.1
77.7
208.4 210.4
223.8 216.5 213.
136.3 136.4 133.5
139.1 134.

M anu facturing---------- ------- -

Durable goods s-------Nondurable goods 3. ..

Tobacco manufactures........ ...........—
Cigarettes_____________________
Cigars------- ----------------------------Tobacco and snuff-------------------Tobacco stemming and redrying.
Textile-mill products---------------- -----Scouring and combing plants--------Yarn and thread mills................ ........
Broad-woven fabric mills----- -------Narrow fabrics and small wares-----Knitting m ills------------------------Dyeing and finishing textiles--------Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings..
Hats (except cloth and m illinery). .
Miscellaneous textile goods........... .

93.7
31.7
41.4
8.9
11.7

94.2
31.8
41.3
8.9
12.2

96.4
31.4
42.0
9.0
14.0

1, 220.3 1,212.3 , 218. 5 1, 231.

6.7
152.2
522.8
35.2
254.2
93.
56.4
18.4
72.6

6.6

153.5
523.5
34.4
255.0
95.7
58.2
18.3
73.3

6.5
156.6
528.2
35.4
257.0
97.0
58.5
19.2
73.

102.6

110.0

30.9
41.9

31.2
41.9
9.0
27.

8.

20.

504. 7 1, 554.8 1,636.4 1, 727.0 , 693. 3
321.0 317.9 308.6 310.2 305.8
115.9 117.5 121.1 126.0 133.3
171.0 199.7 280.8 377.3 339.2
126.5 123.8 126.3 127.2 127.8
287.2 290.3 290.5 289.0 290.5
29.4
32
49.3
50.
39.2
84.0
91.5
94.4
94.4
92.0
215.7 219.6 221.7 228.2 239.0
136.2 140.7 143.7 145.5 144.3
117.
31.2
42.2
9.1
35.1

117.8
31.2
42.8
9.2
34.6

125.9
30.9
42.8
9.2
43.0

1, 231.3 ., 227. , 243. 0 1, 242.8 1,230.2
6.7
6.9
6.
6.9
156.1 156.8 157.7 158.1 157.6
531.2 531.5 537. 9 535.7 532. 5
34.9
35.4
35
35.1
35.3
260.3 257.1
253.8 251.4 257.
96.9
98.1
97.8
97.2
97.7
55.4
58.3
58.5
57.8
58.4
17.6
18.0
18.5
18.6
19.1
71.4
72.2
72.8
72.6
72.8

6.8

8.o;

See footnotes at end of table.

263634—53----- 6


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

93.9
30.3
41.
8.

12.8

93.5
30.3
41.8
9.1
12.3

107.0
30.4
41.8
9.2
25.5

1,162.2 1 201
1,221.6 1,199. 7 1,161.6
6.2 6.
6.3
6.8 6.8 149.0
151.0 154.
,

156.2
527.3
33.1
249.2
94.5
48.7
16.
67.3

157.4
530. 4
34.1
253.6
96.0
57.0
16.7
69.6

Apparel and other finished textile prod­
, 229. 5 1, 231.3
ucts______________________________ 1, 202.0 , 191. 8 , 218.8 , 266.1 1, 264. 4 1,234. 1, 239. 4 , 232.1
134.1 135.4 136.8 137.6
137.8 137.0 139.8 137.' 132.
M en’s and boys’ suits and coats--------M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
302.4 301.8 300.4 297.1
311.2 311.6 310.9 306.6 300.
clothing............... ................ ...................
388.1 372.7 370.9 379.6
342.41 363.6 396.8 402.2 391.
Women’s outerwear...............................
112.2 114.7 113.5 110.0
109.
112.1
113.5
113.5
111.2
Women’s, children’s undergarments...
24.2
22.8
20.6
22.8
25.
27.5
21.7! 27.2
18
M illinery....................................................
66.3
66.4
65.7
65.1
66
.
68
67.5
63.9|
64.8!
Children’s outerwear.................... - .........
14.4
12.3
14.0
12.4
10.
9.0
8.7
9 .8j
Fur goods----- --------------------------69.2
70.6
70.5
66.9
62.
64.5
65.4
65.
2¡
65.
1
Miscellaneous apparel and accessories.
132.9
135.8
136.7
135.4
131. 5! 134.31 136.3 136.1 133.
Other fabricated textile products-------

.o!

117.7
31.2
41.9
9.1
35.5

126.6
31
42.8
9.2
43.2

622.0 , 530. 8 , 538. 5 1,544.1
307.8 302.7 309.8 306.1
136.3 13.3.9 123.4 125. 2
263.6 205.6 217.1 230.3
127.8 125.9 124.8 121.2
291.4 280.8 284.6 281.2
29.0
34.9
29.0
33.4
79.7
87.9
77.9
86.2
217.6
243.0 231
220.8
145.2 141.5 138.5 139.5

,

211.

135.6
292.5
378.2
106.4
24.0
66.5
13.4
66.4
128.6

517.6
32.0
236.4
90.0
47.8
15.9

514.9
32.4
240.2
90.4
44.5
16.4

66.6

66.2

104.4
29.0
40.9
9.4
25.1

.

1, 272.7

527.
33.
244.
94.
54.
17.
69.

165.2
576.1
34.7
244.6
94.5
59.6
17.7
73.5

6.8

1,140.3 , 130.1 1,190.8 1,187.1
125.5 127.7 132.5 142.2
280.4
350.1

100.2
20.8

65.0
14.8
62.0
121.5

281.2
335.1
103.4
17.9
64.9
14.2
62.3
123.4

286.1
371.7
106.4
23.2
64.9
12.0

65.1
129.0

283.4
366.5
101.5
22.6

61.4
13.6
68.7
127.3

890

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able A 2: Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry division and group 1—Continued
[In thousands)
1953
June
Manufacturing—Continued
Lumber and wood products (except
furniture)............................ ....................
Logging camps and contractors..............
Sawmills and planing m ills....................
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products....................
Wooden containers...................................
Miscellaneous wood products................

794.

Furniture and fixtures................................
Household furniture..................... ............
Oflice, public-building, and profession­
al furniture........................ ............. .......
Partitions, shelving, lockers, and fix­
tures...........................................................
Screens, blinds, and miscellaneous
furniture and fixtures.............................

371.

Paper and allied products________ _____
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills____
Paperboard containers and boxes..........
Other paper and allied products........... .

534.7

M ay

Apr.

A nnual
a v e ra g e

1952

Industry group and industry
Mar.

Feb.

JJan
an.

779.5
82.8
455.0

767.6
75.2
448.9

757.1
72.6
441.2

121.1
61.2
59.4

122.6

60.9
60.0

120.9
61.2
61.2

61.1

61.1
60.i

376.4
270.1

383.2
276.1

387.1
279.8

278.1

39.5

40.1

40.1

35.7

35.8

35.9

Dec.

744.:
63.
438.1

771. f
74.
452.

1 2 1 .:

122. C

Nov.

798.

Oct.

Sept.

A ug.

July

June

1952

1951

466.2

795.1
78.
472/

818.
828.
92. i 9 8 /
481.
484/

813.
98/
473/

795.
84..
469.

782.
84.
457.

834 4
im 4
47L 4

62.
60.:

123.
61.
60.1

124.
58/
60/

125.
59/
60/

125.
59/
59/

122/

120.

61/
60/

118/
61/
60/

12ft 4
65 s

382. €
275.2

382.8
275.

381.7
274.3

375/
269/

368.
263.

359.
256/

347.2
248/

349/
246/

361/
257.1

361 a

40.1

40.1

40.2

40.2

40.1

40.:

39.7

38/

39/

39/

40.7

36.4

36.6

36.3

35.9

35.3

34/

33/

31/

33/

34.1

34.4

8 8 .1

59/
59/

63.4
257/

31.1

31.2

31.3

30.9

30.7

31.2

31.3

30.

30.1

29.0

28.7

29/

29/

29.1

528.8
261.3
141. 2
126.3

527.6
260.6
141.2
125.8

527.3
261.6
140.8
124.9

523.2
261.5
138.9

522.1
261.4
138.6

526.6
262.4
141. 0
123. 2

520.7
257.4
140. 5

516.7
256.
138.
1 2 1 .8

507.8
259/
130/
118.5

494.7
252. :
124.8
117.6

502/
258/
126.2
117.8

505.6
257.
129.6
119.0

511 5

1 2 2 .8

508.3
254/
133.3
120. £

775.4
292.7
65.1
46.8
193.5
53.6
17.5
44.5

774.3
291.5
65.5
47.0
193.7
53.4
17.1
44.2

774.3
290.5
66.3
47.4
194.0
53.2
17.5
43.9

771.8
289.2
66.7
47.0
194.1
52.7
17.6
43.4

46.5
195.8
52.8
17.7
44.0

780.6
291. 6
67. 4
46.1
196. 7
54. 9
19.3
44.1

779.5
290.8
67.3
45.8
195.3
55.1
44.0

774.5
289.4
65.5
46.1
194.7
54.5
20.3
43.7

765.3
287.9
64.8
45.7
191.5
53.9
18.9
43.2

758.0
287.1
63.5
44/
190.3
52.0
18.5
42.8

756.9
287.2
62/
44.4
190.8
51.4
18.3
42.4

759.7
287.2
62.8
45. 1
192.5
51.7
18.0
42.8

762.9
286.8
64.1
45. 2
192.8
52.9
18.2
42.9

61.7

61.9

61.5

61.1

60.7

60.5

60.0

60.3

59.4

58.9

59.5

59.6

59.9

752.8
83.5
273.9
94.1

761.8
82.9
272.1
95.0

761.3
83.0
270.6
95.3

752.2
82.3
267.9
95.3

749.0
81.7
267.6
98.2

750.6
81.5
267.1
98.4

749.1
81.2
264.4
98.1

748.7
81.0
262.6
97.9

741.8
81.3
261.1
97.5

733.2
82.0
261.2
99.0

729.3
82.3
258.1
98.8

728.5
82.2
253.3
98.9

741.7
81.9
259.0
98.4

49.6
75.6
7.6
38.2
38.0
92.3

50.3
75.5
7.
45.8
39,
92.5

50.5
75.0
7.8
44.4
42.6
92.1

50.1
74.3
7.6
39.2
44.2
91.3

49.4
73.7
7.6
34.8
45.8
90.2

49.6
73.4
777
33.0
48.0
91.9

49.5
73.6
7.7
32.7
49.2
92.7

49.9
73.5
7.7
33.9
49.5
92.7

49.8
72.4
7.8
34.4
45.4
92.1

49.2
72.5
7.6
31.5
38.5
91.7

48.9
73.3
7.8
30.9
37.8
91.4

49.4
72.9
7.9
32.9
38.3
92.7

49.8
73.1
7.9
35.8
44.2
91.7

261.2
207.0

260.4
207.1

259.0
206.3

258.2
208.0

258.3
206.6

260.7
207.6

261.5
207.1

262.8
207.6

263.4
208.6

264.9
210.1

249.2
207.0

247.1
201.5

253.9
202.1

54.2

53.3

52.7

52.2

51.7

53.1

54.4

55.2

54.8

54.8

42.2

45.6

51.8

276.0
118.6
28.9
128.5

276.0
117.8
29.4
128.8

276.4
117.5
29.8
129.1

274.8
116.9
29.8
128.1

275.1
117.3
30.1
127.7

274.6
117.6
30.7
126.3

272.2
116.9
30.2
125.1

267.5
116.1
29.8
121.6

263.0
115.9
28.9
118.2

258.1
114.5
28.2
115.4

248.1
115.5
23.3
109.3

260.6
117.1
27.9
115.6

262.3
116.1
28.3
117.9

389.8

383.9
46.9
5.7
17.0
250.3
19.0
26.4
18.6

394.6
46.9
5.8
18.3
256.2
19.1
29.7
18.6

402.5
47.4
5.7
18.8
261.7
18.4
32.2
18.3

403.1
47.8
5.6
19.3
261.9
18.5
32.1
17.9

398.7
48.3
5.6
19.2
259.9
18.1
30.1
17. 5

397.8
48. 7
5.5
18.9
256.1
18.9
29. 7
20.0

393.7
48.4
5.4
18.0
249.6
19.1
31.7
21.5

391.8
47.7
5.2
17.4
248.9
19.0
32.0
21.6

391.5
47.4
5.1
17.2
252.6
18.3
29.6
21.3

393.5
47.0
5.1
17.7
256.5
18.0
28.3
20.9

375.7
46.1
4.9
17.3
243.5
17.4
26.8
19.7

376.0
46.0
4.9
17.2
246.2
17.1
25.4
19.2

Stone, clay, and glass products.......
546.8
Flat glass............................................
Glass and glassware, pressed or blown*
Glass products made of purchased glass
Cement, hydraulic________________
Structural clay products............
Pottery and related products____ 111” '
Concrete, gypsum, and plaster products* '
Cut-stone and stone products..........
Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral
products............................................... J

381.9 37fi 9
46.5 1 48.0
5.1 y 5 5
17.5 ; ifi 8
246.7 241 0
17.8
15 9
29.0
29 4
19.4
2 0 .3

543.8
34.9
105.1
16.9
41.0
78.0
55.5
104.6
17.9

545.4
35.1
105.1
17.7
40.9
77.5
56.4
104.3
18.3

541.2
35.4
103.6
17.5
40.6
76.9
57.0

533.9
35.6

18.1

531.3
35. 7
99.9
17.2
40.6
75.6
56. 5
99.2
17. 9

538.9
36.7
100.6
17.3
40.7
79.1
57.0
101.9
18.2

541.6
35.1
101.4
17.3
40.5
80.6
57.2
103.2
18.4

539.9
34.3
100.3
16.7
41.0
81.4
57.3
103.1
18.4

534.6
33.5
100.4
16.1
40.5
81.4
56.2
103.7
16.7

530.7
32.7
95.9
15.7
41.0
83.0
56.3
104.2
16.7

513.9
32.2
92.6
14.9
37.3
82.2
54.1
103.2
16.5

527.1
31.5
96.1
15.7
37.8
83.6
57.1
103.6
16.5

527.9
32.6
96.2
16.2
39.9
80.9
57.2
100.7
17.5

89.9

90.1

89.4

88.7

88.4

87.9

87.4

86.1

85.2

80.9

85.2

86.9

Printing, publishing, and allied industries.
Newspapers...................... ......................
Periodicals_________________________
B ooks............................................... ...........
Commercial printing______ __________
Lithographing.......... .............................. .
Greeting card s..____ ________________
Bookbinding and related industries___
Miscellaneous publishing and printing
services____________________ ______

781.4

Chemicals and allied products....................
Industrial inorganic chemicals.............. .
Industrial organic chemicals....................
Drugs and medicines.............. ............... .
Soap, cleaning and polishing prepara­
tions.____________ _______________
Paints, pigments, and fillers____ IIIIII
Gum and wood chemicals........................
Fertilizers_____ ____________________
Vegetable and animal oils and fats____
Miscellaneous chemicals_____________

750.8

Products of petroleum and coal..................
Petroleum refining____________ ____ _
Coke and other petroleum and coal
products.................................................
Rubber products.......................................... .
Tires and inner tubes____________**”
Rubber footwear___ _________
Other rubber products............................
Leather and leather products............
Leather: tanned, curried, and finished-.
Industrial leather belting and packing
Boot and shoe cut stock and findings___
Footwear (except rubber)...........
Luggage__________________________
Handbags and small leather goods_____
Gloves and miscellaneous leather goods.

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

276.9

101.6

18.3
90.3

122.8

101.1

17.0
40.6
75.4
56.6

100.1

1 2 2 .1

772.5
288.4
6 6 .6

2 1 .2

258

7

131 9
1 2 1 .0

755 5

282
fil

2
1

45
1Q3
53
18

1
4
5
5

42!7
5 9 .0

742 8
81 5
259 3

95! 6
51
73
8
35
4ft

ft

ft
3
8
8

9 0 !3

252 7

198.6
' p S *<!
54.1
2ft3 3

1112
2Q 9

123.0

551. 2
33 2
98 ft
1ft 7
40 6
85. 2
63.0
1015

18.9
94.2

891

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

T able A-2: Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry division and group 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1953

Annual
average

1952

Industry group and industry
M ay
Manu fact uring— 0 ontinued
Primary metal industries............................ 1,341.
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills...................... ...................................
Iron and steel foundries..........................
Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals_______ _____________
Secondary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals___________ _________
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of nonferrous metals...... ....................................
N onferrous foundries................................
Miscellaneous primary metal industries.

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

N ov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

1,337. 5 1,343. 6 1,343. 6 1,338. 9 1,335.8 1,330.5 1,317.6 1,306.8 1,299.3 1,257.8
654.2
252.3

655.6
254.0

656.5
253.2

654.4
253.7

653.0
255.3

649.7
255.8

645.1
254.7

643.3
251.4

642.2
250.9

615.9
245.6

July

June

1952

1951

822.9

861.1 1,227.4 1,313.0

207.3
240.1

227.8
250.9

570.7
253.0

643.5
266.2

52.3

51.5

51.2

50.8

49.8

49.5

49.9

49.9

50.5

51.4

50.9

50.9

50.6

50.3

12.9

12.9

12.7

12.7

12.6

12.6

12.2

12.0

11.6

12.1

12.3

12.4

12.3

13.2

122.8
94.5
148.5

123.0
97.2
149.4

122.0
98.2
149.8

119.9
98. i
149.1

118.5
97.8
148.8

117.8
97.5
147.6

116.1
94. £
144.8

114.3
91.8
144.1

112.3
89.1
142.7

109.7
87.4
135.7

104.5
87.5
120.3

108.5
88.1
122.5

111.3
89.8
139.8

110.8
87.0
142.2

Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance, machinery, and transporta­
tion equipment)....................................... 1,165.8 1,161.3 1,159.0 1,159.3 1,149. 6 1,135. 2 1,125.7 1,104.6 1,088.1 1,059.0 1,017.1
55.4
59.9
55.6
58.5
61.9
56.7
57.7
57.0
56.9
56.5
Tin cans and other tinw are......................
165.4 163.9 164.9 163.2 160.8 158.3 154.3 150.9 147.3 140.1
Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware.........
Heating apparatus (except electric) and
154.6 155.5 154.1 154.2 152.6 154.6 153.8 154.0 150.4 143.5
plumbers’ supplies_________ _______
273.6 270.7 272.7 272. C 270.5 272.2 268.0 262.9 257.4 254.2
Fabricated structural metal products...
241.3 241.3 240.8 237.5 231.3 223.8 215.2 209.3 198.0 184.7
Metal stamping, coating, and engraving
47.4
47.9
46.5
45.2
43.0
49.6
50.2
50.8
50.8
48.3
Lighting fixtures........................................
64.4
61.2
71.7
70.3
67.0
69.1
72.7
73.5
73.2
Fabricated wire products.......................
71.3
Miscellaneous fabricated metal prod­
145.8 146.3 145.9 144.7 143.9 143.0 141.4 139.0 134.4 130.5
ucts.............................................................

962.9 1,002.5 1,045.6 1,059.7
57.9
58.0
56.6
58.1
138.3 147.2 149.8 162.8
135.1
229.9
177.5
43.1
54.9

137.6
233.5
192.7
44.5
60.0

142.8
253.8
196.7
45.6
63.9

144.1
241.2
202.0
48.2
66.1

126.2

129.0

136.5

137.1

1, 697.8 1,702.4 1,719.2 1, 727. 8 1, 713. 4 1,702.1 1,687. 5 1, 643.8 1,607. 2 1, 588.8 1, 578.0 1, 599.0 1,657.4 1,642. 4 1,601.3
Machinery (except electrical).................
95.5
94.2
83.5
86.7
86.3
86.1
91.3
95.7
95.6
88.9
81.2
95.8
96.5
95.8
Engines and turbines............................
Agricultural machinery and tractors.
187.1 193.5 195.8 193.3 190.4 188.8 169.7 156.2 149.1 157.8 180.3 203.1 185.1 198.4
131. 2 131.8 134.2 133.9 133.2 132.9 132.1 130.5 130.2 130.0 131.0 132.1 132.2 120.5
Construction and mining machinery__
285.2 286.3 285.4 283.3 283.9 282.8 279.4 278.5 279.3 277.6 275.9 281.7 280.3 262.4
Metalworking machinery.......... ..........
Special-industry machinery (except
190.4 191.0 191.9 192.0 191.2 190.8 190.2 185.6 185.0 189.0 186.8 192.2 190.9 196.0
metalworking machinery)................... .
233.8 234.5 234.5 232.3 232.0 231.4 227.2 225.8 226.4 228.8 227.5 230.6 230.7 224.4
General industrial machinery.................
112.6 112.3 112.3 111.5 111.7 111.7 110.7 110.4 109.5 108.9 106.3 109.8 109.8 106.3
Office and store machines and devices...
Service-industry and household ma­
218.9 224.8 227.5 223.7 217.0 208.1 200.6 193.5 186.8 179.8 174.9 176.8 186.5 182.2
chines_________ ___________ ______
247.6 249.2 249.7 247.7 246.9 245.5 239.7 240.4 236.4 222.6 229.6 239.8 238.0 229.8
Miscellaneous machinery parts.............
Electrical machinery................... ..................
Electrical generating, transmission, dis­
tribution, and industrial apparatus...
Electrical appliances_________________
Insulated wire and cable............................
Electrical equipment for vehicles............
Electric lamps......... ................ ....................
Communication equipm ent....................
Miscellaneous electrical products_____

1,200.3 1, 204.1 1, 206.6 1,204.0 1,192. 4 1,173. 5 1,166.6 1,142.3 1,118.6 1,089.1 1,047.2 1,016.5 1,034.4 1,068.4 1,005.4
394.3
70.4
35.5
90.9
27.0
538.7
47.3

392.8
70.2
35.6
91.1
26.7
543.2
47.0

390.5
69.3
35.5
90.5
26.3
546.0
45.9

386.1
67.9
35.4
88.2
25.8
543.1
45.9

381.5
65.5
35.1
84.5
25.3
535.3
46.3

378.4
64.9
34.6
82.2
25.0
533.8
47.7

374.3
63.2
33.1
79.9
23.5
518.8
49.5

369.9
60.6
32.8
80.5
23.3
501.2
50.3

363.5
56.5
32.3
77.7
23.3
485.4
50.4

354.5
53.1
31.2
73.2
23.4
463.6
48.2

350.6
51.0
29.7
75.5
23.9
439.1
46.7

361.4
52.4
30.0
80.1
24.5
441.2
44.8

364.8
56.2
31.5
79.2
25.2
464.9
46.6

354.9
59.5
29.2
78.6
31.0
405.8
46.5

Transportation equipment—..................... 1,995. 4 1,972. 4 1,968.9 1,965. 7 1, 930. 0 1,891. 5 1,862.6 1, 825.0 1,779.3 1,719.2 1, 585.1 1,548.1 1, 691.1 1.674. 9 1, 510.3
995.1 989.6 983-2 957.0 924.6 904.0 887.9 850.0 820.3 672.5 661.7 810.3 793.5 844.5
Automobiles..............................................
728.8 726.3 735.0 729.2 721.4 711.4 694.5 684.3 654.9 669.1 652.0 634.7 641.6 463.6
Aircraft and parts........................... .........
446.7 447.2 449.2 448.1 447.8 444.5 434.0 430.2 408.7 432.9 423.2 412.9 413.9 313.3
Aircraft_________________________
161.4 158.5 165.6 163.7 158.1 153.9 150.2 147.5 143.2 137.9 134.6 131.5 134.7
90.8
Aircraft engines and p arts.................
14.2
13.9
16.6
15.2
13.9
15.7
14.8
14.5
14.0
16.4
16.5
10.8
16.5
16.3
Aircraft propellers and parts_______
84.1
80.3
76.4
97.3
95.1
91.8
88.5
104.3
104.1 103.7 100.8
79.1
48.8
99.2
Other aircraft parts and equipment.
156.1 160.4 155.1 155.7 158.1 158.8 155.9 155.3 156.2 155.2 154.9 155.4 151.0 116.0
Ship- and boatbuilding and repairing.
129.2 133.8 129.7 131.0 134.1 135.3 133.5 134.3 135.3 134.0 133.5 134.1 131.2 101.6
Shipbuilding and repairing...........
21.4
24.7
21.0
21.2
25.4
23.5
22.4
20.9
21.3
26.9
26.6
19.8
14.4
Boatbuilding and repairing________
24.0
74.8
72.1
75.0
66.8
74.1
75.3
73.9
78.3
79.3
79.2
75.8
73.7
79.0
74.3
Railroad equipment................................
13.3
12.7
13.4
14.4
13.3
12.4
13.2
14.3
14.6
13.9
12.9
13.3
12.6
13.1
Other transportation equipment..........
Instruments and related products______
Laboratory, scientific, and engineering
instruments......... ................ ...................
Mechanical measuring and controlling
instruments_________________ _____
Optical instruments and lenses..............
Surgical, medical, and dental instru­
m ents............ .......................... ...............
Ophthalmic goods______ ____ _______
Photographic apparatus....... ..................
Watches and clocks_________________

333.4

333.2

332.5

328.5

327.5

326.3

322.8

318.7

313.7

310.6

302.8

304.7

310.2

292.2

53.3

63.4

53.5

53.0

52.8

52.5

51.8

51.1

50.3

49.6

49.1

48.4

48.9

39.1

82.3
1 -3

82.2
12.4

81.9
12.4

80.9
12.3

80.2
12.3

79.6
12.3

78.3
12.4

77.0
12.4

75.0
12.3

73.6
12.2

70.5
12.2

70.9
12.4

74.1
12.4

71.8
12.5

41.1
28.7
68.8
46.9

41.1
28.9
68.4
46.8

40.9
29.2
68.3
46.3

40.4
28.9
67.9
45.1

40.8
28.9
68.0
44.5

40.9
28.5
67.9
44.6

40.6
27.8
67.5
44.4

40.0
27.5
66.9
43.8

39.3
27.2
67.1
42.5

39.3
27.3
67.5
41.1

38.7
27.6
67.0
37.7

39.1
28.0
66.0
39.9

39.6
28.1
66.1
41.0

40.0
29.0
62.1
37.7

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries..
Jewelry, silverware, and plated w are..
Musical instruments and parts_______
Toys and sporting g o o d s.......... .............
Pens, pencils, and other office supplies..
Costume jewelry, buttons, notions........
Fabricated plastic produ cts...................

496.8
54.0
17.9
86.7
32.2
65.9
75.9
164.2

495.8
54.5
18.1
84.5
32.0
66.6
75.7
164.4

494.1
55.0
18.3
81.3
31.7
69.3
74.1
164.4

487.2
53.6
18.1
77.8
31.1
69.6
73.4
163.6

474.9 485.0
52.8
53.8
17.5
17.8
73.7
79.8
31.1
32.6
67.1
67.6
72.4
72.6
159.31 161.8

495.8
54.2
17.4
87.2
32.6
68.4
72.7
163.3

488.5
53.9
17.0
87.9
32.7
67.4
71.1
158.5

472.8
52.2
16.7
85.1
31.9
65.5
67.1
154.3

455.1
49.1
16.5
81.0
31.1
62.8
65.7
148.9

433.1
47.1
15.8
74.4
30.8
60.1
63.4
141.5

441.4
48.2
15.8
74.5
31.2
58.6
64.0
149.1

456.0
50.5
16.3
75.4
31.5
62.1
66.9
153.4

465.4
54.7
16.6
74.0
31.9
63.9
67.2
157.0

Other manufacturing industries............
See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

892

A : EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

T able

MONTHLY LABOR

A-2 : Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry division and group 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1953

Annual
average

1952

Industry group and industry
M ay
Transportation and public utilities_______
Transportation.......................... ...................
Interstate railroads..... ..............................
Class I railroads.....................................
Local railways and bus lines.......... .......
Trucking and warehousing___________
Other transportation and services____
Bus lines, except local.......... .............
Air transportation (common carrier).
Communication............................................
Telephone...............................................
Telegraph.................................................
Other public utilities...................... ..............
Gas and electric utilities____ _________
Electric light and power utilities____
Gas utilities______________________
Electric light and gas utilities combined..
Local utilities, not elsewhere classified..

4,315

753
574

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

1952

1951

4,281 4,242 4,235 4,210 4,210 4,293 4,286 4,296 4,281 4,258 4,198 4,225 4,220 4,166
2,967 2,946 2,928 2,909 2,914 2, 995 2,992 2, 999 2,980 2,946 2, 892 2, 935 2, 941 2, 921
1,388.6 1,374.9 1, 360. 5 1, 356.4 1,367.5 1,406.0 1, 412. 5 1, 423. 2 1, 410.9. 1,394.1 1,352.5 1,396.0 1,399.8 1, 449.3
1, 217. 5 1, 203.3 1,188. 5 1,184.8 1,195.5 1, 222. 7 1,238.8 1, 249. 9 1,237. 8 1,221.5 1,183. 5 1, 225.1 1, 226.2 1,275.9
130.4 130.9 131.3 131.5 125.6 132.4 132.4 132.3 133.2 133.9 134.3 133.6 134.2 139.0
744.1 741.4 743.9 737.2 734.9 761.9 750.8 745.9 733.2 713.5 701.1 704.1 714.6 675.6
703.5 699.2 691.9 683.8 686.0 694.9 696.0 697.1 702.4 704.3 703.9 701.4 692.1 656.9
51.6
52.5
52.5
52.9
54.0
51.7
51.5
54.8
51.4
51.9
55.0
53.9
52.4
53.0
99.4
102.9 101.6 100.8 100.0 100.0
98.8
97.5
97.8
97.0
96.6
95.5
95.6
85.2
734
736
732
747
742
731
736
731
738
734
731
722
717
690
697.4 682.4 693.5 689.2 684.9 686.5 684.4 682.4 681.9 688.1 682.1 673. 7 672.7 638.9
48.6
48.6
48.9
48.3
48.4
48.1
47.9
48.3
49.1
47.6
47.4
48.6
48.6
50.1
562
560
567
565
565
562
565
570
576
575
563
568
563
555
544.8 542.8 543.0 541.4 540.5 540.8 538.8 543.0 547.5 553.8 553.1 546.2 541.2 533.3
244.7 244.5 244.3 243.5 243.2 242.7 240.2 244.3 246.8 249.3 248.8 245.6 243.5 240.4
127.4 125.8 126.5 126.1 125.6 126.6 127.0 127.2 127.7 129.5 129.6 128.4 126.4 123.8
172.7 172. 5 172.2 171.8 171.7 171.5 171.6 171.5 173.0 175.0 174.7 172.2 171.3 169.1
21.5
21.4
21.7
22.1
22.4
22.2
21.8
22.0
21.7
21.7
21.7
21.5
22.0
21.7

Wholesale and retail trade_______________ 10,378 10,332
Wholesale trade_______________________ 2,732 2, 708
Retail trade______________ _____ ______ 7,646 7, 624
1,396.6
General merchandise stores__________
Food and liquor stores_______________
1, 398.6
832.2
Automotive and accessories dealers___
594.1
Apparel and accessories stores.................
3, 402.0
Other retail trade.__________________

10,308 10,284 10,214 10,283 11,218 10,650 10,442 10,295 10,110
2,711 2, 730 2, 743 2, 747 2, 787 2, 780 2, 752 2, 730 2, 722
7,597 7, 554 7, 471 7, 536 8,431 7,870 7,690 7,565 7, 388
1,392. 8 1, 396.4 1,355. 0 1,406. 5 2,013. 2 1,626.3 1, 504.8 1, 423. 8 1, 324.6
1,396.3 1,389. 2 1, 380.8 1,370.9 1,407.2 1,381.7 1, 375. 8 1, 356.4 1,344.8
823.4 812.9 810.0 807. 5 815.2 800.5 785.2 778.1 781.6
592.1 585. 7 558.2 573.6 705.6 617.7 601.9 579.8 529.7
3,392.2 3, 369.9 3,366. 7 3,377.6 3,489. 5 3,443. 5 3,422.2 3, 427.1 3,406.8

10,108 10,144
2,709 2, 700
7,399 7,444
1,332. 4 1,369.6
1,349.0 1, 346.6
785.4 781.2
541.7 580.9
3,390.6 3,366.0

10,251
2,721
7, 530
1,453.2
1, 353.8
779.5
584.0
3, 359.1

10,013
2,655
7,359
1,429.3
1, 307.6
763. 7
575.4
3, 282.4

Finance, insurance, and real estate 4______
Banks and trust companies 4...... ................
Security dealers and exchanges...................
Insurance carriers and agents......................
Other finance agencies and real estate__

2,048

2 ,02G
499.3
64.5
739.4
723.1

2,015
499.2
64.6
736.1
714.6

1,993
496.7
64.9
732.3
699.1

1,977
493.4
64.7
726.9
692.2

1,969
488.6
64.1
720.8
695.1

1,978
489.6
64.2
719.6
704.2

1,973
486.8
64.2
716.7
705.1

1,973
484.6
64.4
715.2
709.0

1,976
484.2
64.7
712.9
714.1

2,000
490.9
65.7
721.4
722.1

1,997
491.2
65.6
718.4
721.4

1,972
481.2
64.5
709.0
716.8

1,957
480.0
64.5
707.2
704.8

1,861
431.0
63.7
671.4
694.7

Service and miscellaneous_______________
Hotels and lodging places-------------- -----Personal services:
Laundries__________________________
Cleaning and dyeing plants.................. .
M otion pictures______________ _______ _

5,413

5,366
480.4

5,312
469.4

5,225
456.0

5,194
450. 5

5,192
442.7

5,237
446.8

5,266
446.1

5,303
456.3

5,364
494.1

5,378
545.6

5,382
546.2

5,360
501.1

5,280
476.9

5,207
476.5

347.0
184.4
231.9

342.1
181.2
234.3

340.4 340. 0
175. C 171.9
232.0 229.4

341.7
172.4
229.6

342.0
172. 5
228. 5

342.3
175.3
232.6

343.7
176.9
237.2

344.1
173.8
239.8

348.8
169. 4
238.9

350.7
174.3
238.9

349.0
178. f
239.2

342.7
172.7
236.2

342.7
166.8
244.4

Government4______ _____ ______________
Federal4-------- --------------- ------------------- 2, 261
State and local5......... .................................... 4, 353

6,669 6,653 6,666 6,625 6,675 7,095 6,742 6,704 6,616 6,427 6,456 6,587 6,633 6,3
2,282 2,304 2, 324 2, 343 2.350 12, 765 2,363 2,363 2, 368 2,387 2,400 2,399 2,403 2, 261
4,387 4,349 4,342 4,282 4,325 4,330 4,379 4,341 4, 248 4,040 4,056 4,188 4,230 4,112

i The Bureau of Labor Statistics series of employment in nonagricultural
establishments are based upon reports submitted by cooperating firms. These
reports cover all full- and part-time employees in private nonagricultural
establishments who worked during, or received pay for, any part of the pay
period ending nearest the 15th of the month. Because of this, persons who
worked in more than 1 establishment during the reporting period will be
counted more than once. In Federal establishments the data generally refer
to persons who worked on, or received pay for, the last day of the month; in
State aud local government, to persons who received pay for any part of the
pay period ending on, or immediately prior to, the last day of the month.
Proprietors, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers, and domestic
servants are excluded. These employment series have been adjusted to first
quarter 1951 benchmark levels indicated by data from government social
insurance programs. Revised data in all except the first 4 columns w ill be
identified by asterisks the first month they are published.
These data differ in several respects from the nonagricultural employment
data shown in the M onthly Report on the Labor Force (table A -l, civilian
labor force), which is obtained by household interviews. This M R L F series
relates to the calendar week which contains the 8th day of the month. It


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

includes all persons with a job whether at work or not, proprietors, selfemployed persons, unpaid family workers, and domestic servants.
1 Durable goods include: ordnance and accessories; lumber and wood
products (except furniture); furniture and fixtures; stone, clay, and glass
products; primary metal industries; fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance, machinery, and transportation equipment); machinery (except elec­
trical); electrical machinery; transportation equipment; instruments and
related products; and miscellaneous manufacturing industries.
3 Nondurable goods include: food and kindred products; tobacco manu­
factures; textile-mill products; apparel and other finished textile products;
paper and allied products; printing, publishing, and allied industries; chem­
icals and allied products; products of petroleum and coal; rubber products;
and leather and leather products.
4 See N ote, table A-5.
4 State and local government data exclude, as nominal employees, paid
volunteer firemen and elected officials of small local units.
See N ote on p. 886.

893

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

T able A-3 : Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries 1
[In thousands]
Annual
average

1952

1953
Industry group and industry
June
M ining:

Apr.

M ay

86.2

Metal ______________________________
Iron ______________________________
Copper_____________________________
Lead and zinc_______________________

Mar.

85.9
34.1
23.5
15.3

35.1
23.3
14.7

Jan.

Feb.

Dec.

88.1 88.8

86.7
33.5
23.6
15.8

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

18.6

61.4
272.1

59.5
309.9

65.0
348.0

127.9

124.8

16.6

58.7
314.3

59.4
315.5

57.4
242.9

88.9
34.4
23.2
17.0

88.4
34.6

85.8
34.7

86.7
35.6

16.9

16.7

56.4
306.9

57.8
307.4

58.0
306.6

58.5
306.3

22.8 20.8 20.8

22.8

Anthracite
B itum inous-coal...____ _______________ —

52.4
277.1

47.9
286.0

53.5
295.8

55.6
302.0

Crude-petroleum and natural-gas produc­
tion:
Petroleum and natural-gas production
(except contract services)__________

127.6

127.4

126.5

125.9

126.4

126.5

126.3

126.7

128.4

132.8

133.4

131.2

87. 6

85.0

83.8

83.6

87.5

90.6

91.6

91.4

92.1

89.5

89.0

88.2

Nonmetallic mining and quarrying_____

1951

88.4
33.8
22.4
17.8

2.8

59.6
3.9

21.5
17.5

34.1
23.4
17.0

1952

83.8
29.1
22.3
18.1

89. 4
35.6
22.7
17.1

33.5
23.5
16.6

56.2

June

88.6

89.2

13,820 13,718 13,762 13,831 13,733 13,619 13,699 13,634 13,560 13,477 13,069 12,229 12,476 13,044 13,135
, 010 7, 916 7, 774 7,634 7, 332 6,748 7,065 7,481 7, 459
Durable goods 3 . ______
_____
8,237 8,193
, 211 8,115
, 212
Nondurable goods 3______ ________ 5,583 5,525 5,550 5,620 5, 618 5,599 5, 689 5, 718 5,786 5, 843 5,737 5,481 5, 411 5, 564 5, 676

M an u factu rin g_____ . . . __________ ______

Ordnance and accessories.............................

157.3

154.1

8,020 8

8

8

148.9

146.5

Food and kindred products--------- --------- 1,074.6 1,047.8 1,021. 7 1, 024.8
Meat products______________________
232.0 230.9 237.7
Dairy products____ _____ __________
87.2
83.4
79.7
Canning and preserving_____________
143.8 132.5 122.7
Grain-mill products_________________
87.4
89.3
89. 2
Bakery products______________ ____
179.0 178.0 179.7
S u g a r__. . .
___ ____ ____
22.7
21.9
Confectionery and related products__
64.0
70.2
65.8
Beverages____________ _____________
132.1 126.8 125.4
Miscellaneous food products_________
97.4
98.6
94.9

22.0

Tobacco manufactures__________ ____ _
Cigarettes________________________ _
C ig a r s________ _____________ ______
Tobacco and snuff_____ _____________
Tobacco stemming and redrying_____

84.6

84.7
28. 5
39 1
7.6
9. 5

85.0
28. 6
38.9
7.6
9.9

1

141.8

139.0

136.5

134.0

132.0

131.8

129.2

126.0

126.9

125.7

61.5

1,032. 6 1.044.7 1, 092.8 1,142. 0 1, 223.4 1,309.0 1. 269.3 1,199.4 1,116. 4 1,127.1 1,142. 4
241.1 248.8 256. 4 253.5 243.9 246.5 241.7 243.7 238.3 245.6 242.9
85.1
87.3
79.5
93.3
96.1
94.8
77.9
82.5
76.4
78.1
128.7 132.3 143.3 172.4 252.9 347.5 308.9 234.3 177.3 188.8
96.4
91.6
95.1
97.3
97.3
93.4
92.3
96.3
94.0
90.6
92.3
179.5 179.0 183.5 186.6 187.1 185.5 185.9 187.6 179.5 181.9 181.4
23.8
29.3
43.1
26.9
24.3
24.0
28.0
33.6
44.3
24.9
23.1
64.1
65.3
79.1
79.3
76.7
69.6
71.6
73.0
77.1
72.2
72.6
138.9
133.8
133.6
136.8
144.9
148.1
132.2
128.7
132.2
123.5
105.9 106.0 103.4 104.4 101.9
99.8 101.5
98.9
97.3
94.9

87.3
28.2
39.8
7. 7

11.6

86.8

122.0
93.9
28. 2
39. 6
7. 7
18.4

201.6

102.1

100.5
28.2
39.7
7.7
24.9

108.1
28.1
40.0
7.8
32.2

108.5
28.2
40.6
7.9
31.8

116.7
28.0
40.6
7.9
40.2

116.7
28.3
40.6
7.9
39.9

108.8
28.4
39.7
7.8
32.9

85.1
27.5
39.6
7.6
10.4

84.8
27.4
39.6
7.8

97.9
27.5
39.6
7.9
22.9

10.0

95.7
26.3
38.7

8.1
22.6

Textile-mill products_____ _____ _______ 1,124.6 1,116.3 ,122.7 1,134.3 1,134.0 1,131. 7 1,146.1 1,145.8 1,134.9 1,126. 5 1,104. 5 1,066. 7 1,067.8 1,105.8 1,175.8
6.3
5.8
5.7
5.9
6.3
6.4
6.3
6.4
Scouring and combing plants___ _____
6.4
6.3
Yarn and thread mills_______________
141. 8 142.9 146.0 145. 7 146.5 147.3 147.5 147.0 146.9 145.8 138.5 140.4 143.6 154.2
Broad-woven fabric m il ls ___ _____ _
494. 6 495. 6 498. 8 501.5 502.3 508.0 506.1 503.3 501.2 498.2 488.6 486.0 498.7 545.8
28.2
29.5
31.2
30.9
30.2
29.2
28.7
31.2
31.4
Narrow fabrics and small w a r es___ . .
31.4
31.1
31. 4
31.1
30.3
Knitting mills_________ . _ ______
232.2 233.3 235.4 232.3 230.2 236.2 238.7 235.7 232.2 227.8 215.2 219.0 223.2 223.8
79.4
83.4
83.7
79.8
83.8
87.2
85.3
87.1
Dyeing and finishing textiles..
_____
85.8
86.5
86.3
84.9
83. 2
40.5
39.9
46.2
51.0
48.0
49.0
36.8
50.1
50.1
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings___
50.0
49.4
50.1
49.7
47. 8
14.2
15.3
15.8
15.1
15.0
14.7
16.7
16.1
15.8
Hats (except cloth and millinery)_____
17.4
17.4
16.8
16.7
16.6
60.2
58. C 56.9
56.7
60. C 63.8
63.1
62.5
61.7
Miscellaneous textile goods.. ____._
62. £
63. 4
62.7
62. 7
63.3

6.2

6.1

6.2

6.0

86.2

Apparel and other finished textile prod­
ucts_______________ ____ _______ 1,076. 4 1,067. 2 1,093.2 1,138.5 1,136. 6 l, 108. 5 1,113.5 1,104.3 ,102.9 1,106.2 1,087.6 1,017.9 1, 007. 5 , 066.9 1,065.9
114.7 119.3 128.8
. C 123.4 124.4 122.4
M en’s and boys’ suits and c o a ts___
123. 9 123.1 125.8 124.0 119.3 121. C
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
clothing___ ._ . . . . . . . . _______
289.1 289. 8 288.6 284. 2 278.8 280.2 279.9 278.8 275.6 271.2 260.0 260.7 265.1 263.4
Women’s outerwear. .
_ __ .
302.
322.6 355. 5 360.3 351.1 346.6 330.9 330.0 339.5 339.0 311.1 295. S 331.2 326.4
91.1
94.3
88.5
97.9
92.0
95.0
Women’s, children’s undergarments .
98.2
99. 4 101. 4 101.5
19.9
21.3
18.2
15.4
20.4
21.7
20.3
18.1
24.8
M illinery______ _______
________
24.5
23.2
15. 8
19. 4
59.2
60.4
60.4
59.4
59.1
56.1
59.5
60.8
59.3
Children’s outerwear . . . __ _______
62. 4
61.4
60.5
58. 7
58.1
11.4
9.4
11.9
10.7
9.6
10.7
9.8
11.3
Fur goods___ ____ ____ . . . . . ____
6.5
5.8
7. 6
54.8
57.8
61.0
63.3
62.0
59.0
54.8
59.4
62.8
Miscellaneous apparel and accessories.
58.0
57.3
55.3
58. 6
58. 7
104.0 109.5 108.5
Other fabricated textile products_____
114.3 116.7 116.6 113.9 116.3 117.2 115.4 113.1 108.9

122

20.6

11.6

8.2

101.8

112.0

Lumber and wood products (except fur­
niture). ____
___ ____ _________
Logging camps and contractors
. .
Sawmills and planing mills . .
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products_____ _ __
Wooden containers
. _________
Miscellaneous wood products___ _____
Furniture and fixtures
_______
Household fu rn iture__ __
Office, public-building, and profession­
al furniture ______ . . .
____
Partitions, shelving, lockers, and fixtures
--- _________ -- Screens, blinds, and miscellaneous fur­
niture and fixtures___________ _____
See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

726.2

709.
77.
419.8

697.6
70.1
413. 7

688.0

102.1

104.0
56.4
53.4

102.4
56.8
54.4

322.
237.

328. 4
243.0

32.

33.0

33.

27.

27.4

27.7

25. C

24. £

56. £
52. £

318.2

24. £

1

112.2

100.6 102.6 101.6

100.2
6.8

1

676.9
59.3
404.1

676.4
58.0
405. 5

704.4
69.6
419.7

730.3
82.6
433.3

727.7
73.4
439.8

750.7
86.9
447.5

758.5
93.5
449.9

743.9
93.4
439.1

724.9
78.4
434.5

102.6
56.6
54.3

102.7
56.6
53.6

103.9
57.5
53.7

104.6
56.4
53.4

106.6
54.2
53.7

107.5
55.0
53.8

107.0
54.9
53.2

103.6
55.1
52.7

101.8 100.8
56.6
53.6

56. 4
53. £

108.4
61.1
57.1

332.
331.6
247. C 245.6

329.2
242.9

330.6
243.1

328.5
242.1

322.1
237.2

315.6
231.2

306.9
224.6

295.6
216.5

297.9
215.0

309.1
225.5

310.6
226.0

33.

33.3

33.5

33.4

33.2

33.4

33. C

31.7

32.5

33.0

33.8

28.

28.7

28.6

28.2

27.6

27.2

26.

24.8

26. £

26.

27.0

24.

24.3

24.

24.8

24.1

23.8

22.81

22.6

23.8 1

23. £1

23.8

66.9
407.5

713.3
78.5
423.8

766.8
95.8
444.4

894

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able A-3 : Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries1—Continued
[In thousands]
1953

Annual
average

1952

Industry group and industry
May
Manufacturing—Continued
Paper and allied products-...........................
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills____
Paperboard containers and boxes....... ._
Other paper and allied products.............
Printing, publishing, and allied indus­
tr ie s --........................................................
Newspapers..................................................
Periodicals....................................................
Books............................................................
Commercial printing.................................
Lithographing..............................................
Greeting cards.......... ..................................
Bookbinding and related industries___
Miscellaneous publishing and printing
ser v ic e s.................................................. .

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

1952

1951

446.3

440.7
222.1
116.5
102.1

439.8
221.5
116.6
101.7

439.3
222.6
116.2
100.5

436.8
222.8
115. (
99.0

435.6
222.9
114.9
97.8

441.0
224. £
117.7
99.0

424.9
217. (
110.8
97.1

424.6
221.5
107.4
95.7

411.1
214.5
102.7
93.9

419.0
220.6
103.9
94.5

422.5
219.4
107.4
95.8

434.3
223.4
111.7
99.2

502.1

499.1
147.2
28.7
27.5
157.5
41.5
13.2
35.0

498.7
146.6
28.6
27.7
158.4
41.2
12.7
34.8

499.2
146.1
29.1
27.8
158.7
41.4
13.1
34.6

496.5
144. £
29.0
27.7
159.5
40.8
13.1
34.1

497.8
143.9
28.8
27.3
161.1
40.9
13.2
34.6

505.1 505.2 503.8 497.2
147. C 146. S 146.4
145. £
28.6
28. S
29. C 28.6
27.3
27.2
27.5
27.2
161.9 160.7 160.4
157.8
42.8
43. C 42.6
41. £
14.7
16.4
15.6
14.5
35.0
34.9
34.6
34.2

489.8
143. S
27. £
26. £
156.2
40.2
14.3
33.8

489.7
144.5
28.3
26.5
156. 4
39.5
14.1
33.3

492.3
145.6
27.7
27.3
157.5
39.7
13.7
33.5

494.2
144.4
28.7
27. 1
158. 1
40.9
13.8
33.9

493.9
142.9
28.6
27.3
158.5
41.7
14.1
33.4

Chemicals and allied products....................
Industrial inorganic chemicals________
Industrial organic chemicals__________
Drugs and medicines.—.............................
Soap, cleaning and polishing prepara­
tions._____________ _______________
Paints, pigments, and fille r s..................
Gum and wood chemicals.......................
Fertilizers......................................................
Vegetable and animal oils and fats____
Miscellaneous chem icals.........................
Products of petroleum and coal.................
Petroleum refining...................... .............
Coke and other petroleum and coke
products.....................................................

Apr.

190.6

Rubber products....... .....................................
Tires and inner tubes...... ..........................
Rubber footwear____________________
Other rubber products............................ .

434.7
218.8
117. S
98.6

431.9
218. i
115.1
98.0

48.5

48.7

48.4

48.2

48.0

47.8

47.4

47.7

47.1

46.7

47.1

47.3

47.5

47.5

515.7
59.6
192.4
58.6

525.7
59.5
190.8
59.4

525.9
59.4
190.4
59.8

518.7
59.0
189.2
59.6

516.1
58.3
189.7
61.4

518.3
58.1
189.2
61.6

518.3
57.9
187.8
61.5

518.2
57.7
186.6
61.1

511.8
57.9
184.9
60.7

602.6
58.2
185.3
62.0

501.2
58.9
183.6
62.0

502.4
59.2
180.8
82.6

515.5
58.8
185.5
62.5

529.5
59.5
192.0
62.7

31.3
48.1
6.5
30.5
27.0
61.7

31.9
48.1
6.8
38.0
29.2
62.0

32.1
47.5
6.7
36.6
31.8
61.6

31.8
47.1
6.5
31.4
32.8
61.3

31.3
46.9
6.5
27.1
34.5
60.4

31.6
46.8
6.6
25.5
36.6
62.3

31.6
46.7
6.6
25.3
37.7
63.2

31.8
46.7
6.6
26.6
37.9
63.2

31.8
46.2
6.7
27.0
34.0
62.6

31.2
46.1
6.5
24.1
27.0
62.2

30.8
47.0
6.8
23.6
26.4
62.1

31.1
46.5
6.8
25.4
26.8
63.2

31.6
46.6
6.9
28.3
32.7
62.5

33 4
47. 5
7. 3
28 7
36 2
62.1

188.4
143.9

187.5
144.0

186.4
143.6

185.7
143.6

185.8
144.0

186.5
143.5

188.0
143.7

189.1
143.9

189.9
145.0

191.1
146.4

177.2
144.3

176.9
141.3

182.6
140.5

188 2
143.3

44.5

43.5

42.8

42.1

41.8

43.0

44.3

45.2

44.9

44.7

32.9

35.6

42.0

44.9

220.2
92.6
23.3
104.3

220.4
92.0
23.8
104.6

220.5
91.6
24.2
104.7

219.2
91.2
24.2
103.8

219.2
91.5
24.5
103.2

219.2
91.8
25.2
102.2

216.6
90.8
24.7
101.1

212.6
90.2
24.3
98.0

208.3
90.0
23.5
94.8

203.1
88.6
22.7
91.8

194.7
90.0
18.0
86.7

206.6
91.8
22.5
92.3

208.2
90.8
22.9
94.6

212.0
87. 4
23. 9
100.7

Leather and leather products__________
Leather: tanned, curried, and finished.
Industrial leather belting and packing..
Boot and shoe cut stock and findings...
Footwear (except rubber)____________
Luggage---------------------------------- -------Handbags and small leather goods.........
Gloves and miscellaneous leather goods.

350.

344.7
42.2
4.7
15.0
226.5
16.6
23.3
16.4

355.3
42.2
4.9
16.4
232.1
16.7
26.7
16.3

363.3
42.8
4.8
16.9
237.7
16.0
29.1
16.0

363.5
43.1
4.7
17.4
237.8
16.2
29.0
15.3

359.0
43.6
4.7
17.3
235.7
15.8
26.9
15.0

358.6
44.0
4.6
17.0
232.3
16.6
26.7
17.4

354.7
43.7
4.6
16.1
225.9
16.9
28.7
18.8

352.2
43.0
4.4
15.5
224.7
16.7
28.9
19.0

352.4
42.7
4.3
15.4
228.8
16.1
26.4
18.7

355.2
42.3
4.3
15.9
233.4
15.7
25.3
18.3

337.8
41.4
4.1
15.5
220.9
15.1
23.6
17.2

337.4
41.3
4.2
15.4
222.8
14.8
22.3
16.6

343.1
41.8
4.3
15.6
223.2
15.5
25.8
16.8

338 . 7
43.3
4.8
15.0
218 4
13. 8
26.0
17.5

Stone, clay, and glass products...................
Flat glass__________ ____ _______ ____
Glass and glassware, pressed or blown.
Glass products made of purchased glass.
Cement, hydraulic............. ................ .......
Structural clay products........ .............. .
Pottery and related products......... .........
Concrete, gypsum, and plaster prod­
ucts____________________ __________
Cut-stone and stone products.................
Miscellaneous nonmetallic products__

464.0

461.0
31.0
91.0
14.6
34.6
69.7
49.2

463.4
31.2
91.3
15.5
34.5
69.1
50.0

459.2
31.5
89.9
15.3
34.1
68.6
50.8

453.2
31.8
87.7
14.7
34.3
67.2
50.6

450.9
31.9
86.5
14.9
34.2
67.5
50.7

458.4
32.0
87.2
14.9
34.6
70.9
51.0

461.1
31.2
87.9
15.0
34.3
72.3
51.2

459.4
30.5
86.7
14.3
34.8
73.4
51.3

455.1
29.7
87.1
13.8
34.4
73.4
50.2

450.9
29.0
83.0
13.4
34.8
74.8
50.3

434.3
28.6
79.9
12.6
31.2
74.1
47.9

447.1
27.8
83.2
13.3
31.8
75.3
50.9

448.4
28.9
83.1
13.9
33.8
72.7
51.1

475.1
29.7
85.3
14. 5
34 . 7
77.5
56.9

86.1
15.6
69.2

85.7
16.2
69.9

83.0
16.2
69.8

81.6
16.0
69.3

80.7
15.8
68.7

83.0
16.1
68.7

84.6
16.4
68.2

84.2
16.2
68.0

85.4
14.5
66.6

85.6
14.5
65.5

84.5
14.3
61.2

84.9
14.3
65.6

82.3
15.3
67.3

84 7
16.6
75.1

Primary metal industries.______ _______ 1, 143.0 1, 138.3 1, 143.6 1, 144.8 1, 141.8 1, 139. 0 1, 137.0 1, 125.8 1, 115.6 1, 108. 5 1, 068. 2
Blast furnaces, steelworks, and rolling
mills___________________ _______ _
561.7 562.9 563.6 563.1 561.8 560.8 557.0 556.6 555.7 530. 4
Iron and steel foundries______________
222.8 224.2 224.2 224.2 225.7 226.3 225.6 221.9 221.5 216.0
Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals_______________ _____
41.9
43.4
42.4
42.2
40.9
40.7
41.0
41.0
41.7
42.6
Secondary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals_______________ _____
9.5
9.6
9.6
9.5
9.4
9.3
9.1
8.7
8.4
8.9
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of nonferrous metals..........................................
97.7
99.4
100.2 100.4
96.5
96.1
94.5
92.6
90.8
88.6
Nonferrous foundries________________
82.9
79.0
82.9
82.2
81.7
82.3
79.8
77.0
74.2
72.5
Miscellaneous primary metal indus­
tries.............................................. ............
121.6 122.4 123.0 122.5 122.5 121.5 118.8 117.8 116.2 109.2

643.3

680.8 1, 039. 7 1, 132.1

131.6
210.8

152.9
221.1

486.5
223.4

42.1

42.3

42.0

42.3

9.1

9.3

9.2

10.2

83.5
72.7

86.8
73.2

90.1
74.9

90.8
72.8

93.5

95.2

113.7

118.9

Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance,
machinery,
and trans­
portation eq u ip m en t)..........................
Tin cans and other tinware_____ ____ _
Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware____
Heating apparatus (except electric) and
plumbers’ supplies________________
Fabricated structural metal products..
M etal stamping, coating, and engrav­
ing.................... .........................................
Lighting fixtures........................................
Fabricated wire products____________
Miscellaneous fabricated metal prod­
ucts.......................................................... .

See footnotes at end of table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

954.4

560.2
237.1

951. 2
50.9
137.3

950.9
50.4
136.3

952.3
50.1
137.4

942.1
50.0
135.8

931.4
49.8
133.8

921.7
48.6
131.3

902.5
48.7
127.3

887.7
51.9
124.3

862.2
55.2
120.9

821.2
53.2
113.8

768.4
50.9
111.7

810.1
51.1
120.7

850.1
49.7
123.2

874.3
50.8
136.7

123.9
210.2

124.9
208.4

123.7
210.7

123.7
210.0

122.4
209.6

124.8
211.1

124.5
207.3

124.2
203.3

121.2
198.8

114.8
195.7

106.5
172.5

109.2
177.3

113.8
196.0

116.3
188.1

204.5
41.4
61.5

204.7
41.9
62.4

204.9
41.9
62.1

201.2
40.6
60.6

196.3
39.4
60.4

188.5
39.0
59.4

180.4
38.6
58.2

174.6
37.8
56.2

164.3
36.5
53.8

150.9
34.7
50.5

144.6
34.4
44.7

160.7
35.6
49.5

164.2
36.9
53.3

172.5
39.8
55.8

121.5

121.9

121.5

120.2

119.7

119.0

117.5

115.4

111.5

107.6

103.1

106.0

113.1

114.3

895

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

T able A-3: Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries 1—Continued
[In thousands]
Annual
average

1952

1953
Industry group and industry
June

M ay

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

1952

1951

Mannfactnring—Continued
IVTachinpry (ftxrept electrical)__________ 1,303.9 1, 309. 2 1, 325. 8 1,334.6 1,323.1 1,312.9 1,301.3 1, 259. 7 1,227.0 1,208.3 1,193.3 1,217. 5 1, 276.8 1, 262. 5 1, 245.1
65.9
68.2
60.8
63.8
60.0
71.4
71.2
63.0
62.8
?0.6
71.0
71.0
69.8
71.7
Engines and turbines _____________ 142.9 149.3 151.6 149.0 146.1 145.3 126.6 113.2 105.8 113.1 135. 4 157.7 140.9 154.6
Agricultural machinery and tractors__
90.6
98.9 100.2 100.3
99.6
98.5
97.9
97.8
98.5 100.9 100.6 100.5 100.5
98.2
Pnn<strnptlnr) and mining machinerv__
______
227.5 229.0 228.1 226.7 226.3 225.7 222.8 222.7 223.8 221.6 219.1 225.9 224.4 209.6
"Metalworking machinery _
Special-industry machinery (except
140.8 141.0 142.1 142.2 141.2 141.0 140.8 136.9 136.1 140.1 138.8 143.9 142.0 150.1
metalworking machinery)__________
166.0 166.6 167.0 165.6 165.7 165.1 161.4 159.9 159.5 160. 9 159.6 103.9 164.3 163.2
General industrial machinery_______
90.0
89.6
88.8
86.3
89.4
91.0
91.5
90.5
88.8
91.8
91.5
91.7
90.8
92.1
Office and store machines and devices
Service-industry and household ma171.6 177.8 180.1 177.3 171.8 163.3 156.4 149.5 144.0 137.2 133.4 135.9 144.3 142.6
chines
___________ - ____
199.5 200.8 201.6 199.7 198.4 197.5 191.5 192.8 189.0 173.8 182.2 191.5 189 9 184.7
Miseellaneons machinery parts _
912.3
Electrical machinery
___________
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial apparatus
________________________
Electrical appliances _______________
Insulated wire and cable_____________
Electrical pqnipment for vehicles____
Electric lamps _____________________
Communication equipment
Miscellaneous electrical products........... —

920.3

925.6

924.7

915.7

898.6

892.8

872.1

850.6

823.7

782.2

755.4

774.7

806.9

768.0

287.8
58.5
29.6
75.8
23.7
408.5
36.4

286.4
58.6
29.6
76.3
23.5
415.2
36.0

285.1
57.9
29.6
75.5
23.1
418.3
35.2

280.7
56.7
29.6
73.0
22.3
418.1
35.3

277.4
54.2
29.3
69.1
22.1
411.0
35.5

274.8
53.8
28.8
66.6
21.7
410.2
36.9

271.3
52.3
27.6
64.3
20.1
398.0
38.5

267.6
50.0
27.4
64.9
19.9
381.4
39.4

261.8
45.8
27.0
62.3
19.9
367.3
39.6

252.5
42.8
25.9
57.8
19.9
346.1
37.4

249.2
40.9
24.4
60 0
20.5
324.4
36.0

260.5
42.3
24.8
63.9
21.1
327.4
34.7

264.3
45.7
26.2
63.5
21.7
349.5
36.1

261.8
47.7
24.0
64.3
27.1
307.1
36.8

Transportation equipment_____________ 1, 592.2 1, 571.0 1,571. 7 1,573.6 1, 543. 4 1, 508.6 1,483. 9 1, 450.1 1,410.8 1,355.3 1, 220.9 1,189.9 1, 339. 5 1, 320. 5 1, 219.8
828.4 824.9 820.6 798.0 769.3 749.9 734.8 701.2 673.5 523.6 515.3 663.3 647.1 707.9
Automobiles
- _____________
531.8 530.7 542.3 538.1 530.7 523.6 509.7 501.3 474.2 490.3 476.1 466.1 469. 5 341.9
Aircraft and p a r ts __________________
326.4 330.2 329.3 326.9 324.9 316.4 313.2 292.7 317.3 309.3 303.9 302.8 232.3
325.2
Aircraft _________________________
95.9
93.4
63.7
98.4
95.5
Aircraft engines and p a r ts _________
114.0 111.5 119.1 118.4 115.0 111.7 108.6 106.5 103.0
10.0
7.6
10.2
10.0
10.0
10.7
10.4
11.1
12.3
12.1
11.6
12.2
12.3
Aircraft propellers and parts_______
12.1
38.3
61.3
60.8
64.4
58.8
70.9
68.1
78.1
75.4
73.6
76.7
80.6
80.7
Other aircraft parts and equipment - .
80.5
137.4 142.2 136.8 137.2 139.0 139.7 136.9 136.7 138.0 136.8 137.3 137.6 133.2 100.9
Ship- and boatbuilding and repairing..
88.2
Shipbuilding and repairing________
113.3 118.3 114.0 115.0 117.5 118.5 116.8 118.0 119.3 117.9 118.1 118.3 115.4
17.8
12.8
19.2
19.3
22.2
18.7
18.7
18.9
21.2
20.1
24.1
23.9
22.8
21.5
Boatbuilding and repairing________
62.1
58.5
59.8
58.9
50.5
58.8
56.2
59.3
57.8
58.4
58.4
61.9
62.6
62.7
Railroad equipment_________________
10.9
10.6
10.4
11.3
10.7
12.3
11.8
11.3
12.3
12.5
11.2
11.2
Other transportation equipment______
11.5
11.3
Instruments and related products______
Laboratory, scientific, and engineering
instruments __ _________________
Mechanical measuring and controlling
instruments
___ __ ___
Optical instruments and lenses
Surgical, medical, and dental Instruments
________
Ophthalmic goods__ ________________
Photographic apparatus_____________
Watches and clocks_________________

245.6

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries..
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware__
Musical instruments and parts_______
Toys and sporting goods. __________
Pens, pencils, and other office supplies.
Costume jewelry, buttons, n o tio n s___
Fabricated plastic products ________
Other manufacturing industries

419.4

244.1

244.3

244.4

240.7

240.9

240.4

237.1

233.6

229.8

226.0

219.4

223.2

227.6

216.7

33.8

34.2

34.3

34.1

34.3

34.2

33.6

32.9

32.4

31.7

31.4

31.7

32.0

25.8

59.4
9.7

59.3
9.7

59.6
9.7

58.7
9.6

58.3
9.7

58.1
9.6

56.5
9.8

55.6
9.8

53.8
9.8

52.2
9.6

49.5
9.6

50.2
9.9

53.1
9.9

52.5
10.0

29.4
23.1
48.1
40.6

29.4
23.3
47.8
40.6

29.4
23.6
47.9
39.9

28.9
23.4
47.3
38.7

29.3
23.2
47.8
38.3

29.5
22.9
47.7
38.4

29.3
22.3
47.5
38.1

28.7
22.1
47.0
37.5

28.2
21.9
47.2
36.5

28.1
22.0
47.3
35.1

27.7
22.3
46.9
32.0

28.3
22.6
46.6
33.9

28.6
22.7
46.4
35.0

29.2
23.7
43.6
31.9

412.7
44. 1
15.5
75.3
24.3
55.3
63. 7
134.5

411.8
44.4
15.6
73.2
24.3
56.0
63.6
134.7

409.9
44.6
15.9
69.8
23.9
58.3
62.4
135.0

404.2
43.6
15.7
66.2
23.3
58.7
62.1
134.6

393.3
43.2
15.5
62.6
23.3
56.7
61.2
130.8

403.5
44.1
15.2
68.6
24.8
56.3
61.2
133.3

414.5
44.9
15.0
75.9
25.0
57.2
61.4
135.1

407.7
44.7
14.7
76.6
25.0
56.2
59.9
130.6

392.7
42.8
14.4
73.9
24.3
54.6
56.0
126.7

374.5
39.6
14.1
70.1
23.4
51.8
54.6
120. S

353.9
37.6
13.4
63.7
23.0
49.8
52.2
114.2

362.7
38.8
13.4
64.1
23.6
48.3
53.1
121.4

376.7
41.1
13.8
64.8
24.0
51.6
55.8
125.6

388.3
44.7
14.1
64.5
24.8
53.7
57.0
129.5

• See footnote 1, table A-2. Production and related workers include
working foremen and all nonsupervisory workers (including leadmen and
trainees) engaged in fabricating, processing, assembling, inspection, receiving,
storage, handling, packing, warehousing, shipping, maintenance, janitorial,
watchman services, products development, auxiliary production for plant’s


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

own use (e. g., power plant), and record-keeping and other services closely
associated with the above production operations,
a See footnote 2, table A-2.
* See footnote 3, table A-2.
See N ote on p. 886.

896

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able A—
4: Indexes of production-worker employment and weekly payrolls in manufacturing industries 1
[1947-49 average=100]
Em ploy­
ment

Period
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:

Average_____________
Average__________
Average___ ____
Average___ _______ _
Average__________
Average___ _
Average__________
Average_____________
Average___________
Average.........................

66.2
71.2
87.9
103.9
121.4
118.1
104.0
97.9
103.4
102.8

Weekly
payroll
29.9
34.0
49.3
72.2
99.0
102.8
87.8
81.2
97.7
105.1

Em ploy­
ment

Period
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:

Average_______
Average....................
Average___ _______
Average___________

1952: June___________
July-------------------------August........................
September___________
October__________ .

Weekly
payroll

Employ­
ment

Period

93.8
99.6
106.2
105.5

97.2
111.7
129.6
135.3

100.9
98.9
105. 7
109.0
109.6

127.3
122.2
134.2
143.3
145.7

Weekly
payroll

1952: November__________
December___________

110.2
110.8

146.3

1953: January___________
February. _________
March_________
April_____ _____
M ay_______
June__________ _____

110.1
111.0
111.8
111.3
110.9
111.7

148.4
149.3
151.9
150.1

150.9

1 See footnote 1, tables A-2 and A-3.
See N ote on p. 886.

T able A-5: Federal civilian employment by branch and agency group
[In thousands]
Executive i
Year and month

All branches
Total

Department
of Defense

Post Office*
Department

Legislative

Judicial

Other agencies

Continental United States »

1951: Average...
1952: Average...

2, 280
2, 403

2, 267.8
2, 376. 7

1, 093. 7
1,199. 2

499.7
521.7

674.4
655.8

8. 2
22.6

38
3.9

1952: May____
June____
July____
August__
September
October...
November.
December.

2,372
2,399
2,400
2,387
2, 368
2, 363
2,363
2,765

2,345.4
2,372. 9
2,373.6
2,360. 7
2, 341.6
2,337.1
2,336.3
2, 738.6

1,194. 5
1, 216.3
1, 217.8
1, 212. 2
1, 205. 5
1, 206. 0
1, 205. 7
1, 206.0

487.0
489.1
490.2
490.2
490.3
490.7
492.5
897.5

663.9
667.5
665.6
658.3
645.8
640.4
638.1
635.1

22. 4
22. 5
22. 5
22. 5
22.6
22. 5
22. 5
22.6

39
39
38
38
38
38
38
3!9

1953: January...
February..
March......
April____
May____

2,350
2,343
2,324
2,304
2,282

2,323.6
2,316. 4
2, 297.3
2, 278.0
2, 256.1

1,204.8
1,197. 7
1,181.0
1,160. 6
1.140.4

486.0
486.0
486.0
486.0
486.0

632.8
632.7
630.3
631.4
629.7

22.4
22. 5
22. 5
22. 5
22.3

3.8
38
38
39
3 !9

8. 2
20.8

07

Washington, D . O.3

1951: Average...
1952: Average...

255.8
257.4

246.9
235.9

88.6
92.8

8.4
8.7

149.9
134.4

1952: May____

O ctober...
November
December.

257.4
260.8
260.1
257.0
254.6
254.2
253.9
259.9

236.0
239.3
238.6
235.5
233. 0
232.7
232.5
238.5

92.2
94.3
94.5
93.7
93.1
93.2
93.1
93.1

8.1
8.1
8.2
8.1
8.1
8.2
8.2
14.7

135.7
136.9
135.9
133.7
131.8
131.3
131.2
130.7

1953: January...
February..
March___
April____
May____

252.6
251.6
249. 4
245.9
242.7

231.4
230.3
228.0
224.6
221.6

93.5
93.4
92.8
91.6
90.2

8.1
8.1
8.1
8.1
8.1

129.8
128.8
127.1
124.9
123.3

June_____

July------August__
September

- iuuuura auMCTuuvc ageuuics ».except (.-entrai intelligence Agency; ana
Government corporations. Civilian employment in navy yards, arsenals,
hospitals, and on force-account construction is also included.
3Includes the 48 States and the District of Columbia.
3 Includes all Federal civilian employment in Washington Standard Metropolitan Area (District of Columbia and adjacent Maryland and Virginia
counties).

20. 7
20.8
20 7
20 7

.'7
7

20.8
20.7

'7
*g
g
g
g

20.7

'.7

20.5
20.6
20.7

*7

20. 7

20. 6
20.4

7

7
7
7

'.7

* Beginning with February 1953, data for the Post Office Department are
not available. The figure for January 1953 will be used for subsequent
months until the actual data are reported.
See N ote on p. 886.

Beginning with January 1952, the data for Federal employment are not strictly comparable with those
for prior years, primarily as a result of changes in definition. The following changes were made starting with that
month: (1) data refer to the last day of the month rather than the first of the month: (2) employment of the Federal Reserve Banks and of the mixed-ownership banks of the Farm Credit Administration transferred from the
Federal total and the Executive Branch to the “Banks and Trust Companies” group of the “Finance, Insurance
and Real Estate division; (3) fourth-class postmasters formerly included in total for table A-5 only, now included
m table A-2; (4) employment in the General Accounting Office and Government Printing Office excluded from the
Executive Branch and included in the Legislative Branch; (5) the “Defense agencies” category replaced by one
showing employment m the Department of Defense only.

N ote .


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS

897

T able A-8: Insured unemployment under State unemployment insurance programs,1 by geographic
division and State
[In thousands]
1953

1952

1951

Geographic division and State
May

April

960.6 1,014.5 1,083.6 1,155. 9

Continental United States_______

889.0

New England__________________
Maine_________ __________
New Hampshire___ ___ _____
Vermont._________________
Massachusetts______________
Rhode Island_______________
Connecticut_______ ____ ___

74.6
9.9
7.6
1.1
38.0
11.2
6.8

Middle Atlantic................ ................
New York.. _______________
New Jersey__ ______________
Pennsylvania_______________

289.1
163.4
45. 5
80.2

313.5
164.3
48.6
100.6

East North Central_____________
Ohio________ _____________
Indiana............................... ........
Illinois __________ ______
Michigan__________________
Wisconsin_________________

124.8
26.6
11.8
57.0
20.9
8.5

West North Central____________
Minnesota__ - ______ __
Iowa--------- ---------------------Missouri___________________
North Dakota_____________
South Dakota___ ________
Nebraska_____
_________
Kansas______ ______ ___
South Atlantic _______________
Delaware..... ......................... ......
Maryland.. ----------- -..
District of Columbia_________
Virginia.. _________________
West Virginia______________
North Carolina_____________
South Carolina. ____________

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

997.6 1,228. 5 1,024.9 1,075. 5

July

June

May

May

891.5

685.8

631.4

687.1

81.4
8.9
5.4
1.9
42.5
13.4
9.3

88.2
9.7
5.9
2.1
45.6
14.0
10.9

71.1
7.9
4.9
1.7
38.8
10.1
7.7

60.4
5.8
4.7
1.4
33.3
8.3
6.9

60.8
4.3
5.1
1.5
32.9
9.4
7.6

72.5
4.1
6.0
2.1
39.1
11.2
10.0

95.5
5.0
6.0
2.8
50.6
14.7
16.4

116.7
5.6
7.2
3.1
63.8
18.9
18.1

118.3
7.4
7.7
3.9
67.5
18.0
13.8

131.5
12.4
8.8
2.8
73.2
19.8
14.5

122.2
12.5
9.9
1.5
65.5
19.9
12.9

301.4
157.8
43.7
99.9

310.9
165.5
45.1
100.3

350.9
185.9
54.6
110. 4

280.8
158.0
40.4
82.4

223.4
122.6
32.4
68.4

211.6
108.4
32.1
71.1

217.8
107.4
31.8
78.6

290.3
136.4
42.8
111.1

383.9
190.3
51.5
142.1

355.7
185.2
41.7
128.8

356.4
199.0
50.6
106.8

311.7
190.4
48.8
72.5

121.2
24.5
11.5
55.8
19.9
9.5

122.3
26.9
12.9
45.1
24.4
13.0

138.3
30.6
15.2
50.9
27.0
14.6

157.9
32.7
20.0
60.2
29.5
15.5

124.9
25.6
16.3
45.7
25.0
12.3

101.9
20.9
10. 2
38.8
24.7
7.3

102.9
19.9
10.8
40.9
24.1
7.2

127.2
23.6
12.4
52.3
29.6
9.3

267.3
39.1
27.6
78.2
107.1
15.3

321.8
57.4
46.9
84.3
111.3
21.9

175.4
36.0
19.8
81.6
30.1
7.9

173.0
36.6
17.6
76.1
34.4
9.3

158.8
27.0
17.0
78.3
30.6
5.9

42.6
12.3
4.6
18.2
.9
.4
1.8
4.4

53.6
19.8
5.8
17.2
2.3
.9
2.6
5.0

68.9
25.1
8.0
18.6
4.2
1.9
4.7
6.4

74.3
25.5
8.9
20.2
4.4
2.2
5.9
7.2

70.2
22.2
7.8
22.8
3.8
2.0
5.0
7.1

45.7
12.7
4.5
17.6
2.2
1.0
2.7
5.0

28.7
6.3
2.8
14.9
.8
.4
.8
2.7

23.2
4.7
3.0
12.4
.2
.2
.7
2.0

25.1
5.1
6.0
10.9
.2
.2
.7
2.0

36.6
8.0
7.3
16.8
.2
.2
.9
3.2

40.9
9.7
4.5
21.3
.2
.2
1.2
3.8

30.0
8.2
3.8
14.2
.2
.2
1.1
2.3

40.7
13.7
4. 5
17.3
.4
.4
1.5
2.9

39.0
11.2
3.5
19.9
.5
.4
1.1
2.4

103.5
.9
12.2
2.6
11.3
15.3
27.3
10.6
13.6
9.7

101.0
1.0
12.5
3.0
7.5
16.6
28.2
10.3
13.5
8.4

104.1
1.3
10.6
3.5
9.3
17.6
28.3
10.8
14.0
8.7

105.6
1.6
12.1
3.6
9.4
17.3
27.0
10.6
14.8
9.2

111.7
1.6
13.1
3.1
10.3
17.6
26.7
11.4
16.9
11.0

84.6
1.3
9.7
2.3
6.9
13.3
20.0
8.1
13.3
9. 7

71.3
.8
6.8
1.9
5.3
12.2
16.7
6.8
10.1
10. 7

70.9
.6
5.9
1.6
4.9
11.4
15.2
6.4
10.0
14.9

79.3
.7
7.2
1.7
6.0
11.9
17.1
6.9
10.6
17.2

105.3
1.3
12.7
1.8
10.2
18.4
20.2
8.7
14.3
17.7

128.5
1.5
15.6
1.8
14.5
24.8
26.9
10.8
16.5
16.1

110.1
1.0
14.4
1.9
12.3
16.3
30.4
10. 7
13.8
9.3

90.9
1.1
12.1
1.7
9.1
10.6
24.8
8.0
14.2
9.3

East South Central____________
Kentucky_____ ____ ______ _
Tennessee_________________
Alabama__________________
Mississippi____ _ _________

66.2
19.6
21.6
15.4
9.6

69.3
20.2
23.0
16.0
10.1

71.3
20.0
22.9
16.9
11.5

75.0
19.6
26.0
17.1
12.3

75.7
17.8
27.3
17.9
12.7

61.0
14.9
21.7
15.2
9.2

51.9
14.2
18.1
12.8
6.8

50.2
14.8
16.7
12.8
5.9

54.2
14.8
19.1
14.2
6.1

69.4
19.8
21.0
20.0
8.6

83.2
24.8
25.2
24.0
9.2

113.6
.8
12.8
1.7
16.0
20.2
27.1
9.6
14.7
10.7
72.4
21.7
22.8
20.1
7.8

71.8
20.8
26.1
15.9
9.0

60.0
17.9
22.6
12.9
6.6

West South Central____________
Arkansas..
_____________
Louisiana____________ _____
Oklahoma. _ _____________
Texas_____________________

48.0
89
12.9
9.5
16.7

51.0
10.8
13.2
10.2
16.8

58.2
12. 9
15.6
11.9
17.8

61.2
14.5
16.7
12.8
17.2

57.2
13.6
16.3
11.6
15.7

44.6
10.5
12.2
9.2
12.7

32.6
6.8
9.2
6.8
9.8

27.0
4.4
8.7
5.4
8.5

29.6
4.4
10.2
5.7
9.3

39.1
6.4
13.9
7.4
11.4

41.4
6.9
15.1
7.8
11.6

39.7
5.8
15.4
7. 2
11.3

46.4
7.4
17.4
8.1
13.5

42.7
7.1
17.6
7.5
10.5

Mountain_____________________
Montana _________________
Idaho______________ _______
Wyoming ____ ____ ______
Colorado__________________
New Mexico____ __________
Arizona____________ _______
Utah___ _ _______________
Nevada_________ _________

15.1
2.2
2.2
.5
2.0
1.8
3.2
2.4
.8

21.1
3.9
4.0
.7
2.8
2.2
3.3
3.1
1.1

29.1
6.3
6.1
1.4
3.2
2.7
3.6
4.4
1.4

33.5
6.9
8.1
1.7
3.4
2.8
3.6
5.3
1.7

30.7
5.9
7.9
1.4
2.9
2.7
3.3
4.9
1.7

19.4
3.3
5.2
.7
1.8
1.8
2.5
2.9
1.2

9.6
1.2
1.9
.2
1.0
.9
2.0
1.5
.9

6.2
.5
.7
.1
.6
.8
1.8
1.1
.6

6.1
.4
.7
.1
.6
.8
1.8
1.1
.6

7.7
.5
.9
.2
1.0
1.0
2.2
1.4
.5

9.9
.7
.9
.3
2.1
1.2
1.9
2.3
.5

10.0
.9
.7
.4
2. 3
1.2
1.6
2.3
.6

11.4
1. 4
1.4
.4
1. 7
1. 6
1.9
2.1
.9

11.3
2.0
.9
.4
1.8
1.2
2.1
1.9
1.0

Pacific_______________________
Washington_______________
Oregon____________________
California __________ ____

125.1
17.5
11.6
96.0

150.4
26.0
16.6
107.8

182.7
34.4
24.2
124.1

203.4
43.5
31.2
128.7

213.2
47.7
33.3
132. 2

159.8
38.6
24.4
96.8

106.0
25.3
14.9
65.8

78.2
16.1
10.0
52.1

75.2
12.8
6.9
55.5

86.7
12.2
6.6
67.9

101.9
11.9
7.2
82.8

110.1
11.6
5. 4
93.1

134.3
15. 3
7.9
111.1

113.5
8.7
5.0
99.8

G e o rg ia ..-

Florida.--

.

____

- _______ -

79.6
76.3
11.6
8.1
7.2
6.0
1.4
1.6
39.4
39.3
11.7 ' 12.9
8.3
8.4

949.9

1Average of weekly data adjusted for split weeks in the month. For a
technical description of this series, see the April 1950 Monthly Labor Review

Figures may not add to exact column totals because of rounding,

(p. 382).

Souece: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Security.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

898

B: LABOR TURNOVER

MONTHLY LABOR

B: Labor Turnover
T able B -l: Monthly labor turnover rates (per 100 employees) in manufacturing industries, by
class of turnover 1
Class of turnover and year
Total separation^
1953 ..........
1952...........
1951...........
1950...........
1949...........
1948...........
1947_____
1946..........
1939...........
Quit:
1953..
1952..
1951..
1950..
1949..
1948..
1947..
1946..
1939».
Discharge:

1953..
1952..
1951..
1950— .
1949..
1948..
1947..
1946..
1939.__

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

Layoff:
1953.
1952.
1951.
1950.
1949.
1948.
1947..
1946..
1939..
Miscellaneous including military:
1953............................
1952.....................................
1951..........................
1950..........................
1949.........................
1948................................ 1........
1947................................
1946................................
Total accession:
1953.......
1952___
1951.......
1950.......
1949.......
1948___
1947........
1946___
1939........

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

3.8
4.0
41
3.1
4.6
4.3
4.9
6.8
3.2

3.6
3.9
38
3.0
4.1
4.7
4.5
6.3
2.6

4.1
3.7
4.1
2.9
4.8
4.5
4.9
6.6
3.1

2.1
1.9
2.1
1.1
1.7
2.6
3.5
4.3
.9

2.2
1.9
2.1
1.0
1.4
2.5
3.2
3.9
.6

2.5
2.0
2.5
1.2
1.6
2.8
3.5
4.2
.8

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

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

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

.9
1.4
1.0
1.7
2.5
1.2
.9
1.8
2.2

.8
1.3
.8
1.7
2.3
1.7
.8
1.7
1.9

.8
1.1
.8
1.4
2.8
1.2
.9
1.8
2.2

.4
.4
.7
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

.4
.4
.6
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2

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

4.4
4.4
5.2
3.6
3.2
4.6
6.0
8.5
4.1

4.2
3.9
4.5
3.2
2.9
3.9
5.0
6.8
3.1

4.4
3.9
4.6
3.6
3.0
4.0
5.1
7.1
3.3

Apr.

uuangoB m wiai employ mem in manuiacrurmg indus­
tries as indicated by labor turnover rates are not comparable with the changes
shown by the Bureau’s employment and payroll reports, for the following
reasons:
(1) Accessions and separations are computed for the entire calendar month;
the employment and payroll reports, for the most part, refer to a 1-week pay
period ending nearest the 15th of the month.
(2) The turnover sample is not so large as that of the employment and
payroll sample and includes proportionately fewer small plants; certain
industries are not covered. The major industries excluded are: printing,
publishing, and allied industries; canning and preserving fruits, vegetables,
and sea foods; women’s, misses’, and children’s outerwear; and fertilizers.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

4.3
4.1
4.6
2.8

4.8
4.7
5.2
6.3
3.5
2.7
2.2

2. 7
1.3
1.7
3.0
3.7
4.3
.8

.9
1.3
1.0

1.2
2.8
1.2
1.0

1.4

2.6

4.3
3.7
4.5
3.5
2.9
4.0
5.1
6.7
2.9

May
24. 5
3.9
4.8
3.1
5.2

4.3
5.4
6.3
3.5
2 2.7
2.2
2.8
1.6
1.6
2.8

3.5
4.2
.7

2 1.1
1.1
1.2
1.1

3.3

1.1
1.4
1.5
2.7

24.0
3.9
4.5
4.4
3.5
4.1
4.8
6.1

3.3

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

3.9
4.3
3.0
4.3
4. 5
4.7
5.7
3.3

5.0
4.4
2.9
3.8
4.4
4.6
5.8
3.3

4.6
5.3
4.2
4.0
5.1
5.3
6.6
3.0

4.9
5.1
4.9
4.2
5.4
5.9
6.9
2.8

4.2
4.7
4.3
4.1
4.5
5.0
6.3
2.9

3.5
4.3
3.8
4.0
4.1
4.0
4.9
3.0

3.5
3.5
3.6
3.2
4.3
3.7
4.5
3.5

2.2
2.5
1.7
1.5
2.9
3.1
4.0
.7

2.2
2.4
1.8
1. 4
2.9
3.1
4.6
.7

3.0
3.1
2.9
1.8
3.4
4.0
5.3
.8

3.5
3.1
3.4
2.1
3.9
4.5
5.3
1.1

2.8
2.5
2.7
1.5
2.8
3.6
4.7
.9

2.1
1.9
2.1
1.2
2.2
2.7
3.7
.8

1.7
1.4
1.7
.9
1. 7
2.3
3.0
.7

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

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

.3
.4
.4
.3
.4
.4
.4
.1

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

.4
.4
.4
.2
.4
.4
.4
.2

.4
.3
.3
.2
.4
.4
.4
.2

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

1.1
1.0
.9
2.5
1.1
1.1
1.2
2.5

2.2
1.3
.6
2.1

1.0

.7
1.3
.7
1.8
1.0
.9

.7
1.7
1.1
2.5
1.4
.8
.7
2.0

1.1
1. 5
1.3
2.0
2.2
.9
1.0
2.7

1.0
.6
2.5

1.4
.6
1.8
1.2
.8
.7
2.1

1.6

.7
1.4
.8
2.3
1.2
.9
1.0
1.8

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

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

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

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

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

.3
.4
.3
.1
.1
.1
.1

.3
.3
.3
.1
.1
.1
.1

4.9
4.9
4.8
4. 4
5.7

4.4
4.2
4.7
3.5
4.7
4.9
7.4
4.2

5.9
4.5
6.6
4.4
5.0
5.3
7.0
5.1

5.6
4.3
5.7
4.1
5.1
5.9
7.1
6.2

5.2
4.4
5.2
3.7
4.5
5.5
6.8
5.9

4.0
3.9
4.0
3.3
3.9
4.8
5.7
4.1

3.3
3.0
30
3.2
2. 7
3.6
4.3
2.8

5. 5

6.7
3.9

1.0

1.0

(3) Plants are not included in the turnover computations in months when
work stoppages are in progress; the influence of such stoppage is reflected
however, in the employment and payroll figures. Prior to 1943, rates relate
to production workers only.
2 Preliminary figures.
»Prior to 1940, miscellaneous separations were included with quits.
tBeginning with data for October 1952, components may not add to total
because of rounding.

N ote : Information on concepts, methodology, etc., is
given in a "Technical Note on Measurement of Labor Turn­
over,” which appeared in the May 1953 Monthly Labor Review.

899

B: LABOR TURNOVER

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

T able B-2: Monthly labor turnover rates (per 100 employees) in selected groups and industries
Separation
Total accession

M ise., incl.
military

Layoff

Discharge

Quit

Total
Industry group and industry

M a n u fa c tu r in g

All mannfacturing

________________
________________
Durable goods *
Nondurable goods *.................................

Ordnance and accessories
____________
Food arid kindred products_____________
Meat products _ _________________
Grain-mill products __ ____________
■Rakery products _ ________________
Beverages:
Malt liquors __ ________- __ _
Tobacco manufactures_________________
nigarett.es
___________________
Cigars
_______________________
Tobacco and s n u f f ___________ - - ---Textile-mill products
________________
Yam and thread mills
___________
Froad-woven fabric mills _ ________
Cotton, silk, synthetic fiber_____
Woolen and worsted____________
_________________
Knitting mills
Fuli-fashioned hosiery
_______
Seamless h o sie ry _______________
'R'nit underwear
____________
D yeing and finishing te x tile s _______
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings—
Apparel and other finished textile prodU ets
_________________________
Men's and boys' suits and coats _ __
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
clothing
_ _ _________________
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)
- ____________________
Logging camps and contractors ____
Sawmills and planing mills .
_ _
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products
______
Furniture and fixtures
_____________
____________
Household furniture
Other furniture and fixtures ______
Paper and allied products
__________
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills___
Paperboard containers and boxes.
Chemicals and allied products__________
Industrial inorganic chemicals _
____
Industrial organic chemicals
Synthetic fibers _______________
Drugs and medicines
____________
Paints pigments, and fillers. ______
Products of petroleum and coal_________
Petroleum refining
_ ____
Rubber products
__ ________________
Tires and inner t u b e s ______________
Rubber footwear _________________
Other rubber p ro d u cts_____________
Leather and leather products _ ________
Leather
___ __________________
Footwear (except rubber)___________
Stone clay, and glass products__________
Class and glass products____________
Cement, hydraulic
______________
Structural clay products____________
Pottery and related products________
Primary metal industries _____________
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills
_____- _______________
Iron and steel foundries____________
Gray-iron foundries
_ ______
Malleable-iron foundries
Steel foundries . . ____________
Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals:
Primary smelting and refining of
copper, lead, and zinc
Rolling,"drawing, and alloying of nonferrous metals:
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of
copper ____________________
Non ferrous foundries _
_ _ ______
Other primary metal industries:
Iron and steel forgings. .................

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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900

B: LABOR TURNOVER

MONTHLY LABOR

T able B-2: Monthly labor turnover rates (per 100 employees) in selected groups and industries1—
Continued
Separation
Total

I n d u s tr y grou p a n d in d u s tr y

M ay
1953
M a n u f a c t u r i n g —Continued
Fabricated metal products (except ord­
nance, machinery, and transportation
equipment)___________ ______________
Cutlery, hand tools, and hardware___
Cutlery and edge tools-...................
Hand tools..........................................
Hardware-._______ ____________
Heating apparatus (except electric)
and plumbers’ supplies___________
Sanitary ware and plumbers’
supplies______________________
Oil burners, nonelectric heating
and cooking apparatus, not else­
where classified............................
Fabricated structural metal products—
M etal stamping, coating, and en­
graving--......................... ................... .

Machinery (except electrical).......................
Engines and turbines_______________
Agricultural machinery and tractors - ,
Construction and mining machinery. _
Metalworking m achinery.................
Machine tools__________________
Metalworking machinery (except
machine to o ls).______________
Machine-tool accessories________
Special-industry machinery (except
metalworking machinery)_________
General industrial machinery_______
Office and store machines and devices.
Service-industry and household ma­
chines_____ ____ _________________
Miscellaneous machinery p a rts...........
Electrical machinery________ ____ ______
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial appa­
ratus____________________________
Communication equipment________ _
Radios, phonographs, television
sets, and equipment__________
Telephone, telegraph, and related
equipment___________________
Electrical appliances, lamps, and
miscellaneous products____________
Transportation equipment—.........................
Automobiles................... .........................
Aircraft and parts__________________
Aircraft................................................
Aircraft engines and parts_______
Aircraft propellers and parts_____
Other aircraft parts and equip­
m ent_______________ _____ ___
Ship- and boatbuilding and repairing..
Railroad equipment___ ____ ________
Locomotives and parts....................
Railroad and streetcars...................
Other transportation equipm ent_____
Instruments and related products...............
Photographic apparatus....... ............ .
Watches and clocks_________________
Professional and scientific instruments.
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries...
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware..

Quit

Apr.
1953

May
1953

Discharge
Apr.
1953

M ay
1953

Apr.
1953

M ay
1953

Total accession

M ise., mcl.
military

Layoff
Apr.
1953

M ay
1953

Apr.
1953

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3.8
3.5
2.5
4.3

5.2
4.5
4.9
3.9
4.7

3.4
2.6
2.3
1.3
3.1

3.3
2.7
1.2
2.0
3.4

0.6
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.1
.3
.3

0.7
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.2
.4
.5

0.8
.6
.9
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1.0
3.3
1.2
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0.3
.3
.1
.2
.3

0.4
.4
.3
.4
.5

M ay
1953

Apr.
1953

4.9
3.6
4.4
2.2
4.0

5.6
4.3
1.4
2.9
5.6

5.2

5.4

3.9

4.0

.6

.7

.5

.4

.2

.4

5.3

6.2

3.4

4.2

2.3

2.9

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.7

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.3

.2

.3

3.6

4.6

6.7
4.3

6.3
4.0

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2.7

4.7
2.6

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.6

.6
.7

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.4

.3
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6.6
4.2

7.2
4.6

7.3

8.1

5.3

5.1

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1.0

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1.4

.5

.6

7.2

8.6

4.3
6.1

2.2
2.4
(5)
2.5
1.9
1.8

2.2
2.5
2.5
2.1
2.0
1.7

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1.1

1.3
2.5
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3.6

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4.5
2.9
2.9

3.8
4.0
4.5
3.2
2.8
2.5

3.0
2.6
2.1

3.4
3.6
3.1
2.6
2.8
2.2

2.6
3.2

3.0
3.5

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2.3

2.3
2.6

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4.4

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4.2

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2.7
4.1

3.4
2.8
2.3

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1.7
1.9

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3.6

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2.3

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3.9
3.8
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3.6
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3.3

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3.8
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4.5
6.3
7.8
3.6
3.4
3.6
2.8

6.7

3.5
2.1
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3.8

5.0
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5.2
4.0
6.7
2.1
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2.5
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5.1
3.3
2.3

N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g

M etal mining—............................ ....................
Iron mining.............................................. .
Copper mining..........................................
Lead and zinc mining............................ .
Anthracite mining...........................................
Bituminous-coal mining.................................
Communication:
Telephone...... ..........................................
Telegraph.............................................. .

0
0

1.8
1.9

(5)
0

i See footnote 1, table B -l. Data for the current month are subject to
revision without notation; revised figures for earlier months will be indicated
by footnotes.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

.4
.2
.4
.1
0

.5
.2
.6
.4
(4)
(4)
.1
.1

0
0

.1
.2

0
0

2 See footnote 2, table A-2.
3 See footnote 3, table A-2. Printing, publishing,
and allied industries are excluded.

.2
.1

0
0

2.0
1.8

* Less than 0.05.
• Not available.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

901

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

C: Earnings and Hours
T able C -l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1
Mining
Coal

Metal
Year and month

Total: Metal
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
ings hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

1951: Average........1952: Average.........
M ay _______

$74. 56
81. 65
80.81

43.6
43.9
44.4

$1.71 $72. 68
1.86 80.34
1.82 78.02

42.5
43.9
45.1

1952: N ovem ber...
December__
1953: January____
February___
M arch_____
April_______
M ay_____ ....

85. 26
84. 83
84. 71
84.08
84. 48
84. 28
85.93

43.5
43.5
43.0
42.9
43.1
43.0
43.4

88.15
82.78
82.21
83.42
84.03
84.45
88. 56

43.0
41.6
40.7
41.5
41.6
41.6
43.2

1.96
1.95
1.97
1.96
1.96
1.96
1.98

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.71 $78. 54
1.83 85.73
1.73 83. 62

46.2
45.6
45.2

85. 69
90.40
92. 66
88.14
87. 95
88.73
88.98

45.1
46.6
46.8
45.2
45.1
45. 5
45.4

2.05
1.99
2.02
2.01
2. 02
2. 03
2.05

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$1.70 $76.11
1.88 81.60
1.85 82. 64

43.0
42.5
42.6

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

1.90
1.94
1.98
1.95
1.95
1.95
1.96

42.4
42.8
41.8
42.0
42.7
42.1
41.5

80. 98
82.18
80.26
80.64
81.13
79. 57
78.44

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$79. 76
85.90
82.01

40.9
41.1
40.6

1952: N ovem ber...
90.47
December__
87. 72
1953: January____
89.40
February___
88.29
M arch_____ _ 88.73
87.91
April______
M ay_______
88.56

41.5
40.8
41.2
40.5
40.7
40.7
41.0

Avg.
wkly.
hours

30.3
31.5
33.3

$2.20 $77. 79
2.28 78.32
2. 24 70. 28

35.2
34.2
31.8

$2. 21
2. 29
2. 21

1.91
1.92
1.92
1.92
1.90
1.89
1.89

86.27
91.73
87.79
81.42
81. 76
79. 36
84. 23

35.5
36.4
35.4
32.7
33.1
32.0
34.1

2.43
2.52
2. 48
2.49
2. 47
2. 48
2.47

80. 91
85. 56
70. 75
86.75
65. 70
62. 72
76. 69

35.8
34.5
28.3
34.7
26.6
25.6
30.8

2.26
2.48
2. 50
2. 50
2.47
2. 45
2. 49

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Nonbuilding construction
iNonmeranic mining
and quarrying

rotai: contraei construction
Total: Nonbuilding
construction

$1. 95 $67.05
2.09 71.10
2. 02 70.84

45.0
45.0
45.7

73.14
71.28
70.19
70.85
72. 77
74.04
75. 43

44.6
44.0
42.8
43.2
44. 1
44.6
44.9

2.18
2.15
2.17
2.18
2.18
2.16
2.16

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings

$1.77 $66. 66
1.92 71.19
1.94 74. 59

C r u d e -petroleum
and natural - gas
production

1951: Average____
1952: Average____
M ay_______

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Contract construction

Mining—Continued

Petroleum and natural-gas production
(except contract
services)

Bitum inous

Anthracite

Lead and zinc

Copper

Iron

$1.49 $81. 49
1.58 87.85
1. 55 85.31
1.64
1.62
1.64
1.64
1. 65
1.66
1.68

88.13
90.86
88.16
89.01
88.67
88.54
89.49

37.9
38.7
38.6
37.5
38.5
37.2
37.4
37.1
37.2
37.6

$2.15 $80. 78
2.27 86.72
2. 21 84.46

40.8
41.1
41.2

85.02
87.02
83. 93
85.19
84. 26
84.80
87. 38

39.0
40.1
38.5
38.9
38.3
38.9
39.9

2.35
2.36
2.37
2.38
2.39
2. 38
2.38

Highway and street

$1. 98 $74. 62
2.11 80. 26
2.05 78.73

41.0
41.8
42.1

78. 41
78. 59
74.31
77. 22
75. 42
77. 62
81.81

39.6
40.3
38.5
39.2
37.9
39.6
40.7

2.18
2.17
2.18
2.19
2.20
2.18
2.19

Other nonbuilding
construction

$1.82 $85.26
1.92 91.35
1.87 88.91

40.6
40. 6
40.6

$2.10
2.25
2.19

89.71
92.40
89.32
90.02
89. 55
89. 71
91. 57

38.5
40.0
38.5
38.8
38.6
38.5
39.3

2.33
2. 31
2.32
2.32
2.32
2. 33
2.33

1.98
1.95
1.93
1.97
1.99
1.96
2. 01

Building construction
Special-trade contractors
Total: Building con­
struction

1951: A verage.......... $81. 47
1952: Average........... 88.01
M ay ________ 85. 65

37.2
38.1
37.9

88. 67
91.68
88. 93
89.78
89. 79
89.42
90.15

37.1
38.2
36.9
37.1
36.8
36.8
37.1

1952: November___
December........
1953: January______
February____
M arch_______
April________
M ay ________

General contractors

$2.19 $75.03
2.31 82. 78
2.26 79. 66
2.39
2. 40
2.41
2.42
2. 44
2. 43
2. 43

85.12
88.37
86.26
86.71
85. 79
85. 65
85. 79

Other special-trade
contractors3
1951: Average......... $83.62
1952: Average_____ 88.43
M ay________ 87. 42

37.0
37.0
37.2

87. 93
89.41
85.16
87. 25
88.10
87. 50
89.41

35.6
36.2
34.2
34.9
35.1
35.0
36.2

1952: Novem ber-.
December.. .
January____
February__
M arch..........
April______
M ay..............

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

38.0
39.1
38.0
38.2
37.3
37.4
37.3

$2.05 $87.32
2.15 91.99
2. 08 90.24
2. 24
2. 26
2.27
2. 27
2. 30
2. 29
2. 30

82.90
82. 50
77. 25
79.36
81. 50
79. 50
84.07

35.0
34.7
35.0
33.7
33.0
30.9
32.0
32.6
31.8
33.9

91.36
94.50
91. 33
92.20
92.82
92. 20
93.73

37.8
37.7
37.6
36.4
37.5
36.1
36.3
36.4
36.3
36.9

$2. 23 $89.69
2. 35 90. 05
2.31 89.18

34.9
33.6
34.3

91.04
92. 50
89.80
95.24
95.99
96. 57
98.02

32.4
32.8
31.4
33.3
33.1
33.3
33.8

2. 46
2.50
2.50
2.48
2.50
2.50
2.48

Plumbing and heat­
ing

Painting and deco­
rating

39.2
38.9
38.6

$2.33 $78. 76
2. 44 82. 72
2. 37 81.43

35.8
35.2
35.1

82.76
84. 46
81.41
82.96
84.18
84.87
86.35

34.2
34.9
33.5
34.0
34.5
34.5
35.1

$2. 31 $91.34
2.44 94. 92
2.40 91.48
2. 51
2.52
2,53
2. 54
2. 55
2. 54
2. 54

P la s te r in g a n d la th in g

M a sonry

$2. 26 $78. 05
2.39 81.55
2. 35 80.85
2.47
2.47
2.49
2.50
2. 51
2. 50
2. 47

36.6
38.5
38.3

Total: Special-trade
contractors

93.38
98.50
96.25
95. 00
96. 39
96.01
96. 65

37.5
39.4
38.5
38.0
38.1
38.1
38.2

35.9
35.8
35.8

77.63
79.52
71. 78
79.12
78.30
75. 04
75.65

34.5
35.5
31.9
34.7
34.8
33.5
34.7

2.86
2.8 6

2.90
2.90
2.90

$2.20 $102. 26

2.35
2. 32

110.30
108.67

2.42
2.42
2.43
2.44
2. 44
2. 46
2. 46

110. 64
114.11
111.50
109.97

R o o f i n g a n d s h e e tm e ta l w o r k

C a r p e n tr y

$2. 57 $73. 24
75. 90
2.68
2.60 72. 67
2.81
2.82

2.49
2.50
2.50
2. 50
2.53
2. 52
2. 53

$2.04 $70. 95
2.12 76.53
2.03 74.73

36.2
36.1
36.1

78.68
81.03
73. 93
74.14
75.94
76. 73
79.70

35.6
36.5
33.3
33.1
33.9
34.1
35.9

2.25
2.24
2.25
2.28
2. 25
2.24
2.18

Electrical work

110. 21

109. 48
110. 37

40.1
40.7
40.1

$2.55
2.71
2. 71

39.8
40.9
40.4
39.7
39.5
39.1
39.0

2. 78
2.79
2.76
2. 77
2. 79
2.80
2.83

E x c a v a tio n a n d fo u n ­
d a tio n w o r k

$1.96 $81. 93
2.12 85. 81
2. 07 83. 42

39.2
40.1
40.3

$2.09
2.14
2.07

85.03
86.80
82. 72
83.25
83.78
83.33
86. 24

38.3
39.1
37.6
37.5
37.4
37.2
39.2

2.22
2.22
2.20
2 . 22

2 . 21
2.22
2.22

2. 24
2. 24
2.25
2.22

2.24
2. 24
2.20

902

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing
Food and kindred products
Year and month

Total: Manu­
facturing

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
ings hours
1951: Average.........
1952: Average_____
M ay_______

$64. 71
67.97
66.33

40.7
40.7
40. 2

1952: November___
December___
1953: January____
February____
M arch______
April________
M a y________

70.28
72.14
71.34
71.17
71.93
71.40
71.63

41.1
41.7
41.0
40.9
41.1
40.8
40.7

Durable goods *

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.59 $69. 47
1. 67 73.04
1. 65 71.51
1. 71
1.73
1.74
1.74
1. 75
1.75
1.76

76.26
77.78
76. 91
77.15
77. 52
76.96
77.19

Nondurable goods 4

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

41.6
41. 5
41.1

$1.67 $58. 46
1.76 60.98
1.74 59.52

41.9
42.5
41.8
41.7
41.9
41.6
41.5

1.82
1.83
1.84
1.85
1.85
1.85
1.86

62.56
63. 59
62.88
62. 88
63. 60
62.81
63.20

39.5
39.6
38.9
40.1
40.5
39.8
39.8
40.0
39.5
39.5

Total: Ordnance
and accessories

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.48 $74.12
1.54 77. 22
1.53 78. 22
1.56
1. 57
1.58
1.58
1. 59
1. 59
1.60

75.03
76. 73
75. 85
77.38
77. 46
76. 70
78.66

43.6
42.9
43.7

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Total: Food and
kindred products
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

$1.70 $59. 92
1.80 63.23
1.79 62.78

41.0
41.7
41.0
41.6
41.2
40.8
41.4

1.83
1.84
1.85
1.86
1.88
1.88
1.90

64. 64
65.68
65.35
64. 71
65.28
64. 48
65.85

Meat products *

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

41.9
41.6
41.3

$1.43 $65. 78
1.52 70.30
1.52 68.54

41.7
42.1
41.1
40.7
40.8
40.3
40.9

1.55
1. 56
1. 59
1.59
1. 60
1.60
1.61

75.08
77.26
74.23
70.00
71.33
70. 62
71.91

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

41.9
41.6
40.8

$1.57
1.69
1.68

43.4
44.4
41. 7
40.0
40. 3
39.9
40.4

1.73
1.74
1.78
1.75
1. 77
1. 77
1.78

Food and kindred products—Continued
M e a tp a c k in g ,

Sa u sa g es a n d

w h o le s a le

c a s in g s

1951: Average.........
1952: Average.........
M a y ........ ........

$68.30
73.39
70.88

41.9
41.7
40.5

1952: November___
December___
1953: January...........
February____
M arch______
April................
M a y ________

78.66
81.54
77.83
72.40
73. 71
73. 02
73.78

43.7
45.3
42.3
40.0
40.5
39.9
40.1

$1.63 $65. 78
1. 76 69. 72
1.75 69. 06
1.80
1.80
1.84
1.81
1.82
1.83
1.84

S e a fo o d , c a n n e d a n d
cured

1951: Average........ .
1952: Average.........
M ay________

$44.40
45. 57
39.66

29.8
31.0
26.8

1952: November___
December___
1953: January.........
February____
March______
April________
M ay------------

38. 81
44.70
41.80
46. 96
41.44
46. 97
41.42

25.7
30.0
27.5
30.1
28.0
30.3
27.8

43.2
42.5
41.5
40.7
40.7
40.6
42.0

1.70
1.71
1.71
1.72
1.75
1. 75
1. 75
,

C a n n e d fr u its vegeta b le s , a n d s o u p s

$1.49 $53.09
1.47 54.12
1.48 50.31
1. 51
1.49
1. 52
1. 56
1.48
1. 55
1.49

$1.57 $60. 83
1.66 63.80
1.66 62.92

51.48
54. 51
56.30
56. 56
56. 52
53.86
55.30

41.8
41.0
38.7
39.0
39.5
40.8
40.4
39.8
38.2
39.5

1. 32
1.38
1.38
1.40
1.42
1.41
1.40

B is c u its , cra ckers,

b a k e r y p r o d u c ts

a n d p r e tz e ls

$59.63
63.38
63. 57

41.7
41.7
42.1

1952: November___
December___
1953: January...........
February.......
March______
April________
M ay________

64.17
64.48
63.80
64.37
64.68
64.94
65. 67

41.4
41.6
40.9
41.0
41.2
41.1
41.3

See footnotes at end of table.

$1.43 $53.41
1.52 56.17
1. 51 55. 76
1. 55
1.55
1. 56
1.57
1. 57
1.58
1.59

57.96
55.74
56.99
58. 66
60.19
57. 96
58. 65

41.4
41.3
41.0
42.0
40.1
41.0
41.9
43.3
41.4
41.3

65. 25
65.84
67.45
67.61
65.97
65.79
67.47

68. 95
69.26
71.20
68. 21
69.60
69. 39
71.88

43.5
43.6
43.8
43.9
43.4
43.0
44.1

45.1
44.9
44.9
44.2
44.4
44.5
42.9
43.5
43.1
44.1

68.59
66. 44
64. 80
67.32
74. 63
71.55
71.48

41.2
42.1
39.1
47.3
45.2
40.0
40.8
43.9
41.6
41.8

C ondensed a n d
e v a p o r a te d m ilk

$1.37 $63.02
1.45 66.27
1. 43 66.99
1.50
1.51
1. 54
1. 54
1. 52
1. 53
1. 53

66. 59
67.49
69. 77
68. 55
68. 55
69. 62
70. 07

1.56
1.56
1.60
1.59
1.60
1. 61
1. 63

46.0
45.7
46.2
45.3
45.6
45.9
45.7
45.4
45.8
46.1

Ic e cre a m

$1. 37 $62.44
1.45 64.09
1.45 62. 50
1.47
1.48
1. 52
1.50
1.51
1. 52
1. 52

F l o u r a n d o th e r
g r a in -m ill p r o d u c ts

$1.46 $67.34
1.54 71.71
1.53 69.08

Sugar »

$1.29 $60.15
1.36 64. 41
1.36 61.78
1.38
1.39
1. 39
1.40
1.39
1.40
1.42

44.4
44.0
44.0

Grain-mill products2

$1.27 $65. 85
1.32 69.15
1.30 68.70

B r e a d a n d o th e r

1951: Average_____
1952: Average..........
M a y _______


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

73.44
72.68
70. 97
70.00
71. 23
71.05
73.50

41.9
42.0
41.6

Dairy products s

73. 71
72.58
74. 82
71.45
72. 27
70.38
73.81

45.5
45.1
44.0
45.5
44.8
44.8
43.3
43.8
42.4
44.2

1.62
1.62
1. 67
1.65
1.65
1.66
1.67

1. 45
1.47
1.62
1.65
1.70
1.72
1.71

64.94
67.08
68.80
69. 03
79. 57
77.29
77.15

41.0
41.1
40.0
39.6
40.9
41.2
39.9
44.7
42.7
43. 1

67. 95
68.10
68.40
65. 38
67. 63
68. 68
69. 75

1.64
1.64
1. 67
1.73
1.78
1.81
1.79

$1.40 $50. 80
1.47 51.88
1.44 48.36

40.0
39.3
37.2

$1.27
1.32
1.30

42.3
42.6
42.4
42.7
42.7
42.0
43.7

1.53 48. 51
1.54 51.65
1. 55 52.72
1.55 53.20
1. 55 53.02
1. 55 .51.61
1.56 51.85

36.2
37.7
38.2
38.0
37.6
36.6
37.3

1.34
1.37
1.38
1.40
1.41
1.41
1.39

Bakery products

46.1
46.0
46.4
45.3
45.4
45.0
43.3
44.2
44.6
45.0

$1.40 $58. 24
1.47 61.57
1.46 62.01
1.50
1.50
1. 52
1.51
1.53
1. 54
1. 55

75.02
71.48
61. 77
69.42
68.71
66. 50
65. 49

41.1
42.0
37.2
48.4
44.4
34.9
39.0
38.6
38.0
37.0

62.67
62.78
62. 58
63.04
63.65
63.45
64.43

1

41.6
41.6
41.9

$1.40
1.48
1.48

41.5
41.3
40.9
41.2
41. 6
41.2
41.3

1.51
1.52
1.53
1.53
1.53
1.54
1. 56

Confectionery and
related products *

B eet sugar

$1.54 $61.24
1.62 65. 94
1. 62 60. 26

Canning and
preserving *

44.6
43.6
43.4

P r e p a r e d fe e d s

$1.48 $64. 54
1.59 67.62
1. 57 67. 74

C a n e -su g a r r e fin in g

$1.46 $63.14
1.53 66.58
1.58 64.80

64.72
65.60
65.72
66.19
66.19
65.10
68.17

a n d ic e s

$1.49 $49. 97
1.57 52.27
1. 62 51.48
1.55
1.61
1. 77
1.78
1.78
1.75
1.77

53.45
53.84
51.87
52.54
52.66
51. 05
52. 77

40.3
39.9
39.3

$1.24
1.31
1.31

40.8
41.1
39.0
39.5
39.3
38.1
38.8

1.31
1.31
1.33
1.33
1.34
1.34
1.36

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953
T

able

903

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Food and kindred products—Continued

Year and month

Beverages *

C o n fe c tio n e r y

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings
1951: Average............ $48.36
1952: Average............ 50.67
M ay________
49. 91

40.3
39.9
39.3

1952: November___
December........
1953: January..........February.........
M arch_______
April________
M ay ________

41.0
41.3
38.9
39.3
39.1
37.9
38.5

52.07
52.45
50.18
50. 30
50.83
49. 27
50.82

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ horns
ings
ings
$1.20 $68.39
1.27 71.14
1.27 71.15

41.7
41.6
42.1

72.51
71.98
70.93
71.51
71.96
73.08
75. 71

41.2
40.9
40.3
40.4
40.2
40.6
41.6

1.27
1.27
1.29
1.28
1.30
1.30
1.32

B o ttle d s o ft d r in k s

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

$1.64 $53.19
1.71 55.73
1.69 54.43
1.76
1.76
1. 76
1.77
1.79
1.80
1.82

55.73
58.36
56.71
57.12
58.23
57. 27
60.20

43.6
43.2
43.2
41.9
42.6
41.7
42.0
42.5
41.8
43.0

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings
$1.22 $78. 91
1.29 82.20
1.26 82. 57

41.1
41.1
41.7

82. 82
82.62
80. 79
82.40
82. 95
85. 26
87.14

40.6
40.5
39.8
40.0
39.5
40.6
41.3

1.33
1.37
1.36
1.36
1.37
1.37
1.40

s ir u p ,
sugar,
o il, a n d s ta r c h

1951: Average............ $73.37
1952: Average_____
77.00
M ay ________
76. 21

44.2
43.5
43.8

1952: November___
December........
1953: January...........
February____
M arch_______
April.................
M ay...... ..........

42.9
42.2
41.5
42.5
42.4
42.3
40.8

79.79
75.12
75.95
77.78
76. 74
77. 41
74. 66

46.2
46.0
45.6

62.88
61.16
61.61
60. 21
60.48
59.90
60. 97

45. 9
45.3
45.3
44.6
44.8
44.7
45.5

1.86
1.78
1.83
1.83
1.81
1.83
1.83

Total: Tobacco man­
ufactures

M a n u f a c t u r e d ic e

$1.66 $55.90
1.77 59.80
1.74 57.91

$1.21 $43.51
1.30 44.93
1.27 45. 60

38.5
38.4
38.0

1951: Average_____ $38.02
1952: Average_____
38.91
M ay .......... ....... 41.85

39.2
39.3
37.7

1952: November
December____
1953: January_____
February.........
M arch___ _
April . _
M ay____ ____

37.5
39.5
39.4
35.0
38.9
37.0
36.8

36.00
39.50
40. 58
37.80
43.96
43.29
43. 79

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

$1.92 $68. 74
2.00 70.88
1.98 73. 74

40.2
39.6
41.9

76.54
69. 50
70.67
69.93
69. 01
71.04
72.15

41.6
38.4
38.2
37.8
37.3
38.4
39.0

2.04
2.04
2.03
2.06
2.10
2.10
2.11

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Miscellaneous food
products 1
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.71 $57.11
1.79 59. 78
1.76 58.94

42.3
42.1
41.8

$1.35
1.42
1.41

61.19
60.47
61.27
61.54
61. 27
60. 53
60.98

42.2
41.7
41.4
41.3
41.4
40.9
41.2

1.45
1.45
1.48
1.49
1.48
1.48
1.48

1.84
1.81
1.85
1.85
1.85
1.85
1.85

45.05
46. 26
46.59
45.39
47.63
47.37
46.99

38.5
39.2
38.5
36.9
37.8
37.3
37.0

1.37
1.35
1.36
1.35
1.35
1.34
1.34

39.4
39.2
38.7

58.11
59.98
57. 67
54. 75
57. 04
56.68
52. 75

39.8
40.8
39.5
37.5
38.8
38.3
35.4

1.17
1.18
1.21
1.23
1.26
1. 27
1.27

Tobacco and snuff

Cigars
$1.38 $39.10
1.44 40.13
1.41 40.17

37.6
37.5
37.9

42.46
41.80
41.51
41.51
41.66
41.10
43. 05

38.6
38.0
37.4
37.4
37.2
36.7
38.1

1.46
1.47
1.46
1.46
1.47
1.48
1.49

$1.04 $45.99
1.07 47.87
1.06 45.74
1.10
1.10
1.11
1.11
1.12
1.12
1.13

49.26
50.18
49.91
49.48
47.88
49. 61
50. 65

37.7
37.4
36.3

$1.22
1.28
1.26

37.6
38.9
38.1
37.2
36.0
37.3
37.8

1.31
1.29
1.31
1.33
1.33
1.33
1.34

Textile-mill products
Total: Textile-mill
products

$0.97 $51.60
.99 53.18
1.11 50. 90
.96
1.00
1.03
1.08
1.13
1.17
1.19

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Cigarettes

$1.13 $54.37
1.17 56.45
1.20 54. 57

Tobacco manufac­
tures—C ontinued
Tobacco stemming
and redrying

b le n d e d liq u o r s

Tobacco manufactures

Food and kindred products —Continued
C orn

D is tille d , r e c tifie d , a n d

M a l t liq u o r s

55.35
55.90
54.94
54.94
54.80
53.70
53.84

38.8
39.1
37.7

Scouring and comb­
ing plants

$1.33 $57.82
1.36 62.80
1.35 62. 40

39.6
40.0
40.0

61.38
65.25
64. 71
63.02
63.92
61.30
64.31

37.2
41.3
40.7
40.4
40.2
38.8
40.7

40.4
40.8
40.1
40.1
40.0
39.2
39.3

1.37
1.37
1.37
1.37
1.37
1.37
1.37

Yarn

$1.46 $47.86
1.57 49.15
1.56 47.24
1.65
1.58
1.59
1.56
1.59
1.58
1. 58

50. 30
51.20
50.18
50.18
50.30
49.15
49. 66

and thread
mills 1
38.6
38.7
37.2
39.3
40.0
39.2
39.2
39.3
38.4
38.8

$1.24 $48.13
1.27 49.15
1. 27 47.50

38.5
38.7
37.4

50.30
51.33
50.18
a0. 18
50.18
48.77
49.41

39.3
40.1
39.2
39.2
39.2
38.1
38.6

1.28
1.28
1.28
1.28
1.28
1.28
1.28

T h re a d m ills

Y a r n m ills

$1.25 $48.64
1. 27 49.79
1.27 46.59

38.6
38.6
36.4

$1.26
1.29
1.28

50.31
52. 22
50.18
52. 78
53. 56
50. 29
51.18

39.0
40.8
39.2
40.6
41.2
39.6
40.3

1.29
1.28
1.28
1.30
1.30
1.27
1.27

1.28
1.28
1.28
1.28
1.28
1.28
1.28

Textile-mill products—Continued
C o tto n , s ilk , s y n th e tic fib e r

Broad-woven fabric
mills >

W o o le n a n d w o r s te d

1951: Average___
1952: Average___
M ay ............

$51.74
51.99
49. 71

39.2
38.8
37.1

1952: Novem ber.
December..
1953: January___
February...
M arch........
April_____
M ay............

54.68
55.35
54. 54
54. 27
53. 60
53. 06
53.73

40.5
41.0
40.4
40.2
40.0
39.6
40.1

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$1.32 $50. 70
1.34 49. 79
1.34 47.09
1.35
1.35
1.35
1.35
1.34
1.34
1.34

62.78
53.17
52.26
62.26
52.13
51.35
52.00

39.3
38.6
36.5
40.6
40.9
40.2
40.2
40.1
39.5
40.0

$1.29 $53. 54
1.29 55. 25
1.29 52.64
1.30
1.30
1.30
1.30
1.30
1.30
1.30

57.28
58.75
58.06
57. 92
57.23
56.12

38.8
38.1
36.3
39.5
40.8
40.6
40.5
40.3
39.8

Narrow fabrics and
smallwares

South

North

United States

$1.38 $49.25
1.45 48. 76
1.45 45. 75
1.45
1.44
1.43
1.43
1.42
1.41

51.94
51.94
50. 93
50.93
50. 93
50.04

39.4
38.7
36.6
40.9
40.9
40.1
40.1
40. 1
39.4

$1.25 $57.87
1.26 62.56
1.25 61.85

39.1
40.1
39.9

63.44
65.83
64.53
63.43
61.93
62. 56
63. 49

39.9
41.4
41.1
40.4
39.7
40.1
40.7

1.27
1.27
1.27
1.27
1.27
1.27

$1.48 $51.48
1.56 54.14
1. 55 53. 33

39.6
40.1
39. S

$1.30
1.35
1.34

54.94
56.03
55.62
54. 95
55. 22
55. 22
55.34

40.4
41.2
40.9
40.7
40.6
40. 6
40.1

1.36
1.36
1.35
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.38

1.59
1.59
1.57
1.57
1. 56
1.56
1.56

904
T

able

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
M anufacturing—Continued
Textile-mill products—Continued
F u ll- fa s h io n e d h o s ie r y

Year and month

S e a m le s s h o s ie r y

Knitting mills 2
United States
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

1951: Average_____ $47.10
1952: Average_____
49.02
M ay_____ __ 47.36

30.8
38.3
37.0

50.94
50.05
49. 02
50.05
50.31
48.49
47.86

39.8
39.1
38.0
38.5
38.7
37.3
37.1

1952: November___
December____
1953: January.
..
February____
M arch_______
April____ _ .
M a y_____ . . .

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
w kly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

$1. 28 $56. 94
1. 28 57. 61
1.28 55.48
1.28
1.28
1.29
1.30
1.30
1.30
1. 29

59.89
58.67
57.38
59.44
59. 36
56. 36
55.29

36.5
37.9
36.5

North

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.56 $58.16
1. 52 57.00
1. 52 54. 75

35.9
37.5
36.5

59.28
58. 06
57.29
58.45
58.60
56.36

39.0
38.2
37.2
38.2
38.3
36.6

39.4
38.6
37.5
38.6
38.8
36.6
35.9

1. 52
1. 52
1.53
1. 54
1.53
1. 54
1.54

South
Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1. 62 $55. 80
1.52 58.06
1.50 55.69
1.52
1.52
1.54
1.53
1.53
1. 54

59.95
59.28
57. 68
59.91
60.13
56. 36

Avg.
wkly.
hours
37.2
38.2
36.4

United States
Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1. 50 $37.17
1.52 40.39
1.53 38.88

39.7
39.0
37.7
38.9
39.3
36.6

1.51
1. 52
1.53
1.54
1.53
1. 54

42.73
41.97
40. 77
41.25
41. 25
39.63
39. 38

Avg.
wkly.
hours
35.4
37.4
36.0
39.2
38.5
37.4
37.5
37.5
35.7
35.8

North

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$1. 05 $41. 20
1.08 43.62
1.08 42. 94
1.09
1.09
1.09
1.10
1.10
1.11
1.10

45.66
45.47
44.23
44. 81
45. 28
44.81

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

37.8
38.6
38.0

$1.09
1.13
1.13

39.7
39.2
37.8
38.3
38.7
38.3

1.15
1.16
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.17

S e a m le s s h o s ie r y —

Continued

K n i t o u te r w e a r

K n it un d erw ea r

South
1951: Average_____ $36.09
39. 33
1952: Average_____
M a y ------------- 37. 63

34.7
37.1
35.5

41.84
41.09
39.91
40.28
40.18
38.26

39.1
38.4
37.3
37.3
37.2
35.1

1952: N ovem ber___
December____
1953: January_____
February____
M arch. .
A pril... . . . __
M ay______

$1.04 $47.23
1.06 49.14
1.06 47. 25

38.4
39.0
37.8

51. 71
50. 69
49.02
49. 79
50. 57
50.44
50. 57

40.4
39.6
38.3
38.3
38.9
38.8
38.9

1.07
1.07
1.07
1.08
1.08
1. 09

W o o l c a r p e ts , r u g s , a n d
ca rp et y a rn

1951: Average_____
1952: Average..........
M ay___ ____

$60.10
65. 74
61.99

37.8
39.6
38.5

1952: November___
December____
1953: January_____
February____
March _. _
A p r il.._____
M ay_____

72. 21
71.93
74.10
74. 52
72.86
71.10
66.78

41.5
41.1
42.1
42.1
41.4
40.4
38.6

1.28
1.28
1.28
1.30
1.30
1.30
1.30

48.36
46.77
46.32
47.19
46.80
45. 72
45. 72

37.2
38.6
37.4
40.3
39.3
38.6
39.0
39.0
38.1
38.1

$1.15 $56. 77
1.18 62. 58
1.17 59.83
1. 20
1.19
1.20
1.21
1. 20
1.20
1.20

Hats (except cloth and Miscellaneous textile
millinery)
goods 2

$1.59 $49. 87
1.66 53.20
1.61 51.77
1.74
1. 75
1.76
1.77
1.76
1.76
1.73

$1.23 $42.78
1. 26 45. 55
1.25 43. 76

54.60
56. 70
57. 66
57. 87
57.13
50. 57
55.80

36.4
37.2
36.2
37.4
39.1
38.7
39.1
38.6
34.4
37.2

$1.37 $57.11
1.43 60.09
1.43 58. 61

40.5
40.6
39.6

62.10
64.02
62. 06
61.65
62. 67
62.42
61.56

41.4
42.4
41.1
41.1
41.5
40.8
40.5

1.46
1.45
1.49
1.48
1.48
1.47
1. 50

Dyeing and finishing
textiles 2

64.20
66.44
64.78
64.90
63.12
61.65
60.94

P r o c e s s e d to a s te a n d
re c o v e re d fib e r s

1951: Average_____
1952: Average_____
M a y ... . .

$49.49
51.24
50.64

42.3
42.7
42.2

70.62
71. 72
69. 80
71.38
71.49
71. 65
71.97

41.3
41.7
41.3
41.5
42.3
41.9
41.6

1952: November___
December____
1953: January_____
February____
March_______
A p r il______
M ay_______

51.79
53. 6S
50. 70
51.72
51.84
51.55
52. 27

42.8
44.0
41.9
43.1
43.2
42. 6
43.2

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1.21
1.22
1.21
1.20
1. 20
1.21
1.21

80.89
82.59
79. 30
77.09
82. 26
79. 92
75.12

43.3
44.2
42.7

C o rd a g e a n d tw in e

45.7
46.4
44.8
43.8
45.7
44.4
42.2

$1. 61 $52.26
1.71 53.06
1.68 52.38
1.77
1. 78
1.77
1.76
1.80
1.80
1.78

53.47
55. 62
52.80
54.14
54.14
53.19
52. 65

42.8
44.1
43.0
42.6
41.6
41.1
40.9

37.3
38.4
38.4

57. 76
59.89
58.74
60.21
61.46
62.01
62. 47

38.0
39.4
38.9
39.1
39.4
39.0
38.8

1.71
1. 72
1.69
1.72
1.69
1.71
1.73

$1.42 $63.44
1.48 68.23
1.47 66.83

39.9
41.1
40.5

$1. 59
1.66
1.65

72.24
73.35
72.93
75. 25
72.83
72. 04
68.85

42.0
42.4
42.4
43.0
42.1
41.4
39.8

1. 72
1.73
1.72
1.75
1.73
1.74
1.73

1.50
1. 51
1.51
1.51
1. 50
1.49
1.48

P a d d in g s a n d u p h o l­
s te r y fillin g

L a ce goods

$1. 60 $52. 97
1.68 57. 22
1.66 56. 06

Carpets, rugs, other
floor coverings 2

$1.42 $58.15
1.49 64.17
1.46 60.98

40.1
41.4
39.6

$1.45
1. 55
1.54

68.10
71.10
68. 73
64. 43
64. 43
65.31
65. 00

43.1
45.0
43.5
41.3
41.3
41.6
41.4

1.58
1. 58
1.58
1.56
1. 56
1. 57
1.57

1. 52
1. 52
1.51
1.54
1. 56
1.59
1.61

Apparel and other finished textile products

c o a te d fa b r ic s

$1.17 $69. 71
1.20 75. 58
1.20 71.74

64.20
66. 59
64.93
64.33
62. 40
61.24
60.53

1.50
1. 51
1.51
1. 52
1.51
1.50
1.49

)

41.4
40.3
38.0

1.50
1.51
1.51
1.50
1.51
1.53
1.52

39. 6
42.0
40.6

42.8
44.0
42.9
42.7
41.8
41.1
40.9

$1.41 $66. 24
1. 48 67.70
1.48 63.08

)

$1.43 $56. 23
1.49 62.16
1.47 59.68

F e lt g o o d s (e x c e p t w o v e n
fe lts a n d h a ts

Textile-mill products—Continued
A r t i f i c i a l le a th e r , o il­
c lo th ,
and
o th e r

39.7
42.0
40.7

D y e in g a n d fin is h in g
te x tile s (e x c e p t w o o l

40.2
39.6
38.8
39.9
41.2
39.4
40.1
40.1
39.4
39.0

Total: Apparel and M en’s and boys’ suits M en’s and boys’ fur­
other finished tex­
nishings and work
and coats
tile products
clothing 2

$1.30 $46.31
1.34 47.45
1.35 45. 74
1.34
1.35
1.34
1.35
1.35
1.35
1.35

48.36
48.86
48. 81
49.98
49. 76
48.23
47. 21

35.9
36.5
36.3
37.2
37.3
36.7
37.3
37.7
37.1
36.6

$1.29 $52.63
1.30 52.15
1.26 48.80
1.30
1.31
1.33
1.34
1.32
1.30
1.29

53. 70
54.83
54.96
57.30
59.13
56.63
56.93

35.8
35.0
33.2
35.8
36.8
36.4
37.7
38.9
37.5
37.7

$1.47 $38.16
1.49 40.50
1.47 40.28

36.0
37.5
37.3

$1.06
1.08
1.08

42.29
41.47
40. 66
41.31
41.86
41.69
41.14

38.8
38.4
37.3
37.9
38.4
37.9
37.4

1.09
1.08
1.09
1.09
1.09
1.10
1.10

1.50
1.49
1.51
1. 52
1.52
1.51
1.51

T

able

905

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

C -l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Apparel and other finished textile products—Continued

Year and month

Shirts, collars, and
nightwear

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings
1951: A verage.......... $38.09
1952: A verage_____ 39.96
40. 00
M ay________

35.6
37.0
36.7

42.66
41.80
40. 33
40.82
41.36
40.98
40. 22

39.5
38.7
37.0
37.8
38.3
37.6
36.9

1952: November___
December........
1953: January_____
February____
M arch____
April_____
M ay______

Avg. Avg.
brly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$1.07 $40.32
1.08 42. 86
1.09 43. 21

36.0
37.6
37.9

$1.12

1.14
1.14

$33.20
35.15
35.06

35.7
37.8
37.7

43. 55
43.89
44. 39
44.93
46.10
45.98
45.05

38.2
38.5
38.6
38.4
39.4
39.3
38.5

1.14
1.14
1.15
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.17

34.96
34.68
33. 76
34.78
35. 22
34.68
34.32

38.0
37.7
36.3
37.8
38.7
37.7
37.3

1.08
1.08
1.09
1.08
1.08
1.09
1.09

Women’s outerwear2

W ork shirts

Separate trousers

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings
0.93 $51.16
.93 52.39
.93 49. 76

34.8
35.4
35.8

51.74
54.30
54. 93
55.69
54.45
51. 98
50.48

35.2
36.2
35.9
36.4
36.3
36.1
35.3

.92
.92
.93
.92
.91
.92
.92

W omen’s and chil­ Underwear and night­
W om en ’s suits, coats,
dren’s undergarments2 wear, except corsets
and skirts
1951: Average-------1952: Average-------M ay................

$63.83
64.94
54. 38

32.9
33.3
30.9

1952: November___
December..
1953: January —
February. ..
M arch____
April_____
M ay______

62.27
68.36
71.10
71.15
63.77
54.58
55.06

32.6
34.7
35.2
35.4
32.7
29.5
29.6

$1.94 $41.22
1.95 43.62
1. 76 43.15

36.8
37.6
37.2

45.43
44.37
43.66
44.63
44.86
44.39
44.04

38.5
37.6
37.0
37.5
37.7
37.3
36.7

1.91
1.97
2.02
2.01

1.95
1.85
1.86

1.16
1.16

40. 92
39.93

36.8
37.2
36.3

1.18
1.18
1.18
1.19
1.19
1.19

43.84
41.89
41.10
42.00
42. 22
41.33
40.66

38.8
37.4
36.7
37.5
37.7
36.9
36.3

$1.12 $39.74

1.20

1.13
1.12
1.12
1.12
1.12
1.12
1.12

Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly. hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings
ings
ings
$1. 47 $50.54
1.48 51.48
1.39 52.35

35.1
35.5
36.1

51.10
53. 51
52. 69
53.34
54. 75
56.39
53.19

35.0
36.4
35.6
35.8
36.5
37.1
35.7

1. 47
1.50
1.53
1.53
1.50
1.44
1.43

Corsets and allied
garments

$1.08 $43.79
1.10 47. 24
1.10 47.99
48.01
48.26
48.13
48.88
49. 52
49. 27
48.86

Household apparel

W om en’s dresses

36.8
38.1
38.7
38.1
38.0
37.6
37.6
37.8
37.
37.3

$1.44 $38.01
1.45 39.96
1.45 41.20

36.9
37.7
38.5

$1.03
1.06
1.07

41.42
40.45
40. 02
40. 34
41.69
40. 45
40.11

38.0
37.8
37.4
37.7
38.6
37,
36,

1.09
1.07
1.07
1.07
1.08
1.07
1.09

1.46
1.47
1.48
1.49
1. 50
1.52
1.49

Children’s outerwear

Millinery

$1.19 $57.60
1.24 58.60
1.24 50. 46

36.0
36.4
33.2

48.47
55.13
61.29
67.77

32.1
35.8
37.6
40.1
40.4
34.8
30.0

1.26
1. 27
1.28
1.30
1.31
1.30
1.31

66. 66

53. 59
45.30

$1.60 $41.38
1.61 43. 52
1.52 42. 49

36.3
37.2
37.6

$1.14
1.17
1.13

43.64
43.55
44.40
45. 50
44. 51
42.46
43.06

37.3
36.6
37.0
37.6
37.4
36.6
36.8

1.17
1.19

1. 51
1.54
1.63
1.69
1. 65
1.54
1. 51

1951: Average1952: AverageM ay___
1952: November___
December........
1953: January—
February____
M arch_____
April______
M ay_______

$42. 44
43.15
41.40

36.9
37.2
36.0

45.90
45.08
43. 52
44.13
44. 72
44.01
44.03

38.9
38.2
37.2
37.4
37.9
37.3
37.0

$1.15 $44.49
1.16 46.46
1.15 46.60

37.7
38.4
38.2

49.23
48.50
48.26
47.63
48.64
48. 01
47.88

39.7
38.8
38.0
37.8
38.3
37.8
37.7

1.18
1.18
1.17
1.18
1.18
1.18
1.19

Curtains, draperies,
and other housefurnishings

$1.18 $39.89
1. 21 42.67
1.22 42.49

36.6
38.1
37.6

44.97
43.82
42. 55
42.90
43.82
43.04
41.72

39.8
38.1
37.0
37.3
38.1
37.1
36.6

1.24
1.25
1.27
1.26
1.27
1.27
1.27

1.13
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.16
1.14

49.39
50.04
49. 53
48.01
48.13
48.13
50.44

38.4
38.7
37.0
39.2
39.4
39.0
37.8
37.6
37.6
38.5

1.19
1.16
1.17

Total: Lumber and
wood products (ex­
cept furniture)

Canvas products

Textile bags

$1.09 $44.93
1.12 47.60
1.13 45.88

1.20
1.21

Lumber and wood
products
(except
furniture)

Apparel and other finished textile products—Continued

Miscellaneous apparel Other fabricated tex­
tile products 2
and accessories

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.17 $47.12
1.23 49. 88
1.24 53. 50

39.6
39.9
41.8

49.52
50.30
50.05
51.22
49. 67
50. 57
51. 33

39.3
39.3
38.8
38.8
38.5
38.
40.1

1.26
1.27
1.27
1.27
1.28
1.28
1.31

$1.19 $59.98
1. 25 63.45
1.28 60.68
1.26
1.28
1.29
1.32
1.29
1.30
1.28

65. 92
65.00
63.09
63.96
64. 21
65. 35
66. 42

40.8
41.2
41.0

$1.47
1.54
1.48

41.2
41.4
40.7
41.0
40.9
41.1
41.0

1.60
1.57
1.55
1.56
1. 57
1.59
1.62

Lumber and wood products (except furniture)—Continued
Millwork, plywood,
and prefabricated
striictural wood
pro ducts 2

Saw m ills and planing m ills, general

Logging camps and
contractors

1951: Average___
1952: Average___
M ay______

$71.53
77.68
67. 60

39.3
41.1
39.3

1952: N ovem ber.
December..
1953: January___
February...
M arch____
April_____
M ay______

81. 20
76.63
76.19
77.74
77.18
79.40
80. 57

40.6
39.5
40. 1
40.7
40. 2
39. 5
39.3

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Sawmills and planing
mills 1

$1.82 $59.13
1.89 63.24
1.72 60.94
2.00
1.94
1.90
1.91
1.92
2.01
2.05

65. 76
64.37
62. 47
63.34
63.43
64.46
66.10

40.5
40.8
40.9
41.1
41.0
40.3
40.6
40.4
40.8
40.8

$1.46 $59. 54
1. 55 63.65
1.49 61.61

40.5
40.8
40.8

66.42
65.03
63.11
63.99
64.08
65.28
66.91

41.0
40.9
40.2
40.5
40.3
40.8
40.8

1.60
1. 57
1.55
1.56
1.57
1.58
1.62

$1.47 $41.36
1. 56 43.03
1.51 43.00
1.62
1.59
1.57
1.58
1.59
1.60
1.64

West

South

United States

43. 76
44.17
42.42
42.84
42. 53
43.76

42.2
42.6
43.0
42.9
43.3
42.0
42.0
41.7
42.9

$0.98 $76.04
1.01 81. 51
1.00 78. 52
1.02
1. 02
1.01
1.02
1.02
1.02

84.50
82. 22
80. 77
82.26
82.47
82. 64

38.6
39.0
38.3
39.3
38.6
38.1
38.8
38.9
38.8

$1.97 $64.02
2.09 66.94
2. 05 64.90
2.15
2.13
2.12
2.12
2.12
2.13

67.88
69.01
67. 65
69. 21
69.63
69. 63
69.89

42.4
42.1
41.6

$1. 51
1. 59
1. 56

41.9
42.6
41. 5
42. 2
42. 2
42. 2
42.1

1.62
1.62
1. 63
1.64
1. 65
1. 65
1. 66

906
T

able

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

C-l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)—Continued
M illw o r k

Wooden containers *

P ly w o o d

Year and month
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
ings hours
1951: Average____
1952: Average____
M a y ..............

$61.89
65.83
64. 53

42.1
42.2
41.9

1952: N ovem ber...
December__
1953: January____
February __
March______
April_______
M ay...........

68.16
68. 00
67.30
68.36
68. 36
68. 69
68. 79

42.6
42. 5
41.8
42.2
42.2
42.4
42.2

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.47 $68.10
1. 56 70.62
1.54 67.20
1.60
}.60
1.61
1.62
1.62
1.62
1.63

68.97
72.77
70.95
73. 65
73. 68
73.08
73.18

43.1
42.8
42.0
41.8
44.1
43.0
44.1
43.6
43.5
43.3

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

$1.58 $48.85
1.65 50.39
1.60 49. 56
1.65
1.65
1.65
1.67
1.69
1.68
1.69

52.08
52. 95
51.05
51.41
51.96
52. 67
52.63

41.4
41.3
41.3

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

W o o d e n b o r e s , o th e r
th a n c ig a r

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1.18 $49. 37
1.22 50. 82
1.20 50.28
1. 24
1.24
1.23
1.23
1.24
1.26
1.25

42.0
42.7
41.5
41.8
41.9
41.8
42.1

Furniture and fixtures

52.95
54. 31
51.85
51.97
53.20
53. 93
53. 75

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

42.2
42.0
41.9

Miscellaneous wood
products
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

$1.17 $51. 24
1.21 53.63
1.20 53.63

42.7
43.8
42.5
42.6
42.9
42.8
43.0

1.24
1.24
1.22
1.22
1.24
1.26
1.25

53. 95
55. 51
54.21
54.60
54.89
55.02
55.44

42.0
41.9
41.9
41.5
42.7
41.7
42.0
41.9
42.0
42.0

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Total: Furniture
and fixtures
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1.22 $57. 27
1.28 60. 59
1.28 59.16
1.30
1. 30
1.30
1.30
1.31
1.31
1.32

63.15
64. 63
62.51
62. 67
63. 65
63.04
62.58

Avg. Avg.
wkly. hrly.
hours earn­
ings
41.2
41. 5
40.8

$1.39
1.46
1.45

42.1
42.8
41.4
41.5
41.6
41.2
40.9

1.50
1.51
1.51
1. 51
1.53
1.53
1.53

Furniture and fixtures—Continued

Household furniture>

W o o d h o u s e h o ld f u r ­
n itu r e , e x c e p t u p ­
h o ls te r e d

1951: Average__
1952: Average__
( M ay_____

$55.08
68. Dà
56.84

40.8
41. 5
40. 6

1952: November.
December..
1953: January___
February...
March____
April...........
M ay______

61. 34
63. 06
60.3C
61.01
61. 57
60. 94
59. 68

42.3
42. 9
41.3
41. 5
41.6
40. 9
40.6

$1.35 $50.80
1.42 53.38
1.40 51.82
1.45
1. 47
1.46
1.47
1.48
1.49
1.47

55. 51
56. 63
54.50
55.04
56.28
55.49
55.34

41.3
41.7
40.8
42.7
42.9
41.6
41.7
42.0
41.1
41.3

W o o d h o u s e h o ld f u r ­
n itu r e , u p h o ls te r e d

$1.23 $58.11
1.28 64.58
1.27 61.81
1.30
1. 32
1.31
1.32
1.34
1.35
1.34

68.91
71.56
64.87
66.08
66.98
66.10
63.92

39.8
41. 4
40.4
42.8
43.9
40.8
41. a
41.6
40.8
39.7

$1.46 $60.45
1.56 64. 87
1.53 62.64
1. 61
1.63
1.59
1.60
1.61
1.62
1.61

64.88
68.22
68. 64
68.3£
67. 23
66. 66
64.78

40.3
40.8
39.9
40.3
41.6
41.1
41.2
40.5
40.4
39.5

$1.50 $66. 53
1.59 68.36
1.57 67. 20
1.61
1. 64
1.67
1.66
1.66
1.65
1.64

Furniture and fixtures—Continued

M e t a l o ffic e f u r n i t u r e

1951: Average___
1952: Average___
M ay______

$69.14
72.80
71. 38

41.9
41. 6
41. 5

1952: November.
December..
1953:JJanuary___
February...
March........
April_____
M ay...........

77. 65
80. 59
77.15
75. 58
76. 59
76.18
74.21

42.2
43.8
41. 7
41.3
41.4
41.4
39.9

Partitions, shelving,
lockers, and fixtures

$1. 65 $69.06
1.75 71.17
1.72 71.17
1.84
1.84
1.85
1.83
1.85
1. 84
1.86

72.62
72.91
72.34
73.03
73.16
73. 87
73. 39

41.6
40.9
40.9
40.8
41.9
41.1
40.8
41.1
41.5
41.0

1.78
1.74
1.76
1.79
1.78
1.78
1.79

60. 06
61. 92
61.05
60.90
61.59
63.34
62.60

41.1
41.5
41.0
42.0
43.0
42.1
42.0
41.9
42.8
42.3

Total: Paper and
allied products

$1. 30 $65. 51
1. 39 68. 91
1.38 66. 46
1.43
1.44
1.45
1.45
1.47
1.48
1.48

72. 27
72.60
71.55
71.81
72. 31
71.81
72.07

Paper and allied products—Continued

P a p e rb o a rd boxes

1951: Average___
1952: Average___
M a y ............

$59.92
64. IS
61. 39

41.9
42. 5
41. 2

1952: Novem ber..
December...
1953: January___
February...
March..........
April........... .
M ay.............

68.98
68. 67
65. 99
66.41
67.94
66.68
67.10

44.5
44. 3
42.3
42.3
43.0
42.2
42.2

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

F ib e r c a n s , tu b e s ,
and drum s

$1. 43 $64.84
1. 51 65.44
1.49 62.80
1. 55
1. 55
1. 56
1. 57
1. 58
1. 58
1. 59

71.23
73. 61
70.47
71.32
72. 50
71. 74
69. 46

41.3
40.9
40.0
42.4
43.3
42.2
42.2
42.4
42.2
41.1

1.68
1.70
1.67
1.69
1.71
1.70
1.69

64.26
65. 60
65.36
64.90
65.68
65.31
65.31

42.3
43.5
42.1
41.8
42.0
42.0
41.4

$1.54 $62. 34
1. 62 60.86
1.60 61.01
1.68
1.68
1.69
1.68
1.70
1.70
1.70

58.02
60.35
60. 75
62.10
62. 51
61.95
61.95

43.9
41.4
41.5

$1.42
1. 47
1.47

39.2
40. 5
40.5
41.4
41.4
41.3
41.3

1. 48
1. 49
1.50
1. 50
1. 51
1. 50
1.50

43.1
42.8
41.8
43.8
44.0
43.1
43.0
43.3
43.0
42.9

Pulp, paper, and
paperboard mills

$1.52 $71. 04
1. 61 73.68
1. 59 71.14
1. 65
1.65
1.66
1.67
1.67
1.67
1.68

77.26
77.43
77.00
77. 26
77.44
77.44
77.88

44.4
43.6
42.6
44.4
44.5
44.0
43.9
44.0
44.0
44.0

Paperboard containers and boxes *

$1.60 $60.19
1. 69 64.45
1.67 61.65
1.74
1.74
1.75
1.76
1.76
1.76
1.77

69.11
68.95
66.41
66.83
68. 37
67.10
67.36

41.8
42. 4
41.1

$1.44
1. 52
1.50

44.3
44.2
42.3
42.3
43.0
42. 2
42.1

1.56
1.56
1. 57
1. 58
1. 59
1. 59
1.60

Printing, publishing, and allied indus tries

Other paper and
allied products

$1.57 $59. 77
1.60 62. 40
1.57 60. 53

71.06
73.08
71.15
70.22
71.40
71.40
70. 38

43.2
42.2
42.0

W o o d o ffic e f u r n i t u r e

Paper and allied products

Screens, blinds, and
misoellanfions fnrniture and fixtures

$1.66 $53. 43
1. 74 57.69
1.74 56.58

Office, public-build­
ing, and profes­
sional furniture s

M a ttr e s s e s a n d beds p r in g s

41.8
41.6
40.9
42.0
42.6
41.9
41.6
42.1
41.6
41.6

T o t a l: P r in t in g ,
p u b lis h in g , and
allied industries

$1.43 $77. 21
1.50 81. 48
1.48 81.27
1.53
1. 54
1.56
1.56
1.56
1.57
1.57

83.07
84.93
83.21
83. 76
85. 24
84.97
85.58

38.8
38.8
38.7
39.0
39.5
38.7
38.6
39.1
38.8
38.9

Newspapers

$1.99 $83. 45
2.10 87.12
2.10 87.60
2.13
2.15
2.15
2.17
2.18
2.19
2.20

88.57
91.64
86.38
87.82
89.28
91.36
92.48

36.6
36.3
36.5
36.3
37.1
35.4
35.7
36.0
36.4
36.7

Periodicals

$2.28 $79.20
2.40 83.60
2.40 81.97
2 44
2.47
2. 44
2.46
2.48
2. 51
2.52

83.77
80.73
83.13
86.80
87.64
82. 89
82.04

39. 8
40.0
39.6

$1.99
2. 09
2.07

39.7
39.0
39.4
40.0
40.2
39.1
38.7

2.11
2.07
2.11
2.17
2.18
2.12
2.12

907

C: EARN IN OS AND HOURS

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

Table C-l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Printing, publishing, and allied industries—Continued

Commercial printing

Books

Year and month

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings
1951: Average_____ $67.32
1952: Average_____ 71.24
M ay________ 70. 74

39.6
39.8
39.3

1952: November___
December____
1953: January_____
February____
March
April
_____
M ay_______

40.1
40.8
39.7
39.3
40. 2
39.6
40.0

72.18
73.85
73.05
71.92
74. 77
73. 66
74.80

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$1.70 $75.20
1.79 80.00
1.80 80.00

40.0
40.2
40.0

81.20
83.64
82.42
82.19
83.84
83. 60
83.39

40.2
40.8
40.4
39.9
40.5
40.0
39.9

Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings

1.80
1.81
1.84
1.83
1.86
1.86
1.87

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings
40.1
40.2
39.6

$1.88 $75.79
1.99 81.61
2. 00 79. 60
2.02
2.05
2.04
2.06
2. 07
2.09
2.09

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.89 $43.47
2.03 45.84
2.01 46. 22

37.8
38.2
38.2

$1.15 $62.24
1.20 62.33
1.21 61.53

39 9
39.2
38.7

47.80
47.09
47. 50
46.62
48. 51
48.63
48.50

39.5
38.6
38.0
37.0
38.2
37.7
37.6

65.69
66.26
65.93
65.11
65. 76
65.74
66. 63

40.3
40.4
40.2
39.7
40.1
39.6
39.9

41.2
40.8
39.6
40.4
40.5
40.6
40.5

84.87
83.64
82.37
84.44
84. 24
84.85
84. 65

Bookbinding and re­
lated industries

Greeting cards

Lithographing

2.06
2.05
2.08
2.09
2. 08
2. 09
2.09

1.21
1.22
1.25
1.26
1.27
1. 29
1. 29

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Miscellaneous pub­
lishing and printing
services
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.56 $91.42
1.59 98.25
1. 59 96.82

38.9
39.3
39. 2

$2.35
2.50
2.47

100.22
102.51
102.03
103.36
106. 37
102.68
102.17

39.3
40.2
39.7
39.6
40. 6
39.8
39.6

2.55
2.55
2. 57
2.61
2.62
2. 58
2. 58

1.63
1.64
1.64
1.64
1. 64
1. 66
1. 67

Chemicals and allied products

1951: Average---1952: Average___
M ay ........ .

$67.81
70.45
69.53

41.6
41.2
40.9

1952: November..
D ecem ber1953: January---February—
M arch____
April_____
M ay______

72.56
72.98
72.51
73.10
73.87
74. 29
74.93

41.7
41.7
41.2
41.3
41. 5
41. 5
41.4

$1.63 $74.88
1.71 77.08
1.70 76.07

41.6
41.0
40.9

79.90
79.87
79. 54
SO. 36
80. 56
81.34
81.56

41.4
41.6
41.0
41.0
41.1
41.5
41.4

1.74
1.75
1.76
1.77
1.78
1.79
1.81

S y n th e tic fib e r s

1951: Average___
1952: Average___
M ay______

$62.65
66.47
65.90

39.4
39.8
39.7

1952: November.
D ecem ber1953: January___
February...
M arch____
April_____
M ay______

67.43
67.43
67.32
66.69
68 85
69. 08
_ 69.60

39.9
39.9
39. 6
39.0
39.8
39. 7
40.0

P a in ts
quers

40.1
39.6
39.4

72.58
73.12
71.37
71.00
73. 47
73.88
74. 07

40.1
40.4
39.0
38.8
39. 5
39.3
39.4

1.69
1.69
1.70
1.71
1.73
1. 74
1.74

v a r n is h e s , la c a n d e n a m e ls

1951: Average---1952: Average___
M ay______

$67.72
70 47
. 70.81

41.8
41.7
41.9

1952: November.
D ecember..
1953: January___
February ...
March____
April_____
M ay ............

72.49
73.18
72.91
73. 57
74. 76
75.12
. 77.04

41.9
42.3
41.9
41.8
42. 0
42. 2
42.8

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

41.4
40.7
40.9

79.04
79.46
79. 27
79. 71
79. 90
81.51
80.95

41.6
41.6
41.5
41.3
41.4
41.8
41.3

1.93
1.92
1.94
1.96
1.96
1.96
1.97

42.2
42.1
42.6

59.92
59.86
62. 25
61.09
61.80
61.80
64.53

41.9
41.0
41.5
41.0
41.2
41.2
41.9

Industrial organic
chem icals1

$1.81 $71.98
1.88 75.11
1.86 74. 34

40.9
40.6
40.4

78.06
78.28
77. 33
77. 38
79.15
79. 56
79. 76

41.3
41.2
40.7
40.3
40.8
40.8
40.9

1.90
1.91
1.91
1.93
1.93
1.95
1.96

$1.69 $62.47
1.77 63.44
1.72 62. 49

41.1
39.9
39.3

64.06
64.62
64.12
68. 39
68.06
68.06
68.47

39.3
39.4
39.1
41.2
41.0
41.0
41.0

1.81
1.81
1.83
1.83
1.86
1.88
1.88

41.7
41.3
40.7

76.68
78.07
77.93
78.35
78.81
77. 49
76.89

41.9
42.2
41.9
41.9
41.7
41.0
40.9

1.63
1.64
1.64
1.66
1.66
1.66
1.67

42.2
42.6
42.5

56.15
57.53
57.12
57.24
59. 00
60.01
59.50

41.9
42.3
42.0
42.4
43.7
43.8
41.9

$1.24 $59.34
1.32 61.51
1.33 61.90

46.0
45.9
43.9

62.27
61.57
61.18
61.74
62.83
63.49
66.16

47.9
47.0
46.0
45.4
45.2
44.4
44.4

1.34
1.36
1.36
1.35
1.35
1.37
1.42

S y n th e tic ru b b e r

42.0
41.7
40. 5

$1.73
1.83
1.82

80.20
76.83

41.0
40.3
39.2

$1.91
1.99
1.96

82.40
81.22
80.94
81.13
81. 56
81.18
82. 64

43.6
43.2
42.6
42.7
42.7
42. 5
42.6

1.89
1.88
1.90
1.90
1. 91
1.91
1.94

83.03
85.08
84.04
85. 68
85.86
86.69
86.67

40.5
41.1
40.6
40.8
40.5
40.7
40.5

2.05
2.07
2.07

1.89
1.90
1.90
1.92
1.94
1.95
1.95

S o a p a n d g ly c e r in

2.10
2.12

2.13
2.14

fillers *

$1.70 $77.19
1.79 81.14
1.76 78.34

41.5
41.4
40.8

$1.86
1.96
1. 92

71.38
72. 07

$1.64
1.72
1.72

84.00
85.06
85. 27
85.28
86.11
85. 28
84.04

42.0
41.9
41.8
41.6
41. 4
41. 0
40. 6

2.00
2.03
2.04
2.05
2. 08
2. 08
2.07

73.39
74.27
73.57
74.64
75. 42
76. 02
77.71

1.76
1.76
1.76
1.79
1.80
1.81
1.82

1.83
1.85
1.86
1.87
1.89
1.89
1.88

Vegetable and animal
oils and fa ts1

Fertilizers

$1.34 $52.33
1.41 56.23
1.40 56.53
1.43
1.46
1. 50
1.49
1. 50
1.50
1.54

$1.52 $70.89
1.59 73.93
1. 59 71.63

P ia s ti :s, ex c ep t s y n th e t i c r u b b t r

$1.76 $72.66
1.85 76.31
1.84 73. 71

Soap, cleaning and
Drugs and medicines polishing preparations1

Gum and wood
chemicals

$1.62 $56.55
1.69 59.36
1.69 59. 64
1.73
1.73
1.74
1.75
1.78
1.78
1.80

$1.80 $74.93
1.88 76.52
1.86 76. 07

E x p lo s iv e s

$1.59 $67.77
1.67 70.09
1. 66 67. 77

A lk a lie s a n d c h lo r in e

A n i m a l o ils a n d fa ts

V e g e ta b le o ils

$1.29 $55.22
1.34 57.07
1.41 57. 51

46.4
46.4
43. 9

$1.19
1.23
1.31

*68.40
70.34
70. 40

45.0
44.8
44.0

$1.52
1.57
1.60

58.19
66.88
56.73
56.75
58.11
57.77
59.75

48.9
47.4
46. 5
45.4
45.4
44.1
43.3

1.19
1.20
1.22
1.26
1.28
1.31
1.38

73.80
73.76
71.84
73.39
73.02
73.19
75.90

45.0
46.1
44.9
45.3
44.8
44.9
46.0

1.
1.
1.
1.62
1.63
1.63
1.65

1.30
1.31
1.33
1.36
1.39
1.43
1.49

SS2

Total: Chemicals and Industrial inorganic
chemicals1
allied products

908

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able C 1 : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
M anufacturing—0 ontinued
Chemicals and allied products—Continued
Miscellaneous
chemicals 3

Year and month

Avg.
wkly.
earnings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

1951: A verage...
1952: Average.. .
M ay_____

$63. 50
65.35
65.10

41.5
41.1
41.2

1952: N ovember.
D ecem ber1953: January___
February...
M arch____
April_____
M ay______

67.48
68.06
68.39
68.88
69.38
69. 29
69.12

41.4
41.5
41.2
41.0
41.3
41.0
40.9

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

E s s e n tia l o ils ,

C om pressed a n d

p e r fu m e s , c o s m e tic s

liq u ifie d g a ses

Avg.
wkly.
earnings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$1.53 $51. 74
1. 59 54.49
1.58 55.18

38.9
39.2
39.7

1.63
1.64
1.66
1.68
1.68
1.69
1.69

Products of petroleum and coal

56. 37
56. 09
56.12
55. 54
57.18
56. 98
56.92

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

Avg.
Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earnhours
ings

$1.33 $72. 42
1.39 73. 92
1.39 72. 21

39.7
39.5
38.7
38.3
38.9
38. 5
38.2

1.42
1. 42
1.45
1.45
1.47
1.48
1.49

42.6
42.0
41.5

76.14
77.11
76.62
80.65
79.95
79. 57
78. 91

42.3
42.6
42.1
42.9
42.3
42.1
42.2

Total: Products of
petroleum and coal
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$1. 70 $80. 98
1.76 84.85
1.74 75.35

40.9
40.6
37.3

Avg.
hrly.
earnings

1.80
1.81
1.82
1.88
1.89
1.89
1.87

87.94
88.10
88.10
87.45
87. 89
88. 29
89.16

40.9
40.6
40.6
40.3
40.5
40.5
40.9

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Petroleum refining

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$1.98 $84. 66
2.09 88.44
2.02 76. 76

40.7
40.2
35.7

2.15
2.17
2.17
2.17
2.17
2.18
2.18

91.98
92.34
91.94
91.03
91.71
91.66
91.88

Rubber products
Total: Rubber
products
1951: Average___
1952: Average___
M ay______

$68. 61
74.48
73.31

40.6
40. 7
40. 5

1952: November. - - 76.86
D ecem ber- - - 79.19
1953: January___
78.09
February...
79.30
M arch____ -- 80.29
April_____ -- 79. 71
M ay______
78. 57

41. 1
41. 9
41.1
41.3
41.6
41.3
40. 5

--

Tire:s and inner
tubes

$1.69 $78. 01
1. 83 85. 65
1.81 84. 84
1.87
1.89
1.90
1. 92
1. 93
1.93
1.94

87.23
90. 42
89. 24
91.80
93.83
91.39
91.76

39.6
40. 4
40.4
40.2
41. 1
40.2
40.8
41.7
40.8
40.6

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$2. 08 $69. 39
2.20 73. 74
2.15 71.45

41.8
41.9
41.3

$1. 66
1.76
1.73

41.7
41.0
41.0
41.1
40.7
41.7
43.0

1.82
1.82
1.84
1.84
1.85
1.86
1.86

2. 26
2.28
2. 27
2. 27
2. 27
2. 28
2. 28

75.89
74. 62
75. 44
75. 62
75. 30
77. 56
79.98

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Leather and leather products

Rubber footwear

$1.97 $57. 81
2.12 62.22
2.10 60. 65

41. 0
40.4
39.9

68. 30
66. 49
64. 96
67. 57
67. 57
67.82
60.52

41.9
41.3
40.1
41.2
41.2
41.1
36.9

2.17
2. 20
2. 22
2.25
2. 25
2.24
2.26

40.7
40.5
40.5
40.1
40.4
40.2
40.3

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Coke and other pe­
troleum and coal
products

Other rubber
products

$1.41 $63. 19
1. 54 66.58
1.52 65. 28
1.63
1.61
1.62
1.64
1.64
1.65
1.64

69. 81
72. 33
71.74
71.06
71.72
71.72
70.86

41.3
41. 1
40.8
41.8
42.8
42.2
41.8
41.7
41.7
41.2

Total: Leather and
leather products

$1. 53 $46.86
1.62 50. 69
1.60 48.86
1. 67
1.69
1.70
1.70
1.72
1.72
1.72

50.76
53. 46
53. 06
53.19
53. 84
51.92
51.61

36.9
38.4
37.3
37.6
39.6
39.3
39.4
39.3
37.9
37.4

Leather: tanned,
curried, and finished

$1. 27 $60. 61
1.32 64. 48
1.31 62.17
1. 35
1.35
1.35
1.35
1.37
1.37
1.38

67.80
69. 22
67.70
67.70
67.03
67. 43
69.19

39.1
39 8
39.1

$1 55
1 62
1.59

40. 6
41 2
40.3
40.3
39.9
39 9
40.7

1 07
1 08
1 08
1 08
1 08
1 09
1.70

Leather and leather products—Continued
Industrial leather
belting and packing
1951: Average__
1952: Average__
M ay_____

$64. 50
64.12
62.47

43.0
41.1
40. 3

1952: November.
December.
1953: January...
February..
M arch___
April____
M ay_____

64. 43
6/. 31
69. 23
70.09
71.94
68. 81
68.04

41.3
42. 6
43. 0
43.0
43.6
41. /
42.0

Boot and shoe cut
stock and findings

$1.50 $46. 25
1. 56 49. 40
1. 55 47.75
1.56
1.58
1. 61
1.63
1.65
1.65
1. 62

47.97
51.73
51.35
51.22
51. 35
50.30
49. 37

37.6
38.9
37.6
36.9
40.1
39.5
39.4
39.2
38.4
37.4

Footwear (except
r ubber)

$1.23 $44. 28
1.27 48. 26
1.27 46.74
1. 30
1.29
1.30
1.30
1.31
1.31
1.32

47.19
51. 09
51.48
51.61
52.00
49. 61
48. 81

36.0
38.0
36.8
36.3
39.3
39.3
39.4
39.1
37.3
36.7

$1. 23 $53. 72
1.27 56.84
1.27 54. 94
1.30
1. 30
1.31
1.31
1.33
1.33
1.33

Handbags and small
leather goods

Luggage

62.75
61.17
57.34
56.16
59.28
58. 90
58.29

39.5
40.6
40.1
42.4
41.9
40.1
39.0
40.6
40.9
40.2

$1. 36 $43. 59
1.40 45. 08
1.37 44.15
1.48
1.40
1.43
1.44
1.46
1.44
1.45

48.12
46. 05
45.36
48.09
48. 31
45. 99
44.04

37.9
38. 2
37.1
40.1
38. 7
37.8
39.1
39.6
37.7
36.4

Gloves and miscel­
laneous leather goods

$1.15 $42. 67
1.18 44.15
1.19 43.44
1. 20
1.19
1.20
1.23
1. 22
1.22
1.21

45.60
45. 01
43. 92
44. 28
44.03
44. 52
44.28

37.1
37 1
36.5

$1. 1ñ
1 IQ
1.19

38. 0
37. 2
36.3
36. 9
37 0
37.1
36.9

1 20
1 21
1 21
1 20
1 IQ
1 20
1.20

Stone, clay, and glass products
Total: Stone, clay,
and glass products
1951: Average............ $63.91
1952: Average_____ 66.17
M ay________ 64.94

41.5
41.1
41.1

$1.54 $83.85
1. 61 86. 05
1. 58 83. 23

40.9
40.4
41.0

1952: November___
December____
1953: January_____
February........
March_______
April________
M a y________

41.3
41. 5
40. 6
41.0
41. 3
41. 2
41. 2

1.67 97.81
1. 67 95. 71
1. 68 99. 53
1. 69 98.18
1. 70 98.47
1. 71 98. 51
1.72 102. 67

41.8
40.9
41.3
41.6
41.9
42.1
42.6

68.97
69. 31
68.21
69. 29
70, 21
/U. 4Ò
70. 86

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Glass and glassware,
pressed or blown 3

Flat glass

$2.05 $59. 20
2.13 62.09
2.03 60.98
2. 34
2.34
2.41
2.36
2. 35
2. 34
2. 41

64.64
65. 53
64.15
66. 23
67.80
68.17
68. 57

40.0
39.8
39.6
39.9
40.7
39.6
39.9
40.6
40.1
40.1

G la s s c o n ta in e r s

$1.48 $60. 55
1. 56 63. 12
1.54 61.86
1.62
1.61
1.62
1.66
1.67
1.70
1.71

65. 61
67.08
65. 34
66. 63
69.05
70.99
71.51

40.1
39.7
39.4
40.5
40.9
39.6
39.9
41.1
40.8
41.1

P r e s s e d a n d b lo w n
g la s s

$1. 51 $57. 46
1. 59 60.89
1.57 60.25
1.62
1.64
1.65
1.67
1.68
1.74
1.74

63. 67
63.59
62.41
65.27
66. 40
64. 68
64. 96

39.9
39.8
39.9
39.3
40.5
39.5
39.8
40.0
39.2
38.9

Glass products made
of purchased glass

$1. 44 $53.19
1. 53 56. 30
1.51 55.49
1. 62
1. 57
1. 58
1.64
1.66
1.65
1.67

60.91
63. 22
60. 06
60.20
61.17
59. 86
58. 92

40.6
40.8
40.5

$1. 31
1 38
1.37

42 3
43. 9
42. 0
42.1
41 9
41. 0
41.2

1 44
1 44
1 43
1 43
1 46
1 46
1.43

909

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

T able C-l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees ^Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Stone, clay, and glass products—Continued

Year and month

Cement, hydraulic
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

1951: Average__
1952: Average__
M ay --------

$65. 21
67. 72
66.14

41.8
41.8
41.6

1952: November.
December1953: January—.
February—
March___
April____
M ay_____

71.23
71.23
70.97
70. 55
71.40
71.65
72. 56

41.9
41.9
41.5
41.5
42.0
41.9
41.7

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings
$1. 56 $60.03
1.62 60.09
1. 59 58.98

41.4
40.6
40.4

61. 51
61.81
60.28
61.05
62.37
62. 93
63.40

40.2
40.4
39.4
39.9
40.5
40.6
40.9

1.70
1.70
1.71
1.70
1.70
1.71
1.74

$57. 91
61.15
60.92

38.1
38.7
38.8

1952: November .
December—
1953: January---February...
M arch____
April_____
M ay ______

63. 52
63.11
62. 65
63. 96
64.35
63. 03
62. 25

39.7
39.2
38.2
39.0
39.0
38.2
37.5

$1.52 $68. 25
1.58 70. 65
1.57 69. 91

45.2
45.0
45.1

71.32
72. 45
69.12
70. 79
70.63
72. 0C
70.96

44.3
45.0
43.2
43.7
43.6
43. £
43.8

1.60
1.61
1.64
1.64
1.65
1.65
1.66

B r ic k a n d

F lo o r a n d

h o llo w tile

w a ll tile

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings
$1.45 $57. 92
1.48 58. 51
1.46 58.34

42.9
42.4
42.9

59. 36
58. 80
56.30
57.13
59. 50
60.49
60.35

42.1
42.0
40.8
41.4
42.2
42.3
42.2

1.53
1.53
1.53
1.53
1.54
1.55
1.55

Concrete, gypsum,
and plaster prod­
ucts 2

Pottery and
related products
1951: Average---1952: Average___
M ay______

Structural clay
products 5

$1.35 $60. 25
1.38 62.64
1.36 62.87

39.9
39.9
40.3

63.68
64. 87
65.20
65. 44
66. 33
65. 90
66. 63

39.8
39.8
40.0
39.9
40.2
39.7
39.9

1.41
1.40
1.38
1.38
1.41
1.43
1.43

45.0
45.3
45.5

70.31
71.87
67.82
69. 64
69.64
70.84
70.08

44.5
45.2
43.2
43.8
43.8
44.0
43.8

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.50 $58. 93
1. 55 60.01
1. 54 58.79

41.5
41.1
41.4

62.88
62.02
60.85
02.17
62. 27
62.88
65.31

41.1
40.8
40.3
40.9
40.7
41.1
41.6

1.58
1.59
1.57
1.59
1.59
1. 61
1.60

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

$1.51 $58.15
1.57 59.98
1.56 53.04

40.1
39.2
35.6

62.09
63.04
59. 59
60.68
62.81
64. 24
65.45

39.3
39.9
38.2
38.9
39.5
40.4
40.4

1.60
1.63
1.63
1.64
1.65
1.66
1.67

$1.42 $68.46
1.46 69.83
1.42 68.85
1.53
1.52
1.51
1. 52
1. 53
1.53
1.57

72.39
72.92
73.16
73. 62
74. 21
74. 3£
75.12

42.0
40.6
40.5
40.9
41.2
41.1
40.9
41.5
41. 1
41.5

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.45 $63. 76
1.53 61.60
1.49 60.83

40.1
38.5
38.5

$1.59
1.60
1. 58

63.41
64.64
63. 41
04. 43
65.32
64.60
66.13

37.3
37.8
37.3
37.9
38.2
38.0
38.9

1.70
1.71
1.70
1.70
1.71
1.70
1.70

1.58
1.58
1.56
1.56
1.59
1.59
1.62

A b r a s iv e p r o d u c ts

$1.63 $72. 28
1.72 73.45
1. 70 72. 29

41.3
39.7
39.5

$1. 75
1.85
1.83

79.07
81.67
81.06
80. 54
82.88
81. 51
82.32

41.4
42.1
42.0
41.3
42.5
41.8
42.0

1.91
1.94
1.93
1.95
1. 95
1.95
1.96

1.77
1.77
1.78
1.8C
1. 79
1.81
1.81

Primary metal industries

Stone, clay, and glass products—Con.

B la s t fu r n a c e s ,

A s b e s to s p r o d u c ts

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral
products 2

uut-srone ana
stone products

C o n c r e te p r o d u c ts

$1.51 $67. 50
1.57 70. 22
1.55 70. 07
1.61
1.61
1.60
1.62
1.62
1.64
1.62

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings

C la y r e fr a c to r ie s

S e w e r p ip e

N o n d a y r e fr a c to r ie s

Total: Primary
metal industries

Blast furnaces, steel
works, and rolling
mills 2

s te e l

w o r k s , a n d r o llin g
m i l l s , e x c e p t e le c tr o ­
m e ta llu r g ic a l p r o d ­

E le c tr o m e ta llu r g ic a l
p r o d u c ts

u c ts

1951: Average—1952: A v e r a g e M ay—

$69 44

1952: November
December1953: January—
February..
March___
April____
M ay_____

74 99
7 4 21

71

67

71.48

7 2 68
7 2 91

76 08
76 72
77. 33

43. 4
42. 6
42.8

$1.60 $66. 78
1.68 65.70
1.67 65.15
1. 72
1. 71
1.72
1. 74
1. 75
1.78
1.79

43. 6
43.4
42. 2
41. 9
42. 9
43.1
43.2

66.05
69. 91
71.96
74. 65
71.20
72. 74
73.14

38.6
36.3
36.6
34.4
36.6
36.9
37.7
36.7
37.3
37.7

$1.73 $75.12
1.81 77.33
1.78 71.94

41.5
40.7
39.1

82.80
84.02
84.65
83. 21
84.23
83.43
83.83

41.4
41.8
41.7
41.4
41.7
41.3
41.5

1.92
1.91
1.95
1.98
1.94
1.95
1.94

$1.81 $77.30
1.90 79.60
1.84 70.31

40.9
40.0
37.4

86.31
86.51
89.01
85.89
85.89
84. 65
86.94

41.1
41.0
41.4
40.9
40.9
40.5
41.4

2.00
2.01
2.03
2. 01
2. 02
2.02
2. 02

$1.89 $77.30
1.99 79. 60
1.88 70.12

40.9
40.0
37.3

86. 31
86. 51
89.01
85.89
85.89
84.65
86.94

41.1
41.0
41.4
40.9
40.9
40.5
41.4

2.10
2.11
2.15
2.10
2.10
2.09
2.10

$1.89 $74.46
1.99 76.04
1.88 78. 44

41.6
41.1
42. 4

$1.79
1. 85
1.85

79.07
79.87
80.29
80. 51
79. 30
79.49
80. 73

41.4
41.6
41.6
41. 5
41. 3
41.4
41. 4

1.91
1. 92
1.93
1.94
1.92
1. 92
1.95

2.10
2.11
2.15
2.10
2.10
2.09
2.10

Primary metal industries—Continued

Iron and steel
foundries 2
1951: Average—
1952: Average___
M ay______
1952: November.
December..
1953: January---February...
M arch____
April_____
M ay ______

$71 fifi
79 99

71.23
74
7fi
74
7fi
78

30
Qfi
KQ
fi3
Qfi

78

fi9

77.08

42. 4
40. 8
40.7
40 fi
41 fi
40. 7
41 2
42. 0
41 6
41.0

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

O r a y -ir o n fo u n d r ie s

$1.69 $70.05
1.77 69. 89
1.75 68.40

42.2
40.4
40.0

71.91
73.75
72.32
73. 49
76. 49
76. 96
75. 26

40.4
41.2
40.4
40.6
41.8
41.6
40.9

1. 83
1.85
1.84
1.86
1.88
1.89
1.88

M a lle a b le -ir o n
fo u n d r ie s

$1.66 $72.07
1.73 70.56
1. 71 71.06

41.9
39.2
39.7

75.17
76.63
75.70
80. 79
81.60
78.50
78. 25

40.2
41.2
40.7
42.3
42.5
41.1
41.4

1.78
1.79
1.79
1.81
1.83
1.85
1.84

Primary smelting
and refining of
nonferrous metals 2

S te e l fo u n d r ie s

$1.72 $75.86
1.80 77. 70
1.79 76. 93

43.1
42.0
42.5

79.10
83.10
79. 52
81.29
82. 29
81.73
80.16

41.2
42.4
41.2
41.9
42.2
41.7
40.9

1.87
1.86
1.86
1.91
1.92
1.91
1.89

$1.76 $69.97
1.85 75.48
1.81 74.58

41.4
41.7
41.9

77.79
78. 58
79.61
79. 65
79.65
79. 07
79.46

41.0
41.8
41.9
41.7
41.7
41.4
41.6

1.92
1.96
1.93
1.94
1.95
1. 96
1.96

P r im a r y s m e ltin g a n d
r e fin in g
o f copper,
le a d , a n d z in c

$1.69 $69. 38
1.81 75.06
1. 78 74. 23

41.3
41. 7
41. 7

$1.68
1.80
1. 78

76.86
77.89
78.54
79.15
79.15
77. 98
78.35

42.0
42.1
42.0
42.1
42.1
41. 7
41. 9

1.83
1.85
1. 87
1.88
1.88
1.87
1.87

1.87
1.88
1.90
1.91
1.91
1.91
1.91

910

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LAHOR

T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees ^ C on tin u ed
Manufacturing—Continued
Primary metal industries—Continued
P r im a r y r e fin in g o f

Year and month

a lu m in u m

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
ings hours
1951: Average.........
1952: A v era g e-........
M a y ________

$70.97
76.08
74. 55

41.5
41.8
42.6

1952: November___
December____
1953: January_____
February____
March______
April________
M ay________

81.18
80.32
81.56
80.98
79.38
80. 59
80.78

41.0
41.4
41.4
40.9
40.5
40.7
40.8

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Secondary smelting
and refining of
nonferrous metals

Rolling,
drawing,
and alloying of
nonferrous metals 3

Avg.
Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­
hours
ings

Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

$1.71 $64.94
1.82 68.15
1.75 67.40
1.98
1.94
1.97
1.98
1.96
1.98
1.98

73.44
75.60
71. 72
72. 91
74.62
74.20
73.74

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

41.1
41.3
41.1

$1.58 $68.78
1.65 74.88
1.64 70.64

43.2
43.7
41.7
41.9
42.4
42.4
41.9

1.70
1.73
1.72
1.74
1.76
1.75
1.76

80.28
82. 51
82.75
82. 75
83. 57
83.96
84.83

40.7
41.6
40.6

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

R o llin g , d r a w in g , a n d

R o llin g , d r a w in g , a n d

a llo y in g o f c o p p e r

a llo y in g o f a lu m in u m

Nonferrous foundries

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$1.69 $70. 76
1.80 76.49
1.74 71.56

42.7
43.2
43.1
43.1
43.3
43.5
43.5

1.88
1.91
1.92
1.92
1.93
1.93
1.95

40.9
41.8
40.2

83.14
86.00
85. 22
85. 50
86.09
87.91
91.25

43.3
44.1
43.7
43.4
43.7
4 4 .4

45.4

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.73 $64.22
1.83 69. 95
1.78 66.73
1.92
1.95
1.95
1.97
1.97
1.98
2. 01

1951: Average...........
1952: Average...........
M a y________

$80.65
82.15
78.72

42.9
41.7
41.0

1952: November___
December____
1953: January_____
February.........
M arch—........ .
April________
M ay________

87.55
90.06
89.87
89.03
90.09
88.41
86. 53

42.5
43.3
43.0
42.6
42.9
42.3
41.6

I r o n a n d s te e l
fo r g in g s

$1.88 $84.87
1.97 86.09
1.92 85.24
2.06
2.08
2.09
2.09
2.10
2.09
2.08

89. 25
95.47
94.83
93. 96
94.61
92.01
90.29

43.3
42.2
42.2
42.5
44.2
43.5
43.3
43.2
42.4
41.8

W e ld e d a n d h e a v y r iv e te d p i p e

W ir e d r a w in g

$1.96 $80.41
2.04 80.54
2.02 75.17
2.10
2.16
2.18
2.17
2.19
2.17
2.16

86.51
86. 50
87.55
84.87
86.93
86.52
85.49

43.0
41.3
40.2
42.2
42.4
42.5
41.4
42.2
42.0
41.5

$1.87 $75. 07
1.95 81.14
1.87 76.02
2.05
2.04
2.06
2.05
2.06
2.06
2.06

39.4
40.2
40.2
40.8
40.9
41.5
42.3
42.4
41.7
40.2

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.63 $73. 74
1.74 77.79
1 .6 6
74.89
1.85
1.85
1.87
1.86
1.87
1.87
1.85

81.87
84.00
82.84
82.10
82. 71
80. 75
80.56

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

41.9
41.6
40.7

$1.76
1.87
1.84

42.2
43.3
42.7
42.1
42.2
41.2
41.1

1.94
1.94
1.94
1.95
1.96
1.96
1.96

Fabricated metal products (except ordnance,
machinery, and transportation equipment)

Primary metal industries—Continued

Miscellaneous pri­
mary metal indus­
tries 3

75.48
75.67
77.61
78.68
79. 29
77.98
74. 37

Avg.
wkly.
hours

40.8
41.4
39.8

87.55
87.55
85.90
86.73
87.36
85.91
82.21

42.5
42.5
41.7
42.1
42.0
41.5
40.3

Total:
Fabricated
metal
products
(except ordnance,
machinery, and
tr a n s p o r ta tio n
equipment)

$1.84 $68. 81
1.96 72.38
1.91 70. 45
2.06
2.06
2.06
2.06
2.08
2.07
2.04

75.90
78-37
76.74
76.80
77.59
77.23
76.86

41.7
41.6
41.2
42.4
43.3
42.4
42.2
42.4
42.2
42.0

T in cans and other
tinware

$1.65 $66.49
1.74 69. 72
1.71 66.83
1.79
1.81
1.81
1.82
1.83
1.83
1.83

71.45
74. 52
73.51
73.39
73. 21
73.39
74.16

41.3
41.5
40.5

$1.61
1.68
1.65

41.3
42.1
41.3
41.0
40.9
41.0
41.2

1.73
1.77
1.78
1.79
1. 79
1. 79
1.80

Fabricated metal products—Continued
Cutlery, hand tools,
and hardware 3

1951: Average............ $66.30
1952: Average_____
69. 05
M a y........ ......... 67.40

41.7
41.1
40.6

1952: November___
December........
1953: January_____
February........
M arch______
April________
M ay________

42.3
43.0
42.5
42.2
42.2
42.4
42.3

73. 60
75. 25
74.80
74. 69
74. 69
75. 47
75.29

1.74
1.75
1.76
1.77
1.77
1.78
1.78

c o o k in g a p p a r a tu s ,
n o t e ls e w h e r e c la s ­
s ifie d

$66.18
69.87
68. 61

40.6
41.1
40.6

1952: November___
December____
1953: January____
February____
March______
April________
M ay.................

72.45
74. 87
72.04
73.16
73.34
72.45
72.27

41.4
42.3
40.7
41.1
41.2
40.7
40.6

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

to o ls

$1.59 $60. 74
1.68 63. 55
1.66 61.97

O il b u r n e r s , n o n e le c ­
tr ic
h e a tin g
and

1951: Average_____
1952: Average_____
M ay________

C u tle r y a n d edge

67.84
68. 75
66.40
66.49
66.40
66. 65
66. 56

42.4
42.7
41.5
41.3
41.5
41.4
41.6

$1.46 $69.70
1.55 69.38
1.53 69.55
1.60
1.61
1.60
1.61
1.60
1.61
1.60

Fabricated structural
metal products 3

$1.63 $71.49
1.70 74.87
1.69 73.43
1.75
1. 77
1.77
1.78
1.78
1.78
1.78

41.6
41.0
40.5

78.14
79. 92
78. 38
79.24
79. 79
80.04
80. 46

42.3
42.3
42.2
42.7
43.2
42.6
42.6
42.9
42.8
42.8

H a n d to o ls

72.38
73.43
74.10
74.58
75.78
75.18
74.64

41.6
42.2
42.1
41.9
42.1
42.0
41.7

$1.64 $66. 49
1.68 70.69
1.68 68.11
1.74
1.74
1.76
1.78
1.80
1.79
1.79

S t r u c tu r a l s te e l a n d
o r n a m e n ta l m e ta l­
w ork

$1.69 $71.49
1.77 75. 05
1.74 73.01
1.83
1.85
1.84
1.86
1.86
1.87
1.88

42.5
41.3
41.4

77.90
78.51
78.94
79.18
79.92
79.74
81.16

42.3
42.4
42.2
42.8
42.9
42.9
42.8
43.2
43.1
43.4

Heating apparatus
(except electric)
and
plumbers’
supplies 3

H ardw are

76.25
78.30
77.83
77.11
76.93
78.08
78. 32

42.6
43.5
43.0
42.6
42.5
42.9
42.8

$1.61 $68. 71
1.72 70.99
1.69 69. 55
1.79
1.80
1.81
1.81
1.81
1.82
1.83

M e ta l
doors,
sash,
fr a m e s
m o ld in g ,
a n d tr im

,

$1.69 $71. 57
1.77 74.23
1.73 72.63
1.82
1.83
1.84
1.85
1.85
1.85
1.87

41.3
41.1
40.3

80.14
81.89
78.40
77.49
80.56
78.44
79.34

42.1
41.7
41.5
42.4
43.1
41.7
41.0
42.4
41.5
42.2

73.34
75.78
72.90
74.21
74.21
73.89
73. 31

41.2
42.1
40.5
41.0
41.0
40.6
40.5

$1.68 $75.24
1.74 73.60
1.73 71.71

41.8
40.0
39.4

$1.80
1.84
1.82

76.30
78.62
75. 39
76. 73
76.76
77. 38
76.19

40.8
41.6
40.1
40.6
40.4
40.3
40.1

1.87
1.89
1.88
1.89
1.90
1.92
1.90

1.78
1.80
1.80
1.81
1.81
1.82
1.81

B o ile r -s h o p p r o d u c ts

$1.70 $71.90
1.78 74.80
1.75 74.47
1.89
1.90
1.88
1.89
1.90
1.89
1.88

40.9
40.8
40.2

76.99
80.04
78. 38
79.79
79. 55
79.98
80.46

42.8
42.5
42.8
42.3
43.5
42.6
42.9
43.0
43.0
42.8

S a n ita r y w a re a n d
p lu m b e r s ’ s u p p lie s

S h e e t-m e ta l w o r k

$1.68 $70.39
1.76 75.18
1.74 73.15
1.82
1.84
1.84
1.86
1.85
1.86
1.88

80.11
80.35
78.20
79. 29
79.10
81.13
80.41

41.9
42.0
41.8

$1.68
1.79
1.75

43.3
43.2
42.5
42.4
42.3
42.7
42.1

1.85
1.86
1.84
1.87
1.87
1.90
1.91

911

C: EARNING,Sf AND HOURS

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees ^ C ontinu ed
Manufacturing—Continued
Fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)—Continued

Year and month

M etal stamping, coat­
ing, and engraving >
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

1951: Average--------- $68. 38
1952: Average--------- 74.29
72.57
M ay________

40.7
41.5
41.0

79. 00
82.91
80.22
79.10
79.52
79.29
78. 35

42.7
44.1
42.9
42.3
42.3
42.4
41.9

1952: November----December........
1953: January--------February.........
March______
April_______
M ay________

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings
$1.68 $52.92
1. 79 53.86
1.77 49.48

37.8
37.4
34.6

56.79
60. 35
59.49
58.89
59:49
56. 78
57.23

38.9
40.5
39.4
39.0
39.4
37.6
37.9

1.85
1.88
1.87
1.87
1.88
1.87
1.87

S ta m p e d a n d p re sse d
m e ta l p r o d u c ts

V itr e o u s -e n a m e le d
p r o d u c ts

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

$1.40 $70. 58
1. 44 77.33
1.43 74.98

40.8
41.8
41.2

81.70
85.69
83. 52
82.18
82.41
82. 37
81.22

43.0
44.4
43.5
42.8
42.7
42.9
42.3

1.46
1.49
1.51
1.51
1.51
1.51
1.51

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

$1.73 $64. 64
1.85 68.00
1.82 66.30

40.4
40.0
39.0

70.93
76.36
75.24
75.12
74.40
69.08
69.30

41.0
42.9
41.8
41.5
41.8
39.7
39.6

1.90
1.93
1.92
1.92
1.93
1.92
1.92

Fabricated wire
products

Lighting fixtures

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings
$1.60 $65. 03
1.70 68. 30
1.70 67.06
1.73
1. 78
1.80
1.81
1.78
1.74
1.75

72.56
75.43
73.50
73. 22
73. 63
72.16
72. 75

Fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)—
Continued
M e l a i s h i p p i n g b a r r e ls ,

B o lts , n u ts , w a sh e rs,

S te e l s p r in g s

a n d r iv e ts

d r u m s , keg s, a n d p a ils

1951: Average_____ $71.91
1952: A verage... —- 79. 61
80.36
M ay________

42.3
43.5
44.4

84.63
84.48
80.93
80.10
80.10
81.25
83.61

43.4
43.1
41.5
41.5
41.5
42.1
43.1

1952: November----December____
1953: January,..........
February.........
M arch---------A p r il..- ..........
M ay________

$1.70 $73. 43
1.83 74.26
1.81 73.21

42.2
40.8
40.9

80.79
86.44
85. 41
85. 65
85.89
84.28
83.73

42.3
44.1
43.8
43.7
43.6
43.0
42.5

1.95
1.96
1.95
1.93
1.93
1.93
1.94

$1.74 $74.02
1.82 72.83
1.79 70.72

43.8
42.1
41.6

77.33
79.82
79.17
79.17
81.70
80.59
81.14

43.2
44.1
43.5
43.5
44.4
43.8
44.1

1.91
1.96
1.95
1.96
1.97
1.96
1.97

45.3
44.4
44.1

80.36
82.24
81. 45
82.17
84.18
83.36
82.26

45.4
46.2
45.5
45.4
46.0
45.8
45.2

1. 79
1.81
1.82
1.82
1.84
1.84
1.84

40.9
40.9
40.4
41.7
43.1
42.0
41.6
41.6
41.0
41.1

Avg. Avg.
Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ hours
ings
ings
43.7
42.7
42.5

$1.65
1. 71
1.70

77.79
79.83
78.84
79.10
80.44
80.08
79.90

43.7
44.6
43.8
43.7
44.2
44.0
43.9

1.78
1.79
1.80
1.81
1.82
1.82
1.82

1. 74
1.75
1.75
1.76
1.77
1.76
1.77

Machinery (except electrical)

$1. 65 $76. 38
1.72 79.61
1.71 78. 75

43.4
42.8
42.8

80.94
83. 52
82.99
83.03
84.05
83.46
82.88

42.6
43.5
43.0
42.8
43.1
42.8
42.5

1.77
1.78
1.79
1.81
1.83
1.82
1.82

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.59 $72.11
1. 67 73. 02
1.66 72.25

Total : Machinery
(exce pt electrical)

S c r e w -m a c h in e
p r o d u c ts

$1.69 $74. 75
1.73 76.37
1.70 75. 41

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Miscellaneous fabri­
cated metal products5

Engines and
turbines 2

$1.76 $79.12
1.86 82.26
1.84 79. 65
1.90
1.92
1.93
1.94
1.95
1.95
1.95

84.18
87.06
83.62
84. 23
83.42
83.43
84. 87

43.0
42.4
41.7

$1. 84
1.94
1.91

42.3
43.1
41.6
41.7
41.5
41.3
41.4

1.99
2.02
2.01
2.02
2.01
2.02
2.05

Machinery (except electrical)—Continued
D ie s e l
S te a m

e n g in e s ,

b in e s ,

and

tu r ­
w a te r

w h e e ls

1951: A verage.......... $83. 27
1952: Average............ 89. 02
79.60
M ay________

42.7
42.8
40.2

1952: November....... 93. 31
December____ 96.36
1953: January......... . 97.01
February------- 96.78
86.90
March______
87.74
April___ ____
M ay________ 100. 55

43.4
44.2
43.5
43.4
40.8
41.0
44.1

and

o th e r

$1. 95 $78. 26
2.08 80.37
1.98 79.38

43.0
42.3
42.0

81.90
84.94
80.34
81. 36
82. 57
82.19
81.19

42.0
42.9
41.2
41.3
41.7
41.3
40.8

2.15
2.18
2.23
2. 23
2.13
2.14
2.28

C o n s tr u c tio n
a n d
m in in g m a c h in e r y ,

in ­

te r n a l
c o m b u s tio n
e n g in e s ,
n o t e ls e ­
w h e r e c la s s ifie d

Agricultural machin­
ery and tractors’

$1. 82 $73. 26
1.90 75.41
1.89 77.74

40.7
39.9
40.7

72.94
77.20
77.41
78.59
78.78
79.38
77.21

38.8
40.0
39.9
40.3
40.4
40.5
39.8

1.95
1. 98
1.95
1. 97
1.98
1.99
1.99

O ilfie ld m a c h in e r y
a n d to o ls

$1.80 $75. 67
1.89 77. 02
1.91 79.18

40.9
39.7
40.4

74.88
79. 40
79.40
80.80
80.60
80.20
78.20

39.0
39.9
39.7
40.0
39.9
39.9
39.1

1.88
1.93
1. 94
1.95
1.95
1.96
1.94

Metalworking
machinery J

A g r ic u ltu r a l m a c h in e r y

T r a c to r s

( e x c e p t tr a c to r s )

$1.85 $70.88
1.94 73.97
1.96 76.26

40.5
40.2
41.0

71. 21
74. 77
74.99
76. 73
77.11
78. 31
76.36

38.7
40.2
40.1
40.6
40.8
41.0
40.4

1. 92
1. 99
2.00
2.02
2.02
2.01
2.00

1951: Average............ $75.04
76.64
1952: Average-------M ay...... ........... 77.62

44.4
43.3
44.1

77.90
79. 74
79.18
79.15
81.40
80. 14
80. 50

42.8
43.
42.8
42.1
43.1
42.4
42.4

1952: November----December____
1953: January.........
February.........
M arch______
A p r il...........
M ay________

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$1.69 $77.29
1. 77 79.48
1.76 79.65

45.2
44,4
45.0

79.74
81.65
81.53
80.97
82.40
79.61
80.6C

43.1
43.9
43.6
43.3
43.6
42.
43.1

1.82
1.85
1.85
1.88
1.80
1.86
1.90

$1. 71 $85. 74
1.79 91.87
1.77 90.48
1.85
1.86
1.87
1.87
1.86
1.86
1.8"

94.92
97.85
97.70
96.67
98.23
97.16
97.44

46.6
46.4
46.4
46.3
47.5
47.2
46.7
47. C
46.5
46.

$1.84 $84.85
1.98 89.96
1.95 88.64

47.4
47.1
46.9

92. 00
94.84
94.92
94.74
96.02
95.4"
94.45

46.7
47.9
47.7
46.9
47.3
46.
46.3

2.05
2.06
2.07
2.07
2.06
2.06
2.1C

$1. 75 $75.82
1.84 77. 61
1.86 77.97
1.84
1.86
1.87
1.89
1.89
1.91
1.89

M e ta l w o r k in g
m a c h in e r y (e x c e p t m a c h in e to o ls )

M a c h i n e to o ls

e x c e p t f o r o ilfie ld s

$1.79 $82.26
1.91 86.14
1.89 84.52

45.2
45.1
45.2

89.60
92.26
90.45
90.45
90. 65
91.76
92.16

44.8
45.9
45.0
45.0
45.1
45.2
45.4

1. 97
1.98
1.99
2.02
2.03
2.04
2. 0 4

Construction and
mining machinery *

78.51
80.11
79.98
79. 71
81.65
79.90
80. 51

44.6
43.6
44.3

$1.70
1.78
1.76

42.9
43.3
43.0
42.4
43.2
42.5
42.6

1.83
1.85
1.86
1.88
1.89
1.88
1.89

M a c h in e -to o l
a c c e s s o r ie s

$1.82 $87. 98
1.91 95.53
1.87 94.60

46.8
46.6
46.6

$1.88
2.05
2.03

99.22
102. 24
102. 29
100. 75
102. 5C
100.84
101. 52

46.8
48.0
47.8
47.3
47.7
46. S
47.0

2.12
2.13
2.14
2.13
2.15
2.15
2.16

2.00
2.01
2.01
2.01
2.01
2.03
2.03

912

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able C 1 : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
M anufacturing— C ontinued
Machinery (except electrical)—Continued
Special-industry ma­
ch in ery (except
metalworking ma­
chinery)2

Year and month

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings
1951: Average___
1952: Average___
M a y ______

$74.73
77.40
76. 36

43.7
43.0
42.9

1952: November..
December..
1953: January___
February..
M arch____
April_____
M ay______

78.94
81. 65
80. 54
SI. 78
82,16
82. 05
81.05

42.9
43.9
43.3
43.5
43. 7
43.4
43. 1

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$76. 88
78. 66
78. 5C

44.7
43.7
44.1

1952: November.
D ecem ber1953: January___
February..
March____
April_____
M a y______

79. 67
82.09
81.16
81.22
83. 47
83. 33
81. 94

43.3
43.9
43.4
43.2
43.7
43.4
42.9

1.84
1.86
1.86
1.88
1.88
1.89
1.88

1952: November__
December___
1953: January..........
February___
March_______
April___
M ay___

$73.33
75. 26
74. 30

41.9
40. 9
40.6

76.11
76. 86
76.92
76.14
76. 55
76. 95
75. 79

40.7
41. 1
40.7
40.5
40. 5
40.5
40.1

78.68
81.27
80.01
79. 71
82. 08
81. 51
82.46

1.84
1.87
1.87
1.88
1.91
1.92
1.91

81.51
85. 75
83. 57
82. 75
85. 55
85. 41
85.36

43.1
42.6
42.7
42.3
43. (
42. £
42.4
43.2
42.9
43.4

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

43.7
42.5
41.6
42.9
44.2
43.3
43.1
44. 1
43.8
44.0

83. 84
83. 84
84. 46
82. 42
82.62
82.82
81.40

41.5
40 9
40.3
41.1
41. 1
41.2
40.4
40.3
40.4
39.9

1.86
1.89
1.87
1.88
1.90
1.90
1.90

$79. 42
76. 73
78. 76

43.4
40. 6
40.4

78. 09
79. 68
76.38
76. 57
77.38
77.81
75. 07

41.1
41.5
40.2
40.3
40.3
39.9
39.1

1952: November.
December ...
1953: January___
February..
March____
April_____
M ay______

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$1.83 $69. 65
1.89 76.04
1.90 72.98
1.90
1.92
1.90
1.90
1.92
1.95
1.92

77. 68
81.60
82.22
81.29
83. 50
82.32
80. 90

39.8
41.1
40.1
41.1
42. 5
42.6
41.9
42.6
42.0
41.7

70. 28
73.18
73.08
73.60
73.08
72.21
72.80

1.90
1.94
1.93
1.92
1.94
1.95
1.94

75. 86
76.36
75. 58
75. 23
76.11
75.83
76.25

69. 5.3
70. 28
69. 37
69.89
69. 55
68.85
67.64

41.1
42.3
42.0
42.3
42.0
41. 5
41.6

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

42.9
42.8
42.1
43.1
42.9
42.7
42. 5
43.0
42.6
42.6

1.71
1.73
1. 74
1.74
1. 74
1. 74
1.75

40. 9
41. 1
40.1
40. 4
40.2
39.8
39.1

77.28
79. 61
77.33
78.35
79. 52
78. 77
77. 04

43.2
42.1
42.2
42.0
42. 8
41.8
41.9
42.3
41.9
41. 2

Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

81.88
86.12

82.98
82. 70
83.62
83.78
82. 58

1. 76
1. 78
1.77
1.77
1. 77
1. 78
1.79

47.1
45.6
45.0

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

44.5
46.3
45.1
44.7
45.2
44.8
44.4

83. 61
86.78
83. 42
82. 41
85. 22
84.63
84.83

45.1
43.2
43.3

1.84
1.86

1.84
1.85
1.85
1.87
1.86

43.1
44.5
43.0
42.7
43.7
43.4
43.5

1.70
1. 71
1. 73
1.73
1.73
1. 73
1.73

77. 46
81.18
80. 79
80.26
81.45
80. 51
79. 30

1.94
1.95
1.94
1.93
1.95
1.95
1.95

91.67
94.71
95.85
94. 55
96. 06
95.64
93.05
M e c h a n ic a l p o w e r tr a n s m is s io n e q u ip ­
m ent

83. 33
86.14
85. 61
86.68

87. 47
86.44
85. 65

42.1
41.9
42.8
43.0
41.7
39.1
39.9

1.90
1.88

1.91
1.94
1.92
1.93
1.93

b e a r in g s

41.6
41. x
40.9
40.8
41.3
41.1
40.7

1.83
1. 86

1.85
1.86

1.87
1.88
1.88

76. 45
79. 29
77.98
79.19
80.18
79.00
76.70

1.87
1.90
1.90
1.91
1.93
1.93
1.93

M e c h a n ic a l s to k e r s
and
in d u s tr ia l f u r ­
naces an d ovens

43.4
41.2
41. 1
41.1
42.4
41.7
41.9
42.2
41.8
40.8

1.79
1. 76

1.88

1.91
1.88

1.90

C o m m e r c ia l la u n d r y ,
d r y -c le a n in g , a n d
p r e s s in g m a c h in e s

$1.72 $75. 37
1.84 76. 65
1.82 76. 21

B a l l a n d r o lle r

70.13
77. 75
75.07
75.89
77. 23
77. 27
76. 52

43.1
44.2
43.4
43.2
43.8
43. 5
43.2

1.83
1.85
1.85

e q u ip m e n t

$1. 67 $76. 82
1.76 74. 57
1.73 73.16

80.60
83. 98
82.46
82. 51
84. 53
83.96
83.38

76.13
79. 92
79.18
79.34
82. 32
80. 46
80.94

,and

43.0
41.7
41.9

*1.74
1.83
1.82

43.4
44.4
43.9
44.0
44.4
44.1
43.7

D o m e s tic la u n d r y

v a lv e s

44.3
43.3
43.1

$1.68

79. 99
78. 77
81.75
83. 42
80. 06
75. 46
77. 01

1.88

$77.08
79.24
78. 44

$72. 58
76.97
75.15

40.3
40. 8
40.3

1.91
1.91
1.92
1.93
1.94
1.92

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

44.7
43.1
43.1

$1.74 $09. 32
1.84 75. 0
1.82 73. 35

41. 2
42. 5
42.3
41.8
42.2
41. 5
41.3

General industrial
machinery 2

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

F a b r ic a te d p ip e ,
fittin g s

$1.72 $71.81
1. 79 73.39
1. 77 72. 49
1.84
1.86
1.85
1.87
1.88
1.88
1.87

40.6
41. 2
40.6

Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn­ wkly.
ings hours

$1. 78 $79.12
1.88 80.17
1.85 79. 30

Service-industry and
household machines2
$1. 60 $70. 64
J.6S 75. 81
1.67 73.89

P r in tin g -tr a d e s
m a ­
c h in e r y a n d e q u ip ­
m ent

$1.70 $82.09
1.80 87.36
1.77 84.15

In d u s tr ia l tr u c k s ,
tr a c to r s , e tc .

$1. 67 $80. 28
1. 74 81.22
1.74 80.11

nier s

42.6
41.0
40.2

P a p e r -in d u s tr ie s
m a c h in e r y

$1. 63 $80.07
1. 68 82.08
1.67 79. 65

Miscellaneous machinery parts2

$1.75 $74.30
1.85 75. 36
1.82 74.69
1.89
1.92
1.93
1.94
1.96
1.96
1.94

42.2
40.8
40.1

i yp ew

$1.90 $68.16
2 . on
68. 88
1.99 67.13
2.04
2. 04
2.05
2. 04
2 05
2. 05
2.04

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Blowers, exhaust and
ventilating fa n s

$1.77 $71.64
1.86 74.47
1.84 73. 25

Refrigerators and airconditioning units

1951: A verage1952: A verageM ay____

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1. 73 $68. 79
1.83 68.54
1.82 66. 97

C om vutina machines
and :ash registers

$1. 75 $78. 85
1.84 «1. 80
1.83 80. 20
1.87
1 87
1.89
1.88
1.89
1.90
1.89

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Textile machinery

Conveyors and conveying equipm ent

$1.72 $77. 35
1.80 79. 79
1.78 76.54

Office and store machines and devices 2
1951: A verage...
1952: Average.. .
M a y _____

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1.71 $74. 56
1.80 77. 9C
1.78 77. 71

P u m p s, air and gas
compressors

1951: Average___
1952: Average___
M a y ______

Food-products
machinery

77. 07
80.91
78.04
76. 43
75. 47
75. 36
74.76

44.6
43. 8
43.8

$1.69
1.75
1.74

43.3
44.7
43.6
42.7
42.4
42. 1
42.0

1. 78
1.81
1.79
1.79
1.78
1. 79
1.78

M a c h i n e s h o p s ( jo b
a n d r e p a ir )

$1.77 $74.30
1.81
78. 55
1.78 78.92
1.86

1.87
1.87
1.89
1.90
1.89
1.88

79.86
81. 96
79.30
80. 29
80.91
80. 60
78.68

43.2
43. 4
43.6

$1.72
1.81
1.81

43. 4
44.3
43.1
43.4
43. 5
43.1
42.3

1.84
1.85
1.84
1.85
1.86

1.87
1.86

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953
T

able

913

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

C-l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Electrical machinery

Year and month

Total: Electrical
machinery

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings
1951: Average_____
1952: Average_____
M ay.................

$64.84
68.64
67.23

41.3
41.1
40.5

1952: November___
December____
1953: January-.........
February....... M arch-............
April—!______
M a y .--............

70. 72
71.57
71.72
71.28
72. 21
71.69
70. 82

41.6
42.1
41.7
41.2
41.5
41.2
40.7

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1. 57 $70.31
1.67 73.99
1.66 71.75
1.70
1.70
1.72
1.73
1.74
1.74
1.74

P o w e r a n d d is tr ib u ­
tio n tr a n s fo r m e r s

1951: Average-.......... $68.95
1952: Average........... 72.04
M ay.......... ....... 71.10

40.8
40.7
40.4

73.12
75.48
75. 62
75. 48
77.42
76. 82
77. 61

40.4
41.7
41.1
40.8
41.4
41.3
41.5

1952: November----December____
1953: January...........
February____
March_______
April________
M ay________

40.7
39.0
38.4

62.37
63. 45
65.99
67.39
66.49
67.07
65. 53

40.5
41.2
41.5
41.6
41.3
41.4
40.7

1952: November----December____
1953: January...........
February.........
M arch_______
April________
M ay________

75.78
77. 47
76. 86
76. 91
77.89
77.70
76.96

1.81
1.81
1.84
1.85
1.87
1.86
1.87

$1.67 $63.15
1.77 64.78
1.75 63.59

42.1
42.8
42.0
41.8
42.1
42.0
41.6

1.80
1.81
1.83
1.84
1.85
1.85
1.85

s w itc h ­

board, a n d
in d u s ­
tr ia l c o n tr o ls

73.60
74. 99
73. 85
74.34
75. 29
76.08
74. 76

42.5
42.2
41.4
42.3
43.1
42.2
42.0
42.3
42.5
42.0

1.54
1. 54
1.69
1.62
1.61
1.62
1.61

65.99
66. 72
66.65
65. 77
66.67
66.02
65.04

41.0
40.9
40.5

66. 33
68.04
66.91
67.40
67.90
68.72
68. 39

1.74
1.74
1.75
1.77
1.78
1.79
1.78

1.59
1.60
1.61
1.62
1.63
1.63
1.63

41.2
42.0
41.3
41.1
41.4
41.4
41.2

93.32
93.12
89.04
87. 84
89.04
87.72
86.86

45.5
46.1
46.0
46.2
46.1
44.3
43.7
44.3
43.0
43.0

40.6
41.3
41.0

77.46
79. 24
78. 77
78. 91
78. 96
78.21
77.64

42.1
42.6
41.9
42.2
42.0
41.6
41.3

1.61
1.62
1.62
1.64
1.64
1.66
1.66

39.6
40.4
39.8

75.35
75.95
78.73
78.25
78. 58
77. 71
76.14

41.4
41.5
42.1
41.4
41.8
40.9
40.5

2. 02
2.02
2.01
2.01
2.01
2.04
2.02

63. 71
64.12
63.99
63. 92
64.24
63. 68
62. 56

41.1
41.1
40.5
40.2
40.4
39.8
39.1

41.4
40.2
38.3

61.27
63. 33
64.82
62. 51
63. 69
62.70
62. 67

41.4
42.5
43.8
41.4
41.9
41.8
41.5

1.55
1. 56
1.58
1. 59
1.59
1.6C
1.60

P r i m a r y b a tte r ie s
(d ry a n d w e t

1951: Average_____ $66.17
1952: Average........... 73.16
M ay.................. 70.58

40.1
41.1
40.1

1952: November----December........
1953: January-------February.........
M arch............ .
April________
M ay..................

41.6
41. C
40.5
40.3
40.6
41.2
41.1

75.71
73.8C
73.31
73.35
74.30
75.81
75. 62

See footnotes at end of table.

263G34— 53----- 7


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

)

$1.65 $53.99
1.78 56.66
1.76 56. 66
1.82
1.86
1.81
1.82
1.8£
1.84
1.84

57.17
56.91
58.00
58. 4C
58.6£
58.8C
60. 38

39.7
39. £
39.9
39.7
39. i
40. C
40. C
40.2
40. C
40.8

X - r a y a n d n o n -r a d io
e le c tr o n ic tu b e s

$1.36 $74. 58
1.42 72.93
1.42 72.76
1.44
1.4Í
1.45
1. 46
1.46
1.47
1.48

72.24
74.65
73. 57
73.39
72.14
70. 84
71.64

$1. 71 $69. 44
1.83 71. 48
1.84 70. 97
1.84
1.86
1.88
1.87
1.88
1.88
1.88

73.43
73. 70
73. 39
74.11
74.11
72. 57
72.62

42.2
42.6
41.7
41.4
41.4
41.0
40.8

76.91
76. 78
75. 51
73. 70
73. 78
72.85
72.93

42.4
43.7
42.8
44.2
44.9
43.9
43.1
43.4
42.6
42.9

1.48
1.49
1.48
1.51
1.52
1.50
1.51

83.96
85. 55
83.85
82.26
82.88
82.49
82. 71

43.2
43.4
43.6
43.5
44.1
43.0
42.4
42.5
42.3
42.2

g e n e r a to r s ,

m o to r -g e n e r a to r

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.62 $75. 36
1. 71 80. 22
1.71 76.52

42.1
42.0
40.7

$1.79
1.91
1.88

82.84
84. 05
83.95
84. 40
85.20
84.80
82.98

42.7
43.1
42.4
42.2
42.6
42.4
41.7

1.94
1.95
1.98
2.00
2.00
2.00
1.99

1. 74
1.72
1.76
1.79
1.79
1.77
1.78

Electrical equipment
for vehicles

$1. 53 $89. 08
1.65 72.98
1.60 69.63
1.74
1.71
1.72
1.71
1.70
1.71
1.70

T e le p h o n e , te le g r a p h ,
a n d r e la te d e q u ip ­
m en t

$1. 33 $77.33
1.43 82.03
1.41 81.97

and
s e ts

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

Insulated wire and
cable

$1.70 $64.87
1.79 72.11
1.78 68.48
1.82
1.83
1.87
1.89
1.88
1.90
1.88

42.6
41.8
41.5

M o to r s ,

73. 26
78.91
77.15
79.15
77. 93
78. 77
77.19

40.4
40.1
38.9

$1.71
1.82
1.79

39.6
42.2
41.7
42.1
41.9
41.9
41.5

1.85
1.87
1.85
1.88
1.86
1.88
1.86

Miscellaneous electri­
cal products 2

$1.79 $60.60
1.89 65.93
1.88 65.12
1.93
1.94
1.95
1. 94
1.95
1.95
1.96

67.08
66. 42
67.13
67.03
67.03
67.54
67.87

40.4
40.7
40.2

$1.50
1.62
1.62

40.9
40.5
40.2
39.9
39.9
40.2
40.4

1.64
1.64
1.67
1.68
1.68
1.68
1.68

Transportation equipment

Electrical machinery—Continued

S to r a g e b a tte r ie s

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

R a d io tu b e s

$1.44 $55.06
1.53 57. 49
1.52 54.00

in d ic a tin g ,

m e a s u r in g , a n d
r e c o r d in g i n s t r u ­
m e n ts

)

Electrical appliances

$1.85 $67. 32
1.98 72.32
1.98 70. 84

R a d io s , p h o n o g r a p h s ,
te le v is io n s e ts , a n d
e q u ip m e n t

40.5
40.6
40.4

(

$1. 50 $69. 43
1.58 75.58
1.57 75.44

a p p a r a tu s

$1.47 $58.32
1.57 62.12
1.56 61.41

41.5
41.7
41.4
40.6
40.9
40.5
39.9

42.1
41.0
40.5

C a rb o n a n d g r a p h ite
p r o d u c ts e le c tr ic a l

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings hours
ings

E le c tr ic a l w e ld in g

$1. 63 $84.18
1.71 91.28
1.69 91.08

Communication
equipm ent2

$1.43 $60. 27
1.51 64.21
1.52 63.18

E le c tr ic a l
W i r i n g d e v ic e s a n d
s u p p lie s

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

42.1
41.8
41.0

S w itc h g e a r ,

$1.69 $69. 28
1.77 72.16
1.76 69.97

Electric lamps

1951: Average............ $58. 20
1952: Average............ 58.89
M a y .. . ............ 58.37

Electrical generat­
ing, transmission,
distribution, and
industrial appara­
tus!!

45.2
42.9
42.8
42.0
42. Ç
41. f
41.C
40.3
39.3
39.8

Total: Transporta­
tion equipment

$1.65 $75.67
1.7( 81.56
1.70 79. 93

40.9
41.4
41.2

85.48
87.11
85.06
85. 69
85.49
85.49
84.67

41.9
42.7
41.9
41.8
41.7
41.5
41.3

1. 72
1.7'
1.76
1.79
1.79
1.78
1.80

Autom obiles2

$1.85 $75. 45
1.97 83.02
1.94 80.20
2.04
2.0'
2.0i
2. 05
2.05
2.06
2.05

89.25
90.31
86.94
87.99
88. 2C
87.99
86.73

39.5
40.5
40.1
41.9
42.4
41.4
41.7
41.8
41.7
41.3

M o t o r v e h ic le s , b o d ie s ,
p a r t s , a n d a c c e s s o r ie s

$1.91 $76. 04
2.05 83. S4
2.00 81.00
2.13
2.13
2.K
2.11
2.11
2.11
2.10

90.30
91.38
87.77
89.03
89.25
88.82
87. 35

39.4
40.5
40.1

$1.93
2. 07
2.02

42.0
42.5
41.4
41.8
41. £
41.7
41.4

2.15
2.15
2.12
2.13
2.13
2.13
2.11

914
T

able

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

C-l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees1—Continued
M anufacturing—Continued
T ransportation equipm ent—C ontinued

Year and month

T r a ile r s (tr u c k a n d
a u to m o b ile )

T r u c k a n d b u s b o d ie s

Avg.
wkly.
earn
ings
1951: A verace1952: Average.
M ay___
1952: November.
December..
1953: January___
February...
M arch.........
A pril...........
M ay............

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$66.50
70.18
68.00

40.8
40.8
40.0

71.64
72. 45
71.56
73.03
75.21
74. 26
72.18

39.8
40 7
40.2
40.8
41.1
40.8
40.1

Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1.63 $65.19
1.72 70.76
1.70 71.21
1.80
1.78
1.78
1.79
1.83
1.82
1.80

1952: November.
December..
1953: January___
February...
March____
A pril...........
M ay______

$78.66
81. 22
81.03

43.7
43.2
43.1

83.33
85.94
84.63
85.65
86. 29
85. 73
84. 94

43.4
44.3
43.4
43.7
43.8
43.3
42.9

41 0
40.9
41.4
40.6
42.1
40.9
40.5
40.4
41.2
40.4

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­
ings
ings
$1. 59 $78. 40
1.73 81.70
1. 72 80.46
1.74
1. 77
1.79
1.80
1.80
1.82
1.83

Ship- and boatbuild­
ing and repairing 3

O th e r a ir c r a ft p a r t s
a n d e q u ip m e n t

1951: Average.
1952: AverageM a y___

70.64
74. 52
73. 21
72.90
72.72
74.98
73.93

Avg.
wkly.
hours

$1.80 $69.83
1.88 75.17
1.88 75.44
1.92
1.94
1.95
1.96
1.97
1.98
1.98

72.95
77.99
76.03
76.60
78.79
80.00
80.19

39.9
40.2
41.0
37.8
40.2
39.6
38.3
39.2
39.8
39.7

Aircraft and parts 3

84.48
86.04
85.73
85.14
84.18
83. 58
82.76

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours

43.8
43. 0
42.8

$1.79 $75, 78
1.90 79.66
1.88 78.63

43.1
43.9
43.3
43.0
42.3
42.0
41.8

1.96
1.96
1.98
1.98
1.99
1.99
1.98

S h ip b u ild in g a n d
r e p a ir in g

$1.75 $71.42
1.87 76. 78
1.84 77.08
1.93
1.94
1.92
2.00
2.01
2. 01
2.02

Avg.
wkly.
hours

73.70
79. 60
77.62
78.11
80.73
81.77
81. 74

39.9
40.2
41.0

1. 96
1.98
1.96
2.05
2.07
2.07
2.08

T ransportation equipm ent—Continued

R a i l r o a d a n d s tr e e tc a r

1951: Average.. .
1952: Average...
M ay..........

$70. 40
74.00
72.25

40.0
40.0
39.7

1952: November
December
1953: January...
February.
March___
April____
M ay..........

74.87
80.93
79.98
80.40
78.41
77.81
79.40

39 2
41. 6
40.6
40.4
39.6
39.3
40.1

O ther transportation
equipm ent

$1.76 $68. 53
1.85 73.02
1.82 71.32
1.91
1.95
1.97
1.99
1.98
1.98
1.98

80.28
75.68
71.23
72.04
72.39
72. 57
75. 30

42.3
42.7
42.2
44 6
43.0
40.7
40.7
40.9
41.0
41.6

43.3
42.6
42.5
42.8
43. 3
42.6
42.3
41.5
41.4
41.1

Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1. 75 $85.81
1.87 86.92
1.85 85.46
1.93
1.94
1.96
1.96
1.98
1.98
1.97

B o a tb u ild in g a n d
r e p a ir in g

67. 47
69. 77
68.46
68.11
69.49
71.86
72.28

40.1
39.9
41.1
39.0
40.1
39.8
39.6
40.4
41.3
41.3

1.73
1. 74
1.72
1.72
1.72
1.74
1.75

1951: Average___
1952: Average___
M a y .......... —

$60.86
64.68
63.55

41.4
41.2
41.0

1952' November. . . .
December.. —
1953: January___
February...
March____ - April_____
M ay_____ . . .

66.08
66.56
66. 56
66.33
67. 72
66.82
65.92

41 3
41.6
41.6
41.2
41.8
41.5
41.2

See footnotes at end of table


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

O phthalm ic goods

$1.47 $55.49
1.57 56.63
1.55 57.89
1.60
1.60
1.60
1.61
1.62
1.61
1.60

59.18
59. 74
58.32
57.89
58.18
58.18
58.18

40.8
39.6
40.2
41.1
41.2
40.5
40.2
40.4
40.4
40.4

Total: Instrum ents
and related products

74 38
75.76
73.57
73.39
73.74
71.93
73.63

42.1
41.9
41.7

Laboratory, scien­
tific, and engineer­
ing instrum ents

$1.62 $86.85
1.72 93.11
1.70 92.25

42.5
42.8
41.8
41.7
41.9
41.1
41.6

1. 75
1.77
1.76
1.76
1.76
1.75
1.77

Photographic
apparatus

$1.36 $73.08
1.43 76. 73
1.44 76.54
1.44
1.45
1.44
1.44
1.44
1.44
1.44

43.6
45.4
45.1
44.3
43.7
42.8
43.1

Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn­ earn­ wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.89 $89.17
1.98 92.25
1.96 92.70
2. 04
2.03
2. 04
2.02
2.01
2.00
2.01

Railroad equipm ent 3

$1.52 $76. 48
1.66 77. 74
1.61 77.11

96.64
97. 52
93.66
92.82
92.19
80.16
90. 93

45.0
45.2
45.0

76.80
81. 12
79.37
79.98
81.41
81.40
79.98

40.9
40.7
40.8
40.0
41.6
40.7
40.6
40.5
40.1
39.4

95.10
94. 02
92.08
91.08
83.82
83.84
83.43

1.92
1.95
1.95
1.97
2.01
2.03
2.03

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

46.2
45.0
45.0

$1 93
2.05
2.06

45. 5
45. 2
44.7
44.0
41.7
41.3
41.3

2.09
2 08
2. 06
2 07
2.01
2.03
2.02

L o c o m o tiv e s a n d
p a r ts

$1.87 $81.12
1.91 81.14
1.89 81.32

45.8
46.0
44.6
44.2
43.9
39.1
43.3

79.29
80.09
75.33
74. 59
76.11
76. 30
75. 92

42.0
41.7
41.6
42.4
42.6
40.5
40.1
40. 7
40.8
40.6

2.11
2.12
2.10
2.10
2.10
2.05
2.10

78. 94
81.09
78.94
79. 56
84.46
84.86
80.32

41.6
41 4
41.7

$1 95
1 95
1.95

40. 9
41. y
40.9
40.8
41.4
40. 8
38.8

1 93
1 94
1.93
1. 95
2 04
2 08
2.07

74.73
76. 46
73. 74
74.34
74.16
74.23
73.69

42.4
42.4
42.0
42.7
43.2
41.9
42.0
41.9
41.7
41.4

Optical Instrum ents
and lenses

$1.62 $72.07
1.69 76. 50
1.65 75.12
1.75
1. 77
1.76
1.77
1.77
1.78
1.78

80. 22
81.72
80. 29
80.29
80.11
82.09
81.84

42.9
42. 5
42.2

$1.68
1 80
1.78

43. 6
43. 7
43.4
43. 4
43. 3
43. 9
44.0

1 84
1 87
1.85
1. 85
1 85
1 87
1.86

M iscellaneous m anufacturing industries

W atches and clocks

$1.74 $59. 57
1.84 60. 55
1.84 59. 60
1.87
1.88
1.86
1.80
1.87
1.87
1.87

M echanical m easur­
ing and controlling
instrum ents

$1.93 $68.69
2.06 71.66
2.05 69.30

In stru m en ts and related products—Continued
Surgical, m edical,
and dental in stru ­
m ents

88.94
92.16
92.00
89. 49
87.84
85.60
86.63

45.4
43.9
43.6

A ir c r a ft p r o p e lle r s
a n d p a r ts

Instrum ents and related products

$1.62 $68.20
1.71 72. 07
1.69 70.89
1 80
1.76
1.75
1. 77
1.77
1.77
1.81

82.6n
84.00
83.50
82.91
82.17
81.97
80.97

$1.79 $60. 95
1.91 66. 23
1.88 66.17

37.6
40.2
39.6
38.1
39.0
39.5
39.3

A ir c r a ft e n g in e s a n d
p a r ts

A ir c r a ft

62. 73
63.86
65.16
66.14
67.10
67. 20
67.78

40.8
40. 1
40.0
41.0
41.2
41.5
41.6
42.2
42.0
42.1

Total: Miscellaneous
m anufacturing in ­
dustries

$1.46 $57. 67
1. 51 61.50
1.49 60.05
1.53
1.55
1.57
1.59
1.59
1. 60
1.61

64.26
65. 57
64.17
64.12
64.74
64.58
64. 37

40.9
41.0
40.3
42.0
42.3
41.4
41.1
41.5
41.4
41.0

Jewelry, silverware,
and plated ware 3

$1. 41 $61.30
1.50 65.99
1.49 62. 52
1.53
1.55
1.55
1.56
1.56
1.56
1.57

71.84
72.32
68.41
68.48
69.28
69.01
68. 62

41.7
42.3
40.6

$1.47
1.56
1. 54

44.9
45.2
43.3
42.8
43.3
42.6
42.1

1.60
1.60
1.58
1.60
1.60
1.62
1.63

G: EARNINGS AND HOURS

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953
T able

915

C-l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees1—Continued
M anufacturing—Continued
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries—Continued

Year and month

J e w e lr y a n d fin d in g s

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hours

1951: Average........... $58. 38
63. 33
1952: Average-------M ay.................. 60.68

41.7
42.5
41.0

67. 79
68. 70
66.73
65.91
66.10
64.83
64.48

44.6
45.2
43.9
42.8
43.2
42.1
41.6

1952: November___
December........
1953: January______
February....... .
M a rc h ............
April.................
M ay________

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

S ilv e r w a r e a n d p la te d
w are

Musical instruments
and parts

Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn­ hours
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1.40 $65. 73
1.49 70. 98
1.48 65.84
1.52
1.52
1.52
1.54
1.53
1.54
1.55

80.08
79.28
71. 74
73. 44
75. 69
76.30
75.68

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

41.6
42.0
39.9

$1.58 $63. 65
1.69 68.64
1.65 66.42

45.5
45.3
42.2
42.7
43.5
43.6
43.0

1.76
1.75
1.70
1.72
1.74
1.75
1.76

72.58
72.93
71.28
72. 21
72. 73
72.28
70.64

Avg.
hours
40.8
41.1
40.5
42.2
42.4
41.2
41.5
41.8
41.3
40.6

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Toys and sporting
goods 2
Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1.56 $53. 60
1.67 58. 73
1.64 57. 37
1.72
1.72
1.73
1.74
1.74
1.75
1.74

61.27
62. 06
60.15
61.00
62.06
61.61
61.91

Avg.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

39.7
40.5
40.4
41.4
41.1
40.1
40.4
41.1
40.8
41.0

G a m e s , to y s , d o lls , a n d
c h i l d r e n ’s v e h i c l e s

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

$1.35 $53. 72
1.45 58. 84
1.42 57.20
1.48
1.51
1.50
1.51
1.51
1.51
1.51

61.27
61.41
59.04
60. 04
61.81
61.97
62.17

Avg.
hours
39.5
40.3
40.0

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

S p o r tin g a n d a th le tic
goods

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

$1.36 $53.33
1.46 58.90
1.43 58.09

39.8
40.9
41.2

$1.34
1.44
1.41

61.12
63.15
61.69
61.98
62.58
61.54
61.39

41.3
42.1
41.4
41.6
42.0
41.3
41.2

1.48
1.50
1.49
1.49
1.49
1.49
1.49

41.4
40.4
39.1
39.5
40.4
40.5
40.9

1.48
1.52
1.51
1.52
1.53
1.53
1.52

Manufacturing—Continued
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries—Continued
Pens pencils, and
other office supplies
1951: Average........... $54.91
1952: Average______ 57. 26
56.70
M a y ................

41.6
40.9
40.5

58. 79
59. 76
57. 86
57. 57
58.29
59.02
59.28

41.4
41.5
39.9
39.7
40.2
40.7
40.6

1952: November___
December........
1953: January............
February.........
M arch..............
April________
M ay_________

Costume jewelry,
buttons, notions

$1.34 $60. 59
1.39 64.79
1.39 62. 58

$1.32 $53. 73
1.40 55.74
1.40 54.77

40.1
40.1
39.4

59.74
59.47
60. 30
60. 01
61.01
60.56
60.24

41.2
41.3
41.3
41.1
41.5
41.2
40.7

1.42
1.44
1.45
1.45
1.45
1.45
1.46

Fabricated plastic
products

1.45
1.44
1.46
1.46
1.47
1.47
1.48

67.62
68. 96
70.09
69.21
69. 28
68.46
68.39

41.5
41.8
40.9
42.8
43.1
43.0
42.2
42.5
42.0
41.7

Other manufacturing
industries

$1.46 $59.18
1.55 62. 02
1.53 61.10

41.1
40.8
40.2

64.06
65. 68
64.37
63. 90
64. 37
64.12
64.15

41.6
42.1
41.0
40.7
41.0
41.1
40.6

1.58
1.60
1.63
1.64
1.63
1.63
1.64

Class I railroads 8

$1.44 $70.93
1.52 74.30
1.52 71.82
1.54
1.56
1.57
1.57
1.57
1.56
1.58

74.29
76.30
74. 61
76. 95
75.30
76.82

Communication

Switchboard operatlng employees 2

Telephone

1951: A verage..,___ $58. 26
1952: Average..'.___ 61.22
M ay.................. 60.76

39.1
38.5
38.7

64. 57
63.63
63.69
63. 58
63.03
63.20
64.63

38.9
38.8
38.6
38.3
38.2
38.3
38.7

1952: November.......
December____
1953: January...........
February.........
M arch_______
April.................
M ay............ .

$1.49 $49.39
1.59 51.43
1.57 52.26
1.66
1.64
1.65
1.66
1.65
1.65
1.67

55.35
52.26
52. 56
53.07
52.20
52.05
54.68

37.7
37.0
37.6
37.4
36.8
36.5
36.6
36.5
36.4
37.2

1.48
1.42
1.44
1.45
1.43
1.43
1.47

90.31
92.23
92. 02
89. 25
88.83
89.46
90.95

42.8
42.2
42.1
42.6
43.1
43.0
41.9
41.9
42.0
42.5

$1.90 $68. 24
2. 05 72. 48
2.00 (t)
2.12
2.14
2.14
2.13
2.12
2.13
2.14

73. 74
74.10
73.63
73.46
73.63
73.63
75.90

44.6
43.4
(t)
41.9
42.1
41.6
41.5
41.6
41.6
42.4

$1.53 $71.65
1.67 75.12
73.34
(t)
1.76
1.76
1.77
1.77
1.77
1.77
1.79

41.8
41.5
41.2

75. 78
74.46
74. 52
74.21
74.21
75.85
75.67

42.1
41.6
41.4
41.0
41.0
41.0
40.9

1952: November___
December____
1953: January_____
February____
March_______
April................
M ay________

See footnotes at end of table.
2 6 3 6 3 4 — 5 3 -------- 8

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1.80
1.79
1.80
1.81
1.81
1.85
1.85

79.19
79.19
80.37
78.85
79.4£
80. 32
81.12

41.9
41.7
41.5
41.9
41.9
42 3
41.5
41.4
41.4
41.6

$1.56
1.65
1.62

45.5
46.0
44.5
44.8
.44.9
45.2
45.7

1.71
1.71
1.71
1.71
1.71
1.71
1.72

78. 77
78.21
78.40
77.46
77.87
78.69
79.10

41.9
41.5
41.2
41.9
41.6
41.7
41.2
41.2
41.2
41.2

Electric light and
power utilities

$1.71 $72.91
1.81 76.18
1.78 74.21

41.9
41.4
41.0

$1.74
1.84
1.81

80.45
78.88
79.27
78.50
78.91
79.10
79.73

41.9
41.3
41.5
41.1
41.1
41.2
41.1

1.92
1.91
1.91
1.91
1.92
1.92
1.94

1.83
1.88
1.88
1.88
1.89
1.91
1.92

Retail trade

Electric light and gas
utilities combined
$1.65 $72.49
1.73 75.89
1.70 74.70

77. 81
78. 66
76. 01
76. 61
76.78
77.29
78.60

46.3
46.4
46.9

Wholesale and retail trade

Other public utilities—Continued

1951: Average_____ $68.97
1952: Average............ 71.80
70.04
M ay________

1.90
1.87
1.87
1.90
1.85
1.86

Total: Gas and electrie utilities

Telegraph •

Transportation and public utilities—
Continued

Gas utilities

39.1
40.8
39.9
40. 5
40.7
41.3

$1.73 $72. 23
1.83 76. 56
1.80 75.98

Other public utilities

Line construction,
installation. and
maintenance employees 8

$1.31 $81.32
1.39 86. 51
1.39 84.20

41.0
40.6
39.9

Local railways and
bus lin es8

Wholesale trade

$1.73 $64.31
1.82 67.80
1.80 66.66
1.89
1.89
1.90
1.90
1.92
1.94
1.95

69.19
69.53
69.08
69. 66
69.89
70.12
71.10

40.7
40.6
40.4
40.7
40. 9
40.4
40.5
40.4
40. S
40.4

Retail trade (except
eating and drink­
ing places)

$1.58 $50. 65
1.67 52.67
1.65 52.40

40.2
39.9
39.7

52. 65
52.54
53.45
53. 7C
53. 7C
53.96
54.35

39.0
39.8
39.5
39.2
39.2
39.1
39.1

1.70
1. 7C
1.71
1.72
1.75
1.74
1.76

General merchandise
stores 2

$1.26 $37. 75
1.32 38.41
1.32 38.66
1.35
1.32
1.36
1.37
1.37
1.38
1.39

37.15
38.48
38. 85
38.17
37. 82
38.06
38.41

36.3
35.9
35.8
34.4
37. C
35. C
34.7
34.7
34.6
34.6

D e p a r tm e n t s to r e s a n d
gen era l
h o u ses

$1.04 $44.23
1.07 44. 77
1.08 44.89
1.08
1.04
1.11
1.10
1.09
1.1C
1.11

43.19
45. 9C
44. 5C
43. 77
43.67
43.90
44.25

m a il-o r d e r

37.8 $1.17
37. C 1.21
37.1
1.21
35.4
38. £
35.6
35.3
35.5
35.4
35.4

1.22
1.18
1.25
1.24
1.23
1.24
1.25

916

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able C-l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees1—Continued
Wholesale and retail trade—Continued
Retail trade—Continued

Other retail trade

Food and liquor stores

Automotive and acces­
sories dealers

Apparel and accessories
stores

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

1951: Average_____________ $54.54
1952: Average_____________ 56.52
M a y ________________ 55. 41

40.1
39.8
39.3

$1.36
1.42
1.41

$66.28
69.61
70. 67

45.4
45.2
45.3

$1.46
1.54
1. 56

$42.24
43.68
42.48

36.1
35.8
35.4

$1.17
1.22
1.20

$59.48
61.06
60. 63

43.1
42.7
42.7

$1.38
1.43
1.42

$58.86
61.19
60.05

43.6
43.4
43.2

$1.35
1.41
1.39

1952: November......................
December___________
1953: January_____________
February..... ..................
M arch______________
April_______________
M'ay________ _______

39.3
39.4
39.2
39.1
38.9
38.9
38.9

1.45
1.45
1.47
1.47
1.48
1.48
1.49

71.26
71.28
71.12
71.55
72. 90
74. 53
74.87

45.1
45.4
45.3
45.0
45.0
44.9
45.1

1.58
1.57
1. 57
1.59
1. 62
1.66
1.66

43.65
45.49
44.73
43. 65
43.30
43. 52
44.10

35.2
36.1
35.5
35.2
35.2
35.1
35.0

1.24
1.26
1.26
1.24
1. 23
1.24
1.26

62.46
65.66
60.76
60.06
60. 48
60. 77
61.47

42.2
43.2
41.9
42.0
42.0
42.2
42.1

1.48
1.52
1.45
1.43
1.44
1.44
1.46

61.78
61.92
61.06
61.92
62. 49
62.78
63. 50

42.9
43.3
42. 7
42.7
42.8
43.0
43.2

1.44
1.43
1.43
1. 45
1.46
1.46
1.47

Year and month

56.99
57.13
57.62
57.48
57. 57
57. 57
57.96

Finance, insurance, and real estate 1«

Banks and
Security
trust com­ dealers and
panies
exchanges

Avg.
wkly.
earnings

Avg.
wkly.
earnings

Furniture and appli­
ance stores

Lumber and hardwaresupply stores

Service and miscellaneous
Personal services

Insurance
carriers

Hotels, year-round «
Cleaning and dyeing
plants

Laundries

Avg.
wkly.
earnings

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
earn­
ings

Avg.
wkly.
hours

Avg.
hrly.
earn­
ings

Motionpicture pro­
duction and
distribu­
tion i°
Avg.
wkly.
earning

1951: A verage...
1952: A verage...
M a y .........

$50.32
52.50
52.12

$83.68
81.07
81.54

$61.31
63.38
62. 55

$35.42
37.06
36. 64

43.2
42.6
42.6

$0.82
.87
.86

$37.81
38.63
38.92

41.1
41.1
41.4

$0.92
.94
.94

$43. 99
45.10
46.62

41.5
41.0
42.0

$1.06
1.10
1.11

$83.95
90. 49
90. 52

1952: November.
December.
1953: January...
February..
March___
April.........
M a y .........

53.42
53.56
54.29
54. 61
54.40
54. 26
54. 36

80.10
83.27
84. 06
83.21
86.01
85. 34
85.88

64.06
65.34
65.75
66.23
66. 32
66. 60
66.15

37.22
37.75
37.31
37.65
37. 47
37. 38
38.04

42.3
42.9
42.4
42.3
42. 1
42.0
41.8

.88
.88
.88
.89
.89
.89
.91

38.88
39.55
39.36
38.88
39.38
39.58
40.16

40.5
41.2
41.0
40.5
40.6
40.8
41.4

.96
.96
.96
.96
.97
.97
.97

44.96
45.92
45.02
43.73
45. 02
45.81
47.88

40.5
41.0
40.2
39.4
40.2
40.9
42.0

1.11
1.12
1.12
1.11
1.12
1. 12
1.14

88.85
90.20
87. 44
90.79
90. 69
89. 39
84.54

i Data are based upon reports from cooperating establishments covering
both full- and part-time employees who worked during, or received pay for,
any part of the pay period ending nearest the 15th of the month. For m in­
ing, manufacturing, laundries, and cleaning and dyeing plants, data refer
to production and related workers only. For the remaining industries, unless
otherwise noted, data relate to nonsupervisory employees and working super­
visors. Data for the t h r e e current months are subject to revision w ithout no­
tation; revised figures for earlier months will be identified by asterisks the
first month they are published.
* Italicized titles which follow are components of this industry.
* See footnote 2, table A-2.
* See footnote 3, table A-2.
* Figures for class I railroads (excluding switching and terminal companies)
are based upon monthly data summarized in the M-300 report by the Inter­
state Commerce Commission and relate to all employees who received pay
during the month, except executives, officials, and stafi assistants (ICC
Group I).
* Data include privately and government operated local railways and bus
lines.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

7 Data relate to employees in such occupations in the telephone industry
as switchboard operators; service assistants; operating-room instructors; and
pay-station attendants. During 1952 such employees made up 47 percent of
the total number of nonsupervisory employees in telephone establishments
reporting hours and earnings data.
8 Data relate to employees in such occupations in the telephone industry as
central office craftsmen; installation and exchange repair craftsmen; line,
cable, and conduit craftsmen; and laborers. During 1952 such employees
made up 23 percent of the total number of nonsupervisory employees in
telephone establishments reporting hours and earnings data.
* Beginning with 1952, data relate to domestic employees, except messen­
gers, and those compensated entirely on a commission basis and are not strictly
comparable with figures shown for 1951.
i° Data on average weekly hours and average hourly earnings are not avail­
able.
n M oney payments only; additional value of board, room, uniforms, and
tips, not included.
t Data are not available because of work stoppage.
See N ote on p. 886.

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

917

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

T able C-2: Gross average weekly earnings of production workers in selected industries, in current and
1947-49 dollars 1
coal
Manufacturing Bituminous
mining

coal
Manufacturing Bituminous
mining

Laundries

Year and month
Current 1947-49 Current 1947-49 Current 1947-49
dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars
Average__________
Average__________
Average____ _____
Average__________
Average__________
Average__________
Average__________
Average................

$23. 86
29. 58
43.82
54.14
54. 92
59.33
64. 71
67. 97

$40.17
47.03
52.54
52. 67
53.95
57. 71
58.30
59.89

$23.88
30.86
58.03
72.12
63.28
70.35
77.79
78.32

$40.20
49.06
69.58
70.16
62.16
68.43
70.08
69.00

$17.64
18.69
30.20
34.23
34.98
35.47
37.81
38.63

$29. 70
29.71
36. 21
33.30
34.36
34. 50
34.06
34.04

1952: M ay .........................
June_____________

66.33
66.83

58.70
58.93

70.28
64.41

62.19
56.80

38.92
39.71

34.44
35.02

1939:
1941:
1946:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:

Laundries

Year and month

1 These series indicate changes in the level of average weekly earnings prior
to and after adjustment for changes in purchasing power as determined
from the Bureau’s Consumer Price Index, the years 1947-49 having been
selected for the base period.

Current 1947-49 Current 1947-49 Current 1947-49
dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars dollars
1952: July____ _____ _
$65.44
August___________ 67.23
September_______
69.63
October..................... 70.38
November............ .
70.28
72.14
December________
1953: January__________
February....... ...........
M arch___________
April8 ___________
M ay 8_._ ________

71.34
71.17
71.93
71. 40
71.63

$57.35
58.82
61.03
61.63
61.49
63.23

$63.51
80.73
87.91
75. 58
86.27
91.73

$55.66
70.63
77.05
66.18
75.48
80.39

$38. 73
38.16
38.95
38.86
38.88
39. 55

$33.94
33.39
34.14
34.03
34.02
34.66

62.63
62.76
63.32
62. 80
62.83

87.79
81.42
81.76
79.36
84.23

77.08
71.80
71.97
69.80
73. 89

39.36
38.88
39.38
39. 58
40.16

34.56
34.29
34.67
34.81
35.23

8 Preliminary,
Q
Bee ■N0TE on P-

T able C -3: Gross and net spendable average weekly earnings of production workers in manufacturing
industries, in current and 1947-49 dollars 1
Gross average
weekly earn­
ings
Period

1941: January
1945: January__________
July______ .
1946: J u n e .......... ........
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:

Average________ _
Average__________
Average__________
Average........... .........
Average.. .
Average
Average....................
Average....... ............
Average__________
Average__________
Average__________
Average__________
Average__________
Average__________

N et spendable average weekly
earnings
Worker with
no dependents

Worker with 3
dependents

Index
(1947-49 Cur­ 1947-49 Cur­
Amount average
rent
rent
dollars dollars
= 100) dollars

1947-49
dollars

$26. 64
47. 50
45. 45
43.31

50.3
89. 7
85.8
81.8

$25. 41
39. 40
37.80
37.30

$42.14
51.77
48.77
46.74

$26.37
45.17
43. 57
42.78

$43. 73
59.36
56. 22
53. 61

23.86
25.20
29.58
36.65
43.14
46. 08
44.39
43.82
49.97
54.14
54.92
59.33
64.71
67.97

45.1
47.6
55.9
69.2
81. 5
87.0
83.8
82.8
94. 4
102.2
103.7
112.0
122.2
128.4

23.58
24.69
28.05
31.77
36.01
38. 29
36.97
37.72
42. 76
47. 43
48.09
51.09
54.04
55.66

39.70
41.22
44.59
45.58
48. 66
50.92
48.08
45.23
44.77
46.14
47.24
49.70
48.68
49.04

23.62
24. 95
29.28
36. 28
41. 39
44.06
42.74
43.20
48.24
53.17
53.83
57. 21
61.28
63.62

39.76
41.65
46. 55
52.05
55.93
58. 59
55.58
51.80
50.51
51.72
52.88
55.65
55.21
56.05

1 N et spendable average weekly earnings are obtained by deducting from
gross average weekly earnings, social security and income taxes for which the
specified type of worker is liable. The amount of income tax liability de­
pends, of course, on the number of dependents supported by the worker as
well as on the level of his gross income. N et spendable earnings have, there­
fore, been computed for 2 types of income-receivers: (1) A worker with no
dependents; (2) a worker with 3 dependents.
The computation of net spendable earnings for both the worker with no
dependents and the worker with 3 dependents are based upon the gross aver-


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Gross average
weekly earn­
ings
Period

N et spendable average weekly
earnings
Worker with
no dependents

Worker with 3
dependents

Index
(1947-49 Cur­ 1947-49 Cur­
1947-49
rent
Amount average
rent
dollars dollars dollars dollars
= 100)
1952: M ay_____________ $66.33
June_____________
66.83
65. 44
July_____________
August____ ______ 67.23
September_______
69.63
October__________
70.38
November________ 70.28
December________
72.14

125.3
126.2
123.6
127.0
131.5
132.9
132.7
136.2

$54.41
54. 79
53.73
55.10
56.93
57.52
57. 44
58.89

$48.15
48.32
47.09
48. 21
49.89
50.37
50.25
51.61

$62. 33
62. 72
61.63
63. 04
64.93
65.53
65.45
66.94

$55.16
55.31
54.01
55.15
56. 91
57.38
57.26
58.67

71.34
71.17
71.93
71.40
71.63

134.7
134.4
135.8
134.8
135.3

58.27
58.13
58.72
58.31
58.49

51.16
51.26
51.69
51.28
51.31

66.30
66.16
66. 77
66.34
66.53

58. 21
58.34
58.78
58.35
58.36

1953: January. _____ ___
February_________
March..!_________
A p ril8___________
M a y 8____________

age weekly earnings for all production workers in manufacturing industries
without direct regard to marital status and family composition. The pri­
mary value of the spendable series is that of measuring relative changes in
disposable earnings for 2 types of income-receivers.
* Preliminary.
See N ote on p. 886.

918

C: EARNINGS AND HOURS

MONTHLY LABOR

T able C-4 : Average hourly earnings, gross and excluding overtime, of production workers in
manufacturing industries 1
Manufacturing
Excluding
overtime

Period
Gross
amount

1941: Average____
1942: Average____
1943: Average___
1944: Average__ _
1945: Average____
1946: Average___
1947: Average____
1948: Average____
1949: Average____
1950: Average____
1951: Average____
1952: Average____

Durable
goods

$0. 729
.853
.961
1.019
1.023
1.086
1.237
1.350
1.401
1. 465
1.59
1.67

Gross

54.5 $0.808 $0. 770 $0.640
62. 5
.947
.881
.723
69.4 1.059
.976
.803
73.5 1.117 1.029
.861
»74.8 1.111 21.042
.904
81.6 1.156 1.122 1.015
93.0 1.292 1.250 1.171
101.7 1.410 1.366 1.278
106.1 1.469 1.434 1.325
109.9 1. 537 1. 480 1.378
118.8 1.67
1.60
1.48
1. 69
125.0 1.76
1.54

$0.625
.698
.763
.814
*. 858
.981
1.133
1.241
1.292
1.337
1.43
1. 49

1952: M ay_______
June_____ _
July_..........
August____
Septem ber...
October...
N ovem ber...
D ecem b er...

$1.65
1.65
1.64
1.66
1.69
1.70
1.71
1.73

$1.60
1.60
1.60
1.61
1.63
1. 63
1.65
1.65

1953; January..
February___
March..
April 3______
M ay 3_____

1. 74
1. 74
1. 75
1.75
1.76

1.67
1.68
1.68
1.69
1.69

1 Overtime is defined as work in excess of 40 hours per week and paid for
at time and one-half. The computation of average hourly earnings excluding
overtime makes no allowance for special rates of pay for work done on
holidays.


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Excluding
overtime

Period

Gross

Durable
goods

Manufacturing

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Index
(1947-49
Amount average
= 100)
$0.702
.805
.894
.947
2.963
1.051
1.198
1.310
1.367
1. 415
1.53
1.61

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Nondurable
goods

Gross
amount

Nondurable
goods

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Gross

Ex­
clud­
ing
over­
time

Gross

124.2
124.2
124.2
125.0
126.6
126. 6
128.1
128.1

$1.74
1.74
1.73
1.76
1.80
1.81
1.82
1.83

$1.68
1.68
1.68
1. 70
1.73
1. 73
1.74
1.75

$1.53
1. 53
1.54
1.54
1. 54
1. 54
1.56
1.57

$1.49
1.49
1.50
1.49
1.49
1. 49
1. 51
1.51

129. 7
130.4
130 4
131.2
131.2

1 84
1.85
1 85
1. 85
1.86

1. 76
1.77
1 77
1. 78
1.78

1. 58
1.58
1 59
1. 59
1.60

1. 53
1. 54
1 54
1.55
1.55

Index
(1947-49
Amount average
= 100)

* 11-month average; August 1945 excluded because of VJ-holiday period.
* Preliminary.
See N ote on p. 886.

919

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

D : Prices and Cost of Living
T able D - l:

Consumer Price Index1—United States average, all items and commodity groups
[1947-49 = 1001

Year and month

0*1-3
o o

Hous ing*
All
items

Apparel
T o ta l»

Rent

Solid
House- House­
Gas and
electric­ fuels and furnish­ hold op­
eration
fuel
oil
ings
ity

R eading Other
Trans­
goods
and
porta­ Medical Personal
care
and
recrea­
care
tion
services4
tion

Average________
Average________
Average________
Average________
Average.—........ .

95.5
102.8
101.8
102.8
111.0

95.9
104.1
100.0
101.2
112.6

97.1
103.5
99.4
98.1
106.9

95.0
101.7
103.3
106.1
112.4

94.4
100.7
105.0
108.8
113.1

97.6
100.0
102.5
102.7
103.1

88.8
104.4
106.8
110.5
116.4

97.2
103.2
99.6
100.3
111.2

97.2
102.6
100.1
101.2
109.0

90.6
100.9
108. 5
111.3
118.4

94.9
100.9
104.1
106.0
111.1

97.6
101.3
101.1
101.1
110.5

95.5
100.4
104.1
103.4
106.5

96.1
100.5
103.4
105.2
109.7

1950: January________
February_______
March...... ............
A p r il............ .......
M ay___________
June___________
July. _________
August_________
September............
O c to b e r ..--------N ovem ber............
December---------

100.6
100.4
100.7
100.8
101.3
101.8
102.9
103.7
104.4
105.0
105.5
106.9

97.0
96. 5
97.3
97.7
98.9
100.5
103.1
103.9
104.0
104.3
104.4
107.1

96.7
96.7
96.8
96.7
96.5
96.5
96.4
97.1
99.2
100.9
101.6
102.2

104.4
104.6
104.6
104.7
104.7
104.9
105.3
106.1
107.1
108.1
108.8
109.4

107.5
107.7
107.8
108.1
108.5
108.7
109.1
109.3
109.5
109.6
110.0
110.4

102.5
102.8
102.8
102.9
102.8
102.7
102.8
102.7
102.8
102.7
102.7
102.7

109.9
109.6
109.9
109.7
106.8
107.6
108.1
109.8
111.6
113.4
114.3
114.8

97.4
97.6
97.7
97.7
97. 5
97.4
98.1
99.7
102.4
104.7
106.0
107.1

99.4
99.4
99.5
99.4
99.7
99.6
99.9
101.2
102.3
103.6
104.4
105.6

110.2
110.0
109.8
109.6
110.1
109.9
111.2
112.4
112.7
112.6
112.9
114.1

105.0
105.0
105.1
105.1
105.3
105.4
105. 6
106.0
107.0
107.1
107.4
108.0

99.4
99.2
99.1
99.1
99.0
99.2
99.5
100 8
101.3
103.3
106.1
107.4

104.3
104.6
104.4
104.0
103.8
102.5
101.7
101.9
102.7
103.0
103.6
104.1

103.9
103.9
103.9
103.8
103.9
103.7
104.1
106.3
106.8
107.1
107.4
107.9

1951: January________
February---------March_________
April__________
M ay___________
June___________
July............ ...........
A ugust_________
September______
October___ ____
November______
December---------

108.6
109.9
110.3
110.4
110.9
110.8
110.9
110.9
111.6
112.1
112.8
113.1

109.9
111.9
112.0
111.7
112.6
112.3
112.7
112.4
112.5
113.5
114.6
115.0

103.8
105.6
106.2
106.4
106.6
106.6
106.3
106.4
109.3
109.2
108. 5
108.1

110.4
111.2
111.7
111.9
112.2
112.3
112.6
112.6
112.9
113.2
113.7
113.9

110.6
111.3
111.9
112.2
112.5
112.7
113.1
113.6
114.2
114.8
115.4
115.6

103.1
103.1
103.1
102.8
103.2
103. 0
103.1
103.2
103. 2
103 3
103.3
103.4

115.1
116.4
116.7
116.7
115.2
115.4
115.9
118.2
116.6
117.1
117.4
117.6

109.3
110.5
111.1
111.6
112.1
112.0
112.0

107.2
108.1
108.4
108.3
108.7
108.7
109.1
109.0
108.8
109.6
110.4

111.1

108.5
108.9
109.9
110.3
110.7
111.0
111.0
111.2
111.8
112 6
113.1
114.3

109.8
110.6
110.7
110.7
110.8
110.8
110.6
110.4
110.0
110.0
110.6

110.8

114.7
115.8
116.9
117.2
117.6
117.5
117.8
118.7
119.7
120.5
122.1
122.2

105.6
106.4
107.0
107.3
107.3
106.5
106.6
106.4
105.8
105.9
106.3
106.5

108.4
108.7
108.9
109.0
109.2
109.1
109.1
109.1
109.6
109.6
112.4
112.8

1952: January___ ____
February_______
March...................
April......................
M ay___________
June___________
July___________
August_________
September______
October......... .......
November______
Decem ber...........

113.1
112.4
112.4
112.9
113.0
113.4
114.1
114.3
114.1
114.2
114.3
114.1

115.0
112.6
112.7
113.9
114.3
114.6
116.3
116.6
115.4
115.0
115.0
113.8

107.0
106.8
106.4
106.0
105.8
105.6
105.3
105.1
105.8
105.6
105.2
105.1

113.9
114.0
114.0
114.0
114.0
114.0
114.4
114.6
114.8
115.2
115.7
116.4

116.0
116.4
116.7
116.9
117.4
117.6
117.9
118.2
118.3
118.8
119.5
120.7

103.5
103.8
103.8
103.9
104.1
104.3
104.2
105.0
105.0
105.0
105.4
105.6

117.7
117.6
117.7
117.3
115.6
115.8
118.6
119.0
119.6
121.1
121.6
123.2

110.2
110.0
109.4
108.7
108.3
107.7
107.6
107.6
108.1
107.9
108.0
108.2

110.9
110.8

114.7
114.8
115.7
115.9
116.1
117.8
118.0
118.1
118.8
118.9
118.9
119.3

111.0

111.1

111.2
111.2
111.8
111.9
112.1
112.8
113.3
113.4

122.8
123.7
124.4
124.8
125.1
126.3
126.8
127.0
127.7
128.4
128.9
128.9

111.0
111.3
111.6
111.7
111.9
112.1
112.1
112.3
112.4
112.5

107.2
106.6
106.3
106.2
106.2
106.8
107.0
107.0
107.3
107.6
107.4
108.0

113.2
114.4
114.8
115.2
115. 8
115.7
116.0
115.9
115.9
115.8
115.8
115.9

1953: J a n u a ry .............
February_______
March_________
April__________
M ay_______ . . .
J u n e ... _______

113.9
113.4
113.6
113.7
114.0
114.5

113.1
111.5
111.7
111.5
112.1
113.7

104.6
104.6
104.7
104.6
104.7
104.6

116.4
116.6
116.8
117.0
117.1
117.4

121.1
121.5
121.7
122.1
123.0
123.3

105.9
106.1
106.5
106.5
106. 6
106.4

123.3
123.3
124.4
123. 6
121.8
121.8

107.7
108.0
108.0
107.8
107. 6
108.0

113.4
113.5
114.0
114.3
114.7
115.4

129.3
129.1
129.3
129.4
129.4
129.4

119.4
119.3
119.5
120.2
120.7
121.1

112.4
112.5
112.4
112.5
112.8
112.6

107.8
107.5
107.7
107.9
108.0
107.8

115.9
115.8
117.5
117.9
118.0
118.2

1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:

i A major revision was incorporated in the Consumer Price Index beginning
January 1953. The revised index, based on 46 cities, has been linked to the
previously published “interim adjusted” indexes for 34 cities and rebased on
1947-49=100 to form a continuous series. For the convenience of users, the
“All-items” indexes are also shown on the 1935-39=100 base in table D-3.
The revised Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices
of goods and services purchased by urban wage-earner and salaried-clerical
worker families. Data for 46 large, medium, and small cities are combined
for the United States average.
For a history and description of the index see The Consumer Price Index,
in the February 1953 M onthly Labor Review; the pamphlet, The Consumer
Price Index—A Short Description of the Index as Revised, 1953; The Interim
Adjustment of Consumers’ Price Index, in the April 1951 Monthly Labor
Review; Interim Adjustment of Consumers’ Price Index, Bulletin 1039


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111.1
111.3
110.9

111.1

111.0
111.0

111.1

and the following reports: Consumers’ Price Index, Report of a Special Sub­
committee of the House Committee on Education and Labor (1951); and
Report of the President’s Committee on the Cost of Living (1945).
Mimeographed tables are available upon request showing indexes for the
United States and 20 individual cities regularly surveyed by the Bureau
for “All items” and 8 major components from 1947 to date. Indexes are also
available from 1913 for “ All Items,” food, apparel, and rent, for all large cities
combined, and from varying dates for individual cities.
* Includes “ Food away from home” for which indexes will be available
later in 1953.
* Includes “ Other shelter” for which indexes will be available later in 1953.
* Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and “miscellaneous services”
(such as legal services, banking fees, burial services, etc.)

920

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

MONTHLY LABOR

D-2: Consumer Price Index1—United States average, food and its subgroups

T able

[Indexes, 1947-49=100]
Food at home
Year and month

1947: A vg.............
1948: A vg............
1949: A vg............
1950: A vg............
1951: A vg............
1950: Jan______
Feb______
Mar______
Apr..........
M ay_____
June_____
July______
Aug--------Sept_____
O ct.............
N o v______
Dec______
1951: Jan______
Feb______
Mar______
Apr............
M a y ... . . .
June____ .
July______
Aug--------Sept..........
Oct______

Total
food 1

Total
food
at
home

95.9
104.1
100.0
101.2
112.6
97.0
96.5
97.3
97.7
98.9
100.5
103.1
103.9
104.0
104.3
104.4
107.1
109.9
111.9
112.0
111.7
112.6
112.3
112.7
112.4
112.5
113.5

95.9
104.1
100.0
101.2
112.6
97.0
96.5
97.3
97.7
98.9
100.5
103.1
103.9
104.0
104.3
104.4
107.1
109.9
111.9
112.0
111.7
112.6
112.3
112.7
112.4
112. 5
113.5

Cereals Meats, Dairy
and
prod­
bakery poul­
and ucts
prod­ try,
fish
ucts
94.0
103.4
102.7
104.5
114.0
102.2
102.3
102.3
102.4
102.7
102.7
103.8
106.2
107.0
107.2
107.4
107.5
112.2
113.2
113.4
113.9
113.9
114.0
114.3
114.2
114.6
114.6

93.5
106.1
100.5
104.9
117.2
94.4
95.6
98.7
99.5
103.4
106.1
110.1
112.2
112.4
109.0
107.7
109.1
113.5
116.3
117.2
117.3
117.4
116.9
117.6
118.4
118.6
119.1

96.7
106.3
96.9
95.9
107.0
95.6
95.3
94.7
93.3
92.6
92.3
93.8
95.7
97.0
99.6
100.1
100.7
105.2
106.1
106.2
106.0
105.7
105.9
106.5
106.9
107. 2
107.9

Food at home
Fruits
and
vege­
tables

Other
foods3

97.6
100.5
101.9
97.6
106.7
100.3
97.6
95.5
97.4
99.0
102.5
103.6
94.7
91.1
92.9
95.8
99.9
104.8
109.8
106.3
105.2
108.5
107.7
107.0
102.3
100.4
103.2

100.1
102.5
97.5
101.2
114.6
95.1
93.5
95.5
95.1
93.5
94.1
97.7
105.3
107.7
110.4
109.2
117.0
111.2
110.3
112.7
112.4
113.5
113.8
114.8
116.5
118.4
118.9

Year and month

1951: N o v ______
D ec.............
1952: Jan______
F eb .......... .
Mar______
Apr______
M a y ... . . .
June_____
July______
Aug............
Sept_____
Oct______
N ov ______
D ee.............
1953: Jan_____
Feb______
Mar______
Apr____ _
M ay.........
J u n e... . . .
July............
Aug..........
Sept_____
Oct______
N ov______
D ec______

1 See footnote 1 to table D -l. Indexes for 18 food sub-groups (1935-39 =
100) from 1923 to December 1952 were published in the March 1953 M onthly
Labor Review and in previous issues.

T able

1947-49=100
Ail
items

Total
food

42.3
42.9
43.4
46.6
54.8
64.3
74.0
85.7
76.4
71.6
72.9
73. 1
75.0
75.6
74.2
73.3
73.3
71.4
65.0
58.4
55.3
57.2
58.7
59.3
61.4
60.3
59.4

39.6
40.5
40.0
45.0
57.9
66.5
74.2
83.6
63.5
59.4
61.4
60.8
65.8
68.0
65.5
64.8
65.6
62.4
51.4
42.8
41.6
46.4
49.7
50.1
52.1
48.4
47.1

1 See footnote 1 on table D -l.


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Total
food
at
home

114.6
115.0
115.0
112.6
112.7
113.9
114.3
114.6
116.3
116.6
115.4
115. 0
115.0
113.8
113.1
111.5
111.7
111.5
112.1
113.7

114.6
115.0
115.0
112.6
112.7
113.9
114.3
114.6
116.3
116.6
115.4
115.0
115.0
113.8
112.9
111.1
111.3
111. 1
111.7
113.7

Cereals Meats,
and
poul­
bakery
try,
prod­
and
ucts
fish
115.1
115.2
115.3
115.5
115.7
115.6
117.2
116.9
117.6
117.5
117.4
117.5
117.5
117.7
117.7
117.6
117.7
118.0
118.4
118.9

117.7
116.3
117.1
116.7
115.2
114.8
114.5
116.5
116.4
119.4
119.2
116.9
114.3
113.0
110.9
107.7
107.4
106.8
109.2
111.3

Dairy
prod­
ucts

Fruits
and
vege­
tables

Other
foods3

109.2
110.7
112.0
112.7
112.0
110.4
109.3
108.9
110.2
111.0
112.5
113.2
113.3
112.7
111.6
110.7
110.3
109.0
107.8
107.5

109.5
115.8
118.2
109.5
113.7
121.1
124.3
122.4
124.0
118.7
111.5
111.3
115.9
115.8
116.7
115.9
115.5
115.0
115.2
121.7

118.5
114.5
109.1
105.8
104.4
105.0
104.4
105.2
111.5
113.1
113.7
115.1
114.3
110.6
109.7
107.3
109.1
110.4
110.3
110.9

3 See footnote 2 to table D -l.
3 Includes eggs, fats and oils, sugar and sweets, beverages (nonalcoholic),
and other miscellaneous foods.

D-3: Consumer Price Index ^ U n ite d States average, all items and food
1935-39=100

Year

1913: Average_____
1914: Average______
1915: A verage..........
1916: Average_____
1917: Average............
1918: Average______
1919: Average______
1920: Average______
1921: Average_____
1922: Average______
1923: Average_____
1924: Average______
1925: Average______
1926: Average______
1927: Average______
1928: Average______
1929: Average______
1930: Average______
1931: Average______
1932: Average______
1933- Average______
1934: Average...........
1935: Average............
1936: Average........ ..
1937: A verage..........
1938: Average............
1939: Average______

Total
food 3

1947-49=100

1935-39=100

Year and month
All items
70.7
71.8
72.5
77.9
91.6
107.5
123.8
143.3
127.7
119.7
121.9
122.2
125.4
126.4
124.0
122.6
122.5
119.4
1087
97.6
92.4
95.7
98.1
99.1
102.7
100.8
99.4

1940: A verage...
1941: A verage...
1942: A verage...
1943: A verage...
1944: Average...
1945: A verage...
1946: A verage...
1947: A verage...
1948: A verage...
1949: Average. __
1950: A verage...
1951: A verage...
1950: January...
February..
March___
April........ .
M ay..........
June...........
July-------August___
September.
October . .
November.
December.
1951: Janu ary...
February..
March.......

All
items

Total
food

59.9
62.9
69. 7
74.0
75.2
76.9
83. 4
95.5
102.8
101.8
102.8
111.0
100. 6
100.4
100. 7
100.8
101. 3
101.8
102.9
103.7
104.4
105.0
105. 5
106.9
108.6
109.9
110.3

47.8
52.2
61.3
68.3
67.4
68.9
79.0
95.9
104. 1
100.0
101.2
112.6
97.0
96. 5
97. 3
97.7
98.9
100. 5
103. 1
103.9
104. 0
104.3
104.4
107.1
109.9
111.9
112.0

1947-49=100

1935-39=100

Year and month
All items
100.2
105.2
116.6
123.7
125.7
128.6
139. 5
159. 6
171.9
170.2
171.9
185.6
168.2
167.9
168. 4
168. 5
169.3
170.2
172.0
173.4
174.6
175.6
176.4
178.8
181.5
183.8
184.5

1951: April________
M a y .. . .......... .
June........ .........
July_________
August______
September___
O ctober_____
November___
December____
1952: January______
February____
March_______
April.................
M a y ... ____
June________
July_________
August______
September___
October______
November___
December____
1953 January...........
February____
March........... .
April________
M ay..................
J u n e________

All
items

Total
food

110.4
110.9
110.8
110.9
110.9
111.6
112.1
112.8
113. 1
113. 1
112.4
112.4
112.9
113.0
113.4
114.1
114.3
114. 1
114.2
114.3
114.1
113.9
113.4
113.6
113.7
114.0
114.5

111.7
112.6
112.3
112.7
112.4
112.5
113.5
114.6
115.0
115.0
112.6
112.7
113.9
114.3
114.6
116.3
116.6
115. 4
115.0
115.0
113.8
113.1
111.5
111.7
111.5
112.1
113.7

AH items
184.6
185.4
185.2
185.5
185.5
186.6
187.4
188.6
189.1
189.1
187.9
188.0
188.7
189.0
189. 6
190. *
191.1
190.8
190.9
191.1
190.7
190.4
189.6
189.9
190.1
190.6
191.4

921

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

T able D -4: Consumer Price Index1—All items indexes for selected dates, by city
1935-39=100

Indexes, 1947-49=100
City

United States average

Revised Old
series
series
June
M ay4
1953
1953

June
1953

M ay
1953

Apr.
1953

Mar.
1953

Feb.
1953

Jan.
1953

Dec.
1952

Nov.
1952

Oct.
1952

Sept.
1952

Aug.
1952

July
1952

June
1952

June
1950

................ 114.5

114.0

113.7

113.6

113.4

113.9

114.1

114.3

114.2

114.1

114.3

114.1

113.4

101.8

191.4

188.8

198.6
197.9
09
196.4
192.8

(9
(9
177.5
193.5
191.3

196.8

(9
(9
(9

192.8
196.7
193.3

192.8

189.4

117.1
115.1
(3)
115.3
114.5

(3)
(3)
(3)
114.6
(3)

(9
(3)
111.7
114.2
(9

116.7
114.2
(3)
113.8
112.6

(3)
(3)
(3)
113.9
(3)

(«)
(3)
112.1
114.2
(3)

(3)
114.4
112.4
114.6
112.5

117.1
(3)
112.7
115.1
112.5

(3)
(»)
113.4
115.0
113.3

(9
115.0
113.2
115.0
113.2

117.0
(3)
113.7
115.5
113.4

(3)
(9
113.7
115.0
113.4

(3)
113.0
112.0
114.9
112.9

(3)
101.6
102.8
102.8
101.2

Cleveland, Ohio_______________
(3)
Detroit, M ich---- --------- ------------ 116.6
Houston, Tex
_______________
(3)
Kansas City, M o______________
(3)
Los Angeles, Calif_______ ______ 115.4

113.7
115.8
116.8
(3)
115.3

(3)
115.2
(3)
114.3
115.6

(3)
115.2
(3)
(3)
115.4

112.5
115.1
116.1
(3)
114.9

(3)
115.7
(»)
114.3
115.4

(3)
116.0
116.7
(3)
115.3

113. 6
115.3
116. 0
(3)
115.1

(3)
115.5
116.1
115.2
114.8

(3)
114.7
115.5
(3)
115.0

114.0
115.0
115.8
(>)
114.9

(3)
114.6
115.2
115.3
115.0

(3)
113.9
114.9

(3)
102.8
103.8
(9
101.3

Minneapolis, M inn____________
(3)
New York, N . Y _______________ 112.0
Philadelphia, P a_______________ 114.6
Pittsburgh, Pa_________________
(3)
Portland, Öreg________ ________
(3)

(3)
111.4
113.8
(3)
(3)

115.1
111.1
113.7
112.8
115.4

(3)
111.2
114.1
(3)
(3)

(3)
111.1
113.7
(3)
(3)

114.4
111.7
114.3
112.6
114.6

114.6
112.0
114.7
113.4
(3)

(8)
112.9
114.7
113.5
(3)

(»)
112.4
114.6
113.4
115.0

114.8
112.4
114.7
113.2
(3)

(»)
112.2
114.9
113.5
(3)

(3)
112.3
114.8
113.0
114.7

114.9
110.9
113.6
112.2

102.1
100.9
101.6
101.1
(3)

St. Louis, M o___ ____________ 115.8
San Francisco, Calif____________ 116.1
Scranton, Pa. _________________
(3)
(9
Seattle, W ash,
_____________
Washington, D . C ------ ------------(3)

(3)
(3)
112.0
116.2
113.5

(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

114.7
115.5
(3)
(3)
(3)

(9

(8)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

114.9
115.6
(3)
(3)

(3)
(3)
113.1
115.6
113.8

(>)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

115.5
114.5
(3)
(3)
(3)

(9
(»)
114.0
114.6
114.1

(«)
(3)

115.5
114.9
(3)

101.1
100.9
(3)
(3)

Atlanta, G a __________________
Baltimore, M d_____ _________
Boston, M ass__________________
Chicago, 111 _________________
Cincinnati, Ohio_______________

(3)
112.2
114.6
113.0

1 See footnote 1 to table D -l. Indexes are based on time-to-time changes
In the cost of goods and services purchased by urban wage-earner and clerical
worker families. They do not indicate whether it costs more to live in one
city than in another.
» Average of 46 cities beginning January 1953. See footnote 1 to table D -l.
8 Prior to January 1953, indexes were computed monthly for 9 of these cities
and once every 3 months for the remaining 11 cities on a rotating cycle.
Beginning in January 1953, indexes are computed monthly for 5 cities and
once every 3 months for the 15 remaining cities on a rotating cycle.
< Latest “ old series” indexes (1935-39=100) for the 14 oities not included in
the revised index are as follows:
M a y

1958

Birmingham, A la__________ 195.4 I New Orleans, La------------------ 190.1
Milwaukee, W is___________ 196.9 | Norfolk, V a .------------------------ 191.3


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

(9

(9
(3)
(3)

(9

114.8

(9

(9
(9

(9

(9

185.4
190.7

(9
(9

193.3
198.4

(9
(9
(9

(9

(9

182.7
187.3
191. 7

(9
(9

(9
185.3
195. 4
185.5

A p r i l 1953

Buffalo, N . Y ____
Denver, Colo____
Indianapolis, Ind_
Kansas City, M o.
Manchester, N . H

187.3
189.1
192.5
181.8
184.7

Atlanta, Ga____
Baltimore, M d ...
Jacksonville, Fla.
Memphis, T enn.

195.0
192.0
195. 7
188.0

M a rch

Minneapolis, M inn
Portland, Oreg____
Richmond, Va____
Savannah, Ga-------

188.0
198.9
181.5
197.7

1958

Mobile, Ala_______
Portland, M aine___
St. Louis, M o_____
San Francisco, Calif.

187.3
181.5
190.5
197.3

922

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

MONTHLY LABOR

T able D-5: Consumer Price Index1—All items and commodity groups, except food,2 by city
[Indexes, 1947-49=100]
All items

Apparel

Personal care

Medical care

Reading and
recreation

Transportation

Other goods and
services

City and cycle of pricing
June
1953

June
1952

June
1953

June
1952

June
1953

June
1952

June
1953

June
1952

June
1953

June
1952

June
1953

June
1952

June
1953

114.5

113.4

104.6

105.6

112.6

111.7

121.1

117.8

129.4

126.3

107.8

106.8

118.2

115.7

115.3
116.6
115.4
112.0
114.6

114.9
113.9
114.8
110.9
113.6

106.8
103.5
103.2
104.8
104.1

105.4
103.4
106.0
105.9
104.5

114.2
119.5
117.5
106.7
116.2

111.7
117.7
113.2
106.1
117.0

120.0
121.3
119.9
120. 5
120.3

116.2
115.5
118.3
119.6
118.0

133.8
126.9
126.8
127.5
133.5

133. 2
119. 8
121.1
127.4
132.6

109.9
110.8
103.7
106.1
112.2

108.7
102.8
113.3
104.1
109.5

112.9
123.7
113.9
118.3
122.0

108.8
120. 8
112.3
116.0
120.4

117.1
115 1
114.5
115.8
116.1

(3)
113 0
112.9
115.5
114.9

110.3
104 2
104.8
104.6
103.6

(3)
103.6
106.1
106.5
106.0

115.2
107.9
108.8
109.8
112.9

(3)
106 1
106.4
109.4
113.7

118.9
132.0
121.5
133.1
121.0

(3)
125.2
117.1
130.3
118.8

129.2
138.8
130.0
136.9
142.0

(3)
128.7
127.7
130.9
134.4

111.1
119 3
99.1
100.1
105.1

(3)
114.2
102.1
100.5
102.7

117.6
118 9
116.0
116.1
115.4

(3)
118.9
112.0
113. 8
111.9

M ay
1953

M ay
1952

M ay
1953

M ay
1952

M ay
1953

M ay
1952

M av
1953

M ay
1952

M ay
1953

M ay
1952

M ay
1953

M ay
1952

M ay
1953

113.7
116.8
112.0
116.2
113.5

113.1
114.8
112.1
114.6
112.6

105.4
107.0
106.5
106.9
103.8

106.3
109.4
107.4
108.3
104.0

113.8
119.5
112.1
111.4
111.4

108.7
118.8
112.1
112.0
111.9

119.8
118.4
114.1
125.0
117.5

118.7
112.7
111. 7
120.7
116.3

123.3
126.7
129.3
133.4
127.3

122.2
123.8
120.4
122.0
120.2

114.0
114.5
118.2
110.4
112.9

107.0
107.7
118.6
109.3
108.1

116. 7
119.4
115.3
125.9
125.1

Apr.
1953

Apr.
1952

Apr.
1953

Apr.
1952

Apr.
1953

Apr.
1952

Apr.
1953

Apr.
1952

Apr.
1953

Apr.
1952

Apr.
1953

Apr.
1952

Apr.
1953

111.7
114.3
115.1
112.8
115.4

111.1
113.9
(3)
112.3
114.7

103.8
105.1
105.4
104.1
104.0

102.9
108.4
(3)
104.8
105.4

111.8
114. 7
117.0
106.1
111.7

110.8
116.3
(3)
106.9
110.6

123.4
119.3
136.4
121.1
118.0

118.5
114.3
(3)
114.0
115.9

135.6
130.0
121.8
139.0
127.6

128.9
127.0
(3)
138.1
122.5

106.2
110.0
116.7
97.2
115.3

105. 5
107. 9
(3)
105.1
116.4

116.2
119.3
122.9
118. 8
117.5

United States average
Monthly:
Chicago, 111____
Detroit, Mich .
Los Angeles, C a l i f . ___
N ew York, N . Y
Philadelphia, P a___
Mar., June, Sept., and Dec.:
Atlanta, G ad.. ._
Baltimore, Md__
Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Louis, Mo
San Francisco, Calif

Feb., M ay, Aug., and Nov.:
Cleveland, O h io ...
Houston, Tex.
Scranton, P a ___
Seattle, Wash . . .
Washington, D . C._

Jan., Apr., July, and Oct.:
Boston, M ass____
Kansas City, M o.
Minneapolis, M um .
Pittsburgh, Pa _.
Portland, Oreg__

June
1952

M ay
1952
117.1
117.8
117.2
123.2
122.0
Apr.
1952
115.3
113.4
(3)
117.0
115.4

Housing
Total housing
June
1953
United States average______
Monthly:
Chicago, 111___________
Detroit, M ich_________
Los Angeles, Calif_____
N ew York, N . Y _______
Philadelphia, Pa_______
Mar., June, Sept., and Dec.:
Atlanta, Gad__________
Baltimore, M d ________
Cincinnati, Ohio______ "
St. Louis, M o_________
San Francisco, Calif,


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

June
1953

June
1952

House furnish­
ings

June
1953

June
1953

June
1952

June
1952

Household
operation
June
1953

June
1952

123.3

117.6

106.4

104.3

121.8

115.8

108.0

107.7

115.4

111.2

120.3
119.0
123. 5
114.4
112. 6

116.2
112.9
119.7
110. 4
110. 2

(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

117.2
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

100.0
108.4
109.5
107.9
101.8

100.0
102.0
106.7
104.0
101.8

119.8
117.0
(3)
125.8
118.2

119.2
115.0
(3)
117.1
112.5

109.7
110.8
111.0
108.3
109.9

109.4
111.6
109.5
107.9
109.1

118.6
106.6
107.6
118.6
113.2

115.9
103.8
105.7
115.6
105.8

122.7
113. 3
115. 0
115. 7
117.0

(3)
111. 7
110.2
112.6
114.0

(3)
(3)
123.4
117.1
122.1

(3)
118.0
112.0
115.1
118.7

108.6
97.3
113.1
100.1
130.1

(3)
97.1
107.4
95.8
119.7

112.2
122.1
118.5
127.9
(3)

(3)
116.5
114.9
120.9
(3)

112.7
103.4
104.4
109.1
109.7

(3)
105.7
103.3
107.9
106.6

127.1
109.2
115.7
116.7
109.0

(3)
102.7
110.0
111.7
107.8

117.7
123.2
114. 2
119. 0
116. 2

1953

1 See footnote 1 to table D -l.
* See tables D-2, D -3, and D -6 for food.

June
1962

Solid fuels and
fuel oil

114.0

Apr.
Jan., Apr., July, and Oct.:
Boston, Mass________
Kansas City, M o____
Minneapolis, M inn___
Pittsburgh, P a_______
Portland, Oreg_______

June
1953

Gas and electricity

117.4

M ay
19Ö3
Feb., May, Aug., and Nov.:
Cleveland, Ohio_______
Houston, Tex__________
Scranton, P a . ..
Seattle, W ash...........
Washington, D . C...........

June
1952

Rent

115.6
117.0
116. 8
114. Ò
119. 6

M ay
lo9¿
111.6
119.1
111. 7
115.6
115.2

Apr.
1952

113.0
115.0
(3)
111.7
115. 9

(? )

M ay
1953
(3)
(3)
118.8
(3)
118.6

Apr.
1953
(3)
124.8
(3)
116.1
(3)

* N ot available.

M ay
1952
117.6
133.8
116.3
121.9
117.5

Apr.
1952

(3)
119.7
(3)
112.6
123.4

M ay
1953
106.8
106.5
111.9
99.0
114.9

Anr.
1953

105.4
104.4
110.0
113.5
118.6

M ay
1952
101.3
100.4
111.9
102.8
114.9

Apr.
1952

105.6
102.9
(3)
107.0
105.0

M ay
1953
119.4
(3)
129.9
127.0
126.6

Apr.
1953
124.7
112.6
115.1
120.6
123.2

M ay
1952
115.0
(3)
116.1
112.7
119.3

Apr.
1952

117.1
110.5
(3)
112.6
109.3

M ay
1953
105.0
105.2
101.7
108.5
108.9

Apr.
1953
107.7
107.6
107.4
105.8
110.9

M ay
1952
104.8
106.4
103.0
109.8
109.2

Apr.
1952
108.0
107.5
(3)
108.4
109.6

* Atlanta formerly priced Feb., M ay, Aug., and Nov.

M ay
1953
112.5
119.6
105.8
110.3
113.0

Apr.
1953
107.6
120.3
116.8
117.5
111.2

M ay
1952
99.8
109.6
101.3
108. 7
113.0

Apr.
1952

106.4
116.4
(3)
111.0
108.6

923

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

T able D-6: Consumer Price Index1—Food and its subgroups, by city
[Indexes, 1947-49=100]
Food at home
Total food 1

June
1953
United States average »___

May
1953

113.7

112.1

M ay
1953

June
1953

June
1952

Meats, poultry, and fish

Cereals and bakery products

Total food at home

City

June
1952

M ay
1953

June
1953

June
1952

M ay
1953

June
1953

June
1952

114.6

113.7

111.7

114.6

118.9

118.4

116.9

111.3

109.2

116.5

112.6
111.7
107.9
110.5
113.9

112.1
114.0
114.2
115.7
116.5

116.1
117.4
117.1
114.4
117.7

115.9
117.1
117.3
115.2
117.6

115.9
117.2
117.5
114.8
117.0

116.7
112.8
105. 8
106.9
116.9

115.2
110.0
103. 5
104. 7
113. 2

114.7
116. 6
114.1
117.3
116.8

Atlanta, Ga_____ ______ Baltimore, Md_...................
Boston, Mass----------------Chicago, 111-........ ..............Cincinnati, Ohio________

114. 5
114.6
111. 2
112 4
116.9

112.8
112.2
108.8
110.8
114.1

112.1
114.0
114.2
115.7
116.5

114.4
114.5
110.9
112.3
117.0

Cleveland, Ohio_________
Detroit, M ich......................
Houston, Tex.......................
Kansas City, M o................
Los Angeles, Calif..............

110 5
116 7
112 fi
110. 7
112.3

109.2
115. 0
111. 9
110.2
112.2

115.9
118.9
112.5
113.3
114.5

110.1
116.8
111.9
110.2
111.5

108.6
114.9
111. 1
109.6
111.4

115.9
118.9
112. 5
113.3
114.5

114.9
116.5
115.9
117.8
118.3

115.0
116.3
114.9
117 2
117.7

114.5
115.0
116.0
114.0
116.7

108.0
110.6
108.2
107.6
111. 1

106.0
108. 2
107. 6
107.6
109. 5

117.8
117.1
112 . 5
116.2
120. 5

Minneapolis, M inn............
New York, N Y ________
Philadelphia, P a-----------Pittsburgh, P a - .............—
Portland, Oreg....................

112. 6
112 0
115 8
114.8
114.0

112.7
110 3
113.3
112.5
113.4

117.2
112.3
116.0
113.2
116.2

112.8
111.8
115.8
115.0
114.1

113.0
109.8
112.9
112.3
113.4

117.2
112.3
116.0
113.2
116.2

119.8
123.0
119.0
119.5
115.1

119.6
122.6
118.6
119.3
114.7

115.5
118.0
117.3
117.2
110.5

105.3
10e. 0
111.9
107.9
117.6

105.3
108. 2
110 2
105. 6
114.8

117.4
116.8
11 '/. 4
109.8
127.3

St. Louis, M o___________
San Francisco, Calif...........
Scranton, P a—.....................
Seattle, W ash----------------Washington, D. C..............

115 0
114.1
113.7
113 2
113.1

112.9
113.9
111. 5
112.0
110.8

118.3
116.0
114.3
114.1
113.1

114.8
114.6
113.4
113.3
112.9

112.5
113.7
110.8
111.9
110.1

118.3
116.0
114.3
114.1
113.1

113.5
127.6
116.9
119.7
115. 6

113.2
123.7
116.3
119.3
115.7

112.1
122.3
116.4
115.4
113.9

113.5
112.0
111. 1
111.8
108.0

111.3
109.5
107. 6
107.8
105.4

117.9
119.0
119.1
117.4
116.1

Food at home—Continued

United States average1.......................................

Other foods at home 4

Fruits and vegetables

Dairy products

City

June 1952

June 1953

M ay 1953

June 1952

June 1953

M ay 1953

June 1952

June 1953

M ay 1953

107.5

107.8

108.9

121.7

115.2

122.4

110.9

110.3

105.2

125.5
122.5
120.1
120.0
124.9

116.7
112.4
108.2
113.5
114.9

119.6
119.8
125.9
122.3
124.2

104.5
108.9
107.2
117.2
116.3

104.6
108.3
106.1
116.8
115.4

99.6
103.2
101.4
110.0
109.6

Atlanta, Ga_____________
-------------- Baltimore, M d----- ---------------------------------Boston, Mass_________ ____ - ------ -----------Chicago, 1 1 1 ........................ .................................... ..........................
Cincinnati, Ohio_________________________

111.3
112.5
105.9
108.3
109.2

111.6
112.4
106.1
108.6
109.1

112.7
110.7
110.3
109.8
112.2

Cleveland, Ohio------ ------------------------------Detroit, M ich___________________________
Houston, T ex___________________________
Kansas City, M o------------------------------------Los Angeles, Calif................................................

99.5
109.7
107.7
103.0
109.3

99.3
109.7
108.1
106.0
109.5

112.8
111.1
112.9
107.7
110.4

115.9
134.3
118.8
115.8
106.9

110.8
127.6
115.4
110.2
109.7

122.4
140.4
116.1
121.5
114.5

111.8
112.1
111.1
108.2
111.7

112.0
112.1
111.1
108.1
111.3

106.2
105.6
105.7
103.2
104.8

Minneapolis, M inn..................... ..................--New York, N . Y ________________________
Philadelphia, P a ..................................................
Pittsburgh, Pa---------------------------------------Portland, Oreg----------------------------------------

105.2
102.2
109.6
110.1
109.7

108.5
102.2
109.7
110.2
110.0

108.8
101.3
109.5
108.0
109.6

124.6
119.0
128.7
124.9
111.9

122.7
111.8
116.0
113.2
114.0

132.0
117.6
126.1
123.8
118.1

117.1
111.1
111.1
118.5
114.1

116.6
109.2
110.1
118.1
112.8

111.2
104.8
105.7
109.4
104.3

St. Louis, M o----- ----------------------------------San Francisco, Calif_____________________
Scranton, P a ........................................................
Seattle, W ash.---------------------------------------Washington, D . C _______________________

100.5
110.2
107.5
107.2
113.9

100.6
110.3
107.9
108.6
113.2

111.8
110.3
106.7
110.2
111.8

127.8
120.7
120.8
121.1
119.6

117.7
122.1
112.5
118.2
109.7

132.5
123.6
120.8
121.3
118.2

117.3
108.6
110.9
108.9
109.4

118.0
108.9
110.2
109.2
108.7

110.5
102.3
103.0
103.4
101.5

i See footnote 1 to table D -l. Indexes for 56 cities for total food (193539=100 or June 1940=100) were published in the March 1953 M onthly Labor
Review and in previous issues. See table D-7 for U. S. average, latest date.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

s See footnote 2 on table D -l.
« Average of 46 cities beginning January 1953.
* See footnote 3 to table D-2.

See footnote 1 to table D -l.

924

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

MONTHLY LABOR

T able D -7: Average retail prices and indexes of selected foods
Commodity

Aver­
age
price
Dec.
1952

[Indexes, 1935-39=100]
Dec.
1952

Cereals and bakery products:
Cereals:
C e n t»
52.1 201.9
Flour, wheat.....................5 pounds
Corn flakes__________________ 12ounces
22.3 210.6
Cornmeal............................... pound.
10.5 223.9
Rice 1________ ____________ do._
18.7 104.3
18.2 164.9
Rolled oats *_________________20ounces
Bakery products:
16.2 190.4
Bread, white *__________ pound.
Vanilla cookies________________7ounces.
23.1 221.9
Layer cake 41......
pound.
50.2 110.0
Meats, poultry, and flsh:
Meats:
Beef:
Round steak___________d o ...
108.1 320.0
Rib roast______ ______ .d o ...
83.4 288.7
70.4 311.8
Chuck r o a st.....................d o ...
61.4 101.2
Frankfurters __________d o ...
d o ...
57.5 187.9
Hamburger 4.........
Veal: Cutlets.............................d o ...
121.7 303.6
Pork:
Chops.......................... ___d o ...
72.3 219.0
Bacon, sliced_______ ___d o ...
64.6 169.4
Ham, whole................ ___d o ...
65.0 221.2
Salt pork..................... ___d o ...
38.2 181.5
Lamb: Leg______ ____ _ ___ d o ...
75.3 265.7
Poultry........... ...........................................
206.7
Frying chickens:
52.8
Dressed 4______________ d o ...
64.6
Ready-to-cook T........... . . . d o . . .
Fish:
Fish, fresh or frozen •___________
288.7
Ocean perch fillet, frozen4.d o ...
45.1
Haddock fillet, frozen *..d o ...
50.4
Salmon, pink •.......... 16-ounce can.
53.4 431.6
Dairy products:
B utter...........................................pound.
81.7 224.3
Cheese, American process............. do__
273.0
61.
Milk, fresh (delivered)............... quart.
24.8 202.4
Milk, fresh (grocery)...... ............ .do___
23.3 203.3
Ice cream 4.............
pint.
31.5 105.6
15.0 210.5
M ilk, evaporated....... .MJta-ounce can..
dozen.
Eggs: Eggs, fresh____ _____
70.4 201.8
Fruits and vegetables:
Frozen fruits:4
38.5
Strawberries 4................1 2 ounces..
86.7
18.3
Orange juice concentrate4. 6 ounces.
78.1
23.3
Frozen vegetables:4 Peas 4_.12ounces..
92.9
Fresh fruits:
15.0 279.9
Apples_________
.pound..
Bananas_____________
do___
16.1 265.9
Oranges, size 200...................dozen.. 47.2 165.9
Fresh vegetables:
Beans, green........................ .pound.. 24.5 228.3
Cabhage....... .........
do___
7.7 204.6
Carrots_________________ bunch.. 13.3 245.1
Lettuce......................................head.. 16.0 192.8
Onions---------------..p o u n d .. 10.0 263.9
109.4 300.3
Potatoes--------------------------------- 15pounds..
8 weetpotatoes___________ pound.. 16.0 309.7
Tomatoes 14...........
.d o___
28.1 184.6
Canned fruits:
Peaches.......................N o , 2^$ can.. 33.8 175.7
Pineapple .............................do___
38.1 175. 5
Canned vegetables:
Corn .......................
No. 303 can.. 19.1 176.5
T o m a to e s....................N o. 2 can..
17.9 199.6
Peas .............
No. 303 can.. 21.7 118.3
Baby foods 4------------------------ 454—
5ounces..
10.0 101.9
Dried fruits: P run es.................. pound.. 28.0 265. 7
Dried vegetables: N avy beans...d o___ 16.7 226.2
Beverages:
Coffee............................................... do___
344.1
Cola drink 4 »...ca rto n of 6, 6-ounce.. 29.3 112.7
Fats and oils:
Lard............ ...............
pound.. 16.1 108.8
Shortening, hydrogenated............do___ 32.6 158.1
Salad dressing.......... ....................... p in t..
34.1 141.6
Margarine, colored 14...............p o u n d ..
30.3 161.7
Sugar and sweets:
Sugar........................................ 5 pounds..
52.4 195.5
Grape jelly 4— .....................12 ounces..
98.6
23.5
4 July 1947=100.
4 February 1943=100.
•Average price based on 52 cities; index on 56.
N o t e . —These

Nov.
1952

Oct.
1952

Sept.
1952

Aug.
1952

July
1952

June
1952

May
1952

Apr.
1952

Mar.
1952

Feb.
1952

Jan.
1952

Dec.
1951

201.3
210.4
226.0
103.8
165.0

201.4
210. 4
229.0
103.0
165.3

201.2
210.3
231.0
102.8
164.9

202.0
210.5
220.6
102.2
164.9

202.8
210.3
218.5
100.9
164.6

203.5
209.8
217.7
99.9
164.2

203.4
209.9
217.1
99.0
163.8

203.6
210.1
217.4
98.2
163.7

203.7
209.6
218.0
96.7
163.5

204.4
209.4
216.1
96.7
163.8

204.3
208.2
212.7
96.1
163.3

203.1
207.7
209.0
94.9
162.9

190.5
176. 5
181. 9
93.1
145.8

190.2
222.8
109.6

190.3
223.5
109.1

190.3
222.4
108.8

190.2
224.9
108.7

190.1
225.4
109.7

188.9
224.6
107.9

189.7
223.3
108.9

185. 2
222.5
108.2

185.1
224.6
108.5

184.8
224.5
107.9

184.5
224.2
108.3

184. 2
223.8
109.1

163.9
191.7

324.7
292.2
316.0
103.5
192.3
309.2

328.2
295.1
321.0
105.0
200.0
316.2

331.2
296.8
323.4
106.2
207.3
321.5

331.1
296.6
318.0
106.7
207.1
316.5

330.2
297.7
318.4
106.5
207-6
318.2

330.1
297.0
327.1
106.5
211.9
326.7

330.3
299.0
332.6
105.7
210.6
325.3

330.0
299.0
332.3
105.8
211.7
325.5

330.4
298.0
333.7
106.2
214.3
326.4

331.9
303.2
334.0
106.3
215.9
326.8

333.3
305.3
336. 7
107.6
217.0
325.0

333.6
307. 2
338. 3
108.1
217.9
322.9

287.9
264.1
279. 2
181.8
271.2

232.5
175.2
219.4
185.3
276. 5
200.0

263.7
183.6
229.6
184.6
286.1
193.1

266.0
185. 7
236.1
181.2
293.1
202.1

278.7
185.2
239.2
178.6
295.4
197.8

254.4
170.7
227.1
167.0
294.9
187.4

257. 5
167.3
226.1
166.8
296.1
181.9

245.8
158.8
213.4
159.4
291.7
175.4

223.2
159.2
210.8
160.9
287.7
188.8

225.1
160.6
211.9
164.0
280.9
190.7

223.9
161.9
214.4
168.1
290.2
197.5

227.6
163.5
216.8
171.4
301.8
192.6

226.0
165.2
217.2
174. 8
304. 8
181.9

243. 5
161.9
215.8
160. 5
272. 4
185.1

290.8

292.2

291.5

290.7

291.8

293.3

295.1

295.5

296.7

299.6

298.3

296.7

268.4

433.1

437.4

444.2

448.8

454.2

456.9

456.7

459.3

460.9

467.1

471.2

475.1

344.1

229.1
274. 5
202. 8
204.0
105.6
210.8
226.0

233.8
272.6
201.8
203.6
105.6
210.4
230.6

235.9
269.6
199.6
201.8
105. 5
210.3
221.4

230.6
267.4
197.0
198.3
105. 4
210.1
217.2

229.0
266.4
195.7
196.0
105.1
209.7
208.7

223.5
265.3
193.3
193.3
105.1
210.0
169.1

225.3
266.2
193.7
194.2
105.5
209.8
164.0

231.1
266.1
195.0
196.6
106.0
209.6
165.9

245.8
265.6
196.7
198.7
106.0
208.2
161.3

258.5
265.4
196.5
198.5
105.7
206.6
166.5

252.4
266.8
196.0
198.1
105. 3
205.1
184.3

241.2
263.3
195.0
197.1
104. 4
202.8
216.7

195.4
226. 2
160. 4
162.0
174.2
148.4

87.0
78.9
93.9

87.8
78.5
93.3

88.6
78.3
95.4

88.8
78.5
96.3

88.6
74.6
96.4

89.2
73.9
95.9

89.8
73.3
93.3

88.5
83.0
96.3

91.9
84.2
95.8

92.0
85.3
98.7

92.7
88.8
98.5

93.2
92. 5
96.9

........

266.7
261.4
193. 7

250.4
255.5
216.6

258.1
267.7
203.0

288.7
269.4
193.2

366.9
265.5
188.6

395.9
277.9
170.0

310.0
278.7
164.3

279.7
282.1
159.9

239.4
281.5
160.8

229.2
273.4
156.2

218.8
269.9
161.7

204.3
267.7
164.7

301.1
271.9
172.8

275.9
192.2
228. 1
194.1
251.6
304.0
260.3
160.2

192.3
185.1
214.8
179.4
232.0
289. 3
243.0
130.4

167.4
199.4
218.7
186. 7
219.1
312.7
263.6
114.0

214.8
286.2
216.2
177.8
234.3
354.4
407.2
151.8

235.3
287.6
216.8
171.3
250. 7
360.1
444.8
204.9

161.2
229.7
220.9
166.9
276.7
351.9
470.7
217.0

236.8
327.6
234.7
199.3
370.1
333.7
433.4
201.4

258. 8
235. 5
193.4
184.5
382.2
307.0
387.7
231.8

250.4
198. 1
196. 3
166.0
313.3
282.0
331.2
192.9

238.1
260.0
220.0
145.4
250.9
270. 5
309.9
160.7

191.3
419.8
291.7
256.5
242.6
289. 5
299.7
189.0

208.0
268.0
281.8
272.8
209. 0
266. 2
265. 2
222.4

151.0
174.3
181.7
167. 3
187.1
219. 3
209 4
208.3

175.1
175.6

172.8
175.6

173.1
175.9

172.8
176.1

172.4
176.2

173.6
176.6

180.0
176.6

178.8
176.5

179.7
176.4

180.0
176.8

179.1
176.7

178. 3
177.3

140.1
172.0

177.1
200. 7
117. 7
101. 9
263. 7
226.2

176.1
198.8
116.2
101.8
259. 4
223.6

176.5
196.3
115.3
101.9
257. 7
222.6

174.4
192.7
112.8
102.0
256. 0
220.4

173.0
193.8
112.4
101.8
256.0
216. 7

172.6
193.1
111. 7
102.0
256.0
214.2

172.2
195.2
111.8
102.0
256.2
213.6

172.0
194.8
112.3
102.1
256.3
213.7

171.2
195.9
113.0
102.0
256.2
212.9

171.3
194.2
113.0
102.0
259.0
214.5

169.5
195.1
113.0
101.9
260.6
214.0

168. 3
195. 4
114. 3
101.9
261.6
213.9

138.4
161. 6
114. 3

344.0
111. 7

344.4
111.6

344.5
111.8

344.7
111.6

344.8
111.3

345.0
111.3

345.2
111.2

345.8
111.4

345.9
111.2

345.9
111.2

345.2
111.3

345. 4
111.2

294 9

111.0
158.3
141.9
161.9

114.8
157.9
142.0
161.4

118.2
158.0
143.1
159.2

122.2
157. 7
142.6
158.5

120.7
157.8
142.0
156.7

122.4
158.1
141.1
153.9

118.3
159. 1
142.9
151.8

124.8
162.8
146.7
151.6

130.3
165.6
147.9
153.8

143.7
170.7
151.1
157.2

149.8
174.0
153.6
165.4

155. 5
176.6
153. 4
169.4

116.0
155.6
142.1
161.1

195.8
98.3

195.9
98.4

195.6
98.1

195.1
98.0

193.3
98.4

192.2
97.5

191.2
98. 2

189.1
98.9

187.0
98.2

187.9
98.3

188.7
98 8

188.8
99.6

175.3

4 December 1950=100.
4 Priced in 46 cities.
4 Priced in 23 cities.
TPriced in 33 cities.

41938-39=100.
4 Priced in 47 cities.
10 October 1949=100.

237.8
202.7

11 Average price based on 54 cities; index on 56,
14 A verage price for colored margarine based on
50 cities; index on 56 cities (colored margarine in
50 cities, uncolored margarine in 6 cities).

are the latest data on average retail prices and indexes of selected foods which are available
are based on the “interim adjusted” index, with a base period of 1935-39 = 100 (unless otherwise noted).


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

June
1950

They

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

925

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

T able D-8: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities 1
11947-49»= 100]

Commodity group

June
19532

M ay
1953

Apr.
1953

Mar.
1953

Feb.
1953

Jan.
1953

Dec.
1952

Nov.
1952

Oct,
1952

Sept.
1952

Aug.
1952

July
1952

June
1952

June
1950

All comm odities.-............................................................

109.4

109.8

109.4

110.0 109.6

109.9

109.6

110.7

111.1

111.8

112.2

111.8

111.2

100.2

Farm products..................................................................
Fresh and dried produce.........................................
Livestock and poultry.............................................
Plant and aniTrial fibprs
____ ____________
Fluid milk
....................................__
E g g s ............................................................................
Hay and s e e d s .......................... - .............................
Other farm products—.............................................

95.3 » 97.8
109.9 ' 105.4
93.4
83.8
91.7
86.8
104.0 104.3
93.1 »93.6
98.7
106.5
93.7
89.8
136.7 » 135.4

97.3
106.9
93.8
87.5
103.4
96.7
102.5
95.3
137.1

99.8
105.8
94.7
91.7
104.6
100.5
100.6
97.5
142.5

97.9
102.2
93.1
91.2
102.7
103.0
89.1
94.9
134.5

99.6
107.3
94.6
92 7
100.9
105.3
93.9
97.2
133.3

99.2
112.3
96.1
86.8
101.9
108.9
99.6
98.3
134.7

103.6
113.2
96.5
93.0
107.1
113.1
117.6
98.5
132.5

104.9
111.7
95.0
94.8
109.6
114.8
124.8
96.7
136.0

106.6
115.6
96.9
99.3
113.3
113.8
112.5
96.4
136.6

109.9
124.3
96.9
106.4
115.0
110.1
114.2
99.9
137.6

110.2
128.2
94.9
108.2
115.3
107.0
112.9
100. 5
138.1

107.2
124.2
95.4
107.2
118. 7
103. 5
81.0
98.5
136.7

94.5
89.8
89.6
99.8
107.3
81.6
70.6
87.6
122.4

Cereal and bakery products------------------------Meats, poultry, fish.................................................
Dairy products and ice cream..... .......................
Canned, frozen, fruits and vegetables________
Sugar and confectionery............- ...........................
Packaged beverage materials.................................
Animal fats and oils________________________
Crude vegetable oils________________________
Refined vegetable oils______________________
Vegetable oil end products................................. .
Other processed foods..............................................

103.3 »104.3
107.9 109.0
93.8
91.6
107.7 107.9
103.7 » 104.0
109.9 109.6
164.6 164.6
64.2
60.7
70.5
68.4
79.8
79.8
86.5
84.6
120.2 121.5

103.2
109.2
89.2
108.5
104.4
109.7
168.1
60.4
75.4
79.8
85.0
120.5

104.1
108.9
91.2
109.7
105.1
109.6
168.9
60.2
75.6
79.8
84.3
120.9

105.2
107.6
98.2
110.9
105.5
108.0
161.9
53.8
70.5
69.9
83.3
114.4

105.5
106.8
99.3
111.9
105. 4
108.0
161.9
52.1
70.4
77.0
83.5
112.8

104.3
106.8
93.9
113.0
105.0
108.2
161.9
51.0
71.1
69.3
81.7
116.9

107.7
107.1
102.0
115. 5
106.0
109.9
161.9
57.0
66.8
67.0
81.1
122.1

108.5
106.4
104.1
115.9
105.9
110.7
161.9
58.4
63.9
64.9
81.7
124.3

110.3
106.5
109.4
116.4
105.9
110. 5
161.9
60.4
63.3
65. 7
80.8
127.6

110.5
106.4
112.3
114.3
105.1
110. 7
161.9
63.1
62.1
68. 6
79. 2
125.2

110.0
106. 5
110.6
113. 8
103.9
111. 6
161. 9
64.8
60. 4
69. 5
78. 9
126.6

108. 5
106. 7
110.1
110.1
103. 5
110.9
161. 9
64.1
60.8
66. 6
78.1
118.4

96.8
96.5
102.4
90.0
98.0
94. 7
136.9
63.9
67.9
67.4
79.2
106.6

All commodities other than farm and foods----------

113.8 » 113.6

113.2

113.4 113.1

113.1

112.9

112.8

113.0

113.2

113.0

112.5

112.6

102.2

98.6
98.4
112.6
89.0
139.3
98.3
86.9

99.2
99.2
113.2
89.5
140.0
98.4
94. 5

99.5
98.9
112.4
89.9
139.3
99.3
95.0

99.1
97.6
113.3
90. 5
139.3
99.1
90.4

98.9
96.1
113.9
89. 2
134. 7
99. 5
94.4

99.0
95.4
112. 8
88. 6
129.8
100.3
98. 7

93.3
90.0
105.3
91.3
88.8
92.7
96.3

Textile products and apparel-............ - ..................—
Cotton products--------------------------------- -----Wool products......................................................... Synthetic textiles............................................. .........
Silk products..............................................................
Apparel................................................. ............. .......
Other textile products---------------------------------

97.6
97.5
93.3
93.4
111.6 » 112.0
87.5 »87.4
134.7 133.0
99.5 »99.9
85.5 »83.8

97.4
92.9
111.3
88.0
131.6
99.9
82.5

97.5 98.5
93.1 96.1
111.9 111.5
87.9 88.3
141.4 141.4
99.6 99.9
82.8 83.5

98.8
97.0
113.0
88.1
141.4
100.0
83.1

98.2
97.7
112.6
87.8
139.7
98.3
84.4

Hides, skins, and leather products---------------------Hides and skins __ ________________________

100.8 » 100.4
74.8
75.1
97.3
98.0
111.7 111.5
100.2 »100. 0

97.9
66.4
92.7
111.5
99.3

98.1 98.0
64.8 66.5
93.5 91.9
112.1 112.1
99.0 99.0

97.3
62.1
92.0
112.0
99.2

99.0
70.6
92.9
112.0
100.3

97.6
69.2
90.1
111.0
99.6

96.6
65.0
89.9
110.6
99.2

96.5
64. 4
89.3
110.6
99.9

96.5
64.4
89.3
110.6
100.1

96.2
61.8
89. 3
110.6
100. 5

95.9
59. 5
88. 9
111. 0
100.6

99.1
94.3
98.2
102.7
95.2

Electricity.................... - ............................................
Petroleum and products-------------------------------

107.6 »107.1
111.2 110.8
131.8 131.8
108. 2 » 108. 2
97.4 »97.4
110.3 109.4

107.4
111.2
131.8
109. 5
98.0
109.3

108.4
114.4
131.8
109. 5
100.7
109.0

108.1
115.9
131.8
109.5
100.7
107.9

107.8
116.3
131.8
108.0
99.6
107 9

107.2
116.1
129.0
104. 9
98.5
107.9

106.7
113.6
124.3
104. 9
98.0
108.1

106.6
113.3
124.3
100.4
98.5
108.6

106. 2
107.6
124.3
100.3
101.3
108.5

105.8
106. 5
124.3
100.4
100.7
108.3

106.0
106.0
124.3
101.4
99.1
109. 4

105. 9
105.3
124.3
102.0
98. 5
109.6

102.4
104.8
115.6
94.8
101.3
103.1

Chemicals and allied products___________ _____
Industrial chemicals _ - ________ ___ - __
Paint and paint materials_____________ ___
Drugs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics---------------Fats and oils, inedible________________ ____
Mixed fertilizer. ___________ _______ _______
Fertilizer materials — - . - _________ Other chemicals and products------ --------- ------

105.7 » 105. 5
119.2 » 118.0
106.1 106.1
93.1
93.1
46.6 »49.9
110. 7 110.7
110.6 112.9
102.7 103.0

105.5
117.0
106.0
93.0
55.9
110.7
113.2
103.1

104.2
113.9
106.0
91.6
59.0
110. 7
112.8
102.9

103.6
113.1
105. 9
91.4
52.7
110.8
112.7
102.9

103.6
112.8
106.2
91.5
53.5
111.2
112. 8
103.1

103.3
112.3
106.1
91.3
52.8
111.1
113.0
103.1

103. 5
112.7
106.3
91.9
53.1
110.9
111.1
102.9

103.9
113.9
106. 5
92.0
51.0
110. 7
111.0
103.0

104.0
114.3
107.0
92.1
48.9
110.3
111.0
103.0

104.0
114. (5
106.9
92.1
47.5
108.7
110.9
103.1

104.2
114. 7
106.9
92.1
49.8
108.7
110. 7
103.1

104.3
114. 9
107.0
92. 2
52.0
108. 7
109.9
103. 0

92.1
96.3
94.6
91.3
48.8
101.2
98.5
91.1

Rubber and products________________ ___ _____
Crude rubber
________________________
Tire casings and tu b e s ._____ _____ ___ _____
Other rubber products----- -------------- ------ -----

124.9 » 125. 4
122.7 » 124. 2
126.3 126.3
124.3 »124. 7

124.8
122.3
126.3
124.2

125.7
126. 6
126.3
124.3

126. 2
129. 4
126. 3
124.3

127.3
135.5
126.3
124.3

127.7
137. 3
126.3
124.3

126.4
130.3
126.3
124.3

126.0
126.6
126.3
125.2

126.3
128.3
126. 3
125.2

127.8
136.3
126.3
125.2

130.0
138. 6
129.6
125.8

133.4
152. 7
130. 5
127.1

109.5
129.0
106.1
103.6

Lumber and wood products____________________
Lumber
__________________________
Mill work
_ __________________________
Plywood _______ _______ - .............. .............. ...

121. 6 ' 121.8
120.8 » 121.0
132.0 132.0
112.4 112.4

122.2
121.5
132.0
112.0

121.7
120.9
131.9
112.0

121.1
120.3
131.9
110.9

120.5
120. 1
129.3
108.5

119.7
119.8
128.3
102.3

119.7
120.0
127.5
102.3

120.2
120.2
127.7
106.1

120.4
120.6
127.2
106.0

120.5
120.6
127.2
106.0

120.2
120. 4
126.8
105.8

119.9
120.1
126. 4
105. 7

112.4
113. 5
110.9
101.7

Pulp, paper, and allied products________________
Wood pulp ______________________________
Wastepaper
___________________________
Paper" - - - - - ................................................................
Paperboard
____________________________
Converted paper and paperboard____________
Building paper and board---------- -----------------

115.3 115.4
108.8 108.8
85.0
85.0
124.7 124.9
123.2 123.1
111.5 » 111.4
123.0 123.0

115.3
108.8
88.3
124.9
123.1
111.4
118.2

115.1
108.8
83.8
124.9
123.4
111. 1
118.2

115.3
108.8
83.8
124.9
123. 5
111.5
118.2

115.8
108.8
87.0
124. £
124.2
112.3
118.2

115.9
108.8
89.3
124. £
124. 4
112.3
118.2

115.5
108.8
65.7
124.9
124.8
112.3
118.2

115.5
109.3
71.2
124.9
124. 6
112.2
115.8

115.6
109.3
78.5
124.0
124.6
112.6
115.8

115.6
109.3
65. 7
124.0
124.6
113.0
115. 8

115.3
109.3
44.3
123. 8
125.4
113. 2
115. 8

116.7
113.3
55.1
124.2
129.3
113. 7
115. 8

95.9
90.6
79.0
103.3
97.2
93.2
106.3

Metals and metal products_____________________
Iron and steel
__________________________
Nonferrous metals__________________________
Metal containers __________________________
Hardware________ _____________ __________
Plumbing equipment--------------- ------------------Heating equipment_____ ____ ______________
Structural metal products______ ___________
Nonstructural metal products....................... .......

126.8 » 125.7
130.7 » 128.£
127.6 126.6
126.6 126.6
134. » 133.
1 1 3 .8
1 1 3 .5
114.5 114. 4
114.4 » 113.6
124.1 »124.0

125.0
127. 7
128.2
126.5
127.9
113.8
113. f
113.6
122.8

125. 5
127.7
131.5
125. i
126.2
114.3
113.9
113.6
122.2

124.6
127.5
124.4
125.3
125.9
114.3
113.9
113.9
126.7

124.0
127. 1
122. 5
125. i
125.9
113.6
113.8
113.9
126.5

124.0
127. C
122.3
125.4
125.9
118.1
113.6
113.9
126.5

123.9
127.0
122.5
125.1
125.3
118.1
113.6
114.1
125.9 |

124.1
127.3
122.9
125.1
125.3
118.1
113.7
U4.0
125.8

124.6
127.5
124.7
124.2
123.8
118.1
113. 7
115.6
125.6

124.1
127. 2
124.4
120.7
123.8
118.1
113. 7
115. 4
124. 8|

121.9
122.3
124.0
120. 5
123. 9
118. 1
113. 6I
115.4 |
124.4 !

121.1
122. 4
120.0
120, 5
123. 9
118.0
113.5
115.4
124.4

108.8
113.1
101.8
109.0
111. 1
103.2
102.0
100.1
113.2

Other leather products- ----------- ----------------Fuel, power, and lighting materials---------------------

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

926

D: PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

MONTHLY LABOR

T able D-8: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities ^Continued
[1947-49=100]
June
1953 2

Commodity group

M ay
1953

Apr.
1953

Mar.
1953

Feb.
1953

Jan.
1953

Dec.
1952

121.5

121.4
121.7
126.3
129.0
121.9
119.6
119.6
119.7

Machinery and motive products......................... .......
Agricultural machinery and equipment.............
Construction machinery and equipment_____
Metalworking machinery___________________
General purpose machinery and equipment___
Miscellaneous machinery__________________
Electrical machinery and equipment_________
Motor vehicles____________________________

<• 122. 4
122.5 122.4
129.4 ' 129.1
131.1 130.1
124.7 <■123. 8
1 2 2 .2 ' 1 2 2 .0
124.0 ' 1 2 2 . 6
118.6 ' 118.6

Furniture and other household durables...... ............
Household furniture __ ____ __________ . . .
Commercial furniture______________________
Floor covering_______________ ______ _______
Household appliances________ ____ __________
Radios _______________________ _ _
Television sets______________________ .
Other household durable goods______________

114.2 114.1
113.9 114.0
124.3 124.3
124.8 ' 125.0
108.1 108.1
95.3
94.9
74.9
74.9
125.5 125.4

113.0
113.8
123.2
124.2
108.0
94.9
74.9
125.4

113.1
113.6
123.2
124.1
107.9
95.5
74.9

Nonmetallic minerals—structural_____________
Flat glass_________ ____________ ____ _____
Concrete ingredients__________________ _____
Concrete products. . ______ _____________
Structural clav products________________ .
Gypsum products............ .............. .......................
Prepared asphalt roofing..__________________
Other nonmetallic minerals.____________ ____

117.9 ’■117.2
116.4
1 2 1 .0
118.2 117.9
115.5 ' 115. 5
125.2 124.7
122. 1
1 2 2 .1
106.2 106.0
116.4 115.3

116 9
116.4
117.6
114.2
124.6

Tobacco manufactures and bottled beverages 4 ____
Cigarettes 4 __________ _____ ______ _
Cigars 4____________________ ________
Other tobacco products 4_____________
Alcoholic beverages 4 ____________ ____ _
Nonalcoholic beverages_____________________

114.9
124.0
102.9
121.5

114.8
124.0
102.9
121.5

1 1 0 .0
1 2 0 .6

1 1 0 .0

1 1 0 .0

1 1 0 .0

1 1 0 .1

119.9

119.8

119.8

119.8

M iscellaneous________________
1 oys, sporting goods, small arms
______
Manufactured animal feeds__________
Notions and accessories_____
Jewelry, watches, photo equipment
Other miscellaneous________

95.9
114.0
83.7
93.2

’■99.7
114.3
91.1
93.2
1 0 1 . 8 r 101.9
1 2 0 . 2 | ' 1 2 0 .3

98. 5
113.7
88.7
93.2

101.7
112.9
95.0
94.3

1 0 1 .2
1 1 2 .8

103.0

94.4
92.9

97.9
92 9

102 1

1 0 1 .8
1 2 1 .1

1 0 1 .8
1 2 1 .0

1 0 1 .0
1 2 1 .2

1 0 1 .0
1 2 0 .8

1 2 2 .8

1 2 2 .0

122.3
128.6
129.8
123.6
1 2 0 .6

121.3
118.9

1 2 1 .8
1 2 2 .2

1 2 1 .6
1 2 1 .8

127.1
129.1

126.2
129.0

1 2 2 .1

1 2 2 .0
120. 1

120.3
119.9
1 2 0 .0

119.7
119.9

1 2 1 .8

126.2
129.0
121.9
119.7
119.6
119.8

1 2 1 .8

112.9
113.4
123.2
124.1
107.4
95.5
75.6
121.7

1 2 1 .2

115.1
116.4
113.8

114.6
114.4
113.1

114.6
114.4
113. 1

112.7
113.2
123. 0
124.1
107.4
95.0
74.5

Nov.
1952

Oct.
1952

121. 4

121.3
121. 5
125.8
129.1

Sept.
1952

1 2 1 .8

1 2 1 .8

119.6
119.5
119.7

119.4
119.0
119.7

121.5
121.5
125.8
129.2
122.3
119. 2
119. 7
119.7

1 2 1 .6

126.2
128.9

112.3
113.0
123.2
122.7
107.5
95.0
74.9
119.6

1 1 2 .1
1 1 2 .8

1 1 2 .0
1 1 2 .6

1 1 2 .0
1 1 2 .6

123.2
122.4
107.2
(3)
(3)
119.6

123.2
122.4
107.2
(3)
(3)
119.5

122. 5
122.4
107.3
(3)
(3)
119.5

114. 5
114.4
112.9
112.7
124.0
117.7
106.0
115.1

114.4
114.4
113.0
112.7
124.0
117.7
106.0
112.7

113.8
114.4
112.9
112. 7
121.3
117.7
106.0

Aug.
1952
121.4
121. 5
125.3
129.1

July
1952
121.4
121. 5
125.4
129.0

1 2 2 .2

1 2 2 .2

119.1
119.8
119.7

119.0
119. 9
119.7

111. 5
112. 5
122.5
118.9
106.8
(3)
(3)
119.4

111. 6
112. 6

June
1952

June
1950

121 3
121 5
125. 4
127.9
122. 4
119. 0

106 3
108 3
108.1
108.8
107.0
105 0

1 2 0 .0

1 0 2 .1

119.7

106.7

1 1 1 .6

103 1
1 0 1 .8

1 0 0 .1

(3)
119.4

112. 7
123.2
119.1
106.3
(»)
(3)
119.3

113.8
114.4
112.9
112. 4
121.3
117.7
106.0
111.9

113.8
114. 4
112.9
112. 4
121 4
117.7
106. 0
111.9

105.4
105. 6
105. 7
104.5
110. 5
102.3
98.9
105.7

123.2
119.1
106.8
( 3)

106.2
109.1
( 3)
( 3)

106.8

1 1 2 .8

1 1 2 .8

106.0
115.3

124.3
118.3
106.0
115.3

124.0
117.7
106.0
115.3

124.0
117.7
106.0
115.3

114. 6
114.4
113.1
112.7
124.0
117.7
106.0
115.3

1 1 2 .0

113.8
114.4
112.9
112. 4
121.3
117. 7
106.0
111.9

114.8
124.0
102.9
121. 5

114.8
124.0
102.9
122. 4

111.9

111 9

1 1 0 .8

110 8

1 1 0 .8

1 1 0 .8

1 1 0 .8

1 1 0 .8

105.7
102.4
118.4

105.7
102.4
118.4

105.7
102.4
118.4

105.7

101.4

1 1 2 .0

105.7
102.4
118.4

1 1 0 .8

1 0 2 .0

105.7
101.5
118.4

1 0 2 .8
1 0 0 .6

1 1 1 .2

1 1 1 .2

1 1 1 .2

1 1 1 .2

1 1 1 .2

119.7

1 1 1 .2

119.7

119.7

119.7

119.7

119.7

107.3
98.0
114.8
111. 2
119.7

105.1
113.1
92.9

105.7
113.2
103.3
91.1

108.4
113.2
108.4
90. 9

108.3
113.1
108.3
90.8

108.9
113.1
109.5
90.8

105.5
113.3
102. 7
91. 5

108.1
113. 5
107.9
91. 5

1 0 1 .0
1 2 0 .8

1 0 1 .0
1 2 0 .8

1 0 1 .0
1 2 0 .8

1 0 1 .0
1 2 0 .8

1 0 1 .1
1 2 0 .8

1 0 1 .1
1 2 0 .8

120.5

1 2 2 .1

i The revised wholesale price index (1947-49=100) is the official index (or
January 1952 and subsequent months. The official index (or December 1951
and previous dates is the former index (1926=100). The revised index has
been computed back to January 1947 for purposes of comparison and analysis.
Prices are collected from manufacturers and other producers. In some cases
nicy are secured from trade publications or from other Government agencies
which collect price quotations in the course of their regular work. For a more
detailed description of the index, see A Description of the Revised Wholesale
Price Index, M onthly Labor Review, February
1952 (p. ISO), or reprint
S o r i a 1 XTrv T? o n G V
*

1 1 2 .0

102.9
120.3

1 1 2 .8

102.9
120.3
110.7
119.7
1 1 2 .8

118.4

1 0 1 .0

103.3
100.9
1 0 0 .8

96.9
104. 8
93. 7
88. 7
96.6
105.4

Preliminary.
Not available.
4
Figures shown in this series are the official indexes. Beginning wdth Jan­
uary 1953 the method of calculating excise taxes and discounts was changed
and official indexes for earlier dates are not strictly comparable with these.
For analytical purposes indexes prior to 1953 have been recalculated for com­
parability and are available on request.
' Revised.
1

1

T able D-9: Special wholesale price indexes1
[1947-49 = 100]
1953

1952

Commodity group
Jun e 2 M ay
AH foods______
A i l U S D _______

Special metals and metal products
Metalworking m a ch in ery ______
Machinery and equipment
Total tractors. _
Steel mill p ro d u cts_____
Building m aterials_________
Soaps_____ __
Synthetic detergents____
Refined petroleum products.......................
East coast petroleum ...
Mid-continent petroleum
Gulf coast petroleum
Pacific coast petroleum
Pulp, paper and products, excl. bldg, paper
1 See footnote 1, table D-8.
2 Preliminary.
Revised.

'


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

103.9
100.9
124.9
138 3
125.2
123.8
137.1
120.5
85.7
90.8
109.1
107.3

104.1
10S.5
' 124.1
’ 138.2
' 124. 4
123.8
>• 134.4
' 120. 2
r 87.1
90.8
109.1
107.8
1 0 0 .0
99.6
116.8 116.8
118.8 118.8
115.1 > 115.2

Janu­
April March Febru­
ary
ary
103.4
98.9
123.6
137.6
123.7
123.6
131.1
119.9
87.2
90.8
108.9
109.3
99.6
115.2
118.8
115.2

104.0
1 0 2 .8

124.2
136.6
1 2 2 .8
1 2 2 .8

131.1
119.2
86.7
91.8
108.6
108.5
99.6
114.6
118.8
115.0

104.1
108.0
123.5
136.5
122.5
121.7
130.9
118.7
8 6 .6

91.8
107.2
108.8
99.7
114.6
108.7
115.2

D e­
cem­
ber

N o­
vem­
ber

Sep­
tem­
ber

Au­
gust

91.8
108.0

121.3
131.0
118.6
87.0
91.8
108.4

110.7
108.1
123.4
136.3
122.4
121.3
131.2
118.7
87.0
91.8
108. 5

111.5
99.8
123. 1
136.2
122.3
120.7
131.1
118.6
87. 5
91.0
108.3
1 1 1 .8

Octo­
ber

105.0
110.5
123.0
136.4
122.4
121.7
131.1
118.5
87.1
91.8
107. 7

130.9
118.3
87. 2
91.8
107.7

1 1 1 .6
1 0 1 .0

1 1 1 .8
1 0 1 .0

1 1 1 .8
1 0 1 .8

1 1 1 .8
1 0 1 .8

115.0
104.2
115.7

1 1 1 .8
1 0 2 .0

115.0
104.2
115.8

115.0
104.2
115.4

115.0
107.0
115.5

115.0
107.0
115.6

104. 5
104.6
123.0
136.4
122.4
1 2 1 .6

1950

108.6
113.2
122.9
136.3
122.3
121.5
130.9
118.4
8 6 .8

109. 5
1 0 1 .6

123.1
136.3
1 2 2 .2

101.5
115.0
107.0
115.6

July

111.3
102. 9
121. 4
136.1
122.3
120.7
124.7
118.0
87. 5
91.0
109.6
114. 4
103.0
116.0
107.0
115.3

June

108.1

102. 8
1 2 0 .8

136.1
1 2 2 .2

120. 7
124.8
117.8
87.2
91. 0
109.9
1 1 2 .6

104.2
116.6
107.0
116. 7

June

95.0
92. 4
108. 3
109.8
106.1
107.5
114. 9
107. 5
80.9
82.9
1 0 2 .1

98.1
1 0 1 .8

109. 7
94.1
95.6

927

E: WORK STOPPAGES

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

E: Work Stoppages
T able E -l: Work stoppages resulting from labor-management disputes 1
Workers involved in stoppages

Number of stoppages

Man-days idle during month
or year

M onth and year
Beginning in
month or year

_
______________
___________ __________

2,862
3', 573
4,750
4 ,985
3,693
3,419
3, 606
4,843
4,737
5,117

1952: June _ _________________________ _____________
July___________________________________________
A ugust 2
- ____________________________
September_____________________________________
October. ______________________________________
November____________ ________________________
December . ___________________________________
1953: January 3 _________ _______ - ____ - - ___ February 3 _____________________________________
M arch 3
_ ___
___
_____
___
A pril3 ____ ______ _____ - __ _________- -M ay 3
_ ______ ____ ___ ___ _____________
J u n e 3 _______________________________________

435
433
494
522
459
269
179
350
350
450
500
525
500

1 Q47-4Q

]

'

(fivpfiigp.)

_ _ _______________
__________________
_______ ____ ___
. _ _______________
_ _ _______________

Q4fi
Q4 7
1Q4R
1 Q4Q
1
]

1 q/s1
]Q59!

_________

_

i All known work stoppages, arising out of labor-management disputes,
involving six or more workers and continuing as long as a full day or shift
are included in reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures on “ work­
ers involved” and “man-days idle” cover all workers made idle for one or
more shifts in establishments directly involved in a stoppage. They do not


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

In effect dur­
ing month

Beginning in
month or year

In effect dur­
ing month

1.130.000
2.380.000
3,470,000
4, 600, 000
2,170,000
1,960. 0 0 0
3,030, 000
2,410,000
2 , 2 2 0 ,0 0 0
3, 540,000
719
694
786
828
768
535
369
500
550
650
700
750
725

2 0 1 ,0 0 0

990,000

166, 0 0 0
228,000
250, 000
450,000
98,800
33, 600
200. 000
120. 000
180,000
275,000
270, 000
250,000

8 6 6 ,0 0 0

380, 000
378, 000
584.000
215, 000
82,300
250,000
200, 000
230, 000
350. 000
370. 000
400,000

Number

Percent of esti­
mated work­
ing time

16, 900,000
39. 700,000
38, 000, 000
116, 0 0 0 , 0 0 0
34, 600, 000
34,100, 000
50, 500, 000
38, 800. 000
22,900. 0 0 0
59,100,000

0.27
.46
.47
1.43
.41
.37
.59
.44
.23
.57

15,000,000
12,700,000
2,810, 0 0 0
3,390,000
5,000,000
1, 560, 000
854.000
1, 250,000
1 , 0 0 0 .0 0 0
1 , 1 0 0 , 000
2, 500,000
3,000. 000
3, 750,000

1.80
1.46
.33
.39
.53
.2 0

.09
.15
.1 2
.1 2

.27
.34
.40

measure the indirect or secondary effects on other establishments or indus­
tries whose employees are made idle as a result of material or service shortages,
a Does not include memorial stoppage in coal mining industry.
3 Preliminary.

928

F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

MONTHLY LABOR

F: Building and Construction
T able F -l: Expenditures for new construction1
[Value of work put In place]
Expenditures (in millions)
Type of construction

1953
July

3

Jun e 3 M a y 3 April

1952
Mar . 3

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

1952

1951

Total

Total

Total new construction *................................. $3,273 $3,199 $2, 941 $2,735 $2, 521 $2, 278 $2,361 $2, 550 $2,858 $3, 094 $3,160 $3,118 $3,037 $32, 638 $30,895
Private construction_________ __________ 2,172 2,149 1,988 1,851 1,729 1, 575 1,627 1,795 1,934 2, 007 2,029 2, 030 1,992 21,812 21,564
Residential building (nonfarm)......... _. 1 , 1 0 1 1 , 1 1 0 1,007
944
758
863
942 1, 024 1,051 1,045 1, 047 1,028 1 1 , 1 0 0 10, 973
816
New dwelling u n its..____________
980
970
880
830
675
770
735
850
935
915
930
930
910 9,870
9, 849
Additions and alterations________
107
105
107
64
94
74
74
63
98
91
97
99
101
934
1, 045
Nonhousekeeping *______________
24
22
23
19
19
20
18
18
18
18
18
18
17
185
190
Nonresidential building (nonfarm ) 3 __
493
451
479
434
430
426
433
431
441
443
434
421
414 5,014
5,152
Industrial_________________ _____
187
179
192
204
198
193
193
201
194
193
190
183
181 2,320
2,117
Commercial ___________________
165
129
152
112
113
114
112
109
105
113
101
98
99 1,137
1,371
Warehouses, office, and loft
buildings__________________
60
52
56
49
49
50
51
50
49
44
46
41
43
544
515
Stores, restaurants, and garages.
105
77
96
64
62
65
62
58
64
59
57
55
58
622
827
Other nonresidential building____
149
140
130
120
118
118
121
128
136
143
143
134 1, 557
140
1, 664
Religious___ ____ _____ ______
41
35
38
34
33
33
35
37
39
38
38
33
36
452
399
Educational.................................
36
32
34
31
31
30
32
33
33
32
33
31
29
345
351
Social and recreational_______
15
14
13
10
10
11
11
11
12
12
12
12
11
164
125
Hospital and institutional 7 ___
27
26
26
25
26
26
28
27
34
33
30
36
35
394
419
Miscellaneous________ ____ _
30
24
28
19
17
20
19
16
26
23
27
25
26
284
288
Farm constructions_________________
155
138
148
120
100
108
97
97
112
133
162
175
171 1,610
1, 646
Public utilities_______________ _____ _
399
410
380
352
275
326
314
275
347
381
375
379
370 4,003
3, 729
Railroad._____ ______ ____ _____
43
41
40
40
34
29
27
43
38
48
39
33
38
399
438
Telephone and telegraph_________
53
52
52
43
48
48
44
45
48
53
51
50
51
570
487
Other public utilities ...... ..........
314
306
288
264
205
238
202
226
274
261
291
296
281 2,995
2,843
All other private *___________ ____ _
13
12
13
9
8
8
9
8
8
7
7
8
9
64
85
Public construction_____________________ 1 , 1 0 1 1,050
953
703
792
884
734
755
924 1,087 1,131 1,088 1,045 1 0 , 826
9,331
Residential building •_______________
51
49
50
49
48
47
49
47
51
49
54
56
54
654
595
Nonresidential building (other than
military or naval facilities)..................
389
384
374
369
315
353
342
328
361
379
393
392
371 4,119
3,469
Industrial____ ____ _____________
169
172
162
123
153
153
142
131
154
166
177
176
161 1,667
946
Educational____________________
144
142
140
131
139
133
134
132
136
137
139
140
138 1,619
1, 513
Hospital and institutional________
30
32
33
34
33
33
34
36
38
41
40
41
43
473
528
Other nonresidential. __________
43
41
39
28
38
34
31
30
33
36
36
33
31
482
360
Military and naval facilities 19. _____
121
126
115
104
111
114
111
109
121
134
128
134
128 1,388
887
Highways _________________________
360
330
260
200
110
140
112
115
362
240
380
342
328 2,860
2,518
Sewer and w a t e r ...___ ________ _
67
63
61
54
67
60
56
56
61
58
62
64
63
716
692
Miscellaneous public service fenter­
prises 11__________ ______ _______
20
15
17
11
14
13
13
13
16
21
19
19
17
193
213
Conservation and developm ent..........
78
76
70
56
65
70
61
67
74
81
81
76
77
854
853
All other public 13________ _____
9
10
9
8
5
6
5
5
6
5
6
6
6
80
66
1 Joint estimates of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of
Labor, and the Building Materials Division, U. S. Department of Com­
merce. Estimated construction expenditures represent the monetary value
of the volume of work accomplished during the given period of time. These
figures should be differentiated from permit valuation data reported in the
tabulations for building authorized (tables F-3 and F-4) and the data on
value of contract awards reported in table F-2.
3 Preliminary.
3 Revised.
‘ Includes major additions and alterations.
* Includes hotels, dormitories, and tourist courts and cabins.
« Expenditures by privately owned public utilities for nonresidential
building are included under “ Public utilities.”


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

? Includes Federal contributions toward construction of private nonprofit
hospital facilities under the National Hospital Program.
! Covers privately owned sewer and water facilities, roads and bridges, and
miscellaneous nonbuilding items such as parks and playgrounds.
* Includes non housekeeping public residential construction as well as
housekeeping units.
10 Covers all construction, building as well as nonbuilding (except for
production facilities, which are included in public industrial building).
11 Covers primarily publicly owned airports, electric light and power
systems, and local transit facilities.
13
Covers public construction not elsewhere classified such as parks
playgrounds, and memorials.

929

F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

T able F-2: Value of contracts awarded and force-account work started on federally financed

new construction, by type of construction 1
Value (in thousands)
1952

1953 «

Type of construction
M ay

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

Jan.

Dec.*

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June*

May

1952

1951

Total

Total

Total new construction*. $245,615 $276,006 $226,027 $179, 773 $2 2 0 , 337 $633, 2 2 2 $314, 555 $243,803 $507, 192 $460, 662 $225, 787 $600, 148 $293, 557 $4, 420,908 $4, 201, 939
278,630
110,144
6 ,0 2 0
8 , 012
3, 924 17, 556
8 , 496
4,207 20,936 16,567
3, 264 1 2 , 262 13, 500 17,363 11,805
98,903 138,440 70, 417 1 1 1 , 985 134, 745 182, 651 200,662 96,240 368, 911 340, 903 90, 547 372, 620 152, 450 2,350, 784 2,179, 280
B u ild in g .____________
11,031
8 , 966
6
6
8
362
2
,
067
149
367
1.009
1
,
321
790
3,
580
371
3,025
4, 807
620
Residential- _____
98, 283 135,415 69,837 107, 178 134, 374 182, 330 199, 872 95,231 367, 762 337, 536 90, 185 370, 553 151, 782 2,339,753 2.170,314
N onresidential______
85,396
60,
570
879
290
941
9.
073
1
2
,
9,
405
980
8
,
7,153
8,
9, 569
11,169 16,714 15,874
8 , 194
E ducational*... . . .
5, 275
Hospital and insti­
154,
690
305,
787
060
15,171
054
931
2
0
,
572
29,
11,208
6
,
8,870
9,755
3,
5, 192 15, 575
5,303
22,117
9, 278
tutional____ ____
Administrative and
39,015
67,146
3,422
514
891
0
2
2
2
,
1
,
1,702
011
2,088
11,
1,978
4, 931
5,
1 , 785
4,462
4,078
3, 531
general*. ---- ..
Other nonresidential
building . . ___ 60, 535 109,320 42,230 92, 007 108, 593 159, 952 181, 761 72,916 350, 199 298, 519 71, 667 326, 312 132, 310 2,060, 652 1, 746, 811
91,911
66,156
2, 702
7, 773
4, 131
1 , 780
7, 701
7, 652
7,134
2,360
7, 902
7, 435 1 2 , 566
Airfield buildings 7 10,145 11,829
892,384
31,187 71, 527 13,915 77, 240 6 8 , 641 108, 832 135, 302 20, 196 301, 919 252, 033 32, 103 169, 787 57,021 1, 225, 749
Industrial 8
284,013
225,909
18, 095 2 0 , 305 58, 360 23,178
6 , 271
1 , 612
13, 862 14, 515 17, 545
1 1 , 736
6,617 15,049
4, 451
Troop housing. .
261, 294
75,824
4, 165 38, 013 35,998
2,977
7, 440 14, 453 2 0 , 1 0 2 1 1 , 991 1 0 , 551
1 , 110
4,962
5,197
8 , 667
Warehouses
223, 440
460, 783
7,929
7,327 18, 695 2 2 , 773 1 0 , 139 1 0 , 963 52, 379 13, 411
4, 143
9,555 14,385
9, 988 16, 599
Miscellaneous *..
Conservation and de­
396,841
280,669
8,826
7, 912
3, 727 44, 720
4. 379 2 1 , 444 18, 852 20,969 31,632 27, 581
velopment................. 14,129 10,665 37,096
86,928
92,812
2,191
659 1 0 , 923
2 , 894
6,900 13, 970
5, 724
3, 456
5,577
444 1 0 , 461
3,083
Reclamation________
9; 419
River, harbor, and
309,
913
187,857
6,635
797
068
33,
611
018
24,
732
13,
3,
5,
7,582 31,519
flood control
4,710
3, 935 1 0 , 983 13, 128 17, 513
850, 946
997, 767
Highways____________ 109.809 92,717 90,443 47, 092 42, 101 56, 770 48, 663 76,838 78, 198 93, 360 105, 449 124, 689 105,228
281,
251
518,
216
039
10,896
464
895
144
2,585
9,
9,
14,
4,743
3, 304 345, 371 10, 920
2,981
8 , 709
11,815
Electrification ______
163,328
214, 991
7, 676 31, 524 10,137
16, 078 15,978 24, 703 14, 862
9, 580
6,761
4, 344
6 , 481
6,752 10, 267
AH other w---------------i Excludes classified military projects, but includes projects for the Atomic
Energy Commission. Data for Federal-aid programs cover amounts con­
tributed by both owner and the Federal Government. Force-account work
is done not through a contractor, but directly by a Government agency, using
a separate work force to perform nonmaintenance construction on the agency’s
own properties.
,
.
i Beginning with data for January 1953, awards of less than $25,000 in value
are excluded; over the past 2 years the total value of such awards has repre­
sented less than 1 % of the total.
* Includes major additions and alterations.
* Excludes hangars and other buildings, which are included under “ Other
nonresidential” building construction.
* Includes projects under the Federal School Construction Program, which
provides aid for areas affected by Federal Government activities.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

• Includes armories, offices, and customhouses.
7 Includes all buildings on civilian airports and military airfields and air
bases with the exception of barracks and other troop housing, which are in­
cluded under “Troop housing.”
• Covers all industrial plants under Federal Government ownership, in­
cluding those which are privately operated.
• Includes types of buildings not elsewhere classified.
10 Includes sewer and water projects, railroad construction, and other types
of projects not elsewhere classified.
•During June, the last month in the fiscal year, volume is relatively high
because of the large number of contracts customarily awarded.
December 1952 volume is high principally because of contracts let for ex­
pansion of TVA facilities to provide power for the Atomic Energy Commis­
sion and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

¿»30

F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

MONTHLY LABOR

T able F-3: Urban building authorized, by principal class of construction and by type of building 1
Number of new dwelling units—House­
keeping only

Valuation (in thousands)
New residential building
Period

Privately financed

Housekeeping
Total all
classes 3

NonPrivately financed dwelling unite
Publicly housefinanced keeping«
dwell­
2 -fam­
M ulti­
ing
1 -family
Total
family 4 units
ily 3

1942___________
$2, 707. 573 $598, 570
1946
____
4, 743,414 2,114,833
1947
____
5, 563,348 2, 885,374
1948
____
6 , 972, 784 3, 422, 927
1949
...................... ......................
7, 398,144 3, 724, 924
1950
____
10, 480,350 5,819, 360
1951 •__________
8,918,168 4,380,137
1952 •__________
8 , 926, 672 4, 647,014

$478, 658
1,830, 260
2, 361, 752
2, 745, 219
2,845. 399
4. 850, 763
3, 817, 697
4,050,435

$42, 629
103, 042
151, 036
181. 493
132,365
178, 985
171,343
213, 790

New non­
resi­
dential
building

Addi­
tions,
altera­
tions,
and
repairs

Total

$77, 283 $296,933 $22, 910 $1,510,688 $278, 472 184.892
181, 531 355, 587 43.369 1, 458, 602 771.023 430,195
372, 586
42, 249 29. 831 1, 713, 489 892, 404 502,312
496, 215 139. 334 38,034 2, 367. 940 1,004, 549 516,179
747,160 285, 627 39, 785 2,410,315 937, 493 575, 286
798, 612 327, 553 84, 504 3,156. 476 1. 092. 458 798, 499
391,097 587, 476 37, 875 2, 815, 669 1,097, Oil 534,605
382,789 460,375 51, 713 2, 637,037 1,130,534 563,211

1 -fam­

2 -fam-

ily

ilv 3

138,908
358.151
393, 606
392, 532
413, 543
624. 377
435, 219
457,389

Pub­
Multi- licly fi­
nanced
fam­
ily 4

15, 747 30, 237
24, 326 47, 718
33. 423 75, 283
36. 306 87,341
26, 431 135, 312
33. 310 140.812
29,895 69,491
37,454 68,368

95,946
98,310
5,833
15,114
32,194
38. 953
6 6 , 640
53,626

1952:6 January__
February..
March___
April_____
M a y_____
June.......... .
July______
August___
September.
October__
November.
December-

527, 773
611,085
783, 787
858,403
829.940
887, 561
807,019
751,678
800,125
822, 292
644, 786
602, 2 2 2

267,068
345, 392
408, 651
465, 793
443,519
411,226
420,336
401, 450
438,618
450,175
319,189
275,596

230, 354
300, 957
353, 504
409, 964
388,013
368, 060
369, 052
347, 555
384, 202
388, 207
276, 724
233, 845

16, 287
17, 276
18, 807
20, 425
2 0 , 737
17, 489
17, 301
19,001
20, 719
17, 479
14,498
13, 770

20,426
27,160
36.341
35, 404
34, 769
25, 678
33,983
34, 894
33, 097
44, 489
27,967
27,981

28, 684
26, 089
80,957
75, 698
62, 057
63, 596
22,554
12,119
15, 947
15, 680
21,822
35,172

1.432
1 , 632
4,570
3,257
6 , 729
3,605
2.395
5,781
7,247
4,243
7. 451
3,370

159,148
160,555
197, 739
219, 5S1
211,040
291, 571
252,128
232, 974
233,568
246,654
217, 987
214, 99C

71, 441
77,417
91, 869
94,074
106, 595
117,562
109. 607
99,354
104, 746
105, 539
79, 237
73,094

34,426
43. 237
50, 026
56,325
53,352
48,909
50, 636
48, 768
52, 528
52, 785
38, 314
33,905

27,902
35.003
40, 204
45,964
43,672
41,107
41,842
39,110
42, 767
42, 655
30,854
26,309

2,892
3,019
3,471
3, 566
3,550
3,080
2,938
3,289
3, 588
3,055
2, 521
2,485

3, 632
5, 215
6,351
6,795
6,130
4, 722
5, 856
6,369
6,173
7, 075
4,939
5,111

3, 419
3,047
10, 094
9,235
6,736
7,008
2,483
1,663
1,701
1,624
2,475
4,141

1953: January__
February..
March........
A p ril6____
M ay 7_ __

590,397
665,229
941,507
1,015, 568
907,930

278,931
331, 971
482,342
501,327
453,804

233,070
281, 720
417, 691
438,360
394.116

13,369
16,345
19,861
20,964
19, 975

32,492
33,906
44, 790
42,003
39, 713

32,280
33,111
80, 979
26,005
22, 708

5,153
3,101
6 , 693
7,077
6,235

195,643
213,028
268.016
362,123
311, 588

78, 390
84,088
103,478
119,037
113, 595

34, 914
39,953
56,068
57,225
52,638

26,833
31,047
44, 647
46,074
42,396

2,347
2,815
3,342
3,524
3, 274

5, 734
6,091
8.079
7, 627
6,968

3.973
3,869
9, 268
3,918
2,412

i Building for which building permits were issued and Federal contracts
awarded in all urban places, including an estimate of building undertaken
in some smaller urban places that dc not issue permits.
The data cover federally and nonfederally financed building construction
combined. Estimates of non-Federal (private and State and local govern­
ment) urban building construction are based primarily on building-permit
reports received from places containing about 85 percent of the urban popula­
tion of the country; estimates of federally financed projects are compiled from
notifications of construction contracts awarded, which are obtained from
other Federal agencies. Data from building permits are not adjusted to allow
for lapsed permits or for lag between permit issuance and the start of construc­
tion. Thus, the estimates do not represent construction actually started
during the month.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Urban is defined according to the 1940 Census, and includes all incorporated
places of 2,500 inhabitants or more in 1940 and a small number of places,
usually minor civil divisions, classified as urban under special rule.
Sums of components do not always equal totals exactly because of rounding.
2 Covers additions, alterations, and repairs, as well as new residential and
nonresidential building.
3 Includes units in 1 -family and 2 -family structures with stores.
4 Includes units in multifamily structures with stores.
3 Covers hotels, dormitories, tourist cabins, and other nonhousekeeping
residential buildings.
9 Revised.
7 Preliminary,

REVIEW, AUGUST 1953

F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

931

T able F-4: New nonresidential building authorized in all urban places,1 by general type and by

geographic division 2

Valuation (in thousands)
Geographic division and
type of new nonresi­
dential building

1953
M ay3

Apr.4

Mar.5

1952
Feb.

Jan.

Dec.

Nov.

Oct.

Sept.

Aug.

July

June

M ay

1952

1951

Total

Total

All ty p es............— ......... $311, 588 $362,123 $268,016 $213,028 $195,643 $214, 990 $217, 087 $246, 654 $233, 568 $232, 974 $252,128 $291, 571 $211, 040 $2, 637,037 $2,815,669
8,914
New England........... 21,950 22,552 14,538
7,398 14,312 20,554 16,337 17, 527 14, 902 12, 664
165, 928
4,958 12, 952
197,698
Middle Atlantic___ 46,399 50,012 40,731 29,334 21,679 30,952 52,323 30, 510 41, 537 37, 217 31,335 53,147 34, 949
440, 529
423,143
East North Central. 76, 481 92,818 49,537 57,025 38, 805 46,413 50,315 55, 290 55,860 54, 531 60, 295 56,847 67, 710
597, 588
744,183
West North Central. 33, 201 25,074 19,846 18,280 11, 544 18,391 10,736 25, 093 24,945 24, 610 22,897 18, 057 18,426
215, 776
205,435
36, S30 52,476 22, 261 35,083 30, 272 26, 219 21,967 21,322 23, 856 22, 017 25, 571 32, 018 19,354
276, 783
South Atlantic____
306,997
6, 529 11, 631 10,891
East South Centra).
7, 071
120,165
7,737
9,879 11,913 10,443 10,977 11,803 22, 304
9,150
117,328
7, 246
274,142
West South Central. 30, 690 50, 546 28, 222 22,049 26,945 23,035 17, 547 22, 861 22, 221 14, 476 34,408 24, 402 19, 945
281, 588
8,085
M ountain___ ____ _ 10, 451 17,562 12,836
9,958
7,500
6, 554
8, 558 15, 731
101, 699
6, 904 12, 950
8,978
9,602
103,345
49,058 39,452 69,154 28,170 36, 599 44, 886 33,105 46,162 30, 870 45, 066 42,360 56,400 26, 585
444,429
Pacific.......... ...........
435,953
Industrial buildings •___ 46,796 48,178 32,097
2,237
N ew England_____
1,904
2,559
7,103
Middle Atlantic___
6,983
9,010
East North Central. 20, 762 10, 228
7, 787
1,246
West North Central.
2,316
2,369
South Atlantic____
3, 689 12,340
1,752
447
East South Central.
924
3,771
West South Central.
1,713
1,987
856
492
M ountain................
668
709
9,107
5,954
Pacific__________
8,178
Commercial buildings A 99, 686 124, 887 84,822
New England_____
4,420
7,481
5,180
20, 467 17, 639 14,338
Middle Atlantic___
East North Central. 17, 706 35,344 14,945
West North Central. 10,296 12,813
5, 278
14,316 11,493
South Atlantic____
9,166
2,782
East South Central.
2,951
2,885
West South Central. 10, 736 13,493 13,347
4,204 10,471
M ountain....... ...........
3,186
14, 759 13,201 16,499
Pacific____________
121,921
123, 702 114,991
Community buildings 7_
9,508
9,282
New England_____
4, 397
14,607 19,593 16,169
Middle Atlantic___
East North Central. 25, 579 27,351 19,144
6, 626 10,319
West North Central. 18,038
15,571 24, 538
7,181
South Atlantic____
2,258
3, 575
East South Central
4,977
West South Central. 15, 058 14,414 10,292
3,432
M ountain................
7, 515
4,718
17,871 13,605 34,997
Pacific___________
6,003
Public buildings8............ 13,027 13,476
1,294
149
916
New England...........
1,585
609
51
Middle Atlantic___
1,133
5,023
5,743
East North Central.
West North Central.
289
1,502
51
1,197
189
South Atlantic____
287
480
373
639
East South Central.
648
360
2,608
West South Central.
57
0
419
Mountain____ ____
3, 302
2,850
753
Pacific____________
Public works and utility
7. 787 31, 547 11,482
buildings8 __________
1,716
2,860
1,597
New England_____
1,586
709
1,065
Middle A tlan tic.. .
605
1,700
East North Central.
7, 383
376
573
351
West North Central.
1,767
673
2, 541
South Atlantic____
24
848
287
East South Central.
662
777 15, 505
West South Central.
44
128
120
M ountain_________
2,954
2,708
Pacific____________
1, 258
22,371 20,334 18,620
All other buildings10___
1,372
537
New England_____
1,631
1,625
2,097
Middle Altantic___
1,928
4, 829
East North Central.
6, 806
6,770
1,453
West North Central.
2, 758
1,465
2,206
1,384
1,277
South Atlantic____
778
East South Central.
671
383
2, 540
2,417
West South Central
2,046
1,307
M ou n ta in ________
2,221
1,158
3, 470
2,985
3,213
Pacific...... ..................

23, 252
1,284
3, 725
5,051
1, 629
1,577
577
361
4,475
4, 572
62,400
1,374
9,739
12,915
4,193
11,234
2,017
9, 291
3,031
8,606
80,144
1,561
14, 509
14,396
9, 515
15,302
5; 886
9; 063
621
9,290
22; 739
67
256
17,488
' 452
1,812
105
339
307
1,912

19, 088
1,109
3,086
4, 458
1, 712
2,780
1, 552
797
489
3,105
64, 662
5,105
7,149
11,075
2,175
10,470
3, 385
11,829
4,697
8,778
71,923
1,230
9,840
18, 737
6,189
9,082
1, 451
11,406
3,053
10, 935
10, 937
606
40
673
243
1,027
125
450
289
7,485

26,302 30,342
2, 512
1,923
4,121
6, 085
9,469 11, 612
1,582
1, 752
1,142
4, 076
109
1,938
647
640
338
1,208
4, 214
3,280
63,181 53, 673
1,647
2, 219
9,319 12,632
16,949
9, 555
4, 292
4,495
7,474
6,615
1,951
1,466
9,786
6,437
1,235
2,132
8,326
10,325
83,808 105, 549
2,145
8,001
13,951 30,392
13,746 18,161
9,416
3, 247
9,315 11,386
3,918
5,743
9,009
8, 624
2,541
7,255
15, 053 17, 453
5,814
13, 720
70
463
546
731
2,222
1, 638
682
0
1, 212
1, 926
248
0
349
1,119
184
281
7,458
405

22, 773
1,514
4, 522
5,059
3,954
1,936
399
812
361
4,215
84, 291
2,557
12, 519
25,865
6,048
9,246
2, 547
8,038
6,441
11, 029
84, 771
6, 750
10,435
15, 764
12, 210
7,975
8,041
8,428
3,356
11, 812
23, 037
6,421
165
1,188
544
814
50
2,163
451
11, 240

40,434 22, 893 36, 877
3,423
1, 679
3, 226
3,967
3,649
7, 628
7,136
8, 941
13,460
3,154
3, 515
2, 911
2,044
5,444
551
2,382
869
2,089
1,177
1,133
1, 505
774
1, 086
611
2, 571 10, 840
4,437
59,
906
75,300
56, 611
2,804
4, 254
2,765
15,082
9,125 10,064
11, 778 13,414 10,903
3,808
8,730
7, 518
8,102
6,887
7,427
3,474
2,106
2,030
7,999
5,356
11,800
2,003
1,572
2,243
14,144
8,538
7, 888
81,482 110, 577 106, 089
6, 490
8,306
9,210
13,811 19,382 12,144
20,169 22,433 27,160
9,713 12,426
10,105
5,155 10,503 10, 864
4,481
6,113
4,415
5,106 12,170
6,685
3,003
3, 870
2, 540
8,599 26,812 16,482
6,838
8, 268 10, 676
1,488
1,346
350
273
1,342
1,955
779
607
559
341
603
777
2,499
538
2,583
113
519
730
491
111
323
95
270
520
2,799
286
3,486

41, 207
1,312
8, 552
13, 707
1, 268
2,044
2, 270
2,306
288
9,461
65,784
2,394
10, 714
13,202
4,738
8,159
2,405
11, 469
4,205
8,497
98, 518
3,640
14, 574
17,084
8,508
15, 618
8,731
5,590
2,703
22,069
44, 088
2,813
5,854
2,717
632
2,204
8,148
2,007
7,165
12, 548

33, 613
351, 520
513,007
1,690
28, 097
31, 916
5,200
60, 949
97,144
17,457
111,839
205,815
1,412
24,305
25,306
656
25, 237
24,181
16, 084
2,460
28, 584
888
17,192
18,328
445
5,983
6,103
3,406
61,834
75,629
686,346
50, 877
739, 912
1,908
28, 766
36, 506
6,452
121,120
111, 793
12, 508
144,107
155, 535
4, 583
56,056
43, 206
7,347
87, 085
99, 315
1, 251
26, 015
36, 535
6,961
91, 774
93,132
2, 778
30,392
26,161
7,090
101, 032
137, 730
86,277 1,101,141 1,146, 507
78, 221
3,487
106,079
14,378
193,155
167,869
24,388
227,139
263,047
8, 252
103, 712
106,060
7,715
115,572
142,405
2,864
57, 008
43,328
117,264
10, 097
124,350
2,339
34,827
52,160
174, 243
12, 758
141,209
152, 537
11,460
109,308
559
13,951
4, 354
5,233
19,434
16, 242
2,150
15, 656
25,332
82
4,246
2,463
1, 623
16, 547
18,147
34
10,841
305
44
7,348
15,899
1, 650
14,480
4,101
84
50,035
22,466

12,758
379
345
4, 611
1,840
3,858
180
812
20
713
11, 736
292
760
2, 564
651
1,300
385
2,182
523
3,077

20,819
4,651
735
2,314
778
5,919
380
1,470
312
4,260
8, 215
252
830
1, 547
447
994
353
994
762
2,036

14,313
344
1,477
2,247
1,465
1,287
312
246
340
6,596
13, 666
681
1, 539
2,364
582
2,141
1,447
2, 228
509
2,174

9,889
1,260
791
661
330
420
410
784
128
5,105
21, 894
2,052
2,077
6, 753
2, 007
931
467
2,635
2, 213
2,761

7,919
359
1,413
1,826
700
986
407
1,002
444
782
21, 595
1,135
2,260
8, 020
3,108
1, 669
429
1,446
906
2, 622

23, 454
122
1, 749
6,225
1,186
1,378
649
10,645
559
942
18,420
914
1, 774
6,286
1,620
1, 275
704
1,599
841
3, 407

19, 766
1,648
11,403
2, 981
395
359
346
1,499
105
1,031
22, 209
858
2, 051
7,155
2, 515
3,634
405
1, 532
1, 265
2, 794

8,330
102
1,383
3,904
2,102
291
36
0
16
496
20,482
1,168
2,302
7,304
1,995
1, 723
426
1, 956
856
2,752

i Building for which permits were issued and Federal contracts awarded
in all urban places, including an estimate of building undertaken in some
smaller urban places that do not issue permits. Sums of components do not
always equal totals exactly because of rounding.
3 For scope and source of urban estimates, see table F-3, footnote 1.
3 Preliminary.
4 Revised.
5 Includes factories, navy yards, army ordnance plants, bakeries, ice plants,
industrial warehouses, and other buildings at the site of these and similar
production plants.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

8,740
924
494
5, 019
226
939
154
312
257
416
12, 969
781
1,991
3,745
1,389
673
330
1,185
583
2, 292

7,780
78
1,954
1, 824
195
950
988
807
397
588
23, 550
817
2,516
9,166
2, 041
2, 588
725
1, 751
876
3,071

135, 525
6,296
23,540
33, 612
7, 618
12, 736
3,720
19,991
3,365
24,648
209,968
10, 599
22,331
65, 234
19, 839
19, 605
6,497
20, 573
12, 651
32, 638

115, 708
8,801
11,161
35,028
9,672
9,629
1,988
11,058
2, 094
26, 279
191, 227
10,044
18, 935
59,426
18, 727
13, 320
6, 587
18, 821
12, 726
32, 640

« Includes amusement and recreation buildings, stores and other mercantile
buildings, commercial garages, gasoline and service stations, etc.
J Includes churches, hospitals, and other institutional buildings, schools
libraries, etc.
8 Includes Federal, State, county, and municipal buildings, such as
courthouses, city halls, fire and police stations, jails, prisons, arsenals,
armories, army barracks, etc.
» Includes railroad, bus and airport buildings, roundhouses, radiostations
gas and electric plants, public comfort stations, etc.
id Includes private garages, sheds, stables and bams, and other buildings
not elsewhere classified.

932

F: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

T able F-5: Number and construction cost of new permanent nonfarm dwelling units started, by
urban or rural location, and by source of funds 1
Number of new dwelling units started
All units

Period
Total
non­
farm

Privately financed
Rural
non­
farm

Total
non­
farm

Publicly financed

Estimated construction cost
(in thousands)s

Urban

Rural
non­
farm

Total
non­
farm

Urban

Rural
non­
farm

1925..
...................... ...................... ......................
......................
937,000
752,
000
185, 000
937,000
1933 3________________
93,000
45, 000
48,000
93,000
1941 «________________
706,100
434, 300
271, 800
619, 500
141, 800
1944 »________________
96, 200
45, 600
138, 700
1946
_________________________________
670, 500
403, 700
266, 800
662, 500
849,000
1947
__________
479, 800
369, 200
845, 600
931, 600
1948
__________
524, 900
406, 700
913, 500
1949..
...................... ......................1,025,100
......................588, 800
436,300
988, 800
1950«........... ..................
1, 396,000
827, 800
568, 200 1,352, 200
1951
__________
1, 091,300
595, 300
496,000 1,020,100
1952
__________
1,127,000
609,600
517,400 1, 068, 500

752,000
45,000
369, 500
93, 200
395, 700
476,400
510,000
556, 600
785, 600
531,300
554,600

185,000
48,000
250,000
45, 500
266, 800
369, 200
403, 500
432,200
566, 600
488, 800
513,900

0
0
86, 600
3,100
8, 000
3, 400
18,100
36, 300
43. 800
71, 200
58, 500

0
0
64,800
3.000
8.000
3,400
14, 900
32, 200
42, 200
64,000
55, 000

0 $4, 475,000 $4, 475,000
0
285, 446
285, 446
21, 800 2,826,192 2, 530, 765
100
496, 054
483, 231
0 3, 769, 767 3, 713, 776
0 5,643, 436 5, 617, 425
3,200 7, 203,119 7,028, 980
4,100 7, 702, 971 7, 374, 269
1,600 11,788,595 11, 418,371
7,200 9, 800, 892 9,186,123
3, 500 10,208, 983 9, 706, 276

1951: First quarter____
January.............
February...........
March________
Second quarter...
April.................
M ay....... ............
June........ ...........
Third quarter___
July__________
August...............
September........
Fourth quarter...
O c to b e r ...........
November.........
December..........

260,300
85, 900
80, 600
93, 800
329, 700
96, 200

Urban

132, 500
276,000
90, 500
89,100
96, 400
225,300
90, 000
74, 500
60, 800

147, 800
49, 600
47, 000
51, 200
192, 000
51, 900
55, 400
84, 700
141, 200
45, 900
45, 900
49, 400
114, 300
44, 400
38, 500
31, 400

112, 500
36, 300
33, 600
42, 600
137, 700
44, 300
45, 600
47, 800
134, 800
44, 600
43, 200
47,000
111,000
45, 600
36,000
29,400

248,900
82, 200
76, 500
90,200
280, 200
92, 300
97, 600
90, 300
270, 400
86, 800
88, 300
95, 300
220, 600
88, 900
72, 200
59, 500

137, 200
46,400
43, 200
47, 600
148, 500
48, 300
52,300
47, 900
135, 700
42, 300
45,100
48, 300
109, 900
43, 400
36,200
30, 300

111, 700
35, 800
33,300
42, 600
131, 700
44,000
45, 300
42, 400
134, 700
44, 500
43,200
47, 000
110, 700
45, 500
36,000
29,200

11, 400
3,700
4,100
3,600
49, 500
3, 900
3,400
42, 200
5,600
3,700
800
1,100
4,700
1.100
2,300
1,300

10, 600
3,200
3, 800
3,600
43, 500
3,600
3,100
36, 800
5,500
3,600
800
1,100
4, 400

1952: First quarter____
January______
February...........
March________
Second quarter..
April.......... ........
M ay...................
J u n e...................
Third quarter__
J u ly .................
August..............
September.........
Fourth quarter...
October______
November____
December____

246, 500
64, 900
77, 700
103, 900
319,300
106, 200
109, 600
103, 500
302, 500
102, 600
99, 100
100,800
258, 700
101,100
86,100
71, 500

137,400
36,100
42, 800
58, 600
175, 800
59,000
60, 700
56,100
156,000
52,400
50, 800
52,800
140,400
53,800
46,000
40,600

109,100
28,800
34, 900
45, 400
143, 500
47, 200
48,900
47, 400
146, 500
50, 200
48, 300
48, 000
118,300
47,300
40,100
30,900

226,800
61,400
74,300
91,100
294,900
97, 000
101,000
96, 900
297, 700
101,100
97, 400
99, 200
249,100
99, 200
82,300
67,600

119,100
32,800
39, 700
46, 600
152, 700
50, 400
52,400
49, 900
151,600
50, 900
49, 400
51,300
131, 200
52,100
42,300
36,800

107, 700
28,600
34,600
44, 500
142, 200
46, 600
48,600
47,000
146,100
50,200
48.000
47, 900
117,900
47,100
40, 000
30, 800

1953: First quarter 8__
January............
February...........
March 8______
Second quarter I0_
April..................
M a y_________
June 10...............

257,100
72,100
79, 200
105, 800
320,000
110,000
107, 000
103, 000

140,600
38, 400
43,100
59,100

116, 500
33, 700
36,100
46, 700

123,800
35, 400
38,600
49, 800

114, 300
32,800
35, 200
46, 300

(9)
(*)
(»)

00
(9)

238,100
68, 200
73,800
96,100
311,100
106| 500
104, 200
100, 400

101, 000

m

1 The estimates shown here do not include temporary units, conversions,
dormitory accommodations, trailers, or military barracks. They do include
prefabricated housing units.
These estimates are based on building-permit records, which, beginning
with 1945, have been adjusted for lapsed permits and for lag between permit
issuance and start of construction. They are based also on reports of Federal
construction contract awards and beginning in 1946 on field surveys in non­
permit-issuing places. The data in this table refer to nonfarm dwelling units
started, and not to urban dwelling units authorized, as shown in table F-3.
All of these estimates contain some error. For example, if the estimate
of nonfarm starts is 50,000, the chances are about 19 out of 20 that an actual
enumeration would produce a figure between 48,000 and 62,000.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

m
(>)

(8)
00

m

m

Total

Privately
financed

Publicly
financed
0
0
$295,427
12,823
55,991
26, Oil
174,139
328, 702
370, 224
614; 769
502, 707

2, 300
1,100

800
500
300
(7)
6,000
300
300
5,400
100
100
0
(7)
300
100
(7)
200

2, 293,974
755, 600
716, 629
821, 745
2,964, 456
866, 298
922, 661
1,175, 497
2, 527,033
827,173
804,317
895, 543
2, 015,075
806,955
672,078
536,042

2,191, 489
721, 014
681, 607
788, 868
2, 549, 238
828,339
895, 309
825, 590
2, 472,196
791, 783
795, 624
884, 789
1,973, 200
796, 682
650, 660
525,858

102,485
34', 586
35,022
32,877
415, 218
37,959
27, 352
349, 907
54, 837
35, 390
8,693
10, 754
41,875
10.273
21, 418
10, 184

19, 700
3, 500
3,400
12, 800
24,400
9,200
8, 600
6, 600
4,800
1, 500
1,700
1,600
9, 600
1,900
3,800
3, 900

18,300
3,300
3,100
11, 900
23,100
8, 600
8, 300
6,200
4, 400
1,500
1,400
1,500
9, 200
1.700
3.700
3, 800

1,400
200
300
900
1,300
600
300
400
400
(7)
300
100
400
200
100
100

2,167,659
566,665
682, 895
918,099
2, 920,186
949,001
1,006, 552
964, 633
2, 761, 316
945, 587
895, 675
920,054
2,359,822
928,677
785, 969
645,176

2,006,918
537,697
654, 631
814, 590
2, 705,653
874, 524
926,803
904, 326
2, 718, 369
931, 214
882,446
904, 709
2, 275, 336
910, 701
751, 664
612,971

160, 741
28,968
28, 264
103, 509
214,533
74, 477
79, 749
60. 307
42,947
14. 373
13, 229
15,345
84,486
17,976
34,305
32, 205

19,000
3, 900
5, 400
9,700
8,900
3,500
2,800
2, 600

16,800
3.000
4,500
9,300

2,200
900
900
400

2,346, 213
641, 703
720, 234
984, 276

2,183, 710
610, 344
674,399
898,967

162, 503
31, 359
45,835
85, 309

00
(<0
m

(9)
00
(9)

1,035,608
1,005, 806
(9)

1,004,058
978, 268
(9)

31, 550
27, 538
(9)

1, 000

1 Private construction costs are based on permit valuation, adjusted for
understatement of costs shown on permit applications. Public construc­
tion costs are based on contract values or estimated construction costs for
individual projects.
3 Depression, low year.
4 Recovery peak year prior to wartime limitations.
3 Last full year under wartime control.
6 Housing peak year.
7 Less than 50 units.
8 Revised.
• Not available.
10 Preliminary.

U. t . GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1953