Full text of Monthly Labor Review : July 1955, Vol. 78, No. 7
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Monthly
Labor /
Review
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
JULY
1955
VOL.
78 NO.
The Practice of Seniority
l. In Southern Pulp Mills
As a Factor in Layoffs
KALAMAZOO PUBLIC LIBRARY
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Secretary
JAMES P . MITCHELL,
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
A r y n e ss J oy W ic k e n s , Acting Commissioner
H erm an B. B y e r , Assistant Commissioner
H e n r y J. F itzgerald , Assistant Commissioner
C h a r les D . S tew a rt , Assistant Commissioner
J oseph P. G o ldberg , Acting Special Assistant to the Commissioner
W. D u a n e E v a n s , Chief Statistician
D orothy S. B rady, Chief, Division of Prices and Cost of Living
H. M. D outy, Chief, Division of Wages and Industrial Relations
L eon O reenberg , Chief, Division of Productivity and Technological Developments
R ichard P. J ones, Chief, Division of Administrative Services
W alter G. K eim , Chief, Division of Field Service
P aul R. K erschbaum, Chief, Office of Program Planning
L awrence R. K lein , Chief, Office of Publications
L eonard R. L insenmayer , Chief, Division of Foreign Labor Conditions
H. E. R iley, Chief, Division of Construction Statistics
Oscar W eigert, Assistant to the Commissioner
F aith M. W illiams, Chief, Office of Labor Economies
Seymour L. W olfbein, Chief, Division of Manpower and Employment Statistics
Regional Offices and Directors
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Monthly Labor Review
A. C<J
U N ITED STATES DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR • BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
L a w r en c e R. K l e in , Editor
CONTENTS
Special Articles
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766
The Practice of Seniority in Southern Pulp Mills
Contract Clauses on Seniority as a Factor in Layoffs
Summaries of Studies and Reports
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776
782
785
787
789
790
794
796
797
798
Worker Mobility in Three Skilled Occupations
Wages and Related Practices in the Machinery Industries, 1954-55
Military Manpower—-Requirements and Supply, 1955-59
The Fourth World Congress of the ICFTU, May 1955
Principles and Objectives in U. S. Labor Federation Constitutions
Wisconsin Law Banning Political Contributions by Unions
Salaries of Firemen and Policemen, 1952—54
Wage Chronology No. 1: American Woolen Co.—Supplement No. 2
State Ratios of Strike Idleness to Total Time Worked, 1952-54
Major Wage Developments, First Quarter of 1955
Sickness Absenteeism in the New York Telephone Co.
Technical Note
I*
801
BLS Historical Estimates of Earnings, Wages, and Hours
Departments
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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807
810
813
819
827
The Labor Month in Review
Significant Decisions in Labor Cases
Chronology of Recent Labor Events
Developments in Industrial Relations
Book Reviews and Notes
Current Labor Statistics
July 1955 • Vol. 78 • No, 7
Now Available
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A Reprint of Two Recent Articles on Automation
1. A Review of Automatic Technology
2. Automation: A New Dimension to Old Problems
This most recent development of technological change in American
industry has been covered in recent issues of the Monthly Labor Review.
Listed above are titles of two articles which present authoritative informa
tion on the background of technological developments and the introduc
tion of automatic machinery, electronic computers, and data-processing
machines. They discuss the effect of these processes on working condi
tions, need for training, incentive systems, managerial responsibility, wage
structure, employment, labor force skills, job classifications, and seniority.
For copies (Reprint No. 2166), send your order accompanied by check
or money order to the Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D. C.,
or to any of the following Bureau of Labor Statistics regional offices: New
York, Chicago, or San Francisco. (See inside of front cover for addresses.)
Price, 10 cents a copy
The Labor Month
in Review
steel settlement, on July 1, brought to a
conclusion another crucial major-industry con
tract negotiation of the summer months. Approx
imately 400,000 steelworkers received wage in
creases averaging 7% percent (about 15 cents per
hour) after a strike which lasted only 12 hours.
The CIO United Steelworkers a week earlier had
rejected a management offer of hourly raises
averaging 10.3 cents. The bargaining had been
initiated under a wage reopening clause in the
contracts with the major steel producers. The
contracts as such do not expire until June 30,
1956, and not until then can changes in fringe
benefits, which constituted the major improve
ments written into the new Ford and General
Motors agreements early in June, be negotiated.
The magnitude of the steel increase was there
fore the more remarkable.
T he
June the UAW-CIO opened negotiations
with the Chrysler Corp. for the kind of settlement
entered into with Ford and General Motors.
The contract expires August 31. Meanwhile the
union rejected a suggestion by Henry Ford, 2d,
favoring industrywide bargaining.
An extension of the supplemental unemploy
ment benefits principle was won by the CIO
National Maritime Union after a 4-day strike
against operators of cargo, passenger, and oil
tanker owners on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Other maritime unions negotiating at the same
time were the AFL Masters, Mates, and Pilots and
the CIO engineers’ and radio operators’ organiza
tions, although the unemployment plan was not an
issue with these groups, which secured improved
pension, welfare, and vacation benefits in 3-year
contracts limited to 2 wage reopenings. Fringe
benefits, however, are covered by a 5-year agree
ment. After the settlement, the three licensed
officers’ unions began discussion of a federation
to coordinate collective bargaining activities.
There is also considerable employer pressure to
achieve a single expiration date for all maritime
union contracts. West Coast negotiations between
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the AFL Seafarers’ union, sole bargainer for
sailors, stewards, and firemen, and the Pacific
Maritime Association were under way early in
July.
_
Meanwhile, the House Merchant Marine Com
mittee was holding extensive hearings on the
shipping industry, including labor relations mat
ters. One proposal would establish a separate
maritime labor board.
T he International Transport Workers’ Federation,
trade secretariate of merchant seamen’s unions
from many countries, has opened a drive to
organize the seamen on ships under Panamanian,
Liberian, and Honduran registry. The Federa
tion alleges that wages and working conditions are
markedly low in ships of these countries, and
increasing numbers of registrations are made under
these flags from among maritime countries with
higher standards for sailors.
I n the main, industrial relations did not augur
serious strike situations as of mid-July. Some
exceptions included the strike on July 1 against
3 large nonferrous mining and smelting firms by
30,000 members of the Communist-oriented Mine,
Mill, and Smelter Workers’ Union whose demands
include a wage increase and a guaranty of $60 a
week payment against sickness, accidents, or
seasonal unemployment. The threat of the strike
during June created an upward push to copper
prices. On July 8, the union and American Metals
Refining Co. settled on the basis of an average
wage increase of 11K cents plus supplementary
nonwage benefits.
A strike of Local 255 of the AFL Hotel and
Restaurant employees against several Miami area
hotels for union recognition and wage increases
entered its fourth month on July 13. The dispute
has attracted national attention, despite its local
character, because of the determined court fight
waged by the hotel owners against picketing and
of the vigorous campaign waged on the strikers’
behalf by the American Federation of Labor. A
strike information headquarters has been estab
lished in Washington, and New York members of
the union demonstrated in Times Square in behalf
of the Miami local. The union has petitioned the
National Labor Relations Board for representa
tion elections covering 167 hotels in Miami and
Miami Beach.
hi
IV
Presidential action in creating an emergency
board prevented a strike on July 5 by AFL
Teamsters employed by the Railway Express
Agency, Inc. in seven large cities. The situation
was covered by the Railway Labor Act.
In interesting development arose in the course
of the New England textile strike, in progress
since April 15. The Berkshire Hathaway mills
announced late in June that, under terms of its
contract with the CIO Textile Workers, it would
pay 10,000 striking workers their regular vacation
pay. The strike began over a proposal to reduce
fringe benefits and eliminate a cost of living
escalator clause.
T he Nation’s largest single employer, the United
States Government, in June granted pay increases
to 500,000 postal workers (totaling 8.1 percent)
and to more than 1 million nonpostal employees
(7.5 percent). It was the first general pay raise
for these groups since 1951.
G overnm ent employees in certain foreign coun
tries recently resorted to strikes or strike threats
to achieve salary increases, a practice both
illegal and inimical to custom with respect to
Federal employees in the United States. In
France, last minute action early in July averted
a strike by Government workers when 14 percent
wage increases spread over a 2-year period were
granted. In Chile, Government workers were on
strike in early July for pay increases and cost-ofliving bonuses. Threats of military conscription
of strikers ended the walkout, but concessions
were promised most groups involved. As in
France, most transportation and communication
systems are Government operated.
June settlement of the strike of British engineers
on the Government-operated railroads left the
country in the grip of strikes of dockworkers and
seamen. The longshore dispute, jurisdictional in
character, was condemned by the British Trades
Union Congress. It was called off early in July
after a 6-week tieup of shiploading in 7 major
ports. The seaman’s strike for shorter hours and
better overtime pay was unauthorized by the
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
National Union of Seamen, but was ultimately
broken late in June after nearly a month, by the
threat to draft strikers for military service.
East German Communist Government has
outlawed strikes. This was accomplished by hav
ing the fourth Congress of the German Labor
Union Federation amend it sconstitution to allow
the State complete freedom to maintain labor
discipline.
At the very time the East German Communists
banned the use of strikes, the 38th general con
ference of the International Labor Organization,
which included delegates from the Soviet Union,
supported action favoring the unqualified rights of
trade union action, including the right to strike.
Various American trade unions held conventions
late in June. The CIO Communications Workers,
meeting in St. Louis after a 72-day strike against
Southern Bell, voted a general membership assess
ment of a day’s pay to rebuild its strike fund. It
reelected Joseph A. Beirne president and endorsed
the 5-day, 35-hour week as an immediate union
objective. Carlton W. Werkau died in the second
week of his new term as secretary-treasurer.
The CIO Newspaper Guild, convening in Al
bany, voted not to defend the employment rights
of proven Communists. Joseph F. Collis was re
elected president. Two AFL railroad unions, the
Maintenance of Way Employees and the Switch
men, in Detroit and Buffalo, respectively, again
chose T. C. Carroll and William A. Fleete for
presidential posts. The MWE voted down a 65year age limit on union officers. The Switchmen
made negotiated general wage rates and decisions
to arbitrate rate changes subject to referendum
vote.
T he
T he AFL-CIO no-raid agreement ended its first
year of operation in June with 46 cases—23 ini
tiated by unions of each organization—handled
under its terms. More than 100 international
unions are signatories to the document which
pledges them not to proselytize each other’s mem
bers. Only 8 cases were presented to the impar
tial arbitrator provided for by the pact. Ten
cases were still in earlier stages of the procedure.
The Practice of
Seniority in
Southern Pulp Mills
G eorge W . B rooks
and
Sara G amm*
seniority system in southern sulphate pulp
mills includes within itself many different elements
that are found elsewhere in the pulp and paper
industry, but the system is necessarily distin
guished from other branches of the industry and
from other industries as well. The language of the
collective bargaining agreements in the southern
m ills, like other plants in the pulp and paper
industry, gives barely a clue to the operation and
significance of the seniority arrangements they
provide. Nevertheless, each man in the mills
understands how the system operates and where he
stands.
Basically, a worker’s position depends on the
line of progression in which he works, because it
defines the steps through which a man must move
up, from one job to another. The line is deter
mined in part by the nature of the industrial
process, but there is some room for choice on the
part of the companies and the union. The
decision may be to include a large number of
different jobs and different operations in one line,
or it may be to set up many different lines which
are administered independently of each other.
This choice has important effects both for manage
ment and for the workers.
The system, once defined, is operated through a
set of rosters which make it workable. The
primary roster is based on the line of progression.
It is used, together with considerations of ability,
for all promotions, and together with plant or
departmental seniority, for purposes of layoffs.
T he
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Basis of the System
The subject of seniority, even confined to the
pulp and paper industry, has such varied meanings
that any generalizations are of very limited value,
principally because differences in industrial pro
cesses alone, apart from differences in size and
complexity of establishment, require differentia
tion in practice. Seniority is therefore examined
within the context of only one branch of the pulp
and paper industry, the southern kraft or sulphate
pulp mill. This is the type of mill operated ex
tensively throughout the Southern States, usually
in conjunction with a paper mill and sometimes
with corrugated-box or bagmaking facilities.
Agreement Provisions. Normally, the first step in
studying seniority would be to examine the collec
tive bargaining agreement. Unfortunately, an
examination of hundreds of agreements in the pulp
and paper industry showed that either the agree
ment is too general to have any specific meaning,
or the terms used do not mean what they seem
to say.
One of the clearest and most concise provisions
in the southern sulphate industry begins with the
statement: “The principles of seniority shall
govern in promotions, layoffs, demotions, filling
vacancies, transfers, and rehiring, provided the
employee has the necessary qualifications.” The
agreement goes on to define three types of seniority, “job seniority, departmental seniority, and
mill seniority.” Job seniority is defined as
length of service on a given job within a line of
progression. Departmental seniority is defined
as “length of service in line of progression.” In
practice, it should be noted, “lines of progression”
are not coincident with administrative “depart
ments,” so that the meaning of the term “depart
mental seniority” under this agreement is not the
meaning normally ascribed to the words. This
agreement continues with some general descrip
tions of how the different types of seniority are
applied and lays down elaborate steps for handling
grievances which arise. Although the agreement
is well written and reasonably clear, it does not
begin to explain how seniority works in practice.
*Of the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill
Workers (AFL), Department of Research and Education.
757
758
Other agreements are far less specific and exact
than the one cited. Yet, an examination of
practice in the plants discloses a systematic (even
rigid) attention to length of service in promotions,
transfers, layoffs, and rehiring; and the meaning
of seniority in 'practice is clear and generally
understood.
Nature oj Mill Operations. Since seniority gets its
meaning from technology, a study of seniority in
southern pulp mills begins with a brief examination
of the operations in this type of mill.
1. The logs come into a wood-yard where the bark is
removed.
2. The logs then travel on conveyors to the woodroom
where large machines equipped with knives cut the logs
into pieces small enough to be cooked in the digesters.
3. The chips travel on conveyors to the digesters, the
large tanks in which the wood chips are “cooked” with
steam and chemicals, under pressure, until the lignin has
been dissolved and the cellulose can be separated.
4. When the cooking is done, the digesters are emptied,
and the pulp travels to the wet room to be washed several
times and screened of impurities.
5. The liquor that has been used for the cooking then
goes to the recovery process where it is burned and treated
to permit recovery of the chemicals for use again.
6. The pulp may then go to the bleach plant for whitening
before it is dried on a pulp machine (if it is going to be
shipped) or sent in liquid form to the paper-machine room
for use.
The mill operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Therefore, there are 4 separate crews for every
operation, working different shifts during the week.
Three of the shifts work on any given day during
the week; the fourth is the swing shift, necessary
because each man works 40 hours for 3 weeks and
48 the fourth week. Thus, there is a minimum of
4 men on each job. Sometimes a crew includes
more than 1 man at a given job classification, so
that the full number for the classification may be
4, 8, 16, or some other multiple of 4. Shifts are
rotated each week.
Job Skills. The operations described above can be
grouped roughly into 5 separate parts: the han
dling of the wood, the cooking of the pulp, the
cleaning and refining of the pulp, the recovery of
the chemicals, and the bleaching. In addition,
there is a maintenance crew. The operations re
quire work forces of varying size and composition
with respect to skill and job responsibility.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Within any one operation the jobs are so organ
ized that one man has a very large degree of
specialized skill and responsibility, with other men
of less skill helping him. Thus, the digester cook,
one of the highest paid men in the sulphate pulp
mill, is in charge of a crew which does most of the
work of filling the digesters, capping them, check
ing on the progress of the cook, emptying the
digesters, and so on. When a man starts to work
on the digesters he is a capper, without any skill.
As he becomes familiar with the equipment and
the process, he moves up from one job to another,
each time acquiring more responsibility than he
had on the job below. At the top of this ladder
is the cook who has a thorough knowledge of the
equipment and general responsibility for the whole
operation.
The standard practice in sulphate pulp mills is
to do all training on the job. Each man learns
how to operate the equipment by working first at
a very simple job, then at a more difficult and more
responsible job, and so on up the line.
The “Line of Progression”
Within this framework the meaning of seniority
becomes clear. A man acquires his experience and
his position in the mill—meaning his seniority—by
working on a number of different jobs, progressing
from the easiest and least responsible up a ladder,
step by step, until he has acquired the necessary
knowledge and skill for the top job.
The technological requirements of the plant
limit the way in which a seniority system can op
erate, but within these requirements there is con
siderable area for choice. The choice is exercised
in the definition of the lines of progression. There
may be numerous separate lines for different opera
tions, or a group of related operations may be
combined into a single line, but the single line rep
resents an extreme choice among the many alter
natives. For example, in a typical southern mill,
it is possible to have either a single line or separate
lines of progression for the digesters and the
diffusers and washers. In practice, these are two
separate but closely connected operations. The
stock that is used in the second operation comes
directly from the digesters, and the two operations
are interdependent. The alternatives are dia
grammed in chart 1.
759
SENIORITY IN SOUTHERN PULP MILLS
Chart 1. Alternative Lines of Progression (Two Operations in a Typical M ill)
SINGLE LINE
To a considerable extent this same choice exists
with respect to the whole pulp mill. It is possible
to set up separate lines representing different
operations in the mill or to combine operations.
Over the years there has been considerable experi
mentation. The tendency has been in the direc
tion of combining different operations, until
today the largest southern producer has one
single line of progression for the entire pulp mill.
The bleach plant, which is relatively new in the
southern industry, is an exception and has its own
line. The mechanical crews are also in a separate
line.
Chart 2 shows how this single line works. A
man starts in 1 of the 4 bottom jobs and from here
he moves up, step by step, weaving back and forth
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SEPARATE LINES
from one operation to another. By the time a
worker reaches the top job of cook in the digester
room he has mastered all operations in the mill.
At two steps of the ladder, where there are alterna
tive jobs for the worker, the company may require
him to work some time at each job for their
convenience.
This single line represents an extreme choice.
At the opposite extreme would be four separate
lines of progression. If there were four such lines
in the plant diagrammed in chart 2, a man would
have to make a choice about where he wanted to
work and then go into the bottom job in that
operation. If he wanted to work on the digesters,
he would begin as digester capper and then move
up the digester line, first to liquor runner, then to
760
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Chart 2. A Single Line of Progression in a Southern Pulp M ill
761
SENIORITY IN SOUTHERN PULP MILLS
1st helper, and finally to cook. A man who
started at the bottom of the recovery and evapo
rators line would move up from caustic 2d helper
to recovery 2d helper, to precipitator man, to
slacker room man, and so on through the jobs in
that column on the chart. There would be no
movement across the broken lines which separate
the four operations.
In practice, there are many different combina
tions of lines which tend to approach the single
line, but remain somewhere between the two
extreme cases. The limits upon choice, in the
final analysis, are practical ones, based upon the
need for on-the-job training to meet technical
requirements.
Lines of progression tend to become institu
tionalized. Generally speaking, experience in
bargaining in one mill will be carried over to newly
organized mills, although some variations arise
because of technological differences. Lines of
progression also tend to be modified in a number of
ways, sometimes to serve special purposes. The
lines can be used, for example, to differentiate
the opportunities for white and Negro employees.
Frequently the lines are modified to avoid “dead
end” jobs.
Comparison oj Alternative Lines. Certain ad
vantages and disadvantages are implicit in the
different types of progression. From the stand
point of the company, the single line offers a
number of advantages. The company gets a
relatively flexible work force. All of the men on
top jobs have had experience throughout the
pulp mill and are, therefore, able to substitute for
each other or on other jobs in emergency. Even
the men lower in the line have some experience
in other parts of the mill.
This advantage is particularly useful in develop
ing supervisory staff. Supervisors are typically
taken from the top operator jobs, so that the com
pany gets men who have a wide experience through
out the mill and are thus better able to deal with
the problems which arise. On the other hand,
the personnel process is considerably complicated
under a single line of progression. At least one
change must be made for every job classification
when a vacancy occurs in a top job. Thus, in the
pulp mill described, there would be about 15 job
changes if a cook left the mill under a single line
3 4 7 8 1 3 -5 5 -
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2
of progression, but only 4 under a separate line for
the digesters.
From the standpoint of the union, alternative
lines also offer certain advantages and disadvan
tages. If the union is interested in creating the
maximum number of opportunities for the older
men, taken as a group, the single line is preferable.
For any particular worker, the relative advantage
of the alternative lines depends upon where he
happens to work and what happens in the opera
tion or line in which he is located. For example,
if there are 4 or 5 different lines, each with a
relatively small number of jobs, a young man at
the bottom of 1 line may be better off when
vacancies arise in his line than he would be if there
were 1 single line for the whole mill. But, for the
membership as a whole, the security of the older
workers as a group is promoted by the single line.
On the other hand, if there is a single line, each
man must learn a large number of jobs, unattrac
tive as well as good ones. With separate lines of
promotion, a man can choose to work in a line
that he likes, a line that includes work which is
fairly attractive to him and excludes some of the
dirtier and disagreeable jobs in another operation.
The men may want this choice.
In individual circumstances, the issues become
complicated by many other considerations. Once
a set of lines has been established, it is difficult
to change them if there are very real and sub
stantial conflicts of interest among the men in the
work force, quite apart from how management
feels. Nevertheless, changes are negotiated from
year to year, as the companies and the union
attempt to correct inadequacies in existing
arrangements.
The System in Operation
Any system of seniority requires two things
for its administration. The first is a definition of
the system itself. Under lines of progression, the
worker’s seniority rights are defined in terms of
his position in the line and his length of service
there. For some purposes, as described below,
his seniority also depends upon how long he has
been in the plant or how long he has been in his
line of progression.
Secondly, the operation of this system, like
any other, requires a mechanism which permits
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
762
Chart 3. Illustrative Plant Setup
OPERATION
A
OPERATION
B
OPERATION
Bleach Plant
Digesters
CO OK_____________________ Rate $2.40
Screen Room
BLEACHERMAN__________Rate $2.25
SCREEN TENDER
Hired
Job
Dimaggio
1926
1934
Altrock
1919
1932
Berra
1921
1936
Boudreau
1922
1934
Dark
1925
1935
Appling
1920
1940
Embre
1st HELPER
Rate $2.20
Hired
Hired
LIQUOR MAKER
Job
Job
Rate $2.10
Hired
C
Rate $2.00
Hired
Job
Coleman
1924
1936
Ferrell
1929
1937
1927
1935
SCREEN HELPER
Rate $1.90
Hired
Job
Job
Johnson
1938
1939
Jackson
1937
1943
Gowdy
1931
1938
Noren
1945
1949
Evers
1928
1944
Hornsby
1934
1940
Groth
1932
1948
Lopat
1942
1947
Kinder
1940
1947
2d HELPER
Rate $1.95
Hired
Job
BLEACH HELPER
Rate $1.85
Hired
Job
RIFFLER MAN
Rate $1.70
Hired
Job
Ingersoll
1935
1940
Kennedy
1939
1946
Cobb
1923
1941
Lazzeri
1941
1949
Ostrowski
1947
1948
Irving
1936
1942
Newsom
1946
1950
Mantle
1944
1950
Furillo
1930
1940
BLOWPIT MAN
Hired
Job
Mack
1943
1949
Robinson
1951
1951
Quillan
1950
1952
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D - MAINTENANCE
Rate $1.75
MECHANIC, CLASS A
LABOR POOL
Job
1949
1949
Rate $1.60
Hired
Paige
Rate $2.30
Hired
Parnell
1948
Ruth
1952
Thomson
1952
HELPER, A
Hermanski
Rate $2.10
1933
HELPER, B
Snider
1940
Rate $1.80
1952
1952
763
SENIORITY IN SOUTHERN PULP MILLS
easy, day-to-day administration. This is provided
by a set of rosters which contain the names of
all employees arranged according to their length
of service as defined by the system. In the typical
sulphate pulp mill, the rosters are comprised of
several parts. The basic roster depends upon
job service in the line of progression, but in addi
tion, there are rosters based upon plant service
or departmental service which are used for
special purposes.
The construction and use of rosters in a simpli
fied pulp mill can be illustrated by reference to
chart 3. Unlike an actual mill, the sample mill
has 3 men on each shift job instead of 4. There
is a bank of digesters manned by a crew of 4, a
bleach plant with a crew of 3, and a screen room
with a crew of 3. There is a labor pool and a
small maintenance crew. For each job are listed
the men on the job, the dates they were hired,
and the dates they began working on their
present jobs.
Although highly simplified, this plant presents
a realistic picture of how any given plant might
look. Thus, a few men have attained relatively
high positions, although they came into the
plant much later than other men who are still
in relatively low-paying jobs. This situation is
not characteristic, but it does happen in actual
practice and is, therefore, reflected in the sample
plant.
Promotions. Promotions in southern pulp mills
are based upon the lines of progression in the
mills. Men can move up only in fixed sequences
and in no other way. Whether a man moves up
to a vacant job above him depends upon his
seniority and also his ability to take the higher
rated job. Normally, a man can expect to be
promoted when the job next above his becomes
vacant and he has longer service on his own job
than any other man in the same job. This expec
tation is based on the fact that the line itself is
an expression of training requirements of the job.
In addition, it provides security of opportunity
for the men in the line in the sense that there is a
predictable reward for reliable performance. Fur
thermore, under this procedure a large measure
of the difficulty which frequently arises around
the issue of “ability” is eliminated because the
line of progression enables the company to test
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the capacities of the men as they move from one
job to another.
The operation of the system cannot be examined
without reference to a specific line of progression.
The roster cannot be constructed without it. For
purposes of illustration, two alternatives are set up
for the simplified pulp mill, with the same fictitious
rates indicated on the plant setup.
The alternatives are diagrammed in chart 4.
Alternative No. 1 provides for separate lines in
operations A and B. Alternative No. 2 combines
these operations into a single line.
The roster follows the line of progression. If
operations A and B are in separate lines, there are
two separate rosters for these operations. They
are the lists of the men who work in each operation
arranged according to their jobs and their length
of service on their jobs. The rosters would look
like this:
Roster for operation A
Roster for operation B
Altrock
Dimaggio
Boudreau
Dark
Appling
Berra
Jackson
Johnson
Evers
Groth
Lopat
Noren
and so on
Ingersoll
and so on
If there is a single line for the two operations,
there is one roster:
Dimaggio
Dark
Berra
Altrock
Boudreau
Appling
Johnson
and so on
With the rosters set up, it is relatively easy to
apply the system. Assume in each case that the
senior man has sufficient ability to move up. If
Dark leaves the mill, his job of cook is vacant.
With separate lines of progression, the vacancy is
filled by Johnson who has been in the next job
below longer than any of the other men. Johnson’s
job goes to Ingersoll, and so on. Altrock and
Boudreau have no opportunity to move up. How
ever, if there is a single line of progression. Dark’s
764
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Chart 4. Alternative Lines of Progression for the Sample M ill
Alternative No. 1
Alternative No. 2
TWO SEPARATE LINES
A SINGLE LINE
B
Cook
$2.40
Bleacherman
$2.25
Cook
$2.40
---
Bleacherman
$2.25
▲
1st Helper
Liquor M aker
$ 2.20
$2.10
J
J______
1st Helper
$2.20
—----
Liquor Maker
$2.10
J
------ .
J_
2d Helper
$1.95
Bleach Helper
$1.85
Blowpit Man
$175
job goes to Altrock, Johnson moves up to A1track’s
job, and so on.
Layoffs. The administration of layoffs is a more
complicated procedure than for promotions. The
lines of progression are used in reverse order. A
man moves down in the same pattern that he
moved up. However, when actual layoffs are
made, one of several variations in practice will
occur.
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2d Helper
$1.95
4—
Bleach Helper
$1.85
Blow pit Man
$1.75
Layoffs may be made on the basis of plant serv
ice, with certain restrictions based on position in the
line of progression. Men are laid off from jobs at
the bottom of the line first, so that a man who
stands high in the line of progression is protected
even though bis plant service is shorter than that
of other men lower in the line. (Normally a man’s
plant service corresponds to his position in the line,
but there are exceptional cases.) Sometimes lay
offs are made entirely upon the basis of the line of
SENIORITY IN SOUTHERN PULP MILLS
progression, but more commonly, workers affected
by a reduction in force can exercise their plant
seniority to “bump” other men in lower jobs. In
exceptional cases, layoffs are made on the basis of
departmental seniority in the usual sense of the
term, combined with the line of progression.
The administration of layoffs under the system
most common in the southern mills—use of the
line of progression and plantwide seniority—is
outlined below.
Assume that the company decided to close its
bleach plant because the market for bleached pulp
had contracted. The company would lay off 9
men, corresponding to the 3 jobs in chart 3, each
with 3 men for the different shifts. The layoffs
would be made on the basis of the plant roster
which lists all employees according to date hired.
For the simplified pulp mill, this roster would list
36 names, beginning with Altrock, who was hired
in 1919, and ending with Ruth, Snider, and
Thomson, all hired in 1952.
The plant roster, in combination with the pro
gression rosters, would determine which nine men
shall be laid off. If a man is above the bottom
job in his line of progression, he is protected from
layoff until all men below him have been laid off,
without regard to date hired. He has no protec
tion if he is at the bottom of the line, however,
and in the labor pool. Layoffs are made, begin
ning at the bottom of the plant roster, and in our
example, the nine men at the bottom are:
Thomson
Snider
Ruth
Robinson
Quillan
Parnell
Paige
Ostrowski
Newsom
Of the 9 men, 2 are protected by virtue of their
positions in the line of progression. They are
Parnell, who is a top mechanic, and Newsom, who
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765
is a 2d helper on the digesters. The other 7 men
are laid off, including 1 man in the bleach plant.
The next two on the roster are Noren who is in a
protected position, and Mantle who is not. He
is laid off. The next man is Mack, not protected.
He makes the ninth man to be laid off.
There are 7 men from the bleach plant who have
not been laid off: the bleachermen, the liquor
makers, and 1 bleach helper. They now can
bump down their line of progression, taking the
best available jobs for which they are qualified.
If alternative No. 1 is the line of progression,
with separate lines for the digesters and bleach
plant, Altrock, Boudreau, and Appling, the men
at the top of their line, will be able to go into the
jobs of blowpit man at the bottom of the digesters
line, or one of them would take the B helper job
in the maintenance crew if he could qualify for it.
The other men would have to go into the labor
pool.
Under alternative No. 2 (a single line for the
2 operations), Altrock, Boudreau, and Appling
would bump the 1st helpers on the digesters, who
in turn would bump the 2d helpers. The liquor
makers who had been displaced (Jackson, Evers,
and Lopat) would take the jobs of blowpit man
or B helper in maintenance. The 2d helpers on
the digesters, at the bottom of the progression
roster, would go into the labor pool.
*
*
*
*
*
In actual practice there are many variations.
But the basic element in any system is the line of
progression which defines the path of movement,
both upward and down. The definition of the
line determines in any plant how often a man in
any given operation will have an opportunity to
advance. Furthermore, this line will determine
to some extent the amount of protection he has
against layoff and demotion in the event of a re
duction in force. However, in addition to his
position in the line, his plant service or depart
mental service will influence his fate in the event
of layoff.
Contract Clauses on
Seniority as a
Factor in Layoffs*
maintenance of individual job security under
the terms of collective bargaining agreements in
cludes the establishment and operation of an
equitable layoff procedure should a reduction in
force be required. To provide for the possibility
of fluctuations in the need for workers, most
agreements set forth the basic ground rules govern
ing the order in which workers will be laid off and
recalled to work. The principle that relative
seniority, or length of service, shall be, if not the
only factor, at least an important factor in deter
mining the order of layoffs is firmly established in
collective bargaining agreements.
Concern with the safeguarding of plant effi
ciency has frequently added other considerations
to the simple, objective, and mechanical standard
exemplified by a straight seniority rule under
which length of service alone controls the order of
layoffs. To what extent should differences in
ability and fitness among workers be considered?
Should key employees, employees in the process
of training, and union shop stewards be reached
for layoff solely on the basis of length of service?
Shall the worker’s length of service be calculated
on the basis of his employment in the company, in
the plant, in the department, or in the job classi
fication? These questions are not always an
swered by the agreement provisions nor are the
answers, where given, precisely expressed. How
ever, the agreements usually provide some guid
ance to the parties for on-the-spot determinations
or for the grievance and arbitration machinery
that is established by the vast majority of agree
ments.1
The clauses quoted below illustrate the variety
of ways in which seniority is utilized or modified
in determining the order of layoffs. Each of the
agreements from which these clauses were ex766
T he
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
cerpted was in effect during the latter part of 1954
and covered at least 1,000 workers.2
Length of Service as a Factor
Agreements may provide for a reduction in force
solely on the basis of relative seniority, or may
permit consideration of additional factors together
with length of service (qualified seniority). In
some cases, length of service governs provided the
employee involved meets stated qualifications; in
others, seniority becomes the deciding factor only
if the ability and fitness of competing employees
are approximately equal. Frequently, the same
rule applies to promotions, transfers, and re
assignments as well as to layoffs; but it is possible
that individual qualification would be given more
weight in connection with promotions, for ex
ample, than with layoffs where a number of
workers may be simultaneously involved.
Order of layoff determined on the basis of length of
service (straight seniority)
Procedure to be followed in the event of an indefinite
layoff of employees:
a. All probationary employees in the department
affected will be terminated first provided there are avail
able employees remaining in the department who have
seniority in those jobs which are vacated and who are
willing to perform the work of the probationary employees
to be released.
b. Thereafter, layoffs shall be effected in accordance
with the job classification seniority provided for herein
and in inverse order to the seniority status of the employees
within such job classification . . .
*
*
*
*
*
In case it shall become necessary for the employer to
lay off one or more employees, seniority rules shall apply,
within classifications; the employee who has been with the
hotel the shortest length of time shall be the first to be
laid off and in rehiring, those laid off first shall be the
last to be reemployed . . .
*
*
*
*
*
In the event of layoffs, employees shall be laid off
according to job classification, but plantwide seniority
•Prepared in the Bureau’s Division of Wages and Industrial Relations.
This article is based on a section of the forthcoming compilation by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of agreement provisions dealing with layoff, recall,
and worksharing procedures.
1 For a study of the problems of arbitrating disputes arising under a senior
ity clause which recognized a principle of seniority limited by the factors
of ability and physical fitness, see Arbitration of Labor-Management Griev
ances: Bethlehem Steel Company and United Steelworkers of America,
1942-52, BLS Bull. 1159 (pp. 23-30).
2 For illustrative clauses compiled in an earlier study, see Collective Bar
gaining Provisions: Promotion, Transfer and Assignment; Layoff, WorkSharing, and Reemployment, BLS Bull. 908-7.
767
SENIORITY AS A FACTOR IN LAYOFFS
shall govern, i. e., employees having the least plantwide
seniority in that particular job classification shall be laid
off first and the employees having the most plantwide
seniority in that particular job classification shall be
laid off last.
Order oj layoff determined on the basis of length of
service in combination with other factors (qualified
seniority)
In all cases of recall, increase, or decrease of forces, the
following factors shall be considered, and where factors
(2) and (3) are relatively equal, length of adjusted seniority
shall govern:
1. Length of adjusted seniority as hereinbefore defined.
2. Knowledge, skill, and efficiency on the job.
3. Physical fitness for the job.
*
*
*
*
*
When layoffs or rehiring take place they shall be on a
job or occupational basis. The last one employed shall be
the first one laid off and the last one laid off shall be the
first one taken back, provided physical fitness and ability
to do the job are approximately equal.
*
*
*
*
*
In decreasing the working force in any department,
length of continuous service shall govern where the em
ployee possesses the qualifications to do the job efficiently.
Qualified seniority: Order of layoffs qualified by
needs of department
In case of layoffs occasioned by reduction of force, de
partmental seniority shall be followed, with due con
sideration for the efficiency and special needs of the
department.
Straight seniority to determine the order of layoff for
those employees with 1 or more years of service in
their assigned departments; additional factors con
sidered for other workers
Length of service shall govern in all cases of transfers,
promotions, and increases or decreases of the working
force where (a) ability, skill and efficiency, and (b) knowl
edge (of assigned and related duties) are relatively equal;
provided, however, that in cases of decreases of the work
ing force, length of service shall be the sole determining
factor with respect to all employees having 1 year or more
of service in their assigned departments.
Qualified seniority: Weight accorded length of service
varies by employment date
Layoffs in connection with the decreasing of the working
force and the recalling to work of men so laid off shall be
governed by the following considerations:
1. For employees first employed prior to November 10,
1947, length of service shall govern, provided that the
particular employee has the ability to perform the work.
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2. For employees first employed on or after November
10, 1947, skill and ability and length of service shall be the
determining factors. Where skill and ability are approxi
mately equal, length of service shall govern.
Seniority Unit for Layoffs
The application of seniority to the problem of
layoffs generally has two basic elements: (1) the
area of competition or the unit within which work
ers are to be ranked in the order of retention, e. g.,
a specific job classification, and (2) the appropriate
basis upon which to calculate an employee’s senior
ity, e. g., length of service in the company, in the
plant, in the department, or in the particular job
classification. Many combinations of the units
within which seniority may be accumulated and
within which it may be applied are therefore pos
sible. These may be set forth in collective bar
gaining agreements or reserved for negotiations
when the need arises.
The seniority unit within which employees are
ranked in order of retention is generally deter
mined by the requirements of plant operation. A
broad seniority basis, e. g., plantwide, may be
deemed appropriate where occupations within the
plant are fairly uniform or are readily learned.
Where a wide range of operations and skills is re
quired to manufacture a product, the workers
who compose a single production line, a depart
ment, or a job classification may be grouped into
a seniority unit. The unit may be broadened for
employees who meet stipulated service qualifica
tions, or may vary in the case of exceptionally
short layoffs. A few agreements also call for the
administration of seniority of men and women on
a separate basis, thereby establishing distinct
seniority units on the basis of sex.
The seniority unit established for layoff pur
poses may not coincide with the area in which a
worker can exercise displacement or “bumping”
rights. For example, a worker subject to layoff
on the basis of job seniority may “bump” a junior
worker in a lower rated job. Provisions dealing
with bumping privileges are not included in the
following examples.
In multiplant or multiemployer agreements, the
seniority unit for layoffs ordinarily cannot be read
ily identified. In these agreements, the unit, if
specified, may be subject to change on the local
plant level; if not specified, the agreement usually
768
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
stipulates that the unit shall be determined by
local negotiations.
Seniority unit: Job classification
It is agreed by the company and the union that it is of
prime importance to maintain efficiency in the plant and
its various departments. Seniority shall be on a [job]
classification basis within the bargaining unit . . .
Seniority unit:
group
Noninterchangeable occupational
When layoffs are necessary because of lack of work, the
company will apply the principle of seniority within noninterchangeable occupational groups . . .
Seniority unit: Department
When layoffs become necessary because of lack of work,
seniority by departments shall apply; that is, the last
person hired shall be the first one to be laid off . . . In
rehiring, the last person laid off in any particular depart
ment shall be the first rehired.
Seniority unit: Plant
In the event of layoff on a plantwide bargaining unit
basis, employees with the least seniority will be laid off first
and employees with the most seniority will be retained
subject to their ability to perform the available work
without being trained.
Seniority unit: Job classification; seniority accumu
lated on companywide basis
Employees within each department are classified accord
ing to occupational codes, and all recalls to work or re
ductions in the department working force will be made on
the basis of total company seniority applied to the specific
occupational code . . .
Seniority unit: Job
seniority
group; by companywide
Whenever economic or force conditions are considered
by the company to warrant laying off regular employees,
such force adjustments as it may deem necessary shall be
made effective among employees covered by this contract
who perform similar work, subject to the following con
ditions :
(a) Temporary and occasional employees shall be laid
off first, provided, however, that such employees may be
retained or employed temporarily to meet emergencies
or peak load situations.
(b) Employees shall be laid off in inverse order of total
company seniority, to the extent deemed by the company
to be necessary. The company may retain not more than
5 percent of the employees subject to layoff in each service
year involved.
(c) The provisions of this section shall be administered
on a companywide basis.
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Seniority unit varies with type of layoff
In cases of increase or decrease of the working force,
seniority shall operate within noninterchangeable occu
pational groups . . . The occupational groups as agreed
to between the company and the union shall be considered
a part of this agreement and attached hereto . . . In case
of temporary layoffs of 10 working days or less and recalls
thereafter, seniority within classifications and within the
department affected shall apply. An employee shall not
repeatedly be subject to recurring layoffs under this
provision.
Seniority unit varies with different crafts or
occupations
When layoffs, other than temporary layoffs, are made
by any department, the employee with least seniority
shall be laid off first . . .
Seniority [for layoff purposes] in the skilled trades de
partments shall be by noninterchangeable occupations or
trades within a department or group of departments.
Seniority unit varies with different crafts or occupa
tions and with the type of layoff
Skilled trades group. Employees in the skilled group
will be laid off strictly in line with seniority in their respec
tive classifications or progression group; that is, the pro
bationary employees within the classification or progression
group will be laid off before seniority employees, and then
seniority employees will be laid off on the basis of their
seniority.
Semiskilled group. Employees in classifications in the
semiskilled group will be laid off strictly in line with
seniority in their respective classifications or progression
groups. If their seniority warrants, they shall be entitled
to exercise their seniority by replacing the least senior
employee in the basic group in which their seniority
warrants.
Basic groups. Employees in the basic groups will be
laid off strictly in line with seniority in their respective
groups; that is, the least senior employees in each basic
group will be laid off first without regard to classification
within the group.
Temporary shutdown. Temporary shutdown is a re
duction in the force of employees where suspension of
operation occurs, in whole or in part, for a period not ex
ceeding 2 weeks. For a temporary shutdown, the com
pany shall have the right to effect the reduction in force
by applying the principle of seniority by classification, by
department.
Seniority unit varies with length of service
It is understood that both departmental service and
plant service shall be taken into consideration in the appli
cation of the seniority principle . . . In instances of layoff
where an employee has 1 year or more of plant seniority,
the seniority considered shall be plant seniority, but where
the employee involved has less than 1 year of plant
769
SENIORITY AS A FACTOR IN LAYOFFS
seniority, the seniority for layoff purposes shall be depart
mental seniority . . .
Seniority unit determined by joint agreement when
necessary
The units within which the seniority rules and promo
tional schedules shall apply for the respective purposes
herein set forth shall be determined from time to time, as
necessity shall arise, by mutual agreement between the
management and the plant grievance committee and upon
such agreement shall be posted in each department.
Multiplant agreement: Seniority unit specified but
subject to change by local agreement
The principle of factorywide seniority will apply on
transfer, layoff, and rehire. Exceptions to the principle
of applying seniority on a factorywide basis may be mu
tually agreed upon on a local plant level when the occasion
arises.
production, the company shall have the right, with the
consent of the union, to retain for jobs employees who,
by reason of their experience and ability, are needed for
such jobs regardless of seniority and to reemploy employees
who, by reason of their experience and ability, are needed
for such jobs, regardless of seniority.
Essential employees afforded superseniority, pro
vided use is made of their special ability
Employees who, because of special training or ability,
are essential to the efficient operation of the plant may be
retained, transferred to other departments, or rehired if
laid off, regardless of the provisions [relating to seniority],
provided such employees are placed on jobs making use of
such special training or ability.
Union representatives granted superseniority
Separate seniority lists for men and women, by
department
Bargaining committee members and union officers shall
head the plant seniority list. Stewards shall head the
seniority lists in their respective zones. The above shall
be continued at work as long as their constituents are
working, providing they are qualified to do the work
available.
A seniority list will be compiled by departments, revised
at 60-day intervals and a copy delivered to the union.
Male and female seniority shall be separate.
Fixed number of union representatives granted
superseniority
Superseniority
To insure the retention of key or specially skilled
workers when layoffs are necessary, some agree
ments provide superseniority to such employees,
that is, a place at the top of the list regardless of
length of service. Trainees for technical, pro
fessional, or managerial jobs who are gaining pro
duction experience in the bargaining unit covered
by the agreement may also be granted top seniority
protection. Agreements often contain more than
standard seniority protection for union representa
tives and shop stewards to assure continued
experienced employee representation during and
after a reduction in force. The number of em
ployees so retained may be expressed as a fixed
number or as a percentage of the total number of
employees in the unit. Veterans, aged workers,
and physically disabled employees are also ex
tended “top” seniority by the terms of some
contracts.
Essential employees retained regardless of seniority,
with consent of union
Notwithstanding the [seniority] provisions of the fore
going sections of this article, in the event of layoffs due to
a general reduction in force caused by curtailment of
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In applying the provision for reduction in force, officers
and district representatives of the union, not to exceed a
total of fourteen, will be granted, during their term of
office, senior office service status provided they are qualified
to fill positions then existent. The union will provide the
company with a certified list of such representatives at
least once every 12 months, or more often, when
changes occur within the 12-month period.
Union representatives granted superseniority pro
vided they have 1 year's seniority
The officers of the local union, eight chief stewards, and
regular stewards shall head the seniority list of their oc
cupational group if they have 1 year’s seniority. This
preferential seniority shall be used only in case of layoff or
transfer off his floor due to a reduction in working forces.
Regular stewards’ preferential seniority shall not cause an
employee with more than 5 years’ seniority to be laid off.
Union representatives granted superseniority over
employees with less than 20 years' service
In case of layoffs, those employees of 1 year or more of
employment who are serving as officers of the union or as
members of the grievance committee and negotiating com
mittee, or as stewards, shall, during their term of office,
head the seniority list in their respective departments
with respect to those employees covered by this agreement
(other than those having 20 years or more of service) and
will not be laid off for lack of work unless the operation or
department is discontinued.
770
Superseniority for skilled employees matched to that
jor union representatives
Employees whose skills are of special value to the com
pany may be retained, irrespective of seniority, provided
that the total number of such employees shall not exceed
the total possible number of stewards, shop chairman, and
union officials who have top seniority, and provided fur
ther that the number of such employees in each depart
ment shall not, in any case, exceed 10 percent of the total
employees in such department at the time of a layoff.
Trainees granted superseniority in layoffs during
their period of training
The company shall have the right to place persons in a
department temporarily for training or experience. Such
persons will be exempt from layoff under the seniority pro
visions during their period of training, and they shall not
be used to reduce the working force or workweek of the
department, nor to replace regular operators.
Trainees exempted from the seniority provisions of
the contract for not more than 3 months
The company shall have the right to exempt from all
seniority and wage requirements such employees as may be
enrolled for the purpose of training and experience, with a
view to other assignments or for some purpose other than
ultimate permanent employment within the unit covered
by this agreement. Such trainees shall not exceed a total
of 10 at any 1 time, and no individual trainee shall be
exempt for more than 3 months and they shall not displace
any employee.
Disabled employees exempted from seniority pro
visions
Employees handicapped by major physical disabilities
resulting from accidents at work in the plant are considered
exempt from the seniority provisions which apply to lay
offs for lack of work and may be retained by mutual agree
ment between the company and the union regardless of
seniority status.
Disabled employees considered to have a minimum
of 5 years' plant seniority in the event of layoff
Employees disabled by occupational accident or disease
or disabled while on military leave may be awarded a job
which they can satisfactorily perform if such job is held
by an employee with less plant seniority or with less than
5 years’ seniority. Such restricted employees shall be con
sidered to have a minimum of 5 years’ plant seniority in
the event of reduction of force.
Less Than Normal Seniority Protection
In some instances, certain groups or categories
of workers are granted no seniority protection, or
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
less than their length of service would otherwise
command under the agreement. These workers
compose a unit by themselves, and are laid off, if
necessary, before “regular” employees are reduced
in force.
Women accumulate seniority only in specific classi
fications; cannot displace men at time of layoff
Female employees will accumulate seniority in female
classifications only.
Female employees engaged in occupations classified as
male jobs will be considered as temporary, and no seniority
provision will apply with respect to male jobs. In cases
of layoff only: Female employees engaged in male occupa
tions may exercise their seniority rights on other female
jobs within their department.
Women who fill men's jobs during a period of labor
shortage may be laid off without regard to seniority
If, during a period of labor shortage, it becomes im
possible to hire a sufficient number of qualified male em
ployees, the company may then open bidding in jobs where
shortages exist to female employees for as long as the labor
shortage continues.
When such labor shortage no longer exists, reductions
in force and layoffs may be accomplished without regard
to seniority insofar as women employees are concerned, in
order to revert back to the status existing before the labor
shortage occurred.
Seniority Disregarded in Special Cases
Sometimes an exception to the use of seniority
in determining the order of layoffs may be per
mitted by the agreement under extraordinary
or emergency conditions. These circumstances,
if defined by the contract, often cover such con
tingencies as emergency situations arising from
material shortages or power failures. Exceptions
to the use of seniority may be left to management’s
discretion or jointly determined under special
conditions or circumstances.
Seniority provisions inapplicable in layoffs caused
by an emergency
The [seniority] provisions of this article shall be sus
pended and shall not apply in the case of a force surplus
brought about by an emergency over which the company
has no control or advance notice, and which results in a
sudden drop in the workload, except that, insofar as
possible, the company will be guided by seniority in
making layoffs.
SENIORITY AS A FACTOR IN LAYOFFS
Seniority 'provisions inapplicable in determining the
order oj layoff during a temporary reduction in
operations
In the application of the seniority provisions of this
article, a layoff shall be considered an interruption of
employment caused by a reduction in force due to a
reduction in regular operating schedules, as distinct from
temporary layoffs which are due to material shortage,
equipment failure, power failure, labor dispute, or other
similar circumstances which cause a temporary cessation
or reduction in operations of such nature that application
of the regular seniority provisions would not be feasible.
Departure jrom seniority procedures jointly deter
mined by the company and union during slack
periods
It is recognized that it may become necessary specifi
cally in times of reduced business volume, for a departure
from strict interpretation of seniority as herein defined in
order to maintain operating efficiency and avoid losses
which may jeopardize the existence of the company and
the livelihood of its employees. Should such course become
necessary, the management will discuss and negotiate
same with the shop bargaining committee to the best
interest of all.
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771
Company notifies union representative before depart
ingfrom seniority principle during layoff
The company recognizes the principle of seniority and,
in accordance therewith, in the event that it becomes
necessary to reduce the number of employees working,
those employees last hired in each department shall be
laid off first, and in rehiring, employees who were regular
employees at the time of their layoff shall be restored to
work in each department in the reverse order in which
they were laid off; provided, however, that in case any
departures from the strict principle of seniority are neces
sary, the company, when consistent with the proper and
efficient operation of the company, shall give the appro
priate department’s shop steward at least 24 hours’ notice.
Differences submitted to arbitration if parties fail
to agree on departure from seniority principle
In the event the employer claims that the maintenance
of the employer’s standards of production requires an
exception to any of the foregoing provisions of the seniority
clause in any specific instance, the employer may request
the union for an appropriate exception in any such specific
instances and if no agreement is reached, the matter shall
be submitted to arbitration . . .
Summaries of Studies and Reports
Worker Mobility in
Three Skilled Occupations
R ecent Bureau of Labor Statistics mobility
studies of tool and die makers, foundry molders,
and electronic technicians show that skilled
workers, after learning their trade, very seldom
change their occupation; moreover, they have a
strong attachment to their employers and to their
city of employment. The flexibility of the Amer
ican skilled worker is demonstrated, however, by
the fact that a sizable minority of workers were
willing to change employers and even geographical
location, and that workers while continuing to
work in their skill specialty were able to move
freely among employers regardless of industry or
type of plant. Good business conditions, more
than anything else, produce the most voluntary
job changes. These studies supported the belief
that mobility rates decline with advancing age and
longer service on the job and that marriage and
homeownership restrict geographic mobility.
Job interest and aptitude were the chief reasons
workers chose to become electronic technicians or
tool and die makers, but the influence of family and
friends was the primary factor for men who
became molders and coremakers.
Studies of labor mobility throw considerable
light on such questions as: How deliberate are
workers in their job choice? How do workers
find jobs? How much effect do job changes or
the possibility of such changes have on wage
determination? Why do some workers change
jobs often and others not at all?
To manpower analysts, worker mobility is one
of the principal factors in gaging the supply and
flexibility of the skilled work force, and hence
particularly significant in connection with mobil
ization problems.
The Bureau has made three studies of mobility
in skilled occupations: Namely, tool and die
makers, foundry hand molders and coremakers,
and electronic technicians. In each study, be772
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tween 1,700 and 2,000 individual workers were
interviewed to obtain data on their backgrounds
and personal characteristics and a complete work
history from 1940 to the date of the survey
(1951 or 1952) J
While some general conclusions regarding skilled
workers is made on the basis of the three occupations
studied, it is recognized that individual skilled
occupations might show considerable variety in
mobility patterns. The three occupations were
selected for study primarily because of their im
portance in a mobilization period, and also because
of the contrasting characteristics of the occupa
tions and the backgrounds of the workers in them.
Patterns of Mobility
Recent mobility studies give the impression of
both stability and flexibility among skilled workers
in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics surveys and other recent studies reveal that
skilled workers show strong attachment to their
employers and even stronger attachment to their
skill specialty and to their geographical location
or city of employment. The 6-city survey of
occupational mobility2showed that skilled workers
made relatively fewer job changes than semiskilled
or unskilled workers. Although the 6-city study
revealed that skilled workers made relatively more
job changes than professional, managerial, or
clerical workers, the design of the survey and the
tabulation of the data may have caused the
mobility rate of skilled workers to be overstated.
1 See BLS Bull. 1120, The Mobility of Tool and Die Makers, 1940-51
(summarized in the M onthly Labor Review for December 1952, p. 605,
January 1953, p. 8, and March 1953, p. 254); Bull. 1150, The Mobility of Elec
tronic Technicians, 1940-52 (summarized in the Review for March 1954, p.
263); and Bull. 1162, The Mobility of Molders and Coremakers, 1940-52.
The Department of the Air Force financed these studies as part of a program
to develop methods of systematically determining the manpower feasibility
of military programs. The sample designs called for representation of the
major activities in which these occupations are utilized; the surveys were
confined to eight large- and medium-sized cities. The names of the indi
vidual workers were obtained from the payroll records of a selected sample of
establishments in the employing industries.
2 Gladys L. Palmer, Labor Mobility in Six Cities, A Report on the Survey
of Patterns and Factors in Labor Mobility, 1940-50, New York, Social Science
Research Council, 1954.
MOBILITY OF SKILLED WORKERS
If the work histories of skilled workers had been
tabulated only after they had qualified in a
skilled occupation, it is likely that skilled workers
would have ranked among the least mobile of the
occupational groups. It was found that workers
became much less likely to change employers once
they were in a skilled job. Thus, whereas only
26 percent of the skilled workers in the 6-city
study had only 1 employer during the 10-year
period, 56 percent had only 1 employer while
working in their skilled occupations.3 About 57
percent of the tool and die makers interviewed in
the Bureau of Labor Statistics survey had worked
for only 1 employer after qualifying in the trade
during the 11-year period 1940-51.4 Similarly,
less than one-half of the molders had changed jobs
between 1940 and 1952.4 About two-thirds of
the electronic technicians, however, had worked
for at least two employers during the survey per
iod.4 A substantial number of workers in this
young and rapidly expanding field had interrupted
their “careers” as electronic technicians to go
into the Armed Forces or to obtain further tech
nical schooling and many of them did not return
to the same employer. Thus, a larger proportion
of workers in this occupation had worked for more
than one employer.
Skilled workers show a high degree of occupa
tional attachment. The work experience of per
sons in skilled occupations shows that once having
qualified in a skilled trade they did not often
transfer to other fields of work. Only about 5
percent of the electronic technicians interviewed
had worked in jobs in other fields after having
worked once as an electronic technician. During
the 11-year period studied, more than 90 percent
of the tool and die makers worked only as tool
and die makers after qualifying in the trade.
3 Charles A. Myers and George P. Schultz, Patterns of Mobility of Skilled
Workers and Factors Aflecting Their Occupational Choice, Six Cities, 1940
Through 1951, Cambridge, Industrial Relations Section, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, February 1951. This report is based on an analysis
of the 10-year work histories obtained in interviews with male skilled workers
who were employed during 1950 in 6 large cities. The work histories
were obtained as part of the 6-city study of occupational mobility cited in
footnote 2.
4 Although work histories were obtained for an 11-year period for tool and
die makers and a 12-year period for molders and electronic technicians, only
the period after the worker had qualified in the trade was considered in
determining mobility rates. Thus, on the average, tool and die makers
were in the labor force in that trade less than 9 years, molders about 10 years,
and electronic technicians about 7b~’ years during the periods covered.
s Internal Migration in the United States, April 1940 to April 1947, U. S.
Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population
Reports, Series P-20, No. 14, April 15, 1948.
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773
Among molders, it was found that during the
12-year period only about 15 percent of the work
ers interviewed had worked in an occupation other
than molding; and, in all, only about 3 percent
of the time that the molders spent in the labor
force during the period 1940—52 was in jobs other
than molding. The 6-city study revealed that
76 percent of the skilled workers were attached
exclusively to one skilled occupation during the
10 years studied.
To complete the picture of relative stability, it
was found that only a small percentage of the
skilled workers interviewed had made geographi
cal moves. The work histories of 2 of the 3 skilled
occupations surveyed by the BLS indicated con
siderably less geographical mobility than for the
labor force as a whole. Census data 5 show that
in April 1947, 21 percent of the labor force lived
in a different county than they did 7 years pre
viously. In the tool and die maker study, less
than 10 percent of these craftsmen had changed
their city of employment during the 11-year pe
riod. Likewise, only 10 percent of the molders
had changed their city of employment during the
12-year period. But as would be expected, a
greater proportion of the electronic technicians
about 20 percent—changed their city of employ
ment during the same 12 years since, as was men
tioned earlier, many did not return to former
employers after attending technical schools in
other cities. The low rate of geographical mobility
of skilled workers may also be seen from examina
tion of the entire work history records of one
skilled occupation, that of molders. Three out of
four of this older group of workers were still
working in the same cities in which they had
qualified as journeymen.
Despite the large proportion of skilled workers
not changing jobs, other data show evidence of
flexibility among skilled workers. First of all,
there was a sizable minority of the workers who
were willing to change employers and even geo
graphical location. Data for skilled workers as a
whole show that this mobile group made a fairly
large proportion of all the job changes made by
skilled workers. Among tool and die makers, for
example, 60 percent of the job changing was done
by 14 percent of the workers. Among molders,
63 percent of all the job changes were made by
only 17 percent of the workers who changed jobs 3
or more times during the period surveyed. Myers
774
and Shultz estimate that among the skilled work
ers in the 6-city study this mobile minority ran
as high as 20 or 25 percent.
The flexibility of skilled workers is also demon
strated by the type of job changes made. Skilled
workers show an occupational attachment inde
pendent of their attachment to employer or in
dustry. Workers qualified in a skilled trade that
is used in many different types of establishments
were able to move freely among employers regard
less of industry or type of plant. For example,
when a tool and die maker changed employers, it
was a better-than-even chance that his new em
ployer was in a different industry. In all, about
one-third of the tool and die makers worked in
more than one industry during the 11-year period
covered by the survey. Similarly, molders were
able to shift between various types of foundries.
The study showed that 4 out of 5 molders who
changed jobs had worked with more than one
kind of metal and almost one-half of the workers
who had changed jobs had worked in both captive
and independent shops. Electronic technicians
also had considerable mobility between different
types of electronic establishments. For example,
half of the electronic technicians working in
research laboratories at the time of the survey
and nearly half of those employed in aircraft
manufacturing had had electronic technician jobs
in other fields during the 12-year period.
Some of the findings regarding the amount and
patterns of mobility have implications for man
power planning. For example, the conclusion
that workers in skilled occupations utilized in
several different types of establishments were
able to move freely among employers regardless of
industry or type of plant is significant in a mobili
zation period. For example, new defense plants,
located in centers where workers in particular
skilled occupations are employed, would have a
potential pool of experienced skilled workers for
recruitment. The fact that only a limited number
of workers in these skilled occupations moved
from one geographical area to another also has
important manpower planning and plant location
implications.
Factors Affecting Mobility
The BLS surveys, as well as other mobility
studies, found a consistent relationship existing
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
between certain personal characteristics of skilled
work groups and their mobility rates. The belief
that mobility rates decline with advancing age
was supported by all three BLS studies. In the
molders study, for example, when workers were
grouped by the age at which they changed jobs,
more than twice as many job changes per man-year
were made by molders under 35 years old than
those 50 or over.
Closely related to age, but apparently to some
extent an independent factor, is length of service
on the job. By and large, studies have found a
decreasing tendency for workers to change jobs
voluntarily as length of service increases. This
was indicated in the BLS studies of tool and die
makers and of molders. Reynolds, in his study
of New Haven manual workers,6 indicates that
time on the job is even more important than age.
According to BLS findings, job security, as formal
ized in seniority arrangements, is a major cause
of lower mobility among long-service workers. In
the molders study, it was found that the average
duration of jobs which were covered by seniority
programs was significantly greater than those
which were not so covered.
One might expect that married men or those
with families would be less likely to make volun
tary job changes than unmarried men. However,
BLS studies indicated that married men changed
employers just about as frequently as the unmar
ried. Such small differences as did appear
could be attributed to age. On the other hand,
marital status did affect geographical mobility.
The unmarried tool and die makers, for example,
changed cities of employment proportionately
twice as often as did the married workers.
An attempt was made to measure the effect of
homeownership on mobility in the studies of the
molders and of the electronic technicians. Here,
homeownership appeared to be a particularly
strong factor restricting job changing, even after
allowing for the influence of age (homeowners
being a considerably older group). With respect
to geographic mobility, molders who were non
homeowners were three times as mobile.
It is difficult to generalize on the relationship
between the extent of formal education and the
rate of mobility for skilled workers. There has
been some evidence of a tendency for mobility
9 Lloyd G. Reynolds, The Structure of Labor Markets, New York, Harper
and Brothers, 1951.
MOBILITY OF SKILLED WORKERS
and years of schooling to be positively correlated
for some groups of workers. In only 1 of the 3
BLS studies was this found. Among tool and
die makers, workers who had not gone beyond the
eighth grade averaged less than one job change
during the period 1940-51 while those with some
college training averaged almost two shifts. Men
with partial or complete high school education
had mobility rates between these two extremes.
Even when years of schooling were standardized
by age, the relationship between education and
mobility persisted. However, for molders and for
electronic technicians, the extent of education
apparently was not related to the tendency of
these workers to change jobs; such differences as
did appear could be attributed to age.
The factor which could have the greatest effect
on the volume of job changing, both voluntary
and involuntary, is the level of business activity.
A given propensity to move for a particular group
will produce greater rates of voluntary movement
in prosperity than in depression simply because
of the greater availability of job openings. It was
found in the BLS studies that fluctuations in
mobility reflected changes in general economic
and labor market conditions. For example,
among molders, the highest annual rate of job
movement in the 1940—52 period was double that
of the lowest year. Fluctuations in the rate of
job changing and in the proportion which was
voluntary closely paralleled changes in foundry
activity.
Reasons for Job Choice
Each worker in the BLS studies was asked to
indicate the influences which he thought led him
into the particular skilled occupation. Of particu
lar interest is the fact that half of the electronic
technicians indicated that they were interested in
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775
electronics long before they even thought seriously
about the kind of work they wanted to do. Fifteen
percent said they had been interested in electronics
since early youth. Hobby work was mentioned
specifically by 36 percent. Another sizable group,
14 percent, entered electronics because they were
assigned and trained in this field while in the
Armed Forces. The influence of families or
friends was cited by 9 percent. Another 9 percent
of the group entered electronics primarily because
they thought it offered favorable opportunities for
a successful career. Only about 6 percent attrib
uted their interest to their previous job experience.
A very small proportion, less than 2 percent, said
that their entering this field was accidental, that
they “just drifted into electronics.”
The replies of foundry molders revealed a very
different set of influences leading them into the
trade and their replies were quite specific. Perhaps
the most striking fact is that only about 8 percent
said they entered the occupation because of job
interest. About 20 percent entered because it
offered an opportunity to learn a skilled trade, to
improve their social status, or to earn higher
wages. The largest single explanation—given by
nearly one-half of the men—was influences of
family members or friends.
About three-fourths of the tool and die makers
gave fairly definite reasons why they entered the
trade and the remainder indicated they had just
drifted into it. About one-half of those who
could give definite reasons said they were mechan
ically inclined and had looked for an occupation in
which they could use their aptitudes. Another 30
percent reported entering the occupation because
of the advice or example of their families or
friends. One-third of those interviewed reported
other members of their family in the trade.
— S ol S w erdloff
Division of Manpower and Employment Statistics
776
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Wages and Related Practices in
the Machinery Industries, 1954-55
S t r a ig h t - t im e average hourly earnings of produc
tion workers in nonelectrical machinery manu
facturing establishments rose 3 percent between
1954 and 1955, according to the latest annual
survey of these industries conducted by the Bu
reau of Labor Statistics in the winter of 1954-55.1
Total employment and scheduled weekly hours
were reduced slightly over the year in nearly all
of the 21 labor market areas studied. As in pre
ceding years, pay levels were highest in Detroit.
Tool and die makers, the highest paid occupation
studied, were the only group of workers whose
average exceeded $2 an hour in all 21 areas. Little
change in the percentage of workers covered by
various supplementary wage benefits was noted,
although some of the benefits were liberalized
during the year.
T a ble 1.—Indexes of straight-time average hourly earnings 1
in machinery manufacture in selected areas and occupa
tions, January 1954 and January 1955, and percent
increases to selected periods from specified dates
Indexes (1947—
49=100)
Area and occupation
Characteristics of the Industry
Percent increases from—
January Decem January January
January January 1945 to ber 1951 1953 to 1954 to
1954 2 1955 2 January to Jan January January
uary
1955
1954
1955
1953
A rea
All areas combined 3__
130.9
135.0
88.2
6.6
4.4
3.1
Baltimore 1 .
B o s to n ..___ _
Chicago____
Cleveland.. . . .
D a lla s .___
D e tr o it.___
Hartford____
Houston_____
Los Angeles____
Milwaukee____
Minneapolis-St. Paul..
Newark-Jersey C ity ...
New York C itv ..
Philadelphia__
Pittsburgh_____
St. L ouis.._ .
San Francisco-Oakland.
126.4
128.4
131.9
127.2
129.3
130.9
132.1
128.3
129.3
134.3
133.4
128.8
129.1
135.6
136.5
135.8
128.3
136.4
132.5
136.5
130.4
131.6
134.7
135.9
133.2
134.3
138.4
137.7
132.6
134 0
140.0
139.3
141.2
132.0
88.5
90.4
95. 5
78.5
70.0
73.3
90.2
80.2
74.7
104.1
92.2
80.6
8.3
5.9
7.3
4.7
5.7
5.6
8.7
5.9
8.0
7.1
7.7
6.2
4.4
5.1
47
5.1
5.8
5.4
4.6
4.6
3. 6
4.1
5.1
3.0
79
3. 2
35
2.5
1.8
29
29
33
39
3 1
32
30
96.5
100.3
108.6
72.7
9.5
6.8
6.3
3.3
5. 2
7. 5
93
6.8
33
2.1
4n
2.9
O c c u p a tio n
Laborers, materials handling________
Tool and die makers
(other than tool and
die jobbing shops)___
135.8
140.8
105.4
7.0
4.8
37
128.7
132.5
75.9
5.9
6.1
2.9
1 Excliides premium pay for overtime and for work on weekends, holidays,
and late shifts.
2 Data apply to months ranging from September to February.
3 Includes data for Buffalo, Denver, Portland, Oreg., and Worcester, not
shown separately. Information for years 1945 through 1953 based on 29
areas, for 1954 on 20, and for 1955 on 21.
* Abnormal increase from January 1954 to January 1955 largely due to shifts
m employment in several companies rather than to actual wage increases.
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Since the first annual BLS survey of the ma
chinery industries in 1945, straight-time average
hourly earnings of production workers have risen
88 percent (table 1), at an average annual rate of
6.5 percent.2 During the past decade, annual
average increases among the selected areas ranged
from 5.4 percent in Dallas to 7.6 percent in St.
Louis. The increases among the occupations
studied likewise varied. Materials-handling la
borers had average annual increases during the
10-year period of 7.5 percent, while the skilled
tool and die makers had average increases of 5.8
percent. (See chart 1.) These increases refer to
the rise in average hourly wage rates or, in the
case of incentive workers, in average straight-time
hourly earnings. Although basic wage rate ad
justments were a primary factor in the upward
movement of pay levels, other factors, such as
interplant fluctuations in employment, the reten
tion of higher rated workers, and changes in the
relative size or importance of the machinery indus
tries in the cities surveyed, may have exerted
minor effects on the movement of the index during
the 10-year period.
About 1,110,000 production workers were em
ployed in the nonelectrical machinery industries in
January 1955 and, for the most part, they were
concentrated in the larger urban areas. Abut 40
percent of these workers were located in the 21
areas studied by the Bureau. Production-worker
employment within the scope of the study ranged
from less than 4,000 in Dallas, Denver, and Port
land (Oreg.), to nearly 70,000 in Chicago. Eight
of the areas had over 25,000 production workers,
6 had between 10,000 and 20,000, 4 between 5,000
and 10,000, and 3 less than 4,000 workers.
Two-thirds of the workers in the 21 areas sur
veyed were in establishments with 250 or more em
ployees. Size of establishment in the machinery
1 These studies included machine-tool accessory establishments with 8 or
more workers and other nonelectrical machinery establishments with 21 or
more workers. D ata were collected by field representatives under the direc
tion of the Bureau’s regional wage analysts. Detailed reports for each area
and job descriptions used in classifying workers in the selected occupations
studied are available upon request. A comprehensive report summarizing
results of these studies in the 21 areas will be published in a forthcoming
BLS report.
2 The methods used in constructing the indexes are described in Wage
Trends in Machinery Manufacturing, 1945-51, Monthly Labor Review,
January 1952 (p. 48). However, in computing the indexes for January 1953,
1954, and 1955, constant weights, based on an average of 1953 and 1954 em
ployment, were used.
WAGES IN MACHINERY INDUSTRIES
industries, however, varies from jobbing shops
with a few workers, to very large plants with
several thousand workers engaged in mass pro
duction. In New York City, 60 percent of the
workers were in plants with less than 250 em
ployees and nearly a third were employed in plants
with less than 50 employees. Seventy percent of
the workers in Milwaukee and Hartford, on the
other hand, were in plants with 1,000 or more
workers and only about 15 percent were in plants
with less than 250 workers.
The diversification of products in the machinery
industries, noted in all of the areas covered by
the study, was especially pronounced in the
Midwest. At the same time, certain areas were
identified with products used in specific industries,
for example, agricultural machinery in Chicago,
Milwaukee, and Minneapolis-St. Paul and oil
field machinery in Dallas, Houston, and Los
Angeles, although a majority of the area’s ma
chinery workers were not engaged in their produc
tion . Despite the variations in size and complexity
of machines produced and the differences in labor
requirements and method of production, the ma
chinery industries are characterized by a general
similarity of processes and compete for the same
types of labor.
Earnings, 1954-55
Average straight-time hourly earnings for the
selected occupations studied were generally highest
in Detroit (table 2). Next in line were the larger
Midwestern machinery centers (Milwaukee, Cleve
land, and Chicago) and San Francisco-Oakland.
For most occupations, Dallas, Baltimore, Worces
ter, and Boston had the lowest average earnings.
An intercity difference of from 50 to 75 cents be
tween the highest and lowest average for a job was
not unusual; percentagewise, the largest differences
usually appeared in the lower skilled jobs. Average
hourly earnings of tool and die makers in San
Francisco were about 30 percent higher than the
average for similar workers in Dallas. Janitors
and laborers handling materials, on the other hand,
earned about 60 percent more in Detroit than in
Dallas.
Straight-time average hourly earnings of tool
and die makers engaged in the maintenance or pro
duction of tools, dies, jigs, and fixtures for use
within their own shop ranged from $2.02 in Dallas
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
777
Chari 1. Percent Increases in Average Straight-Time
Hourly Earnings for A ll Production Workers and Two
Selected Occupations in Machinery Manufac
turing, January 1945 to Specified Dates
to $2.67 in San Francisco. Tool and die makers
employed in tool and die jobbing shops tended to
have somewhat higher earnings; these workers
averaged from $2.16 in Boston to $3.01 in Detroit.
(See tables 2 and 3.) Class A machine-tool opera
tors, setting up their own machines and working to
close tolerances on diversified work, averaged be
tween $1.82 an hour in Dallas and $2.74 in Detroit,
with 18 of the areas falling between $2.02 and
$2.38. Average earnings of skilled assemblers,
inspectors, electricians, machinists, and welders
also exceeded $2 an hour in all except a few areas.
Women constituted less than 10 percent of the
production workers in all of the 21 areas studied
with the exception of Hartford (nearly 25 percent)
and San Francisco (about 15 percent). Most of
the women were found in the larger plants and
usually they engaged in such work as routine
assembly and inspection or performing repetitive
machine-tool operations. Typically, their earn
ings were between $1.45 and $1.65, and averaged
from 9 to 17 cents below those for men in com-
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
parable jobs. (These comparisons, of course, are
not based on earnings in identical establishments.)
Nearly a fourth of the production workers in
the machinery industries were paid under in
centive systems of wage payment. Generally,
incentives were not important in the southern or
far western areas studied. No workers were
reported under incentive systems in Dallas or
Portland (Oreg.). In the other areas, the pro
portions ranged from less than 2 percent in San
Francisco-Oakland to 53 percent in Hartford.
In Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Milwaukee,
over 40 percent of the workers were paid under
such systems. In nearly all instances in which
comparisons could be made, workers paid on an
incentive basis earned more than workers paid
time rates in the same jobs. The effect of in
centive earnings on job averages in an area
depends not only on the difference between time
and incentive earnings but also on the relative
number of workers under each system. The
greatest effect of incentives was found in Mil
waukee and Philadelphia where a large pro
1
able
2.
portion of the workers were paid under incentive
systems and the differences between time and
incentive earnings were substantial. But in
Hartford, which had the largest proportion of
workers on incentives, the effect was small because
time and incentive earnings were about the same.
In Cleveland, Hartford, and Worcester, earn
ings for selected occupations in the machine-tool
industry were nearly always higher than in the
machinery industries combined for each area.
(See table 4.) Average earnings for workers in
this industry in Cleveland were much higher
generally than in the other two areas.
Extent of Union Coverage
Over four-fifths of the production workers were
in establishments with labor-management agree
ments covering a majority of the production
workers in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Hartford,
Houston, Milwaukee, Newark-Jersey City, Phila
delphia, Portland (Oreg.), St. Louis, and San
Francisco-Oakland. In Los Angeles about half
Straight-time average hourly earnings 1 for men in selected occupations in machinery manufacturing plants in
21 areas surveyed between September 1954 and February 1955 2
Occupation
Assemblers, class A __
Assemblers, class B
Assemblers, class C
Electricians, maintenance
Inspectors, class A... __
Inspectors, class B__ .
Inspectors, class C _____
Janitors, porters, and cleaners^
Laborers, materials handling
Machine-tool operators, production, class A *
Drill-press operators, radial, class A
Drill-press operators, single- or multiple-spindle, class A__
Engine-lathe operators, class A
Grinding-machine operators, class A
Milling-machine operators, class A
Screw-machine operators, automatic, class A
Turret-lathe operators, hand (including hand screw ma
chine), class A_________
Machine-tool operators, production, class B 4
Drill-press operators, radial, class B __ .
Drill-press operators, single- or multiple-spindle, class B__
Engine-lathe operators, class B
Grinding-machine operators, class B
Milling-machine operators, class B
Turret-lathe operators, hand (including hand screw ma
chine), class B_______
Machine-tool operators, production, class C *
Drill-press operators, single- or multiple-spindle, class C._
Engine-lathe operators, class C
Grinding-machine operators, class C .
Milling-machine operators, class C _
Turret-lathe operators, hand (including hand screw ma
chine), class C ____
Machine-tool operators, toolroom
Machinists, production
Tool and die makers (tool and die jobbing shops)
Tool and die makers (other than tool and die jobbing shops)
Welders, hand, class A
Welders, hand, class B
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Balti Boston Buffalo
H art
Chicago Cleve
more
land Dallas Denver Detroit ford
Hous
Los
ton Angeles
$1.97
1.63
1.61
2.02
2.07
1.80
1.47
1.33
1.35
2.02
2.00
(3)
1.96
2.10
2.08
(3)
$2.04
1.86
1. 51
2.03
1.99
1.75
1.55
1.38
1.52
2.07
2.10
2.20
2.01
2.12
2.18
2.10
$2.03
1.87
1.74
2.05
2.17
1.95
(3)
1.50
1.59
2.09
2.07
1.75
2.04
2.15
2.03
(3)
$2.28
2.03
1.73
2.37
2. 26
2.01
1.74
1.58
1.65
2.34
2. 27
2.16
2.33
2.43
2.38
2.47
$2.28
2.03
1. 75
2.26
2.17
2.11
1.94
1.62
1.74
2.27
2.29
2.28
2.23
2.33
2. 25
2.37
$1.73
1.53
1.34
1.85
1.91
1.61
(3)
1.14
1.21
1.82
(3)
(3)
1.90
(3)
1.88
1.84
$2. 06
1.78
1.53
2.04
2.03
(3)
(3)
1.43
1. 53
2.18
1.89
(3)
2.17
2.18
2.29
2.29
$2.48
2.08
(3)
2.57
2. 55
2.11
1.98
1.85
1.90
2.74
2.68
(3)
2.70
2. 75
2.72
2. 34
$2.09
(3)
1.64
2. 07
1.94
1.79
1.63
1.44
1.50
2.11
2.01
2.02
2.10
2.19
2.04
2.25
$2.02
1.83
1.72
2. 46
2. 26
(3)
1.72
1.50
1.43
2.12
2.05
(3)
2.30
2.12
2.15
(3)
$2.09
1.88
1.53
2. 42
2.19
1.96
1.76
1.55
1.58
2. 21
2. 09
2.06
2.20
2.31
2.14
2.23
2.08
1.81
1.77
1.81
1. 57
(3)
(3)
1.99
1.73
1. 74
1.69
1.76
1.78
1.80
2.03
1.86
1.90
1.83
1.85
1.79
2.00
2.29
2.05
2.03
2. 00
2.03
2.05
2.04
2.28
2.08
2.09
1.98
2.27
2.16
2.01
1.86
1.59
1.45
1.47
1.70
(3)
1.60
2.16
1.81
1.97
1.73
1.78
1.79
(3)
2. 47
2.08
(3)
2.04
2.15
2.14
2.13
2.10
1.88
1.90
1.66
1.83
1.95
1.82
2.17
1.98
1.84
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
2.18
1.94
1.94
1.81
1.95
1. 97
1.98
1. 67
1.72
0»)
(3)
1.58
(3)
1.72
1. 51
1.77
(3)
(3)
1.71
1.86
1.65
1.68
1.74
1.70
(3)
2.09
1.79
1.72
1.82
1.76
1.89
2.02
1.75
1.69
1.88
1.78
1.79
1.63
1.39
1.24
1.54
(3)
(3)
1.89
1.57
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
2.06
1.94
1.95
(3)
1.98
1.91
1.86
1.78
1.79
(3)
1.83
1. 71
1.92
1.72
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.93
1.72
(3)
1.78
1.68
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.98
(3)
2.25
2.00
(3)
1.44
1.94
2.20
2.16
2.19
1.94
1.88
(3)
2.00
2.04
2.33
2.23
2.12
1.98
1.88
2.28
(3)
2.87
2.59
2.34
2.02
1.81
2.30
2.13
2.51
2.43
2.21
2.00
1.42
1. 76
1.91
(3)
2.02
1.77
1.53
(3)
2.06
1.92
(3)
2.14
1. 96
1.80
(3)
2.50
(3)
3.01
2.63
2.33
2.17
1.66
2.30
(3)
2.17
2.25
2.02
(3)
(3)
(3)
2.25
(3)
2. 41
2. 27
(3)
1.79
2. 29
2. 25
2.54
2. 44
2.19
1.94
779
WAGES IN MACHINERY INDUSTRIES
T a ble 2 . —Straight-time average hourly earnings 1 for men in selected occupations in machinery manufacturing plants in
21 areas surveyed between September 1954 and February 19552—Continued
Mil
wau
kee
Occupation
Assemblers, class A ________________ . . . ____ ________ $2. 42
__
__ _ _ 2.18
Assemblers, class B _ _
_ _______ ____
Assemblers, class C _ ________________ _________ _______
1.97
Electricians, maintenance. __ ................................ ..................
2.29
2.21
Inspectors, class A
. . . __________ ____ . . . . . . ______
. .. ____ ___ . . _
Inspectors, class B . _____ _ _
2.04
1.90
Inspectors, class C _____________ . . . .
...
______
Janitors, porters, and cleaners___________________________
1.63
1. 73
Laborers, materials handling________________________ ____
Machine-tool operators, production, class A 4______________
2.30
Drill-press operators, radial, class A ___________________
2.24
Drill-press operators, single- or multiple-spindle, class A__
2.21
___
.
2.28
Engine-lathe operators, class A. _____ _
Grinding-machine operators, class A ___
2.35
Milling-machine operators, class A ___________ . . . . .
2.32
Screw-machine operators, automatic, class A ___________
2.33
Turret-lathe operators, hand (including hand screw ma
chine), class A . __________ ____________________
2.26
Machine-tool operators, production, class B 4 . . . . . . ..
2.11
Drill-press operators, radial, class B _______ . . . _____ _ 2.09
Drill-press operators, single- or multiple-spindle, class B__.
2.07
2.14
Engine-lathe operators, class B
Grinding-machine operators, class B
________ _____ _
2.23
Milling-machine operators, class B . _____ _ ______ _
2.11
Turret-lathe operators, hand (including hand screw ma
2.08
chine), class B _____ . ____________________________
Machine-tool operators, production, class C 4_ ______ _____
1.95
Drill-press operators, single- or multiple-spindle, class C__
1.98
Engine-lathe operators, class C _________________ . . . . ..
1.87
Grinding-machine operators, class C ________________
1.91
Milling-machine operators, class C __. . . . . . . . .
2.07
Turret-lathe operators, hand (including hand screw ma
1.89
chine) , class C_ _____ __________ _______ ______
Machine-tool operators, toolroom ____ . ________________
2.21
Machinists, production ___ __________________________
0
2.58
Tool and die makers (tool and die jobbing shops)__
... ...
Tool and die makers (other than tool and die jobbing shops)...
2. 40
Welders, hand, class A. ....... ....... ...
..................... . . .
2.31
Welders, hand, class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.05
Minne Newarkapolis- Jersey
St. Paul City
New
York
City
Pitts
burgh
Phila
del
phia
Port
land
(Oreg.)
St.
Louis
San
Fran Worces
ter
ciscoOakland
$2.03
1.87
1.73
2.16
2.08
1.85
0
1. 55
1.63
2.12
2.10
(3)
2.10
2.14
2.13
2.12
$2.24
1.88
1.75
2.23
2.15
1.90
1.74
1.50
1.60
2.21
2.14
1.95
2.19
2.15
2.25
(3)
$2.24
1.85
1.45
2. 27
2.27
1.92
(3)
1.47
1.61
2.24
2.27
2.10
2.25
2. 26
2.29
2. 22
$2.13
2.01
1.76
2.16
2.12
2.05
1.74
1.51
1. 64
2.26
2.12
1.97
2.30
2.26
2. 26
(3)
$2.25
2.11
(3)
2. 26
2. 49
2.04
1.70
1.62
1.68
2.25
2.02
(3)
2.19
2.25
2.19
(3)
$2.20
1.99
(3)
2.27
2. 24
(3)
(3)
1.76
1.80
2.20
2.17
(3)
2.20
2.19
2.20
(3)
$2.08
1.78
1.64
2. 37
2.21
1.93
(3)
1.47
1. 55
2.38
2.29
(3)
0
2. 36
2. 43
(3)
$2.23
1.93
1.86
2. 37
2. 21
2.00
(3)
1. 75
1.86
2.28
2.23
2.23
2. 24
2.20
2.21
2.27
$2.05
1.85
1. 51
1.97
1.92
1.89
0
1.46
1.57
1.97
1.89
1.98
1.91
1.99
1.92
0
2.10
1.89
(3)
1.79
1.96
1.93
(3)
2.22
1.96
2.01
1.85
1.84
2.09
1.91
2.22
1.83
1.87
1.83
1.89
1.83
1.86
2.28
2.10
1.93
1.81
1.95
2.18
2.33
2.11
2.03
(3)
1.97
1.99
1.94
2.09
2.19
2.01
1.98
1.98
(3)
0
2.07
2.22
1.95
(3)
1.92
1.97
(3)
1.94
2.30
1.99
2.02
1.96
(3)
2.09
1. 90
1.98
1.83
1. 76
1.85
1. 77
1. 78
1. 84
1.92
1.72
1.70
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.87
1.73
1.64
(3)
1.75
(3)
1.88
1.59
1.47
1.50
(3)
1.64
2.22
1.81
1.71
(3)
(3)
1.89
2.01
1.96
1.88
(3)
(3)
(3)
2.03
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.98
1.86
1.60
(3)
1.94
1.79
2.01
1.89
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
1.77
2.10
(3)
(3)
2.33
2.03
1.92
(3)
2. 23
2.04
2.42
2.33
2.41
1.98
(3)
2.23
(3)
2.44
2.47
2.08
(3)
1.72
2.20
2.20
2. 66
2.40
2. 41
(3)
1.96
2.29
(3)
0
2.39
2.19
(3)
(3)
2.29
2.23
(3)
(3)
2.19
(3)
(3)
2.33
(3)
0
2.63
2.35
1.94
(3)
2.34
2.28
0
2. 67
2.25
0
1 Excludes premium pay for overtime and for work on weekends, holidays,
and late shifts.
2 Data relate to September 1954 in Buffalo; to October 1954 in Cleveland,
Dallas, and Houston; to November 1954 in Minneapolis-St. Paul; to De
cember 1954 in Denver, Hartford, Portland, Oreg., San Francisco-Oakland,
and Worcester; to January 1955 in Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles,
Milwaukee, Newark-Jersey City, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
and St. Louis; and to February 1955 in Chicago. Standard Metropolitan
areas except: Newark-Jersey City (Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties,
1.86
1. 56
0
0
1.49
1. 57
1.69
1.95
0
0
2.13
0
0
N. J.); New York City (the 5 Boroughs); Philadelphia-Camden (Philadel
phia and Delaware Counties, Pa., and Camden County, N. J.); Chicago
(Cook County); and Hartford-New Britain-Bristol (Hartford Metropolitan
Area and Berlin, Bristol, New Britain, Plainville, Plymouth, and Southing
ton, Conn.).
2 No data or insufficient data to warrant presentation.
4 Includes data for operators of other machine tools in addition to those
shown separately.
T able 3. — Straight-time average hourly earnings 1 for men in selected occupations in machine-tool accessory manufacturing
establishments in 8 selected areas surveyed between October 1954 and February 1955 2
Chicago
Occupation
Los Angeles
NewarkMil
Produc Jobbing Produc Jobbing Produc Jobbing Produc Jobbing Produc Jobbing waukee Jersey
City
tion
tion
tion
tion
tion
shops
shops
shops
shops shops shops shops shops shops shops
$2.26
Inspectors, class A __ . _ -- _ ----- ------ -1.58
Janitors, porters, and cleaners. ---- ---------Machine-tool operators, production, class A 4_ 2.43
2.44
Engine-lathe operators, class A ... - . . .
2.48
Grinding-machine operators, class A___
2.44
Milling-machine operators, class A. _ . . .
2.06
Machine-tool operators, production, class B 4.
2.05
Engine-lathe operators, class B__- -----2.06
Grinding-machine operators, class B .
2.09
Milling-machine operators, class B._ . .
1.78
Machine-tool operators, production, class C._
Tool and die makers (tool and die jobbing
shops)_______________________________
0
0
$1.43
2.68
2.64
2.69
2. 56
2.05
0
2.08
2.08
1.71
2.87
$2.07
1.56
2.14
2.10
2.13
2.14
2.06
0
1.98
2.10
1.81
0
$2.30
1.49
2. 25
2.17
2.37
2.10
1.93
0
2.11
1.93
1.64
2.51
1 Excludes premium pay for overtime and for work on weekends, holidays,
and late shifts.
2 See table 2, footnote 2.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Hartford
Detroit
Cleveland
$2.40
1.77
2.44
2.36
2.44
2.44
2.14
0
2.13
2.13
0
0
0
$1.92
2.98
2.91
3.01
2.91
0
0
0
0
0
3.01
$1.86
0
2.19
2.16
0
0
1.99
0
1.98
0
0
0
$2.05
1.37
2.05
2.08
2.14
0
1.72
1.72
1.76
0
1.44
2.17
$2. 30
1.55
2.29
2.32
2.36
2.33
2.02
0
2.01
0
1.73
0
New
York
City
$2.61
1.49
2.41
2.32
2. 44
2.33
1.98
2.11
0
0
0
0
$i. 60
2.34
2.37
2.19
0
1.94
0
1.92
0
1.82
0
0
$2.15
2.18
2.10
0
1.96
0
0
0
1.62
0
$1.30
2.18
2.13
2.16
0
1.73
2.54
2.58
2.42
2.44
(?)
0
1. 77
1.50
3 No data or insufficient data to warrant presentation.
4 Includes data for operators of other machine tools in addition to those
shown separately.
780
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Chart 2.
Percentage Distribution of Production Workers in the Machinery Industries, by
Straight-Time A verage Hourly Earnings, January 1945 and A pril 1954
JANUARY 1945
APRIL 1954
P e rc e n t
P e rc e n t
40
0
1----------X)1-----------201-----------301-----------401
i----UNDER $.80
*•80 „"„"dir * ' 0 0
J n t *.'-20 |
*'•00
* '•
2°
under * ' « °
* '•4 0
$ 1.60
* '• 6 0
$ 1.80
* '•8 0
u"„ÿ„ $ 2 .0 0
|
I $ 2 .0 0 und OVER
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
of the production workers were in plants with
agreements. A majority of the production
workers in each of the other areas were employed
in establishments with labor-management agree
ments governing wages and working conditions,
except in Baltimore, Dallas, and Worcester.
A Decade of Change
Some interesting changes have occurred in the
machinery industries since 1945, the date of the
Bureau’s first annual survey. Total employ
ment was at about the same level in January 1955
as in January 1945. Employment levels, however,
generally declined through the first 5 years and
then, with the Korean hostilities, increased to a
peak in 1953. In 1954, employment again
gradually declined. Most of the machinery
groups followed this same general pattern, but
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
\
there were some variations. For example, the
household machinery group showed a sharp
increase in employment after World War II,
reflecting the pent-up demands for products
unavailable during the war. In January 1945,
close to the end of World War II, about 1 out of
6 workers were women. By January 1955, the
proportion of women had decreased to less than 1
in 10.
Earnings. Wage data for the machinery indus
tries as a whole (rather than for selected localities
only) are available for 2 periods in this 10-year
span: January 1945 and April 1954.3 The na3
D ata for 1945 are from Wage Structure Bulletins, Series 2, Nos. 1, 2, and 3.
U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Information was
combined for Machinery, Machine-Tool Accessories, and Machine Tools.)
Averages and distributions for April 1954 are from BLS Bull. 1179, Factory
Workers’ Earnings: Distributions by Straight-Time Hourly Earnings, April
1954 (table 13, p. 30).
781
WAGES IN MACHINERY INDUSTRIES
tional level of hourly earnings in these 2 periods
was $1 and $1.89, respectively, as shown below: 4
T a b l e 4. —Straight-time average hourly earnings 1 for men
in selected occupations in machine-tool manufacturing
establishments in 3 cities, late 1954
A verage hourly earnings—
January
1945
United States_______________________
Northeast______________________
South__________________________
Middle West____________________
Far West____________________ —
$1. 00
• 97
• 83
1. 03
1. 13
A pril
1954
$1. 89
1.83
1. 68
1. 94
1. 98
Even though average hourly earnings in the
South doubled as compared with a 75-percent
increase in the Far West, the actual cents-perhour increases were the same (85 cents). The
largest monetary increase (91 cents) occurred in
the Middle West. In January 1945, more than
80 percent of the workers were earning less than
$1.25 an hour, as contrasted with less than 5 per
cent in April 1954. (See chart 2.)
The percentage differential between the wages
of skilled and unskilled workers narrowed sub
stantially between January 1945 and Januaryl955
in nearly all cases. This compression of pay
differentials occurred largely as a result of centsper-hour increases granted across the board.
Average rates for laborers increased 105 percent,
in contrast to 76 percent for tool and die makers.
Establishment Practices. In January 1945, the
typical workweek was 48 hours or more, whereas
in January 1955, three-fourths of the production
workers in all areas covered except Dallas were in
establishments with scheduled workweeks of 40
hours or less. In addition to the longer workweek
in January 1945, about 1 of every 4 workers was
in establishments operating late shifts as compared
with 1 out of 6 in January 1955. Only about
three-fourths of the establishments operating extra
shifts provided extra pay for such work in 1945,
whereas in 1955, virtually all shops provided extra
pay for extra shift work. As in the case of em
ployment, weekly hours and shift operations have
fluctuated from year to year.
About the same proportion of workers (around
23 percent) were working under incentive wage
systems in both periods. In January 1945, about
two-thirds of the production workers were in es
tablishments with labor-management contracts
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Occupation
Assemblers, class A__. _____ _ .
__
Inspectors, class A_______ ____________
Janitors, porters, and cleaners__________
Machine-tool operators, production, class A3.
Drill-press operators, radial, class A___
Engine-lathe operators, class A_. ____
Grinding-machine operators, class A__
Milling-machine operators, class A ___
Turret-lathe operators, hand (including
hand screw machine), class A__
Machine-tool operators, production, class BA
Drill-press operators, radial, class B ___
Milling-machine operators, class B ____
Machine-tool operators, production, class O.
Cleve Hartford. Worces
land,
De
Decem ter.
October ber
1954 cember
1954
1954
$2.44
2. 28
1. 73
2. 41
2.42
2. 35
2. 49
2. 42
$2.22
1.93
1.39
2. 21
(2)
2.14
2.22
2.19
$2.13
(2)
1.55
2. 08
1.95
2. 00
2.09
(2)
2. 48
2. 36
2. 28
(2)
1.77
2.18
1. 97
(2)
1.93
(2)
(2)
1.80
(2)
1.79
1.67
1 Excludes premium pay for overtime and for work on weekends, holidays,
and late shifts.
2 No data or insufficient data to warrant presentation.
8 Includes data for operators of other machine tools in addition to those
shown separately.
governing wages and working conditions as com
pared with about three-fourths of the workers in
such establishments in January 1955.
In 1945, provisions for supplementary benefits
available to workers were not nearly as widespread
or as liberal in the machinery industries as in 1955.
In the latter year, virtually all production workers
in these industries were in establishments furnish
ing at least 6 paid holidays a year, vacations of at
least 1 week after 1 year of service and 2 weeks
after 5 years of service, and large proportions in
most areas received 3 weeks of vacation pay after
15 years of service. Nearly all workers were in
establishments providing some type of health, in
surance, or pension plan and in many establish
ments the production worker was provided with
life insurance, hospitalization, medical and surgical
insurance, sickness and accident insurance, and a
pension at retirement.5
— A lex a n d er N. J arrell
Division of Wages and Industrial Relations
4 Over the slightly longer period from January 1945 to January 1955, the
wage index presented in table 1 shows an increase of 88 percent. T hat index
is based on data for selected occupations in 21 areas rather than on average
earnings for all workers in the industry. In view of the differences in worker
and geographic coverage and in the method used in construction of the index,
the correspondence of these two measures of change is remarkably close.
5 See Wages and Related Practices in the Machinery Industries, 1953-54,
Monthly Labor Review, June 1954, table 5, (p. 655) for information on avail
ability of health, insurance, and pension plans. Such data were not collected
in 1955.
782
Military Manpower—
Requirements and Supply, 1955-59
M ajor policy issu e s before the Congress in the
spring of 1955 required information on future
military manpower requirements and supply.
These were the planned reduction of the Armed
Forces to 2.9 million by June 30, 1956, the pro
posed legislation for strengthening the reserve
forces, and the extension of the induction author
ity. This article presents estimates of available
manpower, developed by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, which indicate that the supply of man
power is more than adequate to meet expected
military needs in the next few years.1 The article
also discusses some problems which are likely to
arise if military requirements continue at current
levels.
Historical Review
Expansion of the Armed Forces from 340,000 in
August 1939 to a peak level of 12 million in World
War II created manpower shortages in many
industries and in many occupations. After the
outbreak of the Korean emergency, the Armed
Forces, which had declined to 1.5 million, more
than doubled, reaching a level of 3.6 million by
July 1952. This expansion was achieved to a
great extent by the large scale callup of Reserves
to active duty, which created serious manpower
problems for the civilian economy.
Since the end of the Korean emergency the
Ao-med Forces have declined to about 3 million
and are currently being maintained at about that
level partly through the operations of the Selective
Service machinery. Selective Service laws and
regulations have been modified in a number of
ways since 1950 in order to maintain the Armed
Forces at the necessary levels. The length of
required service was extended from 18 months to
2 years, physical acceptance standards were
lowered, deferments for husbands who were not
fathers and those who became fathers after
August 25, 1953, were eliminated, and the defer
ment of students was made subject to certain
fixed standards. Moreover, the number of defer
ments of men in critical occupations has gradually
decreased.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Projections, 1955-59
The relationship of supply and demand for
military manpower weighs heavily in discussions
of proposed legislation to create a substantial and
effective reserve force and to change the Selective
Service laws and regulations accordingly.
On the supply side, projections of the Selective
Service manpower pool—the number of men who,
at any specific time, are physically and otherwise
qualified, who are liable for induction, and who
would not be exempt or otherwise deferrable if
reached for induction—are of great importance.
The size of the Selective Service Pool has been
projected for each fiscal year through 1959 by
starting with the estimated pool in July 1954,
adding to this base period pool the number of
men becoming eligible each year, and subtracting
the estimated Armed Force requirements.
It is estimated that in July 1954, 710,000
physically fit, nondeferred men were available for
induction (table 1). (Of the total of about 1.6
million Selective Service registrants not in de
ferred or exempt classes in July 1954, it is esti
mated that about 900,000 were physically unfit for
service or deferrable as students and therefore
unavailable for induction at that time.) The
number of men becoming available after July
1954—called inflows and added to the base period
pool—will average about 700,000 a year until
July 1959. An average of 1.1 million men will be
turning 18% each year during this period; how
ever, some will be physically or mentally unfit,
others will receive deferments as students and
still others will enter the Armed Forces without
ever becoming a part of the Selective Service
pool. Of the 700,000 who will become available
each year, between 400,000 and 500,000 will be
young men turning age 18% and the remainder
will be slightly older men—mostly students whose
grounds for deferment will have expired.
Estimates of the number of men needed for
military service were supplied by the Department
of Defense (table 2). In preparing these esti
mates, the main assumptions were that the induc
tion authority under the Universal Military
1 A technical description of how these estimates were derived is available
in Military Manpower Requirements and Supply, 1955-59 (processed,
February 1955). An earlier report in the series, Military Manpower Re
quirements and Supply, 1954-60 (BLS Bull. 1161, 1954) contains a more
detailed exposition of the methods used in preparing the estimates.
MILITARY MANPOWER
783
T a b l e 1.— Projections of the Selective Service manpower
pool and the average age of inductees, fiscal years 1955-59
[In thousands]
Fiscal year
Pool
1955
Pool, start of year------- --------Men becoming available for
service, total___________
Nondeferred men reachmg 18}-i years of ag e...
Deferments expiring___
Men leaving to enter the
Armed Forces__________
Pool, end of year-------------------Average age of inductees at the
end of the y e a r..___ _______
1956
1957
1958
1959
710
820
1,000
1,230
1,550
660
680
700
710
730
420
240
430
250
450
250
450
260
470
260
-550
820
-500
1,000
-470
1,230
-390
1,550
-490
1,790
21.5
23.5
23.0
24.0
24.5
Training and Service Act of 1951 would be
extended through fiscal year 1959, and that the
Armed Forces would decline 100,000 from a
July 1, 1955, level of about 3 million by the end of
fiscal year 1956 and would remain at that level
through 1959.
These estimates indicate that most of the men
needed in the next few years will be supplied
by the Selective Service pool. Of the 3.8 million
men who will be needed from civilian life from
July 1954 to July 1959, about 2.4 million men will
come from the pool. The remainder of the
military requirements—about 1.4 million—will
come from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps,
other Reserve callups from among men who
enlist under the age of 18%, men who have had
prior service, and from women who volunteer to
serve in the various women’s military corps.
Because the inflows into the pool will be larger
than the requirements during the entire period,
the pool will increase each year. Since only
550,000 men will be required to meet Armed
Forces requirements during the fiscal year 1955,
for example, the pool will increase by 110,000 to
a total of 820,000 men by the end of the year.
By July 1959, the pool will have increased to
almost 1.8 million men—more than 3 times the
size of estimated military requirements. (See
chart.)
This increase in the size of the pool will be
accompanied by an increase in the average age of
induction from 21 years to about 24.5 years
(table 1). A high average age of induction creates
problems for both inductees and the Armed
Forces. While most men would become available
for service at age 18%, they would not be called
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for induction until they reached age 24. Such a
situation would disrupt the personal lives of
prospective inductees for a long period of time.
It would be harder for them, to get career jobs, and
some of them would have to postpone plans for
establishing families. Those who manage to get
permanent jobs would have their careers inter
rupted at a crucial stage. This would also make
it difficult for employers, who would lose the
services of men with several years of experience.
The Armed Forces would be getting older men
instead of men of the ages of 19 or 20, who are
generally considered more adaptable. Further
more, the Armed Forces would have to bear the
expense of dependency allowances for the families
of married men.
Effects of Varying Assumptions
The size of the pool and average age of induction
would be substantially different if there were
moderate increases or decreases in the main
variable factors—size of the Armed Forces and
reenlistment rate. The size of the Armed Forces,
as already indicated, has fluctuated since the
beginning of the Korean emergency and the
limited information available during the early
Korean emergency indicates that reenlistment
rates varied considerably. For example, a net
strength level 5 percent above the 2.9 million
assumed above, combined with a 35- rather than
a 30-percent reenlistment rate would increase the
size of the pool to 2.2 million and the average age
of induction to almost 25 years in 1959. ComT a ble 2. — Estimated
military manpower
fiscal years 1955-59
requirements,
[In thousands]
Fiscal year
Armed Forces
Strength, beginning of year-----Inflow.. _______________
From the Selective Service manpower pool___
From outside the Selective Service manpower
pool >. ___________
Outflow------ ----------------Strength, end of year..... .............
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
3,330
840
2,980
770
2,890
740
2,890
650
2,890
760
550
500
470
390
490
290
1,190
2,980
270
860
2, 890
270
740
2, 890
260
650
2,890
270
760
2,890
1 Includes officer gains from ROTC, Reserves, and direct commissions;
men enlisting before age 18J-i, reenlistments of men who have had prior serv
ice, and women enlistees.
Source: Department of Defense, February 1955.
784
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Selective Service Pool in Relation to M ilitary Requirements, 1 9 55-59
NUMBER (in thousands)
2,400
NUMBER (in thousands)
Assumes Armed Forces Strength 2 ,9 0 0 ,0 0 0
Reenlistment Rate 30%
2,000
POOL
POOL REQUIREMENTS
1,600 -
1,200
-
800
400
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
pared with the projections presented above, the
pool would be 400,000 larger and the age of
induction about one-half year higher.
With a different combination of circumstances—■
a slightly higher Armed Forces net strength and a
slightly lower reenlistment rate—both the size
of the pool and the average age of induction
would increase more slowly than under the
previous assumptions. Using a net strength 5
percent higher than 2.9 million combined with a
reenlistment rate of 25 percent, the pool would
be 1.4 million men and the median age of induc
tion, 24 years by July 1959.
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The projections in this article are based on a
number of assumptions and great care must be
used in interpreting the results. The article
demonstrates the effects of small changes in the
net strength of the Armed Forces or in reenlist
ment rates. If there is a significantly greater
change in these factors than is assumed for illus
trative purposes, the conclusions would have to
be modified accordingly.
— S tuart H. G a r fin k le and
R aymond D. L arson
Division of Manpower and Employment Statistics
T85
THE FOURTH ICFTU CONGRESS
The Fourth World Congress
Participation
of the ICFTU, May 1955
The 111 affiliates of the ICFTU embrace more
than 54 million workers from 75 different coun
tries or territories, and 53 million were represented
by delegates at the congress. Each affiliate in
good standing is entitled to at least 1 delegate
and, in proportion to membership, additional
delegates up to 10. The ICFTU increased its
membership by 1.3 million, to a total of 54,525,288,
since the 1953 congress in Stockholm.1 Sixteen
additional organizations had joined, including
Histadrut from Israel, the 5 Zenro unions of
Japan, the Philippine Trade Unions Council, the
Northern Rhodesia Trades Union Congress (which
includes the native mine workers), the newly
formed Labor Union of Morocco, and 2 new
petroleum workers’ unions from Aruba and
Curacao. The executive board did not, however,
act on a number of affiliation applications from
organizations in countries where there was already
an affiliate.
of regional programs to achieve
a more effective challenge to communism in under
developed areas of the free world characterized the
Fourth World Congress of the International Con
federation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), held
in Vienna May 20-28, 1955. These actions took
on added significance because they apparently re
solved differences on how best to oppose Com
munist imperialism which had developed between
the American Federation of Labor and the British
Trades Union Congress.
No other significant policy changes took place.
The congress restated its stand with respect to
dictatorships, forced labor, independence for
colonial areas, and opposition to association with
Yugoslav unions.
Despite the Austrian Treaty, which created an
atmosphere for the congress somewhat different
from that resulting from the East German revolts
which preceded the 1953 meeting, there was no
indication of a softening of policy toward the
Soviet Union. Rather, the Austrian Treaty was
interpreted as evidence that persistent resistance
to communism carries its ultimate rewards. Neu
tralism seemed to lack proponents, although an
Indian delegate held that co-existence was advan
tageous to the free world because free institutions
were superior to totalitarianism.
A prominent feature of the congress was the
unity and influence of the United States delega
tion, representing the American Federation of
Labor, the Congress of Industrial Organizations,
and the United Mine Workers. Both the United
States and British delegations denied the existence
of contention between the two for influence in the
ICFTU, although such rivalry had been widely
discussed prior to the congress.
Some issues, such as relationships to Yugoslav
unions and the sponsoring of co-determination
(joint managerial responsibility), evoked disagree
ment, but a great degree of harmony prevailed.
S t r e n g t h e n in g
347813— 55-
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Policies and Discussion
The congress agenda included these policy
matters: (1) Financing the organization of trade
unions in underdeveloped areas; (2) trade union
action for economic and political independence in
underdeveloped areas; (3) human rights and labor
rights; (4) labor-management relations; and (5)
peace and prosperity and their relation to free
labor.
Member organizations had submitted 30 reso
lutions for consideration, including proposals for:
control of atomic weapons and experiments;
defense of the free world; self-determination for
Cyprus; opposition to admission of Spain into the
specialized agencies of the United Nations; oppo
sition to relationships with Yugoslav unions;
sponsoring co-determination; opposition to racial
discrimination in the Union of South Africa; and
1 See Monthly Labor Review, October 1953 (p. 1055).
The membership figure published at the time of the 1953 congress, i. e.,
54,235,143, would indicate that the increase cited above is a gross figure
which takes no account of fluctuations in the membership of affiliates or of
withdrawals. The 16 new affiliations reported also would appear to repre
sent a gross count, in view of the fact that 102 member organizations were
claimed in 1953, compared with 111 in 1955.
786
association of free unions without regard to
religion, race, or political differences. Most of
these resolutions were adopted in some form.
One of the more important resolutions was that
relating to atomic energy. The congress indicated
awareness of the advantages which might accrue
to labor in both industrial and underdeveloped
areas from the development of atomic energy for
peaceful uses, but expressed deep concern about
its military effects. The executive board voted to
call a conference in Geneva of worker representa
tives from countries utilizing atomic energy, prior
to the United Nations conference on that subject
August 8-20, and pronounced itself against the use
of thermonuclear weapons. It concluded that
only general disarmament with adequate super
vision and controls could be effective in this
regard.
Commenting on a Norwegian proposal that
trade unions press for co-determination, Thomas
Kennedy (UMW) and Charles J. MacGowan
(AFL) defended reliance upon collective bargain
ing for promoting worker interests. Mr. Mac
Gowan, however, conceded that in some countries
co-determination might be desirable for labor as a
means of contending with big business, just as
nationalization might be in certain countries where
management was inefficient. He noted that col
lective agreements were tending to include many
matters formerly regarded as exclusive managerial
prerogatives. Both delegates regarded collective
bargaining as best for labor in the United States.
Greatest attention centered on the issue of trade
union organization in the underdeveloped areas.
The congress seemed to regard the development
of free trade unions as the most important action in
which the ICFTU could engage to accomplish
its objectives of resisting and defeating com
munism, improving standards and conditions of life
for workers, opposing dictatorships and advancing
democratic institutions, and promoting self-gov
ernment and independence for colonial peoples.
The United States and Canadian delegations pro
posed an administrative reorganization to make
this program more dynamic and effective as an
anti-Communist tool. The AFL had in the past
been dissatisfied with the ICFTU program, feeling
that the ICFTU general secretary followed the less
militant viewpoint of the British Trades Union
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Congress. An open clash between the two groups
did not develop, although the American repre
sentatives spoke openly for a positive anti-Com
munist program of action, while the British held that
the best policy against communism was improve
ment of the economic conditions of workers in
underdeveloped areas. Observers credited the
leaders of the American delegation, though out
spoken in behalf of their policies, with using diplo
macy and consideration for the views of others
to win the congress to their viewpoint.
A decision was reached with respect to adminis
trative reorganization, with which both delega
tions expressed satisfaction. The congress estab
lished a new office of director of organization, with
three or more assistants, directly responsible to
the executive board but serviced by the secretariat.
This new agency will carry on the regional pro
grams. A special committee will recommend a
candidate for the directorship. Omer Becu,
ICFTU president, and Pat Conroy, Canadian
labor attaché to the United States and former
general secretary of the Canadian Congress of
Labor, are mentioned as possible candidates.
The executive board was authorized to seek
consent for an annual assessment equivalent to
1 cent per member of those affiliates deemed by
the executive board as able to pay full dues (a
total of about 33,000,000 members) to finance
this operation. Thus a total of about $330,000
per year is anticipated for trade union organiza
tion work, compared with the $812,000 raised on
a voluntary basis for the 3-year period, 1951-54.
United States affiliates are expected to contribute
about $100,000 a year more to the ICFTU under
this arrangement than heretofore.2 George Meany,
AFL president, stated during the congress that
the foreign organizing activities of the AFL would
be coordinated with the ICFTU operations, while
the Free Trade Union Committee of the AFL
would blend its work in the field of propaganda
and information with that of the ICFTU.
Prior to the congress, the general secretary
received communications from the Com m unist,2 The Free Trade Union Committee of the A FL contributed only a nominal
amount to the IC FTU regional fund and the AFL itself has not heretofore
contributed to this IC F T U program, but the CIO gave $175,000 and has also
advocated integration of the foreign activities of affiliates under the IC F T U
program. Until now the AFL has had a separate program of international
activities.
787
LABOR FEDERATION CONSTITUTIONS
controlled World Federation of Trade Unions
(WFTU) inviting cooperation on a charter of
trade union rights and collaboration in action
against war. He reported to the congress that
he had rejected both proposals on the grounds of
ideological incompatibility and had suggested to
the WFTU that it was desirable first to apply
such rights in the Soviet countries.
A resolution was adopted, in the face of some
opposition, reproaching two International Trade
Secretariats (the Miners International Federation
and the International Federation of Building and
Woodworkers) for accepting the affiliation of
Government-controlled Yugoslav unions.
During the congress it was learned that 9 of the
32 Indian trade unionists visiting Red China had
discontinued their tour and returned home in pro
test against restrictions imposed on their travel
and attempts to have them endorse an Asian Fed
eration of Trade Unions. A number of speakers
at the congress urged that free trade unionists
eschew invitations to visit countries where there
was not full freedom to investigate conditions.
The executive board decided to investigate the
trade union situation in Iceland, where the most
recent Iceland Federation of Labor elections placed
this ICFTU affiliate under the domination of leftwing Socialist and Communist elements.
Elections
The congress unanimously reelected J. H. Oldenbroek (Netherlands) as general secretary and made
a few changes in the 25 members of the executive
board as proposed by regional caucuses. The
United States representatives (George Meany,
Walter P. Reuther, and John L. Lewis) and those
from Canada (Donald MacDonald and Claude
Jodoin) were reelected.
The new executive
board reelected Omer Becu (Belgium) president
and Sir Vincent Tewson (Great Britain) to replace
the late Arthur Deakin, as 1 of the 7 vice presidents.
The new executive board was authorized to
move the organization’s headquarters from Brus
sels to Paris.
— J oseph
L. H armon
Office of International Labor Affairs
U. S. Department of Labor
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Principles and Objectives in U. S.
Labor Federation Constitutions
American Federation o f Labor and the Con
gress of Industrial Organizations in May 1955
gave executive approval to a constitution for the
organization to be created by their merger. Com
parison of this document with the constitutions
adopted in the past by the two federations suggests
the evolution in, American labor’s principles and
objectives which has taken place over the past
75 years. It also focuses the issues which led to
the schism in labor’s ranks in 1935, which has
now been closed. Pertinent excerpts from these
charters are presented below.
T he
American Federation of Labor
The preamble to the 1881 Declaration of Prin
ciples of the Federation of Organized Trades and
Labor Unions, the predecessor of the AFL, stated:
A struggle is going on in the nations of the civilized
world between the oppressors and the oppressed of all
countries, a struggle between capital and labor, which must
grow in intensity from year to year and work disastrous
results to the toiling millions of all nations if not combined
for mutual protection and benefit. The history of the
wageworkers of all countries is but the history of constant
struggle and misery engendered by ignorance and disunion;
whereas the history of the nonproducers of all ages proves
that a minority, thoroughly organized, may work wonders
for good or evil. It behooves the representatives of the
workers of North America, in Congress assembled, to adopt
such measures and disseminate such principles among the
people of our country as will unite them for all time to
come, to secure the recognition of the rights to which they
are justly entitled. Conforming to the old adage, “In
union there is strength,” the formation of a Federation
embracing every trade and labor organization in North
America, a union founded upon a basis as broad as the
land we live in, is our only hope. The past history of
Trades Unions proves that small organizations, well con
ducted, have accomplished great good, but their efforts
have not been of that lasting character which a thorough
unification of all the different branches of industrial
workers is bound to secure.1
Article II of the accompanying Plan of Organiza
tion (drafted by a committee of which Samuel J.
1 P roceedings^ the American Federation of Labor, 1881-1888; reprinted
in 1905.
788
Gompers was chairman) stated the “objects” of
the Federation as follows:
Section 1. The encouragement and formation of Trades
and Labor Unions.
Section 2. The encouragement and formation of Trades
and Labor Assemblies or Councils.
Section 3. The encouragement and formation of
National and International Trades Unions.
Section 4. To secure legislation favorable to the in
terests of the industrial classes.
The original AFL constitution, adopted in 1886,
contained virtually the same preamble but added
to the object of encouraging the formation of
national and international unions that of securing
their autonomy. It also listed as an object the
promotion of State and Provincial federations of
trades and labor unions.
Congress of Industrial Organizations
Although the unions which constituted the core
of the CIO left the AFL in 1936, the new federation
was not formally organized until 1938. The pre
amble and objects contained in the constitution
adopted at the CIO’s first convention were as
follows:
Preamble. The Committee for Industrial Organization
formed in November 1935 presented a program to the un
organized workers of this country. In less than 3 years a
magnificent record of achievement and overwhelming mass
support established the Committee for Industrial Organiza
tion as the most powerful and progressive labor force in
this country. Active organizing campaigns in the mass
production and basic industries have brought into being
unions with millions of members in unorganized industries.
A new freedom has been brought by the Committee for
Industrial Organization to American workers and it has
forged the instrumentality whereby labor will achieve and
extend industrial and political democracy.
For the purpose of providing a permanent basis for the
continued achievement and success on behalf of the workers
of America, this constitution and the principles embraced
therein have been adopted.
The objects of the organization are:
First. To bring about the effective organization of the
working men and women of America regardless of race,
creed, color, or nationality, and to unite them for common
action into labor unions for their mutual aid and protection.
Second. To extend the benefits of collective bargaining
and to secure for the workers means to establish peaceful
relations with their employers, by forming labor unions
capable of dealing with modern aggregates of industry and
finance.
Third. To maintain determined adherence to obligations
and responsibilities under collective bargaining and wage
agreements.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Fourth. To secure legislation safeguarding the economic
security and social welfare of the workers of America, to
protect and extend our democratic institutions and civil
rights, and liberties, and thus to perpetuate the cherished
traditions of our democracy.
The Merged Federation
The proposed constitution for governing the
organization created by the impending AFL-CIO
merger states in its preamble:
The establishment of this federation through the merger
of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of
Industrial Organizations is an expression of the hopes and
aspirations of the working people of America.
We seek the fulfillment of these hopes and aspirations
through democratic processes within the framework of our
constitutional government and consistent with our
institutions and traditions.
At the collective bargaining table, in the community, in
the exercise of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship,
we shall responsibly serve the interests of all the American
people.
We pledge ourselves to the more effective organization of
working men and women; to the securing to them of full
recognition and enjoyment of the rights to which they are
justly entitled; to the achievement of ever higher standards
of living and working conditions; to the attainment of
security for all the people; to the enjoyment of the leisure
which their skills make possible; and to the strengthening
and extension of our way of life and the fundamental
freedoms which are the basis of our democratic society.
We shall combat resolutely the forces which seek to
undermine the democratic institutions of our Nation and to
enslave the human soul. We shall strive always to win
full respect for the dignity of the human individual whom
our unions serve.
Grateful for the fine traditions of our past, confident of
meeting the challenge of the future, we proclaim this
constitution.
Article II of the constitution lists the following
objects and principles for the new federation:
To aid workers in securing improved wages, hours and
working conditions with due regard for the autonomy and
integrity of affiliated unions.
To aid and assist affiliated unions in extending the
benefits of mutual assistance and collective bargaining to
workers and to promote the organization of the unorganized
into unions of their own choosing for their mutual aid,
protection, and advancement, giving recognition to the
principle that both craft and industrial unions are appro
priate, equal, and necessary as methods of union organiza
tion.
To affiliate national and international unions with the
federation and to establish such unions; to form organizing
committees and directly affiliated local unions and to
secure their affiliation to appropriate national and inter
national unions affiliated with or chartered by the federa
tion; to establish, assist, and promote state and local central
WISCONSIN BAN ON UNION POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
bodies composed of local unions of all affiliated organiza
tions and directly affiliated local unions; to establish and
assist trade departments composed of affiliated national
and international union and organizing committees.
To encourage all workers without regard to race, color,
or national origin to share in the full benefits of union
organization.
To secure legislation which will safeguard and promote
the principle of free collective bargaining, the rights of
workers, farmers and consumers, and the security and
welfare of all the people.
To protect and strengthen our democratic institutions,
to secure full recognition and enjoyment of the rights and
liberties to which wre are justly entitled, and to preserve
and perpetuate the cherished traditions of our democracy.
To give constructive aid in promoting the cause of peace
and freedom in the world and to aid, assist, and cooperate
with free and democratic labor movements throughout the
world.
To preserve and maintain the integrity of each affiliated
union in the organization to the end that each affiliate shall
respect the established bargaining relationship of every
other affiliate and that each affiliate shall refrain from
raiding the established bargaining relationship of any other
affiliate and, at the same time, to encourage the elimination
Wisconsin Law Banning
Political Contributions by Unions
T he Governor of Wisconsin, on May 20, 1955,
approved an act1 prohibiting political contribu
tions by labor unions, corporations, and certain
other organizations and specifying penalties for
violation. Significant excerpts from this law are
reproduced below.
Sec. 346.12. (1) No foreign or domestic corporation,
no association organized under ch. 185 doing business in
this State, and no labor union or labor organization shall
contribute any money or thing of value, directly or in
directly, to any political party, political organization,
political committee, or individual candidate for any po
litical purpose whatsoever, or to promote or defeat the
candidacy of any person for nomination or election to any
political office.
(2) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the
right of any individual to form, join, contribute to or par
ticipate in voluntary organizations provided for in sec.
12.09, other than labor organizations or labor unions, to
support political candidates and purposes of his own
choosing, nor his right to subscribe to a regularly pub
lished organization newspaper. Nothing contained in
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
789
of conflicting and duplicating organizations and juris
dictions through the process of agreement, merger or other
means, by voluntary agreement in consultation with the
appropriate officials of the federation; to preserve, subject
to the foregoing, the organizing jurisdiction of each
affiliate.
To aid and encourage the sale and use of union-made
goods and union services through the use of the union
label and other symbols; to promote the labor press and
other means of furthering the education of the labor
movement.
To protect the labor movement from any and all corrupt
influences and from the undermining efforts of Com
munist agencies and all others who are opposed to the basic
principles of our democracy and free and democratic
unionism.
To safeguard the democratic character of the labor
movement and to protect the autonomy of each affiliated
national and international union.
"While preserving the independence of the labor move
ment from political control, to encourage workers to
register and vote, to exercise their full rights and responsi
bilities of citizenship, and to perform their rightful part
in the political life of the local, State, and national
communities.
this section shall prohibit the publication by corporations
labor unions and labor organizations, and cooperatives in
the regular course of conducting their affairs, of periodicals
advising their members, stockholders or customers of
dangers or advantages to their interests of election to
office of men espousing certain measures.
S ec . 346.13. Any officer, employee, agent or attorney
or other representative of any corporation, labor union or
labor organization, acting for and in behalf of such corpora
tion, labor union or labor organization, wrho shall violate
secs. 346.12 to 346.16 shall be fined not less than $100 nor
more than $5,000, or imprisoned not less than 1 nor more
than 5 years, or both, in the discretion of the court or judge
before whom such conviction is had, and if the corporation,
labor union or labor organization shall be subject to a
penalty, then by forfeiture in double the amount of any
fine so imposed . . . and if a domestic corporation, it
may be dissolved . . . and if a foreign or nonresident
corporation, its right to do business in this State may be
declared forfeited.
S ec . 346.14. The violation of secs. 346.12 to 346.16,
by any officer, employee, agent, attorney or other repre
sentative of a corporation, labor union or labor organiza
tion, shall be prima facie evidence of said violation by such
corporation, labor union or labor organization.
i Ch. 135, Laws of 1955 (A. 419), amending secs. 346.12, 346.13, and 346.14 of
the statutes relating to political contributions by labor unions and providing
penalties.
790
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Salaries of Firemen
T a b l e 2. — Indexes of maximum salary rates 1 for firemen
and policemen in cities of 100,000 population or more,
1989-54
and Policemen, 1952-54
Index (1947-49=100)
e a r l y all cities of 100,000 or more population
advanced salary scales of policemen and firemen
between January 1952 and January 1954; only
4 percent of the patrolmen and firefighters were
employed where scales remained unchanged. Dur
ing this period the increase in maximum annual
scales for these city employees averaged $422, or
10.5 percent (table l).1
During 1952 the increases were larger on the
average and more widespread than they were dur
ing 1953, with the salary scales for all firemen and
policemen rising an average of 6.7 percent in 1952
and 3.6 percent in 1953.2 The increase in the lat
ter year was proportionately smaller than in any
previous postwar year except 1950 (table 2).
The total increase in average scales of firemen
and policemen from 1939 to the beginning of 1954
amounted to about 90 percent (table 2). This
N
T a ble 1.— Average increases in maximum salary rates of
firemen and policemen in cities of 100,000 population or
more,1 by city size group, 1952-54
Firemen and
policemen
Firemen
Year
Firemen and
policemen
1939_______________________
1940_______________________
1941_______________________
1942_______________________
1943_______________________
1944_______________________
1945_______________________
1946_______________________
1947_______________________
1948. _____________________
1949_______________________
1950_______________________
1951_________ ______________
1952______ ________________
1953_______________________
1954_______________________
73
73
73
2 74
76
80
85
86
93
100
108
110
116
124
132
137
Firemen.
72
72
72
74
76
80
84
85
93
100
107
110
116
124
132
137
Policemen
73
73
73
74
76
80
85
89
92
100
108
111
117
125
133
138
1 Data refer to changes in maximum rates for firefighters and patrolmen
effective on January 1 of each year.
2 Revised.
may be compared with an advance of less than
80 percent in average salary rates of Federal Gov
ernment (Classification Act) employees and a rise
in average salaries of urban public school teachers
of 96 percent between the 1938-39 and the 195253 school years.3 Average weekly earnings of
factory production workers tripled from 1939 to
early 1954.
Policemen
Variation in Increases, 1952-54
Period and city size group
Dol
lars
Per
cent
Dol
lars
Per
cent
Dol
lars
All size groups_____________
$422
10.5
$421
10.7
$423
10.5
1,000,000 and over.. ___
500,000 and under 1,000,000_
250,000 and under 500,000 100,000 and under 250,000 .
451
394
459
371
10.3
9.9
12.1
10.6
445
425
448
365
10.3
10.8
11.9
10.4
455
373
470
378
10.4
9.4
12.5
10.8
Per
cent
1 9 5 2 -5 4
1 9 5 2 -5 3
All size groups_________ . . .
268
6.7
260
6.6
273
6.8
1,000,000 and over_______
500,000 and under 1,000,000.
250,000 and under 500,000 .
100,000 and under 250,000.
388
158
220
189
8.9
4.0
5.8
5.4
393
183
209
190
9.1
4.6
5.6
5.4
387
142
231
189
8.9
3.6
6.1
5.4
All size groups_____________
154
3.6
161
3.8
150
3.5
1,000,000 and over_______
500,000 and under 1,000,000.
250,000 and under 500,000..
100,000 and under 250,000..
63
236
239
182
1.3
5. 7
6.0
4.9
52
242
239
175
1.1
5.9
6.0
4.7
68
231
239
189
1.4
5.6
6.0
5.1
The most common salary increases for patrolmen
and firefighters from January 1952 to January
1954 amounted to 7.5 but less than 12.5 percent,
with three-fifths being employed in cities where
changes of this size were put into effect (table 3).
Measured in dollar terms, increases ranging from
$300 to less than $500 went into effect in cities
employing 3 out of every 5 firemen and policemen;
in communities employing about 1 of every 8, the
gain was $500 but less than $600 a year.
19 5 3 -5 4
1 Based on data in all cities of over 100,000 (with the exception of 2 com
munities of 100,000 but under 250,000 population). Data refer to changes in
maximum rates for fire fighters and patrolmen effective on January 1 of each
year.
In these tables, average increases were computed by multiplying the rise in
maximum scales for fire fighters in each city by total employment in the entire
fire department in that city, adding these, and then dividing the aggregate
rise by the total number of fire department employees in all cities studied.
For patrolmen, data were computed in the same manner, using scales for
patrolmen and total employment in the police department of each city. In
developing the distributions, total employment in fire and police departments
was also used.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 This article brings up to date indexes presented in the M onthly Labor
Review for June 1950 (p. 633), January 1952 (p. 52), and July 1953 (p. 723).
Methods used in constructing the indexes are discussed in these earlier
articles and in Wage Movements Bulletin, Series 3, No. 2, U. S. Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data on salary scales for firemen
are from the special salary tabulations prepared by the International Asso
ciation of Fire Fighters (AFL); for policemen, data are from the Municipal
Year Book, published by the International City Managers Association.
2 Changes in scales between January 1952 and January 1953 are referred
to as 1952 increases and those between January 1953 and January 1954 as 1953
increases, even though some of the new scales may have gone into effect on
January 1 of the following year.
2 See Salary Trends of Federal Classified Employees, M onthly Labor
Review, April 1955 (p. 421) and Changes in City Public-School Teachers’
Salaries, Monthly Labor Review, February 1955 (p. 195).
791
SALARIES OF FIREMEN AND POLICEMEN
T a ble 3. — Percentage distribution of firemen and 'policemen 1
in cities of 100,000 population or more, by percentage and
dollar increases in maximum annual salary scales, 1952-54
Increase
Firemen and
policemen
Firemen
Policemen
Percent of—
Percent of—
Percent of—
Number
Number
Number
Total receiving Total receiving Total receiving
increases
increases
increases
Expressed in percentage
terms
3.9
0
4.0
7.2
35.4
24.5
12.1
5.2
1.5
2.2
4.0
0
4.1
7.5
36.8
25.5
12.6
5.5
1.5
2.3
4.2
3.1
0
4.4
8.2
36.2
21.8
11.0
6.4
2.0
2.4
4.5
0
4.5
8.5
37.4
22.5
11.3
6.6
2. 1
2.5
4.6
4.5
0
3.7
6.4
34.8
26.4
12.9
4.4
1.1
2.1
3.7
0
3.8
6.8
36.4
27.7
13.5
4.6
1.1
2.2
3.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
3.9
0
5.1
7.6
33.4
23.3
12.6
8.4
.8
4.9
0
5.3
7.9
34.8
24.2
13.1
8.8
.8
5.1
3.1
0
6.3
8.1
34.2
21.9
12.2
7.9
.9
5.4
0
6.5
8.4
35.3
22.6
12.6
8.1
.9
5.6
4.5
0
4.3
7.2
32.9
24.2
12.8
8.8
.7
4.6
0
4.5
7.5
34.5
25.3
13.5
9.2
.7
4.8
Total________ _ 100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
No change
Under 2.5__ ___ - 2.5 and under 5.0_____
5.0 and under 7.5_____
7.5 and under 10.0___ _
10.0 and under 12.5____
12.5 and under 15.0__
15.0 and under 17.5____
17.5 and under 20.0___
20.0 and under 22.5___
22.5 and over..................
Total. .
------
Expressed in dollars
No ohan go
Under $100--- ----$100 and under $200.._
$200 and under $300__
$300 and under $400___
$400 and under $500 $500 and under $600___
$600 and under $700___
$700 and under $800___
$800 and over_________
i Based on 1954 total employment in fire and police departments.
but less than 1,000,000 population, however, the
gain in salaries in 1953 exceeded that in 1952.
Almost 2 out of 5 policemen and firemen were
employed in areas where salary scales were
raised in both years; in some cases one of these
adjustments was described as a cost-of-living
increase and was for a relatively small amount.
The average increase over the 2-year period in
cities that adjusted scales twice was 13.4 percent—
distinctly higher than in communities that gave a
single increase during this period.
Intercity Variation in Salary Levels
Maximum salary scales for patrolmen and fire
men in 1954 ranged from less than $3,000 to more
than $5,000 a year, with about 4 out of 10 of the
patrolmen and 3 out of 10 firemen being employed
in communities with maximums of $4,600 but
under $4,800. (See chart.) In the 5 cities of
more than 1 million population—Chicago, Detroit,
Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia—
no maximum rate of less than $4,400 was reported.
Two-thirds of both the policemen and firemen
T a ble 4. — Percentage distribution of firemen and policemen 1
in cities of 100,000 population or more, by percentage
increase in maximum annual salary scales, 1952—53 and
1953-54
Comparison of 1952 and 1953
The average salary increase was smaller in 1953
than in 1952, not only because the proportion of
firemen and policemen in cities making salary
adjustments declined from four-fifths to a little
more than one-half, but also because the increases
were smaller in amount (table 4). In 1953, 46
percent of the workers were employed by cities
which did not change their salary scales, as
compared with 19 percent in 1952. In commu
nities where scales were advanced during the year,
the average increase was 7.0 in 1953 compared
with 8.2 in the earlier year.
Most of these differences between the 2 years
occurred in the 5 cities of more than a million
population. In the year ending January 1953 all
5 had granted salary increases, which averaged
8.9 percent. During the following year only 2
out of the 5 gave pay increases. Salary advances
in the smallest communities averaged 5.4 percent
in 1952 compared with 4.9 percent during the
following year. In communities with 250,000
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Year and percentage
increase
Firemen and
policemen
Firemen
Policemen
Percent of—
Percent of—
Percent of—
Number
Number
Number
Total receiving Total receiving Total receiving
increases
increases
increases
1 9 5 2 -6 3
Under 2.5____________
2.5 and under 5.0-----5.0 and under 7.5_____
7.5 and under 10.0------10.0 and under 12.5-----12. 5 and under 15.0___
15.0 and under 17.5........
17.5 and under 2 0.0---20.0 and over_________
19.0
1.1
12.3
18.7
28.4
9.6
7.3
2.9
.4
.3
1.4
15.2
23.1
35.0
11.9
8.9
3.6
.5
.4
18.8
1.4
14.5
19.2
25.5
9.3
7.3
3.0
.7
.3
1.7
17.9
23.7
31.3
11.5
9.0
3.7
.8
.4
19.2
.9
10.7
18.4
30. 4
9.8
7.2
2.9
.2
.3
i.i
13.3
22.7
37.6
12.2
8.9
3.5
.3
.4
Total__________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Under 2.5___________
2.5 and under 5.0-------5.0 and under 7.5-------7.5 and under 10.0------10.0 and under 12.5........
12.5 and under 15.0-----15.0 and under 17.5-----17.5 and under 20.0-----20.0 and over_________
46. 4
.2
14.7
17.3
10.5
9.2
.9
.6
0
.2
0.3
27.4
32.3
19.6
17.3
1.6
1.1
0
.4
44. 6
.4
14.8
14.9
13.4
9.6
1.1
.9
0
.3
0.8
26.7
26.8
24.3
17.4
1.9
1.7
0
.4
47.6
0
14.6
19.0
8.5
9.0
.7
.4
0
.2
0
27.8
36.3
16.2
17.2
1.4
.7
0
.4
Total__________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
19 5 3 -5 4
i The 1952-53 distribution is based on 1953 total employment in fire and
police departments and the 1953-54 distribution on 1954 employment.
792
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Distribution of Firefighters and Patrolmen in Cities of 100,000 or More Population, by
Maximum Annua! Salary Scales and of City Size, January 1954
FIREFIG H TERS IN CITIES OF . . .
Percent of Total
PATROLMEN IN CITIES OF . . .
S a la ry
UNDER $3,000
3.000 and under 3,200
3.200 and under 3,400
3.400 and under 3,600
3.600 and under 3,800
3.800 and under 4,000
4.000 and under 4,200
4.200 and under 4,400
4.400 and under 4,600
4.600 and under 4,800
4.800 and under, 5,000
$5,000 and Over
UNDER $3,000
3.000 and under 3,200
3.200 and under 3,400
3.400 and under 3,600
3.600 and under 3,800
3.800 and under 4,000
4.000 .and under 4,200
4.200 and under 4,400
4.400 and under 4,600
4.600 and under 4,800
4.800 and under 5,000
$5,000 and Over
UNDER $3,000
3.000 and under 3,200
3.200 and under 3,400
3.400 and under 3,600
3.600 and under 3,800
3.800 and under 4,000
4.000 and under 4,200
4.200 and under 4,400
4.400 and under 4,600
4.600 and under 4,800
4.800 and under 5,000
$5,000 and Over
UNDER $3,000
3.000 and under 3,200
3.200 and under 3,400
3.400 and under 3,600
3.600 and under 3,800
3.800 and under 4,000
4.000 and under 4,200
4.200 and under 4,400
4.400 and under 4,600
4.600 and under 4,800
4.800 and under 5,000
$5,000 and Over
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OE LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Percent of Total
A nnual
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
793
SALARIES OF FIREMEN AND POLICEMEN
were employed where the top salary in their rank
ranged between $4,600 and $4,800; this group
included employees of New York and Chicago.
In the 5 largest cities, scales for firemen and
policemen were identical. Of all cities studied,
only 6 reported salary differences of $100 or more
in 1954.
Salaries became progressively lower in each
smaller city size group. In communities of
500,000 but under 1 million population, almost
two-fifths of the firefighters and a third of the
patrolmen were employed where maximum scales
ranged from $4,000 to less than $4,200. Among
the smallest cities studied, scales ranged from less
than $3,000 a year to more than $5,000.
Occupational Comparisons
Variations among the proportion of policemen
and firemen employed by the communities of
different size, rather than differences in pay within
the same community, explain the difference in
average salary levels and salary trends between the
two occupational groups. Employment for both
groups, by city size group, was as follows in
January 1954:
City size group
All size groups 1_____________________
1,000,000 and over___________________
500 000 and under 1,000,000_________
250P00 and under 500,000___________
100,000 and under 250,000___________
Firemen
65,347
21,727
15,256
11,651
16,713
Policemen
95,097
43,877
21,765
13,107
16,348
smaller communities, the average salary level in
all cities combined for policemen is somewhat
higher than for firemen. Hence, an almost iden
tical dollar rise in pay amounted to slightly less
in percentage terms for policemen than for fire
fighters: from January 1952 to January 1954, an
nual salaries of firemen rose $421, or 10.7 percent,
while policemen’s scales increased $423, or 10.5
percent.
The smallest relative increase over the 2 years
in firemen’s salaries—10.3 percent—was recorded
for the largest cities. For policemen, however,
maximum scales in communities of between
500,000 and 1 million population rose less than in
any other group.4 The smallest dollar increase
in firemen’s salaries occurred in the smallest cities
studied, but the percentage increase in communi
ties of this size was practically the same as that in
the largest size communities. Salaries in popu
lation centers of 250,000 but under 500,000 showed
the highest gains for both firemen and police
men—11.9 and 12.5 percent, respectively—and the
dollar increases were also greatest for these cities.
The advance in salaries for firemen was slightly
smaller than that for policemen in 1952 but was
slightly greater in 1953. This minor reversal in
relationship again is traceable to employment of
policemen in proportionately greater numbers in
the largest communities which gave most of their
salary increases in 1952.
i Based on all cities of over 100,000 (with the exception of 2 communities of
100,000 but under 250,000 population).
— R u t h W. B e n n y
Division of Wages and Industrial Relations
Greater proportions of patrolmen are employed
in the larger communities. Since salary scales in
the larger cities tend to be higher than in the
4No increase in maximum scales of patrolmen was recorded for one city
(St. Louis) in this group, although the city raised scales for firefighters. Pay
of St. Louis police is determined by the State legislature, whereas fire
fighters’ rates are set by the city.
347813— 55-
4
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794
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Wage Chronology No. 1:
American Woolen Co.
Supplement No. 2— 1953-54 1
I n January 1953, the American Woolen Co. re
quested a wage reopening of its contract with the
Textile Workers Union of America (CIO). The
parties failed to agree on the company’s request for
a wage decrease and the issue was submitted to
arbitration in accordance with the contract. On
May 19, 1953, the arbitrator denied the company’s
application for a 20-percent general wage reduc
tion. With the exception of a supplemental agree
ment shifting the cost-of-living escalator clause
from the old to the revised Consumer Price Index
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the contract
was continued in force through its termination
date in March 1954.
When negotiations began on a new contract in
March 1954, the union rejected the company’s
request for a general wage reduction of 21 % cents
an hour and a 6-week strike ensued. The dispute
was settled on June 5 by a new agreement provid
ing for a 9%-cent wage reduction and a decrease in
supplementary benefits. In addition, the 5-cent
cost-of-living allowance then in effect was de
creased by 1 cent, the remaining 4 cents being
incorporated into base rates, and the escalator
provision was discontinued. The contract, effec
tive June 7, 1954, was to remain in effect until
April 30, 1957, with provisions for general wage
reopenings in April 1955 and 1956. It covered
approximately 3,500 workers employed in 11 mills
in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu
setts, Connecticut, and Kentucky.2 Neither party
exercised the option to reopen the contract in
April 1955.
The following tables bring the American Woolen
Co. chronology up to date through mid-1955.
i See Monthly Labor Review, December 1948 (p. 584) and November 1952
(P. 522).
! Other mills of the company have been closed. Effective Feb. 24, 1955,
American Woolen Co. was merged with Textron, Inc., and Robbins Mills,
Inc., to form Textron American, Inc., but this merger did not affect the
contract provisions described in this chronology.
A—General wage changes
Effective date
Provision
Dec. 31, 1952_______
Mar. 31, 1953________
No change______________
3 cents an hour decrease__
May 19, 1953________
No change______________
June 30, 1953________
Sept. 30, 1953 (by sup
plemental agreement
of Sept. 3, 1953).
Dec. 31, 1953________
June 7, 1954 (bv agree
ment of same date).
No change______________
2 cents an hour increase__
No change______________
10% cents an hour decrease
1 Because of discontinuance of the Old Series Consumers’ Price Index,
the parties agreed to the following revision of the escalator provision (supple
mental agreement of Sept. 3, 1953): “ Effective Sept. 30, 1953, and Dec. 31.
1953, respectively, a cost-of-living adjustment equal to 1 cent per hour plus
or minus ,shall be added to or subtracted from, as the case may be, the exist-
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Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters
Quarterly cost-of-living review.
Quarterly adjustment of cost-of-living allow
ance.
Arbitration award of May 19, 1953, denied
company request for a 20-percent (average
31 cents) pay cut under March 1953 re
opening provision.
Quarterly cost-of-living review.
Quarterly adjustment of cost-of-living allow
ance. Based on revised Consumer Price
Index.1
Quarterly cost-of-living review.
Included 9%-cent decrease in base pay and
1-cent decrease in existing 5-cent cost-ofliving allowance. Remaining 4-cent costof-living allowance incorporated into base
rates and the escalator clause discontinued.
ing rates of all employees for each 0.71 increase or decrease in the Consumer
Price Index . . . from Feb. 15, 1951, with a converted index of 111.2, to
Aug. 15, 1953, and Nov. 15, 1953, provided, however, that no cost-of-living
adjustment shall be made which will reduce rates of pay below those that
were effective on Mar. 15,1951.”
795
WAGE CHRONOLOGY—AMERICAN WOOLEN CO.
B—Minimum plant wage rates
Applications, exceptions, and otter related
matters
Provision
Effective date
$1.21.
June 7, 1 9 5 4 _ ___
C—Related wage practices
Applications, exceptions, and other related
matters
Provision
Effective date
Holiday Pay
Changed to: No pay for holidays falling on
Saturdays or within vacation period.
June 7, 1954_________
To qualify for holiday pay, an employee must
have been employed at least 13 weeks pre
ceding the holiday week, worked the regularly
scheduled workdays before and after the
holiday unless excused, and worked at least
1 full shift during scheduled workweek
within or prior to that in which holiday fell.
Paid Vacations
June 7, 1954_______
- Added: Employees with 6 months’ but less
than 1 year’s service— 1 week’s vacation.
Eliminated: Minimum vacation pay guarantee
of 40, 60, and 80 hours’ pay for employees
with 1, 3, and 5 years’ service, respectively,
if they worked 1,320 hours during the prior
year.
Vacation pay reduced to 2 percent of straighttime earnings during previous year, exclusive
of vacation and holiday pay, for employees
with 6 months’ but less than 3 years’ service;
3 percent for those with 3 but less than 5
years; and 4 percent for those having at least
5 years’ service.
Faulty Material
June 7, 1954___ ______
Changed to: Piece or incentive workers to be
compensated for loss in earnings because of
faulty material only if the average earnings
for the week in which the loss occurred was
at least 5 percent below average straighttime hourly earnings in the prior social se
curity quarter.
Technological Displacement Pay
June 7, 1954__________ Eliminated.
Health and Welfare Benefits
June 7, 1954__________
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Weekly accident and sickness benefits: Changed \
to flat $25 a week for 13 weeks.
Accidental death or dismemberment: Changed (Computation of benefits based on percentage of
to $1,500 for loss of life, both eyes, both [ average weekly earnings eliminated.
hands, both feet, 1 hand and 1 foot; $750
for loss of 1 hand, 1 foot, or 1 eye.
Medical expense: Eliminated.
Maternity benefits: Eliminated.
796
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
State Ratios of Strike Idleness
to Total Time Worked, 1952-54
of strike activity that expresses the
amount of idleness incurred as a percentage of
the estimated total time worked takes into account
both the number of workers on strike and the
duration of the stoppage in relation to the total
number of man-days in the year.1 Data on this
basis have been computed for a number of years
for the Nation as a whole; this year, for the first
time, similar calculations are presented on a Stateby-State basis—they cover 1952-54.
The proportion of idleness to total working
time in 1954 was about one-fifth of one percent
(0.21) for the United States as a whole. Among
the individual States (including the District of
Columbia), 16 experienced a higher idleness ratio
and 33 a lower ratio than the national average.
The range was from less than 0.005 percent in
two essentially nonindustrial States (South Da
kota and Wyoming) to 1.87 percent in Oregon,
where the impact of the prolonged lumber strike
was sharply felt. In most States, however, the
proportions fell between 0.07 and 0.26 percent.
A ranking of States according to their idleness
ratios for 1952, 1953, and 1954 reveals widespread
year-to-year shifts. In a number of instances
A dm easure
these variations in idleness ratios are related to
the fact that a relatively small number of stop
pages—or even one long or large stoppage—can
have a sharp effect for an individual State, par
ticularly where nonagricultural employment is
small. Thus Montana had the 3d highest pro
portion of idleness in 1954 (construction and nonferrous mining and smelting stoppages) but
ranked 6th from the lowest in 1952. A long strike
of construction workers raised the idleness ratio
in Delaware to the highest of any State in 1953
but it was ninth from lowest in 1954. Only a few
States, notably Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ne
braska, New York, North Carolina, North Da
kota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah,
maintained about the same rank in all 3 years.
The effect of the industrial composition of a
State upon strike incidence rates is illustrated by
the fact that in 1952 most States in which coal
mining is relatively important showed compara
tively higher proportions of strike idleness than
in 1953 and 1954 when widespread reductions in
coal-mining activity were accompanied by de
clines in the number and duration of work stop
pages. In other States, the idleness was largely
traceable to strikes in a few industries, such as
nonferrous mining, smelting and refining, and
construction in Utah.
1 The total number of man-days worked is computed by multiplying
average employment by the number of normally scheduled working days.
Idleness of workers involved in work stoppages as percent of estimated working time of all workers, by State, 1952-54
States
Percent of estimated working time
of all workers n—
States
1952
1953
1954
United States______
0. 57
0.26
0. 21
Alabama__________
Arizona___________
Arkansas__________
California_________
Colorado__________
Connecticut_______
Delaware_________
District of Columbia.
Florida___________
Georgia___________
Idaho-___ ________
Illinois____________
Indiana___________
Iowa_____________
Kansas___________
K entucky......... ........
Louisiana_________
Maine____________
M aryland_________
Massachusetts_____
Michigan_________
Minnesota....... ..........
Mississippi—.............
Missouri__________
1.23
.20
.35
.56
.65
.48
.26
.09
.08
.13
.20
.57
1.15
.12
.16
1.03
.50
.02
.69
.21
.67
.57
.22
.37
.20
.10
.20
.35
.08
.25
.97
.04
.12
.06
.07
.18
.47
.28
.27
.31
.19
.05
.11
.15
.43
.15
.07
.42
.26
.26
.26
.13
.12
.23
.05
.05
.04
.19
.03
.10
.18
.18
.17
.13
.26
.07
.08
.08
.20
.17
.02
.30
Less than 0.005 of 1 percent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Percent of estimated working time
of all workers in—
1952
Montana__________
Nebraska_________
Nevada__ _ .
New Hampshire___
New Jersey____
New Mexico.-New York . .
North C arolina______ ____
North D akota_____ . . .
Ohio_____ ___
Oklahoma ___ . . .
Oregon. .
___
P en n sy lv a n ia ..____ ____ _
Rhode Island.. _ ___ ____
South Carolina..
South Dakota____ ______
Tennessee_____________
Texas____
...
U tah___________
Vermont... _________
Virginia____________
Washington_______ ______
West Virginia____________
Wisconsin________________
Wyoming______ _______ .
0.09
.20
.11
11
.35
.14
.32
.12
.03
1.07
.20
.49
1.36
.16
.03
.02
.29
.25
.86
.53
.24
.57
1.38
.39
.34
1953
0.30
.12
.19
.05
.30
.12
.23
.09
.06
.34
.23
.13
.35
.19
.10
.08
.33
.14
.60
.24
.08
.38
.30
.31
.12
1954
1.35
.08
.07
.20
.14
.15
.04
.02
.20
1.87
.37
.09
.01
0)
1.44
.27
(>)
MAJOR WAGE DEVELOPMENTS
797
Major Wage Developments,
First Quarter of 1955
for the first time included so-called “catastrophe”
insurance to cover major medical expenses.
Although pension plans were established or in
creased in 1 out of 8 establishments, 3 out of 8
workers included in the tabulation were affected.
New plans were established for more than 200,000
workers, primarily in trucking.
Comparisons of the first quarter of 1955 with the
first quarter of 1954 must be qualified since the in
dustries in which the settlements were reached
were markedly different in the two periods. The
number of settlements affecting 1,000 or more
workers recorded during the first quarter of 1954
and the first quarter of 1955 was virtually the
same, but more workers were affected by the cur
rent settlements—over 950,000 compared with
about 800,000 in the first 3 months of 1954. Wages
were increased by a higher proportion of settle
ments during the first quarter of 1955 than during
the same period of 1954, but the proportion of
workers affected by such contracts was identical
in the two periods. Settlements accounting for
more than a third of the workers in the first quar
ter of 1955 were in petroleum refining, trucking,
and West Coast lumber, which had practically no
major settlements in that quarter of 1954.
W a g e r a t e i n c r e a s e s were provided for by 91
percent of a group of 221 labor-management con
tracts, each affecting 1,000 or more workers, nego
tiated during the first 3 months of 1955. (See
table.) Contracts providing these increases ap
plied to an estimated 820,000 workers of the 959,000 affected by the entire group of agreements.
Automatic cost-of-living escalator clauses were
either renewed or established in 10 settlements cov
ering 240,000 workers. A similar number of
agreements, affecting 37,000 workers, discontinued
escalator clauses. Among the settlements that
raised rates of pay during the January-March
period, 25 affecting 288,000 workers also specified
certain pay increases which will become effective
in subsequent contract years.
Health and welfare plans were liberalized or in
augurated more often than any other supplemen
tary benefit. These situations, which included
trucking, dress, and some aircraft agreements, af
fected about 485,000 workers. Some agreements
Wage changes and changes in supplementary practices provided by selected collective bargaining settlements,
January 1-March SI, 1955*
Wage changes
Settlements
Number of settlements
Workers covered
Establishing or liberalizing supplementary practices
Type of wage action
Number
Percent 1
Approxi
mate
number
All actions s. .................................
221
100
959,000
100
129
No change.-______________
Increases_________ _____
Under 5 cents_____ ____
5 and under 7 cents........
7 and under 9 cents____
9 and under 11 cents___
11 and under 13 cents___
13 cents and over.... ........
Not specified.... ........ ......
Decreases________________
19
201
21
66
59
34
6
8
7
1
9
91
10
30
27
15
3
4
3
(7)
137,000
820,000
82,000
200,000
184,000
284,000
20,000
41,000
9,000
2,000
14
86
9
21
19
30
2
4
1
(7)
17
Pre
Shift
Perc e n t1 T otal2 mium differ
pay
entials
‘This tabulation relates to settlements involving 1,000 or more workers
concluded during the 3-month period. It includes all wage changes negotiat
ed during the January-M arch period that are scheduled to go into effect
during the contract year, i. e., the 12-month period following the effective
date of the agreement. In summarizing percentage increases, it has been
necessary to estimate their value in terms of cents on the basis of available
information on wage levels in the industry. The tabulations exclude: (1)
Settlements involving fewer than 1,000 workers; (2) settlements in construc
tion, the service trades, finance, and Government; (3) instances in which
contract reopening privileges were not exercised; (4) wage increases and
changes in supplementary practices that went into effect during the period
but that were negotiated earlier (for example, deferred wage increases, costof-living adjustments, or annual improvement factor increases.
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Holi
days
Vaca
tions
Not
chang
ing sup
Health Other plemen
Pen
and
tary
prac prac
sions 3 welfare tices
4 tices
plans 3
Re
ducing
supple
men
tary
prac
tices
16
112
14
40
25
16
5
(5)
6
6
1 Because of rounding, sums of individual items do not necessarily eaual
totals.
3 This total is smaller than the sum of the individual items since some settle
ments related to more than 1 item.
3 Includes settlements in which the agreement provided for increased con
tributions to maintain existing benefits.
4 Paid sick leave, paid funeral leave, and supplemental jury duty pay were
the most commonly reported.
5 Does not include 9 settlements affecting 49,000 employees in which wages
were not an issue but supplementary practices were established or increased.
6 One settlement that liberalized vacation, welfare, and sick leave practices
eliminated 2 paid half holidays.
7 Less than 0.05 percent.
798
Sickness Absenteeism
in the New York Telephone Co.1
and on every working day in this country
about 2 million employees are away from their jobs
because of sickness (including absence due to ac
cidental injury as well as to illness). During the
past 30 years the percentage of absentees has been
on the increase. Great changes have taken place
in the treatment and management of disease. Most
of these tend to shorten illness; however, the medi
cal profession has developed a greater caution in
the management of convalescence, and this, of
course, increases the days of absence. Another and
perhaps more important factor is the change in
the economic status of the disabled worker.2 Em
ployees when sick are better able to stay away
from work. Here we see the development of an
attitude. When employees have a greater in
centive to stay at home, they have less incentive
to work and then absence rates go up. The dollar
cost of industrial sickness absence to employers
in the United States is a staggering sum—$10
billion per year is probably a conservative esti
mate.
The New York Telephone Co. employs about
75.000 persons—about 50,000 women and 25,000
men. During an average working day, because of
sickness, we have approximately 3,000 absentees—
about 2,300 women and 700 men.3 Sickness ab
sence costs the company more than $10 million per
year.
T oday,
Distribution of Absentees
At first thought we might expect that this ab
sence is fairly evenly distributed. Actually, stud
ies that we and others have made 4 show that in a
given year, about one-third of the employee group
have almost a perfect attendance, while the other
two-thirds have all the absence. The top onethird cause about three-quarters of the absence;
the very top 10 percent cause about 45 percent of
the absence.
Our employee group of 75,000 have about
250.000 absences each year. Approximately
25.000 have no absences; the second 25,000 have
an estimated 60,000 absences, while the third
25.000 have about 190,000. The worst 10 percent
(7,500 alone) have about 110,000 absences.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
From these figures, the size of the problem in
managing 250,000 absences can be appreciated.
Furthermore, it can be recognized that it is un
necessary to direct attention to all 75,000 em
ployees. If we direct attention to 10 percent, or
7,500 with the highest absence, we are concen
trating our efforts on a rather small group that
account for almost one-half the absences.
Analysis of Trends
The year-to-year percentage of total sickness
absence to scheduled working time at the New
York Telephone Co., from 1923 through 1953,
shows that the fluctuations follow known changes
in economic and social conditions, but do not
show a relationship to known changes in disease
conditions. In general, the peaks and valleys of
the curve of industrial activity in the United
States are reflected in the sickness absence curve
for the New York Telephone Co. We had a
depression in the 1930’s, hitting a lowest point in
1932 and 1933, and the absence curve also hit a
low level at that time. The years 1942-45 were
the war years, years of full employment, and also
years of high absence. In the years since the war,
with high employment, absence has remained at
a high level but has declined from the 1945 peak.
This gradual increase in absenteeism has come at
a time when the overall health of our people has
been improving remarkably. It has occurred
during the period when pneumonia and most other
acute infections have almost disappeared, when
deaths from tuberculosis have dropped very low,
when diabetes has been almost completely con
trolled, and when general health has been im1 Excerpts from Sickness Absenteeism ( I n AMA Archives of Industrial
Health, Mar. 1955, pp. 218-230)—an article by Norman Plummer, M. D„
medical director for the New York Telephone Co., and Lawrence E. Hinkle,
Jr., M.D., assisted by R. P. Schaen of the company’s general statistician’s
office. Both Dr. Plummer and Dr. Hinkle are assistant professors of clinical
medicine at Cornell University Medical College.
2 The authors make reference here to higher wage levels, development of
company and union benefit and welfare plans, new State accident and sick
ness compensation laws, and increasing participation in voluntary accident
and insurance plans.
3 The discussion of sickness absence includes all absences resulting from
both sickness and accidental injury, occupational and nonoccupational, and
absences of both long and short duration. It does not include vacations,
excused absences for jury duty or personal reasons, maternity leave, or other
nondisability leaves.
* See Life Stress and Industrial Absenteeism ( I n Industrial Medicine,
August 1952, pp. 363-375); Records—“ Seeing Eye” of Industrial Medicine
( I n Industrial Medicine, January 1944, pp. 1-35); Public Health and Medical
Relationships in Industrial Health ( I n American Journal of Public Health,
October 1942, pp. 1157-1163); and Absenteeism ( I n Manual of Industrial
Hygiene and Medical Service in War Industries, Philadelphia, W. B.
Saunders Co., 1943).
799
SICKNESS ABSENTEEISM
proved immeasurably. It is true that in the
industrial population, cardiovascular disease, can
cer, and nervous and mental diseases are increasing,
but not anywhere near the point where these in
creases offset the decreases mentioned. We can
only conclude that the increasing number of
absences is more related to social and economic
factors than to medical factors having to do with
disease morbidity.
A month-to-month curve of percentage of
sickness absence to scheduled working time in
the entire company from January 1950 through
June 1954 shows seasonal peaks in January or
February each year. In 1951 and 1953 in the
New York area small epidemics of influenza
helped to elevate the peaks. From 1951 through
June 1954, the trend has been slightly downward.
A month-to-month curve of sickness absence,
confined to the women employees of one division
in 1950 and 1951, shows the concentration of
absence in a small segment. Our supervisory
personnel in this division, guided by the findings
of our studies, have been particularly active in
their efforts to understand and control absentee
ism. Over the 4}2-year period there has been a
decided decline, with the 1954 percent of absence
somewhat less than one-half of what it was in
1950.
Comparative Rates for Men and Women
In studying sickness absence, one of the most
striking findings one encounters is the much higher
rates for women than for men. In the New York
Telephone Co., every year since 1939 the rate is
about twice as high for women as for men. In
1953, our women were losing 4.6 percent of their
working time, an average of 12.1 working days,
while our men were losing 2.5 percent of their
working time, or an average of 6.6 days.
These differences between the rates show clearly
there are factors other than organic disease.
There is a striking economic factor in that, as a
rule, the woman employee is not the “breadwinner
of the household.” This circumstance has a bear
ing on motivation and, in turn, on attitude and,
finally, on percentage of absence. Social and
cultural factors have a strong influence, and these
help to explain the difference between the rates.
Women take much more responsibility for the
care of the home and the bringing up of the
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family. Another factor is that, as a rule, super
visors are apt to follow different standards for
justifying absence of women and of men.
Individual Susceptibility
Now we shall consider individual susceptibility.
A study of the absence patterns of a homogeneous
group of 1,297 women employees throughout their
careers with the company demonstrates the con
centration of absence in a small segment of em
ployee population. We found that the group
with the highest absence in their first years had
the highest average absence throughout their
entire periods of service. The group with 0 to 5
days of absence in the first year had an average of
12 days per year throughout their entire terms.
The group with 24 to 29 absent days in their first
year had an average of 27.8 days for each year of
service.
It can be seen that employees, not only by the
year but also by the period of employment, can
be separated into a low-absence group and a highabsence group. We have sickness-prone and also
absence-prone employees. Of course, the crux of
this whole problem is to identify the high-absence
employee and to treat the condition. In this
study of 1,297 women employees we found a
rather large group with little or no absence and a
much smaller segment with a very high absence.
Out of the 1,297 women we had 336 with 20 or
more years of service and out of these we selected
the 20 with the lowest and the 20 with the highest
absence. Each of these 40 women was interviewed
and examined and for each we made a careful
study of our medical records, which in most in
stances went back to an applicant examination
some 20, 30, or more years previously.
First, we had a small stack of records for the lowabsence employee, whereas each record for a
high-absence employee was voluminous. The
20 employees in the low-absence group had 360
visits to the Medical Department, while the highabsence employees were having 2,927 visits. The
same disproportion was noticed in numbers of
certificates from private physicians, telephone
investigations, frequent illness investigations, and
referrals to a rest home.
The average age of the low-absence employee
was 48 years with 28 years of service in the com
pany. The average age of the high-absence
800
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
employee was 46 years, with 26 years of company
service. The 20 low-absence employees had a
total of 667 days of sickness absence, while the 20
high-absence employees were away for a total of
24,185 days.
The 20 low-absence women had 35 absences due
to respiratory infections, while the 20 high-absence
women had 423 respiratory attacks. While some
of the difference is a greater susceptibility to infec
tion in the high-absence person, of greater impor
tance is a different reaction, a different behavior,
which adds up to excessive absenteeism in the one
group.
The chief difference between the high-absence
and the low-absence employee is the difference in
degree of susceptibility to the disorders of feeling
state, thought, and behavior. The 20 high-ab
sence women in their periods of service with
the company had 492 absences caused primarily
by attacks of nervousness, tension, anxiety, and
hysteria, together with two cases of major mental
disease. This does not include all the nervous
ness, anxiety, and tension that these women had
associated with respiratory, gynecological, and
other systemic disease. The low-absence women
had only 23 absences because of nervous and
emotional disturbance.
The interviews confirmed much of what had
already been discovered by analysis of the attend
ance and medical records. In addition, we found
that the women in each group had personality
characteristics of that group. The average lowabsence employee was found to be a happy and
contented person. The average high-absence em
ployee was found to be unhappy, discontented,
and resentful.
Out of approximately 1,000 awards made in fiscal year 1954 by arbitrators
selected from lists provided by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Serv
ice, only about 1 percent involved disputes over the terms of new contracts.
Disciplinary disputes accounted for 28 percent of the issues, seniority 17 per
cent, and job rates about 17 percent. In contrast, well over 95 percent of the
disputes in which regular staff mediators were active during the same period
involved modification of existing contracts under reopenings or the negotiation
of new ones.
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— From an address by Joseph F. Finnegan, Director of the Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Service, before the American Management Association, New York, May 16,
1955.
Technical Note
BLS Historical Estimates of
Earnings, W ages, and Hours
E d i t o r ’s N o t e .—
The following article describes
the data and the methods of computation used
in early series of earnings and wages published
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is pre
sented for what historical interest it has and
because it gives some indication of the progress
of the Bureau's work in this field of research.
It is based on parts of a memorandum pre
pared in 1951 by W itt Bowden, then a
Bureau staff member.
Hours and Earnings Series
T h e B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t is t ic s current
series of average weekly and hourly earnings and
weekly hours in manufacturing and various nonmanufacturing industries were initiated in 1931
in the depth of the depression. The figures for
1932, the first year covered, were abnormal in
comparison with the predepression wage structure.
The project for extending the new series back of
1932 was initiated because of this abnormality
and to meet a considerable demand for historical
data.
Defects in existing historical wage series, to
gether with extensive interest in long-term trends,
stimulated the decision to develop a new series.1
Limitations of the basic data, however, resulted
in a decision to confine the study to specific areas
of employment and to periods affording broadly
comparable and continuous data. The areas of
employment selected were manufacturing, mining,
and railroad transportation. The periods chosen
were limited by the availability of comparable
data, including Census of Manufactures data of
“factory” employment. The series presented
here cover manufacturing only for the years 1909,
1914, and 1919-32.2 Estimates were not at
tempted for years between the manufacturing
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censuses of 1909, 1914, and 1919 because of the
fragmentary nature of the wage data, the rapid
and uneven changes in the wage structure, and
the lack of Census data for checking the repre
sentativeness of the available wage statistics.
Estimates were also computed for 1904, but these
were not included in the series.
Before the initiation in 1932 of the present
earnings series,3 occupational wage rates and aver
age hourly earnings had been emphasized by the
Bureau. The concepts of average weekly earnings
and average weekly hours were rarely given con
sideration. Hours data were usually scheduled
hours—either “prevailing” hours (Census) or
“full-time” hours (BLS). Weekly earnings data
were almost invariably full-time earnings.
However, with data adequate for computing
average hourly earnings, and with satisfactory sta
tistics of employment and payrolls, simple com
putations made possible the deriving for the earlier
period of the other two averages of a type con
sistent with the current series, namely, average
weekly earnings (aggregate weekly wages divided
by average employment) and average weekly hours
1 The series for hourly’eamings, weekly earnings, and weekly hours before
1932 were first published in the M onthly Labor Review for September 1940
(pp. 517-544) and in a slightly revised form in the Handbook of Labor Sta
tistics, 1944 edition (vol. 2, pp. 5-18). These series as first published were
computed, however, before the 1943 revision of the Bureau’s series back to 1932.
Before that revision, discrepancies existed in the three series as a result of
the methods used from 1932 to 1943. The averages of hourly earnings and
weekly hours were derived from man-hour samples; and the weekly earnings
averages were obtained from larger samples which included establishments
not reporting man-hours.
The effect of the 1943 revisions of the Bureau’s regular series was to make
the three series mutually consistent, so that any one of the series could be
derived as a product or as a quotient of the other two series. Since the aver
ages for the period before 1932 had been computed on the basis of the internal
consistency of the three series, slight adjustments were made for conformity
to the series beginning in 1932. After the 1943 revisions of the later series,
the earlier series as originally computed required no adjustments for linking
to the 1932 series. The series as published in the Monthly Labor Review of
September 1940 and in the 1944 Handbook were therefore discarded in favor
of the original computations.
2 The 1943 revisions primarily affected manufacturing. Railroad figures,
derived from Interstate Commerce data, were not affected. This article is
concerned only with the manufacturing series; the original combination of
manufacturing, mining, and railroad transportation has limitations, espe
cially in respect to the data available for mining, which seem to outweigh its
advantages.
3 A full description of the present series of hours and earnings data appears
in BLS Bull. 1168, Techniques of Preparing Major BLS Statistical Series
(pp. 51-56).
801
802
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
(average weekly earnings divided by average
hourly earnings). The same figure of average
weekly hours can of course be computed from data
on man-hours (aggregate wages divided by hourly
earnings) and employment.
Estimates jor 1904-. The Bureau of Labor, in its
annual series of wages and hours of labor from
1890 to 1907, published a vast amount of informa
tion about wages per hour and full-time hours per
week on an occupational basis for a large number
of industries. These data were carefully examined
and tested to select those industries for which data
were given for unskilled or common laborers as
well as for typical occupations and for which there
was satisfactory geographical as well as occupa
tional coverage.
The representativeness of the reported data was
tested by using Census of Manufactures weekly
earnings by industry and the corresponding Bu
reau of Labor industry figures of hourly earnings
to compute average weekly hours. As the Bureau
of Labor series of hourly earnings and full-time
hours extended only to 1907 and the latest pre
ceding Census of Manufactures was for 1904, it
was necessary to use 1904 data for the test. The
census of that year was also the first calendar-year
census and the first census “confined to establish
ments conducted under what is known as the
factory system.” 4
T a ble 1.— Average hourly earnings and average weekly
hours, selected industries, 1904- 1
Industry
Brick___________ ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___
Carpets_________ - - - - - - - ____ _
Cars, steam railroad-- ________________
Cotton goods____ - -_ __________ ____
Dyeing, finishing, and printing of textilesFlour______________ ___
_______
Foundries and machine shops. - - _ _ .
Hosiery and knit goods _ .
______
Iron and steel, blast furnaces____ - _ ____
Leather ____________________________
Liquors, m a lt... _______ . . . . . . . . . .
Lumber.-. _
___________ ______
Paper and wood pulp_________ .
...
Planing mills________________________
Shipbuilding-- _
___________
Slaughtering and meatpacking__________
Woolen and worsted goods.. __________
Average
hourly
earnings 2
$0.1764
.1639
.2447
.1298
. 1795
.1997
.2427
.1272
.1608
.1763
.2528
.1753
.1651
.2101
.2531
.1829
.1496
Average
weekly
hours 3
47.3
48.5
47.2
45.1
46.6
48.8
44.6
45.9
64.6
51.5
54.6
49.6
56.5
47.5
43.8
57.3
49.9
1 Selected from industries covered in Bureau of Labor Bull. 65, July 1906,
on basis of representative character of hourly earnings data.
5 Computed from the detailed occupational earnings and employment data
for 1904 in bulletin referred to in note 1.
3 Computed by dividing average weekly earnings (derived from Census
of Manufactures data) by average hourly earnings (first column).
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Tests of the consistency of average hourly earn
ings with average weekly earnings, average weekly
hours, and full-time hours were applied to the
industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor in
1904.5 “Hand and neighborhood industries,”
formerly classified as manufactures, were ex
cluded. The industry data were also inspected
for regional as well as occupational coverage.
Only 17 industries met the tests to a degree that
indicated adequately representative data of hourly
earnings, but these included large and highly
diversified types of manufacturing activities.
They represented all major types of production,
all areas, and unskilled workers as well as skilled
occupations, and accounted for about 36 percent
of all factory wage earners.
The 17 industries are listed in table 1. Industry
averages of hourly earnings were computed from
the 1904 Bureau of Labor sample data. Average
weekly hours were computed by dividing average
weekly earnings (derived from Census employment
and payrolls) by hourly earnings. The 17-industry average of hourly earnings, computed by com
bining the industry averages by use of industry
man-hours (Census payrolls divided by average
hourly earnings), is $0,182. The general average
appears to be closely representative of all manu
facturing.
The full-time workweek, as computed by Paul
Douglas 6 from Bureau of Labor data, averaged
57.7 hours. Average actual working time (av
erage weekly hours), derived by dividing average
weekly earnings for all factory industries (from
Census data) by the 17-industry average of hourly
earnings, was 50.4 hours. The ratio of average
weekly hours to full-time hours, 0.873, is lower
than in later years when direct information is
available, but the longer scheduled workweek
tended to lower the ratio.
The estimated average of weekly hours for 1909
was 51.0 hours (table 2), somewhat above the 1904
estimate. The 1904 average appears to have been
lowered somewhat by short time accompanying
the recession of that year in production and em
ployment. It is probable, however, that the
actual average of weekly hours in 1904 was no
lower than in 1909; the full-time workweek was
4 Census of Manufactures, 1905, Part I (pp. xxiv, xxxv).
8 See Bureau of Labor Bull. 65, July 1906.
6 See Real Wages In the United States (p. 116).
803
EARLY BLS EARNINGS SERIES
somewhat longer. The employment figures used
in computing the averages in both years are
Bureau of the Census averages of the number of
wage earners, but they were obtained by somewhat
different methods. For 1904, employers were re
quested to report the average number employed
each month, and the sum of these figures was
divided by 12 for the annual average. Beginning
in 1909, employers were requested to report the
number of wage earners on the 15th of each month,
or “the nearest representative day.” The change
was made because it was found that few estab
lishments kept their books in such a way as
readily to show the monthly averages.7 The av
erage for the month as reported for 1904 was no
doubt usually higher than would have been the
mid-month count, and the derived averages of
weekly earnings and weekly hours are corre
spondingly lower than if the mid-month count
had been used.
The validity of the 1904 estimate of average
hourly earnings, being derived solely from Bureau
of Labor data, is not affected by the change in the
Census Bureau’s method of counting employment.
Nevertheless, since the 1904 method of enumer
ating employment probably gives a downward
bias, as compared with 1909, to the derived
averages of weekly earnings and weekly hours, the
BLS series of earnings and hours as published
omitted the 1904 data.
The 1909 Estimates. The next Census of Manu
factures after 1904 covered 1909. After 1907, the
Bureau of Labor discontinued its extensive hours
and wages series, but made special surveys in
several important industries, for which indexes of
hours and earnings were computed. These,
together with occupational data for some addi
tional industries, made possible the computation
of an index of hourly earnings which approximates
the trend for manufacturing from 1907 to 1909.8
Wages fell somewhat between 1907 and 1909 as a
result of the 1908 decline in employment, produc
tion, and prices. Comparing the 1907 to 1909
index with that for 1904 to 1907,9 the change
Thirteenth Census, 1910, Vol. IX, Manufactures (p. 11).
« BLS Bulls. 128, 129, 134, 137, 151, and 163.
( Bureau of Labor Bull. 77, July 1908 (p. 7).
i» Leo Wolman, Hours of Work in American Industry, National Bureau
of Economic Research, Bull. 71 (p. 2).
i
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T a ble 2.— Estimated hours and earnings of production
workers in manufacturing, 1909, 1914, 1919-54 1
Year
1909......
1914_____
1919____
1920 ___
1921_____
1922_____
1923_____
1924 ___
1925...... .
1926 __ .
1927_____
1928
1929_____
1930........ 1931
1932
1933 ____
1934 __
1935.......-
Average Average Average
weekly weekly hourly
earnings hours earnings
$9.84
11.01
22.08
26.30
22.18
21.51
23.82
23.93
24.37
24.65
24.74
24.97
25.03
23. 25
20.87
17.05
16.73
18.40
20.13
51.0
49.4
46.3
47.4
43.1
44.2
45.6
43.7
44.5
45.0
45.0
44.4
44.2
42.1
40.5
38.3
38.1
34.6
36.6
$0.193
.223
.477
.555
.515
.487
.522
.547
.547
.548
.550
.562
.566
.552
.515
.446
.442
.532
.550
Year
Average Average Average
weekly weekly hourly
earnings hours earnings
1936_____ $21. 78
1937_____ 24.05
1938_____ 22. 30
1939_____ 23.86
1940_____ 25.20
1941_____ 29. 58
1942...... __ 36. 65
1943_____ 43.14
1944........ . 46.08
1945_____ 44. 39
1946........
43.82
1947_____ 49.97
1948_____ 54.14
1949_____ 54.92
1950_____ 59. 33
1951 ___ 64. 71
1952_____ 67. 97
1953_____ 71.69
1954_____ 71.86
39.2
38.6
35.6
37.7
38.1
40.6
42.9
44.9
45.2
43.4
40.4
40.4
40.1
39.2
40.5
40.7
40.7
40.5
39.7
$0.556
.624
.627
.633
.661
.729
.853
.961
1.019
1.023
1.086
1.237
1.350
1.401
1.465
1.59
1.67
1.77
1.81
1 Figures for average weekly earnings, average hourly earnings, and average
weekly hours for manufacturing for 1909. 1914, and 1919-32 conform without
adjustment of the originally computed figures to the series beginning in 1932
as revised in 1943. See also the Bureau’s multilithed historical summary
tables, Production—Worker Employment, Payrolls, Hours and Earnings in
All Manufacturing Industries, 1909-38, 1939-50, and 1951-54, all of which
are available on request.
indicated for 1904 to 1909 is a net increase of 5.9
percent in average hourly earnings. Applying
this increase to the 1904 average ($0,182), the
estimated average of hourly earnings in 1909 is
$0,193. Professor Douglas, using substantially
the same basic data (although he also included
union rates) but combining the data by different
methods, shows nearly the same increase—6.8
percent. The Douglas estimates of hourly earn
ings are too high as to level and their trend is
biased downward over the period (1890 to 1926)
covered in his Beal Wages; but his figures for 1904
to 1909 undoubtedly give a close approximation of
the trend between those years.
There is another test of the validity of the 1909
estimate of hourly earnings ($0,193). Weekly
earnings for 1909, computed from Census data for
all manufacturing, averaged $9.84; weekly hours
(weekly earnings divided by hourly earnings)
averaged 51.0 hours. Prevailing or scheduled
hours as computed from Census frequency dis
tributions averaged 56.8 hours per week.10 The
ratio of hours actually worked to prevailing or
scheduled hours is 0.898, a figure consistent with
the usual relationship when scheduled hours are
at the relatively high level prevalent in 1909.
The 1914 Estimates. The next manufacturing
census after that of 1909 covered the year 1914.
The Census Bureau count of employment was
804
comparable for the 2 years. Average weekly
earnings derived from Census data rose 11.9 per
cent from 1909 to 1914. Prevailing hours of work
computed from Census data declined 3.0 per
cent.11 The slight change in work schedules
and the general similarity of the industrial
structure in 1909 and 1914 make reasonable the
assumption that average hours actually worked
followed closely the trend of prevailing or sched
uled hours. On that assumption, average hourly
earnings rose 15.4 percent (111.9 divided by 97.0).
Applying the 15.4-percent rise to the 1909 average
($0,193), the 1914 average is $0,223. Weekly
earnings in 1914 averaged $11.01. Dividing by
average hourly earnings, the computed figure of
average weekly hours is 49.4 for 1914.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (so named in
1913 after the creation of the Department of
Labor) continued several of the industry wage
surveys which were initiated in 1907. During
the years 1913 to 1915, surveys were made of 13
industries. The average of hourly earnings for
these 13 industries was $0,214. The figure al
ready given ($0,223) is believed to be more nearly
representative of manufacturing as a whole, but
the direct computation from industry data for
1913 to 1915 provides a significant test of the
validity of the average actually used.
The 1919 Estimates. The Bureau of Labor Statis
tics undertook extensive industry wage surveys
in 1919, which was the next manufacturing census
year after 1914. Therefore, a general average of
hourly earnings for 1919 was computed directly
from the data of the wage surveys 12 and the result
checked by using the Census data. The BLS 1919
survey yielded figures for 27 industries, separately
for men and women. These were combined into
industry averages on the basis of the survey’s
employment data. The industry averages in turn
were weighted by man-hours derived by use of
industry hourly earnings and Census of Manu
factures industry payroll figures. The result is
an estimate of $0,477 as the general average of
hourly earnings for 1919.
Weekly earnings in 1919 averaged $22.08.
Dividing weekly earnings by hourly earnings
($0,477), the computed 1919 average workweek
was 46.3 hours.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Estimates of prevailing hours (Census data) and
full-time hours (BLS data) are available for 1919
as well as 1914. Prevailing hours, as computed
from Census data, show a decline of 7.6 percent.
Assuming the same decline in average weekly
hours, and dividing the resulting figure into aver
age weekly earnings in 1919, the derived figure of
average hourly earnings is $0,484, somewhat higher
than the figure of $0,477 derived from the BLS
special surveys for 1919. If the estimates of full
time hours as computed by Professor Douglas are
used in place of Census data of prevailing hours,
the derived figure of average hourly earnings is
$0,472, somewhat lower than the special survey
figure of $0,477. The figures on length of work
schedules, whether Census prevailing hours or BLS
full-time hours, are less dependable for 1919 than
are those for other years because of the exceptional
shifts in work schedules during the war and the
first postwar year. Nevertheless, the tests making
use of full-time hours and prevailing hours tend
to verify the average ($0,477) derived from the
extensive 1919 survey of hourly earnings.
The 1920-22 Estimates. Although the Bureau of
Labor Statistics developed an extensive series of
industry surveys of hours and earnings in the
twenties, for the years 1920—22, they were hardly
adequate for use in the historical series of hours
and earnings. For these 3 years, the main source
of information on hourly earnings is a study by
the National Bureau of Economic Research.13
The figures of average hourly earnings as com
puted in the National Bureau of Economic Re
search study for 1920-22 cover both wage earners
and salaried employees. The figures are quarterly
averages, and they extend only to the first quarter
of 1922. By adjustment to levels of the averages
of wage earners (on the basis of the comparative
earnings of wage earners and salaried employees
according to the manufacturing censuses of 1919
and 1923), and by interpolation for the full year
11 Op. cit. (p. 2).
12 See BLS Bull. 265.
is Employment, Hours, and Earnings In Prosperity and Depression,
United States, 1920-22, New York, National Bureau of Economic Research,
1923. The information used was collected under a cooperative arrangement
between the N B ER , the Bureau of the Census, and the President’s Confer
ence on Unemployment.
EARLY BLS EARNINGS SERIES
805
1922, averages for wage earners were computed
for the years 1920 to 1922.14
For each industry, the studies were usually made
every other year and for limited payroll periods
within the year, and it was therefore necessary to
make interpolations or extrapolations for years
not covered and to make a few minor adjustments
for trends within years covered. A few other ad
justments were made, for example, to take account
of the inadequate regional coverage of the men’s
clothing industry. For these various purposes,
use was made of a variety of information, notably
the manufacturing censuses, the BLS monthly
employment and payroll series, production indexes,
and the series published by the National Industrial
Conference Board.
With the available industry data for 1923 to
1932 thus brought together, the 12-industry aver
ages of hourly earnings were combined by man
hour weights (BLS-Census payrolls divided by
average hourly earnings). Tests were then made
as to the representativeness of these averages for
all manufacturing. After minor adjustments, the
averages appeared to be satisfactorily representa
tive of all manufacturing, as to both levels and
trend. The procedure followed is indicated by
table 3.
It should also be noted that in 1929 the Bureau
of the Census adopted the count of workers em
ployed during the week ending nearest the middle
of the month, and in 1939, the number on pay
rolls during the payroll period ending nearest the
Estimates for 1923 to 1932. Data for 12 industries
which were included in the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics extensive series of industry surveys of av
erage hourly earnings and full-time weekly hours
and earnings, developed during the 1920’s, are the
main sources of the computations for 1923 to 1932.
The industries were: (1) Boots and shoes; (2) cot
ton goods; (3) foundry and machine shop products;
(4) hosiery and underwear, knitted; (5) iron and
steel; (6) men’s clothing; (7) motor vehicles; (8)
printing and publishing, book and job; (9) print
ing and publishing, newspapers and periodicals;
(10) sawmills; (11) slaughtering and meatpacking;
(12) woolen and worsted goods.15
The industry wage surveys of the twenties,
unlike some of those for 1890 to 1907, were de
signed to obtain representative hourly earnings
data, not merely rates for distinctive occupations.
14 See BLS Bull. 852 (p. 14) and BLS report Production Worker Employ
ment, Pay Rolls, Hours and Earnings In All Manufacturing Industries,
1909-1938 (processed).
14 Although the whole series of BLS industry bulletins, together with
supplementary sources, were used, the principal publications were as follows:
(1) Bull. 579; (2) Bull. 539; Bull. 616, p. 875; (3) Monthly Labor Review,
December 1933, p. 1460; (4) Bull. 591; (5) Bull. 567; Bull. 616, p. 875; (6) Bull.
594; (7) M onthly Labor Review, June 1933, p. 1365; March 1936, p. 523;
Serial R-356; (8) NICB, Wages, Hours, and Employment; BLS, union wage
series; (9) NICB, Wages, Hours, and Employment; BLS, union wage series;
(10) Bull. 586; (11) Bull. 576; and (12) Bull. 584.
T a b l e 3.
Adjustment of average hourly earnings in 12 manufacturing industries to represent all manufacturing, 1923-32
Item
1. Average hourly earnings in 12 manufacturing industries 1 (dollars). . ___
2. Average weekly earnings, same industries (payrolls h- employment) (dollars)___
3. Average weekly hours, same industries (item 2
-i-itein 1)_________
4. Prevailing hours, same industries (from Census
of Manufactures)2___
5. Prevailing hours, all manufacturing (from
Census of Manufactures)2 ____
6. Ratio of item 5 to item 4 . . .
7. Estimated average weekly hours, all manufacturing 2____________
1923
0. 527
1924
0. 549
1925
1926
0.552
24.23
24.17
24. 76
45. 98
44.03
44.86
0. 551
24.98
1927
1928
0.572
U» ddU
24.92
1929
25.36
44. 76
0.560
1931
0.524
1932
0. 456
25.47
23.30
20.72
16. 38
44.53
41.61
39.54
35.92
23. 25
.552
42.1
20.87
.515
40.5
17.05
.446
38.3
51.29
50. 98
50.91
.99259
50.62
.99294
45.64
1930
43. 71
44. 53
45. 01
44.98
44. 41
44.22
23. 93
.547
43.7
24. 37
.547
44.5
24.65
.548
45.0
24. 74
.550
45.0
24.97
.562
25.03
.566
44.2
F in a l e stim a te s fo r a ll m a n u fa ctu rin g
8. Average weekly earnings 4 (dollars)
23.82
9. Average hourly earnings 5 (dollars).....................
.522
10. Average weekly hours 9._
45.6
1 The 12-industry averages are weighted by man-hours (payrolls divided
by average hourly earnings).
2 Computed from Census frequency distributions of wage earners by pre
vailing weekly hours (full-time or scheduled hours).
2 For 1923 and 1929, item 3 times item 6; for 1924 to 1928, interpolations on
basis of trend of average weekly hours in the 12 industries.
4 For 1923 to 1931, weekly payrolls divided by employment; or 1932, re
vised BLS series.
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5 For 1923 to 1929, item 8 divided by item 7; for 1932, revised BLS series;
for 1930 and 1931, interpolations based on trend of average hourly earnings
in the 12 industries.
8 For 1923 to 1929, item 7; for 1930 and 1931, item 8 divided by item 9; for
1932, revised BLS series.
806
middle of the month.16 These methods, beginning
in 1929, naturally gave a count of employees
somewhat larger than the mid-month count would
have shown and therefore lowered somewhat the
derived averages of weekly earnings and weekly
hours as compared with the averages for the period
from 1909 up to the Census of 1929.
Index of Nonfarm Wages Per Hour
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published, soon
after World War I, an index of nonfarm wages per
hour, extending back to 1840.17 Many inquiries
had been addressed to the Bureau, asking for a
general wage index, the inquiries in some instances
requesting long-term historical data. Although
the Bureau had hesitated to attempt the prep
aration of such a wage index because of the incom
plete and disconnected material available for its
construction, the index was constructed and suc
cessively extended.18 The latest year covered by
the index was 1934.
From 1840 to 1890 the index made use of the
unweighted index of daily wages (derived from
occupational wage data) and figures of daily hours
of work given in the Aldrich Committee Report.19
For the period from 1890 to 1907, the index was
one published in a Bureau of Labor bulletin in the
year 1908. That index had been computed for a
large number of Census industries, including
“hand and neighborhood” industries. The in
dustry averages, computed from unweighted
occupational relatives, were combined by constant
weights, namely, the industry payroll figures of
the 1899 Census of Manufactures. The Bureau
used the principle of changes from year to year in
identical establishments.20
In the absence of extensive and continuous series
of data after the discontinuance of the 18901907 series, use was made from 1907 to 1913 of the
Bureau’s composite index of union wage scales and
indexes of hourly earnings in the several indus
tries for which wage data were collected in special
wage surveys. These series of indexes of union
wage rates and industry hourly earnings appear to
have been combined by the use of union member
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
ship data and Census employment figures for the
industries covered in the wage surveys.
From 1913 to 1920 the index comprised the
composite index of union wage scales, the indexes
of average hourly earnings in a group of industries
somewhat different from those surveyed by the
Bureau from 1907 to 1913, and an index of average
hourly earnings for Class I steam railroads (Inter
state Commerce Commission data). These were
weighted by union membership and industry
employment figures.
From 1920 to 1932, a similar method was used,
but with slight variations in the industry coverage
(for 1920-26, 1926-29, and 1929-32) depending
upon the availability of data.
For the years 1932 to 1934, the Bureau’s
extensive monthly series of industry average hourly
earnings (annual averages) were combined with the
composite index of union wage scales and the
index of average hourly earnings for Class I steam
railroads, the various series again being combined
by use of union membership and industry employ
ment figures. The separate indexes for the several
periods were then linked for a continuous index.
After its publication as extended to 1934, the
index was discontinued. Reasons for discon
tinuance included: The increasing impairment of
comparability of wage data available for the suc
cessive periods; the lack of comparable price
data; the increased relative importance of money
wages in a progressively commercialized market
economy; the extensive changes in the wage
structure; and the development of new concepts
and new methods in wage analysis.
>9 Fifteenth Census, Manufactures, 1929, Vol. I (p. 5); Sixteenth Census,
Manufactures, 1939, Vol. I (p. 4).
h See Monthly Labor Review, February 1921 (p. 73).
i8 See M onthly Labor Review, February 1928, February 1931, September
1933, August 1935, and March 1936. The texts accompanying the tabulations
in the several issues of the Review containing the index say little about the
sources and methods used. These are apparent, however, from information
supplied by Robert S. Billups, formerly chief of the Bureau’s Division of
Wage Statistics.
i®Wholesale Prices, Wages, and Transportation, Senate Report No. 1394,
Finance Committee, 52d Cong., 2d sess., Washington, 1893. P t. I (pp. 174
and 179).
T hat report also contained an index of daily wages which, for years up to
1879, was derived by weighting the industry indexes by employment figures
derived from the various decennial censuses (pt. I, pp. 175-176); but the
Bureau made use of the unweighted index (pt. I, p. 174).
20 All the data used in these computations appear in Bureau of Labor Bull.
77 (pp. 7, 15, 22-23).
Significant Decisions
in Labor Cases’
Labor-Management Relations
Strict Compliance With Strike Notice Required.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth
Circuit held2 that strikers lost their protected
status under the Labor Management Relations
Act by engaging in a strike after the union had
given notice of contract modifications but without
giving notice of desire to terminate the contract,
as required by section 8 (d) of the act and their
contract with the employer.
The 1-year contract provided that if either party
wished to amend any of its terms, he should give
60 days’ notice before the end of the year. In the
event of failure to agree on amendments, the
contract was to continue in effect unless a formal
60-day notice of termination was given.
The union, 60 days before the end of the year,
gave notice to the employer of its desire to amend
the contract. This notice, copies of which were
also sent to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service and the appropriate State agency under
the terms of section 8 (d) (3) of the act, made no
specific mention of the union’s intention to
terminate at the end of that 60 days.
Negotiations on amendments continued for over
8 months. At that time the employees went on
strike without further written notice. The em
ployer, taking the position that these strikers were
unprotected, refused the union’s offer to return
them to work unconditionally and reinstated only
those employees who gave assurances that they
would work continuously throughout the re
mainder of the strike. The union filed unfair
labor practice charges with the National Labor
Relations Board, which ruled 3 that the notice of
intention to amend given by the union was
“tantamount to ‘expiration’ as that term is used
in section 8 (d),” and held that the strike was
lawful.
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The court did not agree with that interpretation
of the act. It held that the terms of section 8 (d)
necessarily showed a plain distinction between
“amendment” and “termination,” and in this
case, the union’s notice was for amendment only.
Moreover, according to the contract’s provisions,
if the union wanted to terminate the contract, it
should have given another 60-day notice. The
parties would not have had to so contract, said the
court; “the point is that they did.” Thus the
contract continued in force. Proper notice was
not given, and the strike was unlawful.
Secondary Boycott— Picketing Construction Site.
The Board held 4 that activities of pickets at the
site of a new building adjoining the employer’s
premises were in violation of the secondary boy
cott provisions of the act.
The employer’s premises consisted of a large
store building covering an entire city block and,
separated by a public street from the main store,
an annex covering half a block. During the con
struction of a building covering the remainder of
that block, the street between these two blocks
had been closed to the public and was being used
only for purposes of construction. It was not
used by employees of the employer.
The union picketed the entire two-block area,
including the closed-off street. Although the
pickets carried signs identifying the store owner
as the object of the strike and not containing the
construction company’s name, the conduct of the
pickets and the president of the union indicated
that they wanted the construction to stop. The
presence of the pickets in the closed-off street
caused all work on the project to stop for nearly
3 months and coercion by pickets interfered with
deliveries to the construction job.
The Board held that the picketing itself was
lawful, but not insofar as the union’s conduct on
the picket line indicated that the dispute extended
• Prepared 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 be of special interest. No attem pt has been made to reflect all
recent judicial and administrative developments in the field of labor law or
to indicate the effect or particular decisions in jurisdictions in which contrary
results may be reached, based upon local statutory provisions, the existence
of local precedents, or a different approach by the courts to the issue presented.
2 L i o n O il C o . v. N L R B (C. A. 8, Apr. 22, 1955).
2 L i o n O il C o . (109 N LRB 106, Aug. 5, 1954). See Monthly Labor Review,
October 1954 (p. 1133).
* I n re T e a m s t e r s , A F L a n d C r u m p , I n c . (112 NLRB 49, Apr. 21,1955).
807
808
beyond the primary employer. According to the
Board, the evidence in this case established that
the union’s intent was to enlist the support of and
participation in the strike of employees of neutral
employers. The Board further held that the
conduct was intentional and not an unavoidable
accident of otherwise lawful picketing.
The Board issued an order to the union to cease
the unlawful secondary boycott, but did not other
wise interfere with the picketing.
Organizational Activity on Company Property,
No. 1. The United States Court of Appeals for
the Tenth Circuit held 5 that enforcement of a
nondiscriminatory no-trespass rule by an employer
against nonemployee union organizers was not a
violation of the employees’ right to self-organiza
tion.
The employer’s plant was located on the out
skirts of a small town. He maintained a parking
lot on plant property for the convenience of his
employees, who traveled to and from work in
private automobiles. Most of the employees
lived in the town where the plant was located, the
remainder within a 30-mile radius.
These employees had hoen entirely unorganized
when union representatives who were not em
ployees attempted to organize them, talking with
them and distributing literature in the parking
lot and private driveways leading to and from
the plant. The employer posted “no trespassing”
signs and warned the organizers to keep off his
property.
After the union filed unfair labor practice
charges, the NLRB, following the LeTourneau
case,6 found that the employer’s no-trespass rule
was unnecessary to maintenance of production and
plant discipline. Because the location of the plant
made other types of organizational activities im
practical, the Board said, the enforcement of the
employer’s rule deprived the employees of rights
guaranteed under section 8 (a) (1) of the act.
The court of appeals disagreed with these con
clusions. The court held that the facts did not
justify the Board’s conclusion that the inacces
sibility of the employer’s plant made it necessary
for nonemployee organizers to violate the no
trespass rule in order to guarantee to the employ
ees their rights of self-organization. The violation
of the employer’s nondiscriminatory rule was not
necessary in this case, the court said, since such
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
a violation by nonemployees would be justified
only insofar as it bore a “cogent relationship” to
the exercise of employees’ rights.
Organizational Activity on Company Property, No.
2. In a similar fact situation, the United States
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reached the
same result7 as the Tenth Circuit had done in the
Seamprufe case.8 In the case before the Fifth
Circuit, the court held that the Board had not
even considered what the court felt was a most im
portant issue, that is, whether the Board had au
thority to require the employer to cease applying
to nonemployee union organizers its rule against
distribution of literature on plant property.
In answering this question, the court cited the
Marshall Field case,9 and found itself in full agree
ment with conclusions reached in that case. The
court took the Board to task for its order in the
instant case, saying that it was at a loss to under
stand how, “on this record, which contains
neither findings, nor evidence furnishing a basis
for findings,” the Board could have reached con
clusions which would compel the employer to
discriminate in favor of a particular labor union,
in the enforcement of its nondistribution rule.
The order of the Board itself, said the court,
violated the act and the Board’s duty to enforce
it impartially.
On
a motion for reconsideration filed by the union, the
Board held 10that an employee who was discharged
at the request of the union for nonpayment of dues
had the right to tender payment at any time be
fore actual discharge.
The union had repeatedly requested this em
ployee to pay back dues and a reinstatement fee.
She had refused to pay the reinstatement fee,
although offering to pay the back dues. The union
would not accept one without the other. After
the union had finally requested her discharge, the
employee sent the union a money order for the
whole amount, which was refused. The employee
was not discharged until almost 2 weeks later.
Payment of Delinquent Dues Before Discharge.
6 N L R B v. S e a m p r u f e , I n c . (O. A. 10, May 4,1955).
« N L R B v. L e T o u r n e a u C o . (324 U. S. 793).
7 N L R B v. B a b c o c k & W ilc o x C o . (C. A. 5, May 10,1955).
8 See preceding case.
» M a r s h a ll F ie ld & C o . v. N L R B (200 F. 2d 375).
10
I n re A l u m i n u m W o r k e r s , A F L , a n d L e o n a H . B o n e s s (112 N LRB 80,
May 6,1955).
809
DECISIONS IN LABOR CASES
The Board ruled that a full and unqualified ten
der, as in this case, made at any time prior to
actual discharge and without regard to when
the request for discharge may have been made is
proper and a subsequent discharge, based on the
prior request, is unlawful.
Refusal to Bargain— Affirmative Duty of Employer.
The Board held 11 that the employer had unlaw
fully refused to bargain with the union on a con
tract to take effect after the existing contract ex
pired 3 months before the end of the certification
year.
Within 2 months of its certification, the union
negotiated a 7-month contract with the employer.
Sixty days before the expiration of the contract,
the union requested the employer to negotiate for
a new agreement. The union later offered to ex
tend the existing contract for 6 months. The
employer rejected this offer and refused to bargain
because, in the meantime, he had received a peti
tion signed by a majority of his employees stating
that they did not want to be represented by the
union after the expiration of the present contract.
The Board rejected the employer’s contention
that he was not obliged to bargain concerning a
contract that ran beyond the certification year.
“The term of a contract is a bargainable matter,”
said the Board, citing prior cases.12 There was
nothing in the certification-year rule which would
make it incumbent on the union to request a con
tract expiring within the year. Further, the Board
held that even if the employer had reasonable
grounds to doubt that the union’s majority would
continue, he was affirmatively required, “in ful
fillment of his statutory obligation to bargain and
in the very nature of the bargaining process,” to
express his willingness to make a contract to ter
minate with the certification year. The employer
could use the information he possessed to support
such a bargaining position, but he was in no way
relieved of any duty to bargain.
Interference and Domination by Employer. The
Board ordered13 an employer to disestablish a
“shop committee” and to bargain with the union.
11 A m e r i c a n S te e l F o u n d r ie s (112 N LRB 66, Apr. 29, 1965).
12 See, for example, H i n d e & D a u c h P a p e r C o . (104 NLRB 847).
13 B e n C o r s o n M a n u f a c t u r i n g C o . (112 NLRB 461, Apr. 21, 1955).
13 T e x a s C i t y C h e m ic a ls , I n c . (112 N LRB 40, Apr. 18, 1955).
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The employer had in the past bargained with a
so-called “shop committee” representing the
employees, but his contract with it had run out
and, although the committee was still in existence,
he no longer bargained with it.
The union, meanwhile, had signed up a majority
of the employees in the bargaining unit and re
quested recognition. The employer refused to
bargain, alleging that the shop committee was the
appropriate bargaining representative. He made
speeches to the employees urging them not to
join the union and pointing out the advantages
of rejecting it. A new shop committee was organ
ized, and a new contract between this committee
and the employer was drawn up and signed, all
within 1 day of the union’s request for recognition.
The employer then asked the employees to vote
on whether to accept this new contract or go along
with the “outside” union. Further antiunion
activity was carried on by a supervisor who
questioned employees and attended a union
meeting.
The Board held that, on these facts, the employer
had committed more than mere “technical viola
tion” of the act. He has an obligation to honor
the request of the union to bargain unless he in
good faith doubts its majority, and he had given
no evidence of doing so.
The Board ordered 14
the employer to cease recognizing and dominating
a so-called “advisory council” which was a labor
organization within the meaning of the act.
The employer had set up a new plant and
wanted some sort of contact with the employees,
in the absence of a union. He organized a socalled advisory council, composed of elected repre
sentatives from the various departments in the
plant, which met with employer representatives
at least once a month. Although the council was
never termed a “bargaining unit,” various sub
jects of a bargaining nature, such as vacations,
seniority, wages, and overtime, were discussed.
The Board found that this council was in fact
a labor organization within the meaning of the
act. The employer initiated this organization
and conducted elections of employee representa
tives, the Board held, and coupled with his other
actions, clearly dominated and supported it in
violation of the act.
Domination of Labor Union.
Chronology of
Recent Labor Events
employer with a nondiscriminatory no-trespass rule could
legally forbid solicitation of employees by nonemployee
union organizers during nonworking hours on his private
parking lot. The court found that the employees, who
lived in or near a small city, were readily accessible to
union organizers. (See also p. 808 of this issue.)
May 5
May 2, 1955
T h e AFL-CIO Joint Unity Committee agreed on a con
stitution for the federation to be formed by merger of the
two organizations—the second step in the previously
adopted merger procedure (see Chron. item for Feb. 9,
1955, MLR, Apr. 1955). The AFL Executive Council
approved the charter on May 4, as did the CIO Executive
Board on May 7. (See also p. 788 of this issue.)
T h e Petroleum Committee of the International Labor
Organization suspended its session in Caracas, which is to
be reconvened elsewhere, protesting the Venezuelan Gov
ernment’s expulsion of the workers’ member of the Govern
ing Body delegation to the conference for publicly criticiz
ing the continued suppression of trade union rights in
Venezuela. (In 1950, an investigation by ILO disclosed
interference with freedom of association.) Thereupon, the
Venezuelan Government notified the ILO that it intended
to withdraw from the organization.
May 3
J. S cott M il n e , president of the International Brother
hood of Electrical Workers, was elected a vice president of
the American Federation of Labor, filling the vacancy
created by the death of Daniel W. Tracy (see Chron. item
for Mar. 22, 1955, MLR, May 1955).
May 4
T he AFL Executive Council refused to give the Teamsters’
union jurisdiction over longshore work, requested as a
means of absorbing the independent International Long
shoremen’s Association, because the AFL International
Brotherhood of Longshoremen had jurisdiction over longshoring. The council also pointed out that a merger of the
Teamsters with the ILA, expelled by the AFL (see Chron.
item for Sept. 22, 1953, MLR, Nov. 1953), would violate
the AFL constitution.
T h e Federal court of appeals at Denver denied enforce
ment of a National Labor Relations Board order; it held,
in N LRB v. Seamprufe, Inc., Holdenville, Okla., that an
810
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T h e Governor of Rhode Island signed an act requiring
State courts to stay proceedings in labor disputes on issues
that are referrable to arbitration under written agreement,
empowering the State Superior Court to enforce arbitration
agreements, and stipulating conditions for court enforce
ment of arbitration awards.
May 8
T he CIO Rubber Workers reached an agreement with the
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., increasing pensions and sick
ness and accident benefits for 28,000 workers in 10 of the
company’s plants. The contract raises monthly pensions
by 30 cents for each year of service up to 30 years and the
weekly sickness and accident benefits by $5, and requires
the workers to retire at age 65 after February 1, 1957.
May 9
T h e Louisville and Nashville Railroad system and railroad
workers’ unions agreed to submit their dispute to arbitra
tion, signaling the end of a sometimes violent strike which
began March 14 and idled about 25,000 workers, affecting
rail service in 13 States. The principal issue was the
carriers’ rejection of demands by the 10 nonoperating unions
for a contributory health and welfare plan recommended
by a Presidential factfinding board and already accepted
by virtually all other railroads (see Chron. item for Aug.
10, 1954, MLR, Oct. 1954).
On May 20, following the arbitrator’s award, the non
operating unions signed an agreement with the L&N and
its subsidiaries providing for a health and w'elfare plan
paid for by the employers and for other benefits similar to
those agreed to by other carriers.
T h e Acting Federal Wage and Hour Administrator
announced higher minimum wage rates under the Fair
Labor Standards Act, ranging from 21 to 57)4 cents an hour,
for 15 of the 20 divisions of the needlecraft and fabricated
textile products industry in Puerto Rico, effective June 6,
1955. Minimum rates in the other 5 divisions of the indus
try, ranging from 21 to 35 cents, were not changed.
On May 31, the order was amended, effective July 25,
1955, to include the corde embroidery and corde handbag
division of the industry, for which a minimum of 51 cents
an hour was set.
811
CHRONOLOGY OF LABOR EVENTS
May 11
T he Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (Ind.) reached an
agreement with the major railroads providing graduated
pay increases for freight conductors, brakemen, and flag
men on trains with 81 or more cars, effective June 16, 1955.
The contract also provided a 25-cent daily raise for switch
foremen and increased to $1.10 a day the rate differential
for yard conductors over yard brakemen.
On May 26, the Order of Railway Conductors and
Brakemen (Ind.), following the recommendations of a
Presidential factfinding board (see Chron. item for Mar.
25, 1955, MLR, May 1955), negotiated an agreement with
the carriers, and the Trainmen amended their earlier agree
ment. The contracts provided larger increments for
freight conductors and brakemen on longer trains than
those agreed to initially by the Trainmen and, in addition
increases of 20 cents a day for men working on trains with
fewer than 81 cars and for passenger conductors and
brakemen. (See also p. 815 of this issue.)
T he Switchmen’s Union of North America (AFL) reached
agreement with the Western railroads on a 25-cent-a-day
increase in the differential for switch foremen, effective
June 1, 1955.
May 15
T he CIO Glass Workers negotiated a new 1-year contract,
effective May 15, 1955, with Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co.
and Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Co., providing a package
increase of 14 cents an hour for wages and improvements
in health and welfare benefits. The agreement, which
covered about 22,000 employees in 7 States, also established
a joint committee to explore problems connected with a
guaranteed annual wage plan.
May 20
T he Governor of Wisconsin signed an act prohibiting
contributions for political purposes by labor unions,
corporations, and certain other associations and specifying
fines or imprisonment, or both, for violation. (See also
p. 789 of this issue.)
T he Fourth World Congress of the International Con
federation of Free Trade Unions opened in Vienna, Austria.
(For discussion, see p. 785 o f this issue.)
T h e NLRB held, in Local 595, International Association
of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers {AFL),
et al., Joppa, 111., and Bechtel Corp., that the union, to
prove compliance with a Board determination of a juris
dictional dispute, must not only discontinue its illegal
conduct but also manifest a “good-faith intent” to accept
and abide by the determination. Although the union had
ceased attempting to force the employer to assign the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
disputed work to its members following a court order (see
Chron. item for Oct. 12, 1953, MLR, Dec. 1953), the
Board equated the union’s failure to comply with the
formal requirement of notice to the NLRB regional
director with refusal to comply.
May 21
M e m b e r s of the CIO Electrical Workers voted (2,400
to 900) to accept a 2-year contract with the Sperry Gyro
scope Co., Lake Success, N. Y., thus ending a 5-week
strike which idled about 9,500 employees. The new
agreement provides wage increases of 8 and 5.3 cents an
hour for the 1st and 2d year, respectively, and the assump
tion by the employer of the workers’ 2}£ percent contri
bution to the pension fund.
May 23
T he S u pr e m e C ourt of the United States ruled, in
Maneja et al. v. Waialua Agricultural Co., that employees
of a large Hawaiian company who work in a mill in which
sugarcane grown on the company’s plantation is processed
are subject to the minimum wage provisions of the Fair
Labor Standards Act. The court also held that the mill
maintenance and repair workers were covered by the
act’s overtime provision during the 3-month season when
no processing was done in the mill.
May 24
T he CIO C om m u nic atio n s W or k er s announced rati
fication of a new 1-year agreement with Southern Bell
Telephone and Telegraph Co., thus ending a 72-day strike
affecting about 50,000 company employees in 9 South
eastern States. With respect to the main issues, the new
contract provides for general wage increases ($1 to $4 a
week) for all nonsupervisory employees; strengthens the
clause on the arbitration of disputes over discharges, pro
motions, and suspensions; and permits workers to respect
authorized picket lines in lawful strikes at premises where
the strikers work. (See also p. 813 of this issue.)
May 25
T he Federal court of appeals in Boston ruled, in Eastern
Sugar Associates v. Pena, that, although the employer was
subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act, an employee who
sued for unpaid overtime compensation had based his
claim on a Puerto Rican law with more favorable provisions
regarding the method of computing overtime and therefore
the Federal 2-year statute of limitations did not apply.
Moreover, the court pointed out, the Federal act expressly
provides that none of its provisions “shall excuse noncom
pliance with any Federal or State law” establishing higher
wage and hour standards.
812
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
T he Acting Federal Wage and Hour Administrator an
nounced increases in minimum wage rates, under the
Fair Labor Standards Act, to 65 cents an hour for the
fabricated wire products, steel spring, and slide fastener
division and to 75 cents an hour for the other components
of the metal, machinery, transportation equipment, and
allied industries in Puerto Rico, effective June 27, 1955.
May 26
T he Federal court of appeals at Washington, D. C., in
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America
(Ind.), Local 1113 v. NLRB, upheld the Board’s ruling that
the Marathon Electric Manufacturing Corp., of Wausau,
Wis., had not violated the Taft-Hartley Act by discharging
all employees who were members of the union and who had
failed to disassociate themselves from an illegal strike
called by the union (see Chron. item for Sept. 29, 1953,
MLR, Nov. 1953).
May 27
T he NLRB regional director in Boston certified Local 21
of the CIO Leather Workers Organizing Committee as
the bargaining representative of the workers of about 60
leather manufacturing firms in the Peabody-SalemDanvers, Mass., area. The victor received 1,658 votes
to 448 for the Fur and Leather Division of the AFL
Meatcutters. Earlier this year, the workers had voted
to secede from the Fur and Leather Workers (Ind.),
prior to its merging with the Meatcutters (see Chron.
item for Feb. 22, 1955, MLR, Apr. 1955).
Individual employees filed more than one-third of the 5,965 unfair labor
practice charges received by the National Labor Relations Board in fiscal
year 1953-54. Unions filed a little over half of the charges; employers, a
tenth.
The cases (2,147) filed by individual employees were more numerous than
at any time in the Board’s 19-year history. About three-fifths of the em
ployees’ actions were directed against employers and the remainder against
unions, the number of cases being 17 and 54 percent, respectively, higher than
in 1953.
Of the complaints against employers, unions originated 71 percent and
individual employees, 29 percent; the most common charge was discrimina
tion against employees because of their union activities or because they were
not union members. Charges against unions came from employees in 54
percent of such cases, from employers in 37 percent, and from other unions in
9 percent. Most frequently, the charge cited illegal restraint or coercion of
employees in the exercise of their right to engage in, or refrain from, union
activity.
In the 4,813 representation elections conducted by the Board (22.4 percent
fewer than in fiscal 1953), nearly 88 percent of the eligible voters cast valid
ballots and approximately 70 percent of these voted in favor of representation.
Bargaining agents won the right to represent nearly 350,000 employees, or
two-thirds of all who participated in the elections, compared with 79 percent in
1953—54 and 75 percent in 1952—53. AFL unions won bargaining rights in
57 percent of the 3,406 elections in which they took part; CIO unions, in 52
percent of 1,521 elections; unaffiliated unions, in 63 percent of 573 elections.
Data are from the Nineteenth Annual Report of the National Labor Relations
Board for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1954.
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Developments in
Industrial Relations
against the Southern Bell
Telephone Co., the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad, and the Sperry Gyroscope Co. ended
during May. The New England textile strike,
however, continued throughout the month at all
but one company, and along the West Coast a
trucking industry stoppage assumed larger pro
portions at the month’s end. A number of im
portant settlements were recorded in the railroad,
rubber, glass, paper, and radio and television
manufacturing industries, as well as in a scattering
of other industries. The CIO Auto Workers
reached agreement with Ford early in June,
following postponement of a strike deadline, but
bargaining continued with General Motors. Pre
liminary arrangements for wage negotiations in
basic steel were announced. The AFL and CIO
executive bodies approved comprehensive pro
grams designed to safeguard union health and
welfare funds and announced changes in their
convention plans to implement formal merger of
the two organizations later in the year.
T he large str ik es
Work Stoppages
The 58-day strike involving about 25,000 em
ployees of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Co. and several subsidiary railroads in 13 States
ended May 10, after the railroads and 10 AFL
unions representing nonoperating employees agreed
to submit their dispute to binding arbitration.2
After several days of hearings, the arbitrator
ruled that the railroads should pay the full cost of
a health and welfare plan, and an agreement was
signed on May 20. The arbitrator’s decision re
lating to other issues such as vacations, holidays,
and other working rules conformed substantially
to contracts signed by other Class I railroads and
the nonoperating unions in August 1954.3
The costs of health and welfare plans in effect
on most of the Class I railroads are shared equally
by the carriers and the nonoperating employees.
However, early in April the nonoperating unions
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
notified these railroads that they wanted them to
pay the full costs of the plan. The decision that
the L & N should pay the full costs of a health and
welfare plan was reached by the arbitrator,
Francis J. Robertson, on the basis of an improved
earnings outlook for railroads; the trend toward
employer-paid plans; and the opposition of the
L & N to compelling any employee to contribute
to such a plan.
The 72-day strike of employees of the Southern
Bell Telephone and Telegraph Co. ended May 24,
when the CIO Communications Workers voted to
accept a new 1-year contract.4 The agreement
contains a no-strike, no-lockout clause sought by
the company and provides for arbitration of some
types of disputes arising under the contract.
Although the union wanted a broad arbitration
clause, the company insisted upon making the
final decision in disputes over company benefit
plans, leaves of absence, compliance with health
and safety measures, and demotions and dis
charges during trial periods. The contract for the
first time gives workers the right to respect legiti
mate picket lines. The agreement also provides
for general wage increases ($1 to $4 a week) for
all nonsupervisory employees, the upgrading of
25 towns to higher pay schedules, and a seventh
paid holiday. At the request of the union, dis
charges of about 160 workers on charges of mis
conduct during the work stoppage will be subject
to binding arbitration on an individual basis.
In late May the company filed a $5 million suit
against the union for damage to company property.
Union officials immediately denied allegations in
the suit and accused the company of bad faith in
filing the court action after the strike settlement.
The first break in the Fall River-New Bedford
textile strike 5 came on May 26 when approxi
mately 1,300 workers at the Wamsutta Mills re
turned to work following ratification of a new 2year agreement between the company and the CIO
Textile Workers. The agreement left wages un
changed and provided for a wage reopening after
1 year. The number of unpaid holidays, on which
workers are not paid if they do not work but re
ceive time and a half if they work, was reduced
1 Prepared in the Bureau’s Division of Wages and Industrial Relations.
2 See M onthly Labor Review, June 1955 (p. 686).
3 See Monthly Labor Review, October 1954 (p. 1139).
4 See Monthly Labor Review, June 1955 (p. 686).
8 See M onthly Labor Review, June 1955 (p. 685).
813
814
from 4 to 1 but the provision for 6 paid holidays
remained unchanged. The clause that previously
required mutual advance consent to introduction
of new methods was revised to permit the com
pany unilaterally to change manufacturing pro
cesses, with unresolved issues becoming arbitrable
after 4 weeks.
The strike of production employees of Sperry
Gyroscope Co. on Long Island, N. Y., ended May
21 when members of the CIO Electrical Workers
voted to accept a 2-year contract, with an immedi
ate 8-cent hourly package increase and an increase
of 5.3 cents an hour a year later. The stoppage
began April 19, and in its early stages was marked
by some clashes on the picket lines.6
Late in May, a trucking stoppage was spreading
in California and 10 other Western States in a
dispute between for-hire trucking companies and
the AFL Teamsters’ union. Teamsters employed
by three large trucking companies stopped work
on May 19 when negotiations on new contracts
became deadlocked. Several hundred other truck
ing companies subsequently stopped operations to
support the struck companies, daily increasing
the number of workers idle. The union stated it
wanted a 3-year contract with wage increases of
10 cents an hour the first year and 8 cents in each
of the 2 succeeding years, plus pensions and
increased health and welfare benefits. It also has
asked for a %-cent increase in the mileage rate to
7% cents a mile. The companies offered a 5-cent
hourly wage increase in each of the 3 years. At
the month’s end, the union was considering a
revised offer submitted by spokesmen for a sub
stantial group of trucking companies.
Settlements
Automobiles. Bargaining by the UAW-CIO with
General Motors and with Ford continued through
out May and a settlement was reached at Ford
early in June.7 Late in May, the June 2 strike
deadline at Ford was postponed until June 6. On
that day stoppages began at a number of Ford
plants but by noon agreement was announced on
a new 3-year contract.
The new contract provides for supplements to
unemployment benefits for laid-off workers and an
increased annual improvement factor, extra in
creases in pay for skilled workers, a revised cost
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
of-living escalator formula, and liberalized pension,
insurance, vacation, and holiday pay provisions.
The annual improvement factor was increased
so that base rates will be raised on June 1 of each
year of the contract (1955, 1956, and 1957) by 6
cents an hour or 2){ percent of base pay, whichever
is greater. Pay of certain skilled workeis was
increased, effective June 1, 1955, by 5 to 10 cents
an hour. Under the liberalized escalator clause,
the cost-of-living allowance will change 1 cent for
each 0.5-point (instead of 0.6-point as formerly)
change in the BLS Consumer Price Index. Any
reduction in the existing 6-cent cost-of-living al
lowance will be made according to the old formula
used in building it up ; the revised formula applies
only to changes in wage rates above their present
level.
Pension benefits, including maximum retire
ment benefits and disability provisions, were
liberalized and vesting rights were established in
the pension plan. The contract improved the
insurance, medical, and hospitalization program
and for the first time employees’ dependents were
included in in-hospital medical benefits. Half
holidays were added on Christmas and New Year’s
Eves. Other changes included triple pay for
holiday work for most employees and an extra
half-week vacation for workers with 10 but less
than 15 years’ service.
Supplemental unemployment benefits provided
in the agreement cover all hourly rated employees
having at least 1 year’s seniority. Longer service
employees are accorded preferred rights in the
accumulation of credit units for weeks worked
during the first 2 years and the disbursement of
benefits under certain circumstances. Under the
plan, laid-off employees would receive cash bene
fits ranging up to $25 a week for a maximum of
26 weeks. These benefits when combined with
unemployment compensation would give an em
ployee an amount equal to a maximum of 65
percent of his weekly basic pay (after taxes) for
a 40-hour week for 4 weeks and thereafter, up to
22 additional weeks, a maximum of 60 percent.
Benefits will become payable on specific applica
tion by the employee after a waiting period of 1
week. Bay merits will not begin until June 1,
1956.
«Ibid.
1 See Monthly Labur~Re view,"June 1955 (p. 687).
DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Integration with State unemployment-benefit
programs is an important feature of the plan. It
cannot become effective until the authorities in
States where two-thirds of the employees work
have ruled that simultaneous payment of benefits
shall not reduce or eliminate State unemployment
benefits.
Railroads. Two agreements, for the first time
providing pay differentials based on the number of
cars in a freight train, were negotiated during the
month.8 The Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men (Ind.) and the Nation’s railroads agreed May
11 on a series of increases to be added to the basic
rate of pay for road freight conductors and brakemen, depending upon the maximum number of
cars in the train. This agreement was revised
later in the month to provide somewhat higher
increments in the basic rate of pay, similar to
those agreed upon by the Order of Railway Con
ductors and Brakemen (Ind.). The agreements
provide for the following increases in basic daily
road freight rates beginning June 16: Less than 81
cars, 20 cents; 81 to 105 cars, 55 cents; 106 to 125
cars, 95 cents; 126 to 145 cars, $1.20; 146 to 165
cars, $1.30; and 20 cents for each additional block
of 20 cars or less. Basic daily rates of passenger
conductors and trainmen were increased 20 cents
a day. The agreement with the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen also provided for a $5-a-month
increase for dining-car stewards. In addition, the
pay differential of yard conductors over yard
brakemen was increased 25 cents a day, effective
June 1. Another agreement between the western
railroads and the Switchmen’s Union (AFL) also
included a 25-cent-a-day increase for switch
foremen.
Airlines. The Air Line Pilots Association (AFL)
announced that a pension program, designed to
hedge against a rising cost of living, is to be in
corporated in new agreements with Pan-American
World Airlines and Northeast Airlines. The
plan established a two-part pension fund: one
part will finance a fixed monthly benefit; the
second will be invested in common stock and will
be used to pay a variable benefit. The funds, to
be built up through joint contributions, provide
for retirement benefits at age 60, with optional
8 See M onthly Labor Review, June 1955 (p. 688).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
815
retirement on reduced benefits after 50, and de
ferred pensions for pilots leaving after age 45
with at least 10 years’ service. The plan, now
in effect on Pan-American Grace Airlines, is
modeled after that adopted some years ago by the
Carnegie-endowed Teachers Insurance and An
nuity Association.
Rubber. A new 5-year pension and insurance
agreement was signed by the Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Co. and the CIO Rubber Workers, affect
ing approximately 28,000 hourly paid employees
at 10 plants. Provisions scheduled to take effect
June 1 include: Guaranteed minimum monthly
pensions (exclusive of social security benefits) in
creased to $1.80 a month from the present $1.50
for each year of service up to 30; a further increase
in pensions as a result of a revised formula for
computing normal retirement benefits; weekly
sickness and accident benefits increased from $35
to $40 for men and from $25 to $30 for women.
Retirement will become compulsory for employees
65 years of age or older after February 1, 1957.
Glass and Pottery. New 1-year contracts between
the CIO Glass Workers and the Pittsburgh Plate
Glass Co. and Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Co.,
provided a general wage increase of 8 cents an
hour for all workers; additional increases of 8 cents
for maintenance, and 6 cents for other employees
when working on nonincentive jobs; and changes
in health and welfare benefits. The “package”
was valued at about 14 cents a man-hour by a
spokesman for one of the companies. The agree
ments, effective May 15, cover approximately
22,000 workers in major flat glass plants in seven
States. The union’s initial demand for a guaran
teed annual wage program resulted in setting up a
joint union-management commission to examine
various existing plans. The commission is schedul
ed to report its findings—which are not binding—
prior to wage negotiations in May 1956.
A 5-cent hourly increase for workers in minimum
pay brackets in the pottery industry, effective the
first full pay period after May 1, was provided in
a new contract between the Operative Potters
(AFL) and the United States Potters Association.
The increases, the first since 1952 for unskilled
workers, affect approximately one-third of the
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
816
15,000 to 18,000 pottery employees.
other workers were not changed.
Wages of
hourly increase effective July 1, and a reduction
from 1,200 to 1,000 a year in the number of workhours required for vacation eligibility.
Radio and Television. Radio Corporation of Amer
ica and the CIO Electrical Workers reached
agreement on a 4- to 7-cent hourly wage increase,
effective May 23, plus improved pension and other
fringe benefits for about 14,000 employees at
plants in New Jersey, Ohio, and California. The
wage increase and other contract changes were
valued by the union at a total of 10 cents hourly.
The agreements were extended to June 1957, pro
viding for wage reopening in the spring of 1956.
A 5-cent hourly wage increase, effective May 1,
and improvements in fringe benefits were agreed
to by the same union and Philco Corp., under a
new contract covering about 6,500 employees in
Sandusky, Ohio, and Philadelphia and Croydon,
Pa. In addition, the company agreed that begin
ning January 1, 1956, it will contribute 7 instead
of 5 cents an hour to a severance-pay fund.
Payer and Pulp. An agreement between the
Pacific Coast Association of Pulp and Paper
Manufacturers and two AFL unions, the Paper
Makers and the Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill
Workers, was ratified early in May by union
members in 45 locals in Washington, Oregon, and
California. The agreement, covering approxi
mately 18,000 workers at 38 pulp and paper plants
in the three States, provided for a general 4K-cent
hourly increase, other adjustments in all indi
vidual job rates, and a 1-cent increase in the
night shift differential.
The same unions negotiated a 5-percent, in
crease, ranging from 7 to 14 cents an hour, in
the Southern Kraft Division of the International
Paper Co. In addition, the agreement provided
a new company-paid hospitalization plan for
employees, with similar benefits available for
dependents if employees pay the premiums. The
agreement also included a paid sick leave plan.
The settlement, subject to local ratification,
affects 12,000 employees at 9 mills of the com
pany in various Southern States.
The Pacific Coast District
AFL Metal Trades Council and West
shipyard operators on May 22 concluded
1-year contract covering approximately
workers. The agreement provides for a
Shipbuilding.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
of the
Coast
a new
14,000
7-cent
Retail Trade. Representatives of A & P Super
markets in New York and New Jersey and the
AFL Meat Cutters agreed on a new contract,
subject to ratification of the union membership,
averting a strike scheduled for May 25. The
agreement, covering approximately 13,500 em
ployees in 600 stores, raises weekly pay of full
time employees by $7.50, effective the first week
in June. Part of the increase ($5 weekly for meat
department and $4 for other employees) is retro
active to August 28, 1954, the expiration date of
the previous contract; part-time employees will
receive an increase of 15 cents an hour, bringing
their rate to $1.25. Other terms of the settle
ment provide for company-paid group hospital
insurance for employees and dependents; a re
duction of the workweek from 45 to 40 hours in
May 1957, and a wage reopening at the same time.
Construction. Wage increases up to 22 K cents
an hour for approximately 55,000 carpenters in 11
southern California counties in the Los Angeles
area were announced in mid-May by the AFL
Carpenters and a negotiating committee repre
senting four major contractor associations. The
2-year contract provides for an 8K-cent an hour
increase, June 15, 1955; an additional 4 cents
effective September 15, 1955, in all counties
except Kern, where the increase will be 1 cent;
and, effective May 1, 1956, a further increase of
10 cents an hour in all counties but Kern, where the
raise will be 7 cents. Wage rates before the
settlement were $2.77% an hour in all counties
except Kern, where it was $2.85)2.
AFL Painters in Los Angeles County (approxi
mately 11,000) received an increase of 17 cents an
hour effective June 1, 1955, and an additional 11
cents an hour effective June 1, 1956, under a new
2-year agreement. Provision was also made for
an increase of %-cent hourly in employer contri
butions to a health and welfare program, and the
beginning apprenticeship scale was increased from
50 to 60 percent of the journeyman rate.
Approximately 5,500 AFL Carpenters in Wash
ington, D. C., received increases of 12){ cents,
effective May 9, with provision for an additional
increase of 10 cents an hour in May 1956.
DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Negotiations
Steel. The CIO Steelworkers served formal wage
reopening notices on the steel industry at the end
of April and convened its Wage Policy Committee,
May 11 and 12, to approve plans to open bargain
ing “for a substantial wage increase” with the
United States Steel Corp. The union announced a
departure from past bargaining practices in that
negotiations with five other major steel producers—
Bethlehem, Republic, Jones & Laughlin, Inland
Steel, and Youngstown Sheet and Tube—would
be held concurrently in Pittsburgh. Under this
arrangement, a general Union Negotiating Com
mittee, headed by David J. McDonald, the union’s
president, would hold separate sessions with the
companies until settlements were reached. In the
past, the union opened talks first with United
States Steel and then started negotiations with
other companies a few days later. The change in
the bargaining procedure, the union said, was
decided upon in agreement with the six companies.
Some 175 Steelworkers’ contracts, covering 600,000
workers, are subject to renegotiation on wages.
The basic contracts are effective until June 1956.
The CIO Electrical Workers’ Economic Policy
Committee, meeting in mid-May, endorsed a
resolution declaring “every working member of the
international [union] shall pay to the IUE-CIO
Defense Fund 1 day’s pay, or $15, for each month
or part of a month” during a strike—if called by
an IUE-CIO Conference Board. The resolution,
adopted by more than 350 delegates with 5 dis
senting votes, is subject to membership referen
dum. Negotiations with General Motors were in
progress during May, with the current agreement
scheduled to expire June 7. The union’s agree
ment with General Electric expires September 15,
and the contract with Westinghouse provides for
a wage reopening between September 15 and
November 15, 1955.
Maritime. Negotiations between the National
Maritime Union (CIO) and the Committee for
Companies and Agents, Atlantic and Gulf Coasts,
covering passenger and freighter unlicensed person
nel, began May 16. The union president stated
that a proposed “unemployment security plan” 9
9 See Monthly Labor Review, April 1955 (p. 460).
10 See M onthly Labor Review, June 1955 (p. 689).
11 See M onthly Labor Review, April 1955 (p. 460).
3 4 7 8 1 3 -5 5 -
5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
817
was the principal issue in the negotiations. He
also indicated that the 40-hour week was a basic
principle on which a “life and death struggle”
could take place. This was a reference to the
controversial Tonsina contract10 announced by
the AFL Seafarer’s Union last March, which
increased basic scales but permitted a 56-hour
straight-time workweek while at sea.
Union Developments
Welfare Funds. Early in May, the AFL Executive
Council and the CIO Executive Board unani
mously approved programs to safeguard union
welfare funds. The AFL proposal, first presented
to the council in February,11 was adopted on the
recommendation of a subcommittee, after an ex
tensive study. It included a comprehensive code,
recommended for adoption by affiliated unions,
which spelled out the duties of union officials in
dealing with employers and insurance companies
on fund operations. The program also called for
national and State legislation that would provide
for the disclosure of detailed information on all
welfare fund operations. AFL affiliates were
urged to amend their constitutions or change
their administrative procedures in order to put
provisions of the code into effect “at the earliest
practicable time.”
In order that the funds may qualify for tax
deductions, the AFL recommended that those
responsible for administering welfare funds “file
with the Internal Revenue Service an annual
financial report disclosing in detail the operations,
transactions, expenses, and investments of the
funds,” and also make the report readily available
to all groups directly concerned. State laws,
under the suggested code, would be amended to
eliminate “unnecessary” agents’ fees currently re
quired by law in some States. The federation has
also recommended that measures be taken to make
regulatory bodies governing insurance operations
“more representative of the public and consumer
interest.”
A code of ethics for establishing and administer
ing health and welfare funds based on the recom
mendations of the AFL Executive Council was
adopted by the Machinists.
The CIO recommendations, prepared by the
CIO Ethical Practices Committee, called for
enactment of Federal legislation requiring full dis-
818
closure of all phases of operation of union health
and welfare and pension plans. A program of
self-regulation was approved at the 1954 national
CIO convention.12 Under the CIO legislative pro
posal, termed an “Employee Welfare Plan Dis
closure Act,” administrators of every employee
welfare plan would file annually with the Secretary
of Labor complete information on the funds. The
CIO held the view that disclosure should be en
forced “through Federal legislation which will be
uniformly applicable throughout the entire coun
try,” and that the statute “should stand separate
and apart from other kinds of legislation.”
Unity. The AFL Executive Council and the CIO
Executive Board, early in May, following approval
of a new constitution to govern the proposed com
bined organization drafted by the Joint Unity
Committee,13 announced plans for concurrent con
ventions, to be held December 1 and 2 in New
York City. Final approval of the constitution
and the actual amalgamation of the two federa
tions is scheduled for the week of December 5,
1955. The AFL announced the scheduling of a
special convention in Chicago on August 11, to
consider formally the proposed postponement of
the September 15 convention and its transfer to
New York. This will be followed by a conference
of AFL unions, scheduled for August 12 in Chicago,
to go over the proposed constitution.
While top officials of the AFL and CIO were
working out the details of the new constitution,
delegates from three CIO affiliates—Auto Workers,
Steelworkers, and Electrical Workers—and the
AFL Machinists, representing 40,000 employees
of the Bendix Aircraft Corp. at 21 plants, met in
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Washington to discuss common bargaining objec
tives and lay the groundwork for future coopera
tion. The conference approved reports prepared
by its study committee covering health, welfare,
and pensions; wage incentives and fringe benefits;
general contract provisions; and apprenticeship.
An interim committee of representatives from the
four unions was set up to coordinate bargaining
objectives.
Meanwhile, presidents of the CIO Packinghouse
Workers and the AFL Meat Cutters, which are
discussing merger plans, each addressed policy
making bodies of the other’s union. A joint
announcement was issued stating that wage reopen
ing notices were served early in May on the
Nation’s 4 largest meatpackers—-Swift, Armour,
Wilson, and Cudahy—and that both unions would
“follow a policy of close cooperation” in contract
talks based on the “mutual aid” pact signed in
1953.14
Elsewhere, the CIO Shoe Workers’ convention
authorized union officers to continue “exploring”
a proposed merger with the AFL Boot and Shoe
Workers Union and to formulate plans for a
coordinated organizing program throughout the
United States and Canada.
A resolution calling for immediate steps toward
merging the Pennsylvania State Federation of
Labor and the State Industrial Union Council was
adopted in convention by the State federation.
In an address to the convention, the President of
the State CIO outlined plans for amalgamation.
12 See M onthly Labor Review, February .1955 (p. 184).
13 See M onthly Labor Review, April 1955 (p. 459;.
21 See M onthly Labor Review, September 1953 (p. 982)
Book Reviews
and Notes
The average worker in the survey was older than the
general average in the Massachusetts labor force.
Ninety percent of the successful job hunters found
work through relatives or friends, or by applying at the
gate.
Very few of the unemployed in the sample were on
relief; 12 percent were dependent upon relatives other
than spouses; 13 percent received some kind of retirement
income, including social-security payments.
The displaced workers were poorly informed about
local labor-market conditions.
Special Reviews
The author concludes that aggregate compari
sons which show more jobs added than lost in a
region may describe overall employment trends
but conceal short-run problems created by changes
in the industrial structure of the region’s economy.
His case-study approach is the most satisfactory
route to the heart of the matter—what job, if
any, does the laid-off worker find?
Attention is directed to the fact that the elec
tronics, apparel, and costume-jewelry industries,
which have enjoyed rapid growth where the textile
mills have closed, do not as a rule hire the former
weaver or loom-fixer. On the contrary, work
opportunities in these new industries are largely
for women and younger workers. Serious social
problems are present in the New England textile
towns where frequently only the wife is employ
able in the new plant, while the husband, unwanted
in the new industry, takes on the duties of house
keeping and care of the children. This is a
situation that warrants further study, perhaps by
the sociologist rather than the economist.
To William Miernyk belongs the credit for
exploding the myth, perpetuated by several
learned documents on the New England economy,
that the region would be better off without textiles
and should seek its future only in the growth
industries. The textile industry, incidentally, is
still the largest single employer in New England.
Mr. Miernyk urges more positive programs of
aptitude testing, retraining, and job placement,
but wisely suggests that they can be effective
only if there is a high level of employment in
the country as a whole.
The findings in this volume are not limited to
one region in their application. Other labormarket areas are haunted by the specter of the
displaced and unemployable older worker with
special skills related to a single industry. The
coal miner, it is suspected, could report an experi819
Inter-Industry Labor Mobility: The Case oj the
Displaced Textile Worker. By William H.
Miernyk. Boston, Northeastern University,
Bureau of Business and Economic Research,
1955. 158 pp., charts. $2.75.
New England and its textile industry hold the
dubious distinctiou of being the most analyzed
of all regions and businesses. Too frequently,
however, the problem of the displaced worker
has been brushed aside or solved by the wrong
assumption that he has in some routine fashion
transferred to the new growth industries.
The author of this volume was dissatisfied with
earlier and inadequate analyses based on the
supposition that expansion in aggregate employ
ment in new industries would take up the job
slack in old industries. Accordingly, he has
explored the plight of the individual textile work
ers who lost their jobs in five cotton or woolen
cities—Lowell, Lawrence, Fall River, New Bed
ford, and Providence. One nontextile area was
also surveyed. In all, the work and no-work
experience of 1,700 laid-off employees was traced,
the majority through personal interviews. The
findings, it is hoped, will serve to shock New
England leaders out of whatever complacency
remains in regard to the impact of the decline
in textiles.
The unwarranted assumption of ease of move
ment from job to job and to new industries and
areas should be laid permanently to rest by the
series of case studies presented in the book.
The main results of the survey are:
Fewer than half of the displaced textile workers found
jobs.
Of those who found jobs, two-thirds earned less than
on their previous textile jobs.
More of the fbb seekers found textile jobs than any
other occupations.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
820
ence similar to the weaver’s. New England is
fortunate to be the subject of such a careful
study. Is it not a wise man who submits to a
full physical examination by a reliable doctor?
Miernyk is one of the more skillful of New
England’s diagnosticians.
— W e n d e l l D. M a c d o n a ld
B ureau of Labor Statistics
Research on Labor Mobility— A n Appraisal of Re
search Findings in the United States. By
Herbert S. Parnes. New York, Social Science
Research Council, 1954. 205 pp. (Bull 65.)
$1.75.
Professor Parnes’ thorough and comprehensive
survey of labor mobility is a most significant con
tribution to the field. In a few pages he has
enumerated, classified, and assessed virtually the
entire literature. He points out those areas where
agreement has been reached, those where future
work would be most fruitful, and pitfalls in
past studies which ought to be avoided. Of par
ticular value are his chapters on “Some Concep
tual and Methodological Problems” and “Some
Determinants of Labor Mobility.” The book is
fair and objective throughout, besides being well
written and easy to read. Its value as a reference
work is considerably enhanced by very complete
subject-matter and author indexes, as well as by
systematic and thorough cross-referencing. How
ever, a subject-matter bibliography would have
been helpful. This book should be on the desk of
any research worker undertaking studies of labor
mobility.
Despite the general excellence of the contribu
tion, some minor criticisms might be made. For
example, the author’s explicit exclusion from ex
amination of what he calls “long-run” mobility—
rates of entry into different occupations and indus
tries by those newly entering the labor force—
makes for an incomplete approach to the subject
of occupational movement. This may, in part,
account for his failure to handle in a unified man
ner the various concepts and approaches in the area
of occupational mobility. For example, in his
discussion of age as a determinant of mobility he
treats briefly two essentially similar theories of
occupational choice: Reynolds’ “shopping” by
trial and error and “period of adjustment,” and
Ginzberg’s “developmental process” and “explor
ation.” But he does not relate them to the con
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
tention by Palmer that job changing when con
sidered over time is purposeful; to the speculation
by Lipset and Bendix on the relation of class
structure to occupational status; or to the theory
of noncompeting groups. Nor does he relate
these various concepts to data on the direction of
interoccupational movement, the “porousness”
of occupational barriers, or the extent of entry into
occupations through informal training.
In the chapter on “Mobility and Labor Allo
cation,” as well as elsewhere, Parnes succeeds in
demonstrating that available data do not bear out
the premises of traditional allocation theory that
wage differentials are a significant factor in worker
mobility. It also would have been helpful if he
had indicated some approaches for empirical test
ing of such modern theories as Dunlop’s economic
models of the trade union, Kerr’s “balkanization”
of labor markets, and Reynolds’ analogous con
tention that there is a virtually separate labor
market in each plant.
— A br a h a m B l u e s t o n e
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Motion and Time Study: A n Introduction to
Methods, Time Study, and Wage Payment.
By Benjamin W. Niebel. Homewood, 111.,
Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1955. 433 pp.,
bibliography, diagrams, illus. $8.
This work is a careful bringing together of most
of the known techniques of time and motion study.
Its clarity of language and simplicity of examples
make it a highly readable volume. Conceptually,
the author has apparently not contributed any
new ideas to the field, but his method of presenta
tion of the conventional “accepted and proved
techniques of work measurement” is very good for
a college text. He describes the book as one
which should be of great interest to management,
government, and labor. With that in mind, this
reviewer feels that the book should not have so
completely avoided the controversial areas which
exist in the field.
In a brief section describing the early days of
industrial engineering, the shortcomings of un
trained practitioners are mentioned, but no
cognizance is taken of the current body of criticism
leveled at some of the major premises embodied
in the conventional techniques. For example, in
the area of performance rating many critics chal
lenge the possibility of consistent accuracy in a
BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTES
rater’s subjective judgment. Others state that a
proper definition of the theoretical “normal oper
ator” is yet to be written. The author effectively
describes various rating systems in use, but with
out hinting that critical evaluations have been
made. There is also no mention of the works of
Gomberg or Barkin, who have crystallized much
of the thoughtful trade union attitude toward time
study, nor are the comments of Abruzzi given
more than passing reference. To this extent, the
author has not covered the full body of thought
on the topic, but has nevertheless produced a
well-organized and worthwhile text.
—K. G. V a n A u k e n , J r.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Union Member Speaks. By Hjalmar Rosen
and R. A. Hudson Rosen. New York,
Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1955. 247 pp., charts.
$4.95.
The attitude survey, a relatively recent inno
vation used by management to find out how em
ployees feel about their jobs, their supervisors,
and the company, is introduced in this book as a
tool for union administrators seeking an expression
of members’ attitudes toward union policies and
procedures. The “union member” referred to in
the title represents the 25,000 members of Dis
trict 9, International Association of Machinists
(AFL), employed in over 900 establishments in
the St. Louis area. In 1951, the District 9
leadership enlisted the Institute of Labor and In
dustrial Relations of the University of Illinois in
a survey of membership reactions, as part of a
“leadership training program which would insure
the strongest collective bargaining agency that it
was possible to develop.” The survey was con
ducted by the Institute during 1952. This book
summarizes the findings and methodology.
The survey plan was to question relatively
large samples of members and shop stewards on
major aspects of the union’s work—collective
bargaining, grievance handling, union meetings,
role of the full-time official, and political activity.
Each member’s evaluation of union activities
was to be related to what he expected the union
to do (“standards”) and what he saw the union
doing (“perceptions”). The particular aspects
to be covered were worked out in conferences
with union leaders.
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821
Considering the union’s sponsorship of the
survey in relation to the results presented in the
book, the reader is likely to question the useful
ness of a one-time attitude survey for leadership
training purposes, or wonder why members’
attitudes could not be made evident in a demo
cratic organization without recourse to a survey.
It would seem, however, that if the union’s in
tentions or needs were to plumb members’ minds
for their desires of the moment and their aspira
tions for their union, it probably did not reckon
with the limitations of a survey. Unfortunately,
a large-scale and hence a costly survey impresses
its own discipline upon objectives. The question
naire must be short, the questions must be easily
understood, and the answers must be susceptible
to routine tabulation. Thus, concerning the
statement, for example, that “in collective bar
gaining, the union ought to emphasize wage in
creases,” the respondent was asked to check one
of the following: always, usually, sometimes,
seldom, never. The responses to statements re
lating to standards and perceptions were couched
in terms of frequency, as in the example cited;
on evaluations, the responses were limited to
categories ranging from “strongly agree” to
“strongly disagree.” That elusive spirit, the
will of the membership, was to be caught in such
a net!
To compound the limitation of this type of
survey, it was seen fit in the presentation of the
data to combine “always” with “usually” and
“seldom” with “never,” along with a “don’t
know” category where appropriate; and evalua
tions were expressed as “satisfied,” “dissatisfied,”
or “undecided.” What can one make of the
differences among “usually,” “sometimes,” and
“seldom” in connection with such relatively in
frequent, yet always changing, occurrences in
the life of the individual member as collective
bargaining (his plant may be involved once a
year), getting involved in a grievance case, or
observing the union offering support to candidates
for public office? How many observations would
be required for a respondent to draw a wellconsidered distinction? (A fourth of the members
surveyed were in the union less than 3 years.)
Probably through oversight, the book fails to
point out that the survey was conducted in a
period of wage stabilization.
822
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
The Institute’s analysis of the returns led it to
conclude that, in general, the members of the union
felt that it was on the right track, although they
seemed to have some reservations about political
activity. The improvement of communications
between members and officials was advanced as
the problem of most urgency.
Attitude surveys of this type become more
meaningful in a series of similar studies, whereby
change can be observed, or in comparison with
similar studies by other unions. Since attitude
surveys are undoubtedly here to stay, the Insti
tute’s description of the techniques, procedures,
and problems of the survey, which occupies half
of the book, should be an invaluable guide to other
groups contemplating such a venture.
— J o se p h W. B loch
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Cooperatives— The British Achievement. By Paul
Greer. New York, Harper & Brothers, 1955.
171 pp., bibliography. $3.
A popular, enthusiastic account of the wide
ramifications of businesses and the large volume of
services of British cooperative societies. From
humble beginnings, the cooperatives have grown
into big integrated business concerns with their
own factories and tea plantations. Financed
largely out of small savings and reinvestment of
patronage refunds by wage earners and lowsalaried employees, the present extent and di
versity of goods produced and services rendered
are remarkable. Furthermore, the cooperatives
are influential enough to act as a balance wheel for
both private capitalistic enterprise and Britain’s
growing socialism. The latter role is stressed.
The uneasy relationship with the Labor Party is
well portrayed. Agricultural cooperatives and
copartnership schemes in industry are treated as
supplementary to the development of consumers’
cooperatives.
The volume suffers from attempts to cover too
much ground, from chaotic arrangement, and from
a certain lack of objectivity. It suggests notes
for an inspirational talk rather than a considered
appraisal. It is disappointing not to find a dis
passionate analysis of the competitive situation
and of the problems now presented to British co
operatives by (1) the growth of chain stores, (2)
greater purchasing power in consumers’ hands,
and (3) the wider range of consumer goods now on
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
the market. There is just a hint, in statements
quoted from officials who showed Mr. Greer
around, of the management and marketing prob
lems with which British cooperators themselves
are, to judge by their publications, deeply con
cerned. One wishes for some comparison be
tween the structure and functioning of industry
and trade in Britain and the United States, and
their relative achievements for the average con
sumer. This might explain the lag in consumers’
cooperation in the United States, which Mr.
Greer seems to impute to differences in philosophy
and effort.
— J e a n A. F l e x n e r
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Cooperative Movement
Consumer Cooperation in New Mexico. By David B.
Hamilton. Albuquerque, University of New Mexico,
Bureau of Business Research, 1955. 31 pp., bibliog
raphies.
(Business Information Series, 26.) 50
cents.
Reviews history of New Mexico legislation on coopera
tives, and the development of three types of consumer
cooperatives—retail, electrification, and credit— over a 14year period. Analyzes problems and factors contributing
to success and failure.
Brugsforeningerne, 1958—26. Beretning. [Copenhagen?],
Faellesforeningen for Danmarks Brugsforeninger,
[1954?]. 63 pp., charts, illus.
A “guide” in English, published separately, accom
panies this report on the Danish consumers’ cooperative
societies.
Cooperation in Israel: An Account of Hevrat Ovdim, the
General Cooperative Association of Jewish Labor in
Israel. By Noah Malkosh. Tel Aviv, Hevrat Ovdim,
and Histadrut, General Federation of Jewish Labor in
Israel, 1954. 80 pp., illus.
A laudatory account of Hevrat Ovdim, organized by
Histadrut in 1924. Agricultural cooperatives and coopera
tive communities, antedating Hevrat Ovdim, have been
fostered by it, as well as cooperative building, transporta
tion, manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, and credit
enterprises. Thirty percent of Israeli wage earners are
employed in these undertakings. The important place of
Hevrat Ovdim in the economic development of the country
is indicated, but without critical evaluation of its many
functions.
Employment and Unemployment
Employment in the Pacific Coast States, 1947-53. San
Francisco (630 Sansome Street), U. S. Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Western Regional
Office, 1955. 29 pp., charts; processed. Free.
i
BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTES
823
A Digest of Proposals for Combatting Unemployment in
Hawaii. By Robert M. Kamins. Honolulu, Uni
versity of Hawaii, Legislative Reference Bureau, 1955.
52 pp., bibliography. (Report 1, 1955.)
Injuries and Injury Rates in Water-Supply Utilities, 1958.
By George R. McCormack. Washington, U. S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1955. 33 pp., charts. (BLS Report 83.) Free.
Report of Proceedings of 18th Annual Meeting of Interstate
Conference of Employment Security Agencies, New
Orleans, La., October 11-1A, 1954- [Washington, W. R.
Curtis, Executive Secretary of the Conference, U. S.
Department of Labor Building, 1955.] 136 pp. Free.
American Standard Safety Code for Controls and Signaling
Devices for Graphic Arts Presses. New York, Ameri
can Standards Association, 1954. 10 pp., diagram.
(B65.1-1954.) 50 cents.
Handicapped
American Standard Safety Code for Woodworking Machin
ery. New York, American Standards Association,
Inc., 1954. 23 pp., diagrams. (01.1-1954; revision
of 01.1-1944.) $1.
The Employable Handicapped and 1955. By Willis C.
Gorthy. (In The Monitor, Associated Industries of
New York State, Inc., Albany, February-March 1955,
pp. 13-14, 21-22, illus.)
Small Business Enterprises for the Severely Handicapped.
Washington, U. S. Department of Health, Education
and Welfare, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation,
1955. 152 pp., bibliography. (Rehabilitation Service
Series, 320.) 45 cents, Superintendent of Documents,
Washington.
Catalog of small business experiences of the homebound and severely handicapped in the State-Federal
vocational rehabilitation program.
Health and Welfare
A Study of Pension and Group Insurance-Hospitalization
Plans Negotiated in 1954■ Chicago, Charles D.
Spencer & Associates, Inc., [1955]. Various pagings.
$5.
Financial Report of the Health, Welfare and Retirement
Funds, International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union,
1954■ [New York, 1955.] 19 pp.
Prepaid Health Plans [in Canada]—A Survey. (In Labor
Research, Canadian Congress of Labor, Research
Department, Ottawa, October-December 1954, pp.
1-12, charts.)
Industrial Accidents and Accident Prevention
Accidents from Hoisting and Haulage in Bituminous-Coal
Mines. Washington, U. S. Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1955. 88pp., bibliography,
diagrams, illus. (Miners’ Circular 49; Coal-Mine
Accident-Prevention Course, Section 3—Revised
March 1954.) 40 cents, Superintendent of Docu
ments, Washington.
Explosives Accidents in Bituminous-Coal Mines. Washing
ton, U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Mines, 1955. 86 pp., bibliography, diagrams, illus.
(Miners’ Circular 58; Coal-Mine Accident-Prevention
Course, Section 5—Revised March 1954.) 40 cents,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Fire Hazards of the Plastics Industry. New York, etc.,
National Board of Fire Underwriters, 1955. 70 pp.,
bibliography, charts, diagrams. (Research Report
1
.)
Industrial Relations
Causes of Industrial Peace Under Collective Bargaining.
Edited by Clinton S. Golden and Virginia D. Parker
for the National Planning Association’s Committee
on the Causes of Industrial Peace. New York,
Harper & Brothers, 1955. 369 pp. $4.75.
The first part of the book presents the final report,
"Fundamentals of Labor Peace,” of the NPA Committee
on the Causes of Industrial Peace, issued in December
1953 (summarized in Monthly Labor Review, February
1954, p. 170). This is followed by condensations of 13
case studies made in connection with the project, and
other related material.
Collective Bargaining Accomplishments in the Paper Indus
try. By James S. Youtsler. (In Southern Economic
Journal, Chapel Hill, N. C., April 1955, pp. 441-452.
$1.50.)
Collective Bargaining in the Motion Picture Industry— A
Struggle for Stability. By Hugh Lovell and Tasile
Carter. Berkeley, University of California, Institute
of Industrial Relations, 1955. 54 pp. (West Coast
Collective Bargaining Series.) 50 cents.
Inside Industry: A Plan for Industrial Peace. By Ray
Smith. Chicago, Creative Enterprises, 1955. 139 pp.
$3.50.
Mediation in Action: Proceedings of Third Annual Confer
ence of Association of State Mediation Agencies, Sep
tember 18-14, 1954, Madison, Wis. [New York, As
sociation of State Mediation Agencies, 1954?] 64 pp.
Number of Workers
Canada, 1958.
Labor, Ottawa,
Comparative data
and 1953.
Affected by Collective Agreements in
(In Labor Gazette, Department of
April 1955, pp. 439-445. 25 cents.)
are given by industry for 1946, 1952,
824
Labor and Social Legislation
Annual Digest of State and Federal Labor Legislation, July 1,
1953-September 30, 1954. Washington, U. S. De
partment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards, 1955.
83 pp. (Bull. 178.) 30 cents, Superintendent of
Documents, Washington.
Bibliography of the Labor Management Relations Act, Cover
ing Period from July 1, 1953-February 1, 1955.
Washington, U. S. National Labor Relations Board,
Library, 1955. 35 pp.; processed. (Supplement 6.)
Cases on Labor Law. By Archibald Cox. Brooklyn,
N. Y., Foundation Press, Inc., 1954. xxxii, 1102 pp.
3d ed. $9.50.
A statutory supplement (138 pp., 1954) to this volume
is available in a separate pamphlet.
States Rights and the Law of Labor Relations. By Gerard
D. Reilly. Washington, American Enterprise Asso
ciation, Inc., 1955. 35 pp. (National Economic
Problems Series, 457.) $1.
A Statement of the Laws of Brazil in Matters Affecting Busi
ness. By Jose T. Nabuco. Washington, Pan Amer
ican Union, Department of International Law, D ivi
sion of Law and Treaties, 1955. 158 pp., bibliog
raphy. 2d ed. $5.
Includes summaries of labor, social, and immigration
legislation.
Colecgäo de Leis do Trabalho. By Pedro Luis de Resende.
Oporto, Portugal, the Author, 1953. 454 pp.
This compilation of the principal Portuguese labor laws,
prepared by an official of the labor inspectorate, replaces a
similar volume published in 1944.
Labor Organizations
American Labor Unions— An Outline of Growth and Struc
ture. By Reed C. Richardson. Ithaca, N. Y., Cor
nell University, New York State School of Industrial
and Labor Relations, 1955. 19 pp., bibliography.
(Bull. 30.) 20 cents (free to New York State resi
dents) .
Rise of the Labor Movement in Los Angeles. By Grace
Heilman Stimson. Berkeley, University of Cali
fornia, Institute of Industrial Relations, 1955. 529
pp., bibliography. $6, University of California Press,
Berkeley.
Ever Forward: Forty Years of Progress—A Short History of
the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. New
York, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America,
[1955?]. 46 pp., illus.
Proceedings of the 16th Constitutional Convention of the
Congress of Industrial Organizations, December 6-10,
1954, Los Angeles, Calif. Washington, Congress of
Industrial Organizations, [1955?]. 672 pp., illus. $2.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
An article on the convention was published in the
Monthly Labor Review for February 1955 (p. 183).
Directory of Labor Organizations in the Territory of Hawaii,
March 1955. Honolulu, Department of Labor and
Industrial Relations, Bureau of Research and Statis
tics, 1955. 27 pp.; processed. (No. 27.)
The T.U.C. and Communism. London, Trades Union
Congress, 1955. 11 pp. 3d.
Manpower
Manpower Resources in the Biological Sciences. By Solo
mon Shapiro and Joseph Schuster. Washington,
U. S. National Science Foundation, 1955. 53 pp.,
charts. 40 cents, Superintendent of Documents,
Washington.
A study conducted jointly by the National Science
Foundation and the U. S. Department of Labor’s Bureau
of Labor Statistics.
Papers of the Fourth Conference on Scientific Manpower,
Berkeley, Calif., 1954. Washington, U. S. National
Science Foundation, [1955?]. 47 pp., charts.
Pensions and Retirement
Retirement of Employees— Policies, Procedures, Practices.
By F. Beatrice Brower. New York, National Indus
trial Conference Board, Inc., 1955. 48 pp. (Studies
in Personnel Policy, 148.)
Retirement Plan Costs of Over 500 Companies Analyzed.
[Chicago, Charles D. Spencer & Associates, Inc., 1955.]
Various pagings.
Coalminers’’ Pensions. By Isabel Craig. {In International
Labor Review, Geneva, March 1955, pp. 255-272.
60 cents. Distributed in United States by Washing
ton Branch of ILO.)
Based on research into pension schemes for miners in 16
countries.
Personnel Management
Cases and Problems in Personnel and Industrial Relations.
By Edgar G. Williams and John F. Mee. New York,
Ronald Press Co., 1955. 204 pp. $3.
Personnel Management. By Michael J. Jucius. Homewood, 111., Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1955. 722 pp.,
bibliography, charts, forms, illus. 3d ed. $8.
The Recruitment and Training of Men Intended for Man
agement Positions. London, British Institute of
Management, 1955. 70 pp., forms. 5s.
A Company Guide to the Selection of Salesmen. By Milton
M. Mandel. New York, American Management As
sociation, 1955. 161 pp., forms. (Research Report
24.) $4.75 ($3.50 to AMA members).
825
BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTES
Social Security (General)
Compilation of the Social Security Laws, Including the
Social Security Act, as Amended, and Related Enact
ments Through December 81, 1954- Washington, 1955.
272 pp. 65 cents, Superintendent of Documents,
Washington.
Long-Range Cost Estimates for Old-Age and Survivors In
surance, 195^. By Robert J. Myers and Eugene A.
Rasor. Washington, U. S. Department of Health,
Education and Welfare, Social Security Administra
tion, Division of the Actuary, 1954. 46 pp., chart.
(Actuarial Study 39.)
Rapport sur VAssurance-Vieillesse et Survivants Fédérale
Durant l’Année 1953 (Approuvé par le Conseil Fédéral
le 7 Janvier 1955). ' Berne, Office Fédéral des As
surances Sociales, 1955. 89 pp.
Wages, Salaries, and Hours of Labor
Wage Differences and Establishment Practices, 17 Labor
Markets, 1958-54- Washington, U. S. Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1955. 46 pp.,
charts. (Bull. 1173.) 35 cents, Superintendent of
Documents, Washington.
Union Wages and Hours: Motortruck Drivers and Helpers,
July 1, 1954. By James P. Corkery and John F.
Laciskey. Washington, U. S. Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1955. 36 pp. (Bull.
1178.) 30 cents, Superintendent of Documents,
Washington.
Other bulletins in the Bureau’s 1954 union-wage series
cover the building trades, the printing industry, and local
transit operating employees (Bulletins 1175, 1176,
1177—30, 30, 15 cents, respectively, Superintendent of
Documents).
The Guaranteed Annual Wage— Existing Plans, Employer
and Union Approaches, Bargaining Strategy.
By
Arnold W. Frutkin and others. Washington, Bureau
of National Affairs, Inc., 1955. 259 pp., bibliography.
$12.50.
The Problem of Coordinating Price and Wage Programs in
1950-1958. By John H. Kaufmann. (In Indiana Law
Journal, Bloomington, Summer 1954, pp. 499-537;
Fall 1954, pp. 18-58; also reprinted.)
National Wage Policy: the Experience of the Netherlands.
By Bert Zoeteweij. {In International Labor Review,
Geneva, February 1955, pp. 148-179.
60 cents.
Distributed in United States by Washington Branch
of ILO.)
Workmen’s Compensation
Current Issues in Workmen’s Compensation. Princeton,
N. J., Princeton University, Department of Economics
and Sociology, Industrial Relations Section, May
1955. 4 pp. (Selected References, 63.) 20 cents.
Workmen’s Compensation [and Related] Problems, 1954:
Proceedings of 40th Annual Convention of International
Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Com
missions, Quebec, Canada, October 3-7, 1954• Wash
ington, U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Standards, 1955. 238 pp. (Bull. 180.) 65 cents,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington.
Occupational Impairment of Hearing— A Legal Survey. By
Theodore C. Waters. Pittsburgh, Industrial Hygiene
Foundation of America, Inc., 1955. 17 pp.
Summarizes Federal and State laws providing com
pensation for hearing impairment, as of December 31,
1954. References to judicial decisions are included.
Miscellaneous
Salaries and Salary Schedules of Urban School Employees,
1954-55. Washington, National Education Associa
tion of the United States, Research Division, 1955.
87 pp. (Research Bull., Vol. X X X III, No. 2.) 50
cents.
Employee Incentive Plans in Industry. By Nelda Griffin.
Washington, U. S. Department of Agriculture,
Farmer Cooperative Service, 1955. 42 pp., bibliog
raphy. (General Report 12.)
Incentive Wage Systems—A Selected Annotated Bibliogra
phy. Princeton, N. J., Princeton University, De
partment of Economics and Sociology, Industrial
Relations Section, January 1955. 24 pp. (Biblio
graphical Series, 83.) 50 cents.
A Guide to the Guaranteed Wage. By Jack Chernick. New
Brunswick, N. J., Rutgers University, Institute of
Management and Labor Relations, 1955. 50 pp.,
bibliography. (Bull. 4.) $1,
3 4 7 8 1 3 -5 5 -
-6
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
America’s Role in International Social Welfare. By Alva
Myrdal, Arthur J. Altmeyer, Dean Rusk. New York,
Columbia University Press, 1955. 109 pp. $2.
Fiorina Lasker lectures delivered at Columbia University
in March and April 1953.
Bibliography on the Communist Problem in the United States.
New York, Fund for the Republic, Inc., 1955. 474
pp. $5.
Includes references to material on Communist activities
of labor groups.
Digest of the Public Record of Communism in the United
States. New York, Fund for the Republic, Inc., 1955.
xxxvi, 753 pp. $5.
Collection of digests or extracts of public records of the
most significant executive action, legislation and legislative
committee proceedings, and court proceedings relevant
to communism in the United States. Action involving
trade unions is included.
826
Economics— An Introductory Analysis. By Paul A. Samuelson. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1955.
753 pp., charts. 3d ed. $5.75.
Human Relations in Industry. By Burleigh B. Gardner
and David G. Moore. Homewood, 111., Richard D.
Irwin, Inc., 1955. 427 pp., bibliography. 3d ed.
$7.35.
A Professional Look at the Engineer in Industry. Wash
ington, National Society of Professional Engineers,
[1955]. 124 pp., bibliography, charts. $3 ($1.50 to
Society members).
Reviews the impact on the engineering profession of the
National Labor Relations (Wagner) and Labor Manage
ment Relations (Taft-Hartley) Acts, causes of engineers’
dissatisfaction with their status in industry, attitude of
engineers toward unions, and other matters. A “program
of action” for improvement of engineers’ professional
status, employment conditions, and economic position in
industry is submitted.
Labor Laws and Their Administration: Proceedings of the
37th Convention of the International Association of
Governmental Labor Officials, held in Cheyenne, Wyo.,
September 8-10, 1954• Washington, U. S. Depart
ment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards, 1955.
120 pp. (Bull. 179.) 40 cents, Superintendent of
Documents, Washington.
The bulletin presents committee reports and panel dis
cussions on international labor affairs, mediation and con
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
ciliation, industrial health and safety, migrant labor, youth
employment problems, minimum wages, and other matters.
Proceedings of the Business and Economic Statistics Section,
American Statistical Association, September 10-13,
1954, Montreal, Canada. Washington, American
Statistical Association, [1955?]. 255 pp., charts.
$3 ($2 to ASA members).
Major topics of discussion included: Measuring effects of
social payments (pensions and unemployment benefits) on
the economy, value of consumer survey data in the fore
casting of economic fluctuations, reliability and meaning of
employment and unemployment statistics, and determi
nants of productivity levels.
Yearbook on Human Rights for 1952. New York, United
Nations, 1954. 490 pp. (Sales No., 1954, XIV, 1.)
$5, Columbia University Press, International Docu
ments Service, New York.
Annual volume recording worldwide developments in the
law and usage relating to human rights. Subjects covered
include prohibition of discrimination, labor protection,
labor relations, trade unions, wages and hours, paid vaca
tions, housing, and social security.
Statistical Abstract, India, 1952-53. Delhi, Central Sta
tistical Organization, 1955. 859 pp. (New Series, 4.)
Includes data on employment, wages and earnings, in
dustrial disputes, industrial accidents, trade unions, and
cooperative societies.
Current Labor Statistics
A.—Employment and Payrolls
829 Table A-l
830
834
837
837
838
Estimated total labor force classified by employment status, hours
worked, and sex
Table A-2 Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry 1
Table A-3 Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries 1
Table A-4 Indexes of production-worker employment and weekly payrolls in
manufacturing industries 1
Table A-5: Federal personnel, civilian and military 1
Table A-6: Employment in nonagricultural establishments for selected States 2
Table A-7 : Employment in manufacturing industries, by State 2
Table A-8: Insured unemployment under State unemployment insurance pro
grams, by geographic division and State
B.—Labor Turnover
839 Table B -l:
840 Table B-2:
Monthly labor turnover rates in manufacturing, by class of turnover
Monthly labor turnover rates in selected industries
C —Earnings and Hours
842 Table C -l:
858 Table C-2:
858 Table C-3:
859 Table C-4:
859 Table C-5:
Table C-6:
Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory
employees 1
Gross average weekly earnings of production workers in selected
industries, in current and 1947-49 dollars 1
Average weekly earnings, gross and net spendable, of production
workers in manufacturing industries, in current and 1947-49
dollars 1
Average hourly earnings, gross and excluding overtime, of production
workers in manufacturing industries 1
Indexes of aggregate weekly man-hours in industrial and construction
activity 1
Hours and gross earnings of production workers in manufacturing
industries for selected States and areas 2
1 Beginning with the June 1955 issue, data shown in tables A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, C -l, C-2, C-3, C-4, and C-5 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 available upon request to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2 This table is included in the March, June, September, and December issues of the Review.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
827
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
828
D.—Consumer and Wholesale Prices
860 Table D -l:
861
861
862
862
863
865
866
867
868
Consumer Price Index—United States average, all items and cornmodity groups
Consumer
Price Index—United States average, food and its subgroups
Table D-2:
Consumer
Price Index—United States average, apparel and its sub
Table D-3:
groups
Table D-4 Consumer Price Index—United States average, all items and food
Table D-5 Consumer Price Index—All items indexes for selected dates, by city
Table D-6 Consumer Price Index—All items and commodity groups, except
food, by city
Consumer
Price Index—Food and its subgroups, by city
Table D-7
Average
retail
prices of selected foods
Table D-8
Indexes
of
wholesale
prices, by group and subgroup of commodities
Table D-9
Table D-10: Special wholesale price indexes
E. —Work Stoppages
869 Table E -l:
Work stoppages resulting from labor-management disputes
F. —Building and Construction
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
870 Table F -l:
871 Table F-2:
872 Table F-3:
872 Table F-4:
873 Table F-5:
874 Table F-6:
Expenditures for new construction
Contract awards: Public construction, by ownership and type of
construction
Building permit activity: Valuation, by private-public ownership,
class of construction, and type of building
Building permit activity: Valuation, by class of construction and
geographic region
Building permit activity: Valuation, by metropolitan-nonmetropol
itan location and State
Number of new permanent nonfarm dwelling units started, by
ownership and location, and construction cost
829
A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
A: Employment and Payrolls
T able
A -l: Estimated total labor force classified by employment status, hours worked, and sex
[In thousands]
Estimated number of persons 14 years of age and over 1
1954 2
1955
Laboi foi i,6 status
May
April
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov. 3
Oct.
S ep t.3
Aug.
July 3
June
May
Total, both sexes
Total labor force - ______________________
68,256
67, 784
66,840
66,550
66, 700
66,811
67,909
68,190
68, 565
68, 856
68,824
68, 788
67, 786
Civilian labor force____ _________________
Unemployment____________ ________
Unemployed 4 weeks or le s s _______
Unemployed 5-10 weeks___________
Unemployed 11-14 weeks__________
Unemployed 15-26 weeks__________
Unemployed over 26 w eeks________
Employm ent______ . _____________
Nonagricultural__________________
Worked 35 hours or more__ ____
Worked 15-34 hours___________
Worked 1-14 hours ... . . . _ _ ___
With a job but not at work 4___
Agricultural________________ _____
Worked 35 hours or more_______
Worked 15-34 hours__________
Worked 1-14 h ours____________
With a job but not at work 4. _ _
65,192
2,489
996
453
161
470
409
62,703
55,740
45,831
5,617
2, 440
1,852
6,963
5,175
1,372
263
153
64,647
2,962
958
538
355
664
447
61, 685
55,470
43, 721
7, 478
2, 361
1,911
6, 215
4, 332
1,441
257
186
63,654
3,176
964
795
356
615
447
60,477
54,785
45,248
5,618
2,241
1,678
5, 692
4, 273
976
249
194
63,321
3, 383
1,138
893
377
524
450
59,938
54, 854
44, 741
5,935
2, 265
1,914
5,084
3, 519
1,004
292
269
63, 497
3,347
1,329
881
263
415
459
60,150
54, 853
44,074
6,606
2,170
2,004
5, 297
3, 551
1,167
305
274
63, 526
2, 838
1,164
726
241
331
376
60, 688
55,363
45, 958
5,891
2,079
1, 435
5,325
3, 788
977
302
259
64, 624
2, 893
1,274
705
183
379
352
61, 731
55, 577
40, 506
11,195
2,322
1, 554
6,154
4,598
1,126
259
171
64,882
2, 741
1,129
635
181
406
391
62,141
54,902
43, 666
7,144
2,194
1,899
7,239
5,353
1,464
295
126
65, 243
3.099
1,284
642
341
451
383
62,144
54, 618
23,999
25, 559
1,984
3,076
7, 527
5,684
1,527
219
97
65, 522
3,245
1,260
847
280
458
400
62,276
55, 349
42, 514
5, 727
1,753
5,355
6, 928
5,164
1,214
327
221
65,494
3,346
1,394
853
250
510
339
62,148
54,661
21, 936
23,005
1,886
7,833
7,486
5,324
1,683
319
159
65,445
3,347
1,628
623
236
566
293
62,098
54,470
43,502
6,226
1,904
2,838
7,628
5,932
1,336
234
126
64,425
3,305
1,157
764
336
672
375
61,119
54, 297
43,962
6,211
2,133
1,991
6,822
4, 957
1,436
285
144
Males
Total labor force _______________________
47,801
47, 590
47,226
46,922
47,044
47,005
47,426
47,586
48,007
48,964
48, 948
48,619
47,791
Civilian labor force_____________________
Unem ploym ent..
.......................... . . .
Employment______________ ________
Nonagricultural... ______________
Worked 35 hours or more.......... .
Worked 15-34 hours. _________
Worked 1-14 h o u r s ..__
. ..
With a job but not at work 4___
Agricultural______ ____ _______
Worked 35 hours or more_______
Worked 15-34 hours___________
Worked 1-14 hours____ _______
W ith a job but not at work 4____
44,773
1,624
43,149
37, 527
32,626
2,674
1,072
1,156
5,622
4, 492
810
185
135
44,493
2,093
42, 400
37,113
31,211
3,688
1,049
1,165
5,287
4,052
862
201
172
44,078
2, 283
41,795
36, 772
31,946
2,766
981
1,079
5,023
4,005
620
212
186
43, 731
2,431
41,301
36,680
31,481
3,036
972
1,190
4,621
3,338
757
269
256
43,879
2,395
41,485
36, 732
31,041
3,454
972
1,265
4,753
3,378
864
266
245
43, 759
1,996
41, 762
36, 954
32,071
2,972
900
1,011
4,808
3,600
711
256
241
44,180
1,875
42,305
37,134
28, 956
6,236
917
1,026
5,171
4,155
659
206
151
44,317
1,796
42, 522
36, 792
30, 780
3, 782
864
1, 366
5,730
4,579
822
201
128
44, 724
1,993
42, 730
36,905
17,978
16,118
814
1,994
5,825
4,750
841
144
91
45,669
2,152
43,518
37,712
30, 699
3,156
727
3,129
5,806
4,578
745
270
213
45,658
2, 226
43,432
37,426
16, 675
15,089
835
4, 827
6,006
4,657
978
226
145
45,317
2,194
43,123
37,100
31,355
3,303
762
1,673
6,023
5,135
621
145
123
44,471
2,197
42,274
36, 660
31,184
3,241
956
1,279
5,614
4,502
761
214
137
Females
Total labor force. ______________________
20,456
20,191
19,614
19,628
19,655
19,806
20,484
20,604
20,559
19, 892
19,877
20,170
19,995
________
Civilian labor force__ . . .
Unemployment______ . . ________
Employment_______________________
Nonagricultural_______________
Worked 35 hours or m o re ______
Worked 15-34 hours__________
Worked 1-14 hours _____ _____
With a job but not at work 4___
Agricultural____ . ___ _____
Worked 35 hours or more______
Worked 15-34 hours___________
Worked 1-14 hours____________
With a job but not at w ork4 ___
20.420
865
19, 555
18,213
13,205
2,943
1,368
696
1,342
683
563
78
18
20,154
869
19, 284
18,357
12,510
3, 790
1,311
745
927
280
579
55
14
19,576
893
18,683
18,014
13,302
2,852
1,259
600
669
269
356
37
8
19,590
952
18,638
18,174
13, 263
2, 898
1,293
720
464
181
247
22
14
19,617
952
18,666
18,122
13,034
3,151
1,198
739
544
173
303
39
29
19, 767
841
18,925
18,408
13,887
2,919
1,178
424
517
188
266
46
17
20,445
1,018
19,427
18,444
11,550
4,960
1,406
528
983
443
467
53
20
20, 565
945
19,619
18,110
12,885
3,362
1,330
533
1,509
775
642
94
0
20, 520
1,106
19, 413
17,712
6,020
9,441
1,169
1,081
1,701
933
686
76
6
19,853
1,093
18, 760
17,638
11,816
2,571
1,025
2,226
1,122
588
470
56
7
19, 837
1,121
18, 716
17.235
5,263
7,916
1,051
3,006
1,481
669
705
92
14
20,129
1,153
18, 975
17. 370
12,141
2,922
1,142
1,164
1,605
797
716
89
4
19,954
1,108
18,846
17,637
12, 775
2,972
1,177
712
1,209
454
675
71
10
1 Estimates are subject to sampling variation which 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.
2 Data beginning January 1954 are based upon a new Census sample in
230 areas and are not entirely comparable with previously published estimates
for earlier months. Revised monthly data for 1953 were published in the
Census Bureau’s “Monthly Report on the Labor Force: December 1954.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3 Census survey week contained legal holiday.
4 Includes persons who had a job or business, but who did not work during
the survey 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. Also includes persons who had new jobs to which
they were scheduled to report within 30 days.
Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
830
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
T able A-2: Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry 1
[In thousands]
1955
Annual aver
age
1954
Industry
May
Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
1954
1953
48,889 48,641 48, 212 47,753 47,741 49,463 48,808 48,580 48,490 48,123 47,866 48,200 47, 939 48, 285 49,681
740
739
739
737
747
741
749
743
744
763
760
771
761
770
852
94.3
95.9
95.3
94.8
94.1
92.5
93.7
90.5
90.0
99.1 100.8 100.4
99.6
98.1 106.0
30.8
30.5
30.2
30.3
29.8
31.4
32.9
34.4
35.1
36.0
35.8
36.4
35.2
40.1
28.8
28.6
27.6
26.9
28.7
28.3
24.8
22.6
28.3
28.3
28.4
27.5
27.4
28.6
16.4
16.2
15.9
16.3
16.2
16.0
14.6
14.8
16.3
16.6
16.5
16.4
16.2
17.8
37.4
39.8
38.3
42.6
43.3
43.6
43.4
33.9
Anthracite................................................. .
34.5
34.3
36.0
36.5
41.1
54.0
204.7 205.5 208.4 209.9 210.5 211.7 212.0 211.0 212.5 215.2 209.7 222.4 221.4 226.7 288.9
Bituminous-coal............................... .........
Total employees................ -..........................
M ining_____________________________
Metal..................................... . . ............... .
Iron____________________________ _
Copper___________________________
Lead and zinc............... .................. .......
Crude-petroleum and natural-gas pro
duction___________ _____- ............. .
295.6
293.2
293.6
295.6
293.9
292.3
300.1
306.3
307.8
305.2
297.5
298.8
Nonmetallic mining and quarrying......... .
104.4
105.2
102.3
99.8
100.1
104.0
105.6
106.2
107.2
107.6
107.6
106.6
105.7
104.7
105.9
Contract construction_________________
Nonbuilding construction....... .................
Highway and street________________
Other nonbuilding construction.........
2,537
2,396
463
195.3
267.4
2,255
411
161.9
249.0
2,169
389
147.4
241.2
2,237
398
152.6
244.9
2,426
451
186.0
265.2
2,598
524
231.2
292.6
2,652
553
252.6
300.7
2,698
569
262.1
306.9
2,735
584
268.4
315.5
2,686
573
264.1
308.8
2,629
559
255. 2
303.7
2,542
530
230.8
299.3
2,527
506
217.4
288.2
2,622
513
214.9
297.8
295.7
1,933
Building construction— ......... ...........
759.4
General contractors...... .........................
1,844
723.9
1,780
694.6
1,839
733.3
1,975
801.9
2,074
862.6
2,099
877.2
2,129
897.6
2,151
915.2
2,113
899.8
2,070
877.2
2,012
854.2
2,021
297.4
2,109
848.8
934.0
1,173.7 1,119.9 1,085. 6 1,106.1 1,173.4 1,211.7 1,221.9 1,231.1 1,236.2 1,213.3 1,192.3 1,158.0 1,172.7 1,175.1
272.0 266.3 264.7 270.6 283.1 288.1 291.1 291.4 293.1 286.3 280.7 276.7 283.4 288.9
140.5 129.2 121.7 121.6 135.5 144.2 148.4 157.0 160.2 154.6 150.2 138.9 141.4 148.1
143.4 143.6 144.6 148.5 153.7 155.4 155.5 155.0 158.6 159.9 157.6 154.5 156.5 159.7
617.8 580.8 554.6 565.4 601.1 624.0 626.9 627.7 624.3 612.5 603.8 587.9 591.5 578.4
Special-trade contractors.-...................
Plumbing and heating____________
Painting and decorating---------------Electrical work__________________
Other special-trade contractors--------
M anufacturing_______________________ 16.321 16.260 16.201 16,060 15,925 16,050 16,057 16,007 15,972 15,822 15,584 15,835 15,781 15,989 17,238
Durable goods 2_____________ ___ 9,495 9,421 9,323 9, 220 9,113 9, 144 9,121 9,002 8, 887 8,820 8,811 9,066 9,095 9,120
10,105
Nondurable goods 3.--------------------- 6,826 6,839 6,878 6,840 6,812 6,906 6,936 7,005 7,085 7,002 6, 773 6,769 6,686 6,870
L 133
132.2 134.9 137.0 137.2 139.9 141.2 142.1 143.9 145.8 145.0 147.6 151.7 156.8 160.8 234.3
Ordnance and accessories............... ........
Food and kindred products___________ 1,464.5 1,440.7 1,418.5 1, 409. 7 1, 430. 2 1, 490. 2 1, 538. 4 1, 612.1 1, 703. 4 1, 677.7 1, 594.7 1, 519. 4 1,464.9 1, 530. 2 1, 557.9
316.1 317.8 318.1 324.9 333.4 331.8 331.4 326.7 321.2 316.6 317.4 310.0 321.8 321. 5
Meat products.....................................
117.8 113.8 112.4 111.0 112.6 114.5 116.3 120.8 126.3 129.4 128.6 122.9 118.5 118.2
Dairy products_____________ ______
172.0 157.7 154.4 164.0 180.6 208.9 274.1 379.1 351.3 265.8 201.2 179.1 224.2 238.2
Canning and preserving____________
117.1 117.8 117.7 118.2 119.1 120.0 122.6 125.4 125.3 126.2 125.1 121. 6 121.3 119.9
Grain-mill products-----------------------280.5 279.7 280.0 278.6 283.3 285.3 286.7 285.1 286.0 287.3 282.4 280.2 283.7 285.9
Bakery products__________________ ____
27.6
29.8
43.6
27.9
27.1
50.0
47.3
32.1
31.4
Sugar.............. ............ ...........................
29.7
29.1
29.1
33.9
34.2
78.1
81.5
85.2
88.4
Confectionery and related products__
74.6
77.7
89.7
79.2
85.7
72.6
75.2
74.5
80.9
84.6
189.6
200.3 194.1
191.8 200.7 204.9 207.7 211.7 218.6 226.1 219.1 209.6 208.7 214.9
Beverages________________________
134.4 132.8 131.8 130.4 131.7 134.6 136.3 136.8 138.4 141.0 141.3 137.9 137.2 140.6
Miscellaneous food products..................
Tobacco manufactures_______________
Cigarettes________________________
Cigars................. ....................................
Tobacco and snuff_________________
Tobacco stemming and redrying_____
86.7
____
87.6
32.1
37.9
7.4
10.2
91.0
32.3
38.7
7.5
12.5
97.1
32.1
39.4
7.5
18.1
99.5
32.4
35.5
7.5
24.1
109.4
32.9
40.3
7.7
28.5
111.5
33.0
40.9
7.7
29.9
121.2
32.9
40.7
7.7
39.9
119.5
32.4
40.7
7.7
38.7
110.4
31.9
39.9
7.7
30.9
91.2
31.7
38.0
7.7
13.8
90.4
31.6
39.9
7.8
11.1
89.8
31.4
39.5
7.9
11.0
102.4
32.1
39.9
7.8
22.7
103.6
31.4
40.6
8.0
23.7
Textile-mill products................................. 1,058.9 .1,074. 5 1,078.3 1,078. 2 1,068.8 1,076. 0 1,076. 4 1, 072. 6 1,071. 5 1,066.8 1, 038. 3 1,066.0 1,055.0 1,069. 4 1,185. 8
6.4
6.4
Scouring and combing plants________
6.4
6.9
6.7
6.0
6.3
6.9
7.6
7.4
6.4
6.7
6.5
6.7
Y am and thread m ills........................... ____
131.4 131.4 131.1 130.0 129.2 129.2 127.9 127.3 126.9 123.2 127.1 125.4 127.6 145.8
Broad-woven fabric mills___________
473.1 473.1 474.3 472.0 470.9 468.3 467.8 468.0 468.2 458.6 473.2 469.3 472.1 530.4
31.2
Narrow fabrics and small wares--------31.7
31.7
31.3
31.1
30.4
30.2
30.8
29.9
29.5
30.2
29.9
30.2
31.8
Knitting mills...... ........ .........................
216.5 218.1 216.9 212.9 221.1 225.8 225.5 225.3 222.4 212.8 217.8 213.2 218.0 236.1
88.2
90.3
90.2
Dyeing and finishing textiles..... ...........
89.6
89.9
89.5
88.3
87.6
86.5
85.6
86.1
86.5
87.9
93.4
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings___
50.8
50.3
50.5
50.3
50.1
51.2
51.2
50.7
50.2
49.3
50.1
50.1
51.4
57.6
Hats (except cloth and millinery).........
12.5
12.2
12.3
12.5
13.1
12.9
12.9
13.6
13.6
13.3
13.3
12.2
13.2
16.3
Miscellaneous textile goods__________
64.4
63.9
63.2
64.7
64.7
63.5
62.3
61.4
61.5
58.6
61.8
61.7
62.6
67.7
Apparel and other finished textile
products— ......... ................................ 1,174.8 1,187.4 1, 240.3 1, 230. 5 1,199. 3 1, 202.7 1,188. 7 1,184. 4 1,185. 4 1,180. 9 1,107.1 1,114. 4 1,111.2 1,172. 5 1, 231. 7
Men’s and boys’ suits and coats_____
116.9 122.4 121.9 120.1 119.7 113.2 118.6 122.8 124.0 115.1 117.5 114.7 121.3 ' 133. 0
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
312.1 314.3 309.2 300.1 300.3 304.7 304.2 301.6 296.5 273.9 288.5 287.9 295.3 311.4
clothing..... ..........................................
Women’s outerwear________________
355.7 385.2 385.0 376.4 374.1 355.1 345.4 352.2 356.9 334.3 321.5 324.1 355.3 363.1
Women’s, children’s undergarments...
118.5 118.3 115.5 112.9 114.6 117.0 116.7 113.9 110.5 103.6 109.1 111.5 112.1 115.5
19.8
27.4
27.0
21.2
M illinery.—...........—........................... .
23.7
19.5
21.6
22.3
17.4
21.8
13.7
15.9
20.9
21.9
74.1
66.4
Children’s outerwear..............................
73.0
71.1
69.5
69.9
71.2
71.1
72.1
72.1
71.8
66.2
70.1
71.2
7.5
8.2
Fur goods.......... ......................................
8.6
10.3
12.3
11.6
13.1
12.1
11.7
12.2
12.9
10.9
11.3
12.1
62.1
Miscellaneous apparel and accessories..
61.0
61.7
59.8
63.1
65.4
65.1
62.2
63.9
57.9
58.8
57.2
60.8
64.3
Other fabricated textile products..........
129.5 129.4 127.5 124.9 127.9 130.8 130.1 125.4 125.2 120.9 120.3 122.8 125.4 139.1
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
831
T able A-2: Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1955
Annual aver
age
1954
Industry
May
Manufacturing—Continued
Lumber and wood products (except
furniture)_______________________
Logging camps and contractors______
Sawmills and planing mills
______
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products ........... ........
Wooden containers. _
....... ...........
Miscellaneous wood products________
745.2
Apr. SMar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
1954
1953
716.5
80.6
389.4
700.9
73.2
384.4
705.8
84. (
381.9
697.;
80. (
377. 7
727.5
96.
389.0
751.!
109. 5
398.
759.
no.c
403.
738.
94
399.3
658.
81
353
649.4
77.7
346.7
741.1
106 1
394.
720.
705.8
98 C 89.
383.7 378.7
135.2
52.6
58.7
132.1
53.5
57.7
130.6
53.2
56.1
130. £
53. 7
55.0
132.8
53. £
55.2
134.7
53. £
55.2
135.6
55. (
55.3
134.;
54.'
55.2
117.;
52 7
53 3
117.;
53 6
54.
128.
57 ;
55. 5
125.8
57. ]
55 8
353.1
250. £
354.5
252.5
352. 5
250. 8
347.8
247. £
351.9
251.2
356.3
254. 5
355.7
254.:
352.8
251.1
344.4
243.4
329.1
231.6
331. S 333.4
231. 2 233 6
41.7
41.6
41.;
41 1
41.1
41 1
41.0
41.7
41.5
39.6
40.1
39.7
40.8
42.7
34.6
34.4
34.1
33 5
33 ;
34. £
84 3
34.0
33.4
31.6
33.6
33.2
33.8
35.7
767.6
96.9
415.9
126. C 130.8
64.4
55.8
55. 6 59. 5
Furniture and fixtures_______________
Household furniture_____________ __
Office, public-building, and professional
furniture______ _ ___ _
Partitions, shelving, lockers, and fixtures_____________ ______ ______
Screens, blinds, and miscellaneous furniture and fixtures_____ __________
351.8
25. £
26. C
26.5
26. C
26.3
26. 4
26.2
26.0
26.1
26.3
27.0
26.9
26. 9
29.2
Paper and allied products._____ ______
Pulp, paper, and paperboard m ills___
Paperboard containers and boxes_____
Other paper and allied products..........
538.2
536.7
265.4
145.5
125.8
534.6
264.5
144.7
125.4
531.9
263. £
143.5
124.5
531.9
263.9
144.3
123.7
536.3
264.7
147. 7
123.9
537.7
263.6
149. 9
124.2
536.4
263. C
149. 7
123.7
536.6
264. 7
148. 6
123.3
532.0
263.3
145. 1
123.6
524.0
260.4
140.3
123.3
529.3
262.7
142. 5
124.1
526.0
260. £
142.1
123.7
530.6
261. £
145.1
123.6
530.4
258.3
148. 2
123.9
800. £
803.0 802. C 798.8
295. C 293. 4 292 3
61.1
62.0
62. 3
48.1
48.1
47. 6
210.6 211.0 209 5
59.6
59.4
59.2
17.8
17.5
17.5
42.9
42.4
42.1
798.9
291. 8
63. 0
47. 5
210.3
58. 6
17. 7
42.1
808.8
295 5
64.0
48. 2
211 3
60. 6
19. 2
42.5
807.8
294 7
64. 2
48.7
209. 2
61.1
20.3
42.7
806.6
294 0
62.9
49. 3
209 7
61.0
19 8
43.1
802.9
292 9
62.1
49. 2
209 5
60. 4
19. 5
43.1
793.8
291 4
60. 6
48.6
205 5
59.6
19. 3
43.4
792.2
291 1
60 9
48.4
205 7
58. 8
19.0
43.0
797.6
292 9
61. 4
48. 3
207 0
59. 6
19 1
42. 9
795.3
291 5
61. 9
48. 7
206 1
59. 9
18.1
42. 8
800.1
292 3
62 6
48. 8
208 0
60.0
18. 8
42. 9
791.9
289 1
62.3
49 9
205 1
57. 7
19.5
44.1
67.9
68.2
68.3
67. 9
67. 5
66. 9
66. 8
66. 2
65.4
65.3
66.4
66.3
66. 7
64.1
Chemicals and allied p ro d u cts............... .
Industrial inorganic chemicals________
Industrial organic chemicals_________
Drugs and m edicines____ __________
Soap, cleaning and polishing preparations-. __ _ _ ______________
Paints, pigments, and fillers____ _____
Gum and wood chemicals___________
Fertilizers__ _ _____________ ____ _
Vegetable and animal oils and fats_____
Miscellaneous chemicals..___ _______
807.9
813.7
106.4
305.8
92.6
808.4
103.9
303.7
92.9
794.7
102.6
301.0
93.0
792.8
105. 0
299.0
92.7
793.7
104. 5
298.7
92.4
793.6
103. 9
297.7
92.8
793.1
103 3
295.5
92.7
788.9
102. 7
295.4
92.5
779.9
102. 3
295.8
92.0
777.9
101. 6
297.1
91.4
780.8
100 7
297.7
90.9
786.8
99. 6
297.0
90.8
791.0
101.2
299.1
92.0
807.0
94.1
317.2
91.5
50.3
71.0
7.8
47.7
38.6
93.5
50.3
70. 2
7.8
46.7
40. 9
92.0
50 3
69. 7
7.8
38. 2
41.4
90. 7
50 4
69. 7
7.7
35. 9
42. 5
89. 9
49. 9
69.8
7.7
34.8
44. 5
91.4
50 1
69.8
7.7
34.0
46.2
91. 4
.*>0. 4
69. 5
7.7
35.1
47.0
91. 9
50 8
70.1
7.7
33. 9
43.8
92.0
50 5
70. 5
7.2
31. 7
38. 5
91. 4
50 0
70. 4
7.5
30. 5
38.1
91.3
50 5
70 6
7.5
33.1
38.3
91. 5
50 4
70.3
7.7
40.4
39.1
91. 5
50 5
70. 4
7.7
36.8
42. 4
91.0
51 1
74. 2
7.9
37. 2
43.1
90.6
Products of petroleum and coal_________
Petroleum refining_______ _________
Coke, other petroleum and coal products_____________________ ______
251.1
249.9
200.2
248.9
200 2
247.4
199.7
248.3
201.6
249.5
201.2
251.3
202.4
251.9
202.9
254.2
204.5
255.8
206.0
256.8
206.8
255.4
205.2
252.6
202.9
253.0
203.6
260.4
206.3
49.7
48. 7
47. 7
46. 7
48.3
48. 9
49 0
49 7
49 8
50 0
50 2
49 7
49. 5
54 1
Rubber products____________________
Tires and inner tubes_______________
Rubber footwear___________________
Other rubber products______________
272.5
268.5
115.7
26.6
126.2
269.3
114. 7
26.8
127.8
267.3
114.1
26. 8
126. 4
265.9
112. 9
27. 4
125.6
264.5
112.4
27. 6
124. 5
259.0
108 5
27. 5
123.0
257.5
111. 1
27 0
119.4
252.4
110.0
26 1
116.3
226.9
89 2
25 8
111. 9
223.0
88. 5
25 3
109. 2
251.6
109.2
25 0
117.4
250.1
107. 9
25.0
117.2
250.2
106.0
26. 0
118.2
278.0
119. 5
29. 3
129.2
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.
370.9
376.8
43.5
4.8
16.7
245.9
17.3
31.5
17.1
386.7
43.4
4.8
17.6
251. 7
17.2
34. 9
17.1
384.4
43.5
4.6
17.6
252 3
16.1
34.7
15.6
376.7 374.5 371.7
43.2
43.3
42.7
4. 7
4.6
4.6
17.3
16. 4 15.9
249. 7 245 8 240 5
15.4
16.2
17.0
32. 4 31.9
33.2
14.0
16.3
17.8
369.2
42.7
4. 6
15.1
237. 6
17. 9
33.0
18.3
370.4
42.5
4. 5
14.4
240 9
17.9
32.0
18.2
377.5
42.9
4. 4
15.8
248 4
17.3
31.1
17.6
367.7 364.0
43.6
43.3
4.4
4. 7
16.1
16. 0
242 9 241.3
16. 5
16.3
27.8
25. 5
16.8
16.5
354.0
43.1
4. 7
14.9
234. 4
15. 5
25.8
15.6
370.1
43.4
4.7
16.0
243.4
16.2
30.2
16.2
386.2
47.1
5. 4
17.0
249.9
17. 5
31.4
18.0
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 products____ -- ____________ ____ _
Cut-stone and stone products________
Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral
products_______________ _____ _
See footnotes at end of table.
545.5
536.1
31.8
91.0
17.3
42.7
78.6
54.2
527.2
32.0
90.0
17.0
42.4
76.6
54.2
519.0
32.2
88. 7
16.9
42. 2
74.2
53. 5
514.1
32. 4
87. 5
16.7
42. 4
74.4
52.3
520.3
32.2
87.8
16.9
42. 5
76.1
53.0
521.9
31.7
88.6
16.7
42. 5
76.6
53. 6
521.4
30.2
89.1
16.5
42. 9
77.1
52. 9
520.4
28. 9
89.0
16.2
42. 9
77.5
52. 6
516.6
27. 9
89.4
15.9
42.8
77.5
50.8
506.8
28.2
86. 6
15.0
42. 7
77.5
47.3
509.9
28.1
90.6
15.3
39.4
77.4
50.4
509.6
27. 7
91.0
15.5
40. 5
76.3
51. 4
514.2
29.3
89.7
16.1
41.7
76.1
51.9
543.2
31.6
97.8
18.2
41.8
79.1
55.8
109.0
20.0
105.4
19.8
103.3
19.6
102.6
19.2
104. 6
20.2
106.2
20.1
106. 2
20.3
107.0
20.3
107.4
20.1
106.8
18.8
105.0
19.6
103.5
19.7
103.6
19.7
105.1
18.7
91.5
89.8
88.4
86.6
87.0
85.9
86.2
86.0
84.8
83.9
84.1
84.0
86.0|
95.0
Printing, publishing, and allied industries_______________ ____ ________
Newspapers.. . . . _______________
Periodicals________________________
Books.......................................................
Commercial printing____________ _
Lithographing_____~________________
Greeting cards_______ _ _ _________
Bookbinding and related industries___
Miscellaneous publishing and printing
services__________ _______ _____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
345.2
243.7
374.6
267.0
832
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
T able A-2 : Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1955
Annual aver
age
1954
Industry
May
Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
1954
1953
M anufacturing—Continued
Primary metal industries_____________ 1,295.1 1, 273.9 1, 251.6 1,224. 9 1,202. 5 1,191.7 1,177.8 1,161.1 1,156.0 1,160. 7 1,161.9 1,178.8 1,171. 5 1,185.0 1, 332.7
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
mills------------------ ------ -------------------------- 621.4 608.4 594.1 581. 5 577.2 571.3 567. 4 570.0 570.9 573.2 579.0 573. 9 581.0 653.3
Iron and steel foundries------------------------ ----- 233.6 229.1 221.5 216.2 212.0 209.1 207.2 206.9 209.2 208.5 213.2 212.8 213.0 247.6
Primary smelting and refining of non65.2
64.6
64.4
63.8
63.3
ferrous metals-------------- ------------------------65.0
61.3
62.9
65.9
65.4
61.5
63.7
62.5
61.0
Secondary smelting and refining of
12.4
12.4
12.3
12.3
12.4
12.4
12.2
12.0
12.3
12.6
12.6
12.6
nonferrous metals_______________________
12.3
13.5
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of non99.4 100.9 100.3 102.1 112.9
110.0 109.2 108.3 107.1 106.0 104.8 103.4
98.7 100.7
ferrous metals--------------------------------------80.8
72.9
75.0
Nonferrous foundries-___ _________________
74.6
77.6
85.7
84.2
82.3
81.1
80.0
77.0
75.1
92.2
71.3
Miscellaneous primary metal indus
tries------- -------------------- ------------------------ 144.7 142.7 141.1 139.6 138.5 135.8 132.4 132.0 132.6 131.8 135.0 134.8 136.0 152.3
Fabricated metal products (except ord
nance, machinery, and transporta
tion equipment)____________ ____ 1,087. 5 1,079.4 1,067. 5 1,051.5 1,043.0 1,050.3 1,050.8 1,035. 7 1,028. 7 1,026.6 1,015.9 1,038.1 1,039. 5 1,045. 2 1,139.3
54.0
54.4
54.6
60.9
Tin cans and other tinware_________
56.7
54.3
55.2
57.2
62.3
61.6
59. 1 58.5
55.4
63.2
Cutlery, handtools, and hardware-----151.4 150.2 148.3 145.8 145.9 143.6 140.4 137.6 137.7 135.2 141.3 143.7 143.5 160.0
Heating apparatus (except electric) and
131.7 130.2 128.0 125.4 127.6 130.6 130.3 130.1 126.7 121.3 122.9 120.4 124.7 136.4
plumbers’ supplies-------------------Fabricated structural metal products—
268.8 264.3 262.2 262.8 268.6 273.2 277.0 280.2 279.7 279.3 277.9 274.1 274.8 273.7
Metal stamping, coating, and en
222.1 220.7 215.6 213.4 212.9 212.0 201.7 195.8 196.8 197.6 207.4 213.8 212.0 254.2
graving-------- ------ ---------------------48.4
47.7
46.4
46.2
45.6
41.1
42.5
Lighting fixtures_______ _____ _____
48.1
43.6
41.8
40.8
42.6
43.9
50.0
64.1
62.9
62.8
62.6
60.6
57.6
57.1
Fabricated wire products___________
64.5
55.8
55.5
55.5
58.4
57.6
65.7
Miscellaneous fabricated metal prod
136.1 135.3 132.8 132.2 131.7 130.0 127.9 125.1 125.9 124.6 128. 1 128.2 129.5 144.1
ucts............................ ....................... .
Machinery (except electrical)_________ 1, 575. 7 1, 568.1 1, 544. 7 1, 523. 4 1, 506.0 1, 502.1 1,487.9 1, 489. 2 1, 498. 6 1,497. 2 1, 514. 9 1, 557. 1 1, 574. 7 1, 551.1 1, 707. 9
76.7
77.0
74. 1 71.8
76. 1 75.3
72.2
75.9
Engines and turbines______________
79.6
72.2
74.8
76.8
76.0
88.5
Agricultural machinery and tractors--.
164.1 161.8 157.6 151.7 145.3 140.8 138.6 140.5 140.3 147.5 152. 1 151.7 145.7 167.9
123.0
120.8
119.6
119.3
Construction and mining machinery.-.
125.0
119.6 121.1 122.4 122.9 123. 7 125. 1 125.1 123. 7 133.9
Metalworking machinery---------------254.4 251.5 249.8 249.9 251.5 252.1 253.3 257.5 258.6 263.5 270.4 275.2 270.8 306.0
Special-industry machinery (except
metalworking machinery).................
178.1 176.3 174.6 173.2 173. 2 172.9 173.8 175.8 175.6 176.1 179.1 180.1 178. 5 189.3
General industrial machinery-----------228.9 224.7 224.2 224.0 225.3 226.4 227. 1 229.7 227.5 227.7 231.8 233. 1 232.9 245.5
Office and store machines and devices-.
105.6 106.0 105.0 104.2 105.1 103.9 104.9 103.7 101.9 102.7 103. 5 103.3 104.7 109.3
Service-industry and household ma
184.7 180.2 173.4 168. 5 169.0 166.5 165.5 166.7 164.0 165.7 178.8 188.4 178.6 202.8
chines__________________________
Miscellaneous machinery parts.—....... .
247.7 244.5 241.0 238.8 238.1 233.5 230.8 230.5 234.2 233.2 240. 4 241.0 240.4 264.8
Electrical machinery------ ----------- ------- 1,107.6 1,100.8 1.098.3 1,096.3 1,093.2 1,103. 2 1,104. 7 1,091.6 1,077.5 1,060.5 1,045.0 1,055.0 1,067.6 1,088. 6 1,219.8
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial appara
369.8 367.8 365.9 364.8 365.3 360.5 360.1 354.7 355.7 357.2 363.8 369.0 367.8 402.8
tus--------------- --------------------------64.7
Electrical appliances.......... ...... ...........
64.1
63.5
64.9
65.2
62.6
65.6
61.8
60.8
61.3
63.0
64.8
64.6
70.8
25.5
25.5
Insulated wire and cable____________
25.8
25.3
25.2
23.4
23.2
25.5
25.1
24.4
22.6
23.4
24.1
31.5
78.8
79.2
76.4
Electrical equipment for vehicles------78.0
73.9
64.9
66.5
69.7
71.6
67.3
64.6
70.9
70.8
81.6
25.7
25.5
25.2
24.9
Electric lamps-------------- ------- -----25.3
24.8
24.5
25.1
24.6
24.5
24.5
25.3
25.4
27.6
Communication equipment-------------490.5 491.1 494.1 495.0 504.1 511.0 505.3 495.5 483.7 468.1 466.4 470.5 490.1 556.0
45.7
44.9
Miscellaneous electrical products------44.2
44.6
43.7
46.3
46.8
46.1
46.3
45.3
45.5
45.5
45.8
49.5
Transportation equipment__________
Automobiles....... ........................ ........
Aircraft and parts------ -----------------Aircraft-------- --------------- ---------- Aircraft engines and parts..............
Aircraft propellers and parts.........
Other aircraft parts and equipment.
Ship and boatbuilding and repairing.
Shipbuilding and repairing.........
Boatbuilding and repairing______
Railroad equipment...........................
Other transportation equipment........
1, 886.9 1,886. 4 1,868. 5 1,844. 5 1,815.7 1, 788.6 1, 744. 9 1,657.9 1, 590. 7 1,649.3 1,693. 7 1,737. 7 1, 751. 8 1, 744. 9 1,952.6
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.............................
306.7
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries.
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware—.
Musical instruments and parts_______
Toys and sporting goods-------- ---------Pens, pencils, other office supplies____
Costume jewelry, buttons, notions___
Fabricated plastics products.................
Other manufacturing industries............
See footnotes at end of table.
461.0
343876— 55------6
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
948.0
750.1
478.3
147.1
13.6
111.1
123.4
99.1
24.3
55.6
9.3
929.4
752.0
477.1
148. 8
13.9
112.2
124.3
100.3
24.0
54.0
8.8
905.4
753.2
477.0
148.6
14.1
113. 5
122.3
98.8
23.5
55.1
8.5
883.6
752.6
472.8
149.0
14.3
116.5
120.3
98.2
22.1
51.9
7.3
854.8
753.5
470.9
150.0
15.3
117.3
120.8
100.4
20.4
51.2
8.3
815.9
751.4
468.2
149.9
15.7
117.6
118.0
98.8
19.2
49.9
9.7
730.1
748.0
466.2
151.6
16.1
114.1
120.3
102.1
18.2
48.9
10.6
653.5
756.7
471.2
153.3
16.4
115.8
119.0
100.9
18.1
50.7
10.8
713.7
754.4
474.9
146.5
16.5
116.5
119.9
100.6
19.3
50.8
10.5
743.5
764.7
474.5
154.9
16.6
118.7
127.4
106.3
21.1
48.3
9.8
776.8
765.6
470.2
158.4
16.7
120.3
129.9
107.6
22.3
55.9
9.5
781.2
769.0
472.9
161.5
12.5
122.1
134.4
111.1
23.3
58.2
9.0
780.6
768.1
473.4
158.9
15.9
119.9
129.3
108.4
20.9
57.4
9.3
928.9
779.1
472.4
174.7
17.7
114.2
153.6
131.2
22.4
79.7
11.3
310.9
311.0
308.9
308.7
309.6
309.0
308.9
308.8
305.1
305.9
310.9
316.3
315.7
334.8
49.9
49.7
49.3
49.5
49.4
49.2
48.7
48.3
47.9
50.0
50.8
53.0
51.7
55.5
85.5
12.7
38.4
23.8
66.6
34.0
84.9
12.7
39.4
23.6
66.5
34.2
83.9
12.7
39.4
23.5
66.3
33.8
83.9
12.8
39.4
23.3
66.4
33.4
83.6
12.9
39.6
23.2
66.7
34.2
83.2
13.0
39.5
23.2
66.6
34.3
83.0
13.3
39.5
23.1
66.7
34.6
82.1
13.5
39.8
22.9
67.5
34.7
80.6
13.3
39.6
22.7
66.7
34.3
80.8
13.2
39.6
22.7
66.7
32.9
79.0
13.6
39.8
24.0
66.2
37.5
81.2
13.7
39.7
24.3
66.1
38.3
82.0
13.7
40.1
24.0
67.0
37.3
82.1
14.9
43.3
26.9
67.9
44.3
460.4
51.3
17.5
84.1
29.3
61.1
75.6
141.5
462.0
53.2
17.6
79.4
29.0
65.3
75.1
142.4
456.3
52.9
17.7
75.9
28.5
67.1
73.1
141.1
444.6
53.3
17.4
70.6
28.4
65.6
71.8
137.5
457.4
54.9
17.6
74.5
29.6
65.2
72.9
142.7
474.5
56.2
17.6
85.5
30.0
67.2
72.9
145.1
478.0
56.3
17.5
90.4
29.8
67.7
71.1
145.2
470.1
54.3
17.1
88.7
29.7
66.2
69.9
144.2
456.3
51.7
16.6
84.9
29.2
64.6
68.0
141.3
440.5
50.1
15.8
81.6
28.5
60.0
66. 1
138.4
453.7
51.4
15.9
82.9
29.2
62.1
69.5
142.7
453.3
51.9
16.2
82.1
29.3
59.6
69.9
144.3
463.3
53.7
16.8
82.8
29.5
63.6
71.2
145.7
498.5
53.6
17.4
94.3
29.5
67.0
77.2
159.5
A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
T able
833
A-2: Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry 1—Continued
[In thousands]
Annual aver
age
1954
Industry
M ay
Transportation a n d public u tilities_______
3,987
T ransportation......... .................... ............ 2, 701
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)
C ommunication -____ ______________
Telephone______________________
Telegraph______________________
Other public utilities________ ______
Gas and electric utilities.....................
Electric light and power utilities___
Gas utilities____________________
Electric light and gas utilities com
bined_______________________
Local utilities, not elsewhere classified.
Apr.
3,941
655
158.7
012.4
119.8
748.9
628.0
43.4
Mar.
3,966
648
156. 8
010.6
41.6
577
554.1
248.4
138.0
120.5
743.9
626.3
43.2
108.4
741
699.7
40.
577
554.4
248.3
138.6
167.7
22.7
167.5
22.5
110.0
709
666.2
Feb.
3,937
625
152.3
008.7
Jan
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
1954
1953
732.3
618.8
43.3
107.2
737
696.1
40.6
575
553.3
247.6
138.2
3,927 3,996 3,986 4,005 4,023 4,018 4,029 4,017 3,993 4,008 4,221
617 2,683 2,672 2,690 2, 701 2,686 2,694 2,694 2,676 2, 688 2,899
152.9 1,186.8 1,185.7 1, 202. 9 1, 212.0 1, 220.2 1, 227. 8 1, 224.5 1,211.6 1,215.4 1,376.9
009.4 1,029. 2 1,036. 7 1,055.1 1,064.0 1,070.7 1,078. 2 1,074. 7 1, 062.4 1, 064.6 1, 206. 5
121.7 122.6 123.0 124.0 124.8 125.5 126.5 127.0 128.0 126.9 129.1
724.3 748.0 741.0 737.0 732.1 715.7 711.1 709.5 703.8 719.7 731.4
617.7 625.9 622.0 625.8 631.8 624.5 628.9 633.0 632. 4 626.3 661.3
44.1
44.0
44.1
44.5
45.4
45.9
46.0
45.7
46.1
45.8
51.4
106.1 105.5 104.8 104.4 105.1 104.5 106.6 105.9 105.4 105.2 104.9
735
736
736
736
744
738
747
741
741
741
747
693.4 694.2 694.3 693.9 696.2 702.7 705.1 698.8 698.6 698.8 702.2
41.1
41.5
41.0
41.0
41.2
40.9
41.2
41.2
41.4
41.2
43.7
577
579
575
584
578
588
588
582
576
579
576
553.1 554.7 555.2 556.4 560.8 565.1 565.0 559.6 553.4 556.3 552.4
247.2 247.4 247.6 248.0 250.9 252.4 252.5 250.2 247.9 249.0 248.2
138.5 139.2 139.5 140.1 140.7 142.0 141.9 140.5 138.5 139.1 133.2
167.5
167.4
22.0
22.1
121.1
168.1
22.2
168.1
22.3
168.3
22.5
169.2
22.8
170.7
23.1
170.6
23.1
168.9
22.5
167.0
22.1
168.2
22.4
171.1
23.2
W holesale and retail tra d e _______________ 10,519 1C, 543 10,408 10,309 10,419 11,354 10,745 10,548 10,447 10,321 10,351 10,389 10,351 10,498 10,527
Wholesale trade_____________________
Retail trade________________________
General merchandise stores_________
Food and liquor stores_____________
Automotive and accessories dealers__
Apparel and accessories stores_______
Other retail trade_________________
2,806 2,803 2,813 2,806 2,817 2,860 2,849 2,819 2, 789 2, 784 2,784 2,761 2, 750 2,796 2,784
7,713 7,740 7, 595 7,503 7, 602 8,494 7,896 7, 729 7. 658 7, 537 7, 567 7, 628 7, 601 7. 702 7, 744
1,331.2 1,363.4 1,304.8 1, 269. 2 1,326.6 1,903.0 1, 518.1 1, 398.4 1, 348.9 1, 280.3 1,281.4 1.316.3 1, 330.9 1, 395. 8 1, 444. 5
1, 483.0 1,479.1 1,471.4 1,467. 4 1,462.3 1,493.6 1,471.8 1, 460. 2 1, 444. 0 1, 434. 4 1, 442. 2 1,449.0 1, 442. 5 1,446.2 1.395.3
760.6 762.0 755.4 749.4 749.3 767.1 754.3 749.4 753.1 760.1 763.7 764.8 763.2 764.6 798.8
599.7 612.8 578.3 555.3 579.0 723.2 614.4 597.5 580.3 535.4 545.2 583.5 588.3 592.4 598.6
3, 538. 2 3,522.8 3,485. 2 3,461.6 3,485.1 3, 607.4 3, 537.4 3, 523. 2 3, 531.8 3, 526. 5 3, 534.3 3, 514. 4 3, 476. 5 3,502.8 3, 506.1
Finance, insurance, an d real e s ta te _______
2,172
2,101
539.2
76.5
783.0
761.9
2,150
538.2
75.5
781.5
754.7
2,132
535.7
74.2
778.3
744.1
2,124
531.8
72.4
776.2
743.3
2,136
532.6
70.8
777.5
754.6
2,134
530.3
70.0
776.4
756.9
2,136
529.5
69.2
775.8
761.2
2,141
531.0
68.8
775. 8
764.9
2,151
538.0
69.2
779.9
763.6
2,150
538.4
68.3
779.6
763.6
2,128
529.4
66.8
770.3
761.1
2,103
525.0
65.8
765.8
746.8
2,114
529.3
67.3
770.6
746.4
2,038
513.5
65.7
739.4
719.3
Service and m iscellaneous_____
5,732
5,674
479.8
5,571
462.9
5,536
461.5
5,533
456.3
5,588
462.9
5,622
465.6
5,660
474.4
5,719
511.6
5,750
578.9
5,755
579.8
5,715
521.6
5,672
496.7
5,629
498.0
5,538
504.3
328.4
157.1
236.5
325.4
154.1
228.9
324.0
150.3
224.4
326.2
152.7
224.4
327.1
155.1
225.5
328.3
158.4
229.9
329.5
159. 8
236.7
329.1
157.3
239.7
332.2
155.8
239.7
337.9
161.7
238.8
337.3
166.8
238.1
333.6
166. 3
237.6
331.4
160.7
231.5
339.2
166.2
234.0
Banks and trust companies......... .............
Security dealers and exchanges________
Insurance carriers and agents_____ ____
Other finance agencies and real estate__
Hotels and lodging places____
Personal services:
Laundries.................. ...........
Cleaning and dyeing plants.
Motion p ictures..................... .
G overnm en t_____
Federal_______
State and local4
6,881 6,927 6,922 6,873 6,835 7,166 6,917 6,829 6,746 6,563 6,551 6,716 6,736 6,751 6,645
2,158 2,153 2,148 2, 142 2,139 2, 457 2,165 2,147 2, 142 2,157 2, 161 2, 164 2,160 2, 188 2,3Ò5
4,723 4, 774 4, 774 4, 731 4,696 4, 709 4, 752 4, 682 4,604 4,406 4,390 4, 552 4, 576 4, 563 4,340
1 The Bureau of Labor Statistics series on employment in nonagricultural
establishments are based upon reports submitted by cooperating firms.
These reports cover all full- and part-time employees in private nonagricul
tural 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 one 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. Proprietors, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers, and
domestic servants are excluded. These employment series have been ad
justed to first-quarter 1954 benchmark levels indicated by data from govern
ment social-insurance programs.
Data for the 2 most recent months are subject to revision without notation;
revised figures for earlier months will be identified by asterisks the first month
they are published.
These data differ in several respects from the nonagricultural employment
data shown in the Monthly Report on the Labor Force (table A-l, civilian
labor force), which are obtained by household interviews. This M R LF
series relates to the calendar week which contains the 8th day of the month.
It includes all persons (14 years and over) with a job whether at work or not,
proprietors, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers, and domestic
servants.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2 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
ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment); machinery (except
electrical); electrical machinery; transportation equipment; instruments and
related products; and miscellaneous manufacturing industries.
3 Nondurable goods include: food and kindred products; tobacco manufac
tures; textile-mill products; apparel and other finished textile products; paper
and allied products; printing, publishing, and allied industries; chemicals and
allied products; products of petroleum and coal; rubber products; and leather
and leather products.
4 State and local government data exclude, as nominal employees, elected
officials of small local units, and paid volunteer firemen.
See footnote 1, p. 827.
N o t e .— Information on concepts,, methodology, etc., is
given in a technical note on Measurement of Industrial
Employment, which appeared in the September 1953
Monthly Labor Review.
834
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
T able A-3: Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries 1
[In thousands]
Annual aver
age
1954
1955
Industry
May
Mining:
Metal
Iron
. . . ..
Copper
Lead and zinc
Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
1954
1953
__- __________________
81.4
26.6
24.5
14.0
81.1
26.2
24.6
13.9
80.7
26.0
24.4
13. 9
80. i
25.8
24.2
13.8
78.6
25.3
23.5
13.5
79. f
27.0
22.8
13.6
76.7
28.4
20.7
12.2
76. (
29.7
18.6
12.3
84.!
30.4
24. 2
13.8
86.7
31.3
24.3
14.1
86. (
31.0
24.3
13.9
85 4
31.8
23 4
13 8
83
30
23
13
f
5
3
7
91 6
35.4
24 .5
1.5 1
Anthracite.
. . ________________
Bituminous-coal . __________________
34.1
187.8
34.8
191.1
36.2
192.5
38.5
192.4
39.3
192.9
39.5
193.1
39.7
192.4
29.1
193.8
29.4
196.5
28.9
189.2
29.8
202.6
32.5
202.4
36 7
207.3
50 3
267.5
Crude-petroleum and natural-gas production:
Petroleum and natural-gas production
(except contract services)
123.3
123.2
123. !
124. f
125.2
126.1
127.1
131.5
135. 7
136.5
134. '
129 0
130 0
131 4
90.3
87.2
85.0
85.2
88.8
90.1
91.2
92.0
92.1
92.4
91.2
90 8
89. 6
91 3
Nonmetallic mining and q u a rry in g __
Manufacturing. . . . .
. . . . . .
12,879 12,828 12,778 12,649 12,523 12,645 12,657 12,612 12,577 12,418 12,179 12,437 12,394 12,588 13,833
Durable goods 2.._ __________ ___ 7,537 7,467 7, 375 7,282 7,182 7,218 7,198 7,081 6,965 6,890 6, 876 7,130 7, 163 7,184 8,148
Nondurable goods A. ___________ 5,342 5,361 5,403 5,367 5,341 5,427 5,459 5,531 5,612 5,528 5,303 5, 307 5,231 5,404 5,685
Ordnance and accessories ____________
89.5
91.0
93.5
Food and kindred products___________ 1,029.8 1,011.0 991.1
245. S 248.1
Meat products
78.1
Dairy products__ _________________
74.2
142.1 128.0
Canning and preserving__ ___ _
84.0
Grain-mill p ro d u c ts.._________ . . .
84.5
169.6 168.9
Bakery products
22.6
Sugar
. . .
21.9
60.4
Confectionery and related products
63.6
113.6 108.6
Beverages .
___________________
94. 7 93.3
Miscellaneous food products_____ _
93.9
96.0
97.4
98.0
99.9
101.8
100.8
104.0
107.4
111.8
115.5
179.9
985.3 1,007. 0 1, 061. 9 1,110.8 1,180. 4 1, 267. 5 1, 238.1 1,152. 2 1,085. 6 1,036. 8 1,100. 4 1,136. 2
249.6 256. C 264.2 263.5 262.2 257. C 250. 7 245. ! 246.! 238 6 2.51 9 2.54 9
73.2
72.2
72.1
75.3
87.4
76.3
79.9
84.7
87.3
83.1
78. 9
80 4
125.2 134.9 151. 3 179.3 244. 2 347.2 319. 6 234. 6 171. 7 149 4 194 4 207 0
86.3
84.5
85.3
87.1
92.4
89.5
92.2
93. 2 92.7
89. 3 88 7 87 8
168. 9 168.0 172.6 174.5 175. 1 172.9 174.2 175. 5 173. 5 171 9 173 9 180 1
22.3
24.5
38.0
43.8
41.0
26.0
26.7
24.3
23.8
23. 8
28 4
28 6
74.1
63.7
75.3
66.8
70.6
65.0
61.2
71.5
58.1
60. 3 66 6
70 4
105.1 106.8 113.7 117.5 118.6 122.1 126.8 132.5 127.3 121. 8 120 0 126. 2
92.8
92.5
93.1
95.7
98.2
97.8
98.9 100.8 101.1
98. 6 97 7 100. 9
Tobacco manufactures-----------------------Cigarettes _
Cigars .
____________ . .
Tobacco and snuff . _____ ___ _____
Tobacco stemming and redrying_ _
78.6
79.4
29.0
36.1
6.3
8.0
82.8
29 2
36.9
6.4
10 3
88.7
29.2
37.5
6.5
15.5
91.1
29.5
33.7
6.4
21.5
100.1
29.6
38.4
6.5
25.6
102.7
30.0
38.9
6.6
27.2
111.6
29.7
38.7
6.6
36.6
110.3
29.4
38.7
6.7
35.5
102.0
29.2
37.9
6.7
28.2
82.9
28.8
36.1
6.6
11.4
82.4
28. 7
37.9
6.7
9.1
81.5
28 3
37. 5
6.7
9.0
Textile-mill pro d u cts.......... ......................
Scouring and combing plants________
Yam and thread mills______________
Broad-woven fabric mills___________
Narrow fabrics and small w ares___ _
Knitting mills
______________ _.
Dyeing and finishing te x tile s..____
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings
H ats (except cloth and millinery)____
Miscellaneous textile goods__________
966.3
982.1
5.8
121.6
445.6
27.6
195.4
77.6
42.4
10.8
55.3
985.4
6.3
121.8
445.1
27.7
197.0
78 6
42 6
10.8
55.5
984.5
6.1
121.4
446.1
27.3
195.8
79.2
42.6
11.1
54.9
976.6
5.8
120.6
444.3
27.3
192.3
78.7
42.3
11.1
54.2
983.4
5.8
119.8
443.1
27.1
200.1
79.2
42.2
11.7
54. 4
982.6
5.4
119 6
440.3
26.8
204.0
78.5
42.7
11.5
53.8
979.4
5.7
118.4
439.8
26.5
204.2
77.5
42.9
11.4
53.0
978.4
6.3
117.9
439.8
26.4
204. 4
76.9
42.8
12.1
51.8
973.6
7.0
117.4
439.7
26.1
201.7
75.6
41.7
12.1
52.3
945.5
6.8
113.8
430.4
25.7
192.0
75.1
40.6
11.7
49.4
973.3
5.9
117.6
445.1
26.4
197.0
75.6
41.1
12.0
52.6
960.8
6.1
115. 7
440.4
26.1
192. 2
76. 0
41.0
10.9
52.4
990.2
104.7
988.3 1,046. 2 1,102.9
101. 9 108.7 119.8
266.7
286.6
96.5
11.5
65.6
9.8
52.1
99.7
265. 4
286. 8
98. 7
13.8
60. 0
8. 2
50.6
102. 9
272. 5
315. 7
99. 4
18. 6
63. 8
8. 4
54.1
105.1
288. 5
322. 7
102. 9
19. 4
64. 7
9.3
57.1
118. 6
674.0
99.4
365.5
653.7
91. 5
355.0
639.3
83.3
350.1
698.0
90. 0
385.0
Apparel and other finished textile produ c ts _________ _____ _______ ____ 1,044.1 1,057. 7 1,110.2 1,100. 7 1,068. 9 1,073. 0 1,060. 4 1,056. 6 1,058. 7 1,054. 2 983.5
M en’s and boys’ suits and coats____ _
104.6 110. 2 110.1 108.0 107.6 100.7 106.4 110.6 111.5 103.1
M en’s and boys’ furnishings and work
clothing________________________
287.6 289.8 284.8 275.7 276.9 281.7 281.4 277.9 273.4 251.9
Women’s outerwear .. _____________
314.1 343.2 343.1 334.5 332.2 314.7 305.1 312.1 317.0 295.9
97.5
90.9
Women’s, children’s undergarments__
105.8 105.5 103.0 100.3 101.7 104.3 103.5 101.3
21.1
18.9
17.2
19.9
Millinery_________________________
24.3
19.2
19. 4
15.1
17.3
24.7
Children’s outerwear_______________
64.3
62.7
63. 4 64.6
64.9
65.8
65.3
59.6
66. 5 67.2
Fur goods___ __________ __________
6.3
7.5
10.0
8.9
5.2
9.3
8.7
9.0
9.2
6.1
56.4
58.5
54.9
53.0
58.3
57.2
55.8
51.4
Miscellaneous apparel and accessories..
54.6
55.5
Other fabricated textile products____
108. 9 108. 7 107.0 104.5 107.3 109.9 109.4 105.8 104.9 100.7
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)_________________________
677.2
Logging camps and contractors______
Sawmills and planing mills. ________
Millwork, plywood, and prefabricated
structural wood products__________
Wooden containers__ _______ _____
Miscellaneous wood products________ ...........
Furniture and fixtures________________
Household furniture________________
Office, public-building, and professional furniture . . _________ . . . .
Partitions, shelving, lockers, and fixtures.. ____________ ____ ____ _
Screens, blinds, and miscellaneous furniture and fixtures_______________
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
295.4
591.5 583.0
74. 7 71.4
325.4 318.2
93.9
29 1
37 9
6. 7
20 2
95.1
28. 4
38. 5
6. 8
21 4
975.7 1,090. 2
5.9
6.2
118.0 135. 8
443. 6 500.6
26.3
28.1
197 0 215. 2
77 2 82.5
42.8
48.6
11.8
14.8
53.2
58. 4
649.0
74.3
359.6
633.8
66.6
355.3
639.3
77.6
353.1
631.3
73.2
349.5
661.4
90.0
360.4
684.6
103.0
369.0
691.6
103.6
374.2
671.7
88.3
371.1
114.5
48.5
52.1
111.5
49.3
51.1
110.0
49.2
49.4
110.5
49.7
48.4
112.6
49.7
48.7
114.4
49. 7
48.5
114.5
50.8
48.5
113.5
50.2
48.6
96.3
48.4
46.7
96.4
49.3
47.7
107.4
52.8
48.9
105.5
52.6
49.1
105.5
51.5
48.9
110.5
59.7
52.8
296.7
217.1
298.4
218.9
296.4
217.0
292.6
214.1
296.9
218.4
301.4
221.7
301.3
221.8
298.4
218.8
290.1
211.3
274.6
199.4
277.2
198.6
279.0
201.0
290.5
211.0
319.9
233.9
33.6
33.6
33.3
33.1
33.1
33.1
32.9
33.5
33.4
31.7
32.1
31.9
32. 9
35.0
26.4
26.2
26.2
25.6
25.3
26.1
26.2
25.9
25.3
23.3
25.4
25.1
25. 7
27.8
19.6
19.7
19.9
19.8
20.1
20.5
20.4
20.2
20.1
20.2
21.1
21.0
21.0
23.3
A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
835
T a b l e A-3 : Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1955
Annual aver
age
1954
Industry
May
M anufactu rin g —Continued
Paper and allied products....... ...... ........ .
Pulp, paper, and paperboard m ills___
Paperboard containers and boxes_____
Other paper and allied p roducts__ _
Printing, publishing, and allied industries____________________________
Newspapers --- ___ _ _ _ _
Periodicals________________________
Books
______ _________________
Commercial p rin tin g ______________
L ithography____ _________________
Greeting c a r d s _____ ______________
Bookbinding and related industries___
Miscellaneous publishing and printing
services_________________________
441.6
515.5
Apr.
547.1
Products of petroleum and coal________
Petroleum refining
Coke, other petroleum and coal products____________________________
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
1954
1953
440.4
222.7
118.5
99.2
439.4
221.9
118.2
99.3
437.2
221.6
117.3
98.3
437.1
221.2
118.1
97.8
441.8
222.6
121. 7
97.5
444.0
221.6
124.1
98.3
443.9
221.5
124.0
98. 4
444.6
223. 7
122.9
98.0
439.3
222. 2
119.1
98.0
433.1
220 3
114. 9
97.9
438.6
222 5
117 2
98.9
435.2
220 6
116 3
98.3
439.3
221 4
119 5
9A5
441.8
219 6
122 2
516.7
147.2
25.9
29. 2
170.2
45.4
13.0
34.1
515.6
145.8
26.2
28.9
171.2
45. 2
12.7
33. 5
512.0
145.3
26.0
28.7
169. 5
44. 7
512.1
145.6
25.9
28. 5
170. 4
43.9
12.7
33.2
519.4
147. 7
25.5
29.4
171.6
46.1
14.1
33.5
518.1
146.8
26.0
29.7
169. 2
46. 7
15.1
33. 7
519.5
147.3
26.1
30.1
169.6
46.7
14.7
34.1
518.3
146 1
25.8
30. 2
170.4
46.3
14. 7
34. 2
509.1
144. 0
25.0
29 5
166. 7
45. 6
14.3
34. 4
508.4
144 1
24 8
29 2
167. 3
45.0
14 2
34.1
514.4
146 7
25 5
29 1
167 9
46 0
14 2
33.9
510.7
145 5
25 6
99 9
166 5
46 1
13 2
33'6
514.0
145 3
25 g
29 4
168 7
46 0
13 9
512.5
52.1
51.7
Chemicals and allied p ro d u c ts............ .
Industrial inorganic chemicals_______
Industrial organic chemicals_________
Drugs and medicines. ... __________
Soap, cleaning and polishing preparations
Paints, pigments, and fillers
Gum and wood chemicals .
Fertilizers
Vegetable and animal oils and fats
Miscellaneous chemicals
. .
Mar.
553.0
74.9
213.8
56.9
12.6
33.1
33.8
9 9 .9
145
26
29
167
44
14
1
6
3
5
6
Q
34.8
52.1
51.9
51.5
50.9
50.9
50.6
49. 6
49 7
51 1
51 0
51 2
50 1
548.2 535.3
72. 7 72.1
211. 9 209.2
57. 6 57.4
534.4
74.3
207.0
56.9
534.2
73.8
206.3
56.8
533.3
73.3
204. 6
57. 6
533.9
73. 2
202.0
57.8
529.4
72. 2
200. 9
57. 5
520.0
72 2
201 1
56.5
517.3
71 7
201 2
56.0
521.2
71 8
201 3
56.0
529.1
71 3
201 0
531.7
71 8
203 8
5 6 .2
57.0
552. 5
67 2
222 0
56.9
30
44
6
22
26
59
30
44
6
24
26
59
31
44
6
31
27
59
31
44
6
28
30
58
30.5
44.6
6.6
38.8
26.5
60.4
30. 4
44.1
6. 6
37. 6
28. 3
59.0
30.5
43.7
6.6
29.3
28.6
57.9
30.8
44.1
6.6
27. 1
29.9
57. 7
30. 2
44. 2
6. 5
25.9
31. 7
58. 8
30.4
44.1
6. 5
25.0
33.0
58. 8
30. 8
43.9
6 5
26 3
34.0
59. 4
31 2
44.3
65
25 5
31. 5
59 8
30
44
6
23
26
59
173.5
172.6
132.4
171.7
132. 5
169.7
131.6
168.6
131.8
171.5
132. 8
173.3
134.0
174.5
135.1
177.1
137. 2
179.3
139.1
181.2
140.6
181.1
140.3
178.6
138.4
39.2
38.1
36.8
38.7
39.3
39.4
39.9
40 2
40 6
40 8
40 2
39 8
44 1
Rubber products____________________
Tires and inner tubes . . . . .
___
Rubber footwear
Other rubber p ro d u cts_____________
214.4
210.7
88.4
21.2
101.1
211.6 209.4
86. 5
87.4
21. 5 21. 5
102.7 101.4
208.5
85.3
22.1
101.1
206.8
84. 5
22.3
100.0
202.1
81.2
22. 3
98.6
201.6
83.9
21. 9
95.8
196. 3
82.6
21.0
92. 7
174.9
65 9
20 5
88 5
171.0
65 2
20 1
85 7
195.6
82 2
19 8
93 6
194.2
81 1
19 8
93 3
194.7
79 7
20 7
94 3
220.5
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
331.4
337.5
39.0
3.7
14.9
222.3
14.8
28.1
346.7 344.5 336.3
39.1
38.8
38.9
3.6
3.6
3. 7
15. 8
15. 4
15.8
227.3 227. 8 224. 9
12.8
14. 7 13. 6
31. 5 31.2
29.0
337.9 327.8 324.3 315. 5 330. 6
38.5
38.9
39.1
38.6
39.0
^ ft
34
34
36
36
14 1 14 2
223 8 218 1 216 7
14 1 13 Q 13 1 13 8
14 9
27.9
24.6
22.3
22.7
27.1
346.8
42. 4
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 products.
Cut-stone and stone products _____
Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral
products ____ ___________________
458.9
40.2
14.7
334.9 332.1 329.6 330.9
39.0
38.4
38.4
38.1
3.5
3. 5
3. 5
3. 5
14. 7 14. 2 13.3
12. 8
221. 5 216. 2 213. 1 216. 6
13.6
14. 5 15. 5 15. 4
28. 6 29. 9 29. 9 28. 8
7
4
1
2
8
0
4
3
4
0
3
0
Q
3
4
6
8
1
0
2
6
8
6
4
0
3
5
3
3
8
177.1
137.3
31 9
46 9
ft Q
Q1 ft
186.5
142.4
Q2 8
03 7
104 1
A A
15 3
28.1
13.4
11.8
14.0
15. 4
15. 9
15. 7
15 3
14 5
14 4
13 5
13 9
15 6
442.2 434.2
29.0
28.8
76 4 75.2
14.6
14.6
35. 5 35.3
66.1
68.3
48. 2 47. 3
85.8
83.6
17. 3 17.2
430.1
29.2
74.1
14.5
35. 5
66.1
46.3
83.1
16.7
436.6
28. 9
74. 7
14.6
35.6
67.7
47.1
85.4
17.8
438.3
28. 6
75. 5
14.5
35. 7
68.4
47. 5
86. 7
17. 6
437.6
27.1
75 9
14.2
36. 0
68.6
46.9
86.8
17.8
437.1
25. 7
75 7
13.9
36.1
69.1
46. 7
87. 7
17.9
433.5
24 7
76 2
13.7
36 0
68 8
45 0
88 2
17.8
423.7
25 0
73 6
12.9
35 9
68 8
41 5
87 7
16.4
427.0
24 9
77 6
13.2
32 7
69 1
44 5
85 7
17.1
426.6
24 7
77 9
13.3
33 7
67 8
45 3
84 7
17.2
431.0
26 1
76 6
13.9
34 9
67 6
45 8
84 6
17.3
460.1
28 2
QA Q
15. 8
35 2
70 8
49 5
86 4
16.5
65.9
64.6
64.8
63.8
64.3
64.3
63.1
61.9
62 2
62
64 2
72 9
Primary metal industries___ ________ 1,098.8 1,079. 5 1,056. 6 1,031. 7 1,012. 7 1,002. 2
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling
534.6 520.3 508.0 497.8 493.0
mills ___ _____ _______________
205.4 200.7 193.8 188.4 184.5
____
Iron and steel foundries. _
Primary smelting and refining of non52.9
ferrous metals. _ _________ _______
53.7
53.0
53.4
52.8
Secondary smelting and refining of
9. 5
9.2
9.2
nonferrous metals _ ____________
9.4
9.2
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of non88.2
84. 6
87.6
86.5
85.7
ferrous metals
________________
71.3
70.4
68.0
66.6
66.8
Nonferrous foundries _
_____
116.8 114.8 113.2 112.1 111.3
Miscellaneous primary metal industries.
988.0
969.4
965.3
967.3
968.5
982.1
974.4
990.6 1,131.0
486.7
181.4
481.2
179.2
485.0
178.6
483 5
181 3
485 4
181.0
488 1
185.5
483 3
184 9
499 7
52.5
49. 4
49.6
52. 3
52.1
51.5
50.9
51.4
50.5
9.2
9.0
8.8
9.1
91
9.2
9.3
9.1
10.0
83. 6
65.7
108.9
82.5
62.7
105.4
77.7
60. 6
105.0
79. 7
56.3
105.1
78 6
57. 9
104.4
79 9
60.0
107.9
79 4
59 3
107.3
81 1
62 7
108.7
91 7
77* 0
124.3
Fabricated metal products (except
ordnance, machinery, and trans875.9
portation equipment)_______ ____
T in cans and other tinware--------------Cutlery, handtools, and hardware------ ____
Heating apparatus (except electric)
and pi limbers’ supplies _________
Fabricated structural metal products. _
Metal stamping, coating, and'engraving.
Lighting fixtures
. ____ _______
Fabricated wire p ro d u c ts___ ____
Miscellaneous fabricated metal products.
F ; See footnotes at end of table
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
450.2
28.6
77.4
14.7
35.7
70.0
48.2
88.9
17.5
69.2
14.8
67.3
0
185! 0
559 6
217 ! 9
870.5
49.6
124.5
860.1
47.2
123.4
843.9
46.8
122.2
834.4
47.2
119.3
842.7
47.5
119.2
844.1
48.0
116.9
829.4
50.0
113.5
821.0
54.8
111.0
820.0
55.8
111.0
809.2
54.2
108.6
830.7
53.7
114.5
832.3
52.2
116.7
837.5
51.3
116.6
930.4
48.6
132.1
103.6
201.6
187.0
39.1
54.1
111.0
102.6
197.6
186.1
39.3
53.8
110.1
100.3
194.8
180.7
38.7
52.5
107.9
97.4
195.2
178.4
37.2
52.3
107.4
99.9
200.9
178.2
37.4
52.4
107.2
103.1
206.1
177.3
36.4
50.4
105.9
102.8
210.1
167.2
34.5
47.6
103.7
102.3
212.5
161.1
32.8
45.7
100.8
99. 5
212.4
162.2
32.3
45.5
101.3
94.0
213.1
162.4
32.0
45.2
99.7
95.8
211.9
171.5
33.6
46.7
103.0
93 2
208. 7
177.3
33. 7
47 4
103.1
97 2
208 5
176.3
34. 9
48 2
104.7
108 9
211 1
214.5
40 9
55 3
119.1
836
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
T able A-3 : Production workers in mining and manufacturing industries 1—Continued
[In thousands]
1955
Annual aver
age
1954
Industry
May
Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
1954
1953
Manufacturing—Continued
Machinery (except electrical)__________ 1,170. 9 1,164. 8 1,144.2 1,125.0 1,109.3 1,105. 9 1,092.0 1, 092. 5 1, 097. 0 1, 094. 5 1,110.7 1,154.0 1,169. 7 1,147.8 1,303.1
57.2
54.8
54.2
53.6
Engines and turbines-------- -------------54.5
50.5
52.3
50.4
50.2
52.7
53. 7 54.4
53.6
64.7
Agricultural machinery and tractors---123.1 121.4 117.6 112.1 106.0 101.6
99.6 100.2
99.8 106.6 111.8 111.6 105.8 126.2
Construction and mining machinery__
90.3
86.5
85.6
85.0
88.5
85.2
86.7
88.0
88.4
89.5
90.8
90.8
89.4
99.6
194.2 192.0 190.1 189.6 191.5 192.5 193.3 196.4 197.0 201.8 208.4 212.2 208.5 242.6
Metalworking machinery___________
Special-industry machinery (except
126.9 125.1 123.5 122.4 123.2 122.7 123.5 124.7 124.8 124.7 128.2 129.3 127.8 138.9
metalworking machinery)..................
General industrial machinery________
154.6 150.7 150.7 150.4 151. 1 152.4 152.7 154.7 152. 2 152. 7 157.6 159.3 158.3 173.1
82.6
Office and store machines and devices. 82.7
82.3
83.2
83.3
82. 1 83.0
80.4
82.1
80.8
81.7
81.3
82.8
88.5
142.6 138.6 131.9 126.8 127.1 124.6 123.5 123.8 120.3 121.8 134.2 143.3 134.5 157.8
Service-industry and household ma
chines_______________ ___________
193.2 190.1 187.3 185.9 185.2 180.4 177.9 176.9 181.2 180.1 187.6 187.5 187. 1 211.9
Miscellaneous machinery parts.............
Electrical machinery-.____ ___________
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial appa
ratus__________ ________________
Electrical appliances,.____ _________
Insulated wire and cable_____________
Electrical equipment for vehicles_____
Electric lamps_____________________
Communication equipment....... ...........
Miscellaneous electrical products..........
811.5
806.1
803.2
803.4
799.5
809.1
810.7
799.9
785.4
766.3
750. 5
261.5
51.3
20. 6
64.5
22. 4
351.7
34.1
259.0
51.7
20.4
64. 5
22.1
352.3
33.2
256.4
50.5
20.3
63.7
22.0
358.1
32.4
255.0
49. 5
20.6
62.2
21.9
358.3
32.0
256.0
51.9
20. 7
59.7
21.6
366.6
32.6
250.9
52.8
20.4
57.4
21.4
373. 5
34.3
250.6
52.7
20. 4
50.6
21.3
370.1
34.2
244.6
52. 3
19.6
53.3
21.2
359.9
34.5
244.5
49.3
18.5
50.3
21.2
347.7
34.8
245.2 253.0 259.2 257.1 290.7
48. 1 48. 7 50. 7 52.2
59.0
18.0
18.6
18.8
19.4
26.1
52.3
55.7
56.8
56.6
67.1
21.2
21.8
22. 1 22.1
24.2
331.9 329.3 334. 7 353. 1 419.9
33.8
33.8
34.0
34.1
38.1
760.9
776.3
794.6
925.1
Transportation equipment____________ 1, 466.3 1, 465. 9 1, 446. 8 1, 426.4 1, 399.8 1, 374. 7 1,333.8 1, 249. 0 1,182.9 1,238.4 1, 279. 4 1,327.8 1, 346. 0 1, 334.9 1, 542.9
Automobiles_________ ____________
790.8 772.7 750.1 729.5 701.8 665.1 579. 6 504.2 562. 0 589.8 623. 5 630.3 628.4 767. 1
518.9 519.7 523. 2 523.1 525.1 523.6 522.1 530.6 528. 1 537.3 542. 7 548. 1 544.3 568.7
Aircraft and parts_________________
Aircraft______________ _________ _
330.0 328.2 329.6 325.8 325.9 324.0 323. 5 328.4 332.9 332.1 331.9 336.7 333.8 343.0
97.4
99. 7 99.8 100.2 100.3 102.0 103. 5 96.4 104.1 108.0 110.8 108.8 124.7
Aircraft engines and parts____ ____ _
99.0
10.0
Aircraft propellers and parts_______
9.3
9.7
9.8
10.8
11.1
11.3
11.7
11.9
12.0
11.5
8.7
11.3
13.1
Other aircraft parts and equipm ent...
82.2
82.8
84.1
88.2
87.5
88.2
85.3
87.2
87.1
89.2
90.8
90. 5 88.0
91.9
Ship and boatbuilding and repairing...
107.3 107.6 105. 6 103.7 104.2 101.4 103.8 102.7 103.3 110.8 113. 1 117.4 112.3 135.1
Shipbuilding and repairing________
86.0
85.1
84.3
85.0
86.5
86.6
88.4
87.2
86.8
92.4
93. 5 96.8
94.1 115.1
Boatbuilding and repairing................
21.3
21.1
20.5
19.4
17.6
16.4
15.4
15. 5
16.5
18. 4 19.6
20.6
18.3
20.0
Railroad equipment________________
41.3
39.7
40.8
37.8
37.0
35.7
34. 7 36.4
36.2
33.4
43.0
40.7
42. 3 62.4
Other transportation equipment_____
7.6
7.1
6.7
5.7
6.6
8.0
9.0
8.8
8.8
8.1
7.8
7.2
7.6
9.6
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.................................
216.2
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries..
Jewelry, silverware, and plated w are...
Musical instruments and parts_______
Toys and sporting goods-----------------Pens, pencils, other office supplies........
Costume jewelry, buttons, notions___
Fabricated plastics products_________
Other manufacturing industries______
376.2
218.2
218.9
216.4
216.5
217.7
217.6
217.5
217.7
213.8
214.0
218.7
223.5
223.3
243.7
30.1
30.1
29.7
29.8
29.7
29.7
29.0
28.7
27.9
29.3
30.0
31.5
31.0
34.8
61.0
9.8
60.5
9.8
59.6
9.8
59.8
9.9
59.4
10.0
59.1
10.1
58.7
10.4
58.2
10.6
56.6
10.6
56.6
10.5
54.6
10.7
57.0
10.7
57.8
10.7
59.1
11.7
26.4
18.8
44.3
27.8
27.2
18.7
44.4
28.2
27.2
18.5
43.9
27.7
27.2
18.4
44.1
27.3
27.3
18.3
45.0
28.0
27.1
18.3
45.1
28.2
27.2
18.3
45.4
28.5
27.5
18. 1
46.0
28.6
27.3
18.0
45.0
28.4
27.4
17.8
45.2
27.2
27.7
19.0
45.4
31.3
27.7
19.3
45.2
32.1
27.9
19.0
45.7
31.1
31.0
21.6
47.4
38.2
377.1 370.9
42.5
42.3
15.0
15.0
65.7
62.2
21. 5 21.1
55.0
56.5
59.6
61.6
115.8 114.2
360.0
43.2
14.9
57.1
20.9
55.0
58.3
110.6
373.0
44.6
15.1
61.0
22.1
54.6
59.3
116.3
389.8
46.0
15.1
71.9
22.6
56.3
59.2
118.7
393. 0
45.7
15.1
76.3
22.4
56.9
58.0
118.6
386.4
44.4
14.6
74.8
22.4
55.7
56.8
117.7
373.3
41.8
14.2
71.2
21.9
54.2
55.0
115.0
358.2
40.2
13.4
68.1
21.3
49.7
53.6
111.9
370.6
41.4
13.4
69.4
22.0
51.8
56.7
115.9
369.7
41.8
13.7
68.7
22.1
49.1
57.2
117.1
379.0
43.6
14.4
69.2
22.2
53.2
58. 2
118.4
413.4
43.8
15.1
81.1
22.3
56.2
64.6
130.4
375.5
40.9
14.9
70.1
22.0
51.1
62.0
114.5
1 See footnote 1, table A-2. Production and related workers include work
ing foremen and all nonsupervisory workers (including leadmen and trainees)
engaged in fabricating, processing, assembling, inspection, receiving, storage,
handling, packing, warehousing, shipping, maintenance, janitorial, watch
man services, products development, auxiliary production for plant’s own
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
use (o. ?., powerplant), and recordkeeping and other services closely associ
ated with the above production operations.
2 See footnote 2, table A-2.
3 See footnote 3, table A-2.
See footnote 1 on p. 827.
837
A: EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLLS
T able A -4: Indexes of production-worker employment and weekly payrolls in manufacturing industries1
[1947-49 = 100]
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
Average____________
Average____________
Average___________
Average____________
Average____________
Average____________
Average____________
Average....................
Average____ ________
Average____________
Employ
ment
Weekly
payrolls
Average____________
Average_____ ______
Average____________
Average___________
Average.----------------Average___________
93.8
99.6
106.4
106.3
111.8
101.8
97.2
111.7
129.8
136.6
151.4
137.7
1954: M ay_______________
June_______________
J u ly .— ----- ------------
100.2
100.5
98.5
134.6
135.8
131.9
Weekly
payrolls
Employ
ment
Period
66.2
71.2
87.9
103.9
121.4
118.1
104.0
97.9
103.4
102.8
Period
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
29.9
34.0
49.3
72.2
99.0
102.8
87.8
81.2
97.7
105.1
i See footnote 1, tables A-2 and A-3.
Employ Weekly
payrolls
ment
Period
1954: August-------------------September_________ October_________ - November__________
December____ ______
100.4
101.7
102.0
102.3
102.2
134.8
138.0
139.1
142.2
143.1
1955: January____________
February___________
March______________
___
April______
M ay__ _ -- _ _ ---
101.2
102.3
103.3
103.7
104.1
141.5
144.4
146.6
146.5
See footnote 1 on p. 827.
T able A -5: Federal personnel, civilian and military
[In thousands]
Annual average
1955
Branch and agency
Apr.
Total Federal civilian em
ployment 1..................... .
Executive 2__________
Department of DePost Office Depart
m en t........................
Other agencies...........
LegislativeJudicial__
District of Colum bia3.
Executive 2_____
Department of
De-
,153
LegislativeJudicial___
Total military personnel AArmy______________
Air Force............. ........
Navy_________ _____
Marine Corps_______
Coast Guard________
Feb.
2,142
2,148
,
, 127.4 2 122.1 2,116.4
, 020. 9 1, 019. 9 1,016. 8
504.6
602.0
502.1
600.1
503.7
595.8
21.7
4.0
21.8
21.8
4.0
4.0
Jan.
2,139
Dec.
Nov.
Aug.
July
M ay
Apr
1954
1953
2,305
2,188
2,167
2,160
2,164
2,161
2,157
June
2,113. 2 2.431.1 2,138. 7 2, 121.3 2,115. 9 2,130. 9 2,135. 4 2,137. 6 2,134.0 2,141. 4 2,161. 6
1,014. 6 1, 011.9 1, 011.7 1, 011.1 1,012. 6 1, 020. 6 1, 022.1 1, 025. 2 1,029. 0 1,036. 0 1, 027. 3
529.2
502.6
502.4
507.4
504.8
503.3
505.7
501.8
506.2
808.4
504.8
605.1
602.8
602.6
607.6
606.0
608.3
599.9
604.6
620.9
610.8
593.7
2, 278.8
21.7
4.0
22.0
22.1
4.0
4.0
22.1
22.0
4.0
4.0
22.0
4.0
22.0
3.9
1,130.6
526.5
621.7
21.9
4.0
21.8
21.8
3.9
21.9
4.0
22.2
3.9
227.5
227.5
240.9
3.9
227.9
228.2
227.6
226.7
230.7
226.9
226.4
225.7
227.3
228.3
228.5
207.3
207.5
207.0
206.1
209.8
206 0
205.5
204.7
206.4
207.4
207.7
205.7
206.7
206.7
219.8
87.0
86.5
87.0
87.2
87.2
86.4
87.1
87.1
90.4
8.7
8.8
8.9
110.6
8.9
111.3
111.6
9.0
110.3
9. 2
110.5
9.3
110.4
9.5
119.8
20.0
20.0
20.1
.7
.7
.7
20.3
.7
3,326
3,356
3,341
3,331
3, 331
3, 318
3, 261 3, 286 3, 309
3,209
3,231
3,188
1, 300. 3 1,334. 0 1.326.1 1, 351.9 1,368.3 1,385. 0 1, 394. 9 1,405. 2 1,404. 6 1,416. 8 1,425.1 1,402. 0
946.0
936.8
939.8
947.9
953.3
958.3
961.7
965.1
966.4
947.2
952.9
955.9
725.1
744.9
736.4
719.2
725.7
714.1
702.0
711.1
692.7
686.5
689.4
698.5
223.8
219.2
218.5
223.9
224.0
222.0
221.5
221.8
221.8
220.7
214.2
217.6
29.5
29.9
29.5
29.2
28.9
28.9
28.9
28.8
28.5
28.0
28.0
27.7
3,545
1, 508. 9
957.9
792.7
250.6
34.7
8.7
110.6
19.9
.7
, 064
88.0
8.7
110.9
20.0
.7
3,133
,201.8 .1, 263.0
959.6
667.0
207.8
28.0
957.0
674.9
210.4
27.9
87.7
87.4
8.8
8.8
110.5
109.9
19.9
.7
19.9
.7
87.0
13.0
109.8
110.2
110.0
8.7
109.5
20.1
20.2
20.2
20.2
20.2
20.2
20.1
.7
.7
.7
.7
.7
.7
.7
1 Data refer to Continental United States only.
2 Includes all executive agencies (except the Central Intelligence Agency)
and Government corporations. Civilian employment in navy yards,
arsenals, hospitals, and on force-account construction is also included.
3 Includes all Federal civilian employment in Washington Standard Metro-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Sept.
2,142
2,147
2,165
2,457
Oct.
226.4
88.0
Post Office Depart
m ent______________
Other agencies_______
Mar.
8.7
politan Area (District of Columbia and adjacent M aryland and Virginia
counties).
4 Data refer to Continental United States and elsewhere.
See footnote 1 on p. 827.
838
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
T able A-8: Insured unemployment under State unemployment insurance programs,1 by geographic
division and State
[In thousands]
1955
1953
Geographic division and State
1
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Continental United States.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
Apr.
1,471.4 1,657.0 1,879.8 1,962. 3 1,666. 2 1,463.3 1,465.8 1, 580. 4 1,691. 7 1,861.9 1, 924.0 2,070.4
2,181. 6
122.9
124.0
140.4
150.4
128.9
116.1
117.5
128.9
130.6
143.5
147.7
168.3
172.8
16.7
12. 8
14.0
12.4
11.0
8.2
8.3
9.2
9.9
11.1
16.6
18.1
8.6 11.2
7.6
7.5
8.2
8.0
8.2
9.8
10.8
9.2
9.5
10.6
13.7
12.3
3.5
5.4
5. 8
5.0
4.0
3.4
3.1
2.9
2.9
2.9
3.6
4.3
3. 5
56.0
60.3
70.1
75.2
64.5
56.9
56.7
60.8
58.5
64.7
68.6
75.2
78.4
15.5
15. d
16.8
17.2
13.6
12.0
13.5
19.0
18.7
21.2
22.1
26.7
28.
3
22 .6
24. 2
27.4
30.8
26.4
24.6
26.2
27.1
32.1
35.3
31.7
31.8
32.2
Middle Atlantic. 468.5
507.4
557.3
587.0
501.5
445.4
459.1
445.8
494.5
575.9
609.7
623.2
622.0
New York__
221.0
226.9
251.8
266.3
230.2
194.1
184.5
184.5
196.2
254.7
279.3
275.8
277.3
New Jersey ..
76.5
84.0
91. 7
94. 6
78.7
71.3
70.8
69.7
76.3
86.6
89.1
94.9
91. 9
Pennsylvania.
171.0
196. 5 213.8
226.1
192.6
180.0
190.5
204.9
222.0
234.6
241.3
252.5
252.8
East North Central___
243.6
279.2
337.9
365.8
329.8
311.4
360.9
424.1
428.9
431.9
426.4
465.7
486.7
Ohio........................
55.6
72. 7
89.0
96. 2
87.2
77.7
79.2
87.2
91.7
95.0
97.3
105.3
113. 5
Indiana__________
23.5
28. 7
36. 7
41.8
36.0
32.6
34.6
40.9
50.0
48.4
51.0
56.8
64.1
Illinois___________
102.7
91. 7
110. 2 116.4
101.6
95.0
101.9
113.0
133.9
148.1
161.4
168.0
153.3
Michigan________
43.7
59.8
69.0
75.8
72.1
80.3
121.6
159.1
131.0
115.6
89.2
103.9
118.
9
Wisconsin________
18.1
26.3
33.0
35. 6
32.9
25.8
23.6
23.9
22.3
24.8
27.5
31.7
36.9
West North Central.
93.3
120.3
137.7
128.8
98.4
78.2
70.8
69.1
71.9
77.5
84.2
103.0
123.1
Minnesota_____
33.8
40. 7
43.4
40.2
29.6
20.2
16.0
15.4
18.0
20.0
23.0
31.6
40.4
Iowa__________
7.4
11.8
14.0
12.5
8.4
5.7
5.3
5.3
6.5
7.3
8.1
9.6
12.1
Missouri______
32.6
38. 2
44. 4
45.0
39.7
39.4
39.5
38.6
36.5
38.9
41.2
46.6
47.6
North D akota...
4.0
6.4
6.7
5.9
3.7
1.5
.4
.3
.3
.4
.6
1.3
3.6
South D ak o ta...
1.6
3. 3
3.8
3.1
1.8
.8
.4
.4
.5
.5
.5
.9
1.9
Nebraska........ .
4.3
7. 5
9.0
8.0
4.7
2.6
2.0
2.0
2.6
2.8
2.9
3.8
5.
6
K ansas..............
9.6
12. 9
16.4
14.1
10.5
8.0
7.2
7.1
7.5
7.6
7.9
9.2
11.9
South Atlantic................ .
150.3
184.1
198.1
168.2
147.4
154.4
176.0
205.2
236.1
237.7
241.6
237.9
Delaware__________
2.8 160.9
3.8
4. 4
4.3
3.3
2.9
2.9
3.0
3.4
3.0
2.8
3.3
4.0
M aryland_________
20.6
19.0
25.1
27.0
23.1
20.1
20.5
24.5
28.6
31.8
32.3
33.6
32.0
District of Columbia.
4.9
6. 5
7.5
6.6
5.0
4.4
4.2
4.3
4.9
5.1
5.2
5.6
6.
6
Virginia___________
12.9
15. 5
17.9
18.0
14.3
12.0
12.9
15.4
20.1
26.5
30.5
23.8
21.6
West Virginia______
22.0
26.1
29.8
32.8
28.9
27.4
29.4
33.2
36.7
40.1
43.3
46.6
47.
2
North Carolina.........
39.3
40. 8
43. 3
44.4
36.2
29.3
28.6
32.1
38.3
51.5
52.3
59.1
58.8
South Carolina..........
11.7
13.1
15.1
16.8
15.5
14.4
14.1
14.9
17.1
19.7
18.9
20.7
21.0
Georgia___________
24.0
23.1
26. 5
31.9
27.0
22.0
22.1
24.8
30.1
34.0
34.2
33.8
32.8
Florida....... ............. .
12.1
13.0
14. 5
16.3
14.9
14.9
19.7
23.8
26.0
24.4
18.2
15.4
13.6
East South Central.
119.5
118.7
128.2
134.4
118.3
108.1
105.1
110.3
127.7
141.9
150.5
156.9
159.8
Kentucky.........
45.0
41.1
41. 2
39.3
36.3
34.4
34.9
37.2
42.9
44.6
49.2
53.9
52. 8
Tennessee____
41.7
42.3
46.4
49.8
39.1
43.3
37.4
37.7
42.1
48.7
52.1
54.9
57.0
Alabama______
19.3
20. 4
23.4
26.6
23.9
23.1
22.6
24.6
29.0
31.3
31.7
30.3
31.6
Mississippi____
13.5
14.9
17.2
18.7
14.8
11.5
10.2
10.8
13.7
17.3
17.5
17.8
18.4
West South Central.......................
75.7
87.5
101.0
97.6
77.6
64.4
62.1
60.0
71.8
79.0
83.8
93.5
101.9
Arkansas______ ______ _____""
14.1
16.8
20.0
20.1
15.4
12.1
10.4
10.7
13.3
15.1
15.3
18.3
20 4
Louisiana____ ___________
20.5
24.0
27.8
25.4
19.8
16.7
15.5
16.2
19.2
22.0
22.4
23.1
24.4
Oklahoma....... ........ .............. ’
12.1
14. 3
17.3
17.8
13.9
11.5
10.5
10.9
12.2
12.4
13.1
14.9
16.
2
Texas_______________
29.0
32.4
35. 9
34.3
28.5
24.1
23.6
24.3
27.1
29.5
33.0
37.2
40.9
M ountain......... .
33.5
45.8
52.5
48.4
32.9
23.1
18.3
20.0
21.5
23.7
25.7
33.3
47.4
M ontana___
6.4
8.0
8.1
6. 5
3.8
2.2
2.2
2.2
1.3
1.4
2.0
3.3
5. 9
Idaho...........
5.9
8.8
9.9
9.4
6.7
3.7
1.9
1.9
2.1
2.2
2.5
3.8
6. 7
Wyoming__
2.5
3.6
3.9
3.2
1.8
1.0
.7
.6
.8
1.3
1.2
2.1
3.1
Colorado___
4.0
5. 7
6.9
6.3
4.5
3.4
2.5
2.6
3.1
3.8
3.8
5.5
8.0
New Mexico .
4.0
4.9
5.7
5.4
3.9
2.8
2.4
2.8
3.5
3.9
4.1
4.8
5.9
Arizona____
4.3
5. 3
6.3
6.1
4.6
4.2
4.3
5.1
5.1
5.2
5.5
5.9
6.
7
U tah______
4.3
6. 6
8. 4
8.0
4.9
3.5
2.7
3.3
4.1
4.4
4.9
6.0
7.
8
Nevada........
2.1 2.9
3.3
3. 5
2.7
2.3
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.7
1.9
3.3
Pacific___ _____
164.1
213.6
240.7
251.8
210.5
169.3
132.6
130.6
139.6
152.1
158.0
185.2
229.9
Washington..
45. V
31.6
51.6
56.3
46.2
36.1
26.5
24.9
25.9
23.0
18.2
23.7
33. 9
Oregon_____
21.1
27. 2
30.2
32.8
27.3
20.6
14.4
13.1
14.4
15.8
11.8
15.0
22 9
California___
111.4
140.7
158. 9
162.7
137.0
112.6
91.7
92.6
99.3
113.3
128.0
146.5
173.1
New England.......................
Maine................... ..........
New Hampshire.......... .
Vermont____________
Massachusetts.......... .
Rhode Island____ ____
Connecticut___ _____
‘ Average of weekly data adjusted for split weeks in the month. For a
7eclJ,omal de?cnption of this series, see the April 1950 Monthly Labor Review
(p. 382). Figures may not add to exact column totals because of rounding.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
April
960.6
79.6
11.6
7.2
1.4
39.4
11.7
8.3
313.5
164.3
48.6
100.6
121.2
24.5
11. 5
55.8
19.9
9.5
53.6
19.8
5.8
17.2
2.3
.9
2. 6
5.0
101.0
1.0
12.5
3.0
7.5
16.6
28.2
10.3
13.5
8.4
69.3
20.2
23.0
16.0
10.1
51.0
10.8
13.2
10. 2
16.8
21.1
3.9
4n
7
2.8
2^2
33
3 1
li
150.4
26 0
16 6
107.8
Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Security.
839
B : LABOR TURNOVER
B: Labor Turnover
T able B - l: Monthly labor turnover rates in manufacturing, by class of turnover 1
[Per 100 employees]
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Annual
average
Total accession
1948___ ___________________
1949 _____________________
1950 _________ ____________
1951 _____________________
1952 ____________________
1953 _____________________
1954 ____________________
IQñfi
4.6
3.2
3.6
5.2
4.4
4.4
2.8
3.3
3.9
2.9
3.2
4.5
3.9
4.2
2.5
3.2
4.0
3.0
3.6
4.6
3.9
4.4
2.8
3.6
4.0
2.9
3.5
4.5
3.7
4.3
2.4
3.4
4.1
3.5
4.4
4.5
3.9
4.1
2.7
5.7
4.4
4.8
4.9
4.9
5.1
3.5
4.7
3.5
4.7
4.2
4.4
4.1
2.9
5.0
4.4
6.6
4.5
5.9
4.3
3.3
5.1
4.1
5.7
4.3
5.6
4.0
3.4
4.5
3.7
5.2
4.4
5.2
3.3
3.6
3.9
3.3
4.0
3.9
4.0
2.7
3.3
2.7
3.2
3.0
3.0
3.3
2.1
2.5
4.4
3.5
4.4
4.4
4.4
3.9
3.0
5.1
4.0
4.2
5.3
4.6
4.8
3.5
5.4
4.2
4.9
5.1
4.9
5.2
3.9
4.5
4.1
4.3
4.7
4. 2
4.5
3.3
4.1
4.0
3.8
4.3
3.5
4.2
3.0
4.3
3.2
3.6
3.5
3.4
4.0
3.0
4.6
4.3
3.5
4.4
4.1
4.3
3.5
3.4
1.8
2.9
3.1
3.0
2.9
1.4
3.9
2.1
3.4
3.1
3.5
3.1
1.8
2.8
1.5
2.7
2.5
2.8
2.1
1.2
2.2
1.2
2.1
1.9
2.1
1.5
1.0
1.7
.9
1.7
1.4
1.7
1.1
.9
2.8
1.5
1.9
2.4
2.3
2.3
1.1
0.4
.3
.4
.4
.3
.4
.2
0.4
.2
.4
.3
.4
.4
.2
0.4
.2
.4
.4
.4
.4
.2
0.4
.2
.3
.3
.4
.3
.2
0.3
.2
.3
.3
.3
.2
.2
0.4
.2
.3
.3
.3
.4
.2
1.2
1.8
.6
1.4
1.0
1.3
1.7
1.0
1.8
.7
1.3
.7
1.5
1.7
1.2
2.3
.8
1.4
.7
1.8
1.6
1.4
2.5
1.1
1.7
.7
2.3
1.6
2.2
2.0
1.3
1.5
1.0
2.5
1.7
1.3
2.4
Total separation
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1Qßfl
________ ____________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_________________ ___
_____________________
4.3
4.6
3.1
4.1
4.0
3.8
4.3
2.9
4.7
4.1
3.0
3.8
3.9
3.6
3.5
2.5
4.5
4.8
2.9
4.1
3.7
4.1
3.7
3.0
4.7
4.8
2.8
4.6
4.1
4.3
3.8
3.2
4.3
5.2
3.1
4.8
3.9
4.4
3.3
4.5
4.3
3.0
4.3
3.9
4.2
3.1
4.4
3.8
2.9
4.4
5.0
4.3
3.1
Quit
1948
- _______________
1949 _______________________
1950 _______ ________________
1951 ______ _________________
1952______ _________________
1953 _____________ __________
1954 _______________________
1flflß
2.6
1.7
1.1
2.1
1.9
2.1
1.1
1.0
2.5
1.4
1.0
2.1
1.9
2.2
1.0
1.0
2.8
1.6
1.2
2.5
2.0
2.5
1.0
1.3
3.0
1.7
1.3
2.7
2.2
2.7
1.1
1.4
2.8
1.6
1.6
2.8
2.2
2.7
1.0
2.9
1.5
1.7
2.5
2.2
2.6
1.1
2.9
1.4
1.8
2.4
2.2
2.5
1.1
Discharge
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1Qflfl
_____________________
_____________________
............. ....... .................
_____________________
______ _______________
____ _________________
_____________________
0.4
.3
.2
.3
.3
.3
.2
2
0.4
.3
.2
.3
.3
.4
.2
2
0.4
.3
.2
.3
.3
.4
.2
.2
0.4
.2
.2
.4
.3
.4
.2
.3
0.3
.2
.3
.4
.3
.4
.2
0.4
.2
.3
.4
.3
.4
.2
0.4
.2
.3
.3
.3
.4
.2
Layoff
1948
1949
1950
1951.
1952
1953
1954.
1955.
1.2
2.5
1.7
1.0
1.4
.9
2.8
1.5
1.7
2.3
1.7
.8
1.3
.8
2.2
1.1
1.2
2.8
1.4
.8
1.1
.8
2.3
1.3
1.2
2.8
1.2
1.0
1.3
.9
2.4
1.3
1.1
3.3
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.0
1.9
1.1
2.5
.9
1.0
1.1
.9
1.7
1.0
2.1
.6
1.3
2.2
1.1
1.6
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.3
1.9
Miscellaneous, including military
1948.
1949.
1950.
1951.
1952.
1953.
1954.
1955.
1 Data for the current month are preliminary.
N ote.—Month-to-month changes in total employment in manufacturing
industries as indicated by labor turnover rates are not comparable with the
changes shown by the Bureau’s employment series for the following reasons:
(1) Accessions and separations are reported 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 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 seafoods; women’s,
misses’, and children’s outerwear; and fertilizers.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(3)
Plants are not included in the turnover computations in months when
work stoppages are in progress; the influence of such stoppages is reflected,
however, in the employment figures.
Beginning with data for October 1952, components may not add to total
separation rate because of rounding.
Information on concepts, methodology, etc., is given in
a technical note on Measurement of Labor Turnover,
which appeared in the May 1953 Monthly Labor Review.
840
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
T able B-2: Monthly labor turnover rates in selected industries
[Per 100 employees]
Industry
Total accession
rate
Anr.
1955
Mar.
1955
Separation rate
Total
Apr.
1955
Quit
Mar.
1955
Apr.
1955
Discharge
Mar.
1955
Apr.
1955
Mise., inch
military
Layoff
Mar.
1955
Apr.
1955
Mar.
1955
Anr.
1955
Mar.
1955
M a n u fa c tu r in g
All m anufacturing...
Durable goods___ ..
Nondurable goods__
Ordnance and accessories__
Pood and kindred products.
Meat products____
Grain-mill products.
Bakery products______
Beverages:
M alt liquors___ _
Tobacco manufactures.
Cigarettes______
Cigars_____ . .
Tobacco and sn u ff...
Textile-mill products .
Yarn and thread mills .
Broad-woven fabric mills
Cotton, silk, synthetic fiber
Woolen and worsted.
Knitting mills__
Full-fashioned hosiery
Seamless hosiery___
Knit underwear__
Dyeing and finishing textiles
Carpets, rugs, other floor coverings__
Apparel and other finished textile products______
Men’s and boys’ suits and coats____
Men’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 tubes
Rubber footwear
Other rubber products..
Leather and leather products
Leather: tanned, curried, and finished
Footwear (except rubber) _.
Stone, clay, and glass products
Glass 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 foun d ries._____
Malleable-iron foundries..
Steel foundries .
Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals:
Primary smelting and refining of
copper, lead, and z in c .__ __ _
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of nonferrous metals:
Rolling, drawing, and alloying of
copper... . . . .
Nonferrous 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
3.4
3.8
2.8
3.6
3.9
3.0
3.2
3.3
3.0
3.0
3.1
(9
4.1
4.2
2.7
3.5
3.1
3.6
3.8
1.9
2.4
(9
3.0
3.8
3.0
3.8
4.5
3.0
2.4
5.7
1.7
1.3
5.8
1.7
2.2
1.5
2.7
3.6
2.7
2.4
4.5
2.7
1.4
1.6
1.8
1.7
.7
3.1
3. 5
3. 1
2.9
4.7
3.7
2.1
2.1
1.8
4.0
4.1
2.8
2.3
2.2
1.6
3.0
1.4
3.4
3.5
2.9
2.8
3.3
4.2
2.6
2.8
3.5
2.7
1.4
3.9
1.7
3. 2
3.6
3.1
2.9
4.2
3.6
2.0
1.4
1.5
1.4
1.3
13
1.3
1.0
.8
1.1
1.4
1.1
11
8
12
1.6
.3
1.4
.4
13
(9
1.0
1.8
1.1
1.6
1. 7
1. 6
1. 6
1.9
1.0
1.0
3. 2
2.4
4. 1
3.1
4.7
4.1
3.5
2.7
2. 5
1.4
23
1.5
3.4
4.4
4.8
3.4
2.8
(9
(9
4.5
5.0
10.1
(9
(9
3.3
4.7
10.3
3.8
(9
(9
1.9
4.3
3.5
3.7
3.1
2.4
4.3
3.8
3.8
3.6
2.4
1.4
3.2
3.3
4.0
3.9
4.1
3.0
4.1
4.3
3.7
2.1
2.6
1.8
1. 8
1.8
1.6
1.2
3.4
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.6
1.0
2.2
1.2
.7
2.4
1.8
1.5
3.1
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.5
.9
1.6
1.3
.6
2.5
1. 8
2.0
2.6
3.3
3.2
2.6
3.3
3.1
1.9
2.7
2.5
1.4
3.4
2.4
3.7
2.8
2.6
2.1
4.5
3.1
3.8
2.0
1.3
2.8
1.6
1.4
1.1
1.0
1.3
1.7
.8
.6
2.3
1. 5
2.3
3.1
4.2
3.6
4.3
2.3
2.5
1.6
1.8
2.0
1.2
2.6
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.3
.8
.6
2.1
1. 4
2.5
2.8
3.3
3.3
3.3
2.1
2.1
2.4
2.3
1.7
1.9
2.5
1.9
1.6
1.2
3.6
5.4
5.1
5.6
5.8
3.4
5.4
5.0
7.5
4.9
3.7
4.2
3.8
3.5
2.3
1.7
4.0
2.3
.9
.9
.6
7
4
4
.9
.5
.3
.8
1.1
.4
.2
1. 62
12
1.6
2.1
.9
2.3
.9
.7
.5
1.1
1.2
1.2
.8
6
.2
1. 81
'
15
1.4
1. 8
6
2.0
9
6
8
10
1.2
.9
.1
.l
.1
.1
.2
.1
.2
.6
.2
.9
.1
1. 5
1. 5
.8
.7
1.3
2.3
.2
1.9
2.3
1.0
1.6
.4
.5
.3
.1
.3
.3
4
.4
.4
.2
.1
.3
.1
.2
.1
(9
.1
1
1
.2
.2
.1
.3
.2
.1
.1
.2
.1
.3
(9
.1
.2
1
(9
13
1. 3
1. 0
.8
2. 6
1. 7
.2
3. 8
.6
1.4
.9
.2
.2
.2
.1
.3
.1
1.1
3. 6
3.4
1.1
1.6
2.1
2.0
.3
.2
(9
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.3
.2
.1
.1
.7
3
.1
1.2
.4
.4
.4
.4
1.6
2.8
11
.1
2. 0
.6
.2
.2
17
19
1.4
11
.6
19
1. 9
1.8
1.2
.6
1.8
.8
.1
.1
.1
.l
.1
.2
..2
(9
(9
24
33
1. 5
.5
(9
1.7
2. 7
1.4
.5
.3
3
.3
.1
.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.1
1
1
.2
.2
2
.2
.2
.1
.6
.3
.2
.2
0. 2
1.3
1. 4
1.2
.2
.2
.3
.3
.2
2
0.2
1.3
1. 3
.2
.2
.2
.3
.3
.3
.3
.3
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.7
16
1. 6
1. 6
16
2.0
2.0
0. 2
.3
.2
.2
.1
17
1. 3
1.5
1. 7
1.4
1.9
1.3
5.8
2.3
2.7
2. 2
3.6
(9
1.1
17
.6
15
1. 8
16
5.8
4.9
3.9
3.4
4.4
0.3
.3
.2
(9
(9
.7
.6
16
2.5
8. 3
1.5
.5
.3
.4
.4
.4
.4
.2
.4
.4
.3
1. 7
24
1.6
1. 1
1. 57
.3
.9
.6
(9
.6
.2
2
,i
.7
3
8
1.0
1.1
23
.9
.8
11
(9
.4
1.0
.2
.2
,i
,i
.1
.1
.1
(9
.1
.1
.2
.1
.2
.1
(9
(9
.2
.l
(9
(9
.2
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
.1
.1
(9
.2
.1
.2
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
(9
(9
.3
.2
.2
.1
.1
.2
.1
.1
.2
.2
.1
.1
1.0
19
19
1.7
.5
.4
.1
1
.1
.8
6
.9
1.0
(9
.9
1. 5
1.7
.5
.3
.6
.2
.1
1
.2
.2
2
1
.2
.2
.2
,i
.1
1
.2
.2
.1
.5
.2
.2
.6
.4
.1
.2
.1
.1
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.2
.I
.1
.. 1
.2
.1
.2
.2
1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
2
.2
.2
2
.2
.2
.1
2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.6
.6
.8
.1
.5
.4
.9
.3
.6
.3
.9
1.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.2
3.0
3.1
3.7
2.6
2. 3
2.9
2.4
1.5
.7
1. 7
2. 0
2. 6
.9
2.0
1.4
1.3
.9
.4
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2
1.7
5.0
1.3
3.9
3.1
.7
.5
.2
.4
.2
.3
.1
1.5
2
1.0
.3
.1
.2
3.3
3.8
2.8
1.6
1.0
.2
.2
2.2
1.3
.3
.2
2.8
1.0
1.8
1.1
.6
.4
.6
2
B : LABOR TURNOVER
T able B -2 :
841
Monthly labor turnover rates in selected industries—Continued
[Per 100 employees]
autili
Separation rate
auucaoiuii
rate
Total
Industry
Apr.
1955
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_________
Handtools____________________
Hardware____________ _______
Heating apparatus (except electric)
and plumbers’ supplies . _______
Sanitary ware and plumbers’
supplies____________________
Oil burners, nonelectric heating
and cooking apparatus, not elsewhere classified______________
Fabricated structural metal products.
Metal stamping, coating, and engraving___________________ ___
Machinery (except electrical)________ _
Engines and turbines______________
Agricultural machinery and tractors..
Construction and mining machinery..
Metalworking machinery_____ _____
Machinetools ______ __________
Metalworking machinery (except
machine tools) _____________
Machine-tool accessories.. _____
Special-industry machinery (except
metalworking machinery)___
. _
General industrial machinery____ .
Office and store machines and devices.
Service-industry
and
household
machines_______ _______________
Miscellaneous machinery parts— .
Electrical machinery_____ _______ . ..
Electrical generating, transmission,
distribution, and industrial apparatus__________________________
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 p a r t s ___
Other aircraft parts and equip___
ment__ _
.......
Ship and boat building and repairing.
Railroad equipm ent3. __ _. ______
Locomotives and parts * ______
Railroad and street c a r s ..______
Other transportation equipment____
Instruments and related products______
Photographic apparatus___________
Watches and clocks_______________
Professional and scientific instruments.
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries..
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware..
Mar.
1955
Apr.
1955
Quit
Mar.
1955
4.1
3.4
2.8
3.2
3.8
4.3
3.4
4.0
3.4
3.3
4.2
4.7
3.4
2.9
4.3
4.4
3.4
3.3
4. 1
4. 1
4.8
3.6
3.3
3.3
2.6
2.9
4.4
3.2
4.7
3.7
3.5
2.7
2.1
5.6
3.4
3.6
4.5
4.0
2.9
2.4
3.6
2.4
3.9
2.8
2.4
2.1
1.9
2.0
4.4
2.1
4.5
2.4
2.8
2.5
3. 2
2.9
2.2
2.2
3.7
Apr.
1955
3.1
3.0
2.5
2.0
3.6
Mar.
1955
Apr.
1955
1.3
1.4
1.0
1.0
1.8
0.4
.3
.1
.2
.5
1.9
1.4
2.1
1.7
1.7
1.4
3.7
2.1
2.2
2.2
1.8
2.0
1.9
1.6
2.7
3.0
3.2
2.4
4.7
2.7
3.1
2.7
Mise., inch
military
Layoff
Mar.
1955
Apr.
1955
Mar.
1955
Apr.
1955
Mar.
1955
0.3
.3
.1
.2
.4
1.0
.5
.9
.4
.5
.5
.5
.8
.8
.1
.1
.8
.6
.5
.8
.1
.1
1.3
1.0
.4
.3
.4
.3
1.0
1.4
.9
1.4
.1
.2
.1
.1
1.8
1. 2
1.5
1.8
1.5
1.0
.9
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.4
1.0
.9
.8
.4
.2
.3
.3
.4
.2
.1
.4
.2
.1
.2
.3
.2
.1
1.2
.7
2.0
.6
.4
.7
.7
1.4
.7
1.0
.3
.3
.7
.7
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
.4
.2
.2
.3
.1
.2
.2
1.4
2.6
.9
1.4
.6
1.3
.1
.4
.2
.3
.4
.8
.4
.9
.1
.2
.2
.1
1.9
2.2
2.6
2.0
2.4
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.2
.9
1.0
1.0
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.5
.7
1.0
.7
.8
.7
.2
.2
.1
.1
.2
.1
5. 1
2.9
3.3
2.9
2.2
3.5
2.6
2.0
3.1
1.6
1.0
1.5
1. 1
.8
1.3
.2
.2
.3
.2
.2
.2
.9
.7
1.6
.9
.8
1.3
.2
.3
.2
.3
.2
.2
2.6
3.6
2.3
(0
4.4
2.3
3.4
1. 1
(0
1.0
1.5
.2
.2
.2
.9
1.4
.2
.2
.2
4.0
1.7
.8
(*)
2.2
.2
.3
(>)
3.1
(')
1.4
«
1.0
3. 1
4.7
4.9
2.3
2.2
(')
(’)
3.6
4.5
4.9
2.4
2.5
1.7
.8
3.2
4.8
4.4
3.4
2.5
(>)
(0
3. 1
4.0
3.5
2.5
2. 2
2.8
4.0
1.2
1.7
2. 1
1. 1
1. 1
(0
0)
1.3
1.5
1.7
1.2
1.2
.9
.7
3.4
16.6
8.0
6.5
8.5
3.6
2.5
(>)
2.5
2.5
3.9
1.6
3.7
13.4
7.9
8.2
7.7
5.1
2.0
1.2
2.6
2.1
4.7
3.0
6.0
14.5
8. 1
2.4
10.0
2.3
2.0
(')
1.9
2.0
4.1
2.2
3.8
14.6
7.9
2.7
9.9
2.4
1.8
1.0
1.6
2.1
5.3
2.2
1.6
1.9
.8
.4
1.0
1.8
1.2
(')
1.0
1.1
1.8
1.4
1.4
2.3
.6
.3
.7
1.4
.9
.6
.7
.8
2.0
1.3
8.6
10.8
4.5
2. 1
.8
1.9
4.2
1.4
3.9
2.9
1.8
1.5
6.0
1.5
5.0
2.4
3.3
2.3
4.1
1.3
4. 1
2. 2
8.3
1.7
4.8
.2
4. 1
2. 1
.7
.6
2.9
.2
3.3
1.4
.7
.4
(2)
(2)
1.0
.9
0)
(■)
«
3.3
3.6
1.6
1.9
1.1
1.4
2.7
Discharge
0)
1.5
.4
.3
0)
.2
.3
.4
.1
.1
(>)
(')
.3
.8
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
0)
.1
.2
.4
.1
1. 2
.9
1.2
.6
1.0
0.2
.1
.1
.2
.1
(>)
1.9
.2
0.2
.2
.1
.2
.3
.2
.1
(>)
.2
.3
.4
.2
.1
.1
.1
1.6
2.4
1.2
2.1
1.2
(0
(')
1.5
1.8
.9
1.0
.7
1.6
2.8
.3
.7
.2
.1
.2
.2
.1
.1
.2
.2
.4
.2
4.1
11.6
6.4
.7
8.3
.2
.5
(>)
.6
.5
1.7
.5
2.0
11.5
6.4
1.3
8.4
.7
.7
.2
.5
.9
2.6
.5
.1
.6
1.1
.5
.1
.1
(0
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
.1
.7
1.0
.6
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
.2
.1
.4
.8
1.0
.3
.5
.8
.2
.5
7.5
1.1
.2
.2
.2
.1
.3
.1
.2
.3
.3
.1
.1
.1
(>)
.1
.4
.7
.1
.1
(>)
0)
(2)
.2
.3
.5
.1
.1
.1
.4
N o n m a n u f a c t u r in g
Metal mining.
. _____ . . . . . . .
Iron m ining... . . . _______________
Copper mining
.....
Lead and zinc mining_____________
Anthracite mining____________________
Bituminous-coalmining __ _ _ . _ ____
Communication:
Telephone. _ _____________________
Telegraph 5__ ___________________
0)
(')
1.7
1.7
(')
0)
1 Not available.
2 Less than 0.05.
3 February 1955 rates revised as follows: Total separation 3.8; Quit 0.7; and
Layoff 2.0.
* February 1955 rates are: 5.7, 2.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0, and 0.8, respectively.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.2
1.3
0)
0)
.2
.1
.3
.1
(2)
.4
.2
(2)
.1
.1
(2)
:2
2.3
1.6
(>)
(0
.1
.2
(>)
(>)
.1
.2
5 Data relate to domestic employees except messengers and those compen
sated entirely on a commission basis.
N ote.—See footnote 1 and note on table B -l, p.714. For industries in
cluded in the durable- and nondurable-goods categories, see table A-2, foot
notes 2 and 3 (exceptions are contained in the note to table B -l).
842
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
C : Earnings and Honrs
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1
Mining
Metal
Year and month
1953: Average_____
1954: Average...........
April_______
M ay________
June________
July------------August___ __
September___
October_____
November___
December___
1955: January_____
February____
March______
A p r i l s ___ _
Total: Metal
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
43.4
$88. 54
84. 46 40.8
80. 99 39.7
39.9
81.40
83.64
40.6
83. 42 40.3
83.64
40.8
40.2
83.62
83. 41
40. 1
84. 85 40.6
87. 57 41.7
90.31
42.8
88.20
42.0
87.78
41.6
87.14
41.3
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$2. 04
2. 07
2. 04
2. 04
2. 06
2. 07
2. 05
2. 08
2.08
2. 09
2.10
2.11
2.10
2. 11
2. 11
Coal
Iron
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
$90. 74
42. 4
82.03
37.8
76. 74 36.2
77.80
36.7
81.32
38.0
83. 82
38.1
38 4
82. 94
36. 4
80.81
36.5
80.30
78. 94 35.4
36.9
81.92
86.19
39.0
83.98
38.0
83.60
38.0
82. 21
37.2
Copper
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$2.14
2.17
2.12
2.12
2.14
2.20
2.16
2. 22
2.20
2.23
2. 22
2. 21
2. 21
2. 20
2.21
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
$91. 60 45.8
87. 33
42.6
41. 5
84. 25
84. 25
41.5
87. 34 42.4
83. 03
40.5
84. 22 41.9
87. 54 42.7
86. 94 42.0
90.25
43.6
91.10
43.8
95. 72 45.8
44.5
91. 67
92. 38 44.2
92.14
44.3
Lead and zinc
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$2.00
2. 05
2. 03
2. 03
2. 06
2. 05
2. 01
2. 05
2. 07
2. 07
2. 08
2.09
2. 06
2.09
2.08
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
$80.06
41.7
40.6
76. 73
75. 24
39.6
75. 76
40.3
39.4
74. 07
74. 19 40.1
75. 20
40.0
74. 03
39.8
75. 30
40.7
80. 56 42.4
83. 96
43.5
83. 30
42.5
82. 06
42.3
41.9
81. 29
81.09
41.8
Mining—Continued
1953: Average_____
1954: Average.........
April_______
M ay________
June________
July------------A u g u st--___
September___
October_____
November___
December___
1955: January_____
F ebruary____
M arch____ ApriL__ .. - -
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
29.4
$72. 91
75.60
30.0
64. 45
26.2
62. 74
25.4
96.20
36.3
73. 58 29.2
82.50
33.0
56. 88
23.6
34.1
86. 27
85. 26 33.7
89. 86 35.1
76.88
31.9
94. 74 36.3
31.9
80. 07
74.91
28. 7
Bituminous
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$2. 48
2. 52
2. 46
2. 47
2. 65
2. 52
2.50
2. 41
2. 53
2. 53
2. 56
2. 41
2. 61
2. 51
2. 61
1953: Average.......... $91. 76
1954: Average_____ 94.12
April-.............. 93.91
M av__
94. 69
June________ 95.72
J u l y - ............. 95. 20
A ugust- __
96.20
September___ 94. 32
October_____
96.26
November___ 94.15
December___ 95.40
1955: January_____ 93.02
February____ 91.96
March______
94.42
April_______
93.10
37.0
36.2
36.4
36.7
37.1
36.9
37.0
36.0
36.6
35.8
36.0
35.1
34.7
35.9
35.4
37.5
36.2
36.7
36.6
36.9
36.7
36.9
35.6
36.5
35.7
35.9
35.0
34.1
35.8
35.0
$2. 34
2.47
2.44
2. 45
2. 44
2.44
2. 48
2.50
2. 51
2. 51
3.53
2.53
2. 51
2.49
2.49
Total: Special-trade
contractors
$94. 79 36.6 $2. 59
98.01
36.3
2. 70
97.28
36.3
2.68
98. 36 36.7
2. 68
99.70
37.2
2.68
37.1
99.43
2.68
99. 53 37.0
2.69
2. 71
98. 10 36.2
99.46
36.7
2. 71
97.02
35.8
2. 71
98.28
36.0
2. 73
96.10
35.2
2.73
95. 55 35.0
2. 73
97. 92 36.0
2. 72
97.10
35.7
2. 72
Special-trade con
tractors—Continued
1953: Average_____ $91.04
35.7
1954: Average_____ 93.19
35.3
April_______
35.4
93.10
M ay________ 94. 68 36.0
June______ _ 95.89
36.6
July________
36.7
96.15
August______ 96.10
36.4
September___ 94.08
35.5
October_____ 94.87
35.8
November___ 93.90
35.3
December___ 91. 77 34.5
1955: January_____ 88.78
33.5
February____ 89.24
33.3
M a rc h _____
93. 37 35.1
April__ ____
92. 92 34.8
See footnotes at end of table.
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$2.48
2. 48
2. 48
2.47
2.50
2.48
2.48
2.49
2. 48
2. 48
2.48
2. 48
2.50
2. 49
2.50
Other nonbuilding
construction
$93. 85
39.6 $2.37
2.44
97. 36
39.9
2. 41
94. 71
39.3
2. 43
97.93
40.3
41.1
2. 44
100. 28
99. 39
2. 43
40.9
2. 44
100. 77
41.3
96.33
39.0
2.47
100. 53
40.7
2. 47
2. 47
98. 55 39.9
38.9
96. 08
2. 47
90.16
2. 45
36.8
94.11
38.1
2. 47
2.48
39.2
97.22
2.50
95. 25 38.1
Special-trade contractors
General contractors
$2.48 $87. 75
2.60 89.41
2.58 89. 55
2. 58 89. 67
2. 58 90. 04
2.58 89. 55
2.60 91. 51
2. 62 89.00
2.63 91.62
2. 63 89.61
2. 65 90.83
2.65 88. 55
2. 65 85. 59
2. 63 89.14
2. 63 87.15
Other special-trade
contractors
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
34.4
$85. 31
80. 85 32.6
71.67
28.9
76. 32
30.9
33.2
83.00
75. 39
30.4
82. 09
33.1
81.17
32.6
87. 54 35.3
88. 29
35.6
92. 01
37. 1
92. 01
37.1
94.50
37.8
91.88
36.9
93. 25 37.3
Contract construction
Petroleum and nat
Nonbuilding construction
ural-gas produc Nonmetallic mining Total: Contract con
tion (except con
and quarrying
struction
Total: Nonbuilding Highway and street
tract services)
construction
40.9 $2. 21 $75.99
$90. 39
44.7 $1.70 $91. 61
37.7 $2.43 $90. 27
40.3 $2. 24 $85. 28
41.2 $2.07
91. 94 40.5
2. 27 77. 44 44.0
1.76 93.98
37.0
2. 54 92. 86
2. 31 86.88
40.2
2.14
40.6
90. 45 40.2
2. 25 75. 08 43.4
1. 73 93. 24
2. 52 89.60
37.0
2. 28 82.53
39.3
2.10
39.3
94. 58 41.3
2. 29 77.88
1. 75 94. 50
44.5
37.5
2.52 94.19
2. 32 88. 97
40.6
41.0
2.17
2. 26 78. 58 44.9
40.1
90.63
1. 75 95.63
38. 1 2. 51 96. 56
41.8
2. 31 91.81
2.15
42.7
92. 57 40.6
2. 28 80. 46 45.2
1. 78 96.01
2.52 97.71
38.1
42.3
2. 31 95. 26
43.9
2.17
93. 98 41.4
2. 27 79.83
45.1
1. 77 96. 52 38.0
2. 54 97.21
41.9
2. 32 93.09
42. 7 2.18
93. 02
40.8
2. 28 79. 57
1. 78 93. 84
44.7
2. 55 92. 97 39.9
36.8
2. 33 88. 75
40.9
2.17
90. 85
40.2
2. 26 79. 92 44.9
37.4
1.78 95. 74
2. 56 94.13
40. 4 2. 33 86.62
40.1
2.16
90. 85
40.2
2.26 78. 59 44.4
1. 77 94. 32 36.7
2. 34 88. 94
2. 57 94. 30
40.3
2.18
40.8
90. 68 40.3
2.25 76. 38
43. 4 1. 76 94. 28 36.4
2. 33 80. 51
2.59 89. 47 38.4
2.13
37.8
41.7
95. 49
2.29 75.05
42.4
1. 77 91.69
35.4
2. 59 85. 01
2.31 76.70
36.8
2. 09
36.7
89. 38
39.9
2.24 74.05
2. 59 88. 31
1. 78 91. 43 35.3
41.6
2. 33 78. 79 37.7
37.9
2.09
91.43
40.1
2.28 77.17
1.77 94.06
43.6
2. 57 91.48
36.6
39.6
2.31 83.21
2. 07
40.2
94.07
2.34 79.12
40.2
1.79 92. 26 35.9
44.2
2. 57 89.15
2.34 81.53
38.1
2.14
38.1
Building construction
Total: Building con
struction
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.92
1.89
1.90
1.88
1.88
1. 85
1.88
1.86
1. 85
1.90
1.93
1. 96
1.94
1.94
1.94
Anthracite
Plumbing and heat Painting and decor
Electrical work
ing
ating
$98.30
38. 1 $2. 58 $87.10
34.7 $2. 51 $111.61
39.3 $2.84
102. 71
37.9
2.71 90. 39 34.5
2.62 112.71
38.6
2. 92
101.41
37.7
2. 69 89. 27 34.6
2.58 110.98
38.4
2.89
101.95
37.9
2. 69 89.78
34.8
2.58 113. 59 38.9
2. 92
103. 41
38.3
2.70 92.04
35.4
2.60 113.39
39. 1 2. 90
103.14
38.2
2. 70 92.39
35.4
2.61 112.40
38. 1 2. 95
2.71 92.31
103. 52 38.2
2. 63 113.88
39.0
35.1
2.92
102. 92 37.7
2.73 92.57
34.8
2.66 110.08
37.7
2.92
103.63
38.1
2. 72 92.75
2.65 115.05
35.0
2. 95
39.0
100.10
36.8
2. 72 90.37
34.1
2. 65 112.18
2. 96
37.9
107. 20 38.7
2. 77 91.12
34.0
38.8
2.68 113.30
2. 92
105. 64 38.0
2.78 86.72
2.66 113.00
32.6
38.7
2. 92
103. 40 37.6
33.6
2. 75 90.05
2.68 111.25
38.1
2.92
103.40
37.6
2. 75 92.38
34.6
2.67 113.10
2. 93
38.6
102.85
37.4
33.9
2. 75 90. 51
2.67 112.81
2.93
38.5
Manufacturing
Total: Manufac
turing
$2. 55 $71.69
2.64 71.86
2.63 70.20
2.63 71.13
2.62 71.50
2.62 70.92
2.64 71.06
2.65 71.86
2. 65 72.22
2.66 73. 57
2.66 74.12
2.65 73.97
2.68 74. 74
2.66 75.11
2. 67 74. 77
40.5
39.7
39.0
39.3
39.5
39.4
39.7
39.7
39.9
40.2
40.5
40.2
40.4
40.6
40.2
Durable goods 3
$1.77 $77. 23
1.81 77.18
1.80 75. 43
1.81 76.21
1.81 76.40
1.80 75.83
1.79 76. 59
1.81 77.39
1.81 77.97
1.83 79. 15
1.83 80.15
1.84 80.16
1.85 80. 56
1.85 81.56
1.86 80. 97
41.3
40.2
39.7
39.9
40.0
39.7
40.1
40.1
40.4
40.8
41.1
40.9
41.1
41.4
41.1
Nondurable goods 3
$1.87 $63. 60
1.92 64. 74
1.90 62.87
1.91 63.91
1.91 64. 57
1.91 64. 74
1. 91 64.68
1.93 65. 24
1.93 65.07
1.94 65. 97
1.95 66. 47
1.96 66.02
1.96 66.36
1.97 66.70
1.97 65.91
Total: Ordnance
and accessories
39.5 $1.61 $77. 90
39.0
1.66 79. 60
38. 1 1.65 78. 21
38.5
1.66 78.80
38.9
1.66 79.40
39.0
1.66 79.80
39.2
1.65 80.20
39.3
1.66 80.60
39.2
1.66 81.41
39.5
1.67 81.81
39.8
1.67 82.21
39.3
1.68 81.20
39.5
1.68 82.22
39.7
1.68 82.42
39.0
1.69 82. 22
41.0
40.2
39.7
40.0
40.1
40.1
40.1
40.1
40.5
40.7
40.7
40.0
40.5
40.6
40.5
$1.90
1.98
1.97
1.97
1.98
1.99
2.00
2.01
2.01
2.01
2.02
2.03
2.03
2.03
2.03
Food and kindred
products
Total: Food and
kindred products
$66.33
41.2 $1.61
68. 47
41.0
1.67
67. 54
40.2
1.68
68. 54 40.8
1.68
41.4
1.67
69.14
69.31
41.5
1.67
67. 57
41.2
1.64
68.48
41.5
1.65
40.9
68.30
1.67
70.04
41.2
1.70
70. 79 41.4
1.71
1.72
70.18
40.8
70.07
40.5
1.73
70.07
1.73
40.5
1.74
70.12
40.3
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
843
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees *■—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Food and kindred products—Continued
Year and month
Meat products 4
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1953: Average_____ $74. 57
1954: Average......... 76. 86
April........ ...... 72. 65
May _______ 74. 74
June................ 75. 8£
July------------- 77. 98
August______ 76.07
September___ 77. 87
October........... 78.02
November___ 83.03
December. . . . 81. 75
1955: January ___
79. 65
February____ 76. 00
M arch______
77. 76
April__ _____ 76. 59
41.2
41.1
39.5
40.4
41.0
41. 7
40.9
41.2
41.5
42.8
42.8
41.7
40.0
40.5
40.1
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn earn hours
ings
ings
$1.81
1.87
1. 84
1.85
1.85
1.87
1.86
1.89
1.88
1.94
1.91
1.91
1.90
1.92
1.91
Canning and pre
serving 4
1953: Average_____ $53.18
1954: Average_____
54. 57
April________ 53. 00
M a y _______ 54. 86
June................ 53. 27
July------------- 54. 77
August............ 56.03
September___ 56.30
October ......... 53.13
November___ 51. 75
December... . 55. 39
1955: January_____ 54. 67
February........ 56.15
March _ _ . 56.24
April ______
57.38
39.1
38.7
36.3
38.1
38.6
39.4
40.6
40.8
38.5
36.7
38.2
37.7
38.2
38.0
37.5
Meatpacking, whole
sale
$77. 6f
79. 71
74.86
76. 97
78. 50
81.09
78. 91
81.14
81.71
86.83
85.10
83.10
78.78
81.16
79.38
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
41.3
41.3
39.4
40.3
41.
41.8
41.1
41.4
41.9
43.2
43.2
42.4
40.4
41.2
40.5
$1.88 $73.39
1.93 76.22
1.9C 73. 93
1.91 76. 36
1. 91 76.41
1.94 77.83
1.92 76. 96
1. 96 76. 78
1.95 76.30
2. 01 79. 80
1.97 79.00
1.96 78.09
1.95 76. 00
1.97 75.41
1.96 76.40
Seafood, canned and
cured
$1.36 $45. 00
1.41 46. 82
1.46 42.63
1.44 46.63
1.38 44.87
1.39 56. 36
1.38 45.60
1.38 46.66
1.38 38. 09
1. 41 48. 64
1. 45 54. 28
1.45 44. 95
1.47 48.47
1.48 49.38
1.53 55.44
Sausages and casings
29.8
30.4
27. 5
29.7
31.6
36.6
30.4
30.7
27.4
29.3
32.7
29.0
32.1
32.7
33.6
$1.51
1. 54
1. 55
1. 57
1.42
1.54
1.50
1.52
1.39
1.66
1.66
1.55
1. 51
1.51
1.65
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
41.7
41.2
40.4
41.5
41.3
42.3
41.6
41.5
40.8
42.0
41.8
41.1
40.0
39.9
40.0
$1. 76
1.85
1.83
1.84
1.85
1.84
1.85
1.85
1.87
1.90
1.89
1.90
1.90
1.89
1.91
Canned fruits, vege
tables, and soups
$55. 76
56.82
55. 63
57.31
56.70
54. 94
57. 82
58.38
55. 60
53. 27
56.91
58.15
58.90
59.40
59.75
Dairy products 4
$68.05
70. 04
68. 85
69. 01
71.36
71.81
69. 98
71.07
70. 47
68. 26
69. 34
70. 58
71. 45
71.28
71.21
Bakery products 4 Bread and other bakery Biscuits, crackers, and
products
1953: Average.......... $64.84
1954: Average_____
67.89
April_______
67.08
M ay_______
67.65
June________
68. 31
July________
68.64
August______ 68.14
September___ 68.88
October_____
68.38
November___ 68.21
December___
69.12
1955: Jan u ary ......... 68.28
February........ 68.85
March
_ . 68.28
A pril... _____ 68.11
41.3
40.9
40.9
41.0
41.4
41.1
40.8
41.0
40.7
40.6
40.9
40.4
40.5
40.4
40.3
$1.57 $66. 24
1.66 69.22
1.64 68.39
1.65 69.14
1.65 69. 72
1.67 70. 21
1.67 70.04
1. 68 70. 62
1.68 70.11
1.68 70.11
1.69 70. 62
1. 69 70.00
1. 70 70.41
1.69 70.00
1.69 70. 00
C onfectionery a n d
related products 4
1953: Average_____ $53. 45
1954: Average_____
55.81
April_______
55.34
M ay________ 55.34
June________ 57.17
Ju ly ------------- 54. 91
August______ 55. 95
September___ 57.08
October......... . 55.55
November___ 55.44
December....... 56.26
1955: January_____ 56.77
February........ 57.60
M arch______
56.88
April_____ __ 55. 39
39.3
39.3
38.7
38.7
39.7
38.4
39.4
40. 2
39.4
39.6
39.9
39.7
40.0
39.5
38.2
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$1.36
1. 42
1.43
1.43
1.44
1. 43
1. 42
1.42
1.41
1.40
1.41
1. 43
1.44
1.44
1.45
$1.60 $58.92
1.68 61.45
1.66 60. 83
1.67 60. 68
1. 68 63. 24
1. 70 61.75
1. 70 60. 76
1. 71 62. 40
1. 71 61. 93
1.71 61.00
1. 71 61.39
1. 72 61.54
1. 73 62.33
1. 72 61. 54
1.72 60. 22
Confectionery
$51. 74
53.70
53.93
53.13
55.04
51.79
53. 70
54.94
53.84
53. 46
54.26
54. 65
55.60
54. 77
53.76
39.2
39.2
38.8
38.5
39.6
37.8
39.2
40. 1
39.3
39.6
39.9
39.6
40.0
39.4
38.4
$1. 32
1.37
1.39
1.38
1. 39
1.37
1.37
1.37
1.37
1.35
1.36
1.38
1.39
1.39
1.40
41.2
39.9
39.5
39.4
40.8
40.1
39.2
40.0
39.7
39.1
39.1
39.2
39.7
39.2
38.6
$1.43 $71.18
1. 54 73.01
1. 54 68.99
1. 54 72. 92
1.55 72. 63
1.54 72.57
1.55 71. 75
1.56 72. 75
1.56 68.06
1.56 78.16
1.57 73. 78
1.57 74. 45
1.57 73. 51
1.57 73. 71
1.56 73.16
Beverages 4
41.1
$76.04
78.59
40.3
78. 57
40.5
78.18
40.3
80. 56
41.1
82. 17 41.5
78. 76 40.6
79.17
40.6
78. 78
40.4
79.00
39.9
78. 21 39.5
77.62
39.4
78. 61 39.7
80.00 . 40.2
81.00
40.3
$1. 55
1.61
1. 59
1. 59
1.60
1.61
1.62
1.63
1.62
1.61
1. 62
1.63
1.65
1.65
1.66
44.1
44.3
43.6
44.2
45.7
45.4
44.4
45.3
44.3
43.7
43.3
43.5
43.2
42.9
43.7
$69. 77
71.73
70. 51
71. 75
75. 05
74.08
71.42
74. 54
70.31
70. 44
70.44
72. 45
71.81
72.13
73.68
$1. 62 $75.65
1.68 79. 74
1.65 74.70
1.66 76. 39
1.67 78. 23
1.69 81.35
1.68 79. 57
1. 71 84.64
1.70 82.45
1. 73 84. 73
1.72 80. 55
1.73 82.08
1.73 79. 74
1.72 77. 69
1.73 78.12
Sugar 4
pretzels
41.4
41.2
41.2
41.4
41.5
41.3
41. 2
41.3
41.0
41.0
41.3
40.7
40.7
40.7
40.7
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
43.4
43.2
39.2
41.2
41.5
41.0
41.0
41.1
41.5
50.1
47.6
42.3
41.3
40.5
40.2
45.9
45.4
45.2
45.7
47.2
46.3
45.2
46.3
44.5
44.3
44.3
45.0
44.6
44.8
45.2
$1.52 $68. 37
1. 58 71.57
1. 56 70.38
1.57 69.63
1. 59 72.14
1.60 74.26
1. 58 70. 81
1. 61 72. 84
1. 58 71.74
1. 59 70. 47
1.59 71.40
1.61 71.23
1.61 73. 70
1.61 71. 40
1.63 72.24
Bottled soft drinks
$1. 85 $60. 49
1. 95 61. 57
1. 94 61.30
1.94 60.42
1. 96 63. 62
1.98 63.94
1. 94 62.03
1. 95 61.63
1.95 61.59
1. 98 59. 94
1. 98 60.75
1.97 59.24
1.98 59.83
1.99 61.15
2.01 61.27
42.6
41.6
41.7
41.1
42.7
43.2
42.2
42.5
41.9
40.5
40.5
40.3
40.7
41.6
41.4
44.5
44.8
44.2
43.9
44.7
45.7
44.7
46.0
45.3
45.8
44.5
45.1
44.3
43.4
43.4
$1.42
1.48
1. 47
1.47
1.49
1.48
1.47
1.45
1.47
1. 48
1.50
1.47!
1.471
1.47
1.48
42.1
41.0
39.3
41.8
42.0
41.7
41.1
41.4
39.8
41.8
40.3
39.6
40.6
40.5
39.3
M alt liquors
$89. 79
92.80
92.46
92. 92
95.30
97.00
93.03
93.60
91.80
92.20
93. 53
91. 96
93.06
94.40
96. 72
41.0
40.0
40.2
40.4
40.9
41.1
40.1
40.0
39.4
39.4
39.8
39.3
39.6
40.0
40.3
43.0
42.6
42.4
42.2
43.2
44.2
42.4
43.1
42.7
41.7
42.0
41.9
42.6
42.0
42.0
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.59
1.68
1. 66
1.65
1. 67
1.68
1.67
1.69
1.68
1.69
1.70
1.70
1.73
1.70
1.72
Prepared feeds
$1.70 $69. 30
1.78 71.87
1.69 70. 47
1. 74 70. 53
1. 75 74.10
1.78 72. 85
1.78 72.05
1.84 73. 92
1.82 72.19
1.85 71.44
1.81 71. 72
1.82 70. 79
1.80 71.34
1. 79 72.00
1.80 74.70
Cane-sugar refining
$1. 64 $74. 94
1.69 76.26
1. 76 72.31
1. 77 77. 33
1. 75 76.86
1. 77 77.15
1. 75 75.62
1.77 77.00
1.64 74.03
1.56 79. 84
1. 55 74.96
1. 76 73.66
1.78 77.14
1.82 77. 76
1.82 75.85
Ice cream and ices
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
and other grainGrain-mill products4 Flour
m ill products
$1.37 $71. 44
1.41 74. 42
1.46 71.94
1.44 73.37
1.40 76. 32
1.37 76.73
1.39 74. 59
1.39 77. 46
1.39 75.31
1.38 75. 60
1.43 74. 48
1.45 75. 26
1.48 74. 74
1.50 73. 79
1.54 75. 60
40.7
40.3
38.1
39.8
40.5
40.1
41.7
42.0
40.0
38.6
39.8
40.1
39.8
39.6
38.8
43.9
43.5
43.3
43.4
44.6
44.6
43.2
43.6
43.5
42.4
42.8
43.3
43.3
43.2
42.9
Condensed and evap
orated milk
45.0
45.2
44.6
45.5
47.5
46.4
45.6
46.2
45.4
44 1
44.0
43.7
43.5
43.9
45.0
$1.54
1.59
1.58
1.55
1.56
1.57
1.58
1.60
1.59
1. 62
1.63
1.62
1.64
1. 64
1.66
Beet sugar
$1. 78 $69. 80
1.86 73.08
1.84 66.97
1.85 71.38
1. 83 70.88
1. 85 70. 80
1.84 72.16
1.86 71. 28
1.86 67. 78
1. 91 80. 02
1. 86 75.14
1. 86 81.09
1.90 72. 71
1.92 71.61
1.93 75.44
42.3
43.5
37.0
40.1
40.5
40.0
41.0
40.5
42.9
49.7
46.1
44.8
39.3
38.5
41.0
$1.65
1.68
1.81
1. 78
1.75
1. 77
1. 76
1.76
1.58
1.61
1.63
1. 81
1.85
1.86
1.84
Distilled, rectified, and
blended liquors
$2.19 $71.42
2.32 74. 88
2.30 75. 26
2.30 73.53
2.33 74.31
2. 36 75. 66
2.32 73. 73
2.34 74.11
2.33 76.25
2. 34 80.60
2.35 72.64
2.34 75. 75
2.35 77.37
2. 36 77.37
2.40 77. 55
38.4
38.6
39. 2
38.7
38.5
39.2
38.4
38.2
39.1
40.1
36.5
37.5
38.3
38.3
38.2
$1.86
1.94
1. 92
1.90
1.93
1.93
1. 92
1.94
1.95
2.01
1.99
2.02
2.02
2. 02
2. 03
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
844
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
M anufacturing—C ontinued
Tobacco manufactures
Food and kindred products—Continued
Year and month
Miscellaneous food
products 4
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn- hours
ings
1953: Average_____ $63.12
1954: Average___ - 66.36
April_______
65.16
M ay________ 65. 78
65.31
June_____ _
66.10
J u l y . . . ____
66. 99
A u g u s t...__
September___ 66. 94
October_____ 67.68
November___ 68. 26
December___
66. 98
66. 82
1955: Ja n u a ry ____
February___
66. 65
M a rc h __
65. 19
April_______
65.19
Avg.
hrly.
earnings
41.8
42.0
41.5
41.9
41.6
42.1
42.4
42.1
42.3
42.4
41.6
41.5
41.4
41.0
41.0
Corn sirup, sugar, oil,
and starch
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn- hours
ings
$1. 51 $80.94
1.58 83.69
1.57 79.49
1.57 82.84
1.57 80.90
1.57 84.74
1.58 90. 29
1.59 84.97
1.60 86. 96
1.61 85. 73
1.61 82. 06
1.61 81.09
1.61 82.10
1.59 80.48
1.59 79. 71
Avg.
hrly.
earnings
42.6
42.7
41.4
42.7
41.7
42.8
45.6
42.7
43.7
43.3
42.3
41.8
42.1
41. 7
41.3
Manufactured ice
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn- hours
ings
$1.90 $63.34
1.96 65.64
1.92 65.42
1.94 65.71
1.94 64.18
1.98 67.45
1.98 66.46
1.99 66. 27
1.99 65.86
1.98 65. 85
1.94 66. 28
1.94 65. 56
1.95 65.83
1.93 64. 92
1.93 64. 49
45.9
45.9
46.4
46.6
45.2
47.5
46.8
45.7
44.8
45.1
45.4
44.6
45.4
45. 4
45.1
Avg.
hrly.
earnings
Total: Tobacco
manufactures
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn- hours
ings
$1.38 $47.37
1.43 49. 01
1.41 49. 01
1.41 49. 98
1.42 51.71
1.42 51.54
1.42 49. 67
1.45 48.86
1.47 49. 72
1.46 47. 60
1.46 49. 92
1.47 50.14
1.45 49. 58
1.43 51.51
1.43 51. 57
1953: Average_____ $50. 90
52. 73
1954: A verage----51.80
April_______
M ay________ 53. 02
53. 02
June_______
July_______
51.97
August______ 55.10
September___ 55.63
October_____
54. 53
November___ 53.20
December.._ . 54. 20
53. 28
1955: January__ _
February..- __ 50. 54
M arch__
53.80
April________ 54. 23
37.7
37.4
37.0
37.6
37.6
36.6
38.8
38.9
38.4
37.2
37.9
37.0
35.1
37.1
37.4
Tobacco stemming
and redrying
$1.35 $39. 73
1.41 39.43
1.40 44.53
1.41 45.14
1.41 47. 00
1.42 42.12
1.42 37.86
1.43 38. 21
1.42 39. 96
1.43 34.17
1.43 39. 59
1.44 39. 70
1.44 40. 43
1.45 44. 04
1.45 46.74
38.2
37.2
36.2
36.4
37.9
35.1
36.4
39.8
41.2
33.5
37.7
37.1
36.1
36.4
36.8
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn- hours
ings
38.8
39.3
38.1
38.5
40.7
41.3
41.9
41.3
41.1
38.2
41.3
40.2
38.8
40.1
39.1
$1.24 $58. 59
1.30 63.27
1.35 60.96
1.34 61.60
1.35 65.53
1.36 67.32
1.29 68.30
1.24 66. 91
1.24 66. 99
1.29 61. 88
1.30 67.73
1.33 66. 33
1.34 b3. 63
1.37 65. 76
1.39 64. 52
Total: Textile-mill
products
$1.04 $53. 57
1.06 52. 09
1.23 50.46
1.24 51.10
1.24 51.41
1.20 51.41
1.04 52. 36
.96 52. 50
.97 53. 70
1.02 54.53
1.05 55.07
1.07 54.25
1.12 55. 20
1. 21 54. 80
1.27 53.16
39.1
38.3
37.1
37.3
37.8
37.8
38.5
38.6
39.2
39.8
40.2
39.6
40.0
40.0
38.8
Scouring and comb
ing plants
1953: A v erag e.___ $49. 53
1954: Average... . . . 47.50
April___ __
45.47
M ay________ 47.37
June_______
47. 63
48.01
July __ ___
August....... .
49.28
September___ 49. 02
October____
44.80
47.74
November__
50.82
December___
1955: January_____ 51. 21
52.13
February___
M arch__ _
52. 65
April_______
50. 83
39.0
37.4
35.8
37.3
37.5
37. 8
38.5
38.3
35.0
37.3
39.7
39.7
40.1
40. 5
39.4
$1. 27 $52. 80
1.27 50.69
1.27 48. 73
1.27 48. 97
1.27 49. 63
1. 27 49. 52
1.28 50. 69
1. 28 51.08
1.28 52.14
1. 28 53. 20
1.28 53.59
1. 29 52.67
1.30 53.33
1. 30 52. 93
1.29 52. 00
Narrow fabrics and
small wares
$1.37 $62. 01
1.36 60. 53
1.36 58.09
1.37 61.30
1.36 65. 03
1.36 65. 51
1.36 62. 78
1.36 60. 61
1.37 55.03
1.37 56.25
1.37 60. 28
1.37 63. 29
1.38 62. 22
1.37 61. 35
1.37 60.34
39.0
38.8
37.0
38.8
40.9
43.1
41.3
39.1
35.5
35.6
39.4
41.1
40.4
40.1
39.7
$1. 59 $48. 39
1.56 46. 00
1.57 43.90
1.58 45.00
1.59 45.50
1.52 45. 88
1.52 46.88
1.55 46. 75
1.55 47.00
1.58 48.13
1.53 49.00
1.54 49. 01
1.54 49. 77
1.53 49. 77
1.52 48. 64
39.8
1953: A verage____ $54.53
39.4
1954: Average. ___ 54.37
53.96
39.1
April .. ____
54.65
39.6
M ay_______
39.3
June________ 54.23
53.68
38.9
July________
53. 98 39.4
A ugust..
54.39
39.7
September__
39.0
54.60
October . _
39.5
November___ 55.30
40.1
December - . . . 55.74
54. 92 39.8
1955: J a n u a ry .___
40.7
February____ 56.17
56.03
40.6
March ____
54. 92
A p r i l ____
___
39.8
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$1.37 $48. 75
1.38 48.60
1.38 46. 73
1.38 47.65
1.38 48. 34
1.38 47.58
1.37 48. 88
1.37 49.13
1.40 50.17
1.40 50. 82
1.39 50. 56
1.38 49.37
1.38 50. 81
1.38 50.69
1.38 48.05
mins *
37.5
37.1
35.4
36.1
36.9
36.6
37.6
37.5
38.3
38.5
38.3
37.4
38.2
38.4
36.4
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
37.8 $1.13
36. 8 1.15
1.16
34.7
1.15
36.6
1.15
36.7
1.15
36.4
37.3
1.15
1.16
37.7
1.16
38.5
1.18
38.1
1.16
36.7
1.16
36.1
1.17
36.2
1.17
36.0
1.17
35. 4
38.1
36.8
35.4
36.0
36.4
37.0
37.5
37.1
37.6
38.5
39.2
38.9
39.5
39.5
38.6
39.3 $1.30 $56.37
38.2
1. 29 55.10
37.0
1.28 53.44
1.29 53. 72
36.7
1. 28 54.53
37.1
37.4
1.28 54.14
1.29 54. 57
38.1
38.4
1.29 55.38
39.5
1.29 55. 81
1.3C 57.77
40. 2
40.4
1.3C 58. 06
1.30 57.51
39.8
40. C 1.31 57.92
39. 9
1.3C 57. 23
38.8
1.30 54. 29
39.7
38.8
37.9
38.1
38.4
38.4
38.7
39.0
39.3
40.4
40.6
40.5
40.5
40. a
38.5
$1.30 $56. 70
1.31 55. 50
1.32 54.55
1.32 55.12
1.31 54.09
1.30 52. 98
1.30 54.46
1.31 54.31
1.31 54. 96
1.32 56. 79
1.32 57. 92
1.32 56. 45
1. 33 58.31
1.32 58. 46
1.32 54. 24
37.3
37.5
36.6
36.5
36.3
35.8
36.8
37. 2
37. 9
38.9
39.4
38.4
39.4
39.5
36.9
$1.52 $57.00
1.48 55.65
1.49 52. 35
1.51 54.87
1.49 54. 96
1.48 54. 81
1.48 53. 79
1. 46 54. 24
1.45 53.00
1.46 56. 45
1.47 57.18
1.47 55. 20
1.4S 56. 92
1.48 56.09
1.47 54. 75
$1.42 $49.78
1.42 47.88
1.41 46.00
1.41 45.86
1. 42 46.13
1.41 46. 50
1.41 47.88
1.42 48. 26
1.42 50.17
1. 45 51. 05
1.43 51.31
1.42 50.42
1.45 51.07
1.42 50. 55
1.41 49. 79
39. 2
38.0
36.8
36.4
36.9
37.2
38.0
38.3
39.5
40.2
40.4
39.7
39.9
39.8
38.9
36. a
36.1
36.9
36.3
38.4
38.9
37. a
38.2
37.9
37.5
7
38.0
36. 5
35.2
35.6
36.1
36.7
37.3
36.9
37.7
38.4
38.9
38.7
39.4
39.4
38.7
$1.27
1.25
1.24
1.25
1.25
1.24
1.24
1.26
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.26
» i n n r nf njJ
$1. 52 $56. 24
1. 50i 55.80
1.5C ¡ 56.02
1.52 55. 20
1. 51 53.58
1. 5i 5 1 . 8 a
1.4£ 54. 68
1.47 54. 46
1.46 56.12
1.47 56. 84
1.47 58.36
1.48 56.79
1.49 59.20
1.48 59. 64
1.46 53.8C
$1.27 $61. 93
1.26 61.05
1.25 60. 06
1.26 62.16
1.25 62.68
1.25 60.65
1.26 60. 55
1.26 61.41
1. 27 60.80
1.27 61. 86
1.27 62. 67
1. 27 61.31
1.28 61.65
1.27 62.21
1.28 61.91
39.7
39.9
39.0
40. 1
40.7
39.9
40.1
40.4
40.0
40.7
41.5
40.6
41.1
41.2
41.0
$1.56
1.53
1. 54
1.55
1.54
1. 52
1.51
1. 52
1. 52
1.52
1.51
1.51
1.50
1.51
1.51
Seamless hosiery
South
North
37.5
37.1
34. £
36.1
36.4
$1.27 $48. 26
1.25 45. 63
1.24 43.65
1.25 44. 50
1.25 45.13
1.24 45. 51
1.25 46. 25
1.26 46.49
1.25 47.13
1.25 48.00
1.25 48.63
1.26 48.38
1.26 49. 25
1.26 49. 25
1.26 48.76
TTr
Full-fashioned hosiery
United States
Yarn mills
South
North
United States
39.4 $1.34 $51. 09
1.32 49. 28
38.4
37. 2
1.31 47. 36
1.32 47.34
37.1
1.32 47.49
37.6
37.8
1.31 47.87
1.32 49.15
38.4
1.32 49. 54
38.7
1.32 50. 96
39.5
46.3
1.32 52. 26
1.32
52. 52
40.6
1.32 51. 74
39.9
40. 1 1.33 52. 4C
40. 1 1.32 51.87
39. 1 1.33 50. 44
K n ittin g
$1.51 $42. 71
1.61 42.32
1.60 40.25
1.60 42.09
1.61 42. 21
1.63 41.86
1.63 42. 90
1.62 43. 73
1.63 44.66
1.62 44.96
1.64 42. 57
1.65 41.88
1.64 42.35
1.64 42. 12
1.65 41.42
Yarn and thread
mills 4
Cotton, silk, synthetic fiber
Broad-woven fabric
mills 4
i nreaa mues
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
Textile-mill products
Tobacco manufactures—Continued
Tobacco and snuff
38.2
37.7
36.3
37.3
38.3
37.9
38.5
39.4
40.1
36.9
38.4
37.7
37.0
37.6
37.1
Avg.
hrly.
earnings
Cigars
Cigarettes
37.0
37.7
37.6
36. 8
36.2
35.5
37. 2
37.3
38.7
39.2
39.7
38.9
40.0
40.3
36.6
United States
$1.52 $40. 26
1.48 40. 77
1. 4£ 37.97
1. 50 39.31
1.48 40. 63
1.46 39.7 4
1.47 41.78
1. 46 41.58
1.45 43. 66
1. 45 43.66
1.47 43. 09
1.46 42.11
1.48 42. 57
1.48 42.09
1.47 38. 76
36.6 $1.10
1.12
36.4
1.12
33.9
35. 1 1.12
1.11
36.6
35.8
1.11
1.12
37. a
36.8
1.13
1.14
38.3
38.3
1.14
37.8
1.14
36.3
1.16
1.16
36.7
1.15
36.6
33.7
1.15
845
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
T able C -l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees ^ C on tin u ed
M anufacturing—Continued
Textile-mill products—Continued
S e a m le s s h o s ier y — Continued
Year and month
K n it u n derw ear
K n i t o u te r w e a r
North
South
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn earn hours
ings
ings
1953: Average-------- $43.88
1954: Average_____ 43.07
April_______
39.63
M ay________ 42.72
June_____ _
44.25
43.88
July________
August______ 44.46
September___ 43. 52
O c to b e r.___
44. 72
November___ 44.25
December___
43.44
1955: January_____ 43. 32
February____ 43.80
M arch_____
44. 77
April_______
45. 96
37.5
36.5
33.3
36.2
37.5
37.5
38.0
37.2
37.9
37.5
36.5
36.1
36.2
37.0
38.3
$1.17 $39.31
1.18 40.40
1.19 37.74
1.18 38.85
1.18 40.15
1.17 39.05
1.17 41.29
1.17 41.10
1.18 43.39
1.18 43.78
1.19 42.83
1.20 41.75
1.21 42.32
1.21 41.61
1.20 37.73
Carpets, rugs, other
floor coverings 4
1953: Average_____ $70. 58
1954: Average___ _ 69.95
April____
67.94
M ay________
68.38
June________
68.38
July------------- 69.13
August............ 71.63
September___ 73. 69
October. . .
72.28
November___ 70.47
December___
71.86
1955: January_____ 72. 69
February____ 71.69
M arch______
73. 25
A pril........... .
71.93
40.8
40.2
39.5
39.3
39.3
39.5
40.7
41.4
41.3
40.5
41.3
41.3
41.2
42.1
41.1
36.4
36.4
34.0
35.0
36.5
35.5
37.2
36.7
38.4
38.4
37.9
36.3
36.8
36.5
33.1
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
$1.08 $50.81
1.11 51.85
1.11 49.90
1.11 51.32
1.10 52.13
1.10 52.03
1.11 52. 72
1.12 53.65
1.13 53.38
1.14 54.00
1.13 52.36
1.15 51.10
1.15 51.57
1.14 52.16
1.14 50.23
W o o l c a rp e ts, ru g s,
an d carpet yarn
$1.73 $69.08
1.74 66.95
1.72 66.26
1.74 65.19
1.74 65.02
1.75 65. 57
1.76 67.99
1.78 69.65
1.75 67.82
1.74 65.84
1.74 69.20
1.76 70.30
1.74 70.12
1.74 71.40
1. 75 68. 78
39.7
38.7
38.3
37.9
37.8
37.9
39.3
39.8
39.2
38.5
40.0
40.4
40.3
40.8
39.3
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
38.2
37.3
35.9
36.4
37.5
37.7
38.2
38.6
38.4
38.3
37.4
36.5
37.1
37.8
36.4
$1.33 $45.12
1.39 44.53
1.39 41.97
1.41 43.68
1.39 45.02
1.38 44. 53
1.38 45.13
1.39 45.26
1.39 45.74
1.41 46. 49
1.40 45.13
1.40 45.87
1.39 47.72
1.38 48.19
1.38 46.34
Hats (except cloth
and millinery)
$1.74 $56.10
1.73 54.66
1. 73 46.11
1.72 52.39
1. 72 54. 96
1.73 53.76
1.73 59.90
1.75 54.60
1.73 53. 59
1.71 57.82
1.73 60.76
1.74 56.54
1.74 61.69
1.75 55.72
1.75 54.93
37.4
36.2
31.8
35.4
36.4
35.6
38.4
36.4
34.8
37.3
39.2
37.2
38.8
36.9
35.9
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
37.6
36.5
34.4
36.1
36.9
36.8
37.3
37.1
37.8
37.8
37.3
37.6
38.8
39.5
38.3
$1.20 $61. 65
1.22 61.61
1.22 59.85
1.21 59.55
1.22 59.90
1.21 60.00
1.21 61.16
1.22 61.31
1.21 62.67
1.23 65.18
1.21 66.22
1.22 64.30
1.23 65.33
1.22 63.72
1.21 61.31
Miscellaneous textile
goods 4
$1.50 $62.42
1.51 62. 56
1.45 60.68
1.48 61.23
1.51 61.69
1.51 61.70
1.56 61.85
1.50 62.56
1.54 62.87
1.55 64.06
1.55 65.89
1.52 65.10
1.59 66.78
1.51 66.30
1.53 64. 87
40.8
40.1
39.4
39.5
39.8
39.3
39.9
40.1
40.3
40.8
41.7
41.2
42.0
41.7
40.8
1953: Average....... . $65.19
1954: Average_____ 67. 89
April__ _____ 66. 66
M ay____ _ . 69.14
June________ 64. 71
July________
67. 60
August ______ 65. 67
September___ 64.19
October_____ 67. 57
November___ 70.73
75.41
December___
1955: January_____ 72. 76
February____ 77.33
March______
73. 70
April..... ......... 73. 87
41.0
40.9
40.4
41.4
39.7
40.0
39.8
38.9
41.2
42.1
44.1
42.8
44.7
43.1
43.2
$1. 59 $51.30
1.66 51.41
1.65 50.02
1.67 51. 73
1.63 51.29
1.69 52.03
1.65 50. 68
1.65 51.83
1.64 52.08
1.68 52. 58
1.71 53.20
1.70 53.20
1. 73 52. 45
1.71 53.07
1.71 50.22
M en’s and b o y s ’
fu rn ish in g s and
work clothing 4
1953: Average-------- $41.18
1954: Average_____ 40.81
A pril... _. . . . 39.10
M ay________ 39. 67
June________ 40.00
39.76
July________
August______ 41.70
September___ 41.84
41. 58
October. ___
November___ 41.61
40.91
December___
40. 68
1955: January____
41.91
February.......
42.2«
M arch_____
40.21
April............
37.1
35.8
34.6
34.8
35.4
35.5
36.9
36.7
36.8
36.5
36.
36.
37.
37.1
35.
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
P ro c e sse d w a s te a n d
re co v e re d fib e r s
$1.11
1.14
1.13
1.14
1.13
1.12
1.13
1.14
1.13
1.14
1.13
i. î a
i. î a
1.14
1. IT
42.4
41.8
41.0
42.4
41.7
42.3
41.2
41.8
42.0
42.4
42.9
42.9
42.3
42.8
40.5
S h i r ts , c o lla r s , a n d
n ig h tw e a r
$41. 40
41.04
39. 22
39. 67
39. 67
39. 55
41.47
42.44
42. 75
43.82
42. 41
41.61
42. 41
42.18
4i. r
44.5
43.3
42.5
42.4
43.5
40.9
42.4
44.2
44.0
45.2
45.8
45.4
46.2
45.5
44.4
37.5
36.1
35.6
34.8
34.6
35.7
36.1
36.5
35.7
35.6
36.6
36.6
37.
37.5
36.3
C o r d a g e a n d t w in e
$1. 80 $53.33
1.83 53.02
1.81 51.41
1.83 52. 20
1.83 52.06
1.81 52. 88
1.80 53. 99
1.84 53.31
1.86 53. 54
1.87 52. 61
1.88 53.70
1. 91 53. 96
1.92 55.20
1.90 55.20
1.88 54.49
S e p a r a te tr o u s e r s
37.3 $1.11 $44. 63
1.14 43. 32
36.0
1.14 42. 72
34.4
1.14 41.41
34.8
1.14 40.83
34.8
1.13 41. 77
35.0
1.13 43.32
36.7
36. S 1.15 43. 44
1.14 42.13
37.5
1.15 42. 36
38.
1.14 43.55
37.2
1.14 43. IS
36.5
1.14 45.1C
37.2
1.14 44.63
37.
1.15 42. 83
35.8
$1.50 $61.65
1.51 61.35
1.50 59.60
1.50 59.30
1.49 59.64
1.50 59.60
1.51 60.90
1.51 61.05
1.51 62.55
1.53 65.06
1.54 66.10
1.52 64.60
1. 53 65. 06
1.51 63.60
1. 51 61.05
41.3
40.0
39.8
38.4
40.8
39.9
39.8
39.8
40.8
40.9
41.0
40.4
41.1
41.2
41.0
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
41.1 $1.50
40.9
1.50
40.0
1.49
1.49
39.8
40.3
1.48
40.0
1.49
40.6
1.50
40.7
1.50
1.50
41.7
42. S 1.52
43.2
1.53
1. 52
42.5
42.8
1.52
42.4
1.50
40.7
1.50
L a c e goods
$1.72 $61.85
1.74 60.80
1.72 58.81
1.72 57.96
1.75 60.31
1. 75 60.39
1.74 61.55
1.77 62.54
1.76 61.38
1.76 62.05
1.76 64.62
1.75 62. 32
1.76 63. 91
1. 77 63.36
1. 78 62.54
38.9
37.3
36.3
36.0
37.0
36.6
37.3
37.9
37.2
38.3
39.4
38.0
38.5
38.4
37.9
$1.59
1.63
1.62
1.61
1.63
1.65
1.65
1.65
1.65
1.62
1.64
1.64
1.66
1.65
1.65
Apparel and other finished textile products
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
c o a te d f a b r ic s
$1.21 $80.10
1.23 79. 24
1.22 76.93
1.22 77. 59
1.23 79. 61
1. 23 74. 03
1.23 76. 32
1.24 81.33
1.24 81. 84
1.24 84. 52
1.24 86.10
1.24 86. 71
1.24 88.70
1.24 86. 45
1.24 83. 47
41.1
40.8
39.9
39.7
40.2
40.0
40.5
40.6
41.5
42.6
43.0
42.3
42.7
42.2
40.6
D y e i n g a n d f in i s h in g
te x tile s (e x c e p t w o o l)
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
F e l t g o o d s (e x c e p t
w o v e n f e l t s a n d h a ts )
$1. 53 $71.04
1.56 69.60
1.54 68.46
1.55 66.05
1.55 71.40
1.57 69.83
1.55 69.25
1.56 70.45
1.56 71.81
1.57 71. 98
1.58 72.16
1.58 70. 70
1.59 72.34
1.59 72. 92
1.59 72.98
Textile-mill products—Continued
P a d d in g s a n d u p h o l
s te r y f i l l i n g
Dyeing and finishing
textiles4
39.5
38.7
37.8
38.1
38.0
38.6
39.7
39.2
38.8
38.4
39.2
39.1
40.0
40.0
39.2
W o r k s h ir ts
$1.19 $34.32
1.20 33.63
1. 20 34.69
1.19 34. 20
1.18 34.04
1.17 33. 37
1.20 34.78
1.19 33.44
1.18 33. 65
1. IS 32. 59
1. IS 33.12
1.18 33. 28
1. IS 33. 56
L it 35. 52
1.18 34.49
36.9
35.4
36.9
36.0
36.6
35.5
37.0
35.2
35.8
34.3
34.5
35.4
35.7
37.0
36.3
Total: Apparel and
other finished tex
tile products
$1.35 $48. 41
1.37 48.06
1.36 45.62
1.37 46. 07
1.37 46. 55
1.37 47.17
1.36 48. 87
1.36 48.82
1.38 47.84
1.37 48.37
1.37 49.01
1.38 48. 60
1.38 49. 55
1.38 49. 71
1.39 46.64
36.4
35.6
34.3
34.9
35.0
35.2
36.2
35.9
35.7
36.1
36.3
36.0
36.7
37.1
35.6
$1.33 $57. 93
1.35 56. 05
1.33 52. 64
1.32 52. 97
1.33 55. 08
1.34 56. 80
1.35 57. 05
1.36 57.35
1.34 53. 63
1.34 55. 09
1.35 58. 32
1.35 57.87
1.35 59.66
1.34 60. 64
1.31 55. 57
Women’s outerwear4
$0.93 $52. 65
.95 52. 05
.94 49.01
.95 49. 76
.93 48.53
.94 50. 81
.94 53.15
.95 52.17
.94 50. 40
.95 51.65
.96 53. 55
.94 53.40
.94 54. 21
.96 53.72
.95 50.13
M en’s and boys’
suits and coats
36.9
34.6
32.9
32.9
34.0
35.5
35.0
35.4
32.9
33.8
36.0
35.5
36.6
37.2
34.3
$1.57
1.62
1.60
1.61
1.62
1.60
1.63
1.62
1.63
1.63
1. 62
1.63
1.63
1.63
1.62
W o m e n ’s d r e s s e s
35.1 $1.50 $52.15
34.7
1.50 52. 20
1.45 52. 25
33.8
1.43 53. 45
34.8
1.44 47.91
33.7
1.49 48. 67
34.1
35.2
1. 51 52. 69
34.1
1.53 52. 86
1.50 52. 05
33.6
34. S 1.48 52. 50
1.50 53. 70
35.7
1. 50 53.49
35.6
35. S 1.51 53. 04
1.48 54.39
36.3
1.42 54.00
35.3
35.0
34.8
34.6
35.4
33.5
33.8
35.6
34.1
33.8
35.0
35.8
35.9
35.6
36.5
36.0
$1. 49
1.50
1. 51
1.51
1.43
1.44
1.48
1. 55
1.54
1.50
1.50
1.49
1.49
1.49
1.50
846
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
Table C -l: Honrs and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees
Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Apparel and other finished textile products—Continued
Year and month
H o u s e h o ld a p p a r e l
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1953: Average_____ $39. 74
1954: A verage____
39. 82
April_______
40.04
M ay________ 39. 7S
June_____ _
38. 86
July________
37. 66
August______ 38. 91
September___ 39. 96
October. ___
40.18
November___ 41.63
December___
40.70
1955: J a n u a ry .___
39.38
February____ 39.93
March______
40. 92
A p ril.............. 40. 59
36.
36.2
36.4
36.5
34.7
35.2
35.7
36.0
36.2
37.5
37.0
35.8
36.3
37.2
36.9
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.0S
1.1C
1. If
1.0S
1. 12
1.07
1.09
1. 11
1.11
1.11
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
Children’s outerwear
1953: Average_____ $44. 53
1954: Average.......... 45.14
April_______
42.11
M ay________ 44.29
June_______
45.38
July----- ------- 45.38
August............ 46.62
September___ 45. 26
October_____ 44.16
November___ 44. 77
December___
43. 92
1955: January____
45. 26
February____ 46.00
March______
45.62
April_______
41.89
36.5
36.7
34.8
36.6
37.2
37.2
37.9
36.5
36.2
37.0
36.3
37.1
37.4
37.7
35. 5
W o m e n ’s s u i t s , c o a ts ,
a n d s k ir t s
$1.22
1. 23
1.21
1.21
1.22
1.22
1.23
1. 24
1.22
1.21
1.21
1. 22
1.23
1.21
1.18
$64. 81
63.31
51.42
51. 44
60. 59
66. 44
66. 92
63. 60
59. 40
60. 87
66. 25
67. 42
68. 36
63. 74
51.28
32.9
32.2
27.
28 9
32.4
33.9
33.8
31.8
29. 7
30.9
33.8
34. 4
34.7
33.2
29.3
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.97
1. 9C
1.87
1. 78
1. 87
1.96
1.98
2. 00
2.00
1. 97
1.96
1. 96
1.97
1. 92
1. 75
Miscellaneous apparel
and accessories
$44. 52
43.68
40. 92
43.19
42. 59
42.12
43. 92
44. 77
45. 38
45.51
45.13
43. 32
44.04
44.53
43. 55
37.1
36.1
34.1
35.4
35.2
35.1
36.3
36.7
37.2
37.3
37.3
35.8
36.4
36.8
35.7
40.7
40.6
40.2
39.9
40.9
40.8
41.5
40.6
41.5
41.1
40.8
40.7
40.8
40.8
40.4
$1.62 $79. 00
39.5
1.63 73. 72
38.0
1.63 80.30
37.7
1.67 76.80
36.4
1.67 79.18
39.2
1. 54 63.00
37.5
1.58 67. 30 38.9
1.66 68. 16 35.5
1.68 77.03
39.3
1. 67 76.05
39.0
1.64 73. 53 38.7
1.63 74.03
39.8
1.63 71.24
38.3
1.62 65.87
35.8
1.65 72.60
36.3
Mill work, plywood,
and prefabricated
M illw o r k
stru ctu ral wood
products *
1953: Average.......... $68.89
1954: Average....... .
70.97
April_______
68. 78
M ay________ 69. 77
June________ 71.90
Ju ly ------------- 69. 72
August_____
71.99
September___ 71.28
October_____
74.12
November___ 73. 43
December___
73. 78
1955: January..____ 72.73
February____ 72.28
March______
72. 98
April ___. . .
72. 38
See footnotes at end of table
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
41.5
41.5
40.7
40.8
41.8
41.5
42.6
41.2
42.6
42. 2
42.4
41.8
41.3
41.7
41.6
$1.66
1. 71
1.69
1.71
1. 72
1.68
1.69
1.73
1.74
1.74
1.74
1.74
1. 75
1.75
1.74
$68. 55
70. 81
67.73
69.55
71.99
70.90
72.84
72. 85
73. 96
72.93
72.50
70.04
70.45
71.48
70. 97
41.8
41.9
40.8
41.4
42.6
42. 2
43.1
42.6
43.0
42.4
42.4
41. 2
41.2
41.8
41. 5
$44. 28
44. 04
42. 58
43. 67
43. 91
42. 24
43.80
44. 65
45. 50
45. 51
43. 92
43. 56
44.17
45. 51
43. 20
36. £
36.
34. £
35.5
35.
35.2
36.2
36.9
37.6
37.3
36.3
36.0
36.5
37.3
35.7
37.6
37.2
36.2
36.8
36.9
36.6
37.5
37.8
38.4
38.6
38.6
37.5
38.1
38.2
37.7
U n d e r w e a r a n d n ig h t
w e a r , e x c e p t c o r se ts
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1. 2C
1. 22
1.22
1.23
1.23
1.20
1. 21
1.21
1.21
1.22
1.21
1.21
1.21
1.22
1.21
Other fabricated
textile products 4
$1.20 $47. 75
1.21 47. 99
1.20 46. 70
1.22 47. 47
1.21 47. 23
1.20 46. 85
1.21 48.00
1.22 48. 76
1. 22 49.02
1.22 49. 79
1.21 50.18
1.21 49.13
1.21 49.91
1.21 49.66
1.22 50.14
$1.27
1.29
1.29
1.29
1.28
1.28
1. 28
1.29
1. 28
1. 29
1.30
1.31
1.31
1.30
1.33
$41. 58 ! 36.8
41.27
36.2
39.79
34.9
40. 14
34. 9
40. 24
35.3
39. 78
35.2
41.02
36.3
41.92
37. 1
43. 05
38. 1
43 09
37.8
41.02
36.3
40.68
36.0
41. 70
36.9
42. 98 37.7
40. 57 35.9
C o r s e ts a n d a llie d
g a r m e n ts
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.11
1.11
1.14
1.15
1.14
1.13 |
1.13
1.13
1. 13
1.14 :
1. 13
1. 13
1.13
1.14
1.13
C u r t a in s ,
d ra p e rie s,
a n d o th er h o u s e -fu r
n is h in g s
$42.18
42.80
41.64
41.40
41. 41
41.29
42. 78
44. 58
45. 24
45. 75
45. 31
43.07
45. 22
44.49
44.17
$2.00
1.94
2. 13
2. 11
2.02
1.68
1.73
1. 92
1.96
1.95
1.90
1.86
1.86
1.84
2.00
Sawmills and plan
ing mills 4
$65.37
66.83
65. 77
67.23
68.80
64.64
67.10
70.06
70.81
68. 89
66. 67
66.75
67.57
66. 99
67.16
40.6
41.0
40.6
40.5
41.2
41.7
42.2
41.7
41.9
41.5
40.9
40.7
41.2
41.1
40.7
$1.61
1. 63
1. 62
1. 66
1. 67
1.55
1. 59
1.68
1. 69
1. 66
1.63
1.64
1.64
1.63
1.65
$1.64 $71. 32
1.69 73.08
1.66 71. 62
1. 68 71.10
1.69 71. 81
1.68 66. 50
1. 69 68.69
1.71 71.81
1. 72 77.51
1. 72 76. 72
1.71 78.68
1.70 80. 99
1.71 79.90
1.71 79. 28
1.71 77. 58
42.2
42.0
41.4
40.4
40.8
40.8
42.4
40.8
43.3
43.1
44. 2
44.5
43.9
43.8
43.1
$1.69
1.74
1.73
1. 76
1.76
1. 63
1. 62
1.76
1.79
1.78
1. 78
1.82
1.82
1.81
1.80
$49. 53
50.79
48. 78
49.71
49. 95
50. 79
53. 18
54. 26
51.71
52. 38
52. 22
51.65
51.38
52. 47
52.16
37. C $1. 3f $58. 4i
1.34 58. If>:
36.0
34.8
1.34 45. 9fV
36 4
1.34 44 65
36.2
1.34 52 31
35.3
1 3C 55. 71 !
36. 1 1.33 62. 58
36. 5
1.33 64. 51
36. 7
1.34 59. IS
36.5
1.35 51. 9C
36. 4 1.34 53. 50
35.9
1.34 56.21
35.9
1. 34 64. 71
36.6
1.34 6 1. 06
35.3
1.33 50.17
38.1
37.9
36.4
37. 1
37.0
37.9
39.1
39.9
38.3
38.8
38.4
37.7
37.5
38.3
37.8
36.
35. £
30.
29.
32.
34
37.
38. 4
36.
33. 7
35.2
36. 5
39. 7
40.8
31.9
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1. 62
1.62
1.50
1. 53
1.61
1.61
1.66
1.68
1.62
1.54
1. 52
1.54
1.63
1. 57
1.48
C a n v a s p r o d u c ts
$1.30
1.34
1. 34
1. 34
1. 35
1.34
1. 36
1.36
1. 35
1.35
1. 36
1. 37
1. 37
1.37
1.38
$51.09
52. 38
51.84
53. 33
53. 19
52. 27
52. 26
55. 58
52. 50
51. 84
52. 67
50. 57
53. 33
53. 60
53. 87
39.0
38. 8
38.4
39.5
39. 4
39.3
39.0
39.7
38 6
38.4
39. 6
38. 6
39.5
39.7
40.2
$1. 31
1.35
1. 35
1.35
1.35
1.33
1. 34
1. 40
1.36
1.35
1.33
1.31
1.35
1.35
1.34
S a w m i l l s a n d p l a n i n g m il l s , g e n e r a l
United States
$66.18
67.40
66.34
67.64
69.38
65. 21
67.68
70. 47
71.40
69.31
67.08
67.16
67.98
67.40
67.56
40.6
41.1
40.7
40.5
41.3
41.8
42.3
41.7
42.0
41.5
40.9
40.7
41.2
41.1
40.7
$1.63
1.64
1.63
1. 67
1.68
1. 56
1.60
1.69
1.70
1.67
1.64
1.65
1.65
1.64
1.66
Wooden containers 4
P ly w o o d
$48.1C
48. 24
46. 6£
48. 78
48 51
45.89
48. 01
48. 55
49. 18
49.28
48. 78
48.11
48. 11
49.04
46.95
Millinery
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
T e x tile bags
37.0 $1.14
36.9
1. 16
35.9
1.16
36.0
1.15
35.7
1.16
35.9
1.15
37.2
1. 15
38. 1 1.17
39.0
1.16
39.1
1.17
38.4
1.18
36.5
1. 18
38.0
1.19
37.7
1.18
1.21
36.5
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)
Total: Lumber and
wood products (ex Logging camps and
contractors
cept furniture)
1953: Average_____ $65.93
1954: Average_____ 66.18
A pril............... 65. 53
M ay________ 66.63
June________ 68.30
Ju ly------------- 62.83
August______ 65. 57
September___ 67. 40
October_____
69.72
November___ 68.64
December___
66.91
1955: January____
66.34
February........ 66.50
March______
66.10
April________ 66. 66
Women’s and chil
dren’s undergarments
$51.25
50. 00
49.20
49. 97
51. 16
49.48
48.98
50.82
51.82
50. 50
50.53
49.23
49. 97
52.04
52. 22
41.0
40.0
40.0
40.3
40.6
39.9
39.5
39.7
40.8
40.4
40. 1
39.7
40.3
41.3
40.8
$1.25
1.25
1.23
1.24
1. 26
1.24
1. 24
1.28
1. 27
1.25
1. 26
1.24
1.24
1.26
1.28
South
$43. 78
44. 20
43. 68
43. 26
44. 20
45. 15
45.57
45.68
46. 11
45. 36
45. 47
43.99
45.26
45.89
44. 73
42.5
42.5
42.0
41. 6
42. 5
43.0
43.4
43.5
43. 5
43.2
43.3
42.3
43.1
43.7
42.6
West
$1.03 $83. 81
1.04 85.06
1.04 84. 10
1.04 84.85
1.04 86. 76
1.05 85. 69
1.05 89. 42
1.05 86. 19
1.06 88.44
1. 05 86.94
1.05 83.81
1.04 85. 63
1.05 86.29
1.05 81. 75
1.05 85. 97
W o o d e n b o x e s, o th er
th a n c ig a r
$51. 34
49.48
49.45
49.85
51.56
49. 20
47.95
50.43
51. 56
50. 38
50.38
49.20
50.84
52, 79
52. 71
41.4
39.9
40.2
40.2
40.6
40.0
39. 3
39.4
40.6
40.3
40.3
40.0
41.0
41.9
41.5
$1. 24
1. 24
1.23
1.24
1.27
1. 23
1. 22
1.28
1.27
1. 25
1.25
1.23
1.24
1.26
1.27
38.8 $2.16
39. 2 2.17
39.3
2.14
39. 1 2.17
39.8
2. 18
38.6
2.22
40. 1 2.23
39.0
2.21
40.2
2. 20
2.19
39.7
38.8
2. 16
39. 1 2. 19
39.4
2. 19
38.7
2.19
38.0
2.21
Miscellaneous wood
products
$55. 46
54. 95
54.54
54.68
55.08
53. 07
54. 13
56. 17
56. 72
57. 13
57. 13
57. 13
57.41
58.10
57. -11
41.7
40.7
40.7
40. 5
40.8
39.9
40. 7
40. 7
41. 1
41. 1
41.4
41. 1
41.6
42.1
41.6
$1.33
1. 35
1.34
1. 35
1. 35
1.33
1.33
1. 38
1. 38
1. 39
1.38
1.39
1.38
1.38
1.38
847
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
T able C - l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Furniture and fixtures
Year and month
Total: Furniture
and fixtures
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1953: Average........... $63.14
1954: Average-......... 62.96
A pril-........... - 61.00
M ay________ 60. 53
June................ 62.17
July................. 61 86
August............ 63. 74
September___ 64.46
October_____ 65.10
November___ 64. 62
65.83
December___
1955: January_____ 63.99
February____ 65. 67
05. 67
March...........
64.48
April.. ___
Household furniture 4
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
41.0
40.1
39.1
38.8
39.6
39.4
40.6
40.8
41.2
40.9
41.4
40.5
41.3
41.3
40.3
$1.54 $60. 38
1.57 60.25
1.56 58.20
1.56 57.30
1.57 59.19
1. 57 59. 04
1.57 61.00
1. 58 61.71
1.58 62.62
1. 58 62.17
1.59 63.19
1. 58 60. 85
1.59 62.78
1.59 62.78
1.60 61.51
40.8
39.9
38.8
38.2
39.2
39.1
40.4
40.6
41.2
40.9
41.3
40.3
41.3
41.3
40.2
W o o d h o u s e h o ld f u r
n i tu r e ( e x c e p t u p
h o ls te r e d )
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1. 48 $55. 21
1.51 54. 54
1.50 52.92
1.50 52. 52
1.51 54.26
1.51 52.92
1.51 54. 81
1.52 55.08
1. 52 56.44
1.52 56.44
1.53 57.27
1.51 56.17
1. 52 56.85
1. 52 56. 98
1. 53 55.49
W o o d h o u s e h o ld f u r
n i t u r e , u p h o l s te r e d
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
41.2
40.4
39.2
38.9
39.9
39.2
40.6
40.5
41.5
41.5
41.8
41.3
41.8
41.9
40.8
$1.34 $65. 45
1.35 64.29
1.35 62.16
1.35 58. 48
1.36 61.13
1.35 62.10
1.35 65.27
1.36 67. 49
1.36 68.89
1.36 69.14
1.37 70.98
1.36 62. 43
1.36 68.14
1.36 68.88
1.36 66. 53
40.4
39.2
37.9
36.1
37.5
38.1
39.8
40.9
41.5
41.4
42.0
38.3
40.8
41.0
39.6
M a tt r e s s e s a n d b e d s p r in g s
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.62 $66. 23
1.64 66.86
1.64 64. 30
1.62 63. 74
1.63 65.63
1.63 67.70
1.64 69. 38
1.65 69. 97
1.66 68. 95
1.67 66.19
1.69 66.70
1.63 69.72
1.67 70.18
1.68 68. 23
1.68 68.40
1953: Average-......... $61. 71
1954: Average........... 59.15
56.17
April_______
M ay________ 57.75
June________ 58.80
July------------- 58.84
August........... 61.69
September___ 60.68
October_____ 60.49
November___ 58.20
December___
60.90
1955: January.......... 60.05
February____ 60. 49
M arch______ 61. 20
April_______
60. 5ö
40.6
39.7
37.2
38.5
39.2
40.3
41.4
41.0
40.6
38.8
40.6
40.3
40.6
40.8
40.1
M e t a l office f u r n i t u r e
$1. 52 $75. 70
1.49 77. 55
1.51 75.98
1.50 75.60
1.50 77.14
1.46 75. 64
1.49 77.39
1.48 78.36
1.49 78.34
1.50 79. 32
1.50 80.70
1.49 80. 90
1.49 82. 64
1.50 81.83
1.51 80.90
40.7
40.6
40.2
40.0
40.6
39.6
40.1
40.6
40.8
41.1
41.6
41.7
42.6
42.4
41.7
Partitions, shelving,
lockers, and fixtures
$1.86 $73. 85
1.91 75.01
1.89 72.68
1.89 73.84
1.90 75.14
1.91 73.90
1.93 75.05
1.93 77. 39
1.92 75.84
1.93 76.99
1.94 76.78
1.94 75. 79
1.94 78. 38
1.93 78. 57
1. 94 77. 42
40.8
39.9
39.5
39.7
40.4
39.1
39.5
40.1
39.5
40.1
40.2
40.1
40.4
40.5
39.5
Screens, blinds, and
miscellaneous fur
niture and fixtures
$1.81 $62.31
1.88 64.43
1.84 62.42
1.86 64.48
1.86 64. 74
1.89 64.90
1.90 64.84
1.93 65.00
1.92 65. 41
1.92 64. 78
1.91 68.16
1.89 65.19
1.94 65.83
1.94 66.82
1.96 66.24
42.1
41.3
40.8
41.6
41.5
41.6
41.3
41.4
41.4
41.0
42.6
41.0
41.4
41.5
41.4
1953: Average........... $67. 68
1954: Average_____ 68. 97
April_______
66.33
M ay________ 67.89
June________ 69.14
69.05
July________
August______ 70. 56
September___ 70.98
October_____
71.23
November___ 71.83
70.22
December___
1955: January_____ 69. 70
February____ 70.38
M arch...........
71.90
April______ _ 71.45
42.3
41.3
40.2
40.9
41.4
41.1
42.0
42.0
42.4
42.5
41.8
41.0
41.4
41.8
41.3
P a p e r b o a r d boxes
$1.60 $67.42
1.67 68. 72
1.65 65.93
1.66 67.65
1.67 69.06
1.68 68. 39
1.68 70.47
1.69 70.47
1.68 71.14
1.69 71.74
1.68 69. 97
1.70 69. 46
1.70 70.14
1.72 71.65
1. 73 71.21
Periodicals
1953: Average-------- $86. 98
1954: Average_____ 88. 70
April............... 86.63
M ay________ 86.14
June________ 85.63
July------------- 87.58
August______ 91.03
September___ 89. 95
October_____
89. 55
November___ 88.82
December....... 87.12
1955: January-------- 88. 76
February____ 90.68
M a rc h _____
91. 77
April_______
90.85
39.9
39.6
39.2
38.8
38.4
39.1
40.1
39.8
39.8
39.3
39.6
39.1
39.6
39.9
39.5
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
42.4
41.4
40.2
41.0
41.6
41.2
42.2
42.2
42.6
42.7
41.9
41.1
41.5
41.9
41.4
Books
$2.18 $73.84
2.24 76.24
2. 21 73.92
2. 22 75.27
2.23 75.66
2.21 75. 66
2.27 78.98
2. 26 78.18
2. 25 76.82
2. 26 77.22
2. 20 78.41
2. 27 77.42
2.29 78. 21
2.30 79.60
2.30 80. 20
39.7
39.3
38.5
38.8
39.2
39.2
40.5
40.3
39.6
39.0
39.6
39.1
39.3
39.8
39.9
F ib e r c a n s , tu b e s ,
and dru m s
$1.59 $71.65
1.66 73.02
1.64 71.20
1.65 71.82
1.66 72.47
1.66 74.21
1.67 73.63
1.67 74.48
1.67 74.80
1.68 72. 71
1.67 75.52
1.69 74.96
1.69 74.19
1.71 74. 56
1.72 76. 33
41.9
39.9
40.0
39.9
39.6
39.9
39.8
39.2
40.0
39.3
40.6
40.3
40.1
40.3
40.6
Commercial
printing
$1.86 $84.42
1.94 85. 72
1.92 84. 50
1.94 84.46
1.93 85.02
1.93 85. 72
1.95 85.10
1.94 85.89
1.94 86. 29
1.98 86.90
1.98 88.84
1.98 87. 52
1.99 87. 96
2.00 89.65
2.01 88. 36
40.2
39.5
39.3
39.1
39.0
39.5
39.4
39.4
39.4
39.5
40.2
39.6
39.8
40.2
39.8
$1.66 $71. 06
1.68 71.10
1.67 68. 97
1.66 69. 32
1.67 69. 32
1. 68 69.66
1.68 72.73
1.69 72.56
1.69 72.98
1.68 72.34
1.68 74. 27
1.73 73. 46
1.72 74. 52
1.71 73. 92
1.71 72. 92
Total: Paper and
allied products
$1.48 $72. 67
1.56 74.03
1.53 71.97
1.55 72.83
1.56 74. 20
1.56 74.62
1.57 74.98
1.57 75.40
1.58 76.01
1.58 76.18
1.60 76.01
1.59 75. 72
1.59 76.08
1.61 77.04
1.60 76.74
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
41.8
41.1
40.1
40.3
40.3
40.5
41.8
41.7
41.7
41.1
42.2
41.5
42.1
42.0
41.2
$1.70
1.73
1.72
1.72
1.72
1.72
1.74
1. 74
1.75
1. 76
1.76
1.77
1.77
1.76
1.77
43.0
42.3
41.6
42.1
42.4
42.4
42.6
42.6
42.7
42.8
42.7
42.3
42.5
42.8
42.4
Pulp, paper, and
paperboard mills
$1.69 $78. 76
1.75 80.04
1.73 77.47
1.73 78.19
1.75 79.79
1.76 81.47
1.76 81.10
1.77 81.97
1.78 82.16
1.78 81.91
1.78 82. 34
1.79 82.16
1.79 82. 34
1.80 83.16
1.81 83.47
44.0
43.5
42.8
43.2
43.6
43.8
43.6
43.6
43.7
43.8
43.8
43.7
43.8
44.0
43.7
$1. 79
1.84
1.81
1.81
1.83
1.86
1.86
1.88
1.88
1.87
1.88
1.88
1.88
1.89
1.91
Printing, publishing, and allied industries
Paper and allied products—Continued
Paperboard con
tainers and boxes 4
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
Paper and allied products
Furniture and fixtures—Continued
W o o d office f u r n i t u r e
39.9
39.8
38.5
38.4
39.3
40.3
41.3
41.4
40.8
39.4
39.7
40.3
40.8
39.9
40.0
Office, public-build
ing, and p r o f e s
sional furniture4
Other paper and
allied products
$1.71 $65.31
1.83 66. 67
1.78 65.37
1.80 66.42
1.83 66.83
1.86 66.83
1.85 66.83
1.90 66.67
1.87 67. 65
1.85 68.23
1.86 68. 39
1.86 67.73
1.85 68.23
1.85 69.14
1.88 68. 30
41.6
40.9
40.6
41.0
41.0
41.0
41.0
40.9
41.0
41.1
41.2
40.8
41.1
41.4
40.9
$1.57 $85. 58
1.63 87.17
1.61 86.11
1.62 86. 71
1.63 87.32
1.63 86.94
1.63 87.40
1.63 88.39
1.65 87.94
1.66 88. 55
1.66 90. 09
1.66 88.24
1.66 89.47
1.67 90. 79
1.67 90. 32
Lithographing
$2.10 $85. 26
2.17 87.20
2.15 84.32
2.16 85. 97
2.18 88.91
2.17 88.66
2.16 89.54
2.18 89. 98
2.19 88.00
2. 20 88.00
2. 21 87.16
2. 21 86.58
2. 21 88. 70
2.23 89. 38
2. 22 88.03
40.6
40.0
39.4
39.8
40.6
40.3
40.7
40.9
40.0
40.0
39.8
39.0
39.6
39.9
39.3
T o ta l: P r i n t i n g ,
publishing, and
allied industries
38.9
38.4
38.1
38.2
38.3
38.3
38.5
38.6
38.4
38.5
39.0
38.2
38.4
38.8
38.6
$2.20 $91.22
2.27 92.98
2.26 92. 26
2.27 93. 86
2.28 93. 50
2.27 92. 01
2.27 91.85
2.29 94.68
2. 29 94.32
2.30 94.32
2.31 97. 52
2.31 91.52
2.33 93.01
2.34 94.15
2. 34 96.03
Greeting cards
$2.10 $48.50
2.18 53. 06
2.14 53.16
2.16 54.05
2.19 51.65
2.20 51.06
2.20 53.62
2. 20 53.34
2.20 52.68
2.20 55.91
2.19 54. 34
2.22 56.39
2.24 55.94
2.24 58.14
2. 24 57. 30
37.6
37.9
37.7
37.8
37.7
37.0
38.3
38.1
37.9
39.1
38.0
38.1
37.8
38.0
38.2
Newspapers
36.2
35.9
35.9
36.1
36.1
35.8
35.6
36.0
36.0
36. 0
36.8
35.2
35.5
35.8
36.1
$2.52
2.59
2. 57
2.60
2. 59
2.57
2.58
2.63
2. 62
2. 62
2.65
2.60
2.62
2.63
2. 66
Bookbinding and
related industries
$1.29 $66. 30
1.40 67. 82
1.41 66. 91
1.43 67.64
1.37 68.34
1.38 67.94
1.40 67.60
1.40 67.47
1.39 68.38
1.43 68. 95
1.43 69. 87
1.48 68. 29
1.48 67. 79
1.53 69. 70
1.50 69.74
39.7
39.2
38.9
39.1
39.5
39.5
39.3
39.0
39.3
39.4
39.7
38.8
38.3
39.6
39.4
$1.67
1.73
1.72
1.73
1.73
1.72
1.72
1.73
1.74
1.75
1.76
1. 76
1.77
1. 76
1.77
848
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
M ami factoring—C ontinued
Printing, publishing,
and allied indus
tries—Continued
Miscellaneous pub
lishing and print
ing services
Year and month
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1953: Average.
1954: Average..........
April_______
M ay_______
June...............
Ju ly-----------August..........
September__
October_____
November___
December___
1955: January_____
February____
M arch______
April_______
$104.15
104. 91
102. 98
104.13
103. 6C
104. 4E
105. 30
105. 84
104.99
106.11
106. 77
107. 32
111.35
111. 76
108.38
39.6
39.0
38.0
39.0
38.8
38.7
39.0
39.2
38.6
39.3
39.4
39.6
40.2
40. 2
39.7
40.6
40.7
40.4
40.0
40.7
40.8
40.8
42.0
40.8
41.1
40.7
40.8
41.0
41.1
43.4
$2.63 $75. 58
2.69 78. 50
2. 71 77. 27
2. 67 77.71
2. 67 79.10
2.70 79. 35
2.70 78. 94
2.70 79. 52
2. 72 78. 69
2.70 79. 71
2. 71 79.90
2. 71 79.73
2. 77 80. 34
2.78 80.32
2.73 81. 58
41.8
41.2
41.2
41.2
41.6
41.7
41.3
40.8
41.0
41.5
41.5
41.0
41.3
41.9
42.3
41.3
41.1
41.1
40.9
41.2
40.9
40.9
41.2
41.2
41.3
41.4
41.1
41.2
41. 4
41.2
39.7
40.1
39.6
40.1
40.7
40.6
39.6
40.6
40.0
40.4
40.5
40.2
40.5
40.7
40.8
$1.83 $82. 81
1.91 86.09
1.88 84.66
1.90 85.06
1.92 85.89
1.94 86.88
1.93 86. 48
1.93 88. 32
1.91 87.31
1.93 87.53
1.93 87. 53
1. 94 87.29
1.95 88.15
1.94 88. 34
1. 98 89. 69
41.7
41.0
40.6
41.1
41.4
41.6
41.1
40.5
40.7
41.3
41.2
40.8
41.2
41.8
42.1
41.2
40.8
40.7
40.7
40.9
40.6
40.6
40. 7
40.8
40.9
40.9
40.6
41.0
40.9
40.4
39.6
39.8
39.2
39.7
40.0
38.8
39.7
39.9
39.6
40.0
40.1
40.3
39.7
39.6
39.4
A l k a l i e s a n d c h lo rin e
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$2.01 $82. 39
2.11 83.81
2.08 83.22
2.0£ 82. 21
2.1C 81.58
2.14 83.5C
2.13 84. 38
2.17 85. 36
2.14 86.67
2.14 85.86
2.14 84.61
2.15 84.35
2.15 86.07
2.16 85. 44
2.22 85.75
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
41.7
42.2
42.7
41.1
42.6
43.5
43.0
42.0
42.1
42.2
42.4
42.3
42.0
42.6
43.0
$1.89 $68. 71
1.96 72.16
1.95 70.64
1.96 71.46
1.96 71.81
1. 96 71.46
1.97 71.63
1.97 72. 34
1.97 73. 34
1.98 72. 80
1.97 73. 39
2.00 73. 21
2.00 74.93
2.00 73. 62
2.00 72. 94
40.9
41.0
40.6
40.6
40.8
40.6
40.7
41.1
41.2
40.9
41.0
40.9
41.4
40.9
40.3
$1.68 $78.47
1.76 81.79
1.74 79. 77
1.76 80. 97
1.76 81.97
1.76 81.39
1.76 82. 81
1.76 83. 42
1. 78 82.01
1.78 82. 82
1.79 84.25
1.79 84.25
1.81 84.25
1.80 76. 76
1.81 84.46
1953: Average_____ $74. 29
1954: Average_____ 77.46
A p ril.............. 75.58
M ay................ 75.99
June________ 77.98
July------------- 78.88
August______ 78.66
September___ 78.43
77.63
October_____
November___ 80. 08
78.32
December___
1955: January_____ 78.26
February____ 78.75
M arch______ 79.55
April_______
79.38
45.3
45.3
44.2
44.7
45.6
46.4
46.0
45.6
45.4
45.5
45.8
45.5
45.0
45.2
45. 1
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Miscellaneous
chemicals 4
$1.64 $69. 94
1. 71 71.51
1.71 70.53
1.70 70.93
1.71 71.28
1.70 70. 98
1.71 71.33
1.72 71.73
1.71 72. 09
1.76 72. 54
1.71 73.49
1.72 73.53
1.75 74.07
1.76 74. 48
1.76 73. 53
40.9
40.4
40.3
40.3
40.5
40.1
40.3
40.3
40.5
40.3
40.6
40.4
40.7
40.7
40.4
$1.54 $59.36
1.60 61.48
1.59 62.76
1.61 62.33
1.59 61.90
1.59 62.16
1.60 61.30
1.67 62.40
1.60 60.19
1.64 60.88
1.60 61.86
1.64 61.01
1.62 59.16
1.62 64. 78
1.65 64.23
E s s e n t i a l o i ls , p e r
f u m e s , c o s m e tic s
$1.71 $57.66
1.77 60.37
1.75 60.22
1.76 59.90
1.76 60.68
1.77 58.28
1.77 59. 68
1.78 60.14
1.78 60. 76
1.80 60.76
1.81 62.09
1.82 61.60
1.82 63. 50
1.83 63. 50
1.82 62.79
38.7
38.7
38.6
38.4
38.9
37.6
38.5
38.8
39.2
39.2
39.3
38.5
39.2
39.2
39.0
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
41.3
41.1
40.7
41.1
41.4
40.9
41.2
41.5
40.8
41.0
41.5
41.3
41.3
38.0
40.8
$1.90 $85. 90
1.99 89.19
1.96 87.29
1.97 88. 56
1.98 89.19
1.99 89.16
2.01 90.86
2.01 91.74
2.01 89. 54
2.02 89. 98
2.03 91.91
2.04 91.02
2.04 91.46
2.02 78. 59
2.07 92.75
Vegetable and animal
“oils and fats 4
42.4
42.4
44.2
42.4
42.4
42.0
41.7
41.6
41.8
41.7
41.8
41.5
40.8
45.3
43.4
$1.40 $64.89
1.45 68.24
1.42 68. 25
1.47 68.53
1.46 69.89
1.48 70.78
1.47 69. 99
1.50 67.74
1.44 67.68
1.46 69.41
1.48 68.36
1.47 68.24
1.45 69. 46
1.43 69. 60
1.48 69. 96
Chemicals and allied products—Continued
A n i m a l o ils a n d f a t s
P la s tic s , ex c ep t s y n
th e tic ru b b e r
41.4
40.1
40.4
40.1
39.6
39.2
39.8
39.7
40.5
40.5
40.1
39.6
40.6
40.3
38.8
Gum and wood
chemicals
$1.79 $64.22
1.86 67.52
1.84 67. 89
1.86 66.17
1.86 67.73
1.86 69.17
1.87 68.80
1.87 70.14
1.87 67.36
1.88 69.21
1.89 67.84
1.89 69.37
1.89 68.04
1.91 69.01
1.93 70. 95
Industrial organic
chemicals 4
$1.99 $80.18
40.7 $1.97 $82. 88
2.09 83.22
40.6
2. 05 83.80
2.06 82.62
40.3
2.05 82.15
2.05 82.62
40.5
2.04 82.76
2.06 84.05
41.0
2.05 83.60
2.13 84.24
40.5
2.08 83.02
2.12 83.43
40.5
2.06 84.02
2.15 85.07
40.9
2.08 85.24
2.11 83. 64
40.6
2.06 85. 87
2.12 84.66
2. 07 85.85
40.9
2.11 84.46
41.0
2. 06 85.45
2.12 84. 25 40.7
2.07 84. 23
2.12 84. 86 40.8
2. 08 84.85
2.12 85. 69
41.0
2.09 86. 92
2. 21 87.12
40.9
2. 13 86. 72
Soap, cleaning and
Drugs and medicines
polishing preparaSoap
tions 4
E x p l o s iv e s
$1.76 $74.84
1.82 78.01
1.83 76.44
1.82 77.81
1.82 78. 40
1.85 76.05
1.82 78.21
1.86 78.60
1.81 78.01
1.81 79.20
1.81 79.00
1.81 80.60
1.84 79.40
1.84 79. 20
1.89 78.80
P a i n t s , v a r n is h e s ,
la c q u e r s , a n d e n a m e ls
$1.82 $74. 64
1.89 76. 26
1.87 74.70
1.89 76.45
1.90 77.00
1.91 77.38
1.91 76.86
1.91 75. 74
1.90 76.11
1.91 77.64
1.92 77.87
1.92 77.11
1.93 77.87
1.95 79.84
1.98 81.25
Industrial inorganic
chemicals 4
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
S y n t h e ti c f ib e r s
$2.15 $69.87
2.23 72. 98
2.22 72. 47
2.23 72. 98
2. 23 74.07
2.24 75.11
2.24 72.07
2.26 75. 52
2.24 72. 40
2.26 73.12
2. 28 73.31
2. 28 72.76
2. 27 74. 52
2.29 74. 89
2.32 77.11
Paints, pigments,
and fillers4
1953: Average_____ $76.08
1954: Average_____ 77.87
77.04
April_______
M ay________ 77.87
June________ 79.04
July------------- 79.65
August______ 78.88
September___ 77.93
77.90
October_____
November___ 79. 27
79.68
December___
1955: January_____ 78.72
February____ 79. 71
M arch______
81.71
April_______
83.75
T o ta l: C hem icals
and allied prod
ucts
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
S y n t h e ti c r u b b e r
1953: Average_____ $87. 29
1954: Average_____ 90.76
April..... ........ . 89.69
M ay________ 89. 20
June________ 90. 76
July----- ------ - 91.39
August______ 91.39
September___ 94. 92
October......... 91.39
November___ 92.89
92. 80
December___
1955: January_____ 93.02
February____ 93.07
94.12
M arch........ .
April_______ 100. 69
Chemicals and allied products
45.7
45.8
45.2
44.5
44.8
44.8
44.3
46.4
47.0
46.9
46.5
45.8
45.4
44.9
44.0
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
42.5
41.9
41.7
41.8
41.8
41.1
41.8
42.2
42.3
42.5
42.3
41.7
41.8
42. 4
42.3
$1.95
2. 00
1.97
1.98
2.00
2.02
2. 01
2. 02
2. 03
2.02
2.02
2.02
2.03
2. 05
2. 05
a n d g ly c e r in
41.1
41.1
40.6
41.0
41.1
40.9
41.3
41.7
40.7
40.9
41,4
41.0
41.2
35.4
40.5
$2.09
2.17
2.15
2.16
2.17
2.18
2.20
2.20
2.20
2. 20
2.22
2.22
2. 22
2. 22
2.29
v e g e ta b le o ils
$1.42 $59.67
1.49 63.16
1.51 63.66
1.54 63.35
1.56 64. 53
1.58 64.96
1.58 64.37
1.46 62.38
1.44 63.10
1.48 64.74
1.47 63.32
1.49 62.88
1.53 63.84
1.55 63.62
1.59 63.65
45.9
46.1
45.8
44.3
44.2
43.6
43.2
46.9
47.8
47.6
46.9
45.9
45.6
44.8
43.3
$1.30
1.37
1.39
1.43
1.46
1.49
1.49
1.33
1.32
1.36
1.35
1.37
1.40
1.42
1.47
Products of petroleum and coal
C o m p ressed a n d
liq u ifie d g a s e s
$1.49 $80.37
1.56 82.32
1.56 82.06
1.56 81.29
1.56 81.71
1.55 82.52
1.55 82. 71
1.55 83.13
1.55 82.74
1.55 83.60
1.58 84.60
1.60 84.40
1.62 84.60
1.62 85.43
1.61 85.45
42.3
42.0
42.3
41.9
41.9
42.1
42.2
42.2
42.0
41.8
42.3
42.2
42.3
42.5
42.3
Total: Products of
petroleum and coal
$1.90 $90.17
1.96 92.62
1.94 91.08
1.94 93.52
1.95 93.98
1.96 94.53
1.96 93.07
1.97 95.58
1.97 92. 57
2.00 93.66
2.00 92.57
2.00 93.02
2.00 91.25
2. 01 93. 61
2.02 95.47
40.8
40.8
40.3
41.2
41.4
41.1
41.0
41.2
40.6
40.9
40.6
40.8
40.2
40.7
40.8
Petroleum refining
$2.21 $94.19
2.27 96.22
2.26 94.87
2.27 97.17
2.27 97.17
2.30 97.51
2. 27 96.05
2.32 97.85
2. 28 95. 75
2. 29 97.10
2.28 96.22
2. 28 96.93
2. 27 94.87
2.30 96. 96
2.34 99.23
40.6
40.6
40.2
41.0
41.0
40.8
40.7
40.6
40.4
40.8
40.6
40.9
40.2
40.4
40.5
$2.32
2.37
2.36
2.37
2.37
2.39
2.36
2.41
2.37
2.38
2.37
2.37
2.36
2.40
2.45
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
849
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees
Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Products of petroleum and coal—
Continued
Year and month
Coke, other petro
leum and coal
products
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1953: Average.........
1954: Average.........
April_______
M ay_______
June_______
July----------August_____
September__
October_____
November__
December___
1955: January_____
February____
March______
April_______
$78. 81
80.73
76. 95
80. Of
83. 27
83.78
83. 13
87. 67
82.17
81. 79
79. 58
79. 79
79. 00
83.38
83. 38
41.7
41.4
40.5
41. 7
42. 7
42.1
42. 2
43.4
41. 5
41. 1
40. 6
40. 5
40.1
41. 9
41.9
Leather: tanned,
curried, and finished
1953: Average_____ $68. 23
1954: Average_____ 69.17
A p ril............ . 67. 34
M ay...... .......... 68. 25
June.... ............ 69. 70
July............... . 68. 43
August............ 68.99
September___ 68. 32
October___
69.60
November.
71.64
72.18
December..
1955: January__
71.46
February...
71.42
March____
71.60
April_____
72.18
39.9
39.3
38. 7
39. 0
39.6
39.1
39. 2
38.6
39.1
39.8
40. 1
39.7
39.9
40.0
40.1
Total: Rubber
products
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.89
1.95
1.90
1.92
1.95
1. 99
1.97
2. 02
1.98
1.99
1.96
1.97
1. 97
1.99
1.99
$1. 71
1. 76
1. 74
1. 75
1.76
1. 75
1. 76
1.77
1.78
1.80
1.80
1.80
1.79
1.79
1.80
$77. 78
78. 21
74. 88
77. 81
79.60
76.44
75.85
77.42
81.20
83.02
84. 85
83.84
84.25
83.64
86.11
40.3
39. 7
38.8
39.7
40.2
39.4
39.1
39.3
40.4
41.1
41.8
41.3
41.3
41.0
41.8
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.93
1.97
1.93
1.96
1.98
1.94
1.94
1. 97
2.01
2. 02
2.03
2.03
2. 04
2.04
2.06
Industrial leather
belting and packing
$67.97
66.30
64.91
61.94
65. 01
63.63
66.97
66.63
66.53
68. 68
69.02
68. 06
67.77
68.80
72. 92
41.7
39.7
39.1
38.0
39.4
38.8
40.1
39.9
39.6
40.4
40.6
39.8
39.4
40.0
41.2
Tires and inner
tubes
$1.63
1. 67
1.66
1.63
1.65
1.64
1.67
1.67
1.68
1. 70
1.70
1.71
1. 72
1.72
1.77
$88.31
87. 85
84.14
88. 65
92.06
87.01
85. 65
86.18
90. 39
94.54
98.18
97. 41
96. 46
95. 51
101.28
39.6
38.7
37.9
39.4
40.2
38.5
37.4
38.3
39.3
40.4
41.6
41. 1
40.7
40.3
42.2
$2.23
2.27
2. 22
2. 25
2.29
2.26
2.29
2. 25
2. 30
2. 34
2.36
2. 37
2. 37
2. 37
2.40
Boot and shoe cut
stock and findings
$50.16
49. 71
48. 06
48. 96
50.12
49. 50
48. 55
49.68
47. 66
50. 05
52.52
52. 39
52.52
51.44
49.64
38.0
37.1
35.6
36.0
37.4
37.5
36.5
36.8
35.3
36.8
38.9
39. 1
38.9
38.1
36.5
$1.32
1.34
1. 35
1.36
1. 34
1.32
1.33
1. 35
1. 35
1. 36
1.35
1.34
1.35
1.35
1.36
1953: Average.......
1954: Average____
A pril...........
M ay______
June______
July---------August____
September..
October___
Novem ber...
December...
1955: January___
February___
M arch_____
April______
$44.04
44.64
43.77
44.02
43.65
43.79
44.90
45.14
45. 38
46. 50
45.00
45.38
46. 00
45.63
42.56
36.4
36.0
35.3
35.5
35.2
35.6
36.5
36.7
36.6
37.5
36.0
36.6
37.1
36.5
34.6
1953: Average_____ $60.01
1954: Average_____ 70. 75
April............ .
59.19
M ay________ 59.10
Ju n e ............... 58.29
J uly------------- 59. 95
August............ 61.76
September___ 62.47
October........ . 63.72
November___ 63. 57
December___ 64.30
1955: January........ . 61.56
February____ 60.74
62.06
April.
61.91
41.1
40.5
39.2
39.4
38.6
39.7
40.9
41.1
42.2
42.1
42.3
40.5
39.7
40.3
40.2
See footnotes at end of table.
347813— 55------7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$65. 60
67.43
63. 58
65. 46
67.30
68.45
66. 40
66. 08
71.34
71.51
71. 69
68. 97
69. 72
69. 72
70. 99
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
40.0 $1.64 $70. 93
39. Ç 1.69 71.91
38.3
1.66 69. 30
39.2
1.67 70. 98
40.3
1.67 70.98
40.5
1.69 70. 62
40.0
1. 66 77.15
39.1
1. 69 72. 36
41.0
1. 74 74. 98
41.1
1. 74 75. 71
41.2
1.74 76. 44
40.1
1. 72 76. 08
40.3
1. 73 76. 86
40.3
1.73 76.49
40.8
1.74 76.13
Footwear fexceDt
rubber)
$49.10
48.15
46.42
45. 89
47. 75
48.73
48.71
46.68
45. 62
47. 39
49. 10
49. 88
51.59
51.05
48.24
37.2
36. 2
34.9
34.5
35.9
37.2
36.9
35.1
34.3
35.9
37.2
37.5
38.5
38.1
36.0
$1.32
1. 33
1. 33
1.33
1.33
1. 31
1.32
1. 33
1.33
1. 32
1. 32
1.33
1. 34
1.34
1.34
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
41.0
40.4
39.6
40. 1
40.1
39.9
40.2
40. 2
41.2
41. 6
42.0
41.8
42.0
41.8
41.6
$1.73
1.78
1. 75
1. 77
1. 77
1.77
1. 77
1.80
1. 82
1. 82
1. 82
1.82
1.83
1.83
1.83
luggage
$57. 09
56.93
54. 60
57.60
58. 11
56.83
56.24
59. 36
61.20
59. 58
54.66
55. 50
62.68
61.60
61.10
Total: Leather and
leather products
$51. 65
50. 92
49. 48
49. 21
51.01
51. 38
51. 24
49 96
49. 62
51.43
52.16
52. 68
53.93
53. 52
51.24
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1 37
1 38
1 3Q
1 39
1 3Q
1 37
1 37
1 38
1 39
1 39
1 38
i ao
1 39
1 39
l! 40
37. 7
36 9
35 6
35 4
36 7
37 5
37 4
36 2
35 7
37 0
37. 8
37 9
38. 8
38 5
36.6
leather goods
39. 1 $1.46 $46. 99
37.7
1.51 48. 00
36.4
1. 50 45. 00
38.4
1.50 45.18
39.0
1. 49 47. 13
38.4
1.48 46. 62
38.0
1.48 47. 82
38.8
1.53 48. 09
40.0
1.53 48.63
39.2
1. 52 50. 02
36.2
1. 51 49.88
37.0
1.50 47.85
40.7
1.54 48. 83
40.0
1. 54 49.88
40.2
1.52 44.23
38. 2
38.4
36 0
35.3
37.7
37. 9
39. 2
39 1
38. 9
39. 7
39. 9
38. 9
39.7
39.9
35.1
$1 23
1 25
1 25
1 28
1 25
1 23
1 22
1 23
1 25
1 26
1 25
1 23
1 23
1 25
1.26
Stone, clay, and glass products
Total: Stone, clay,
and glass products
$1.21 $70.35
1.24 71.86
1.24 70.35
1.24 71.10
1.24 70.88
1.23 71.33
1.23 72. 04
1.23 72.85
1.24 73.34
1.24 74. 57
1.25 73.98
1.24 73.49
1.24 73.49
1.25 74. 75
1.23 74.80
Glass products made
of purchased glass
Other rubber
products
Rubber footwear
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
Leather and leather
products—Continued
Gloves and miscella
neous leather goods
Leather and leather
products
Rubber products
40.9
40.6
40.2
40.4
40.5
40.3
40.7
40.7
41.2
41.2
41. 1
40.6
40.6
41.3
41.1
$1.72
1.77
1.75
1.76
1. 75
1.77
1. 77
1.79
1.78
1.81
1.80
1.81
1.81
1.81
1.82
Cement, hydraulic
$1.46 $73.39
1.50 75.71
1.51 74.05
1.50 73.98
1.51 77.10
1.51 78.44
1.51 76.36
1.52 80.22
1.51 76.91
1.51 76.13
1.52 75. 53
1.52 76.59
1.53 75.95
1.54 75. 95
1.54 76.78
41.7
41.6
41.6
41.1
41.9
41.5
41.5
42.0
41.8
41.6
41.5
41.4
41.5
41.5
41.5
Glass and glassware,
pressed or blown 4
Flat glass
$97.34
100.61
96.80
99.38
96. 64
97. 84
96. 29
100. 44
102.12
111. 11
109. 04
114.04
110.34
111.02
109.14
40.9
40.9
40.0
40.4
40. 1
40.1
39.3
40.5
42.2
42.9
43.1
44.2
43.1
43.2
42.8
$2.38 $67.89
2.46 70.77
2. 42 68. 91
2. 46 69.81
2.41 69. 45
2. 44 69. 5C
2. 45 70. 77
2.48 71.53
2. 42 72. 25
2. 59 72. 91
2. 53 73.08
2.58 72. 31
2. 56 72. 47
2.57 74. 21
2. 55 73. 68
Structural clay
products 4
$1.76 $64.06
1.82 66. 26
1.78 65.85
1.80 66.74
1.84 66.33
1.89 66.17
1.84 67.23
1.91 67.49
1.84 67.40
1.83 67. 65
1.82 67. 57
1.85 66.26
1.83 66.09
1.83 68.39
1.85 67.89
40.8
40.9
40.9
41.2
41.2
41.1
41.5
40.9
41.1
41.0
41.2
40.4
40.3
41.2
40.9
39.7
39.1
38.5
39.0
38.8
38.4
39.1
39.3
39.7
39.2
39.5
39.3
39.6
39.9
39.4
$1. 71
1.81
1.80
1.79
1.79
1.81
1.81
1.82
1.82
1.86
1.85
1.84
1.83
1.86
1.87
B r i c k a n d h o llo w tile
$1.57 $61. 77
1.62 64.63
1.61 65.53
1.62 65.82
1.61 65.23
1.61 65.21
1.62 66.40
1.65 65. 76
1.64 65.79
1.65 66.19
1.64 65.79
1.64 63.54
1.64 63. 54
1.66 66. 77
1.66 66.30
42.6
42.8
43.4
43.3
43.2
42.9
43.4
42.7
43.0
42.7
43.0
41.8
41.8
42.8
42.5
G la s s c o n ta in e r s
$69. 60
72.47
72.52
73.38
72.83
70.98
73.45
71.41
73.63
73. 63
73.84
72. 71
74.21
76. 40
76. 22
40.0
39.6
39.2
40.1
39.8
39.0
39.7
38.6
39.8
39.8
39.7
39.3
39.9
40.0
39.7
$1.74 $65. 46
1.83 68.15
1.85 63.81
1.83 65.25
1.83 65. 25
1.82 66.75
1.85 66.85
1.85 71.96
1.85 70.31
1.85 72.19
1.86 71.92
1.85 71.92
1.86 70. 74
1.91 71.46
1.92 70. 20
F lo o r a n d w a l l tile
$1.45 $67.47
1.51 68.17
1.51 67.03
1.52 68.40
1.51 70.18
1.52 68.68
1.53 69.19
1.54 69.08
1.53 68.28
1.55 67.26
1.53 68.74
1.52 68.80
1.52 67.42
1.56 67. 55
1.56 64.01
40.4
40.1
39.9
40.0
40.8
40.4
40.7
40.4
40.4
39.8
40.2
40.0
39.2
39.5
38.1
P r e s se d a n d b lo w n
g la s s
39. 2
38. 5
37.1
37. 5
37. 5
37. 5
38.2
40.2
39. 5
38.4
39.3
39.3
39.3
39. 7
39.0
$1.67
1.77
1 72
1. 74
1. 74
1. 78
1. 75
1. 79
1. 78
1.88
1.83
1.83
1. 80
1 80
1.80
S ew er p ip e
$1.67 $64. 56
1.70 66. 99
1.68 66.26
1. 71 68.06
1.72 67. 57
1.70 68.64
1.70 69.22
1.71 68.45
1.69 69.19
1.69 68.95
1.71 66.23
1.72 64. 52
1.72 64.02
1.71 68. 54
1.68 69.08
40.1
40.6
40. 4
41.0
41.2
41.1
41.7
40.5
40. 7
40.8
39.9
39. 1
38.8
40.8
40.4
$1. 61
1. 65
1. 64
1. 66
1. 64
1. 67
1. 66
1. 69
1. 70
1. 69
1. 66
1. 65
1. 65
1.68
1.71
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W , J U L Y 1955
850
T able C -l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
Stone, clay, and glass products—Continued
Year and month
Clay refractories
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn- hours
mgs
1953: Average_____ $66. 47
67.16
1954: Average____
64. 44
April_______
66. 06
May_______
64. 98
June
___
66.06
J u ly _______
August______ 67.16
September___ 69. 33
October. _____ 68. 63
November___ 70.13
December.
72.00
1955: January_____ 71.62
72. 37
February......
73.32
March___. . .
A p r il..___ _ 73.51
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn- earn- hours
ings
ings
40.6
38.8
38.3
38.9
38.8
36.9
37.3
37.9
39.1
40.0
41.3
40.9
41.4
41.6
41.9
41.0
40.1
40.7
39.8
39.7
39.7
39.5
40.6
40.4
40.4
40.6
40.9
41.7
41.4
41.8
1953: Average____ $80. 41
1954: Average___ _ 76.61
74.28
April______
May________ 74. 66
June________ 76. 21
J u ly ..______ 75. 85
76. 59
August ____
September___ 74. 69
October. ___ 76.43
77. 60
November.. .
77. 97
December___
1955: January_____ 79.37
February____ 78.18
March_____
78.57
April________ 78. 96
42.1
39.9
39.3
39.5
39.9
39.3
40.1
38.3
39.6
40.0
40.4
40.7
40.3
40.5
40.7
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
43.9
44.0
44.0
44.0
44.3
44.7
45.0
44.6
44.6
44.0
43.6
42.9
42.7
44. 1
44.4
$1.66 $71. 56
1.68 71. 88
1.66 70. 56
1. 67 71.44
1.66 72. 45
1. 70 73. 35
1.69 73.51
1. 70 72. 86
1. 71 74. 09
1. 71 72. 27
1.70 70. 58
1.69 68.69
1.70 68. 85
1.71 72. 49
1.72 73. 43
Nonclay refractories
$1.79 $71. 51
1.87 67.66
1. 85 61. 74
1. 87 61.04
1.88 60. 28
1.88 63. 24
1. 89 65. 93
1.89 68. 71
1.90 72.00
1.90 75. 55
1.90 75.89
1.91 76.09
1.90 74. 98
1.91 77. 77
1.96 76.33
Iron and steel
foundries 4
36.3
34.0
31.5
31.3
30.6
32.1
33.3
34.7
36.0
37.4
37.2
37.3
36.4
38.5
37.6
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn- earn- wkly.
ings
ings hours
40.9
38.7
38.0
38.4
38.8
38.3
38.4
38.5
38.9
39.5
40.0
40.4
40.6
40.9
41.1
Miscellaneous nonmetallic
mineral
products4
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn- earn hours
ings
ings
41.5 $1.54 $74.07
$1.63 $63. 91
41.1
1.57 73. 66
1.63 64.53
41.2
1.56 71.02
1.60 64.27
1.62 65.16
41.5
1. 57 72.52
1.61 63.18
40.5
1.56 73. 47
1. 56 72. 73
1.63 62. 87 40.3
1.63 64.78
41.0
1. 58 73. 68
41. 1 1. 59 74. 64
1.63 65. 35
41.8
1. 65 66. 04
1.58 75. 58
1.65 66.36
42.0
1. 58 76. 33
1.63 66. 56
41.6
1.60 77. 30
1.62 64. 21
40. 9
1. 57 78.09
1.62 63.67
40.3
1. 58 78.09
1.59 77. 87
1.64 65. 67
41.3
1. 62 81.06
1. 65 65. 93
40.7
Primary metal industries
Total: Primary
metal industries
$1.97 $84. 25
1.99 80. 88
1. 96 77. 90
1.95 79. 49
1.97 80. 70
1.97 80. 81
1. 98 80.64
1.98 82.39
2.00 82. 86
2.02 84. 53
2. 04 85.60
2. 04 87. 26
2. 06 87. 29
2.02 88. 34
2.03 89.19
Gray-iron foundries
43.9
44. 1
44. 1
44.1
45.0
45.0
45.1
44.7
44.9
43.8
43.3
42. 4
42.5
44.2
44.5
Cut-stone and stone
products
Blast furnaces, steelworks, and rolling
mills 4
$2. 06 $87. 48
2. 09 83. 38
2.05 79. 39
2. 07 81.22
2. 08 83.22
2.11 84.00
2.10 82. 43
2.14 84. 90
2.13 84. 45
2.14 87. 30
2.14 87. 98
2.16 90. 12
2.15 89. 95
2.16 91.25
2.17 91. 71
Malleable-iron
foundries
Avg.
hrly.
earnings
40.7 $1.82
39.6
1. 86
38.6
1.84
39. 2
1.85
39.5
1. 86
39. 1 1.86
39.4
1. 87
39.7
1.88
40.2
1. 88
40.6
1.88
40.9
1.89
41.1
1.90
41. 1 1.90
41.2
1.89
42.0
1.93
Blast furnaces, steelworks, and rolling
mills, except electro
metallurgical prod
ucts
40.5
37.9
37.1
37.6
38.0
37.5
37.3
37.4
37.7
38.8
39.1
39.7
39.8
40.2
40.4
$2.16 $87. 48
40.5 $2.16
2. 20 83.16
37.8
2.20
2.14 79.18
37.0
2.14
37.6
2. 16
2.16 81.22
2.19 83. 22 38.0
2.19
2.24 84.00
37.5
2.24
2.21 82. 43 37.3
2. 21
37.4
2. 27 84.90
2. 27
2. 24 84.45
37.7
2.24
2. 25 87.30
38.8
2.25
2. 25 87. 98
39.1
2.25
2. 27 90. 12 39.7
2. 27
2. 26 89. 95
39. 8 2. 26
2. 27 91.25
40.2
2. 27
2.27 91. 71 40.4
2.27
Primary smelting and
Steel foundries
refining of nonfer
rous metals4
40.6 $1. 97 $80.93
40.7 $1.84 $76. 95 40.5 $1.90 $79.98
41.5 $1.95
$1.88 $74.89
1.92 75.82
39.2
38. 1 1.99 80. 00
1. 88 73. 92 38.5
40.2
1.99
1.91 73.70
37.4
1.97 78.01
38.8
1.87 72. 58 37.8
1.92 73.68
39.8
1.96
1. 90 72.56
1. 87 72. 01
37.7
1.91 73.48
37.3
1.97 78. 40 40.0
1.96
1. 90 72. 56 38.8
39.2
1.87 71. 25 37.7
1.89 74. 45 37.6
1.98 79.39
40.3
1. 97
1.90 73.30
39.1
37.9
1.86 69. 55 36.8
1.89 75.04
1.98 79.60
39.8
2. 00
1.89 72.73
1.99 79. 79 40.3
1.87 75. 07 39. 1 1.92 75. 62 38.0
1. 98
1.90 73. 49 39.3
1.88 74.11
38.2
1.94 75. 62 38.0
1.99 79.59
39.4
1.91 73. 51 39.1
2. 02
1.94 76.00
1. 90 77.02
39.7
38.0
2.00 80. 40 40.0
2.01
1.93 75. 05 39.5
1.91 78. 60 40.1
1.93 76. 02 39.8
1.96 75.60
37.8
2.00 80. 60
40.3
2. 00
1.92 79.17
2. 02 81.00
40.6
1.95 78. 38 38.8
40.5
2. 00
1.94 77. 76 40.5
2.02 81.61
1.93 79. 79 40.5
1.97 79. 79 39.5
40.6
1.95 78. 36 40.6
2.01
1. 95 82. 76 41.8
41.6
1.98 83. 44 40.7
2.05 81.20
40.4
1.97 81.12
2.01
1.96 82. 96 41.9
1. 98 84. 46
2. 06 81.41
41.0
2.01
1.98 81. 54 41.6
40.5
2. 00 85.08
41.1
42.2
1.97 84. 60 42.3
2.07 81. 61
40.6
2. 01
1.99 83.13
Rolling,
drawing,
and
Secondary
smelting
drawing, and Rolling, drawing, and
Primary refining of
an d refining of
alloying of nonfer Rolling,
alloying of copper
alloying of alum inum
alum inum
nonferrous metals
rous metals4
$1.96 $76.33
1.99 74.30
1.97 72. 96
1.97 72.77
1.99 73.53
2.01 72. 95
2.00 74.10
2.04 74.11
2. 03 75. 66
2. 04 76.04
2. 03 77. 99
2. 04 78.78
2. 07 81. 56
2.05 82.17
2.07 83.58
Primary smelting and
refining of copper,
lead, and zinc
42.7
41.4
40.2
41.3
42.4
41.7
41.4
42.1
41.4
41.6
42.1
42.4
42.4
43.1
43.6
Concrete products
Avg. Avg. Avg.
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg. hrly. wkly. wkly.
earn- earn- hours
earn- earn- wkly.
hours
ings
ings
ings
ings
Asbestos products
$1.97 $76. 43
1.97 77. 42
1.95 74. 37
1.95 77.23
1.94 79. 71
1.98 78. 40
1.97 78. 25
1.98 79. 57
2. 00 78.66
2.01 79. 04
2.03 79. 99
2. 03 80. 98
2. 04 80. 56
2.03 82.32
2. 07 85. 46
Electrometallurgical
products
1953: Average_____ $80.36
79. 80
1954: Average.___
80.18
April_______
May________ 78. 41
June _______ 79.00
79.80
July________
August ______ 79.00
September___ 82. 82
82.01
October. ___
November___ 82.42
82.
42
December . .
83. 44
1955: January____
February........ 86. 32
84. 87
March____
86. 53
April_____ .
Concrete, gypsum,
and plaster prod
ucts 4
37.6 $1.65 $72. 87
38.2 $1. 74 $62. 04
1.69 73. 92
36. 5
1.82 61. 69
36.9
1.68 73.04
36.5
36.0
1. 79 61.32
60.82
36.2
1.68 73.48
1.80
36.7
1.68 73. 54
36.0
36.1
1.80 60.48
34.2
1. 70 75. 99
1.80 58.14
36.7
1.69 76. 05
35.8
1. 82 60. 50
36.9
35.8
1.
70 75. 82
1.91
60.
86
36.3
1. 70 76. 27
36.9
1. 86 64. 26 37.8
1. 70 75. 24
38.3
37.5
1. 87 65.11
1. 71 74.12
36.9
38.5
1.87 63.10
1. 73 72. 50
35.3
1. 87 61.07
38.3
1.72 72.59
36.3
1. 87 62. 44
38.7
1.73 75.41
1.88 64. 70 37.4
39.0
1. 74 76. 37
39.1
1.88 63. 34 36.4
Stone, clay, and glass products—Continued
Abrasive products
1953: Average . .. $79. 98
1954: Average.......... 76. 44
74.69
April_______
May________ 75. 86
75. 27
June__
73. 06
July________
August ____ _ 73. 48
September___ 75. 04
78.20
October.
80. 40
November__
83. 84
December___
83.03
1955: January ___
84. 46
February__
March______
84.’45
86.73
April_______
Pottery and related
products
$1.91 $81. 81
1.92 85. 05
1.89 84. 45
1.89 84. 45
1.91 84. 45
1.93 85. 24
1.91 84. 82
1. 95 85.01
1.93 86.46
1.94 86. 90
1.93 86. 46
1.95 86.24
1.94 86.03
1.94 86.24
1.94 86. 43
40.6
38.9
38.4
38.3
38.7
38.6
39.0
38.8
39.2
39.4
40.2
40.4
41.4
41.5
42.0
40.5
40.5
40.6
40.6
40.6
40.4
40.2
40.1
40.4
40.8
40.4
40.3
40.2
40.3
40.2
$2. 02 $73.63
2.10 74. 80
2. 08 72. 85
2. 08 73.80
2.08 75.12
2.11 73.31
2.11 72. 67
2.12 75. 99
2.14 77.15
2.13 77.56
2.14 78.31
2.14 77. 79
2.14 79. 52
2. 14 79. 95
2.15 81.51
41.6
41.1
40.7
41.0
41.5
40.5
40.6
41.3
41.7
41.7
42.1
41.6
42.3
42.3
42.9
$1. 77 $82. 29
1.82 80. 80
1. 79 78. 41
1. 80 80.40
1.81 81.19
1.81 79. 40
1. 79 80.60
1.84 83.23
1.85 83.03
1.86 85. 49
1.86 85. 69
1.87 87.35
1.88 86. 94
1.89 87.98
1.90 87.15
42. 2 $1.95 $85. 37
40.4
2. 00 81. 20
1.98 76.23
39.6
40.4
1.99 79. 80
1. 99 82.01
40.8
39.9
1. 99 81.40
40. 1 2.01 80. 40
41.0
2.03 84. 46
40.7
2. 04 83.64
41.7
2.05 88. 40
41.8
2.05 87. 56
42.2
2.07 89. 03
2.07 89. 45
42.0
42.3
2. 08 91. 79
41.9
2.08 90. 94
42.9
40.2
38.5
39.9
40.8
40.7
40.0
41.4
40.6
42.5
42.3
42.6
42.8
43.5
43.1
$1.99 $77. 74
2. 02 79.79
1.98 79. 58
2.00 79.58
2.01 79. 77
2.00 75. 85
2.01 80. 00
2. 04 82.22
2.06 81.61
2. 08 81.81
2. 07 82. 82
2. 09 85. 07
2. 09 84. 05
2.11 83.64
2.11 82.82
40.7 $1.91
40.3
1.98
40.6
1. 96
40.6
1. 96
40.7
1.96
38.5
1.97
40.0
2.00
40.5
2.03
40.4
2. 02
40.5
2. 02
40.8
2.03
41.7
2. 04
41. 2 2. 04
41.0
2. 04
40.6
2. 04
C : E A R N IN G S A N D H O U R S
851
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
F a b r ic a te d m e ta l
products
(except
ordnance, machin
ery, and transpor
tation equipment)
Primary metal industries—Continued
Year and month
Nonferrous foundries
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1953: Average_____
97
1954: A verage.......... $80.
80. 6C
April________
78.01
M ay________
79. 0C
June________
79. It
July_________
77. 7£
August.............
79. 8C
September___
80.
October______ 84. 3£
25
November___
December____ 84.85
84.
66
1955: January............ 84.03
February.........
M arch.- ____ 84.45
85. 28
April________
84. 24
41.
39. £
39.2
39.5
39.4
38.7
39.7
39.6
40. S
40.6
40. S
40.4
40.6
41.0
40.5
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$1.97 $87. 5'
2.02 84. 74
1.9E 81.66
2.0C 83.53
2.01 85. 3£
2.01 84. 1C
2.01 84. 53
2.03 85.75
2. 06 86. 18
2.09 86.80
2.07 90.45
2.08 91.94
2 08 92. 57
2. 08 94.11
2. 08 95.20
Tin cans and other
tinware
1953: Average_____ $75.71
1954: Average............ 80. 95
April________
78.94
M ay________
82.74
June________
83.
13
July_________ 82. 12
August______
83.
13
September___
81.34
October_____
80. 00
November___
79.20
December____ 83.
21
1955: January_____
81.00
February____
81.00
March_______
April ______ 80. 60
81.80
41.6
41.3
40.9
42.0
42.2
41.9
42.2
41.5
40.2
39.8
41.4
40.3
40.3
40.3
40.9
1953: Average____
1954: Average. ___ $75.64
77.42
April________
72. 58
M ay________
June_________ 75.66
77.
79
July_________
75. 83
August—.
79.38
September___
October______ 76.44
79. 59
N ovem ber___
December.. . . 81.39
81.00
1955: January______ 80.40
February. __
M a r c h ______ 80.00
80.80
April________
80. 60
39.6
39.7
37.8
39.2
40.1
39.7
40.5
39.2
40.4
40.9
40.5
40.2
40.0
40.2
40.3
1953: Average______ $80. 22
1954: Average.
78. 76
April_____
77.18
M ay________
79.73
79. 93
June________
79.54
July_________
August____ . 79.37
September___
79.17
October______ 78.78
November___
78.20
December____ 80.57
1955: January______ 78.20
February____
79.18
March _____ 80. 97
April___ ___ 80.18
42.0
40.6
40.2
41.1
41.2
41.0
40.7
40.6
40.4
40.1
40.9
40.1
40.4
41.1
40.7
Miscellaneous pri
mary metal indus
tries 4
41.5
39.6
38.7
39.4
39. £
39.3
39.5
39.7
39.6
40.0
41.3
41.6
41.7
42.2
42.5
Iron and steel forg
ings
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
$2.11 $91.12
2.14 86. 75
2.11 83.22
2.12 84.04
2.14 84.42
2.14 84. 8C
2. 14 86.08
2.16 85. 76
2.16 87.46
2.17 88.76
2. 19 91.88
2. 21 94. 25
2. 22 96.00
2. 23 98.70
2.24 99.83
Cutlery, handtools,
and hardware4
Wire drawing
Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly. Avg.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
41.8 $2.18 $84.8"
38. £
2. 23 85.0£
38. C 2.19 81.33
38.2
2.20 84.21
38.2
2. 21 86. 92
38.2
2. 22 84.8C
38.6
2.23 85. 65
38.3
2.24 87.1C
38.7
2.26 87.33
39.1
2. 27 87. 74
40.3
2.28 91.15
40.8
2.31 91.36
41.2
2. 33 92.21
42.0
2.35 93. 29
42.3
2. 36 94.16
Cutlery and edge
tools
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
Welded and heavy riveted pipe
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn wkly.
ings hours
41. C $2.07 $84.4E
40.3
2. 11 84.4C
39.
2.08 82. 97
40.
2.10 84.85
41. C 2.12 86.08
40. C 2.12 85.24
40.4
2.12 83.16
40.7
2.14 86.03
41.0
2.13 85.22
41.0
2.14 82. 89
42.2
2.16 87. 53
42.
2.17 89.60
42.3
2.18 87.31
42.6
2.19 86. 48
42.8
2.20 90.27
Handtools
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
Total: Fabricated
metal products
Avg.
wkly. Avg.
earn wkly.
ings hours
40.
$2. 08 $77. If
40. C 2.11 77.33
39.7
2. 09 75.3£
40.6
2.09 76. 92
40.8
2.11 76. 92
40.4
2.11 75.60
39.6
2.10 76. 95
40.2
2.14 77.74
40.2
2.12 78.53
39.
2.12 79. 52
40.9
2.14 80.70
41.1
2.18 80.15
40.8
2.14 80. 34
40.6
2.13 80.73
41. 6
2.17 80. 34
Hardware
41.7
40.7
40.
40.7
40.7
40.0
40.5
40.7
40.9
41.2
41. f
41.
41.2
41.4
41.2
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$1.85
1.90
1.88
1.89
1.89
1.89
1.90
1.91
1.92
1.93
1.94
1.95
1.95
1.95
1.95
Heating a p p a r a t u s
(except electric) and
plumbers’ supplies4
$1.82 $74.05
41.6 $1. 78 $67. 32
41.3 $1.63 $74. 70
41.5 $1.80 $75.89
41.7 $1. 82 $73. 57
40.2 $1.83
1.96 74.15
40.3
1.84 66.40
40.0
1.66 73.26
39.6
1.85 77.52
40.8
1.90 74.24
39.7
1.87
1.93 72. 62
39.9
1.82 63.41
38.9
1.63 72.10
39.4
1.83 75. 95
40.4
1.88 70.66
38.4
1.84
1.97 74. 34
40.4
1.84 66.00
40.0
1.65 72.31
39.3
1.84 78.50
41.1
1.91 73.28
39.4
1.86
1. 97 72. 65
39.7
1.83 65. 74
39.6
1.66 72.13
39.2
1.84 75.01
39.9
1.88 74. 59
40.1
1.86
1. 96 72. 29
39.5
1.83 64.29
39.2
1.64 70.84
38.5
1.84 75. 79
40. 1
1. 89 72. 34
39. 1
1.85
40.4
1.97 74. 74
1.85 66.17
40.1
1.65 73. 26
39.6
1.85 77.93
40.8
1.91 75. 14
40.4
1.86
1.96 75.11
40.6
1.85 66.90
40.3
1.66 73. 26
39.6
1.85 78.50
41. 1
1.91 75.20
40.0
1.88
1.99 75.70
40.7
1.86 68. 21
40.6
1.68 73.10
39.3
1.86 79.30
41.3
1. 92 76. 92
40.7
1.89
1.99 76. 48
40.9
41.4
1.87 69. 97
1.69 74.21
39.9
1. 86 79. 52
41.2
1.93 75. 79
40.1
1.89
2.01 78. 62
41.6
41.2
1.89 70.04
1.70 74. 59
40.1
1.86 83.10
42.4
1.96 76.78
40.2
1.91
2.01 79.23
41.7
1.90 68.28
40.4
1.69 75. 33
40.5
1.86 83. 92
42.6
1.97 75.06
39.3
1.91
2.01 80.03
41.9
1.91 67.60
40.0
1.69 75. 55
40.4
1.87 85. 77
43.1
1.99 76.02
39.8
1.91
2.00 79. 46
41.6
1.91 68.28
40.4
1.69 75.95
40.4
1.88 83. 95
42.4
1.98 76. 78
40.2
1.91
2. 00 76.14
40. 5
40.3
1.88 68. 91
1. 71 75.76
40.3
1.88 78.36
1.93 76. 40
40.6
40.0
1.91
Oil burners, nonelec
tric heating and
Sanitary ware and
structural Structural steel and M etal doors, sash,
cooking apparatus, Fabricated
ornamental metal
frames, molding,
Boiler-shop products
plumbers’ supplies
metal products 4
not elsewhere classi
work
and trim
fied
$1.91 $72.32
40.4 $1.79 $80. 75
42.5 $1.90 $81. 27
43.0 $1.89 $78.44
41.5 $1.89 $80. 94
42.6 $1.90
1.95 73.05
39.7
1.84 79. 52
41.2
1.93 80.45
41.9
1.92 78.38
40.4
1.94 79. 35
40.9
1.94
1.92 69.87
38.6
1.81 78.31
41.0
1.91 79. 42
41.8
1.90 76.42
39.8
1.92 78. 94
40.9
1.93
1.93 72.29
39.5
1.83 79.30
41.3
1.92 80.41
42.1
1.91 76. 99
40.1
1. 92 78.74
40.8
1.93
1.94 73. 38
40.1
1.83 80.26
41.8
1.92 81.75
42.8
1.91 79. 10
41.2
1.92 78.74
40.8
1.93
1.91 70. 62
1.82 79.13
38.8
41.0
1.93 79.46
41.6
1.91 79. 35
40.9
1.94 77. 79
40.1
1.94
1.96 73. 53
40.4
1.82 79.73
41. 1
1.94 80.87
41.9
1.93 78.38
40.4
1.94 78. 76
40.6
1.94
1.95 74. 56
40.3
1.85 79.35
40.9
1.94 79. 30
41.3
1.92 79. 79
40.5
1.97 79.15
40.8
1.94
1.97 75.89
1.86 79. 56
40.8
40.8
1.95 79.90
41.4
1.93 80.19
40.5
1.98 78.39
40.2
1.95
1.99 73.63
1.85 79. 56
39.8
40.8
1.95 80.10
41.5
1.93 79. 79
40.3
1.98 79.17
40.6
1.95
2.00 74.80
40.0
41. 1
1.87 80.15
1.95 79.52
41.2
1.93 83.40
41.7
2.00 79. 77
40.7
1.96
2.00 72. 74
38.9
1.87 78. 59
40.3
1.95 77.38
40.3
1.92 79.40
40.1
1.98 79. 59
40.4
1.97
2.00 73.84
39.7
1.86 78.20
40.1
1.95 77. 20
40.0
1.93 79. 39
40.3
1.97 78.20
39.9
1.96
2. 01 74. 77
40.2
1.86 79.17
40.6
1.95 77.97
40.4
1.93 81.38
41.1
1.98 78.20
40.1
1.95
2.00 74.43
39.8
1.87 79. 77
40.7
1.96 78. 96
1.94 82.00
40.7
41.0
2. 00 79. 98
40.6
1.97
M etal stam ping,
1’itreous enameled
Stamped and pressed
Fabricated wire prod
Sheet-metal work
coating, and en
Lighting
fixtures
products
metal products
ucts
graving 4
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$1.91 $78.81
1.94 80.57
1.92 78.18
1.94 80.36
1.94 79.58
1.94 76.44
1.95 78.40
1.95 80.78
1.95 82.98
1.95 85.02
1.97 85.43
1.95 85.87
1. 96 85.87
1.97 86.07
1.97 84.64
41.7
40.9
40.3
41.0
40.6
39.2
40.0
40.8
41.7
42.3
42.5
42.3
42.3
42.4
41.9
$1.89 $59.06
1.97 61.18
1.94 60.83
1.90 61.06
1.96 59.01
1.95 56.13
1.96 59. 73
1.98 61.21
1.99 63.18
2.01 63.34
2.01 63.43
2.03 64.31
2.03 62.95
2.03 64. 88
2. 02 61.02
38.6
38.0
38.5
38.4
36.2
35.3
37.1
37.8
39.0
39.1
39.4
39.7
39.1
40.3
37. 9
$1.53 $81. 90
1.61 83. 02
1.58 80.60
1.59 83.01
1.63 82.21
1.59 79.40
1.61 80.60
1.62 83.84
1.62 85. 90
1.62 87.98
1.61 88.18
1.62 89.45
1.61 89.24
1.61 89. 45
1.61 87. 98
42.0
41.1
40.5
41.3
40.9
39.5
40.1
41.1
41.9
42.5
42.6
42.8
42. 7
42.8
42.3
$1.95 $72.50
2.02 73.38
1.99 70.35
2.01 71.82
2. 01 71.10
2.01 71.28
2. 01 70. 71
2.04 72. 32
2.05 76.48
2.07 79.68
2.07 80. 51
2.09 78.96
2.09 78.53
2. 09 76. 95
2. 08 75. 79
40.5
40.1
39.3
39.9
39.5
39.6
39.5
40.4
40.9
41.5
41.5
40.7
40.9
40.5
40.1
$1.79 $72.62
1.83 73.53
1.79 71.46
1.80 72.58
1.80 72.80
1.80 72.94
1.79 73.12
1.79 72. 76
1.87 73.89
1.92 76.18
1.94 77. 93
1.94 75.48
1.92 76.26
1.90 77.61
1.89 78.81
40.8
40.4
39.7
40.1
40.0
40.3
40.4
40.2
40.6
41.4
41.9
40.8
41.0
41.5
41.7
$1.78
1.82
1.80
1.81
1.82
1.81
1.81
1.81
1.82
1.84
1.86
1.85
1.86
1.87
1.89
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V I E W , J U L Y 1955
852
T able C -l : Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees ^C ontinued
Manufacturing—Continued
Machinery (except
electrical)
Fabricated metal products (except ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)—Continued
Year and month
Miscellaneous fabri \Metal shipping barrels,
cated metal products4 drums, kegs, and pails
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
1953: A v e r a g e . _____
1954: A v e r a g e _______
A p r i l _________
M a y ___________
J u n e ___
____
J u l y . . . _____ A ugust . . ..
S e p t e m b e r ___
O c to b e r
N o v e m b e r ____
D e c e m b e r.
1955: J a n u a r y _______
F e b r u a r y ______
M a rc h
______
A p r i l ___________
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
$78. 51
75. 70
72. 47
7 3 .7 8
74. 56
7 3 .2 8
74. 00
75. 70
7 7 .0 8
7 9 .3 8
80. 75
8 1 .2 2
8 1 .9 8
8 2 .6 0
83. 42
4 2 .9
4 0 .7
3 9 .6
4 0 .1
4 0 .3
3 9 .4
4 0 .0
4 0 .7
4 1 .0
4 2 .0
4 2 .5
4 2 .3
4 2 .7
4 2 .8
4 3 .0
A vg.
h rly .
e a rn
in g s
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 8 2 .3 5
8 3 .0 3
8 0 .6 0
85. 68
8 4 .8 4
7 7 .9 9
8 5 .0 8
8 3 .4 4
8 3 .6 4
83. 22
84. 86
8 5 .9 0
86. 53
86. 74
9 2 .0 2
$ 1 .8 3
1 .8 6
1 .8 3
1 .8 4
1 .8 5
1 .8 6
1 .8 5
1 .8 6
1 .8 8
1 .8 9
1 .9 0
1 .9 2
1 .9 2
1 .9 3
1 .9 4
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 1 .8
4 0 .7
4 0 .1
4 2 .0
4 2 .0
3 8 .8
4 1 .1
4 0 .7
4 0 .6
4 0 .4
4 0 .8
4 1 .3
4 1 .8
4 1 .7
4 3 .2
A vg.
h rly .
e a rn
in g s
1953: A v e r a g e _______
1954: A v e r a g e ____
A p r i l ___________
M a y . _____
J u n e ___ _______
J u l y ____________
A u gust _
S e p te m b e r . . .
O c t o b e r - ____
N o v e m b e r ____
D e c e m b e r ...
1955: J a n u a r y . . .
F e b r u a r y ______
M a r c h _________
A p r i l ___________
$85. 28
86. 05
83. 39
8 6 .0 7
8 3 .8 1
8 5 .4 4
84. 77
8 5 .8 4
85. 97
86. 86
9 0 .0 3
8 8 .9 9
89. 42
8 8 .1 3
87. 26
4 1 .2
4 0 .4
3 9 .9
4 0 .6
4 0 .1
4 0 .3
3 9 .8
4 0 .3
3 9 .8
4 0 .4
4 1 .3
4 1 .2
4 1 .4
4 0 .8
4 0 .4
$ 2 .0 7 $93. 66
9 4 .9 4
2 .1 3
2. 90
8 9 .6 0
94. 76
2 .1 2
2. 09
8 6 .1 4
2 .1 2
9 2 .3 4
2 .1 3
9 5 .1 7
2 .1 3
93. 94
2 .1 6
9 7 .3 4
2 .1 5 100. 67
2 .1 8
97. 75
2 .1 6
94. 71
2 .1 6
90. 78
2 .1 6
89. 55
2 .1 6
85. 79
C o n s tru c tio n a n d
m in in g m a c h in e ry 4
$ 7 9 .4 2
1953: A v e r a g e . ____
7 9 .1 7
1954- A v e r a g e ____
7 8 .7 4
A p ril— . . . . .
7 9 .7 6
M a y ___________
79. 95
J u n e ___________
7 8 .0 0
J u l y __ _________
78. 59
A u g u s t ________
S e p t e m b e r ___
77. 62
O c to b e r . . . .
7 8 .0 1
N o v e m b e r. . .
7 9 .0 0
D e c e m b e r ..
8 0 .7 8
8 0 .3 9
1955: J a n u a r y _______
8 1 .7 9
F e b r u a r y ______
M a r c h _________
8 3 .8 2
85. 4E
A p r i l ___________
4 1 .8
4 0 .6
4 0 .8
4 0 .9
4 1 .0
4 0 .0
4 0 .3
3 9 .6
3 9 .8
4 0 .1
4 0 .8
4 0 .6
41.1
4 1 .7
4 2 .3
$ 1 .9 0
1 .9 5
1 .9 3
1 .9 5
1 .9 5
1 .9 5
1 .9 5
1 .9 6
1 .9 6
1 .9 7
1 .9 8
1 .9 8
1 .9 !
2 .0 !
2 .0 2
46.
43.
43.
4 3 .;
43.2
43.
43 A
42.
42.
4 2 .;
42.
42.
42.
42.
43.
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C o n stru ctio n and
mining machinery,
except for oilfields
$ 7 8 .8 5
7 7 .9 9
77. 57
78. 57
78. 98
7 7 .2 1
7 6 .8 2
77. 42
7 7 .2 2
78.01
7 9 .9 8
8 0 .3 !
8 1 .5 !
8 4 .0 2
85. 65
4 1 .5
402
4 0 .4
4 0 .5
4 0 .5
3 9 .8
3 9 .6
3 9 .7
3 9 .6
3 9 .8
4 0 .6
4 0 .6
41. (
41. S
4 2 .4
$ 1 .9 0
1 .9 4
1 .9 2
1 .9 4
1 .9 5
1 .94
1 .9 4
1 .9 5
1 .9 5
1 .9 6
1 .9 7
1 .9 8
1 .9 9
2.01
2 .0 2
$2. IS
2.2S
2 .2 6
2 .2 !
2 . 3C
2 . 3C
2.3 1
2.3 1
2.3 2
2 . 3C
2 .2 !
2. 2(
2 .2
2. r
2. 3(
$8 1 .3 2
79. 51
79. i ;
79.1 5
78. 55
77. 7S
77. 5Í
78. 9S
7 9 .3 "
7 9 .9 .
8 0 .9 ;
80. I f
80. 5f
82. 3c
81. 51
42.
41.
41.
40.
40.
4 0 .;
40 .2
40.
4 0 .'
41.
41 .5
4 0 .!
41.
41.
41.
$ 1 .9 0
1 .94
1 .92
1 .94
1 .9 ;
1. 95
1 .9 ;
1 .95
1 .95
1.95
1 .95
1.96
1 .96
1 .9 '
1.96
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 2 .2
3 9 .3
3 8 .3
3 7 .9
3 9 .1
3 8 .6
3 8 .0
3 7 .4
3 8 .7
4 1 .5
4 1 .1
4 2 .1
4 2 .9
4 2 .2
4 2 .4
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
4 1 .0
4 0 .2
3 9 .9
4 0 .4
4 0 .6
4 0 .3
3 9 .2
3 9 .9
3 9 .4
3 9 .9
4 1 .4
4 1 .5
4 2 .2
4 1 .6
4 1 .5
$2. 01
2. 05
2. 03
2 .0 5
2. 05
2. 06
2. 05
2. 07
2. 07
2 .0 4
2 .1 0
2 .0 9
2 .1 1
2 .1 0
2 .1 1
Oilfield machinery
and tools
$ 8 0 .9 8
8 2 .1 7
8 1 .9 3
82. 54
82. 52
7 8 .9 í
8 2 .9 6
78.01
7 9 .7 9
81.46
8 1 .7 9
8 0 .1 9
82.66
8 3 .0 0
84. 42
4 2 .4
4 1 .5
4 1 .8
4 1 .9
4 2 .1
40. a
4 1 .9
3 9 .4
4 0 .;
4 0 .7
4 1 .1
4 0 .5
4 i.;
4 1 .5
4 2 .0
$ 1 .9 1
1 .9 8
1 .9 6
1 .9 7
1 .9 6
1 .9 6
1 .9 8
1 .9 8
1 .9 8
2 .0 0
1 .9 9
1 .9 8
2 .0 0
2.06
2 .0 1
Food-products
machinery
$8 1 .5 6
81 .3 6
81 .3 6
8 0 .9 '
7 9 .9 '
79. IS
79. 5S
80. IS
79. 5!
7 9 .9 !
8 1 .7 !
8 0 .7 !
81.86
83. 2!
83.46
4 2 .7
4 i. a
41.
4 1 .1
40.
40.
4 0.6
4 0 .'
40. '
4 0 .'
4 1 .:
40.1
4 0 .!
4 1.2
4 1 .;
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .9 7 $ 7 9 .1 8
1 .9 9
7 6 .1 7
1 .9 6
72. 52
1 .9 8
72. 91
1 .9 9
7 3 .6 8
1 .9 7
7 3 .1 4
74. 26
1 .9 6
1 .9 6
77. 52
1 .9 9
7 8 .9 1
2. 06
80. 87
2. 07
83. 42
2 .1 0
85. 50
2 .1 2
8 5 .1 0
2 .1 1
86. 33
2 .1 3
86. 92
Diesel and other internal combustion enaines not elsewhere
classified
$ 2 .2 3 $82. 41
82. 41
2. 31
8 1 .0 0
2. 24
82.
82
2 .3 0
83. 23
2. 22
2 .2 8
83. 02
8 0 .3 6
2 .3 1
82. 59
2. 28
8 1 .5 6
2 .3 8
8 1 .4 0
2. 42
8 6 .9 4
2. 39
8 6 .7 4
2. 35
89. 04
2 .3 1
2. 32
87. 36
87. 57
2 .3 0
S p e c ia l-in d u s tr y m a (ex c e p t
c h in e ry
m e ta lw o rk in g m a c h in e r y ) 4
Machine-tool
accessories
1953: A v e r a g e . . . ._ $100. 93
1954: A v e r a g e _______
98 .7 2
A p r il.. . . . —
98. OS
99 .6 2
M a y __________
99 .3 6
J u n e _____ __ .
99. 5!
J u l y . . . _______
A u g u s t ________
100.02
S e p t e m b e r ___
98. IS
O c t o b e r ______
9 8 . 6(
9 7 .2 !
N o v e m b e r.. .
97. 5,
D e c e m b e r.
1955: J a n u a r y . . _ .
9 6 . 2S
9 5 .8 .
F e b r u a r y ___
M a rc h
97. If
A p r il.. . .
100. 74
4 2 .0
4 1 .1
4 0 .0
4 1 .2
3 8 .8
4 0 .5
4 1 .2
4 1 .2
4 0 .9
4 1 .6
4 0 .9
4 0 .3
3 9 .3
3 8 .6
3 7 .3
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .9 7 $ 8 3 .1 3
2 .0 4
78. 21
2. 01
75. 07
7 5 .0 4
2. 04
2 .0 2
7 7 .8 1
76. 04
2. 01
74. 48
2. 07
2 .0 5
73. 30
2. 06
77. 01
2. 06
85. 49
2. 08
85. 08
2. 08
88. 41
2 .0 7
90. 95
8 9 .0 4
2. 08
2 .1 3
90. 31
Steam engines, turbines, and water wheels
Bolts, nuts, washers,
and rivets
Steel springs
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 2 .8
4 0 .3
3 9 .2
3 9 .2
3 9 .4
3 8 .7
3 9 .5
4 0 .8
4 1 .1
4 1 .9
4 3 .0
4 3 .4
4 3 .2
4 3 .6
4 3 .9
A vg.
h rly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .8 5
1 .8 9
1 .8 5
1 .8 6
1 .8 7
1 .8 9
1 .8 8
1 .9 0
1 .9 2
1 .9 3
1 .9 4
1 .9 7
1 .9 7
1 .9 8
1 .9 8
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
3 9 .8
3 9 .5
3 9 .6
3 9 .8
3 9 .7
3 9 .3
3 9 .3
3 9 .4
3 8 .6
3 9 .2
4 0 .0
4 0 .4
4 0 .6
4 1 .0
4 0 .8
4 5 .8
4 2 .6
4 2 .8
4 2 .6
4 2 .3
4 2 .1
4 2 .3
4 1 .8
4 1 .7
4 1 .5
4 1 .9
4 2 .0
4 2 .1
4 2 .3
4 3 .2
m
4 1 .1
3 9 .!
39.
3 9 .5
39.
3 8 .6
3 9 .2
39.
4 0 .:
4 0 .'
4L'
4 0 .!
4 1 .'
41.
41 .6
$ 1 .7 5
1 .7 6
1 .7 6
1 .7 6
1 .7 5
1 .7 4
1 .7 5
1 .7 6
1 .7 5
1 .7 6
1 .7 6
1 .7 7
1 .77
1.7S
1. 77
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .8 3
1 .8 4
1 .8 2
1 .8 3
1 .8 3
1 .8 3
1. 82
1 .8 4
1 .8 6
1 .8 7
1 .8 7
1 .8 7
1 .8 9
1 .8 9
1 .9 0
3 9 .6
3 9 .4
3 9 .3
3 9 .4
3 9 .0
3 9 .0
3 9 .2
3 9 .8
3 8 .6
3 9 .6
4 0 .4
41. 1
4 1 .0
4 1 .3
41. 1
4 6 .3
4 2 .6
4 3 .2
4 2 .6
4 1 .8
4 1 .0
4 1 .4
4 1 .6
4 1 .7
4 1 .1
4 1 .8
4 1 .8
4 2 .0
4 2 .'
4 3 .2
$2. 00
2 .0 5
2. 04
2. 05
2. 02
2. 02
2. 05
2. 07
2. 06
2. 07
2. 08
2 .1 0
2 .1 1
2 .1 1
2 .1 2
4 4 .3
4 3 .2
4 3 .2
4 3 .2
4 3 .6
4 2.7
4 2.6
4 2 .'
4 2.1
4 2 .'
4 3 .'
42.
43.1
43.6
44.6
$82. 91
8 1 .6 1
8 0 .6 0
8 1 .6 1
8 1 .0 0
8 0 .6 0
80. 80
8 1 .8 1
8 1 .6 1
82. 01
8 3 .4 4
82. 82
83. 64
84. 87
85. 49
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 2 .3
4 0 .6
4 0 .5
4 0 .6
4 0 .5
4 0 .1
4 0 .2
4 0 .3
4 0 .2
4 0 .4
4 0 .9
4 0 .8
4 1 .0
4 1 .4
4 1 .5
A vg.
h rly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .9 6
2. 01
1 .9 9
2. 01
2 .0 0
2. 01
2. 01
2. 0 3
2. 03
2. 03
2 .0 4
2. 03
2. 04
2. 0 5
2 .0 6
$75. 20
76. 03
76. 61
76. 99
7 7 .9 7
75. 45
74. 67
75. 46
73. 73
7 4 .6 9
77. 02
7 7 .4 2
7 9 .1 9
8 1 .1 9
8 0 .6 0
4 0 .0
3 9 .6
3 9 .9
4 0 .1
4 0 .4
3 9 .5
3 9 .3
3 9 .1
3 8 .6
3 8 .9
3 9 .7
3 9 .7
4 0 .2
4 0 .8
4 0 .5
$ 1 .8 8
1 .9 2
1 .9 2
1 .9 2
1 .9 3
1 .9 1
1 .9 0
1 .9 3
1 .9 1
1. 9 2
1 .9 4
1 .9 5
1 .9 7
1 .9 9
1 .9 9
Metalworking machin
ery (except machine
tools)
$ 2 .0 5
2 .0 9
2. 07
2 .0 8
2. 09
2 .0 8
2 .0 8
2 .1 0
2 .1 1
2 .1 0
2 .1 1
2 .1 0
2 .1 1
2 .1 3
2 .1 4
Paper-industries
machinery
$82. 84
8 2 .9 4
82. OS
8 2 .9 4
83. 2S
8 1 . 9S
8 1 .0 6
8 3 .2 7
82. K
8 3 .2 '
8 6 .5 6
8 3 . 3f
84. 9:
85. 8!
87.56
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
Agricultural machinery
(iexcept tractors)
,
Machine tools
$ 2 .1 1 $ 9 4 .9 2
2 .1 8
8 9 .0 3
2 .1 6
89. 42
2 .1 8
88. 61
2 .1 9
8 7 .3 6
2 .1 9
8 5 .2 8
2 .1 9
8 6 .1 1
2 .2 0
8 7 .3 6
2 .2 1
8 7 .9 9
2 .1 9
8 6 .3 1
2 .1 9
88 .2 6
2 .1 7
8 7 .7 8
2 .1 8
8 8 .6 2
2 .1 9
90.31
2 .2 1
92. 45
Textile machinery
$1 .9 1 $71. 93
1.9 7
70. 22
1.9 7
70. o ;
69. 52
1.9 7
6 9 .6 5
1.96
1.96
67 .1 6
68 .6 6
1.96
1 .9 '
68 .6 4
1 .9 '
70. IS
1.9S
7 1 .6 ;
1 .9 !
72. 81
1 .9 !
7 2 .3 !
2 .0 0
73. 2S
2 .0 2
74. 41
2.021 73. 6;
4 4 .3
4 0 .9
3 9 .7
4 0 .5
4 0 .4
3 9 .3
3 9 .9
4 0 .9
4 1 .1
4 2 .3
4 2 .9
4 1 .9
4 2 .9
4 3 .0
4 2 .9
$1. 94 $79. 20
1 .9 8
80. 77
1 .9 8
8 0 .1 7
1 .9 8
80. 77
1 .9 7
7 8 .7 8
1 .9 6
78. 78
1 .9 7
8 0 .3 6
2. 00
8 2 .3 9
1 .9 9
79. 52
2 .0 0
8 1 .9 7
2 .0 1
84. 03
2. 03
8 6 .3 1
2 .0 4
86. 51
2 .0 5
8 7 .1 4
2 .0 6
8 7 .1 3
M e ta lw o r k in g m a
c h in e ry 4
$ 9 6 .6 4
9 2 .8 7
92. 45
9 2 .8 7
9 2 .6 4
9 2 .2 0
9 2 .6 4
9 1 .9 6
9 2 .1 6
9 0 .8 9
9 1 .7 6
91.14
9 1 .7 8
92. 6 '
95. 47
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
$81. 07
75. 26
72. 25
7 4 .1 2
7 3 .9 3
7 1 .9 2
7 2 .6 2
7 5 .2 6
76. 45
7 9 .1 0
8 0 .2 2
7 8 .3 5
8 1 .0 8
8 1 .2 7
8 1 .5 1
A g ric u ltu ra l m a c h in e ry a n d tra c to rs 4
$77. 21
78. 21
7 8 .4 1
78. 80
7 8 .2 1
7 7 .0 3
7 7 .4 2
78. 80
7 6 .8 1
7 8 .4 0
8 0 .4 0
82. 01
8 2 .8 2
8 4 .0 5
84. 05
Total: Machinery
(except electrical)
Screw-machine
products
$ 1 .8 7
1.9 2
1.9C
1.9 2
1 .9
1.92
1. 9;
1 .9 ,
1 .9 ,
1 .9 ,
1.9S
1.96
1 .9 '
1 .9 '
1 .9 ‘
$89. 52
8 5 .0 8
84. 46
84. 46
84. 87
8 6 .1 0
8 5 .7 0
84. 45
8 3 .4 1
83. 21
8 5 .0 6
8 5 .2 8
8 5 .6 9
86. 32
8 7 .9 9
4 4 .1
4 1 .1
4 1 .0
4 0 .8
4 1 .0
4 1 .0
4 1 .2
4 0 .6
4 0 .1
4 0 .2
4 0 .7
41. C
4 1 .0
4 i.;
4 1 .7
$ 2 .0 3
2 .0 7
2 .0 6
2. 07
2 .0 7
2 .1 0
2 .0 8
2 .0 8
2 .0 8
2 .0 7
2 .0 9
2 .0 8
2 .0 9
2 .0 9
2 .1 1
Printinç-tradesma chinery and equipment
$94. 59
89. 01
8 7 .7 '
9 1 .5 6
87. 5;
9 0 .7 3
8 5 .8 6
87. 72
8 8 .3 2
88. 56
88.3 4
87. 6"
9o. o ;
91. 9f
91. 34
4 4 .2
4 1 .4
41. (
4 2 .6
4 0 .!
4 2 .2
4 0 .;
40.
4 0 .'
4 1.6
4 0 .!
40.
4 i.;
41.
41. 9
$ 2 .1 4
2 .1 5
2 .1 4
2 .1 8
2 .1 4
2 .1 5
2 .1 2
2 .1 5
2 .1 7
2 .1 6
2 .1 6
2 .1 7
2 .1 8
2 .2 0
2 .1 8
853
C : E A R N IN G S A N D H O U R S
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued.
Machinery (except electrical)—Continued
Year and month
Avg. Avg.
wkly. wkly.
earn hours
ings
1953: Average_____
1954: Average_____
April........ ...........
M ay________
June____ . .
July ----------------------August _ _____
September_____
October_________
November___
December______
1955: January....... ...
February........
March____ . . .
April.............. ..
1953: Average..___
1954: Average.........
April__ ___
M ay________
June ______________
Ju ly ----------------------A u g u st ________
September_____
October________
November _____
December______
1955: January _________
February _______
March ___________
April_____________
$ 83 .
42
80.19
78.99
79. 39
80.19
79.40
80.20
80.80
81.20
80.00
81.41
81.20
81.61
82.82
83. 64
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
43.0
40. 5
40.3
40.3
40.5
40. 1
40.3
40.4
40.4
40.0
40. 5
40.4
40.6
41.0
41.2
$
1. 94
1.98
1.96
1.97
1.98
1.98
1.99
2.00
2 . 01
2.00
2.01
2 . 01
2.01
2.02
2.03
April____________
M ay ___________
June. ....................
July ----------------------August__________
September_____
October__________
November............
December______
1955: January __________
February _______
M arch ___________
April______________
$ 81.98
78. 99
78.18
76.63
77.60
77.81
79.00
80.19
80. 39
78. 40
79.98
79.79
80.99
80.16
82.61
42.7
40.3
40.3
39.5
40.0
39.9
40.1
40.5
40.6
40.0
40.6
40.5
40.7
40.9
41.1
$
1.92
1.96
1.94
1.94
1.94
1.95
1.97
1.98
1.98
1.96
1.97
1.97
1.99
1.96
2.01
Office and store ma
chines and devices 4
$ 81.02
$
81.00
80.19
79. 60
80. 00
78.61
79.00
82.01
81.41
80. 20
81.00
80. 20
84.04
84. 05
83.23
42.2
40. 5
40.5
40.2
39.8
39.5
39.7
40.8
40.3
39.9
40.3
40.1
41.4
41.2
40.8
$
1.92
2.00
1.98
1.98
2.01
1.99
1.99
2.01
2. 02
2.01
2.01
2 . 00
2 . 03
2. 04
2.04
$ 76.
74.
38
74
75.62
75.85
74. 56
72.10
75.17
73. 42
74.59
74.15
74. 93
72.50
74. 37
77.19
77.49
42.2
40.4
41.1
41.0
40.3
39.4
40.2
39.9
40.1
40.3
40.5
39.4
40.2
41.5
41.0
$
1.81
1.85
1.84
1.85
1.85
1.83
1.87
1.84
1. 86
1.84
1.85
1.84
1.85
1.86
1.89
77.38
79.20
77.82
77.42
78.41
79.40
79.40
80.00
79.80
81.20
80.60
81.00
79.60
80.80
80.20
40.3
39.8
39.5
39.3
39.6
39.7
39.7
40.0
39.9
40.2
40.1
40.1
39.6
40.0
39.9
$
1.92
1.99
1.97
1.97
1.98
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.02
2.01
2. 02
2. 01
2.02
2.01
Sewing machines
$ 77.
01
79.60
78.80
79.60
79.80
78.21
77. 82
79. 20
80.40
81.41
81.81
80. 00
80.59
80. 79
80. 78
39.9
39.8
39.6
39.8
40.1
39.5
39.5
39.6
40.2
40.5
40.5
39.8
39.7
39.8
39.6
Conveyors and con
veying equipment
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
M echanical stokers
and industrial fu r
naces and ovens
Commercial laundry,
dry-cleaning, and
pressing machines
1953: Average__________
1954: Average__________
P u m p s , air and gas
compressors
General industrial
m achinery 4
$ 1.93
2. 00
1.99
2.00
1.99
1.98
1.97
2.00
2.00
2 . 01
2.02
2.01
2 . 03
2.03
2.04
$ 84.44
81.40
79. 79
82.00
82. 61
85.04
80.60
80.80
81.20
78.38
81.81
80. 57
80.98
82.61
82. 81
43.3
40.7
40. 5
41.0
41. 1
42.1
40.1
40.0
40.0
38.8
40.3
39.3
39.5
40.1
40.2
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings horns
$ 1.95
2.00
1.97
2 . 00
2.01
2.02
2 . 01
2.02
2.03
2.02
2.03
2. 05
2.05
2.06
2.06
1953: Average_____
1954: Average_____
$ 80.28
79. 32
42.7
41.1
A p ril.............. 77. 74
40.7
M ay________ 79.52
41.2
June_____
41.1
79.32
July ----------------------- 78. 55
40.7
August______ 78. 55
40.7
September___ 79.38
40.5
October
79. 54
41.0
November___ 79. 95
41.0
December___
81. 95
41.6
1955: January_____
82. 35
41.8
February___
82. 96
41.9
M arch ___________ 84.15
42. 5
April_______
83. 58
42.0
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$
1.88
1.93
1.91
1.93
1.93
1. 93
1.93
1.96
1.94
1. 95
1.97
1.97
1.98
1.98
1.99
$
76. 50
74. 59
72. 40
73.38
74.93
73.68
74. 77
75.62
76.40
75. 22
75.43
74.64
75.81
75.60
77. 52
Computing machines
and cash registers
$ 83.21
85.17
83.74
83.10
84.10
86.80
86.40
85.97
85.93
87.64
87.64
87.85
86.15
86. 58
85.93
40.2
39.8
39.5
39.2
39.3
40.0
40.0
39.8
39.6
40.2
40.2
40.3
39.7
39.9
39.6
$ 2.07
2.14
2.12
2.12
2.14
2.17
2.16
2.16
2.17
2.18
2.18
2.18
2.17
2.17
2.17
Refrigerators and
air-conditioning units
$ 79.
76
77.81
76. 44
78.01
75. 86
74.69
75.66
78. 21
79.40
78.80
80.40
80.20
83. 23
83.23
83.64
40.9
39.3
38.8
39.2
38.9
38.3
38.6
39.3
39.7
39.4
40.2
39.9
40.8
40.8
41.0
$
1.95
1.98
1.97
1.99
1. 95
1. 95
1. 96
1. 99
2.00
2.00
2.00
2 . 01
2.04
2.04
2.04
Machinery (except
electrical)—Con.
Machine shops ( job
and repair)
Blowers, exhaust and
ventilating fans
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings hours
ings
42.5
40.1
40.0
40.1
40. 5
39.4
40.2
39.8
40.0
39.8
39.7
39.7
39.9
40.0
40.8
$
1.80
1.86
1.81
1.83
1.85
1.87
1.86
1.90
1.91
1.89
1. 90
1.88
1.90
1.89
1.90
93
73. 23
71.74
72.13
73.63
72.86
73.23
75.48
74. 70
76.89
76.52
75. 41
74.26
75. 01
74.82
40.3
39.8
39.2
39.2
39.8
39.6
39.8
40.8
40.6
40.9
40.7
39.9
39.5
39.9
39.8
$
1.76
1.84
1.83
1.84
1.85
1.84
1.84
1.85
1.84
1.88
1.88
1.89
1.88
1.88
1.88
Miscellaneous
machinery parts 4
$ 78.
85
78.00
76. 81
77.60
77. 79
76. 05
77.03
78.80
78. 61
79. 99
80. 99
81.59
82.40
83.82
83.62
41. 5
40.0
39.8
40.0
40.1
39.2
39.5
39.8
39.7
40.4
40.7
41.0
41.2
41.7
41.6
$ 83.
50
77. 42
77.02
77.42
78.78
75. 65
77.82
78. 41
81.41
78. 61
79.40
80.60
80.60
84.46
84.04
42.6
39.5
39.7
39.7
40.4
38.4
39.5
39. 4
40.5
39.5
39.9
40.3
40.1
41.4
41.4
$
1.90
1.95
1.93
1.94
1.94
1. 94
1.95
1.98
1. 98
1.98
1.99
1.99
2.00
2 . 01
2. 01
$
79.15
77.82
76. 05
77.22
75.85
75.27
76. 44
78.80
79.80
78.80
80.00
79. 20
81.61
82. 42
82.42
40.8
39.5
38.8
39.2
39.1
38.8
39.2
39.8
40.1
39.6
40.2
39.8
40.6
40.8
40.8
$
1.96
1.96
1.94
1.95
1.95
1.97
1.97
1.99
2.01
1.99
1.99
2.00
2.01
2.04
2.03
$
1.94
1.97
1.96
1.97
1.94
1.94
1.95
1.98
1.99
1.99
1.99
1.99
2.01
2.02
2. 02
Fabricated pipe,
fittings, and valves
$ 77.
90
78.60
77.60
78.40
78. 20
75. 27
76.44
80. 20
78.20
81.20
80.60
80.00
80. 20
81.00
80. 60
41.0
39.9
40.0
40.0
40.1
38.6
38.8
40.1
39.1
40.4
40.3
40.2
40.1
40.5
40.3
Mechanical powertransmission equip
ment
Avg. Avg. Avg.
hrly. wkly.
earn earn wkly.
ings
ings hours
Service-industry and
household machines4
Typewriters
$ 70.
Industrial trucks,
tractors, etc.
$
1.90
1.97
1.94
1.96
1. 95
1.95
1. 97
2.00
2.00
2.01
2.00
1.99
2. 00
2.00
2.00
$ 85.93
81.00
79. 20
79. 79
80.00
78. 80
79.80
80.80
82.62
83. 03
83. 44
83.85
84. 05
85.28
86.94
43.4
40.5
40.0
40.3
40.2
39.6
40.1
40.2
40.7
40.7
40.9
40.9
41.2
41.6
42.0
Avg.
hrly.
earn
ings
$
1.98
2.00
1.98
1.98
1.99
1.99
1.99
2.01
2.03
2.04
2 . 04
2.05
2.04
2.05
2 . 07
Domestic laundry
equipment
$ 78.
57
79.80
74.25
74.88
75. 27
79.79
81.20
85.90
87.35
84.26
81.81
80. 00
81.61
84.87
82.62
40.5
39.9
37.5
38.6
38.6
40.5
40.4
41.7
42.2
41.1
40.5
39.8
40.4
41.4
40.7
$
1.94
2.00
1.98
1.94
1.95
1.97
2.01
2.06
2 . 07
2.05
2.02
2. 01
2.02
2.05
2.03
Ball and roller
bearings
$ 77.
76.
73.
74.
71
25
73
50
75. 46
74.69
75. 46
75. 66
77.42
78. 61
80.60
83. 01
85.04
86.70
88.56
40.9
39.1
38.4
38.8
39.1
38.5
39.1
38.6
39.1
39.7
40.5
41.3
42.1
42.5
43.2
$
1.90
1.95
1.92
1.92
1.93
1.94
1.93
1.96
1.98
1. 98
1. 99
2 . 01
2.02
2. 04
2 . 05
Electrical machinery
Total: Electrical
machinery
$ 71.
72.
70.
81
44
56
71.50
72. 07
71. 53
72.04
72.98
74. 34
74.89
74. 52
74. 56
74. 74
75.33
75. 33
40.8
39.8
39.2
39. 5
39.6
39.3
39.8
40.1
40.4
40.7
40.5
40.3
40.4
40.5
40.5
$
Electrical generating,
transmission, distri
bution, and indus
trial apparatus 4
1.76 $77. 83
1.82 77. 59
1.80 75. 45
1.81 76.22
1.82 76.61
1.82 76.42
1. 81 77. 78
1.82 78. 76
1.84 78.76
1. 84 79.15
1.84 79. 56
1. 85 78.38
1.85 79.17
1.86 79.56
1.86 79.37
41.4
40.2
39.5
39.7
39.9
39.8
40.3
40.6
40.6
40.8
40.8
40.4
40.6
40.8
40.7
Wiring devices and
supplies
$1.88 $68. 54
1. 93 67. 72
1.91 65. 23
1.92 66.08
1.92 66.47
1.92 65. 79
1.93 67.60
1.94 68.85
1.94 69. 89
1.94 70. 58
1.95 71.17
1.94 69.03
1.95 69.08
1.95 69. 95
1.95 69.83
40.8
39.6
38.6
39.1
39.1
38.7
39.3
39.8
40.4
40.8
40.9
39.9
39.7
40.2
39.9
Carbon and graphite
products ( electrical)
$1.68 $77.83
1. 71 74.80
1.69 74. 61
1.69 74. 82
1.70 74.07
1.70 73. 49
1. 72 74.80
1.73 74.80
1.73 74. 96
1.73 74. 34
1.74 76.07
1.73 76.67
1.74 76. 73
1.74 77.30
1.75 77.52
41.4
40.0
39.9
39.8
39.4
39.3
40.0
40.0
40.3
40.4
40.9
41.0
40.6
40.9
40.8
Electrical indicating,
measuring, and re
cording instruments
$1.88 $73. 57
1.87 72.80
1.87 71.50
1. 88 72. 44
1.88 72. 98
1.87 72. 58
1. 87 73.16
1.87 74.52
1.86 74. 89
1.84 74.15
1.86 71.89
1.87 72. 62
1.89 73.05
1.89 74.00
1.90 73.26
41.1
40.0
39.5
39.8
40.1
40.1
40.2
40.5
40.7
40.3
39.5
39.9
39.7
40.0
39.6
$1.79
1.82
1.81
1.82
1.82
1. 81
1.82
1.84
1.84
1. 84
1.82
1. 82
1.84
1.85
1.85
854
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V I E W , J U L Y 1955
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Manufacturing—Continued
E le c t r ic a l m a c h in e r y — C o n t in u e d
Y e a r an d m o n th
Motors, generators, and Power and distribution Switchgear, switchboard,
motor-generator sets
transformers
and industrial controls
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
1 9 6 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e - - ..............
A p r i l ______________
M a y _______________
J u n e _______________
J u l y ________________
A u g u s t ___________
S e p t e m b e r ______
O c t o b e r __________
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r _______
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y _______
F e b r u a r y ________
M a r c h - - __
A p r il- - - . _
$ 8 4 . 03
8 2 .8 2
8 0 . 59
8 0 . 78
8 0 . 99
8 1 . 80
8 3 .6 4
8 5 .0 8
8 4 .8 7
8 4 .0 5
8 3 . 84
8 4. 25
8 4 . 87
8 4 . 67
8 3 . 85
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 1 .6
4 0 .4
3 9 .7
3 9 .6
3 9 .7
4 0 .1
4 0 .6
4 1 .1
4 1 .0
4 0 .8
4 0 .5
4 0 .7
4 1 .2
4 1 .3
4 0 .9
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 2 .0 2
2 .0 5
2 .0 3
2 .0 4
2 .0 4
2 . 04
2 .0 6
2 .0 7
2 .0 7
2 . 06
2 .0 7
2 .0 7
2 .0 6
2 .0 5
2 .0 5
E le c t r ic e q u ip m e n t
fo r v e h ic le s
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e _______
A p r i l _______________
M a y . . ................. ...
J u n e _______________
J u l y — . ....................
A u g u s t ___________
S e p t e m b e r ______
O c t o b e r __________
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r _______
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y __________
F e b r u a r y ________
M a rc h
. _____
A p r i l ________
-_
$ 7 6 . 70
7 5 .8 4
7 2 .1 9
7 8 .1 7
7 5 .2 6
7 3 . 54
7 4 .1 0
7 4. 50
8 1 .1 8
7 9. 59
7 9 .3 8
8 0 . 78
8 4. 82
8 4 .8 0
8 2 .1 9
4 0 .8
3 9 .5
3 8 .4
4 0 .5
3 9 .2
3 8 .3
3 9 .0
3 8 .8
4 1 .0
4 0 .4
4 0 .5
4 0 .8
4 2 .2
4 2 .4
4 1 .3
$ 1 .8 8
1 .9 2
1 .8 8
1 .9 3
1 .9 2
1 .9 2
1 .9 0
1 .9 2
1 .9 8
1 .9 7
1 .9 6
1 .9 8
2 .0 1
2 .0 0
1 .9 9
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 0 .6
4 0 .3
3 9 .2
4 0. 2
4 0 .3
3 9 .7
4 0 .5
4 0 .5
4 0 .9
4 1 .0
4 2 .5
4 1 .6
4 1 .5
4 1 .5
4 1 .9
$ 76 . 33
7 8 . 59
7 6 . 44
7 9 .1 9
7 8 . 59
7 7 .0 2
7 8 .9 8
7 6 .1 4
7 9 . 76
8 0 . 77
8 4 .5 8
8 1 .9 5
8 2 . 59
8 2 .1 7
8 3 .8 0
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .8 8
1 .9 5
1 .9 5
1 .9 7
1 .9 5
1 .9 4
1 .9 5
1 .8 8
1 .9 5
1 .9 7
1 .9 9
1 .9 7
1 .9 9
1. 98
2 .0 0
E le c t r ic la m p s
$ 6 5 .2 1
6 4 .9 1
6 4 .1 9
6 4 . 85
6 3 . 69
6 0 .4 2
6 3. 69
6 5 .6 3
6 7 .7 7
6 8. 51
6 8 . 51
6 8 .1 7
6 8 . 91
6 9 .6 0
69. 26
4 0 .5
3 9 .1
3 8 .9
3 9 .3
3 8 .6
3 6 .4
3 8 .6
3 9 .3
4 0 .1
4 0 .3
4 0 .3
4 0 .1
4 0 .3
4 0 .7
4 0 .5
$ 1 .6 1
1 .6 6
1 .6 5
1 .6 5
1 .6 5
1 .6 6
1 .6 5
1 .6 7
1 .6 9
1 .7 0
1 .7 0
1 .7 0
1 .7 1
1 .7 1
1 .7 1
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 7 5 .8 4
7 5 .9 5
7 3 .6 6
7 4 .9 9
7 5 .3 6
7 5. 39
7 5 .9 8
7 6 . 76
7 6 . 78
7 9 .3 2
7 9 .1 3
7 6 .4 0
7 6. 99
7 7. 3 8
7 7. 97
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 1 .9
4 0 .4
3 9 .6
4 0 .1
4 0 .3
4 0 .1
4 0 .2
4 0 .4
4 0 .2
4 1 .1
4 1 .0
4 0 .0
4 0 .1
4 0 .3
4 0 .4
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .8 1
1 .8 8
1 .8 6
1 .8 7
1 .8 7
1 .8 8
1 .8 9
1 .9 0
1 .9 1
1 .9 3
1 .9 3
1 .9 1
1 .9 2
1 .9 2
1 .9 3
C o m m u n ic a tio n
e q u ip m e n t 4
$66. 66
6 8 . 68
6 6 .3 0
6 7. 42
6 8 .5 1
6 7 . 64
6 9 .0 3
6 9. 55
7 0 .8 8
7 1 .2 3
7 0 . 53
7 0 .5 3
7 0 .4 0
7 0 .8 0
7 1 .1 5
4 0 .4
3 9 .7
3 9 .0
3 9 .2
3 9 .6
3 9 .1
3 9 .9
4 0 .2
4 0 .5
4 0 .7
4 0 .3
4 0 .3
4 0 .0
4 0 .0
4 0 .2
$ 1 .6 5
1 .7 3
1 .7 0
1 .7 2
1 .7 3
1 .7 3
1 .7 3
1 .7 3
1 .7 5
1 .7 5
1 .7 5
1 .7 5
1 .7 6
1 .7 7
1 .7 7
Electrical welding
apparatus
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 8 5 .2 0
8 3 .2 1
8 3 . 73
8 1 .9 9
8 3 . 42
8 3 . 23
8 6 . 48
8 7 . 55
8 3 . 64
8 3 . 64
8 4 . 84
8 3 .0 2
8 4 .6 6
8 6 . 72
8 9 .4 2
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 2 .6
4 1 .4
4 2 .5
4 1 .2
4 1 .5
4 0 .8
4 2 .6
4 2 .5
4 1 .0
4 1 .2
4 2 .0
4 1 .1
4 1 .5
4 2 .3
4 3 .2
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 2 .0 0
2 .0 1
1 .9 7
1 .9 9
2 .0 1
2 .0 4
2 .0 3
2 .0 6
2 . 04
2 .0 3
2 . 02
2 . 02
2 .0 4
2 . 05
2 .0 7
R a d io s , p h o n o g ra p h s,
te le v is io n s e ts , a n d
e q u ip m e n t
$64. 64
67. 49
6 5 .3 5
6 6. 0 8
6 7 .3 2
6 7 . 20
6 7 . 66
6 8 . 34
6 9 . 32
6 9 . 26
6 9 .3 2
6 9 . 32
6 8 .1 1
6 8 . 68
6 9 .0 3
3 9 .9
3 9 .7
3 8 .9
3 9 .1
3 9 .6
3 9 .3
3 9 .8
4 0 .2
4 0 .3
4 0 .5
4 0 .3
4 0 .3
3 9 .6
3 9 .7
3 9 .9
$ 1 .6 2
1 .7 0
1 .6 8
1 .6 9
1 .7 0
1 .7 1
1 .7 0
1 .7 0
1 .7 2
1 .7 1
1 .7 2
1 .7 2
1 .7 2
1. 73
1 .7 3
E l e c t r i c a l a p p li a n c e s
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 7 6 .9 2
7 5 . 84
7 5 .2 6
7 6 . 22
7 4 .6 8
7 5 . 46
7 5 . 46
7 6 .4 3
7 3. 73
7 9 .1 7
7 8. 3 8
7 7. 81
7 7 .0 1
7 9 .1 5
7 9 .1 7
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e __________
A p r i l ______________
M a y _______________
J u n e ____ _________
J u l y ________________
A u g u s t __________
S e p t e m b e r ______
O c t o b e r __________
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r _______
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y __________
F e b r u a r y ________
M a r c h - ________
A p r i l - — _______
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e _______ ___
A p r i l — __________
M a y _______________
J u n e _______________
J u l y . . . .................
A u g u s t ___________
S e p t e m b e r _____
O c t o b e r __________
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r _____
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y __________
F e b r u a r y ________
M a rc h . .
A p r il.
_ . .
$ 6 7 . 94
6 8 .9 5
6 8 .7 3
6 7 .5 1
6 9. 52
6 8 .4 3
6 7 .2 5
6 7 . 82
6 9 . 48
7 0 . 98
7 0 . 53
7 0 .1 7
7 2. 58
7 1 .0 6
7 2 . 72
4 0 .2
3 9 .4
3 9 .5
3 8 .8
3 9 .5
39. 1
3 9 .1
3 9 .2
3 9 .7
40.
3 9 .4
3 9 .2
4 0 .1
3 9 .7
4 0 .4
$ 76 . 67
7 6. 82
7 5 .8 4
7 5 . 66
79. 00
7 6 . 24
7 5 .0 6
7 5 . 66
7 8 . 60
8 1 .8 0
7 7 . 62
7 6 . 64
8 1 .8 0
7 8 . 80
8 1 .0 0
4 1 .0
3 9 .6
3 9 .5
3 9 .2
4 0 .1
3 9 .3
3 9 .3
3 9 .0
3 9 .9
4 0 .9
3 9 .4
39. 1
4 0 .9
3 9 .6
4 0 .5
$ 1 .8 7
1 .9 4
1 .9 2
1 .9 3
1 .9 7
1 .9 4
1 .9 1
1 .9 4
1 .9 7
2. 0 0
1 .9 7
1 .9 6
2 . 00
1 .9 9
2 .0 0
M o to 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
T r u c k a n d b u s b o d ie s
$ 8 8 . 78
8 9 .9 5
8 8 . 07
8 9 .1 6
8 5 . 85
8 6 .0 7
8 8 . 58
8 9 .9 5
9 1 .3 5
9 7. 18
1 0 0 .1 1
9 7. 63
9 9. 65
1 0 1 .2 3
9 7 .4 1
$ 7 4 . 26
7 5 . 98
7 4. 96
7 7 .0 8
7 7. 71
7 4 . 10
7 8 . 09
7 6 .2 2
7 5 .8 3
7 6. 8 0
78. 38
76. 82
8 0 .9 3
9 1 .4 3
8 5 .8 9
41.
4 0 .7
4 0 .4
4 0 .9
3 9 .2
3 9 .3
3 9 .9
3 9 .8
4 0 .6
4 3 .0
4 4 .1
4 3 .2
4 3 .9
4 4 .4
4 3 .1
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$ 1. 69
1 .7 5
1. 74
1 .7 4
1 .7 6
1. 75
1 .7 2
1 .7 3
1 .7 5
1. 77
1 .7 9
1 .7 9
1. 81
1 .7 9
1 .8 0
S to r a g e b a tte r ie s
$ 2 . 16
2. 21
2 .1 8
2 . 18
2 .1 9
2 .1 9
2. 22
2. 2 6
2. 25
2. 26
2. 27
2 .2 6
2 . 27
2 .2 8
2 . 26
4 0 .8
4 0 .2
4 0 .3
4 1 .0
4 0 .9
3 9 .0
4 1. 1
39. 7
3 9 .7
4 0 .0
4 0 .4
39. 6
4 1 .5
44. 6
4 3 .6
$ 1 . 82
1 .8 9
1 .8 6
1 .8 8
1 .9 0
1. 90
1 .9 0
1 .9 2
1 .9 1
1 .9 2
1 .9 4
1 .9 4
1. 95
2 .0 5
1 .9 7
4 0 .0
39. 1
3 9 .4
3 8 .1
3 9 .2
3 8 .9
3 8 .6
39. 1
3 8 .9
3 8 .8
3 8 .9
3 9 .3
3 9 .5
3 9 .4
4 0 .4
$ 1 .4 8
1. 51
1 .5 3
1 .5 2
1 .5 1
1 .5 0
1. 50
1. 49
1 .5 0
1 .5 0
1 .5 2
1 .5 2
1 .5 4
1 .5 3
1 .5 4
T r a i le r s (t r u c k a n d
a u to m o b ile )
$ 7 3 . 60
7 6 .1 9
7 2. 68
7 6 .1 7
7 8 . 72
7 4. 29
7 3 .7 0
7 4 . 50
7 9. 90
8 2 . 32
8 2. 68
7 8. 3 8
8 0 . 77
8 4 .1 5
8 5 . 06
4 0 .0
4 0 .1
3 9 .5
4 0 .3
4 1 .0
3 9. 1
3 9 .2
38. 6
4 1. 4
42. 0
4 2 .4
4 0 .4
4 1 .0
4 2 .5
4 3 .4
4 0 .7
3 9 .5
3 9 .2
3 9 .7
3 9 .1
3 9 .3
3 9 .3
3 9 .6
3 8 .2
4 0 .6
4 0 .4
3 9 .9
3 9 .9
4 0 .8
4 0 .6
$ 1 .8 9
1 .9 2
1 .9 2
1 .9 2
1 .9 1
1 .9 2
1 .9 2
1 .9 3
1 .9 3
1 .9 5
1 .9 4
1 .9 5
1 .9 3
1 .9 4
1 .9 5
$ 6 2 . 27
6 3 .4 3
6 2 .0 2
6 2 . 65
6 3. 27
6 1 .9 9
6 4. 08
6 3 .9 9
6 6 .9 9
6 7 . 49
6 4 . 94
6 4 .0 6
6 5 .6 0
6 4 .5 5
6 4 . 55
4 0 .7
3 9 .4
3 9 .5
3 9 .4
3 9 .3
3 8 .5
3 9 .8
3 9 .5
4 0 .6
4 0 .9
3 9 .6
3 9 .3
4 0 .0
3 9 .6
3 9 .6
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 7 2 .2 4
7 0 . 47
6 7 . 77
6 9 .1 4
6 9 . 77
7 0 .3 0
6 9 . 95
7 3. 3 9
7 2. 3 9
74. 8 2
7 3. 69
7 3. 34
7 3 .9 3
7 3 .5 7
7 4. 64
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 2 .0
4 0 .5
3 9 .4
4 0 .2
4 0 .1
4 0 .4
4 0 .2
4 1 .7
4 0 .9
4 1 .8
4 1 .4
4 1 .2
4 1 .3
4 1 .1
4 1 .7
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .7 2
1 .7 4
1 .7 2
1 .7 2
1 .7 4
1 .7 4
1 .7 4
1 .7 6
1 .7 7
1 .7 9
1 .7 8
1 .7 8
1 .7 9
1. 79
1. 79
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 i p m e n t
$ 1 .5 3
1 .6 1
1 .5 7
1 .5 9
1 .6 1
1 .6 1
1 .6 1
1 .6 2
1 .6 5
1 .6 5
1 .6 4
1 .6 3
1 .6 4
1 .6 3
1 .6 3
$ 8 2 . 49
8 0 . 40
7 7 . 03
7 8 . 41
7 9 . 40
7 8 . 21
8 0 .6 0
8 1 .6 0
8 3 .4 3
8 4 . 66
8 3 . 64
8 5 .9 0
8 6 .5 3
8 6 . 53
8 7 .5 7
4 2 .3
4 0 .4
3 9 .5
3 9 .8
3 9 .9
3 9 .5
4 0 .3
4 0 .8
4 1 .1
4 1 .5
4 1 .2
4 1 .7
4 1 .8
4 1 .8
4 2 .1
$ 1 .9 5
1 .9 9
1 .9 5
1 .9 7
1 .9 9
1 .9 8
2 .0 0
2 .0 0
2 .0 3
2 .0 4
2 .0 3
2 .0 6
2 .0 7
2 .0 7
2 .0 8
T r a n s p o r t a t io n e q u ip m e n t
P r i m a r y b a tte r ie s
{ d r y a n d w e t)
$ 5 9 . 20
5 9 .0 4
6 0 .2 8
5 7 .9 1
5 9 . 19
5 8 . 35
5 7 .9 0
5 8. 26
5 8. 35
5 8 .2 0
5 9 .1 3
5 9 . 74
6 0 .8 3
6 0 .2 8
6 2. 22
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
R a d i o tu b e s
E le c t r ic a l m a c h in e r y — C o n t in u e d
M is c e lla n e o u s e le c
tr ic a l p ro d u c ts 4
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
In s u la te d w ir e a n d
c a b le
$ 1 .8 4
1. 90
1 .8 4
1 .8 9
1. 92
1 .9 0
1. 88
1. 93
1 .9 3
1 .9 6
1 .9 5
1 .9 4
1. 97
1 .9 8
1 .9 6
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
$ 72 . 36
7 8 .1 8
7 7 . 57
7 7 . 59
7 6 . 62
7 9. 79
7 7 .6 0
7 8 .4 1
7 9 .0 0
7 8 . 98
8 1 .1 6
7 7 .0 3
7 8. 60
7 7 .8 1
7 9 .4 0
4 0 .2
4 0 .3
4 0 .4
4 0 .2
3 9 .7
4 0 .3
4 0 .0
3 9 .8
40. 1
4 0 .5
4 1 .2
3 9 .3
40. 1
3 9 .7
3 9 .9
$ 1 .8 0
1 .9 4
1 .9 2
1 .9 3
1 .9 3
1. 98
1 .9 4
1. 97
1 .9 7
1. 95
1 .9 7
1 .9 6
1 .9 6
1 .9 6
1 .9 9
T o ta l: T ra n s p o rta
t io n e q u ip m e n t
$ 8 5 . 28
8 6 . 67
8 4 .8 2
8 5 . 67
8 4 .5 9
84. 38
8 5 . 63
8 6 . 40
8 7. 26
9 1 . 12
9 3 .0 8
9 2 . 62
9 3 .2 8
9 4 .3 7
9 1 .9 6
A ir c r a ft a n d p a rts 4
$ 8 3 . 80
8 5 .0 7
8 3 . 43
8 3 . 84
8 4 . 86
8 4 . 66
8 5 .2 7
8 5 . 68
8 5 . 47
8 7 . 34
8 7 . 77
8 8 . 81
8 7 .9 5
8 8 .3 8
8 6 .8 8
4 1 .9
4 0 .9
4 0 .5
4 0 .7
4 0 .8
4 0 .7
4 0 .8
4 0 .8
40. 7
4 1 .2
4 1 .4
4 1 .5
4 1 .1
4 1 .3
4 0 .6
$ 2. 00
2 . 08
2 .0 6
2. 0 6
2. 0 8
2 .0 8
2 .0 9
2 .1 0
2. 10
2. 12
2 . 12
2 . 14
2 .1 4
2 .1 4
2 .1 4
4 1 .2
4 0 .5
4 0 .2
4 0 .6
3 9 .9
3 9 .8
4 0 .2
4 0 .0
4 0 .4
4 1 .8
4 2 .5
4 2 .1
4 2 .4
4 2 .7
4 1 .8
$ 2. 07
2 .1 4
2 .1 1
2 .1 1
2 .1 2
2 .1 2
2 .1 3
2 .1 6
2 .1 6
2 . 18
2 .1 9
2 .2 0
2 .2 0
2 . 21
2 . 20
4 1 .3
4 0 .9
4 0 .4
4 0 .7
4 0 .8
4 0 .8
4 0 .9
40. 9
40. 7
41. 4
4 1 .3
4 1 .6
4 1 .3
4 1 .5
4 0 .7
$ 8 7 . 95
8 9 .3 2
87. 26
88. 34
8 5 .2 8
8 5. 0 6
88. 00
8 9 .1 5
9 0 . 54
9 6 . 53
9 9 . 44
9 6 . 75
9 8 .9 9
100. 56
96. 54
4 1 .1
4 0 .6
4 0 .4
4 0 .9
3 9 .3
3 9 .2
4 0 .0
3 9 .8
4 0 .6
4 2 .9
4 4 .0
4 3 .0
4 3 .8
4 4 .3
4 3 .1
$ 2 .1 4
2 .2 0
2 .1 6
2 .1 6
2 .1 7
2 .1 7
2. 20
2 .2 4
2 .2 3
2 .2 5
2. 26
2 .2 5
2. 26
2 .2 7
2 .2 4
A i r c r a f t e n g in e s a n d
p a r ts
A ir c ra ft
$ 8 2 .1 9
8 5. 07
8 3 .2 2
8 3 . 84
8 4 . 86
8 4 . 86
8 5 .0 7
8 5 . 89
8 5 .4 7
8 7. 77
8 7. 56
8 9 . 44
8 8 .8 0
8 9 . 23
8 7 .5 1
A u t o m o b ile s 4
$ 1 .9 9
2. 08
2 . oe
2 .0 6
2 .0 8
2 .0 8
2 .0 8
2. 10
2 .1 0
2 .1 2
2 .1 2
2 .1 5
2 .1 5
2 .1 5
2 .1 5
$ 8 7 . 29
8 5 .0 6
8 3 .8 4
8 3. 42
8 4 . 65
8 6 .5 1
8 6 .1 0
8 4 . 63
8 4 . 63
8 5 .4 6
87. 34
8 7 . 54
8 6 . 69
8 7 .7 4
8 5 .6 5
4 3 .0
4 0 .7
4 0 .5
4 0 .3
4 0 .5
4 1 .0
4 1 .0
4 0 .3
4 0 .3
4 0 .5
41. 2
41. 1
4 0 .7
4 1 .0
4 0 .4
$ 2. 0 3
2 .0 9
2 .0 7
2 .0 7
2. 0 9
2 .1 1
2 .1 0
2 .1 0
2 .1 0
2 .1 1
2 .1 2
2 .1 3
2 .1 3
2 .1 4
2 .1 2
855
C : E A R N IN G S A N D H O U R S
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
M a n u f a c t u r in g — C o n t in u e d
T r a n s p o r t a t io n e q u ip m e n t— C o n t in u e d
Aircraft propellers
and parts
Other aircraft parts
and equipment
S h ip a n d b o a t b u ild
in g a n d r e p a ir in g 4
Shipbuilding and
repairing
Boatbuilding and
repairing
R a ilr o a d
e q u ip m e n t 4
Y e a r a n d m o n th
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e __________
A p r i l _____________
M a y ____________ _
J u n e _______________
J u l y ________________
A u g u s t ___________
S e p t e m b e r ______
O c t o b e r __________
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r ..,..
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y __________
F e b r u a r y ________
M a r c h ____________
A p r i l __________ . .
$ 8 5 . 90
8 2 .3 5
8 2 . 76
7 9 . 87
8 0 . 26
7 9 . 87
8 2 . 53
8 3 .3 5
8 3 .3 7
8 4 .2 1
8 4 .2 1
8 3. 60
8 4 .3 8
8 4 . 77
84. 99
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 1 .9
3 9 .4
3 9 .6
3 8 .4
38.
3 8 .4
3 9 .3
3 9 .5
3 9.
40. 1
4 0 .1
4 0 .0
3 9 .8
3 9 .8
3 9 .9
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 2 .0 5
2 .0 9
2 .0 9
2 . 08
2 . 09
2 .0 8
2 .1 0
2 .1 1
2 .1 0
2 .1 0
2 .1 0
2 .0 9
2 .1 2
2 .1 3
2 .1 3
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 8 5 .1 7
8 5 .7 0
8 3 . 85
8 5 .0 8
8 4 . 87
8 3 . 84
8 4 . 85
8 6 .1 0
8 7 .3 4
8 7 .9 8
9 0. 09
8 8 . 40
8 6. 71
8 6 . 71
8 6 .0 7
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 2 .8
4 1 .2
4 0 .9
4 1 .3
4 1 .2
4 0 .5
4 0 .6
4 1 .0
4 1 .2
4 1 .5
42. 1
4 1 .5
4 0 .9
4 0 .9
4 0 .6
A vg.
h r lv .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .9 9
2 . 08
2 . 05
2 .0 6
2 . 06
2 .0 7
2 .0 9
2 .1 0
2 .1 2
2 .1 2
2 .1 4
2 .1 3
2 .1 2
2 .1 2
2 .1 2
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 7 9 .3 7
8 0 .7 0
8 0 . 70
8 0 . 94
8 0 . 55
8 0 .1 1
8 1 .1 2
7 8 .8 3
8 1 .0 2
8 0 .2 2
8 3 .1 0
8 2. 74
8 2. 95
8 2 .7 6
8 3 .1 3
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
3 9.
3 8 .8
3 8 .8
3 9 .1
3 9 .1
3 8 .7
3 9 .0
3 7 .9
3 8 .4
3 8 .2
3 9 .2
3 9 .4
3 9 .5
3 9 .6
3 9 .4
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 2 .0 3
2 . 08
2 . 08
2 . 07
2 .0 6
2 .0 7
2 . 08
2 .0 8
2 .1 1
2 .1 0
2 .1 2
2 .1 0
2 .1 0
2 .0 9
2 .1 1
A vg.
w k ly
e a rn
in g s
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
3 8 .9
3 8 .5
3 8 .4
3 8. 7
3 8 .8
3 8 .6
3 8 .8
3 7 .6
3 8 .2
3 7 .9
3 8 .8
3 9 .2
3 9 .2
3 9 .1
3 9 .1
$ 80 . 91
8 2 .3 9
8 2 .1 8
8 2 .8 2
8 2. 6 4
8 2 .2 2
8 3 .0 3
8 0 . 09
8 2 . 51
8 1 .8 6
8 5 . 36
8 5 . 46
8 5 .8 5
8 5 .6 3
8 6 .4 1
T r a n s p o r t a t io n e q u ip m e n t— C o n t in u e d
Locomotives and parts
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e .................
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e . . _____
A p r i l _____ _________
M a y ____________ ___
J u n e ______________
J u l y ________________
A u g u s t . . .................
S e p t e m b e r ______
O c t o b e r .....................
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r ..............
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y __________
F e b r u a r y ________
M a r c h . . .................
A p r i l ______________
$ 8 2 .0 0
8 4 .1 6
8 1 .9 7
8 2 .7 8
8 5 .2 2
8 4 .3 8
8 6 .4 3
7 8. 81
8 3 . 71
8 6 . 40
8 9 .3 8
8 8 . 51
8 8 . 26
8 6 . 71
9 0 .4 2
4 0 .0
3 9 .7
3 9 .6
3 9 .8
4 0 .2
3 9 .8
4 0 .2
3 7 .0
3 9 .3
4 0 .0
4 1 .0
4 0 .6
4 0 .3
4 0 .9
4 1 .1
$ 2 . 05
2 .1 2
2 .0 7
2 .0 8
2 .1 2
2 .1 2
2 .1 5
2 .1 3
2 .1 3
2 .1 6
2 .1 8
2 .1 8
2 .1 9
2 .1 2
2 .2 0
Railroad and streetcars
$ 7 9 .1 9
8 1 .2 0
7 8 . 79
7 9 .1 3
7 8 .3 3
7 8 .7 0
7 8. 49
7 7. 23
8 1 .3 8
8 7 . 38
8 8 .4 0
8 7 .3 4
8 4 . 80
8 3 .0 3
8 6 .6 8
3 9 .4
3 8 .3
3 7 .7
3 7 .5
3 7 .3
3 7 .3
3 7 .2
3 6 .6
3 7 .5
3 9 .9
4 0 .0
3 9 .7
3 8 .9
3 8 .8
3 9 .4
$ 2 .0 1
2 .1 2
2 .0 9
2 .1 1
2 .1 0
2 .1 1
2 .1 1
2 .1 1
2 .1 7
2 .1 9
2 .2 1
2 .2 0
2 .1 8
2 .1 4
2 .2 0
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 2 . 08
2 .1 4
2 .1 4
2 .1 4
2 .1 3
2 .1 3
2 .1 4
2 .1 3
2 .1 6
2 .1 6
2 . 20
2 .1 8
2 .1 9
2 .1 9
2 .2 1
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 70 . 58
7 1 .1 5
7 1. 58
7 2. 3 4
7 1 .2 3
6 8. 9 5
7 0. 75
7 1 .0 6
7 1 .8 2
7 0. 49
7 1 . 51
7 0. 75
7 0. 07
7 1 .3 8
7 0 .0 0
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 0 .1
4 0 .2
4 0 .9
4 1 .1
4 0 .7
3 9 .4
4 0 .2
3 9 .7
3 9 .9
3 9 .6
4 1 .1
4 0 .2
4 0 .5
4 1 .5
4 0 .7
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .7 6
1 .7 7
1. 75
1. 76
1. 75
1 .7 5
1 .7 6
1 .7 9
1 .8 0
1 .7 8
1 .7 4
1 .7 6
1 .7 3
1 .7 2
1 .7 2
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e ....................
A p r i l . . __________
M a y ____________ _
J u n e _______________
J u l y ________________
A u g u s t -----------S e p t e m b e r _____
O c t o b e r __________
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r _______
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y __________
•
F e b r u a r y ............ ...
M a r c h ____________
A p r il.—
S u r g ic a l, m e d ic a l, a n d
d e n ta l in s tr u m e n t s
$79. 00
7 5 .1 7
7 2 . 65
7 4 .5 2
7 5 .4 1
7 4. 64
7 3. 68
7 6 .7 3
7 6 .7 8
7 8 .3 1
7 8 . 09
7 6 .3 8
7 6 . 97
7 6 .4 0
7 6 .4 0
$ 6 6 . 74
6 6 .8 0
6 6 .3 0
6 5 . 97
6 7 . 13
6 5 . 97
6 7 . 47
6 7 .1 3
6 5 . 46
6 6 . 47
6 7 .1 3
6 7 .3 0
6 7 . 54
6 8 .4 5
6 7 .9 4
4 2 .7
4 0 .2
3 9 .7
4 0 .5
3 9 .9
3 9 .7
3 9 .4
4 0 .6
4 0 .2
4 1 .0
4 1 .1
4 0 .2
4 0 .3
4 0 .0
4 0 .0
$ 1 .8 5
1 .8 7
1 .8 3
1 .8 4
1 .8 9
1 .8 8
1 .8 7
1 .8 9
1. 91
1 .9 1
1 .9 0
1 .9 0
1. 91
1 .9 1
1 .9 1
Jewelry, silverware,
and plated ware 4
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e __________
A p r i l _____________
M a y ____________
J u n e _______________
J u l y ________________
A u g u s t ___________
S e p t e m b e r ______
O c t o b e r __________
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r .............
1 95 5- J a n u a r y __________
F e b r u a r y ______
M a r c h . .................
A p r i l ______________
$68. 85
68.15
65.69
66. 00
65.85
64. 06
66.26
70.05
71.71
71.81
71.48
67.82
68.81
69. 47
68.97
42.5
41.3
40.3
40.0
40.4
39.3
40.9
42.2
43.2
43.0
42.8
41.1
41.7
41.6
41.3
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4 1 .2
4 0 .0
3 9 .7
3 9 .5
4 0 .2
3 9 .5
4 0 .4
4 0 .2
3 9 .2
3 9 .8
4 0 .2
4 0 .3
4 0 .2
4 0 .5
4 0 .2
$ 1 .6 2
1 .6 7
1 .6 7
1 .6 7
1. 67
1 .6 7
1 .6 7
1 .6 7
1 .6 7
1 .6 7
1. 67
1 .6 7
1 .6 8
1 .6 9
1 .6 9
O th e r tr a n s p o r ta tio n
e q u ip m e n t
T o t a l: In s t r u m e n t s
a n d r e la t e d p r o d u c t s
$ 7 3 . 49
7 2 .3 1
7 1 .1 6
7 3 .3 5
7 7. 27
7 1 .9 7
7 4 .4 3
7 4 .4 0
7 1 .2 3
7 0. 86
7 1 .1 9
7 5 .1 4
7 4. 56
7 6 .3 0
7 4 .0 0
$ 7 3 . 69
7 3 .2 0
7 2 .0 7
7 2. 07
7 2 .8 3
7 2. 68
7 2. 29
7 3 .8 2
7 4 .1 9
7 4. 56
7 5 .3 3
7 5 .1 7
7 6 .1 4
7 6 .1 4
7 5 .7 6
4 0 .6
3 9 .3
3 9 .1
4 0 .3
4 1 .1
3 8 .9
3 9 .8
4 0 .0
3 8 .5
3 8 .3
3 8 .9
4 0 .4
4 0 .3
4 0 .8
4 0 .0
$ 1 .8 1
1 .8 4
1 .8 2
1 .8 2
1 .8 8
1 .8 5
1 .8 7
1 .8 6
1 .8 5
1 .8 5
1 .8 3
1 .8 6
1. 85
1 .8 7
1 .8 5
Jewelry and findings
$1.6? $65. 41
1.65 65. 00
1.63 63.34
1. 65 62.80
1.63 62.93
1.63 60.30
1.62 62.58
1.66 66.99
1.66 68.89
1.67 68.37
1.67 67. 58
1.65 64.53
1.65 65.36
1.67 65.99
1.67 65.67
42.2
41.4
40.6
40.0
40.6
38.9
40.9
42.4
43.6
43.0
42.5
41.1
41.9
41.5
41.3
O p h th a lm ic g o od s
$ 5 8 . 69
5 8. 80
5 8 .2 0
5 8 .2 0
5 8. 50
5 8 .3 5
5 6. 70
5 9 . 65
5 9. 04
5 9 .7 0
5 9 .1 0
5 8 . 65
5 9. 80
5 9 .7 0
6 0 .6 5
4 0 .2
3 9 .2
3 8 .8
3 8 .8
3 9 .0
3 8 .9
3 7 .8
3 9 .5
3 9 .1
3 9 .8
3 9 .4
3 9 .1
3 9 .6
3 9 .8
3 9 .9
$ 1 .4 6
1. 50
1 .5 0
1. 50
1. 50
1 .5 0
1. 50
1 .5 1
1 .5 1
1. 50
1 .5 0
1. 50
1. 51
1 .5 0
1 .5 2
Silverware and plated
ware
$1. 55 $75.86
1.57 73. 98
1. 56 70.27
1. 57 71.60
1.55 70.62
1.55 71.02
1.53 74.03
1.58 76.68
1.58 77. 65
1.59 78. 87
1.59 79. 67
1. 57 74. 57
1.56 75.76
1.59 77.10
1.59 75. 58
$ 8 0 . 39
8 2 .2 6
8 0 .0 8
8 0 . 85
8 1 .4 5
8 0 . 60
8 1 .7 9
7 8 .0 2
8 2 .1 3
8 6 . 98
8 8 . 88
8 7 .8 2
8 5 .8 9
8 4 .1 4
8 8 .0 0
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
3 9 .6
3 8 .8
3 8 .5
3 8 .5
3 8 .6
3 8 .2
3 8 .4
3 6 .8
3 8 .2
3 9 .9
4 0 .4
4 0 .1
39 4
3 9 .5
4 0 .0
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 2 .0 3
2 .1 2
2 .0 8
2 .1 0
2 .1 1
2 .1 1
2 .1 3
2 .1 2
2 .1 5
2 .1 8
2 .2 0
2 .1 9
2 .1 8
2 .1 3
2 .2 0
In s t r u m e n t s a n d r e la t e d p r o d u c t s
4 1 .4
4 0 .0
3 9 .6
3 9 .6
3 9 .8
3 9 .5
3 9 .5
3 9 .9
4 0 .1
4 0 .3
4 0 .5
4 0 .2
4 0 .5
4 0 .5
4 0 .3
$ 1 .7 8
1 .8 3
1. 82
1 .8 2
1 .8 3
1 .8 4
1 .8 3
1. 85
1 .8 5
1 .8 5
1 .8 6
1 .8 7
1. 88
1 .8 8
1 .8 8
L a b o ra to ry ,
s c ie n
t i f i c , a n d e n g in e e r
in g i n s t r u m e n t s
M e c h a n ic a l m e a s u r
in g a n d c o n t r o llin g
in s tr u m e n t s
$ 8 9 . 25
8 3 . 20
8 2 .1 8
8 1 .5 6
8 2 .5 9
7 9 .7 2
8 2 .5 9
8 4 .6 3
8 4 .6 3
8 6 .3 0
8 7. 9 7
8 6. 92
8 8 .8 1
8 8 .1 7
8 7 . 94
$ 7 4 .1 6
7 4 . 59
7 3 . 60
7 3 . 60
7 4 . 77
7 4 .2 4
72. 54
7 4. 26
7 5 .3 9
7 5. 58
7 7 .4 9
7 5. 79
7 7. 74
7 7 .5 5
7 6 .3 8
4 2 .5
4 0 .0
3 9 .7
3 9 .4
3 9 .9
3 8 .7
3 9 .9
4 0 .3
4 0 .3
4 0 .9
4 1 .3
4 1 .0
4 1 .5
4 1 .2
4 0 .9
$ 2 .1 0
2 . 08
2. 07
2. 07
2. 07
2 . 06
2 .0 7
2 .1 0
2 .1 0
2 .1 1
2 .1 3
2 .1 2
2 .1 4
2 .1 4
2 .1 5
43.1
41.1
39.7
40.0
39.9
39.9
40.9
41.9
42.2
43.1
43.3
41.2
41.4
41.9
41.3
P h o t o g r a p h ic a p p a
ra tu s
$ 7 7 . 49
8 0. 39
7 9 .9 9
7 9 .7 9
8 0 .9 8
7 9. 59
7 9 .7 9
8 0. 60
8 1 .2 0
8 1 .6 0
8 2 . 01
8 2 . 82
8 2 .2 1
8 2 .6 2
8 2 .8 2
4 1 .0
4 0 .6
4 0 .4
4 0 .3
4 0 .9
4 0 .4
4 0 .5
4 0 .3
4 0 .6
4 0 .8
4 0 .8
4 1 .0
4 0 .7
4 0 .9
4 1 .0
$ 1 .8 9
1 .9 8
1 .9 8
1 .9 8
1 .9 8
1 .9 7
1 .9 7
2 . 00
2 .0 0
2 . 00
2 . 01
2 . 02
2 .0 2
2 . 02
2 .0 2
Musical instruments
and parts
$1. 76 $71. 81
1.80 72.14
1. 77 67.90
1.79 67. 06
1. 77 71. 06
1.78 70.88
1.81 71.20
1.83 74. 98
1.84 77.65
1.83 77.04
1.84 76.49
1. 81 73.08
1.83 74. 07
1.84 74.66
1.83 73. 71
40.8
40.3
38.8
38.1
39.7
39.6
40.0
41.2
42.2
42.1
41.8
40.6
40.7
40.8
40.5
4 1 .2
4 0. 1
4 0 .0
4 0 .0
4 0 .2
3 9 .7
3 9 .0
3 9 .5
4 0 .1
4 0 .2
4 1 .0
4 0 .1
4 0 .7
4 0 .6
4 0 .2
$ 1 .8 0
1 .8 6
1 .8 4
1 .8 4
1 .8 6
1 .8 7
1 .8 6
1 .8 8
1 .8 8
1 .8 8
1 .8 9
1 .8 9
1 .9 1
1 .9 1
1 .9 0
M is c e lla n e o u s m a n
u f a c t u r in g i n d u s t r ie s
In s t r u m e n t s a n d r e la t e d p r o d u c t s — C o n t in u e d
O p tic a l in s tr u m e n t s
a n d le n s e s
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
W a t c h e s a n d c lo c k s
$ 6 6 .9 8
6 4 .3 5
6 2 .4 3
6 2 .9 8
6 1 .6 6
6 3. 69
6 3 .9 1
6 5 . 97
6 7 .0 6
6 5 .7 4
6 5 .6 3
6 6 .4 2
6 7. 66
6 7 .1 5
6 7 .3 7
4 1 .6
3 9 .0
3 8 .3
3 8 .4
3 7 .6
3 8 .6
38. 5
3 9 .5
4 0 .4
3 9 .6
3 9 .3
3 9 .3
3 9 .8
3 9 .5
3 9 .4
$ 1 .6 1
1 .6 5
1 .6 3
1 .6 4
1. 64
1. 65
1 .6 6
1. 67
1 .6 6
1 .6 6
1 .6 7
1 .6 9
1 .7 0
1 .7 0
1 .7 1
Toys and sporting
goods 4
$1. 76 $60. 70
1. 79 58.74
1.75 57.76
1.76 59.04
1.79 57.66
1. 79 56. 77
1.78 58. 41
1.82 58. 50
1.84 59.40
1.83 58. 50
1.83 58. 74
1.80 59. 52
1.82 60.06
1.83 60.92
1.82 60.06
40.2
38.9
38.0
39.1
38.7
38.1
39.2
39.0
39.6
39.0
38.9
38.9
39.0
39.3
39.0
T o t a l : M is c e lla n e o u s
m a n u f a c t u r in g i n
d u s t r ie s
$ 6 4 . 06
6 4 .2 4
62. 72
6 3 .4 3
6 3 .3 6
6 2 .4 0
6 3 .4 4
64. 40
6 5 .2 1
6 5 .2 1
6 6 .1 8
6 5 .9 3
6 6 . 42
6 6 .5 8
6 5 .9 3
4 0 .8
3 9 .9
3 9 .2
3 9 .4
3 9 .6
3 9 .0
3 9 .9
4 0 .0
4 0 .5
4 0 .5
4 0 .6
4 0 .2
4 0 .5
4 0 .6
4 0 .2 !
$ 1 .5 7
1 .6 1
1 .6 0
1 .6 1
1 .6 0
1 .6 0
1. 59
1 .6 1
1 .6 1
1 .6 1
1 .6 3
1 .6 4
1 .6 4
1 .6 4
1 .6 4
Games, toys, dolls, and
children’s vehicles
$1.51 $61. 35
1. 51 58.82
1.52 58.52
1. 51 59.13
1.49 57. 28
1.49 56. 09
1.49 58.31
1.50 58.26
1.50 59. 45
1.50 58. 50
1. 51 57.68
1.53 59. 75
1. 54 59. 91
1.55 60.92
1.54 60. 45
40.1
38.7
38.0
38.9
38.7
37.9
39.4
39.1
39.9
39.0
38.2
38.8
38.9
39.3
39.0
$1.53
1.52
1. 54
1.52
1.48
1.48
1. 48
1.49
1.49
1.50
1.51
1.54
1.54
1.55
1.55
856
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V I E W , J U L Y 1955
T able C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
M a n u f a c t u r in g — C o n t in u e d
T r a n s p o r t a t io n a n d
p u b lic u t ilit ie s
M is c e lla n e o u s m a n u f a c t u r in g in d u s t r ie s — C o n t in u e d
Y e a r a n d m o n th
Sporting and athletic
goods
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e __________
A p r i l _______________
M a y _ . ........................
J u n e _ _ - ....................
J u l y ...............................
A u g u s t ___________
S e p t e m b e r ______
O c t o b e r __________
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r ..............
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y ....................
F e b r u a r y ________
M a r c h ____________
A p r i l _______________
$ 6 0 .3 5
5 9 .0 4
5 6. 77
5 8. 71
5 8 .2 0
5 7 .9 8
5 8 .7 4
5 8 . 98
5 9 . 58
5 9. 04
5 9. 8 0
5 9. 28
5 9 .9 8
6 0 . 52
59. 67
A v g .w k ly .
h o u rs
4 0 .5
3 9 .1
3 8 .1
3 9 .4
3 8 .8
3 8 .4
3 8 .9
3 8 .8
3 9 .2
3 9 .1
3 9 .6
3 9 .0
3 9 .2
3 9 .3
3 9 .0
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1. 49
1 .5 1
1 .4 9
1 .4 9
1. 50
1. 51
1. 51
1 .5 2
1. 52
1 .5 1
1. 51
1. 52
1. 53
1. 54
1 .5 3
P e n s , p e n c ils , o th e r
o f f ic e s u p p l i e s
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 5 8 . 98
6 0 . 90
6 1 .6 1
6 1 .3 1
6 1 .0 5
5 9 .3 0
5 9 .3 5
6 0 . 45
6 2 . 58
6 3 . 76
6 1 .5 0
6 1 .4 6
6 2 . 97
6 3 . 54
6 2 . 51
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
C o s tu m e je w e lr y ,
b u t t o n s , n o t io n s
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
4 0 .4
4 0 .6
4 0 .8
4 0 .6
4 0 .7
3 9 .8
4 0 .1
4 0 .3
4 0 .9
4 1 .4
4 1 .0
4 0 .7
4 1 .7
4 1 .8
4 1 .4
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1. 4 6
1. 50
1. 51
1 .5 1
1 .5 0
1 .4 9
1 .4 8
1. 5 0
1 .5 3
1. 54
1. 50
1. 51
1 .5 1
1 .5 2
1 .5 1
$ 5 9 .0 9
5 7 .0 9
5 5 .6 3
5 6 .4 5
5 7. 77
5 6 .2 1
5 6. 74
5 6. 50
5 7. 77
5 7. 82
5 8. 58
59. 54
58. 84
5 9. 28
5 9. 60
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 0 .2
3 9 .1
3 8 .1
3 8 .4
3 9 .3
3 8 .5
3 9 .4
3 8 .7
3 9 .3
3 9 .6
4 0. 4
4 0 .5
4 0 .3
4 0 .6
4 0 .0
$ 1 .4 7
1 .4 6
1 .4 6
1 .4 7
1 .4 7
1 .4 6
1. 44
1 .4 6
1 .4 7
1 .4 6
1. 45
1 .4 7
1 .4 6
1 .4 6
1 .4 9
F a b r ic a t e d p la s t ic
p ro d u c ts
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 6 7 . 97
6 7. 87
6 5 .4 0
6 6. 8 6
6 7. 20
67. 60
6 8 . 61
69. 36
6 9 . 53
7 0 .3 8
7 1 .0 4
7 0. 76
7 2. 56
7 1 .4 5
7 1. 69
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 1 .7
4 0. 4
3 9 .4
3 9 .8
4 0 .0
4 0 .0
4 0 .6
4 0 .8
4 0 .9
4 1 .4
4 1 .3
4 0 .9
4 1 .7
4 1 .3
4 1 .2
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .6 3
1 .6 8
1 .6 6
1 .6 8
1 .6 8
1 .6 9
1 .6 9
1 .7 0
1. 70
1. 70
1. 72
1. 73
1 .7 4
1 .7 3
1. 74
O th e r m a n u fa c tu r in g
in d u s t r ie s
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
$ 6 4 . 80
6 6 . 47
6 5 .1 8
6 6 .1 3
6 6 . 30
6 5. 3 5
6 6 .6 3
6 6 .2 3
6 6 . 57
6 6 . 40
6 8 . 51
6 8 .6 3
6 8 . 97
6 8 . 51
6 7 . 89
4 0 .5
3 9 .8
3 9 .5
3 9 .6
3 9. 7
3 8 .9
3 9 .9
3 9 .9
40. 1
4 0 .0
4 0 .3
3 9 .9
40. 1
4 0 .3
3 9 .7
$ 1 . 60
1 .6 7
1 .6 5
1 .6 7
1 .6 7
1. 68
1 .6 7
1. 66
1 .6 6
1 .6 6
1 .7 0
1. 72
1. 72
1 .7 0
1 .7 1
C la s s I r a ilr o a d s 5
A vg.
w k ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 7 6 .3 3
7 8 . 74
7 8. 50
7 6. 05
7 9 .8 4
7 7 .5 9
7 9 .1 0
8 0 .3 2
7 8. 38
8 0 .9 0
8 1 .6 4
7 8. 78
8 3 .3 6
8 0 . 64
A vg.
w k ly .
h o u rs
4 0 .6
4 0 .8
4 1 .1
3 9 .2
4 1 .8
4 0 .2
41. 2
4 1 .4
4 0 .4
4 1 .7
4 2 .3
4 0 .4
4 2 .1
4 2 .0
A vg.
h r ly .
e a rn
in g s
$ 1 .8 8
1 .9 3
1 .9 1
1 .9 4
1 .9 1
1 .9 3
1 .9 2
1 .9 4
1 .9 4
1 .9 4
1 .9 3
1 .9 5
1. 9 8
1 .9 2
T r a n s p o r t a t io n a n d p u b lic u t ilit ie s — C o n t in u e d
C o m m u n ic a t io n
L o c a l r a ilw a y s a n d
b u s lin e s
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e __________
A p r i l _______________
M a y ____________ J u n e . ...........................
J u l y ...............................
A u g u s t ___________
S e p t e m b e r ______
O c t o b e r ................. ...
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r _______
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y . . ..............
F e b r u a r y ________
M a r c h ___________
A p r i l _______________
$ 7 7 .1 2
7 8 .1 9
7 7 .5 8
7 7 . 94
7 9. 10
7 8. 51
7 8. 26
7 8 .1 4
7 8 .3 2
7 7 .7 8
7 9 .4 9
7 8. 63
7 9 .3 7
7 9 .1 8
8 1 .1 0
4 5 .1
4 3 .2
4 3 .1
4 3 .3
4 3 .7
4 2 .9
4 3 .0
4 2 .7
4 2 .8
4 2 .5
4 3 .2
4 2 .5
4 2 .9
4 2 .8
4 3 .6
$ 1 . 71
1 .8 1
1 .8 0
1 .8 0
1 .8 1
1 .8 3
1 .8 2
1 .8 3
1 .8 3
1 .8 3
1 .8 4
1 .8 5
1 .8 5
1 .8 5
1 .8 6
S w it c h b o a r d o p e ra
t i n g e m p lo y e e s 6
T e le p h o n e
$ 6 5 . 02
6 8 . 46
6 6 . 09
6 7 . 38
6 7 .3 4
6 8 . 60
6 7 . 69
7 1 .6 0
7 2. 04
7 2. 65
7 0. 74
6 9 .6 3
7 0 . 98
7 0 .2 0
7 1 . 71
3 8 .7
3 8 .9
3 8 .2
3 8 .5
3 8 .7
3 9 .2
3 8 .9
4 0 .0
3 9 .8
3 9 .7
3 9 .3
3 8 .9
3 9 .0
3 9 .0
3 9 .4
$ 1. 68
1. 76
1 .7 3
1. 75
1. 74
1. 75
1 .7 4
1. 79
1 .8 1
1 .8 3
1 .8 0
1 .7 9
1 .8 2
1. 80
1 .8 2
$ 5 4 . 39
5 6 . 61
5 4 .0 9
5 6 . 98
5 6 . 39
5 7 .1 5
5 6 . 47
5 8. 90
6 0 . 04
6 0 . 86
5 6 .8 3
5 6. 89
5 8. 62
5 6. 98
5 9 .0 3
3 7 .0
3 7 .0
3 6 .3
3 7 .0
3 7 .1
3 7 .6
3 7 .4
3 8 .0
3 8 .0
3 7 .8
3 6 .9
3 6 .7
3 7 .1
3 7 .0
3 7 .6
$ 1 .4 7
1. 53
1. 49
1 .5 4
1. 52
1. 52
1. 51
1. 55
1. 58
1 .6 1
1. 54
1. 55
1. 58
1. 54
1. 57
O t h e r p u b lic u t ilit ie s
L in e
c o n s t r u c tio n ,
in s t a lla t io n ,
an d
m a in t e n a n c e
em
p lo y e e s 7
$ 9 2 . 23
9 7 .6 1
9 3 . 46
9 3 .8 8
9 4 . 75
9 6 . 95
9 5 .1 8
1 05 . 77
1 0 4 .1 3
1 0 4 .0 8
1 03 . 66
9 8 . 41
1 00 . 42
9 9 . 56
1 00 . 69
4 2 .5
4 3 .0
4 2 .1
4 2 .1
4 2 .3
4 2 .9
4 2 .3
4 5 .2
4 4 .5
4 4 .1
4 4 .3
4 2 .6
4 3 .1
4 3 .1
4 3 .4
$ 2 .1 7
2 . 27
2 . 22
2 .2 3
2 . 24
2 . 26
2 .2 5
2 .3 4
2 .3 4
2 . 36
2 .3 4
2 .3 1
2 .3 3
2 .3 1
2. 3 2
T r a n s p o r t a t io n a n d p u b lic u t ilit ie s — C o n t in u e d
$ 7 4 . 23
7 6 .1 3
7 5 .7 8
7 5 . 78
7 7 .1 5
7 7 .1 5
7 7. 33
7 7. 93
7 8 .3 1
7 6 .7 8
7 7 .0 0
7 6 . 82
7 6 . 82
7 7 .1 9
7 8 . 54
4 1. 7
4 1 .6
4 2 .1
4 2 .1
4 1 .7
4 1 .7
4 1 .8
4 1 .9
4 2 .1
4 1 .5
4 1 .4
4 1 .3
4 1 .3
4 1 .5
4 2 .0
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e . .................
A p r i l ______________
M a y _______________
J u n e . . ........................
J u l y ----------------A u g u s t .......................
S e p t e m b e r ______
O c to b e r.
. ..
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r _______
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y __________
F e b ru a ry .
M a r c h _________
A p r i l ............. ...............
$ 8 1 . 56
8 4 . 67
8 2 . 41
8 3 .2 3
8 4 .4 6
8 6 . 32
8 5 .2 8
8 7 . 57
8 7 .3 6
8 6 . 73
8 5 . 90
8 5 . 06
8 5 . 05
8 5 . 47
8 5 . 89
4 1 .4
4 1 .3
4 1 .0
4 1 .0
4 1 .4
4 1 .7
4 1 .4
4 1 .9
4 1 .6
4 1 .3
4 1 .3
4 0 .7
4 0 .5
4 0 .7
4 0 .9
$ 1 .9 7
2 . 05
2 .0 1
2 .0 3
2 .0 4
2 .0 7
2 . 06
2 .0 9
2 .1 0
2 .1 0
2 .0 8
2 .0 9
2 .1 0
2 .1 0
2 .1 0
$ 7 6 . 41
7 9 .1 3
7 7 . 33
7 8 . 55
7 7 . 95
7 9 .5 4
7 8 . 94
8 0 .3 6
8 1 .3 6
8 0 .9 5
8 0 .9 7
8 1 .1 8
8 2 . 61
8 0 .3 9
7 9 . 99
4 1 .3
4 1 .0
4 0 .7
4 0 .7
4 0 .6
4 1 .0
4 0 .9
4 1 .0
4 1 .3
4 1 .3
4 1 .1
4 1 .0
4 1 .1
4 0 .6
4 0 .4
$ 1 .8 5
1 .9 3
1 .9 0
1 .9 3
1 .9 2
1 .9 4
1 .9 3
1 .9 6
1 .9 7
1. 96
1. 97
1 .9 8
2 . 01
1 .9 8
1 .9 8
$ 8 2 .1 5
8 4. 25
8 2. 60
8 2 . 61
8 3 .6 3
8 4 . 45
8 4 .0 4
8 6 .7 3
8 9 .8 8
8 5 .4 9
8 5 .2 8
8 5 .2 8
8 5 .2 8
8 5 .2 8
8 6 .1 1
$ 8 0 . 51
8 3 . 01
8 0 . 77
8 1 . 59
8 2 .4 0
8 3 . 83
8 3 .4 3
8 5 .4 9
86. 94
85. 28
8 4. 87
84. 25
84. 66
8 4 .0 5
84. 25
4 1 .5
4 1 .3
4 1 .0
4 1 .0
4 1 .2
4 1 .5
4 1 .3
4 1. 7
4 2 .0
4 1 .4
4 1 .4
4 0 .9
4 0 .9
4 0 .8
4 0 .9
$ 1 .9 4
2 .0 1
1 .9 7
1 .9 9
2 .0 0
2. 02
2 .0 2
2 .0 5
2 .0 7
2 .0 6
2 .0 5
2 .0 6
2 .0 7
2 .0 6
2 . 06
R e t a il tra d e
E le c t r ic lig h t a n d g as
u t ilit ie s c o m b in e d
G a s u t ilit ie s
$ 1 .7 8
1 .8 3
1 .8 0
1 .8 0
1 .8 5
1 .8 5
1 .8 5
1 .8 6
1 .8 6
1 .8 5
1 .8 6
1 .8 6
1 .8 6
1 .8 6
1 .8 7
W h o le s a le a n d r e t a il t r a d e
O th e r p u b lic u t ilit ie s — C o n t in u e d
E le c t r ic lig h t a n d
p o w e r u t ilit ie s
T o t a l: G a s a n d
e le c tr ic u t ilit ie s
T e le g r a p h
4 1 .7
4 1 .5
4 1 .3
4 1 .1
4 1 .4
4 1 .6
4 1 .4
4 1 .9
4 2 .8
4 1 .3
4 1 .4
4 1 .2
4 1 .4
4 1 .2
4 1 .4
$ 1 .9 7
2. 0 3
2. 0 0
2 .0 1
2. 0 2
2 . 03
2. 0 3
2 .0 7
2 .1 0
2 . 07
2 .0 6
2 .0 7
2 .0 6
2 . 07
2 . 08
W h o le s a le t r a d e
$ 7 1 . 69
7 3 .9 3
7 3 .1 6
7 3 . 93
7 3 . 93
7 4 . 34
7 4 . 34
7 4 . 74
7 4 . 93
7 4 . 74
7 5 .8 9
7 5 . 14
7 4 .9 6
7 5 . 76
7 6 . 36
4 0 .5
4 0 .4
4 0 .2
4 0 .4
4 0 .4
4 0 .4
4 0 .4
4 0 .4
4 0 .5
4 0 .4
4 0 .8
4 0 .4
4 0 .3
4 0 .3
4 0 .4
$ 1 .7 7
1 .8 3
1 .8 2
1. 83
1 .8 3
1 .8 4
1. 84
1 .8 5
1. 85
1 .8 5
1 .8 6
1. 86
1 .8 6
1 .8 8
1 .8 9
R e t a il tr a d e (e x c e p t
e a t in g a n d d r i n k
in g p la c e s )
G e n e r a l m e r c h a n d is e
sto re s 4
$ 5 4 .8 8
5 6 .8 4
5 5 .9 1
5 6 .4 1
5 7 .3 8
5 8 .5 1
5 7 .9 6
5 7 .0 9
5 7 .1 8
5 6 .5 0
5 6 .8 8
5 7 . 57
5 7 .5 7
5 7 .4 2
5 7. 51
$ 3 8 . 96
4 0 . 71
4 0 .1 2
4 0 .2 5
4 1 .3 0
4 2 .3 5
4 1 . 76
4 0 .8 3
4 0 . 48
4 0 .1 4
4 1 .9 2
4 1 .6 5
4 1 .0 7
4 1 .1 8
4 0 .6 0
3 9 .2
3 9 .2
3 9. 1
3 8 .9
3 9 .3
3 9 .8
3 9 .7
3 9 .1
3 8 .9
3 8 .7
3 9 .5
3 8 .9
3 8 .9
3 8 .8
3 8 .6
$ 1 .4 0
1. 45
1. 43
1. 45
1. 46
1. 47
1. 46
1 .4 6
1 .4 7
1 .4 6
1 .4 4
1 .4 8
1 .4 8
1 .4 8
1 .4 9
3 5 .1
3 5 .4
3 5 .5
3 4 .7
3 5 .3
3 6 .2
3 6 .0
3 5 .2
3 4 .9
3 4 .6
3 7 .1
3 5 .3
3 5 .1
3 5 .2
3 4 .7
$ 1 .1 1
1 .1 5
1 .1 3
1 .1 6
1 .1 7
1 .1 7
1 .1 6
1 .1 6
1 .1 6
1 .1 6
1 .1 3
1 .1 8
1 .1 7
1 .1 7
1 .1 7
W h o le s a le a n d r e t a il t r a d e — C o n t in u e d
R e t a il tr a d e — C o n t in u e d
Department stores and
general mail-order
houses
1 9 5 3 : A v e r a g e __________
1 9 5 4 : A v e r a g e __________
A p r i l . ....................
M a y ........... ............... ...
J u n e _______________
J u l y ----------------A u g u s t — .................
S e p t e m b e r ______
O c t o b e r __________
N o v e m b e r ______
D e c e m b e r _______
1 9 5 5 : J a n u a r y ....................
F e b r u a r y ________
M a r c h ____________
A p r i l .............................
$ 4 4 . 88
4 6 .8 3
4 5 .7 4
4 5 . 82
4 7 . 06
4 7 .8 4
4 7 .3 2
4 6 . 93
4 6 .4 1
4 6 .0 5
4 9 .1 5
4 7 . 03
4 6 .2 8
4 6 . 77
4 6 .9 9
3 5 .9
3 6 .3
3 6 .3
3 5 .8
3 6 .2
3 6 .8
3 6 .4
3 6. 1
3 5 .7
3 5 .7
3 8 .4
3 5 .9
3 5 .6
3 5 .7
3 5 .6
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$ 1. 25
1 .2 9
1 .2 6
1 .2 8
1. 30
1 .3 0
1 .3 0
1 .3 0
1. 30
1 .2 9
1. 28
1 .3 1
1 .3 0
1 .3 1
1 .3 2
O t h e r r e t a il t r a d e
F o o d a n d liq u o r
sto re s
$ 5 8 . 89
6 0 .8 3
5 9 . 75
5 9 .6 6
6 0 . 92
6 2 . 57
6 2 .0 9
6 1 . 53
6 0 . 80
6 1 . 34
6 1 . 44
6 1 .1 8
6 1. 02
6 0 . 54
6 0 .7 0
3 9 .0
3 8 .5
3 8 .3
3 8 .0
3 8 .8
3 9 .6
3 9 .3
3 8 .7
3 8 .0
3 8 .1
3 8 .4
3 8 .0
3 7 .9
3 7 .6
3 7 .7
$ 1 . 51
1. 58
1. 56
1 .5 7
1. 57
1. 58
1 .5 8
1. 59
1 .6 0
1. 61
1 .6 0
1. 61
1 .6 1
1 .6 1
1 .6 1
A u to m o t iv e a n d
a c c e s s o rie s d e a le r s
$ 7 3 . 92
7 4 . 42
7 4 .7 6
7 5 . 75
7 6 .3 7
7 6 . 37
7 5 . 75
7 4 .7 0
7 4 .7 0
7 4 .7 0
7 6. 37
7 5. 68
7 6. 91
7 8 .6 8
8 0 .1 8
4 4 .8
4 4 .3
4 4 .5
4 4 .3
4 4 .4
4 4 .4
4 4 .3
44. 2
4 4 .2
4 4 .2
4 4 .4
4 4 .0
4 4 .2
4 4 .2
4 4 .3
$ 1 . 65
1 .6 8
1 .6 8
1 .7 1
1. 72
1. 72
1 .7 1
1 .6 9
1 .6 9
1 .6 9
1 .7 2
1. 7 2
1 .7 4
1 .7 8
1 .8 1
A p p a re l an d
a c c e s s o rie s s t o r e s
$ 4 4 . 96
4 6 .5 1
4 6 . 37
4 5 . 37
4 6 .5 1
4 7 . 29
4 6 . 70
4 6 .5 1
4 6 . 95
4 6 .6 8
4 7 . 92
4 7 . 08
4 6 .2 4
4 5 . 50
45. 49
3 5 .4
3 5 .5
3 5 .4
3 4 .9
3 5 .5
3 6 .1
3 6 .2
3 5 .5
3 5 .3
3 5 .1
3 6 .3
3 5 .4
3 5 .3
3 5 .0
3 4 .2
$ 1 .2 7
1 .3 1
1 .3 1
1. 3 0
1 .3 1
1 .3 1
1 .2 9
1 .3 1
1. 33
1 .3 3
1 .3 2
1. 3 3
1 .3 1
1 .3 0
1 .3 3
F u r n itu r e a n d
a p p lia n c e s t o r e s
$ 6 2 . 31
6 3 . 72
6 2 .3 1
6 2 . 73
6 3. 30
6 4. 30
6 3 .8 4
6 3 . 99
6 4 .9 9
6 4 .9 9
6 6 .8 1
6 5. 3 0
6 3 .8 7
6 4 .1 4
6 4 .1 1
4 2 .1
4 2 .2
4 2 .1
42. 1
4 2 .2
4 2 .3
4 2 .0
4 2 .1
42. 2
4 2 .2
4 3 .1
4 2 .4
4 2 .3
4 2 .2
4 1 .9
$ 1 .4 8
1 .5 1
1. 48
1 .4 9
1. 50
1. 52
1. 5 2
1. 5 2
1 .5 4
1. 54
1. 55
1 .5 4
1. 51
1. 52
1. 53
L u m b e r an d h a rd
w a re s u p p ly sto re s
$ 6 4 . 65
6 7 .2 4
6 6 .2 2
6 7 . 39
6 7 . 70
6 7 .8 6
6 8 .4 5
6 7 .9 8
6 8 .8 5
6 7. 94
6 7 .7 8
6 6 .4 1
6 6 .8 3
6 7 .6 2
6 8 .6 4
4 3 .1
4 3 .1
4 3 .0
4 3 .2
4 3 .4
4 3 .5
4 3 .6
4 3 .3
4 3 .3
4 3 .0
4 2 .9
4 2 .3
4 2 .3
4 2 .8
4 2. 9
$1. 50
1. 5 6
1. 54
1 .5 6
1 .5 6
1. 5 6
1. 57
1. 57
1 .5 9
1 .5 8
1 .5 8
1 .5 7
1 .5 8
1 .5 8
1 .6 0
857
C : E A R N IN G S A N D H O U R S
T
able
C -l: Hours and gross earnings of production workers or nonsupervisory employees 1—Continued
Finance, insurance, and real estate 8
Year and month
Banks and Security
trust
dealers and
companies exchanges
Avg.
wkly.
earnings
1953: Average____________
1954: Average___ ________
April______________
M ay___________ _ .
June______________
July----------------------August------------------September______
October____________
November__________
December ..................
1955: January____________
February . . . _____
March___ _________
A p r i l . . . . ________
$54. 84
57.39
56. 76
57.19
57.09
57.66
57.75
57.71
58.02
58.11
58.51
58.97
59.02
59.08
59.03
Avg.
wkly.
earnings
$82. 94
95.02
92.09
91.53
92.97
94.89
97.66
96.75
97.24
100.09
111.75
110. 82
108.37
107. 97
102. 73
Service and miscellaneous
Personal services
Insurance
carriers
Avg.
wkly.
earnings
$67.29
70.08
68.99
69.72
69.78
71.12
71.09
70.68
70 '90
70.79
71.29
72. 22
71.79
71.90
72. 61
Hotels, year-round 8
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
Avg.
wkly. wkly.
hrly. wkly. wkly.
wkly. wkly.
hrly.
hrly.
earnings hours earnings earnings hours earnings earnings hours earnings
$38.40
40.13
39.62
40.13
39.81
40.03
40.13
40.64
40.87
41.16
41.38
41.26
40.96
40.45
40.55
42.2
41.8
41.7
41.8
41.9
41.7
41.8
41.9
41.7
42.0
41.8
42.1
41.8
41.7
41.8
1 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 mining,
manufacturing, laundries, and cleaning and dyeing plants, data refer to pro
duction and related workers only. For the remaining industries, unless
otherwise noted, data relate to nonsupervisory employees and working
supervisors.
D ata for the most recent month are subject to revision without notation;
revised figures for earlier months will be identified by asterisks the first month
they are published.
2 See footnote 2, table A-2.
3 See footnote 3, table A-2.
4 Italicized titles which follow are components of this industry.
1
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 staff assistants (ICC
Group I).
6
Data relate to employees in such occupations in the telephone industry as
switchboard operators, service assistants, operating-room instructors, and
pay-station attendants. During 1954 such employees made up 43 percent of
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cleaning and dyeing
plants
Laundries
$0.91
.96
.95
.96
.95
.96
.96
.97
.98
.98
.99
.98
.98
.97
.97
$39.69
40.10
40.80
40.30
40. 50
40.00
39.40
40.50
40.50
40.40
40. 70
40.40
40.20
40.60
40. 80
40.5
40.1
40.4
40.3
40.5
40.0
39.4
40.1
40.5
40.0
40.3
40.0
39.8
40.2
40.4
$0. 98
1.00
1.01
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.01
1.00
1.01
1.01
1.01
1.01
1.01
1.01
$45.71
47.12
50.40
47. 32
49.20
45. 78
45. 46
47.24
47.72
46.77
47.01
46.41
45.22
47.04
47.32
40.1
39.6
42.0
40.1
41.0
38.8
38.2
39.7
40.1
39.3
39.5
39.0
38.0
39.2
40.1
$1.14
1.19
1.20
1.18
1.20
1.18
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.20
1.18
Motion
picture
production
and distri
bution 8
Avg.
wkly.
earnings
$81. 52
89.09
84. 36
88. 57
92.08
93.38
92.34
89. 81
92.95
89.44
92. 74
93.98
90. 54
93.36
92.69
the total number of nonsupervisory employees in telephone establishments
reporting hours and earnings data.
7 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 1954 such employees
made up 25 percent of the total number of nonsupervisory employees in
telephone establishments reporting hours and earnings data.
8 Data on average weekly hours and average hourly earnings are not avail
able.
8 Money payments only; additional value of board, room, uniforms, and
tips not included.
See footnote 1 on p. 827.
N o t e .— Information on concepts, methodology, etc., is
given in a technical note on Hours and Earnings in Nonagricultural Industries, which appeared in the April 1954
Monthly Labor Review.
858
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V I E W , J U L Y 1955
T able C-2: Gross average weekly earnings of production workers in selected industries, in current and
1947-49 dollars1
Manufacturing
Bituminouscoal mining
Bituminouscoal mining
Laundries
Year and month
Year
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
Manufacturing
Laundries
Cur
rent
1947-49
Cur
rent
1947-49
Cur
rent
1947-49
Average_________ $23.86
25.20
Average_________
Average___ _____
29.58
Average_________
36. 65
43.14
Average_________
46.08
Average_________
44. 39
Average_________
Average_________
43.82
49. 97
Average_________
Average___ _ --- 54.14
A verage....... .......... 54. 92
59.33
Average___ _____
64. 71
Average________
67. 97
Average_________
71.69
Average_________
71.86
Average_________
$40.17
42.07
47. 03
52. 58
58. 30
61.28
57. 72
52. 54
52.32
52. 67
53. 95
57.71
58.30
59.89
62. 67
62.60
$23. 88
24. 71
30. 86
35. 02
41.62
51.27
52. 25
58.03
66. 59
72.12
63. 28
70. 35
77. 79
78. 09
85.31
80.85
$40.20
41.25
49.06
50. 24
56. 24
68.18
67. 95
69. 58
69. 73
70.16
62.16
68.43
70.08
68.80
74. 57
70.43
$17. 64
17.93
18. 69
20. 34
23. 08
25. 95
27.73
30. 20
32. 71
34.23
34. 98
35. 47
37 81
38.63
39. 69
40.10
$29. 70
29.93
29. 71
29.18
31.19
34. 51
36.06
36. 21
34. 25
33.30
34. 36
34.50
34. 06
34. 04
34.69
34.93
1 These series indicate changes in the level of average weekly earnings prior
to and after adjustment for changes in purchasing power as measured by
the Bureau’s Consumer Price Index, the years 1947-49 being the base period.
Cur
rent
1954: April____________ $70. 20
71.13
M a y .____ ______
June_____ :____ _ 71.50
July------------------- 70. 92
71.06
August__________
September_______ 71.86
October. ________ 72. 22
73. 57
November_______
December________ 74.12
1955: January_________
73.97
74. 74
F ebruary............ .
M a r c h ..________ 75.11
A pril2__________
74. 77
1947-49
$61. 26
61.85
62.12
61.56
61.79
62.65
63. 07
64. 20
64. 85
64. 72
65.39
65. 71
65.47
Cur
rent
1947-49
$71. 67 $62. 54
76. 32
66. 37
83. 00
72.11
65.44
75. 39
82. 09
71.38
81.17
70. 77
87. 54
76. 45
88.29
77. 04
92.01
80. 50
80.50
92.01
94. 50 82.68
91.88
80.38
93. 25 81.65
Cur
rent
$40. 80
40.30
40.50
40.00
39.40
40.50
40. 50
40.40
40. 70
40.40
40. 20
40.60
40.80
1947-49
$35.60
35.04
35.19
34. 72
34.26
35.31
35.37
35.25
35. 61
35.35
35.17
35. 52
35.73
3 Preliminary,
See footnote 1 on p. 827.
T able C -3: Average weekly earnings, gross and net spendable, of production workers in manufacturing
industries, in current and 1947-49 dollars 1
Gross average
weekly earnings
Year
Index
A(1947mount 49=100)
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverage.
AverageAverage.
AverageAverage.
Average.
Average.
Average.
AverageAverage.
Average.
Average.
$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
71.69
71.86
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
135.4
135.7
Net spendable average weekly
earnings
Worker with no
dependents
Worker with 3
dependents
Cur
rent
1947-49
Cur
rent
1947-49
$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
58. 54
59. 55
$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
51.17
51.87
$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
66.58
66. 78
$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
58. 20
58.17
1 Net spendable average weekly earnings are obtained by deducting from
gross average weekly earnings, Federal social security and income taxes for
which the worker is liable. The amount of income tax liability depends,
of course, on the number of dependents supported by the worker as well as
on the level of his gross income. Net spendable earnings have, therefore,
been computed for 2 types of income-receivers: (1) A worker with no depend
ents; (2) A worker with 3 dependents. See footnote 1. table C-2.
The computation of net spendable earnings for both the worker with no
dependents and the worker with 3 dependents are based upon the gross
average weekly earnings for all production workers in manufacturing indus
tries without direct regard to marital status and family composition. The
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Gross average
weekly earnings
Year and month
Index
A(1947mount 49=100)
1954: April___________ $70. 20
71.13
M ay____________
71.50
June___- July____ ________
70. 92
71.06
August__________
September__ _____ 71.86
October____ _____ 72. 22
November_______
73. 57
74.12
D ecem b er.._____
1955: January_________
73. 97
February . . . ____
74.74
M arch.
. . . . __ 75.11
A p ril2. . . . . _ _
74. 77
132.6
134.3
135.0
133.9
134.2
135.7
136.4
138.9
140.0
139.7
141.2
141.9
141.2
Net spendable average weekly
earnings
Worker with no Worker with 3
dependents
dependents
Cur
rent
1947—49
Cur
rent
1947-49
$58. 22
58. 97
59. 26
58. 80
58. 91
59. 55
59.84
60. 92
61.36
61.15
61.76
62.05
61.78
$50. 80
51.28
51.49
51.04
51.23
51.92
52. 26
53.16
53.68
53. 50
54.03
54. 29
54.10
$65.41
66.18
66.48
66.00
66.12
66. 78
67.07
68.18
68.63
68.41
69.02
69. 32
69. 05
$57. 08
57. 55
57. 76
57. 29
57. 50
58.22
58. 58
59.49
60.04
59.85
60. 38
60. 65
60.46
primary value of the spendable series is that of measuring relative changes
in disposable earnings for 2 types of income-receivers.
2 Preliminary.
See footnote 1 on p. 827.
N o t e .— Information on concepts, methodology, etc., is
contained in a technical note on the Calculation and Uses
of the Net Spendable Earnings Series (Revised May 1954),
which is available upon request to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
C: EARNINGS AND HOURS
859
T able C-4: Average hourly earnings, gross and excluding overtime, of production workers in manu
facturing industries 1
Durable
goods
Manufacturing
Excluding
overtime
Year
Gross
amount
Amount
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
A verage___
Average___
Average___
Average___
Average___
Average___
Average___
Average____
Average___
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average____
Average___
$0. 729
.853
.961
1.019
1.023
1.086
1.237
1.350
1.401
1.465
1.59
1.67
1.77
1.81
$0. 702
.805
.894
.947
2.963
1.051
1.198
1.310
1.367
1.415
1.53
1.61
1.71
1.76
Index
(194749=100)
Gross
Nondurable
goods
Ex
clud
ing Gross
over
time
54.5 $0.808 $0.770
62.5
.947
.881
69.4 1.059
.976
73.5 1.117 1.029
274.8 1. Ill 21.042
81.6 1.156 1.122
93.0 1.292 1. 250
101.7 1.410 1.366
106.1 1.469 1.434
109.9 1.537 1.480
118.8 1.67
1.60
125.0 1.77
1.70
132.8 1.87
1.80
136.6 1.92
1.86
$0. 640
.723
.803
.861
.904
1.015
1.171
1.278
1.325
1.378
1.48
1.54
1.61
1.66
Durable
goods
Manufacturing
Excluding
overtime
Ex
clud
ing
over
time
Year and month
$0.625
.698
.763
.814
2.858
.981
1.133
1.241
1.292
1.337
1. 43
1. 49
1.56
1.61
1954: April____
M ay- ____
June. ____
July_______
A u g u st___
September-.
October____
November...
December...
1955: January___
February__
March_____
A pril2_____
Gross
amount
Amount
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.
These data are based on the application of adjustment factors to gross average
hourly earnings, as described in Eliminating Premium Overtime From
$1.80
1.81
1.81
1.80
1.79
1.81
1.81
1.83
1.83
1.84
1.85
1.85
$1.75
1.76
1.76
1.76
1.74
1.76
1.76
1.77
1.77
1.78
1.78
1.79
1.80
1.86
Index
(194749 = 100)
$135.9
136.6
136.6
136.6
135.1
136.6
136.6
137.4
137.4
138.2
138.2
139.0
139.8
Gross
$1.90
1.91
1.91
1.91
1.91
1.93
1.93
1.94
1.95
1.96
1.96
1.97
1.97
Nondurable
goods
Ex
clud
ing
over
time
Gross
$1.85
$1.65
1.90
1.69
1.86 1.66
1.86 1.66
1.86 1.66
1.86 1.65
1.66
1.87
1.66
1.87
1.88 1.67
1.88 1.67
1.68
1.89
1.89
1.68
1.68
1.89
Ex
clud
ing
over
time
$1.61
1.62
1.62
1.62
1.60
1.61
1.61
1. 62
1.62
1.63
1.63
1.63
1.65
Hourly Earnings in Manufacturing, Monthly Labor Review, May 1950;
reprint R. 2020.
211-month average; August 1945 excluded because of V-J holiday period.
* Preliminary.
See footnote 1 on p. 827.
T able C-5: Indexes of aggregate weekly man-hours in industrial and construction activity 1
[1947-49=100]
1955
Annual
average
1954
Industry
Apr.3 Mar.
Total 2_ -
____
- 103.1
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
Apr.
1954
1953
113.3
103.0
100.8
99.9
102.9
103.5
103.0
102.3
102. 2
99.5
101.4
99.7
99.3
101.5
76.0
76.0
76.4
76.8
77.4
76.5
75.8
73.5
77.3
74.8
78. 1
74.5
73.5
76.6
87.5
______
105.9
100.6
92.4
96.0
108.9
118.2
123.5
123.8
129.8
127.5
124.6
118.2
112. 1
115.9
123.1
Manufacturing division________________
104.5
105.2
103.6
102.0
103.8
103.2
101.9
101.2
99.9
97.1
99. 6
98.8
99.1
101.1
113.6
Durable goods______________________
Ordnance and accessories___________
Lumber and wood products (except
fu rn itu re ).___ ____________ ____
Furniture and fixtures ___________
Stone, clay, and glass products___ Prim ary metal industries___________
Fabricated metal products (except
ordnance, machinery, and transportation equipment)____ _____
Machinery (except electrical)________
Electrical machinery_______________
Transportation equipment-- _ ____
Instruments and related products____
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries________________________ _--
114.3
398.9
113.6
410.8
111.5
411.6
109.4
415. 6
110.5
429.0
109.4
431.7
106. 6 103.9
437.9 441. 8
102.9
437.4
101.6
451.3
106.3 106.6
466. 1 484.0
107.4
524. 6
107.5
502.2
125.2
798.5
86.0
99.0
104.8
109.3
84.6
102.0
103.3
106.5
85.5
101.3
99.8
103.2
84.2
98.0
98.9
100.7
88.4
101.7
101.6
98. 7
92. 2
102.0
102.1
96.2
94.0
102.6
102.2
92.8
89. 2
100.7
100.7
91.5
80. 4
97.4
99.9
91.6
78.0
89.6
96. 7
91 4
114.0
104.3
127.4
153. 2
113. 3
113.2
102.2
127.0
154.4
114.2
110.6
99.6
126.6
150.9
112.9
109.1
97.6
125. 7
147.1
112.2
111.5
97.5
127.7
146.0
113.7
110.6
95. 1
128. 7
139 2
112.9
107.9
94.8
125.9
125. 9
112.3
106.2
95.4
122.9
118.1
111.9
105.7
95.0
119.0
124.4
108.7
97.8
99.3
97.4
93.9
98.3
102.4
103.2
100.3
96.7
90.5
95.3
Nondurable goods___________________
Food and kindred products. ________
Tobacco manufactures_____________
Textile-mill products_______ ____ _
Apparel and other finished textile
p ro d u cts__________ __________
Paper and allied products.
_____
Printing, publishing, and allied industries_____ _____ _____ ________
Chemicals and allied products _____
Products of petroleum and c o a l_____
Rubber products__________________
Leather and leather products_______
92.8
81.5
73.0
80.2
95.2
80.4
77.2
83.0
94.2
79.8
81.4
83.0
93.2
82.3
85.4
81.4
95.8
88.0
95.4
83. 2
95.8
91.7
94.0
82.4
96.3
96.7
80.9
97.9
105.2
107. 9
79.5
96.3
102.1
97.4
78.9
91.8
95.6
78.1
75.2
91.7
89.9
78.4
77.4
100.1
109.8
109.5
110.5
107.6
109.3
102.4
108.7
103.6
110.7
101.8
111.7
100.3
111. 4
101.1
111. 1
101.4
109.9
92.1
108.0
92.2
109.3
105.5
107.8
93.3
110.6
91.0
105.7
107.4
92.7
109.1
98.4
104.0
104.4
90.3
108.6
98.6
103.3
103.9
91. 2
108.3
94.0
107.0
104.7
92.2
108.5
93.3
105.4
104.3
93.8
104.3
90.6
105.4
104.1
94.0
102.3
86.8
105.6
103.3
96.7
96.9
88.3
103.5
100.7
97.5
86.0
93.1
103.0
100.2
98.6
84.7
90.6
104.1
101.8
99.3
98.7
87.7
Mining division_______________________
Contract construction division
1 Aggregate man-hours are for the weekly pay period ending nearest the
15th of the month and do not represent totals for the month. For mining and
manufacturing industries, data refer to production and related workers. For
contract construction, the data relate to construction workers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
111.0
90.3
90.9
97.8
93.9
85.5
89.6
97. 6
92.3
82. 6
92.4
97.3
92.6
85.0
96.5
99.0
94.5
93.0
108 5
106.6
113.9
102.9 107.5
96. 1 100.9
114.9 117.5
127.2 132.2
108.8 112. 2
107.7
102.4
119.7
136.4
114.0
106.7
104.0
121. 6
139.0
116.4
108.3
100. 6
123. 4
135.0
114.9
123.4
119.0
147. 1
158. 6
129.9
94.5
95.5
98.0
109.5
89.4
84.6
75.5
75.4
89.3
81.7
73.5
75.9
93.5
90.3
87.8
78.7
99.7
93.7
90.1
89.8
91.8
107. 6
94.2
106.3
99.0
109.2
106.9
111.6
103.2
102.6
97.4
96.9
82.3
103.2
104.5
94.0
93.7
85.4
104.4
103.5
95.7
97.0
89.9
105.4
108. 1
100.9
111.6
96.5
2 Preliminary.
2 includes only the divisions shown,
See footnote 1 on p. 827.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
860
D: Consumer and W holesale Prices
T able
D -l: Consumer Price Index 1—United States average, all items and commodity groups
[1947-49 = 100]
Hous ing 3
Year and month
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
All
items
95.5
Total
food 2
Total
apparel
95.9
104.1
97.1
103. 5
99.4
98. 1
106.9
105.8
104.8
104.3
95.0
101.7
103.3
106.1
112.4
114.6
117.7
119.1
94.4
100. 7
105.0
108 8
113.1
117.9
124.1
128.5
100.0
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
318.3
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
123.2
109.4
108.7
108.3
107. 7
107.6
107.6
108. 1
107.9
108.0
108.2
T o ta l3
Rent
Gas and Solid
House House
electric fuels and furnish hold op
ings
eration
fuel oil
ity
97.6
88.8
A verage_______
Average____ . . .
Average_______
Average____ ..
Average_______
Average_______
Average____ . . .
Average_______
102.8
101.8
102.8
111.0
1952: January_______
F ebruary.. . . .
March________
April........... ........
M ay____ _____
June________ .
Julv______ ____
August________
September ._ .
October. ______
November_____
December........
113.1
112.4
112.4
112.9
113.0
113.4
114.1
114.3
114.1
114. 2
114.3
114.1
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
1953: January______ .
F ebruary.. . ---March___
April__________
M ay..... ..............
June__ _______
Julv__________
August________
September . . . . .
October.. . . . . . .
November. __
D ecem ber_____
113.9
113.4
113. 6
113.7
114.0
114.5
114.7
115.0
115.2
115.4
115.0
114.9
113.1
111.5
111.7
111.5
112.1
113.7
113.8
114.1
113.8
113.6
112.0
112.3
104.6
104.6
104.7
104.6
104.7
104. 6
104.4
104. 3
105.3
105. 5
105. 5
105.3
116.4
116.6
116.8
117.0
117.1
117. 4
117.8
118.0
118.4
118. 7
118.9
118.9
121.1
121.5
121.7
122.1
123.0
123.3
123.8
125. 1
126.0
126.8
127.3
127.6
105.9
106.1
106.5
106.5
106.6
106.4
106.4
106.9
106.9
107.0
107.3
107.2
123. 3
123.3
124.4
123. 6
121.8
121.8
123.7
123.9
124.6
125.7
125.9
125.3
1954: January_______
February_____
March.............. .
April__________
M ay____ . . . ..
June__________
July__________
A ugust.......... .
Septem ber... ...
O cto b er.._____
November_____
December______
115.2
115.0
114.8
114.6
115.0
115.1
115.2
115.0
114.7
114.5
114.6
114.3
113.1
112.6
112.1
112.4
113.3
113.8
114.6
113.9
112.4
111.8
111.1
110.4
104.9
104.7
104.3
104.1
104.2
104.2
104.0
103.7
104.3
104.6
104.6
104.3
118.8
118.9
119.0
118. 5
118.9
118.9
119.0
119.2
119.5
119.5
119.5
119.7
127.8
127.9
128.0
128.2
128.3
128.3
128.5
128. 6
128.8
129.0
129.2
129.4
107.1
107. 5
107.6
107.6
107.7
107. 6
107.8
107.8
107.9
108.5
108.7
109.1
1955: January_______
February. . . . . .
M a rc h _______
April__________
M ay__________
114.3
114.3
114.3
114.2
114.2
110.6
110.8
110.8
111.2
111.1
103.3
103.4
103.2
103.1
103.3
119.6
119.6
119.6
119. 5
119.4
129.5
129.7
130.0
129.9
130.3
109.4
109.9
110.3
110.3
110.9
113. 5
114.4
114.8
100.0
101.2
112.6
114.6
112. 8
112.6
115.0
112.6
102.5
102.7
103. 1
104.5
106.6
107.9
■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-4.
The revised Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices
of goods and services purchased by urban wage-earner and 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—
A Layman’s Guide, Bulletin 1140; The Consumer Price Index, in the Feb
ruary 1953 Monthly Labor Review; The Interim Adjustment of Consumers’
Price Index, in the April 1951 Monthly Labor Review; Interim Adjustment
of Consumers’ Price Index, Bulletin 1039; and the following reports: Con
sumers’ Price Index, Report of a Special Subcommittee of the House Com
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
104.4
106. 8
110. 5
116.4
118. 7
123.9
123.5
97.2
103.2
99.6
100.3
111.2
108.5
107.9
106.1
110.2
110.0
Other
Trans M edical Personal Reading
and
goods
porta
recrea
and
care
care
tion
tion services 4
102.6
100.1
101.2
109.0
111.8
94.9
100.9
104.1
106.0
115.3
117.4
90.6
100.9
108.5
111.3
118.4
126.2
129.7
128.0
110.9
122.8
111.7
111.9
97.2
111.1
117.2
121. 3
125.2
97.6
101.3
95.5
100.4
104.1
103. 4
106.5
107.0
108.0
107.0
96.1
100.5
103.4
105. 2
109.7
115.4
118.2
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
101.1
101.1
110.5
111.8
112.8
113.4
111.0
111.1
111.0
111.3
111.6
120.1
110.8
111.0
111.0
111.2
111.2
111.8
111.9
112.1
112.8
113.3
113.4
123. 7
124.4
124.8
125.1
126. 3
126.8
127.0
127.7
128.4
128.9
128.9
114.7
114.8
115.7
115.9
116.1
117.8
118.0
118.1
118.8
118.9
118.9
119.3
107.7
108.0
108.0
107.8
107.6
108.0
108.1
107.4
108.1
108.1
108.3
10S. 1
113.4
113.5
114.0
114.3
114.7
115.4
115. 7
115.8
116.0
116.6
116.9
117.0
129.3
129. 1
129.3
129.4
129. 4
129. 4
129.7
130.6
130.7
130.7
130.1
128.9
119.4
119.3
119.5
120.2
120.7
121.1
121.5
121.8
122. 6
122.8
123.3
123.6
112.4
112.5
112.4
112.5
112.8
112.6
112.6
112. 7
112.9
113.2
113.4
113.6
107.8
107.5
107.7
107.9
108.0
107.8
107.4
107.6
107.8
108.6
108.9
108.9
115.9
115.8
117.5
117.9
118.0
118.2
118. 3
118.4
118.5
119.7
120.2
120.3
125.7
126. 2
125.8
123.9
120.9
120 9
121.1
121.9
122.4
123.8
124.2
125.5
107.2
107.2
107.2
106.1
105.9
105.8
105.7
105. 4
106.0
105. 6
105.4
105.4
117.2
117.3
117.5
116.9
117.2
117.2
117.2
117.3
117.4
117.6
117.8
117.7
130.5
129.4
129.0
129.1
129.1
128.9
126.7
126.6
126.4
125.0
127.6
127.3
123.7
124.1
124.4
124.9
125.1
125.1
125.2
125.5
125.7
125. 9
126.1
126.3
113.7
113.9
114.1
112.9
113.0
112.7
113.3
113.4
113.5
113.4
113.8
113.6
108.7
108.0
108.2
106.5
106.4
106.4
107.0
106.6
106.5
106.9
106.8
106.6
120.3
120.2
120. 1
120.2
120.1
120.1
120.3
120.2
120.1
120. 1
120.0
119.9
126.1
126. 2
126.2
125.7
122.5
104.6
104.8
104. 6
104. 5
103.7
117.7
117.7
117.9
118.1
119.0
127.6
127.4
127.3
125.3
125.5
126.5
126.8
127.0
127.3
127.5
113. 7
113.5
113.5
113.7
113.9
106.9
106.4
106.6
106.6
106.5
119.9
119.8
119.8
119.8
119.9
121.1
121.6
112.1
112.1
mittee on Education and Labor (1951); and Report of the President’s Com
mittee 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.
2 Includes “ Food away from home” (restaurant meals and other food
bought and eaten away from home); prior to January 1953, prices for this
category were estimated to move like prices for “ Food at home” but, since
that date, have been measured by prices of restaurant meals.
3 Includes “ Other shelter.”
4 Includes tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and “ miscellaneous services” (such
as legal services, banking fees, and burial services).
861
D : CONSUMER AND WHOLESALE PRICES
T able D-2: Consumer Price Index 1—United States average, food and its subgroups
[1947-49=100]
Food at home
Total
Year and month food
3
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
1953:
Avg_____
Avg_____
Avg-------Avg_____
Avg_____
Avg_____
Avg_____
Avg_____
Jan_____
Feb_____
M ar_____
A pr__
M ay____
June..........
July-------Aug-------Sept_____
Oct______
Nov_____
Dec_____
95.9
104.1
100.0
101.2
112.6
114.6
112.8
112.6
113.1
111.5
111.7
111. 5
112.1
113.7
113.8
114.1
113.8
113.6
112.0
112.3
Total
food
at
home
95.9
104.1
100.0
101.2
112.6
114.6
112. 5
111.9
112.9
111.1
111.3
111. 1
111.7
113.7
113.8
114.1
113.5
113.3
111.4
111.7
Cereals Meats,
and
poul Dairy
bakery
try,
prod
prod
and
ucts
ucts
fish
94.0
103.4
102.7
104.5
114.0
116.8
119.1
121.9
117.7
117.6
117.7
118.0
118.4
118.9
119.1
119.5
120.3
120.4
120.6
120.9
93.5
106.1
100.5
104.9
117.2
116.2
109.9
108.0
110.9
107.7
107.4
106.8
109.2
111.3
112.0
114.1
113.5
111. 1
107.0
107.8
96.7
106.3
96.9
95.9
107.0
111.5
109.6
106.1
111.6
no. 7
110.3
109.0
107.8
107.5
108.3
109.1
109.6
110.1
110.5
110.3
Food at home
Fruits
and
vege
tables
Other
foods 3
97.6
100.5
101.9
97.6
106.7
117.2
113.5
111.9
116.7
115.9
115.5
115.0
115.2
121.7
118.2
112.7
106.6
107.7
107.4
109.2
100.1
102.5
97.5
101.2
114.6
109.3
112.2
114.8
109.7
107.3
109.1
110.4
110.3
110.9
112.3
114.4
116.7
117.4
114.8
113.5
1 See footnote 1 to table D -l. Indexes for 18 food subgroups (1935-39=
100) from 1923 to December 1952 were published in the March 1953 Monthly
Labor Review and in previous issues.
Year and month
1954: Jan______
Feb_____
M ar_____
Apr____
M ay.........
June___
July-------Aug-------S ept.-.---Oct_____
Nov_____
Dec_____
1955: Jan______
F e b .........
M ar_____
Apr_____
M ay_____
Total
food3
Total
food
at
home
113.1
112.6
112.1
112.4
113.3
113.8
114.6
113.9
112.4
111.8
112.6
112.0
111.4
111.8
112.8
113.3
114.2
113.3
111.6
110.9
110.1
109.2
109.4
109.6
109.7
110.1
110.0
111.1
110.4
110.6
110.8
110.8
111.2
111. 1
Cereals Meats,
and
poul
bakery
try,
prod
and
ucts
fish
121.2
121.3
121.2
121.1
121.3
121.3
121.6
122.3
122.6
122.7
123.1
123.3
123.4
123.8
123.9
123.9
123.8
110.2
109.7
109.5
110.5
111.0
111.1
109.7
107.6
106.7
103.9
103.5
102.2
102.4
102.5
102.3
103.0
102.1
Dairy
prod
ucts
Fruits
and
vege
tables
Other
foods 3
109.7
109.0
108.0
104.6
103.5
102.9
104.3
105.1
105.8
106.7
106.6
106.8
106.4
106.1
105.4
104.6
104.0
110.8
108.0
107.8
110.0
114.6
117.1
120.1
114.7
110.5
111.1
109.6
108.4
110.6
110.7
112.0
117. 5
120.2
113.5
114.0
112.3
113.6
114.5
115. 2
117.3
119.6
116.0
115.7
113.7
112.0
111.3
112.1
111.9
109.4
108.4
2 See footnote 2 to table D -l.
3 Includes eggs, fats and oils, sugar and sweets, beverages (nonalcoholic),
ahd other miscellaneous foods.
T able D-3: Consumer Price Index 1—United States average, apparel and its subgroups
[1947-49=100]
Year and month
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
1953:
Avg___-Avg___________
Avg___
Avg___________
Avg___________
Avg--------------Avg___________
Avg___________
Jan____________
Feb___________
M ar-------- --------A pr... ------- __
M ay___________
June___________
J u l y . . . .................
Aug-----------------Sept___________
Oct--------- ------Nov______ _____
Dec___________
Total
apparel
97.1
103.5
99.4
98.1
106.9
105.8
104.8
104.3
104.6
104.6
104.7
104.6
104.7
104.6
104.4
104.3
105.3
105.5
105.5
105.3
Men’s
and
boys’
97.3
102.7
100.0
99.5
107.7
108.2
107.4
106.8
107.1
107.3
107.3
107.3
107.4
107.2
107.4
107.3
107.5
107.6
107.8
107.6
Women’s
and
girls’
98.0
103.8
98.1
94.8
102.2
100.9
99.7
98.9
99.7
99.3
99.6
99.4
99.4
99.2
98.9
9S. 7
100.5
100.8
100.7
100.5
Foot
wear
94.5
103.2
102.4
104.0
117.7
115.3
115.2
116.4
114.3
114.6
114.5
114.8
115.1
115.3
115.0
115.0
115.3
115.8
116.2
116.1
Other
apparel2
(3)
108. 6
93.2
92.0
101.6
92.1
92.1
90.7
92.0
92.3
92.4
92.1
92.5
92.3
92.2
92.0
92.5
92.3
91.3
90.9
1 See footnote 1 to table D -l.
1 Includes diapers, yard goods, and an unpriced group of items represented
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Year and month
1954: Jan____________
Feb___________
M a r... . ______
Apr. _________
M a y ._________
June. . ............ .
July___________
Aug----------------Sept---- ----------- .
Oct------- ------- Nov____ _____
Dec .................... .
1955: J a n . _____ ___
Feb___________
M ar___________
Apr___________
M ay___ ____ ___
Total
apparel
104.9
104. 7
104.3
104.1
104.2
104.2
104.0
103.7
104.3
104.6
104.6
104.3
103.3
103.4
103.2
103.1
103.3
Men’s
and
boys’
107.4
107. 4
107.2
107.1
107.3
107.0
106.6
106.4
106.4
106.4
106.5
106. 5
105.5
105.6
105.6
105. 5
105.7
Women’s
and
girls’
99.8
99.5
99.0
98.4
98.5
98.5
98.2
97.7
99.0
99.6
99.5
99.0
97.6
97.7
97.4
97.1
97.3
Foot
wear
116.2
116.1
116.1
116.1
115.9
116.3
116.5
116.9
116.5
116.7
117.0
116.9
116.7
116.6
116.7
116.9
117.4
Other
apparel2
90.4
90.4
90.0
90.4
90.9
91.0
90.8
90.7
90.9
91.1
91.2
91.1
90.5
90.6
90.4
90.2
90.3
in the index by the weighted average of prices for all priced items in the total
apparel group.
3 Not available
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
862
T able D-4: Consumer Price Index 1—United States average, all items and food
1947-49=100
Year
1913:
1914:
1915:
1916:
1917:
1918:
1919:
1920:
1921:
1922:
1923:
1924:
1925:
1926:
1927:
1928:
1929:
1930:
1931:
1932:
1933:
1934:
1935:
1936:
1937:
1938:
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
All
items
Average_____
Average
Average
Average
__
Average_____
Average _
Average__
Average
Average—
Average
Average_____
Average _
Average- _
Average
Average.. _
Average
Average
Average _
Average
Average
Average __
Average—
Average— - .
Average — . _
Average.. - Average .
Average.
Average Average . _ _
Average _____
Average___ _
Average_____
Year and month
Total /
food 2 All items
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
59.9
62.9
69.7
74.0
75.2
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
47.8
52.2
61.3
68.3
67.4
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
108.7
97.6
92.4
95.7
98.1
99.1
102.7
100.8
99.4
100.2
105.2
116.6
123.7
125.7
1935-39 = 100
1947-49=100
1935-39=100
1945:
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:
1951:
Average— - Average_____
Average____
Average,— . _
Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
Average_____
Average— __
Average_____
January_____
February__ .
M a rc h - - ___
April__ ___
M ay________
June - July________
August__ _ .
September___
O ctober___
November___
December___
1952: January_____
February - __
M a r c h ..___
April_______
M ay________
June____ _
July________
August______
September___
October_____
All
items
Total
food 2
76.9
83.4
95.5
102.8
101.8
102.8
111.0
113. 5
114.4
114.8
108.6
109.9
110.3
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
68.9
79.0
95.9
104. 1
100.0
101.2
112.6
114.6
112.8
112. 6
109.9
111.9
112.0
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
1947-49=100
Year and month
All items
128.6
139. 5
159.6
171.9
170.2
171.9
185.6
189.8
191.3
191.9
181. 5
183.8
184.5
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
190.8
191. 1
190.8
190.9
1952: November___
December.—
1953: January...
February __
M arch..’ . . . April____ _ .
M ay_______
June.............
July________
August____
September___
October. . . .
November___
December___
1954: January_____
February. . . .
M arch____
April_______
M ay____ _ .
June___- _
July________
August__ _
September___
October. ___
November___
December__
1955: January...
February. . _
M arch.. . .
Aoril........ _
M a y .......... .
1935-39=100
All
items
Total
food 2
114.3
114.1
113.9
113.4
113.6
113.7
114.0
114.5
114.7
115. 0
115.2
115.4
115.0
114.9
115.2
115.0
114.8
114.6
115.0
115.1
115.2
115.0
114.7
114.5
114.6
114.3
114.3
114.3
114. 3
114. 2
114.2
115.0
113.8
113.1
111.5
111.7
111.5
112.1
113.7
113.8
114.1
113.8
113.6
112.0
112.3
113.1
112.6
112. 1
112.4
113.3
113.8
114.6
113.9
112.4
111.8 .
111. 1
110.4
110.6
110.8
110.8
111.2
111.1
All items
191.1
190.7
190.4
189.6
189.9
190.1
190.6
191.4
191.8
192.3
192.6
192.9
192.3
192.1
192.6
192.3
191.9
191.6
192.3
192.4
192.6
192.3
191.8
191.4
191.6
191. 1
191.1
191.1
191.1
190.9
190.9
1 See footnote 1 to table D -l.
2 See footnote 2 to table D -l.
T able D-5: Consumer Price Index 1—All items indexes for selected dates, by city
1935-39
= 100
1947-49=100
City
May
1955
Apr.
1955
Mar.
1955
Feb.
1955
Jan.
1955
United States average2________________ 114. 2
Nov.
1954
Oct.
1954
Sept.
1954
Aug.
1954
Julv
1954
June
1954
May
1954
June
1950
114.2
114.3
114.3
114.3
114.3
114.6
114.5
114.7
115.0
115.2
115.1
115.0
101.8
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
113.5
117.1
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
115.3
114.9
(3)
117.0
113.4
Atlanta, G a_________________________
Baltimore, M d_. ____________ _______
Boston, Mass_______________ _______ _
Chicago, 111..------Cincinnati, Ohio_____________________
(3)
113.4
(3)
117.2 116.9
Cleveland, Ohio_____________________
Detroit, M ich___ ___________________
Houston, Tex— _____________________
Kansas City, M o____________________
Los Angeles, Calif . - .-- ____________
115.3 (3)
116.4 116.2
115. 5 (3)
115.2
(3)
115.4 114.5
Minneapolis, M inn__ - ______________
New York, N. Y _____________________
Philadelphia, P a_____________________
Pittsburgh, P a __________________ ____
Portland, Oreg._ ____________________
117.0
111.8 112.3
115.5 115.8
113.8
(3)
114.2
(3)
St. Louis, Mo_______________________
San Francisco, Calif. ___ ____________
Scranton, P a........ ........................................
Seattle, Wash________________________
Washington, D. C _________________ ..
(3)
(3)
(3)
111.4
116.8
113.5
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
116.3
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
115.7
114.8
(3>
117.0
113.3
114.9
116.3
115.7
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
117.1
(3)
113.0
117.0
116.0
116.2
(3)
(3)
(3)
115.1
114.7
f3)
115.3
115.4
(*)
(3)
116.5
112.3
115.4
113.8
114.6
112.4
115.8
112.5
115.7
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
115.6
115. 6
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
111.7
116.3
113.2
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 clericalworker families. They do not indicate whether it costs more to live in one
city than in another.
2 Average of 46 cities beginning January 1953. See footnote 1 to table D -l.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Dec.
1954
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
116.3
115.2
(3)
117.4
114.3
115.3
116.9
116.7
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
117.6
116.0
116.2
(3)
(3)
(3)
115.3
115.0
(3)
115.7
114.8
(3)
(3)
112.7
116.2
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
116.9
112.6
116.1
114.3
115.2
115. 4
115.7
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
112.2
115.6
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
112.7
115.9
112.3
115.7
113.5
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
117.6
115.5
(3)
117.3
114.2
115.3
116.8
116.5
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
117.7
(3)
113.8
118.0
117.5
117.1
(3)
(3)
(3)
115.4
115.1
(3)
115.6
114.9
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
117.3
113.3
116.3
115.4
115.5
115.7
116.2
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
113.0
116.2
112.4
116.2
114.1
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
117.3
(3)
115.3
116.9
116.7
101.6
102.8
102.8
101.2
Revised
series
May
1955
190.9
(3)
(3)
(3)
199.6
(3)
(3)
196.5
196.5
195.5
102.8
103.8
115.7
115.9
101.3
(3)
(3)
0)
(3)
102.1
100.9
101.6
101.1
(3)
(3)
112.9
115.9
112.9
115.3
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
117.4
116.8
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
112.3
116.3
113.7
(3)
101.1
100.9
(3)
(3)
(3)
192.8
185.0
192.2
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
185.1
199.6
186.4
3 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.
D : CONSUMER AND WHOLESALE PRICES
863
T able D-6: Consumer Price Index 1—All items and commodity groups, except food,2 by city
[1947-49=100]
All items
Personal care
Medical care
Reading and
recreation
Transportation
Other goods
and services
City and cycle of pricing
M ay
1955
United States average..
___
Monthly:
Chicago, 111 _____ _____
Detroit, M ich .. _______
Los Angeles, Calif _ _
New York, N. Y _______
Philadelphia, P a________
Feb., May, Aug., and Nov.:
Cleveland, Ohio________
Houston, Tex................. .
Scranton, P a_______ . .
Seattle, Wash_____ . ..
Washington, D. C ______
M ay
1954
M ay
1955
May
1954
May
1955
May
1954
May
1955
M ay
1954
M ay
1955
M ay
1954
115.0
113.9
113.0
127.5
125.1
125.5
129.1
106.5
106.4
119.9
120.1
117.2
116.4
115.4
111.8
115.5
117.3
116.9
115.9
112.9
115.3
114.9
119.3
117.2
108.5
117.7
113.2
119.3
117.3
107.4
117.1
128.0
132.5
121.4
126.1
135.1
122.8
124.1
122.6
123.9
123.7
130.2
120.9
124.0
128.8
138.7
133.7
120.8
127.4
134.5
137.3
113.1
107.7
96.9
104.7
113.0
107.5
111.0
99.2
104.8
110.0
118.1
124.8
114.6
121.0
123.4
119.0
125.0
115.2
121. 5
123.4
115.3
115.5
111.4
116.8
113.5
115.3
116.7
112.3
116.3
113.7
114.6
119.6
121.5
117.5
110.9
114.6
119.3
112.5
110.4
111.4
136.6
124.5
119.7
130.7
118.4
129.5
119.6
119. 7
131.0
117.2
117.9
121.9
127.4
126.8
128.6
122.7
125.2
124.0
129.8
127.1
114.3
108.2
118.5
109.0
105.3
114.0
111.0
115.4
107.7
105.3
118.1
119.2
115.1
128.4
129.9
119.9
119. 5
116.1
127.1
127.0
April
1954
113.4
115.2
117.0
113.8
114.2
March
1955
Mar., June, Sept., and Dec.:
Atlanta, G a .. ___ . . .
Baltimore, M d. . . . . ..
Cincinnati, Ohio__ . . ._
St. Louis, M o .. ______
San Francisco, Calif . _
May
1954
114.2
April
1955
Jan., Apr., July, and Oct.:
Boston, M ass__________
Kansas City, M o ... . . .
Minneapolis, M inn____
Pittsburgh, P a .. ___ .
Portland, Oreg.. . . . . .
May
1955
April
1955
112.9
115.5
116.3
114.5
114.8
111.6
116. 2
115.7
116.5
109.9
March
1954
115.3
114.9
113.4
115.6
115.6
April
1954
March
1955
112.3
115.6
115.7
116.5
110.6
March
1954
114. 7
107.6
109.0
113.5
110.9
117.0
114.8
114.2
116.9
116.5
116.6
108.6
110.2
114.6
113.0
April
1955
124.5
136.2
146. 7
127.4
126.5
March
1955
122.8
134.4
127.4
140.3
123.5
April
1954
April
1955
124.4
135.4
141.9
127.8
121.4
March
1954
April
1954
134.0
123.5
117.5
137. 7
123.0
March
1955
120.8
133.3
124.6
134.6
123.2
123.6
136.8
123.8
134.8
140.8
April
1955
140.9
129.8
120.9
138.6
124.6
April
1954
107.1
114.6
117.5
98.6
114.6
March
1954
March
1955
127.3
138.2
128.2
136.2
143.4
104.7
113.4
114.1
96.8
111.3
March
1954
107.2
115.7
101.0
92.7
108.7
112.0
113.7
99.8
99.4
105.7
April
1955
118.4
117.0
125.6
120.4
118.5
March
1955
118.0
122. 6
116.1
115. 0
115.2
April
1954
118. 5
117. 5
125.1
120. 5
118.7
March
1954
118.2
123. 3
118.1
115 7
116.3
Apparel
Total
May
1955
United States average_____
Monthly:
Chicago, 111_____ _____
Detroit, M ich....... .........
Los Angeles, Calif_____
New York, N. Y ______
Philadelphia, P a ______
Feb., May, Aug , and Nov.:
Cleveland, Ohio_______
Houston, Tex_________
Scranton, Pa_................. .
Seattle, W ash_________
Washington, D. C ___ ...
See footnotes at end of table,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
May
1955
May
1954
May
1955
May
1954
Footwear
May
1955
Other apparel3
May
1954
May
1955
May
1954
104.2
105.7
107.3
97.3
98.5
117.4
115.9
90.3
90.9
104.2
101.9
103.7
101.4
104. 1
108.1
102.6
103.7
103.9
105.1
109.6
106.8
107.4
105.7
104.3
114.1
109.3
109.4
106.7
104.9
94.8
94.4
97.4
93.6
101.6
101.1
94.3
97.0
98.2
103.3
121.2
113.3
118.0
116.8
111.5
117.5
112.6
114.0
115.4
110.8
92.6
87.1
82.4
92.9
91.1
94.1
87.4
82.5
94.1
92.6
103.8
107.1
106.3
105.4
101.1
104.6
106. 7
106.1
106.1
102.5
108.5
105.5
107.2
108.8
104.7
109.2
106.8
108.0
109.2
105.5
96.1
101.5
101.4
99. 1
94.8
97.1
100. 7
100.8
101.2
97.0
117.0
128.7
121.2
121.0
115.2
116.8
127.2
120.3
117.3
115.2
92.7
90.7
91.8
85.9
90.1
93.4
89.2
92. 3
86. 7
90.8
102.6
102.3
103.5
102.7
106.0
March
1955
M ar., June, Sept., and Dec.:
Atlanta, Qa___________
Baltimore, M d________
Cincinnati, Ohio..............
St. Louis, Mo_________
San Francisco, Calif____
May
1954
Women’s and girls’
103.3
April
1955
Jan., Apr., July, and Oct.:
Boston, Mass_______
Kansas City, M o____
Minneapolis, M inn__
Pittsburgh, P a______
Portland, Oreg______
M en’s and hoys’
108.4
102.7
103.4
104.1
103.1
April
1954
101.1
103.8
105.5
103.4
104.6
March
1954
111.2
102.4
103.1
104.5
103.5
April
1955
103.5
105.9
107.5
104.9
109.3
March
1955
110.9
101.2
103.8
107.6
104.9
April
1954
103.2
107.7
109.4
107.1
110.3
March
1954
114.6
101.3
106.1
109.7
105.6
April
1955
97.5
96.3
97.6
96.1
98.9
March
1955
102.2
99.5
98.8
96. 7
98.7
April
1954
95.3
98.0
100.4
96.6
95.3
March
1954
105.8
98.9
96.8
96.8
100.0
April
1955
112.5
114.2
112.8
115.7
119.9
March
1955
123.2
116.7
123.0
119.0
116.3
April
1954
112.0
114.7
113.7
114.9
119.9
March
1954
122.6
117.5
122.6
117.8
113.5
April
1955
103.6
86.8
91.6
98.2
94.6
March
1955
91.0
94.4
86.2
96.0
87.8
April
1954
102.0
87.6
91. 8
98.3
93.6
March
1954
91.3
93.1
85.1
95.6
87.8
864
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
T able D-6: Consumer Price Index1—All items and commodity groups, except food,2by city—Continued
[1947-49 = 100]
Housing
City and cycle of pricing
Total housing
Rent
Gas and electricity
Solid fuels and fuel
oil
House furnishings Household operation
May 1955 May 1954 May 1955 May 1954 May 1955 May 1954 May 1955 May 1954 May 1955 May 1954 May 1955 May 1954
United States average_______
Monthly:
Chicago, 111____________
Detroit, M ich__________
Los Angeles, Calif- . . .
New York, N. Y _______
Philadelphia, Pa_. .
Feb., May, Aug., and Nov.:
Cleveland, Ohio________
Houston, T ex ...
____
Scranton, P a_______ . . .
Seattle, W ash... _____
Washington, D. C_ ____
119.4
118.9
130.3
128.3
110.9
107.7
122.5
129.0
121.8
125.5
114.9
114.0
126.1
122.1
123.9
115.2
113.4
106.3
110.3
109.5
108.7
102.3
(4)
119.4
123.8
114.7
119.4
116.8
(4)
(4)
138.5
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
123.0
(4)
110.5
108.7
116.2
109.0
102.3
122.0
122.0
114.6
121.3
116.9
(4)
(4)
139.2
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
123.3
(*)
109.1
106.8
119.4
88.8
121.6
106.8
106.5
112.2
88.5
118.1
April
1955
Jan., Apr., July, and Oct.:
Boston, Mass __ _______
Kansas City, Mo ______
Minneapolis, M inn____
Pittsburgh, P a ________
Portland, Oreg_________
120.4
121.3
122.8
116.2
118.3
March
1955
Mar., June, Sept., and Dec.:
Atlanta, G a... ________
Baltimore, Md
. . . ___
Cincinnati, Ohio__ .. .
St. Louis, Mo___
____
San Francisco, Calif. ___
123.9
115.9
117.3
119.4
115.9
April
1954
117.5
118. 3
119.8
116.5
119.4
March
1954
124.1
113.8
116.7
119.1
118.0
1 See footnote 1 to table D -l.
s See tables D-2, D-4, D-7, and D-8, for food.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
123.5
April
1955
(4)
138.3
(4)
124.0
(4)
March
1955
132.3
125.0
(4)
(4)
(4)
123.0
April
1954
(4)
133.5
(4)
122.8
(4)
March
1954
130.5
123.7
(4)
(4)
(4)
April
1955
111.7
118.0
118.8
120.5
107.8
March
1955
113.3
100.1
118.7
103.8
132.5
April
1954
108.9
105.2
110.0
116.7
105.2
March
1954
112.0
97.5
115.4
103.8
130.1
126.2
119.0
123.9
113.1
120.3
120.9
103.7
105.9
119.0
117.2
122.9
118.8
105.5
107.6
105.8
103.6
105.0
107.3
109.5
107.6
106.1
107.9
121.1
112.0
124.5
119.3
114.3
120.6
110.0
106.8
118.9
113.7
102.5
99.2
99.9
104.8
105.4
102.8
101.2
100. 7
106.2
107.2
113.8
127.0
109 9
114.5
119.4
110.6
128.5
109.6
112.3
114.8
(4)
122.1
112.4
120.5
(4)
(4)
April
1955
April
1954
121.3
130.8
128.6
128.1
113.2
117.2
118.8
128.9
March
1955
119.5
127.2
127.2
139.6
(4)
3See footnote 2 to table D-3.
4N ot available.
125.7
127.3
125.5
122.6
113.2
114.8
123.2
127.6
March
1954
119.5
126.9
127.2
135.1
(4)
April
1955
105.5
102.3
102.4
105.2
106.3
March
1955
107.4
98.5
100.1
101. 7
103.9
April
1954
104.1
106.4
106.3
104.6
108.9
March
1954
112.0
100.9
102.9
106.7
106.9
April
1955
117.2
124.8
120.2
120.0
112.3
March
1955
128.5
110.9
122.3
119.4
109.3
April
1954
113.1
120.9
121.0
119.8
111.6
March
1954
128.2
109. 7
121.5
119.0
109.6
D : CONSUMER AND WHOLESALE PRICES
865
T able D-7: Consumer Price Index 1—Food and its subgroups, by city
[1947-49=100]
Food at home
Total food 2
Total food at home
City
May
1955
Apr.
1955
May
1954
May
1955
Apr.
1955
Cereals and bakery products
May
1954
May
1955
Apr.
1955
Meats, poultry, and fish
May
1954
May
1955
Apr.
1955
May
1954
United States average3........ .
111.1
111.2
113.3
110.0
110.1
112.8
123.8
123.9
121.3
102.1
103.0
111.0
Atlanta, Ga_______________
Baltimore, M d_____ ____ ___
Boston. Mass______________
Chicago, 111 _____ ______ _
Cincinnati, Ohio___________
111.1
111.3
108.8
109.2
112.5
110.8
111.6
109.0
109.0
112.5
114.1
114.9
110.1
111.7
114.8
109.5
109.7
107.2
107.7
111.5
109.1
110.1
107.5
107.6
111.6
113.5
114.2
109.2
111.0
114.4
117.6
121.9
119.2
118.8
124.9
117.9
121.9
119.1
118.9
126.4
116.0
121.7
119.3
116.8
118.6
106.0
101.7
99.7
96.9
103.7
107.0
103.3
100.6
97.2
103.9
118.4
113.7
106.7
106.4
115.7
Cleveland, Ohio__________ .
Detroit, Mich_____________
Houston, Tex__________ . . .
Kansas City, Mo__________
Los Angeles, Calif__________
109.6
114.4
110.7
107.1
112.1
108.1
113.3
111.1
107.0
113.0
111.4
116.2
112.2
108.6
113.4
108.6
113.2
109.6
105.5
109.6
106.8
111.9
110.0
105.5
110.7
110.8
115.4
111.4
107.9
112.3
120.1
120.0
118.1
120.9
127.9
120.5
120.2
118.7
120.8
127.9
116.3
117.8
118.4
120.3
122.5
100.8
100.3
101.3
98.5
101.8
98.8
100.7
101.2
98.7
102.1
108.6
109.8
107.8
107.2
110.7
Minneapolis, M inn_________
New Yo'rk, N. Y_ ________
Philadelphia, P a___________
Pittsburgh, Pa____________
Portland, Oreg_____________
111.4
110.5
112.9
111.3
110.1
111.5
111.6
113.4
111.5
110.0
112.7
111.8
115.6
114.8
112.9
110.6
109.3
111.7
110.5
109.7
110.8
110.7
112.3
110.7
109.6
112.7
111.4
114.8
114.3
112.9
126.0
128.0
120.9
123.9
124.1
126.1
128.2
121.0
124.5
124.3
124.6
125.2
120.8
122.5
115.4
98.1
104.0
104.9
98.8
102.0
98.7
106.6
107.0
99.3
102.1
104.2
110.5
113.4
108.1
114.8
St. Louis, M o...
_______
San Francisco, Calif________
Scranton, P a______________
Seattle, Wash__
_ ___
Washington, D. C _________
112.5
113.4
108.6
113.2
111.3
112.5
113.5
109.0
111.9
111.5
115.8
114.7
112.8
113.1
112.9
110.1
112.6
108.4
112.3
109.7
110.1
112.8
108.9
111.3
110.2
114.4
114.1
112.8
113.1
112.1
118.8
130.9
117.4
127.8
122.0
118.9
130.9
118.6
127.3
122.2
116.5
127.5
119.5
121.9
120.7
102.3
106.7
102.0
101.6
99.3
102.5
107.4
102.0
100.5
100.5
112.1
110.7
111.2
110.6
107.2
Food at home—Continued
Dairy products
City
May
1955
Apr.
1955
Fruits and vegetables
May
1954
United States average____ ______________
104.0
104.6
103.5
Atlanta, Ga___________________________
Baltimore, Md ...
_. _
______
Boston, Mass__________________________
Chicago, I1L _____
--- -Cincinnati, O h io_________________ _____
108.9
108.1
104.1
103.4
106.4
108.0
108. 2
105.3
105.5
106.4
108.1
107.2
102.9
Cleveland, Ohio_______________________
Detroit, Mich___ . .............. ............. . _
Houston, Tex_ _____________________
Kansas City, Mo______________________
Los Angeles, Calif______________________
96.5
105.8
108.6
104.4
102.9
96.7
Minneapolis, M inn_____________________
New York, N. Y_______________________
Philadelphia, P a ______________________
Pittsburgh, P a________________________
Portland, Oreg___ ____________________
102.6
101.6
106.0
106.8
102.9
St. Louis, Mo___ _____________________
San Francisco, Calif____________________
Scranton, P a___________________ ______
Seattle, Wash___________________ . ___
Washington, D. C _____________________
91.3
104.9
104.9
108.4
109.5
-8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
120.2
1116.9
20.6
Apr.
1955
M ay
1954
M ay
1955
114.6
108.4
109.4
114.5
112.9
101.5
108.9
105. 1
114.7
115.3
108.4
114.8
108.7
121.4
120.4
113.4
118.8
117.2
113.8
109.7
112.0
107.8
112.7
111.7
112.6
101.5
107.7
104.0
113.9
113.7
111.0
110.3
125.0
112.3
103.5
114.1
115.6
97.4
104.1
106.7
96.6
103.2
119.3
137.2
119.2
109.9
116.0
131.6
119.8
108.0
121.6
105.1
115.4
108.1
102.9
104.1
106.3
106.9
103.5
101.8
100.6
124.8
113.4
124.4
118.2
119.0
123.1
111.4
119.9
115.6
117.5
123.1
108.8
116.6
114.3
114.1
116.2
109.5
108.0
116.7
108.9
90.3
104.6
105.1
108.2
96.8
105.7
105.6
103.5
127.2
121.9
117.0
126.7
117.7
125.9
122.1
121.1
112.7
120.6
110.1
117.2
108.4
105.6
108.9
108.0
108.7
104.5
102.9
110.1
105.3
107.2
106.9
110.8
M ay
1954
117.5
114.5
118.6
118.8
102.1
Apr.
1955
117.2
114.6
102.1
1 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-8 for U. S. average prices for 46
cities combined.
347813— 55
May
1955
Other foods at hom e4
121.8
115.2
124.2
115.2
111.0
110.0
108.2
102.2
110.6
109.3
103.1
108.1
117.2
111.5
111.0
110.8
119.5
115.9
115.9
124.1
118.3
108.4
108.2
108.2
123.0
111.2
113.8
111.3
113.3
118.4
109.3
110.0
112.6
2 See footnote 2 to table D -l.
2Average of 46 cities beginning January 1953. See footnote 1 to table D -l.
* See footnote 3 to table D-2.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
866
T able D-8: Average retail prices of selected foods
Commodity
Cereals and bakery products:
Flour, w h e a t...___________ ___ 5 pounds..
May
1955
Apr.
1955
May
1954
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
53.9
54.1
27.4
53.7
27 fi
12 '. 6
Cornmeal2 __ ___ _____ _ ___ .pound..
rin
Rice 3------------------------------19.1
___
20
ounces..
Rolled oats________________
22.0
Cornflakes4- ___ - ____ ___ 12 ounces-.
17.7
Bread. ____
___________ ______ pound..
27.1
Soda crackers_____________ ______ do__-23.8
..7 ounces..
Vanilla cookies8 . ________
Meats, poultry, and fish:
Beef and veal:
89.2
Round steak 1__________ _____ pound..
49.8
Chuck ro ast8____
___ ________do___
70.7
Rib ro ast1_____________ _ ___ _do_
39.6
Hamburger. ___________ ________ do___
Veal cutlets 1___________ ________do___ 109.6
Pork:
82.9
Pork chops, center cut — ___ ___d o ...
65.5
Bacon, sliced___________ ___ _ _do__
60.4
___ _ do_
Ham, whole8___ ____
67.4
Lamb, leg 1________________ _______ do___
Other meats:
53.0
Frankfurters----------- ... ________do.. .
43.7
Luncheon meat, canned . ..12 ounces..
Poultry:
Frying chickens:
Dressed 7 ---- ------ . . . _ .pound— 46.0
57.5
Ready-to-cook 4-------- ________do
Fish:
Ocean perch fillet, frozen 8 ___ _ __do__43.0
Haddock, fillet, frozen 8... ________do _
47.0
Salmon, pink------ ---------- ..16-ounce can.
55.3
Tuna fish ...
_____
. . . 7-ounce can— 37.6
Dairy products:
Milk, fresh (grocery)________ _______ quart— 21.4
Milk, fresh (delivered)1______ ___ ____ do_ __
22.5
Too cream
pint .
B u tte r _____ . . .
-------- ____ pound.
7o! 4
Choose, American process
do __
Milk, evaporated... ----------- 1416-ounce can..
13! 7
All fruits and vegetables:
Frozen fruits and vegetables:
Strawberries8__________ . .. .10 ounces— 30.8
Orange juice concentrate ____ 6 ounces18.0
Peas, green.. . ------------- — ...10 ounces 19.6
Beans, green_____
do -24.2
Fresh fruits and vegetables:
Apples________ . . . ___ ____ . pound 17.2
Bananas__ ___________ ------------- do___
16.9
Oranges, size 200________ ____ dozen
52.2
Lemons ______________ __ _ ..p o u n d — 18.0
10.4
Grapefruit*____________ ______ . each..
12.6
12.5
17 8
19.0
22.0
17.7
27.0
23.8
IQ 7
18.5
21.9
17.0
27.1
23.6
90.8
51.6
71.6
39.9
110.1
89.9
51.7
70.0
40.9
110.9
77.8
65.9
58.9
68.7
90.3
89.5
73.9
74.4
53.3
44.3
55.9
52.2
50.3
61.7
43.5
53.1
42.9
47.3
54.9
37.7
44.3
49.6
51.5
39.6
21.6
22.6
29.1
70.8
57.6
13.7
21.2
22.2
30.6
17.9
19.6
24. 2
36.8
18.5
19.4
24.5
15.3
17.0
49.9
18.3
9.9
16.8
16.0
52.6
18.4
69^6
13! 9
1 45 cities.
842 cities.
2 39 cities.
644 cities.
* 33 cities.
7 8 cities.
4 37 cities.
836 cities.
* Specification changed from 12 ounces to 10 ounces, effective October 1954.
10 Unit changed to 10 pounds, effective January 1955.
11 Formerly No.
can, change effective April 1955.
1240 cities.
13 Specification changed from No. 2 can to No. 303 can, effective October
1954.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Commodity
All fruits and vegetables—Continued
Fresh fruits and vegetables—Continued
_ _ _ pound-_
Peaches
Strawberries*.............. ........ ____ "..Dint—
Crapes seedless*
pound
Watermelons*____________ ___ __do___
Potatoes18. . . ___________ ...10 pounds..
Sweetpotatoes____________ ____ pound..
Onions__________________ ______ do___
Carrots__________________ ______ do___
L e ttu c e ________________ ______ head..
Celery__________________ ___ pound..
Cabbage________________ ______ do___
Tomatoes_______________ ______ do___
Beaus, green_____________ ____ do___
Canned fruits and vegetables:
Orange juice_____________ 46-ounce can..
Peaches______ ______ ___ No. 2y> can..
Pineapple 11 . __________ . No. 2 can..
Fruit cocktail n — ________ .No. 303 can..
Corn, cream style ______ ___ __do __
Peas, green______________ _____ do____
Tomatoes 1213____________ — ___ do___
Baby foods______________ .4^-5 ounces..
Dried fruits and vegetables:
Prunes__________ ______ ____ pound—
Navy beans_____________ _____ do____
Other foods at home:
Partially prepared foods:
Vegetable soup___________ 11-ounce can.
Beans with pork___ . . .. 16-ounce can..
Condiments and sauces:
Pickles, sw e e t___________ . . . 7L> ounces.
Catsup, tomato__________ __ 14 ounces..
Beverages, nonalcoholic:
pound..
C offee_________________
Tea____________________
pound..
Cola drink
carton of 6. 6-ounce
Fats and oils:
Shortening, hydrogenated.. ____ pound
Margarine, colored 8— ___ _____ l_do_—
L ard .. _______________ _______do_ __
Salad dressing___________ _______ pint—
Peanut butter___________ _____ pound..
Sugar and sweets:
Sugar. _ ______________ ___5 pounds..
Com syrup...
___24 ounces
Grape jelly. ____________ ___12 ounces..
___% ounces.
Chocolate bar 14_—
Eggs, fresh--------------------- ------ ___ .dozen..
Miscellaneous foods:
Gelatin, flavored_________ . . 3-4 ounces.
May
1955
Apr.
1955
May
1954
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
29.7
35.8
31.0
80.9
15.9
8.5
12.5
15.2
14.3
10. 5
30.2
25.1
70.6
15.4
8.5
12.7
17.6
14.9
9.4
32.3
24.4
74.3
14.6
7.8
13.4
18.1
12.7
7.6
34.1
23.8
33.0
33.7
32.8
26.4
16.9
21.5
15.2
9.7
32.8
33.5
32.8
26.5
17.0
21.5
15.1
9.7
33.0
32.8
38.7
41.1
18.2
21.3
17.3
9.8
33.4
18.8
32.9
18.9
30. 3
17.4
14.1
14.8
14.1
14.9
14.3
14.5
28.1
22.4
28.2
22.3
29.8
22.3
92.2
40.8
32. 5
92.5
41.1
32.6
118.0
33.9
31.9
34.4
28.8
21.0
35.3
54.4
35.0
29.1
20.8
35.4
54.3
34.7
29.8
28.0
35.8
49.0
52.1
23. 7
26.0
4.6
53.2
52.1
23.7
25.9
4.6
54.9
52.7
23.6
25.3
4.6
53.8
8.5
8.5
8.5
14 Specification changed from 1-ounce to %-ounce bar, effective January 1955.
* Priced only in season.
N ote.—The United States average retail food prices appearing in table
D-8 are based on prices collected monthly in 46 cities for use in the calculation
of the food component of the r e v is e d Consumer Price Index. Average retail
food prices for each of 20 large cities are published monthly and are available
upon request. Prices for the 26 medium-size and small cities are not published
on an individual city basis
D : CONSUMER AND WHOLESALE PRICES
T able
867
D-9: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities 1
[1947-49=100]
Commodity group
M a y 2 Apr.
1955
1955
Mar.
1955
Feb.
1955
Jan.
1955
Dec.
1954
Nov.
1954
Oct.
1954
Sept.
1954
Aug.
1954
July
1954
June
1954
May
1954
June
1950
All commodities....................................... ................. 109.9
110.5
110.0
110.4
110.1
109.5
110.0
109.7
110.0
110.5
110.4
110.0
110.9
100.2
Farm products______________________________ 91.3
Fresh and dried produce...................................... 118.7
Grains_________________________ . . .
92.4
Livestock and poultry____________________
78.4
Plant and animal fibers...................... ......... ...... 103.4
Fluid m ilk________________________ ____
87.5
Eggs.......................... ............ ............................. 71.5
Hay and seeds_________ _______________
88.7
Other farm products........................................... 138.3
94.2
120.9
91.0
84.0
102.7
*90.3
77.9
89.9
142.3
92.1
104.4
92.2
79.9
102.9
90.5
82.2
93.1
143.0
93.1
103.8
93.1
80.7
104.3
92.0
90.1
93.2
139.4
92.5
105.2
93.5
79.4
104.4
92.4
65.1
94.3
156.4
89.9
96.9
92.5
74.0
105.0
93.6
64.0
93.8
157.7
93.2
103.2
93.5
76.4
104.5
95.1
83.5
92.0
164.6
93.1
101.9
92.9
77.5
107.1
93.8
82.5
91.7
159.6
93.6
99.8
93.6
80.7
107.4
91.7
77.3
87.5
164.6
95.8
108.3
91.2
83.4
106.7
89.7
86.4
94.2
168.8
96.2
110.9
88.1
83.2
107.2
87.7
84.4
94.8
184.0
94.8
96.6
86.5
87.7
106.9
83.7
70.8
96.0
181.7
97.9
104.4
91.2
93.0
107.0
84.1
69.0
95.3
181.2
94.5
89.8
89.6
99.8
107.3
81.6
70.6
87.6
122.4
Processed foods..___ ___ ______ ______________
Cereal and bakery products .............................
Meats, poultry, f is h ...______ _____________
Dairy products and ice cream. .. ________
Canned, frozen, fruits and vegetables________
Sugar and confectionery._____ ___________
Packaged beverage materials_______________
Animal fats and oils _____________________
Crude vegetable o ils.......... ........ .......................
Refined vegetable oils________ ____________
Vegetable oil end products_________________
Other processed foods___________ __________
102.1 102.5
118.3 116.8
85.7
86.0
104.0 106.9
104.1 *104.7
110.3 110.8
179.8 180.2
69.5
72.9
66.9 *63.7
73.2
71.1
82.2
82.1
101.2 100.9
101.6
116.5
83.3
107.2
104.8
110.8
180.4
68.0
63.5
70.9
82.1
100.8
103.2
116.3
86.9
107.2
104.4
112.6
186.4
69.2
65.1
73.7
83.6
100.7
103.8
116.9
87.6
107.0
104.6
111.3
203.7
74.4
64.8
73.9
83.4
98.2
103.5
116.8
85.2
108.2
106.0
111.6
203.4
77.3
65.6
73.7
83.5
98.4
103.8
116.5
86.3
108.8
105.5
112.3
197.8
84.8
65.1
73.2
83.1
97.8
103.7
114.5
85.8
108.7
105.5
112.0
206.3
84.5
65.0
76.4
84.5
99.8
105.5
113.8
92.0
106.6
105.0
113.0
206.0
96.2
69.0
76.5
87.3
103.5
106.4
113.2
92.0
105.9
104.8
114.5
226.5
96.9
73.5
78.8
87.3
109.6
106.5
114.0
94.1
105.1
104.7
113.7
231.3
94.0
72.2
79.1
87.3
101.4
105.0
113. 5
92.3
102.4
104.7
113.3
231.3
90.0
73.0
79.1
87.3
96.8
106.8
113.3
98.3
101.7
104.5
113.1
229.6
99.7
71.8
76.4
87.2
101.3
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______
115.5
115.7
115.6
115.7
115.2
114.9
114.8
114.5
114.4
114.4
114.3
114.2
114.5
102.2
Textile products and apparel__________________
95.0
Cotton products____________________ _____ 90.3
Wool products..__________ __________ . 106.1
Synthetic textiles................................................. 86.9
Silk products......................... .............................. 123. 2
Apparel_________________________________ 98.0
Other textile products.......................................... 76.4
*95.0
90.4
106.0
87.2
122.8
*98.0
*76.3
95.3
90.8
106.1
87.5
121.1
98.3
76.6
95.2
90.6
106.3
86.7
122.4
98.2
78.0
95.2
90.2
105.6
87.3
124.1
98.2
77.3
95.2
89.9
106.7
87.2
123.9
98.4
76.9
95.2
89.9
106.6
86.9
127.4
98.4
77.6
95.4
89.9
108.4
86.1
127.0
98.6
80.9
95.3
89.2
109.6
85.8
128.4
98.6
80.3
95.3
89.1
110.3
85.7
126.3
98.6
79.8
95.1
88.9
109.8
85.7
124.2
98.4
79.1
94.9
88.4
110.1
85.6
123.9
98.1
79.0
94.8
88.3
109.5
85.2
131.6
98.2
78.8
93.3
90.0
105.3
91.3
88.8
92.7
96.3
Hides, skins, and leather products............................ 93.2
Hides and skins__________________________ 53.4
Leather. ______________________________ 85.0
Footwear . . . ___ ____ ____ _ . . .
111.4
Other leather products. _ ...............................
96.4
93.2
56.9
83.6
111.5
95.9
92.2
50.7
82.1
111.5
95.7
92.3
51.6
82.2
111. 5
95.8
91.9
49.5
81.2
111.6
95.8
91.8
47.4
81.5
111.6
95.9
92.8
52.7
82.0
111.7
96.0
92.4
49.5
82.1
111.8
96.1
93.0
51.5
82.9
111.8
96.5
94.0
55.8
84.4
111.8
96.7
94.9
58.2
86.5
111.8
97.0
95.6
60.6
87.4
111.9
97.5
96.0
62.5
87.6
111.9
97.5
99.1
94.3
98.2
102.7
95.2
Fuel, power, and lighting materials_____________
Coal___________________ __________
Coke________________ ________________
Gas. _________________ ____ __________
Electricity______ __________ ______________
Petroleum and products___________________
107.2 *107.4
100.5 *102.3
133.4 133.4
113.1 *113.1
97.8 *97.8
111.5 111.5
108.5
105.1
132.4
116.6
99. 5
111.7
108.7
105.2
132.4
116.3
100.1
111.7
108.5
105.2
132.4
113.0
100.7
111.7
107.5
105. 2
132.4
110.2
100.7
110.4
107.4
105.1
132.4
107.3
103.0
109.5
106.9
105.1
132.4
105.8
101.8
109.3
106.9
105.5
132.4
106.0
101.2
109.4
106.9
105.2
132.4
105.4
102.4
109.3
106.2
104.9
132.4
105.4
101.8
108.2
107.8
104.7
132.4
107.8
101.8
110.9
108.2
104.6
132.4
109.0
101.8
111.7
102.4
104.8
115. 6
94.8
101.3
103.1
Chemicals and allied products_________________
Industrial chemicals______________________
Prepared paint___________________________
Paint m a te ria ls ...____ __________________
Drugs and pharmaceuticals 3 _____ _____
Fats and oils, inedible__________ _______ _
Mixed fertilizer. _________________________
Fertilizer materials_______________________
Other chemicals and products 3_____________
106.8
117.6
114.8
97.0
93.2
53.2
108.8
113.1
107.6
107.1
118.0
114.8
*96.2
93.2
55.2
108.8
113.5
107.6
106.8
117.5
114.0
95.9
93.1
55.4
108.9
113. 6
107.6
107.1
117.4
113.1
96.1
93.3
61.0
109.0
113.5
108.0
107.1
117.3
112.8
95.8
93.6
61.8
108.8
113.6
107.7
107.0
117.4
112.8
96.2
93.6
59.3
108.9
113.3
107.9
107.0
117.7
112.8
96.6
93.6
57.8
109.1
112.2
107.6
106.9
117.6
112.8
97.2
93.6
56.5
109.2
112.1
107.6
106.8
117.4
112. 8
97.0
94.0
54.0
109.3
112.3
107.6
106.8
117.4
112.8
97.8
94.0
53.5
109.8
112.1
107.6
106.7
117.1
112.8
97.6
94.0
52.0
109.7
112.1
107.9
106.8
117.0
112.8
96.8
94.0
55.7
109.9
111.6
107.7
107.1
117.3
112.8
95.3
94.0
59.3
109.9
114.0
108.1
92.1
96.3
98.0
86.8
91.3
48.8
101.2
98.5
91.1
Rubber and products_________________________
Crude ru b b e r__ _____________ . . . ____
Tire casings and tubes____________________
Other rubber products____________________
138.0 138.3
142.4 143. 8
142.3 142.3
130.4 *130.3
138.0
142.8
142.3
130.3
140.6
151.3
142.4
132.0
136.8
146.0
139.9
127.9
132.0
137.6
134.9
125.2
131.4
134.1
134.9
125.4
128.5
132.0
129.6
125.2
126.9
125.6
129.6
124.0
126.4
123.5
129.6
123.7
126.8
126.5
129.3
123.7
126.1
122.8
129.3
123.7
125.1
117.5
129.3
123.7
109.5
129.0
106.1
103.6
Lumber and wood products______ ____________
Lumber________________________________
M iilw ork____ _____________ _________
Plywood ________ _______________ _____
123.2 *122.4
123.9 *122.9
129.3 129.3
105.6 104.8
121.4
121.8
128.7
104.8
121.2
121.4
129.0
104.8
120.3
120.0
130.4
104.7
120.0
119.8
130.3
104.3
119.9
119.6
130.2
104.3
119.8
119.5
130.2
104.3
119.3
119.0
130.2
103.2
119.1
118.7
129.7
105.4
119.1
118.6
130.7
103.0
116.3
115.5
130.8
99.7
116.1
115.0
130.8
101.4
112.4
113.5
110.9
”101.7
Pulp, paper, and allied products..... .........................
Woodpulp______________________________
Wastepaper
__________________________
Paper ______________________ _________
Paperboard... _________________________
Converted paper and paperboard___________
Building paper and board_________________
117.7
113.8
92.7
128.8
126.0
111.7
129.7
117.4
113.8
89.4
128.0
126.0
111.5
129.7
116.8
110.0
89.4
128.0
125.7
111.5
129.7
116.6
110.0
90.2
128.0
124.0
111.5
129.4
116.3
110.0
90.2
127.5
124.0
111.1
127.6
115.9
109.6
85.5
126.9
124.1
111.0
127.6
116.0
109.6
87.3
126.5
124.1
111.3
127.6
116.3
109.6
83.8
126.5
124.2
111.9
127.6
116.3
109.6
80.0
126.5
124.2
112.0
127.6
116.3
109.6
80.0
126.5
124.2
112.0
127.6
116.2
109.6
79.2
126.5
124.2
111.9
127.9
115.8
109.7
70.1
126.5
124.2
111. 5
127.9
115.8
109.7
67.2
126.5
124.4
111. 5
127.9
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 ....................... ..........1
Nonstructural metal products______________ |
See footnotes at end of table.
132.5
135. 6
137.8
131.4
144.4
123. 3
113.5
118.6
125.8
*132.9
*136.4
*138.3
131.6
144.4
123.3
113.6
*118.5
*125. 8
131.9
136. 2
134.3
131.6
144.4
123.0
113.6
117.9
125.9
131.5
135.8
133.7
131.6
143.3
118.7
113.7
118.0
125.8
130.1
135.8
127.9
131.6
142.6
118.7
113.9
117.8
125.8
129.8
135.0
127.6
131.6
142.3
118.7
114.3
117.8
125.9
129.9
135.5
127.2
131.6
142.0
118.7
114.3
117.4
126.2
129.7
135.0
127.4
131.2
141.6
118.7
114.3
117.9
126.0
129.1
134.1
126.2
131.2
140.9
118.5
114.1
118.0
126.0
128.6
133.8
125.1
131.2
138.9
118.5
114.1
117.7
126.0
128.0
133.6
124.2
130.3
138.2
118.5
114.0
115.9
125.3
127.1
131.8
123.7
130.0
137.9
118.5
113.8
115.9
125.3
127.1
131.8
123.6
130.0
137.9
118.2
113.9
116.5
125.3
108.8
113.1
101.8
109.0
111.1
103.2
102.0
100.1
113.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
868
T able D-9: Indexes of wholesale prices, by group and subgroup of commodities1—Continued
[1947-49 = 100]
M a y 2 April
1955
1955
Mar.
1955
Feb.
1955
Jan.
1955
Dec.
1954
Nov,
1954
Oct.
1954
Sept.
1954
Aug.
1954
July
1954
June
1954
May
1954
Machinery and motive products_______________
Agricultural machinery and equipment - ___
Construction machinery and equipment_____
Metalworking machinery and equipment-----General purpose machinery and equipment__
Miscellaneous machinery__________ _____
Electrical machinery and equipment ______
Motor vehicles_________ ____ _____________
126.6
121.5
134.3
139.1
131.1
126.9
126. 5
122.0
’ 126.3
121.5
134.1
*137.1
131.0
126.8
126.4
*121.9
126.1
121.5
133.8
136.9
130.4
126.8
126.4
121.5
126.1
121.6
133. 8
136.6
130.3
126.4
126.7
121.5
125.8
121.5
133.2
135.1
128.6
126.4
126.8
121.7
125.7
121.2
132.6
134.7
128.2
126.0
126.8
121.7
125.3
121.3
131.8
134.0
128. 1
126.0
126.7
121.0
124.3
122.0
131.6
134.0
128.1
126.1
125.2
118.6
124.4
121.9
131.6
133.3
128.1
125.9
125.6
118.9
124.3
122.1
131. 5
132.7
127.9
125. 6
125.7
118. 9
124.3
122.3
131.5
132.6
127.8
125.5
125.8
118.9
124.3
122.3
131. 5
132.6
128.2
125.5
125. 9
118.9
124.4
122.6
131.5
132.6
128.2
125.2
126.0
118.9
106.3
108.3
108.1
108.8
107.0
105.0
102.1
106.7
Furniture and other household durables_________
Household furniture________ ______ ______
Commercial furniture___ _____ ___________
Floor covering. _ _________________ _____
Household appliances - ....... ............................
Television and radio receivers______________
Other household durable goods. --------------
115.1
113.1
128.6
125.1
106.6
93.3
131.9
115.1
112.8
128.6
125.0
107.3
93.1
131.9
115.1
112.7
128.6
124.4
107.2
93.1
132.0
115.4
112.6
128.6
124.4
108.5
93.2
132.0
115.5
112.5
128.6
124.2
108.7
93.5
131.9
115.7
112.9
128.6
124.0
109.4
(4)
131.5
115.6
112.9
128.6
124. 0
109.1
(4)
131.5
115.6
112.8
127.3
124.0
109.5
(4)
131.3
115.3
112.8
126.2
124. 4
109.4
(4)
130.5
115.3
112.9
126.2
123. 5
109.7
(4)
130.4
115. 3
112.8
126.2
122.7
109.7
(4)
130.4
115.4
113.1
126.2
122.6
109.8
(4)
130.4
115.5
113.5
126.2
122.6
109.9
(4)
130.4
103.1
101.8
106.2
109.1
100.1
(4)
106.8
Nonmetallic minerals—structural______________
Flat glass___ . . .
------------ -------------------Concrete ingredients ____________________
Concrete products________________ _______
Structural clay p ro d u cts__________________
Gypsum products
__
Prepared asphalt roofing. . ______________
Other nonmetallic minerals__________ ___
123.2
124.9
124.7
118.2
137.0
122,1
105.8
121.0
*122.3
124.9
*124.8
118.2
136.8
122.1
98.5
119.2
121.9
123.9
124.1
118.2
136.5
122. 1
98.8
119.2
121.8
123. 9
123.9
117.0
136.1
122.1
100.4
119.2
122.0
123.9
123.1
116.7
135.8
122.1
106.1
119.2
121.8
123.9
122.3
117.4
135. 4
122. 1
106.1
119.5
121.8
123.9
122.1
117.4
135.4
122.1
106.1
119.5
121.9
123.9
122.1
117.8
135.4
122.1
106.1
120.8
121.7
123.9
122.1
117.8
135.4
122.1
104.1
120.8
120.5
124.7
122.2
117.9
132.3
122.1
98.6
120.8
120.4
124. 7
122.1
117.7
132.0
122. 1
98.5
120.2
119.1
124.7
120.1
117.5
132.0
122. 1
94.2
120.2
119.3
124.7
120.0
117.3
132.0
122.1
96.3
120.2
105.4
105.6
105.7
104.5
110.5
102.3
98.9
105.7
Tobacco manufactures and bottled beverages____
Cigarettes_______________________________
Cigars_____________________ ________ --Other tobacco products___________________
Alcoholic beverages______________________
Nonalcoholic beverages____________________
121. 6
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.7
148.1
121.6
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.7
148.1
121.6
124.0
103. 7
121.4
114.7
148.1
121.6
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.6
148.1
121.4
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.3
148.1
121.4
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.3
148.1
121.4
124. 0
103.7
121.4
114.3
148.1
121.5
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.3
148.1
121.5
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.3
148.1
121.5
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.3
148.1
121.4
124.0
103.7
121.4
114.2
148.1
121.4
124.0
103.5
120.7
114.2
148.1
121.4
124.0
103.5
120.7
114.3
147.9
101.4
102.8
100. 6
103.3
100 9
100.8
94.0 95.6
113.2 113.2
80.1 83.0
92.3 92.3
*103.0 103.1
*121.0 120.6
97.1
113.1
85.8
92.3
103.2
120.6
97.0
113.2
84.9
101.3
103.6
120.3
98.0
112.9
86.8
101.2
103.5
121.0
97.0
112.8
85.0
101.2
103.5
120.9
96.7
112.7
84.3
101.2
103.5
120.8
99.1
112.7
89.0
101.2
103.2
121.2
102.3
113.4
95.2
101.6
102.8
121.2
103.9
113.5
98.3
101.6
102. 7
121.2
105.1
113.6
100.6
101.6
102.7
121.3
109.2
113.6
109.1
93.5
102.3
121.3
96.9
104.8
93.7
88.7
96.6
105.4
Commodity group
Miscellaneous_______ _______________________
91.3
Toys, sporting goods, small arm s_____ ___ 113.2
Manufactured animal feeds . _ ___ ____ . . . 75.0
Notions and accessories___
_. _________ 92.9
Jewelry, watches, photo equipment____ . _ 103.0
Other miscellaneous___________________ . . . 120.8
June
1950
Beginning with the final wholesale price index for January 1955, the index
weights are based on an average of the dollar value of primary market trans
actions in calendar years 1952 and 1953. Previously, the weights were based
on the dollar value of transactions in 1947. The weight revision does not
affect the comparability of the indexes.
2 Preliminary.
3 Cosmetics and related products moved from drugs and pharmaceuticals
subgroup to other chemicals and products subgroup.
4 Not available.
’ Revised.
0 Correction.
i The revised wholesale price index (1947-49=100) is the official index for
January 1952 and subsequent months. The official index for 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
they 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, Monthly Labor Review, February 1952 (p. 180), or
reprint Serial No. R. 2067.
T able D-10 : Special wholesale price indexes 1
[1947-49 = 100]
1954
1955
1950
Commodity group
All foods.. ..
_____________________
All fish_________________________ _________ _
Special metals and metal products______________
Metalworking m ach inery.____________________
Machinery and equipment . . .
____ _____
Total tractors. ________ __________________
Steel mill products _____________ __________
Building materials_____ _____________________
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__ . . .
Bituminous coal, domestic sizes______ _________
Lumber and wood products, excl. millwork______
All commodities except farm products__________
1 See footnote 1, table D-9.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M a y 2 Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
101.6
100. 8
102. 5
101.9
105.7
128.0
140.7
128.1
101.0
102.7
102.4
127.6
140.1
127. 7
127.1
140.2
127.4
123.2
145.8
121.7
96.1
93.4
107.2
102.9
104.6
115.9
103.7
113.9
126.6
140.2
127.4
123.2
145.7
121.3
96.1
93.4
107.3
105.5
111. 1
126.3
140.2
127.2
123.2
145.6
104.0
114.9
108.8
116.0
103.7
114.9
108.8
116.0
108.5
117.6
113.0
105.6
103.5
125.8
139.9
127.2
123.9
145.6
120. 5
96.6
93.4
105.9
104.7
102.7 104.6
97.4 103.7
125.2 125.2
139.9 139.9
127.3 127.4
123.9 123.9
141.9 141.9
118.5 118.6
96.3
97.1
93.4
93.4
109.1 110.0
106.1 107.3
104.8 105.4
113.1 113.1
115.9 118.8
115. 5 115.5
104.2 103.6
114.3 114.0
112.6 113.1
98.1
129.7
143.4
129.1
122.5
145.9
124.0
97.0
91. 5
109.9
105.7
109.7
115.5
105.4
117.4
103.0
122.4
113.1
102.5
98.7
*130.0
143.0
128.7
122.5
*145.9
*123.4
*97.1
91.5
109.8
106.1
107.5
117.7
105.4
117.1
*102.7
*121.5
*113.3
100. 7
129.2
143.2
128.6
122.4
145.8
122.8
98.5
91.5
110.1
106.1
107.5
118.5
105.4
116.5
101.8
128.9
142. 7
128.6
122.4
145.8
122.5
98.9
93.4
109.9
105.5
107.5
118.5
105.4
116.4
100.5
127.7
140.1
127.9
121.9
145.8
102.8 101.8
122.2
122.0
145. 7
145.8
122.1 122.0 121.9
97.4
93.4
109.9
105.3
107.5
117.9
106.9
116.0
96.9
93.4
108.4
105.3
105.5
116.9
103.1
115.7
96.4
93.4
107.4
102.9
105.2
115.9
96.0
93.4
107.2
101.1 101.1
102.6 102.6
115.8 116.0
111.8 112.1 112.2 112.2 112.3 112.1 110.8
120.5 120.1 118.9 118.6 118.4 118.4 117.8
113.1 113.4 113.2 112.9 112.8 112.5 112.8
¡Preliminary.
120.8
'Revised.
102.8
109.0
108.8
115.9
106.7
117.4
112.9
May
June
95.0
92.4
108.3
109.8
106.1
107.5
114.9
107.5
80.9
82.9
102.1
98.1
101.8
109. 7
94.1
95.6
106.8
112.6
101.2
869
E: WORK STOPPAGES
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
Month 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
5,091
3,468
1954: M ay________________________________________
June______ _____________ ______________ ___
July________________________________________
A u g u s t...________ _________________ ________
September___. . . _. ______________________ . . .
October_______ . . .
. . _____________________
November_____. . . . . _____ _____________
December_______________ . ___________ . . ..
384
358
370
,328
315
285
220
153
1955: January 2_____ ________________________ _____
February 2___ . . . ______________ __________
March 2_____ _ _ _ _______ ____ _______
A pril2. ____________________ _______________
M a y 2_______________ . ______ _________ .
225
250
300
325
375
1935-39 (average)
1947-49 (average)
1945
1946 ___
_
1947
1948
_
1949
1950 ._
1951 .
1952________
. .
1953_______
1954___
____________ _____________
___
___________
. _
___
_________
______
______
In effect dur
ing month
1 All work stoppages known to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its
various cooperating agencies, involving six or more workers and lasting a
full day or shift or longer, are included in this report. Figures on “workers
involved” and “man-days idle” cover all workers made idle for as long as one
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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, 000
3, 030, 000
2,410, 000
2, 220, 000
3, 540, 000
2,400, 000
1,530,000
Number
Percent of esti
mated work
ing time
16, 900, 000
39, 700, 000
38, 000, 000
116, 000, 000
34, 600, 000
34,100, 000
50, 500, 000
38, 800, 000
22,900, 000
59,100, 000
28,300, 000
22, 600, 000
0.27
.46
.47
1. 43
.41
.37
.59
.44
.23
.57
.26
.21
526
488
387
293
208, 000
196, 000
238, 000
143, 000
126, 000
164, 000
71, 000
29, 000
244, 000
281, 000
376, 000
300, 000
304, 000
259, 000
129, 000
78, 000
2, 010, 000
2,390, 000
3, 800, 000
3, 740, 000
2, 410, 000
1, 820, 000
1, 310, 000
486, 000
.24
. 26
.44
.41
.27
.21
. 15
.05
325
380
450
500
575
50, 000
90, 000
165, 000
210, 000
170,000
80, 000
125, 000
220, 000
310, 000
310,000
400,000
570, 000
1, 600, 000
2, 600, 000
2,600,000
.05
.07
.17
.30
.29
559
577
580
525
shift in establishments directly involved in a stoppage. They do not measure
the indirect or secondary effects on other establishments or industries whose
employees are made idle as a result of material or service shortages.
2 Preliminary
870
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
F: Building and Construction
T able F - l : Expenditures for new construction 1
[Value of work p ut in place]
Expenditures (in millions)
Type of construction
1955
1954
Ju n e 2 M ay 3 Apr.3 Mar.
Feb.
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
1954
1953
Total
Total
Total new construction 4______________ $3, 812 $3, 555 $3, 257 $2,974 $2,697 $2,819 $3,092 $3,329 $3,503 $3,674 $3,693 $3,556 $3,385 $37,577 $35,271
Private construction__________________
Residential building (nonfarm)_____
New dwelling units____________
Additions and alterations.. _- .
Nonhousekeeping »______ _ _
Nonresidential building (nonfarm)
Industrial—_____ _____________
Commercial___________ — —
Warehouses, office, and loft
buildings________________
Stores, restaurants, and garages.. ____
____
Other nonresidential building___
R eligious___ _________
Educational_______________
Social and recreational
—
Hospital and institutional7__
Miscellaneous__________ —_
Farm construction_______________
Public utilities_______________ ____
R a ilro ad __________ ___ . . .
Telephone and telegraph_______
Other public utilities___________
All other private 8_________________
Public construction___. . . ____________
Residential building 8.. .
... .
Nonresidential building (other than
military facilities)_______________
Industrial____ . . _________
Educational.
_ . . . . ______
Hospital and institutional______
Other nonresidential___________
M ilitary facilities 10-._ ___ _________
Highways__ ___________________
Sewer and water____ ____________
Miscellaneous public service enterprises 11__________
__________
Conservation and development_____
All other public I2. . ______________
2,655
1, 466
1, 310
125
31
634
189
257
2,496
1, 380
1,230
123
27
590
183
234
2,345
1,298
1,170
105
23
562
184
213
2,179
1,170
1,070
79
21
559
186
208
2,003
1,049
960
68
21
549
187
199
2,263
1,258
1,150
86
22
552
184
192
2,358
1,293
1,175
96
22
564
178
203
2,420
1,321
1,195
102
24
554
170
202
2,460
1,327
1,195
107
25
558
162
210
2,457
1,313
1,175
110
28
556
159
210
2,387
1,267
1,125
113
29
551
158
206
2,273
1,193
1,050
114
29
530
161
192
25,768
13, 496
12,070
1,130
296
6,250
2,030
2,212
23,877
11,930
10,555
1,108
267
5, 680
2,229
1,791
89
88
84
82
83
84
87
90
89
88
88
81
76
958
739
168
188
63
39
24
31
31
141
398
30
60
308
16
1,157
21
146
173
58
37
20
30
28
131
379
29
60
290
16
1, 059
22
129
165
54
40
17
28
26
114
357
28
55
274
14
912
22
126
165
53
41
16
28
27
103
333
25
55
253
14
795
23
116
163
53
39
17
28
26
95
297
19
50
228
13
694
21
104
168
55
42
18
28
25
92
302
20
50
232
14
747
22
105
176
57
45
19
29
26
93
348
28
51
269
12
829
22
113
183
59
48
21
29
26
106
383
28
55
300
12
971
22
113
182
59
49
22
29
23
126
407
38
56
313
12
1,083
23
122
186
58
50
22
30
26
153
410
28
57
325
12
1,214
24
122
187
56
50
22
29
30
167
409
26
58
325
12
1,236
25
125
187
52
48
21
29
37
164
393
30
58
305
12
1,169
24
116
177
47
45
20
28
37
157
382
31
58
293
11
1,112
26
1,254
2,008
593
529
228
337
321
1,560
4,341
353
655
3,333
121
11,809
336
1,052
1,660
472
426
163
317
282
1,731
4,416
442
615
3, 359
120
11,394
556
395
69
221
34
71
115
425
99
379
72
211
32
64
110
360
97
366
72
202
31
61
99
255
89
354
81
190
28
55
83
180
83
316
70
178
23
45
78
150
70
342
90
182
25
45
82
155
77
351
102
181
25
43
88
214
77
366
104
185
28
49
95
320
S3
390
105
193
31
61
101
389
88
410
106
197
33
74
98
492
91
437
130
195
37
75
97
479
94
420
130
189
34
67
90
440
89
407
129
183
35
60
90
400
85
4,641
1,506
2,134
365
636
1,030
3,750
982
4,346
1,771
1,714
365
496
1,307
3,160
883
26
59
17
20
57
14
16
51
14
14
45
13
11
38
10
13
45
11
15
52
10
16
58
11
19
61
12
23
6313
25
64
15
25
67
14
22
68
14
218
704
148
200
830
112
1Joint estimates of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of
Labor, and the Business and Defense Services Administration, U. S. Depart
ment of Commerce. 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 permit activity (tables F-3, F-4,
and F-5) and the data on value of contract awards reported in table F-2.
2 Preliminary.
3Revised.
4 Includes major additions and alterations.
s Includes hotels, dormitories, and tourist courts and cabins.
9 Expenditures by privately owned public utilities for nonresidential
building are included under “ Public utilities.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2,072
1,122
1,030
71
21
542
186
188
71ncludes Federal contributions toward construction of private nonprofit
hospital facilities under the National Hospital Program.
3 Covers privately owned sewer and water facilities, roads and bridges, and
miscellaneous nonbuilding items such as parks and playgrounds.
8 Includes nonhousekeeping 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, play
grounds, and memorials.
F : BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
871
T able F-2: Contract awards: Public construction, by ownership and type of construction 1
Value (in millions)
Ownership and type of construction
1955
3
Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
1954
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
June
May
All public construction__________ ____ $770.1 $775.8 $506.4 $521.5 $728.4 $566.1 $734.2 $723. 5 $657.0 $815.3 $925.2 $700.9
77.6
82.4
111.8 139.7
87.2
92.8 136.4 109.1
73.7
96.5 188.0 117.2
.1
0
8.3
0
0
0
.3
(3)
0
.2
(3)
(3)
69.4
98.3
29.6
44.8 33.4
62.9
81.6
55.9
42.8
66.1 119.6
70.6
1.2
.1
(3)
3.1
1.3
.2
(3)
(3)
1.2
.4
(3)
1.6
6.7
5.8
.4
6.8
.4
16.5
8.1
4.2
1.8
.5
15.3
13.6
4.4
3.3
2.0
3.8
1.4
4.1
2.5
4.7
2.9
3.3
7.6
2.3
58.2
88.1
27.2
34.2
31.5
42.3
67.9
45.7
37.9
61.1
96.3
53.1
17.5
10.4
4.9
14.8
9.5
7.7
6.4
1.7
.5
3.6
13.4
5.6
15.7
47.3
10.5
6.8
10.9
29.0
22.1
23.5
20.6
19.6
44.1
20.4
10.0
6.0
.6
3.7
3.2
.9
29.8
8.5
3.2
.8
6.0
8.5
7.5
4.8
6.3
1.5
2.3
.4
3.0
1.6
3.4
25.1
7.1
6.1
9.8
4.9
17.3
7.4
5.6
4.3
6.6
10.4
10.2
12.0
25.7
12.5
16.2
17.9
10.6
22.3
5.9
7.0
11.9
14.1
11.2
12.5
14.3
16.5
11.9
12.4
20.8
19.2
6.0
16.0
32.2
23.8
7.4
6.6
29.9
16.9
5.2
6.0
2.9
2.8
6.7
2.8
6.0
6.4
6.3
7.2
8.6
3.2
3.2
4.3
3.1
1.3
15.6
1.4
3.6
5.0
1.8
.7
6.2
3. 9
3.6
3.0
2.3
5.2
6.4
2.7
1.1
3.6
4.2
3.4
9.2
6.1
658.3 636.1 428.8 439.1 641.2 473.3 597.8 614.4 583.3 718.8 737.2 583.7
16.5
14.5
16.6
7.9
9.8
12.1
10.1
28.7
22.1
37.5
42.6
18.5
246.6 260.7 183.9 224.3 246.7 203.6 225.7 261.4 248.6 292.5 293.3 243.7
199.7 206.0 137.6 132.1 172.8 153.0 165.6 177.8 185.4 206.9 214.5 195.4
15.7
10.6
12.2
20.3
21.8
16.1
14.7
22.5
19.5
37.4
19.1
18.8
14.0
24.5
15.1
14.8
28.0
12.9
23.0
39.2
24.8
20.3
37.1
16.2
17.2
19.6
43.9
19.0
37.3
21.6
22.4
21.9
18.9
27.9
22.6
13.3
268.7 248.3 161.0 121.4 270.2 179.7 244.0 240.9 226.0 292.7 299.7 225.5
46.3
28.1
44.0
35.8
33.3
29.3
64.3
37.1
36.3
46.4
47.4
35.8
28.2
26.8
24.0
27.6
28.9
23.7
26.7
25.5
23.2
24.8
24.3
35.6
43.8
8.2
29.0
12.7
42.4
15.8
10.5
12.4
17.0
13.7
21.9
11.5
34.2
3.9
2.0
4.3
27.4
11.6
3.4
3.3
7.1
12.3
6.0
4.2
9.6
27.0
4.3
8.4
15.0
4.2
7.1
9.1
4.7
6.6
15.9
7.3
11.6
9.4
9.4
7.0
9.9
9.1
16.5
8.4
11.2
10.1
8.0
13.1
Federally owned___________________
Residential building.. __________
Nonresidential building_____ ____
Educational.. ________ _____
Hospital and institutional_____
Administrative and general___
Other nonresidential building...
Airfield b u ild in g _________
Industrial_______________
Troop housing___________
Warehouses_____________
All o t h e r ...____ _____
Airfields_____
____ .
Conservation and development____
Highway________________
Electric power utilities___________
All other"federally owned____ . . .
State and locally owned_____
Residential building._ ________ ..
Nonresidential building____ _ . . .
Educational________ _ ____
Hospital and institutional_____
Administrative and general___
Other nonresidential building...
Highway____ _ _________
Sewerage systems______ _____ . . .
Water supply facilities______ . . .
Utilities___ _
________
Electric power______________
_______
Other utilities____
All other State and locally ow ned...
1
Prepared jointly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department
of Labor and the Business and Defense Services Administration, U. S.
Department of Commerce. Includes major force account projects started,
principally by TVA and State highway departments.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Apr.
1954
1953
Total
Total
$836.2 $8,293. 8 $8,470.8
258.1 1,407.1 2,154.2
15.0
2.4
3.9
198.9
863.8 1, 525.2
.1
13. 4
14. 6
29 7
1.4
72 9
45 7
38 7
3.0
194.4
737.6 1,436.4
17.2
89.7
71.9
142.8
390.3 1,151.9
2.9
68. 5
60 7
24.4
82.3
64.7
7.1
106.8
87.2
20.3
152. 9
103.9
23.3
199.7
225. 5
4.6
62. 4
52.9
156 8
4.6
66. 7
4.0
57.7
74 9
578.1 6,886. 7 6,316.6
14. 5 ' 254. 6
331. 5
227.1 2,869.4 2,258.7
171.1 2,077.9 X,629.3
' 245.1
19.4
237.3
19.3
253. 5
147.8
17.3
292.9
244.3
223.4 2,684.6 2,662.8
472. 7
54.0
469.4
27.6
292.7
282.7
17.7
197.4
185.3
15.3
105.3
72.4
92 1
112 9
2. 4
13.8
115.3
126.2
2 Types not shown separately are included in the appropriate “other”
category.
3 Less than $50,000.
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
872
T able F-3: Building permit activity: Valuation, by private-public ownership, class of construction,
and type of building 1
Valuation (in millions)
1954
1955
Class of construction, ownership, and
type of building
Annual
total
Mar.
Feb.3
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
All building construction___ __________ — -- $1, 839.7
1, 710.8
Private
____ _____ _ ____
128.9
Public------ ----------------------------------------------
$1, 785.5
1,638. 7
146.8
$1,223.1
1.102.9
120.2
$1,126.8
1,038. 7
88.1
$1, 226. 7
1, 098. 6
128.1
$1,345.2
1, 225.9
119.3
$1, 471. 5
1,349.3
122.1
$1,446. 6
1, 318. 0
128.5
$1, 539.3
1, 387.8
151.5
$16, 464.9
14,806.8
1, 658.2
1, 216.5
1,199.7
1,192.6
1,124.9
21.7
9.4
36.7
7.1
16.7
476.9
156.2
10.2
4.1
13.5
44.7
83.7
164.8
108.4
20.3
36.0
19.7
66.0
24.2
31.5
14.6
146.3
1,153.9
1,136.0
1,127.8
1,034.7
26.1
8.3
58.8
8.2
17.9
487.2
146.9
6.0
3.0
12.2
39.2
86.5
185.0
127.3
25.4
32.2
13.2
74.0
24.3
24.4
19.5
144.3
757. 5
743.2
723.9
673.4
15.0
6.5
29.0
19.3
14.3
365.1
122.9
12.6
2.7
8.5
31.7
67.5
130.2
85.2
22.9
22.2
5.5
49.8
16.2
28.5
11.9
100.5
711.5
702.6
699.9
647.9
12.8
6.2
33.0
2.7
8.9
320.4
106.8
6.2
5.0
8.8
29.8
57.1
121.3
77.4
21.7
22.2
5.8
44.7
16.6
13.2
12.1
94.9
742.6
729.4
718.1
665. 5
16.1
7.6
28.9
11.3
13.2
389.9
143.1
7.0
3.4
9.0
53.4
70.3
139.1
96.7
20.2
22.2
6.8
50.8
18.4
20.0
11.7
94.3
838.2
830.1
827.2
767.4
17.3
6.8
35.7
2.8
8.1
398.3
141.2
5.0
4.3
10.8
41.8
79.4
139.0
80.6
28.5
29.8
13.0
42.1
35.9
12.7
14.4
108.7
894.1
881.6
879.6
816.5
16.9
9.2
37.0
2.0
12.5
457.0
134.5
8.3
7.8
10.6
25.8
82.1
153.8
96.7
18.7
38.4
17.6
82.9
28.6
20.3
19.1
120.3
912.6
905.0
892.0
837.0
17.4
6.8
30.8
13.0
7.6
408.0
134.4
7.9
6.5
11.0
37.1
71.8
143.3
89.1
23.3
30.8
19.2
48.1
32.8
14.4
15.9
126.0
928.8
920.6
906.4
847.5
18.2
6.3
34.4
14.2
8.2
470.1
143.3
9.6
3.3
12.2
41.5
76.7
166.1
106.2
24.5
35.3
18.2
53.1
48.6
21.1
19.8
140.5
9,990.7
9,854. 5
9,695.2
8,918.3
210.7
87.6
478.7
159.2
136.2
5,005.8
1, 591. 5
97.6
60.1
119.9
454.6
859.3
1,870. 5
1,173.6
335.5
361.5
166.4
662.3
304.6
209.4
201.1
1,468.4
Apr.
New reel'douitinl building
__ ______ _____
New dwelling Tinit«; (housekeeping only)
Privately owned
_ _ _ _ __ _
1-family
___ _____
2-family
______ _____
.3- and 4-family
_ __ _________
5-or-more family
_ _______ ___
Publicly owned
_ ____ _ _ _ - ___
Nnnhomekeeping buildings ___ _
_____
New non residential building
____ __ _ ______
Commercial buildings
__ _______ —
AmTisement buildings
__
__
Commercial garages
________ Gasoline and service stations ____ ___
Office buildings
__ __ _________ _
Stores and other mercantile buildings
Community buildings
________ ___ - ____
P d tinational buildings ______ _ __ _ __
_________
Institutional buildings
"Religions buildings _ _____ - - ___ - -Oarages private residential
__ __ _____
industrial buildings
_ _ ___________
Public buildings
____ ____ ______ ____
Public utilities hnildings
___ ______ _
All other nonresidential buildings......................
Additions, alterations, and repairs----------------------
1 These statistics on building construction authorized by local building
permits measure building activity in all localities having building-permit
systems—rural nonfarm as well as urban. Such localities (over 7,000) in
clude about 80 percent of the nonfarm population of the country, according
to the 1950 Census. The data cover both federally and nonfederally owned
projects. Figures on the amount of construction contracts awarded for
Federal projects and for public housing (Federal, State, and local) in permit'
issuing places are added to the valuation data (estimated cost entered by
builders on building-permit applications) for privately owned projects;
construction undertaken by State and local governments is reported by
local officials. No adjustment has been made in the building-permit data
to reflect the fact that permit valuations generally understate the actual
cost of construction, nor for lapsed permits or the lag between permit issuance
or contract-award dates and start of construction. Therefore, they should
not be considered as representing the volume of building construction started.
Components may not always equal totals because of rounding.
3 Revised.
T able F-4: Building permit activity: Valuation, by class of construction and geographic region1
Valuation (in millions)
1954
1955
Class of construction and geographic region
Mar.
Feb.3
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
Annual
total
All building construction 3 _ _________ - ______ $1,839.7
405.0
Northeast____ _ _____ _ __ ______ ___ _
590.5
North C e n tral__ _ ______ _____ ______
414.4
South _________________________________
429.8
West __________________________________
$1, 785. 5
385.8
501.4
457.2
441.0
$1, 223.1
220.8
312.8
379.1
310.4
$1,126.8
250.1
238.6
341.1
296.9
$1,226. 7
256. 3
326.4
320.1
323.9
$1,345.2
287.4
385.8
339.7
332. 4
$1,471.5
298.2
435.2
386.2
351.9
$1, 446. 6
288.2
431.0
389.9
337.5
$1, 539. 3
361.1
480.0
354.3
344.0
$16,464.9
3,657.1
4,834.3
4,133.0
3,840.4
1,199. 7
262.1
384.5
255.6
297.5
476.9
107.5
163.5
110.1
95.9
146.3
33.6
39.3
39.2
34.2
1,136. 0
244.8
314.1
281.8
295.3
487.2
107.0
142.9
130.8
106.5
144.3
31.7
42.7
36.9
33.0
743.2
124.6
182.3
227.0
209.3
365.1
73.4
107.6
113.7
70.5
100.5
20.4
22.1
32.3
25.6
702.6
141.8
142.4
206.3
212.0
320.4
86.9
74.4
101.1
58.0
94.9
19.6
20.6
31.8
22 9
729.4
141.1
181.0
184.0
223.3
389.9
93.9
117.0
106.5
72.5
94.3
20.2
23.5
26.3
24.2
830.1
167.0
237.9
206.8
218.3
398.3
96.0
117.8
102.6
82.0
108.7
23.4
28.4
29.0
28.0
881.6
174.7
268.1
210.7
228.1
457.0
96.0
126.8
144.1
89.6
120.3
25.7
37.8
29.2
27.6
905.0
186.1
283.1
225.0
210.8
408.0
74.6
110.1
129. 5
93.8
126.0
26.1
36.2
32.1
31.6
920.6
210.3
284.1
214.5
211.8
470.1
117.9
154.2
100.6
97.3
140.5
31.8
39.5
36.8
32.3
9,854.5
2,157.1
2,905.8
2.340.3
2, 451.2
5,005.8
1,145.5
1, 489.2
1, 363.1
1, 007.9
1, 468.4
335.9
404.0
391.2
337.3
Apr.
New dwelling units (housekeeping only)......... ........
Northeast
____________ _____________
North Central
___ ________ _____ ___
South ___ ________ ____________________
West
_______ _
_______ - ______ _
New nonresidential buildings_______ ___ _______
Northeast__ ___________________ - ___
North Central ___ ____________ ______
South _____ ____
_________ _________
West
_______________________________
Additions, alterations, and repairs______________
Northeast
_______________ ________ ___
North Central
___ . _ _________________
South ___________________________ _____
W e s t___________________________________
i See table F-3, footnote 1.
3 Revised
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
* Includes new nonhousekeeping residential building, not shown separately.
F : BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
T able
873
F-5: Buildinglpermit activity: Valuation, by metropolitan-nonmetropolitan location and S tate1
Valuation (in millions)
1955
State and location
1954
Mar.
Feb.2
Jan.
Dec.
Nov.
Oct.
Sept.
Aug.
July
Annual
total
$1, 785. 5
1,431. 5
354.0
$1, 223.1
993.7
229.4
$1,126. 8
926.1
200.7
$1,226. 7
1,010. 2
216.5
$1,345.2
1,078. 8
266.4
$1, 471. 5
1,145.9
325.6
$1,446. 6
1,146.9
299.7
$1, 539. 3
1,236. 8
302.5
$1, 519. 2
1, 227. 9
291.3
$16,464.9
13,161.1
3,303.8
15.4
17.2
5.2
308.4
25.9
14.3
15.4
4.2
209.9
18.0
9.9
12.1
4.1
206.3
23.1
7.8
12.5
6.1
222.9
24.2
12.5
11.0
4.6
226.6
17.0
14.2
16.8
3.8
214.7
26.8
12.7
10.9
6.0
220.1
22.9
13.4
11.3
5.5
231.7
26.3
12.3
12.5
5.1
231.1
23.3
135.8
145.1
77.4
2, 571.0
245.3
Connecticut____________________
Delaware________
... _
District of Columbia__________
____
______
Florida___
Georgia__________ _______ _______
37.8
6.9
10.0
71.3
23.6
17.3
2.3
5.0
61.2
23.7
17.1
2.9
2.3
57.2
24.7
21.4
1.5
9.5
56.7
20.1
28.2
2.4
18.6
55.9
17.9
28.2
4.5
3.2
60.7
18.8
29.9
4.7
5.3
58.1
22.4
31.5
5.0
2.1
49.9
21.1
27.4
5.7
2.9
57.1
19.5
320.4
49.6
72.7
649.7
267.8
Idaho. _______ _______ _
Illinois_____ ______ ______ _
Indiana______ _______ ____
Iowa. . . . ______________ . . . . ._
Kansas__________ _______________
3.2
118.6
39.7
22.0
18.1
1.7
63.0
19.8
5.9
14.3
.7
49.8
18.2
5.5
9.5
1.4
70.2
20.0
7.8
13.8
3.0
83.5
26.1
15.2
24.9
3.2
87.9
33.0
12.0
12.9
3.4
89.2
27.7
12.9
12.6
2.6
95.7
34.7
12.0
11.8
2.5
98.0
28.2
14.5
12.6
30.5
985.9
340.8
141.3
168.8
Kentucky________ ______
Louisiana . . ___
___
Maine____ ____________. . .
M aryland______ __________
Massachusetts___________________
13.4
24.5
2.6
38.2
45.2
8.4
34.6
1.7
42.3
24.3
10.7
27.1
.5
35.3
20.4
6.6
16.3
4.7
30.9
27.7
11.8
17.4
2.7
32.9
36.6
10.4
17.6
2.7
39.8
38.6
12.7
21.3
2.5
39.1
25.5
12.3
18.8
2.7
37.1
36.0
12.3
22.9
3.0
34.4
38.5
170.7
216.8
30.2
402.5
391.8
Michigan_______________ . .
Minnesota_________ . ____
Mississippi____ .
...... . .
M issouri.. . . . . .. . . . ___
Montana_______ . ____. . . _______
92.2
32.4
5.4
30.9
2.9
62.2
16.1
4.7
28.1
.8
54.8
12.8
3.3
19.0
1.3
69.7
25.0
7.7
23.5
2.9
68.4
27.8
4.2
20.6
3.9
100.5
34.5
4.8
22.6
2.9
86.7
32.2
5.8
24.9
3.5
93.4
40.4
6.7
26.6
2.3
106.8
33.3
4. 1
32.7
3.5
1,007.8
358.1
62.4
304.6
39.7
Nebraska ____________________ _____ __
Nevada____ __ _______ _______ _
New Hampshire__________ ___
New Jersey_______ ______ __ ______
New Mexico______________________
9.8
7.2
4.2
78.8
8.4
2.7
7.5
.8
44.3
5.8
3.2
6.2
.9
48.9
6.8
4.5
8.7
4.4
49.4
3.7
8 .1
6.3
3.1
55.8
5.9
7.4
9.1
2.2
61.2
5.8
7.9
4.0
1.7
50.6
7.3
7.0
5.8
2.5
59.7
5.8
6.3
4.1
2.1
62.0
5.3
77.8
82.0
27.6
686.3
72.3
126.6
26.0
1.2
101.0
17.4
81.0
19. 7
.3
64.2
11.9
98.4
15.8
.3
50.1
10.4
101.8
12.9
65.8
8.8
100.9
11.5
2.2
76.0
12.8
97.7
12.8
3.9
82.2
11.4
16.1
3.6
96.9
11.9
155.3
19. 4
2.9
104.7
14.2
161.1
14.4
3.8
106.2
10.0
1,412.8
181.6
29.8
985.1
137.4
13.4
85.6
4.3
18.7
2.6
13.3
49.3
1.9
6.0
1.0
8.3
60.4
3.4
6.1
1.1
9.7
44.1
2.1
5.9
1.8
10.7
45.8
3.8
5.4
3.0
13.9
63.8
3.1
5.1
2.8
16.0
62.7
2.7
6.3
2.8
17.5
67.8
3.5
6.4
6.3
11.7
70.9
3.2
5.3
2.9
151.0
734.3
44.5
67.3
32.7
Tennessee________ __________ _ _______ _
Texas____ _ _ __ _____________ _____
U tah_______ ________ ___ _____
Verm ont.. _ _____ ____ _ _____ . . .
Virginia.. . __________ __________ _
19.0
107.9
14.6
.8
49.1
14.3
90.0
4.2
.2
33.7
18.9
83.8
3.1
.2
26.6
13.2
87.5
4.9
.8
25.9
14.5
83.3
9.0
30.0
20.5
92.6
16.7
.8
54.2
18.5
98.3
11.1
1.4
46.2
16.7
79.7
10.9
2.1
40.1
21.9
78.5
10.2
.8
32.6
209.9
946.4
105.1
9.3
420.1
Washington . _________ _________ . . .
West V irginia____________ _________
Wisconsin.. . . . . _ _______ . ___________
Wyoming____________ _________________
38.4
5.4
33.1
1.5
33.3
2. 7
35.2
.9
27.9
2.1
14.2
1.1
31.2
2.6
23.0
1.8
37.2
4.0
29.9
1.8
39.3
11.6
35.3
2.7
35.6
5.4
33.6
2.7
27.6
5.9
44.5
2.1
31.9
7.6
40.1
2.1
375.3
65.1
401.5
23.2
All States_______________
Metropolitan areas3___________ .
Nonmetropolitan areas__________
Alabama____________________
Arizona. ______ ______
Arkansas_________________ .
California____ _______________
Colorado_______ ______
New York_________ ______
North Carolina___ . .
___
North Dakota ________________ ____________
Ohio_______________ ______
Oklahoma__ _______ ______
_
O reg o n ._____ _ _ ____ _ _____ _
Pennsylvania_________ . . ______
Rhode Island__________________
South Carolina... . ___________________
South Dakota____________________
1See table P-3, footnote 1.
2 Revised.
3 Comprised of 168 Standard Metropolitan Areas used in 1950 Census.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
.
1
.6
1 1 1 .1
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, JULY 1955
874
T able F-6: Number of new permanent nonfarm dwelling units started, by ownership and location,
and construction co st1
Number of new dwelling units started
Estimated construction cost
(in thousands ) 3
Location8
Period
Total
1950«___________________ ____
1951_________________________
1952________________________
1953................................ ................
1954____________ ___________ January-------- -------------February_____________
M arch________________
April_________________
M ay_________________
June________ ________
July-------------- ---------August___________ ____
September____________
October______________
November____________
December_____________
1954: First quarter____________
January___ - -- -------February_____________
M arch________ . _____
Second quarter..- . . . . . .
April___ ____________
M ay_________ ___ _
June ..
. . . ..
___
Third quarter. _________
July__________________
August.. . ___ _ ___
September. ____ _____
Fourth quarter__________
October___ ___________
November____________
December.. __________
January________ _____
February 7____________
March 8______________
Second quarter _
April6_______________ _
May 6_. -----------
Privately Publicly
owned
owned
1,396,000
1,091,300
1,127,000
1,103,800
1, 220,400
257,100
72,100
79, 200
105, 800
324,300
111, 400
108, 300
104, 600
285, 000
96, 700
93,200
95,100
237, 400
90,100
81, 500
65, 800
236, 800
66, 400
75, 200
95, 200
332, 700
107, 700
108, 500
116, 500
346,000
116,000
114, 300
115, 700
304, 900
110, 700
103, 600
90, 600
294 500
87,600
89,900
117,000
1,352, 200
1,020,100
1,068, 500
1,068,300
1, 201, 700
238,100
68, 200
73,800
96,100
315,000
107,400
105,600
102, 000
280, 700
96, 400
92, 200
92,100
234, 500
90,100
79, 900
64,500
232,200
65,100
73,900
93,200
326, 500
106, 500
107, 400
112, 600
339, 300
112,900
113,000
113, 400
303, 700
110, 500
103, 300
89,900
291,300
87,300
87,900
116,100
127,000
132,000
126, 500
129,500
Metro Nonmetro North North
politan
politan
east Central South
places
places
43,800 1,021,600
71,200
776,800
58, 500 794,900
35, 500 803, 500
18, 700 896,900
184, 400
19,000
5L 300
3,900
56,300
5,400
76, 800
9,700
238,100
9, 300
4, 000
80,400
81,100
2,700
2,600
76, 600
207,800
4,300
300
71, 500
67,300
1,000
69, 000
3,000
173,200
2, 900
63, 800
0
59, 500
1,600
1,300
49,900
174, 300
4, 600
1,300
49, 700
1,300
53, 500
2,000
71,100
244,000
6,200
79, 400
1,200
77,100
1,100
87, 500
3,900
6, 700 252, 800
3,100
87, 500
1,300
82,600
82,700
2, 300
225,800
1,200
200
80,400
300
75, 700
69, 700
700
220,500
3,200
68,' 100
300
66,900
2,000
900
85, 500
500
3,000
93, 300
97,500
1 The data shown here do not include temporary units, conversions,
dormitory accommodations, trailers, or military barracks. They do include
prefabricated housing, if permanent.
These estimates are based on (1) monthly building-permit reports (adjusted
for lapsed permits and for lag between permit issuance and the start of con
struction), (2) continuous field surveys in nonpermit-issuing places, and
(3) reports of public construction contract awards.
Beginning with January 1954 data, the estimating techniques for the pri
vately owned segment of the housing starts series were revised to combine
(1) a monthly reporting system expanded to include almost all buildingpermit-issuing localities (accounting for nearly 80 percent of total nonfarm
population), with (2) a newly designed sample of counties that permits more
efficient operations and a greater degree of accuracy than previously. The
new series is continuous with statistics for earlier dates except that the urban
and rural-nonfarm distribution shown previously is replaced by metro
politan-nonmetropolitan and regional estimates. Data on type of structure
(1-family versus rental-type structures) are continued from the old to the
new series, and are available on request.
The error in the total private nonfarm estimate due to sampling in the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
West
Total
Privately
owned
Publicly
owned
374,400
$11, 788, 595 $11,418,371
0
0
0
0
314, 500
9,800, 892 9,186,123
0
0
0
0
332,100
10, 208,983
9, 706,276
0
0
0
0
10,488,003
10,181,185
300, 300
0
0
0
0
323, 500 243,100 325, 800 359, 700 291, 800 12, 478, 237 12, 309,200
2, 346, 213
2,183,710
72,700
'641 ; 703
610,344
20; 800
0
0
0
0
674,399
22,900
720,
234
0
0
0
0
984, 276
29,000
898, 967
0
0
0
0
3, 083,256
3,000,120
86, 200
li 057; 899
1,022; 836
3i; 000
0
0
0
0
1,027, 221
1, 001, 693
27, 200
0
0
0
0
998,136
975,591
28,000
0
0
0
0
2, 777, 607
2, 739, 268
77, 200
25, 200
' 941, 943
' 9381871
0
0
0
0
911, 681
902, 501
25, 900
0
0
0
0
923,983
897,896
26,100
0
0
0
0
64,200
2,280, 927
2,258,087
' 883, 455
' 882,838
26i 300
0
0
0
0
764,774
22,000
777,479
0
0
0
0
15,900
619, 993
610, 475
0
0
0
0
62,500 47,400 52, 700 77,600 59,100
2, 240, 448 2,199, 446
605,951
16, 700 13, 000 13,300 22, 500 17,600
618,313
690, 760
21, 700 13, 300 16,200 26,100 19,600
701,934
24,100 21,100 23,200 29, 000 21,900
902, 735
920,201
3, 454, 571
3,398, 898
88, 700 67,300 98, 400 90, 900 76,100
28,300 21, 700 31,100 29, 300 25,600
1,106, 809
1,095, 557
31, 400 21, 600 32,900 30,000 24,000
1,137, 562
1,128, 751
1,210,200
1,174, 590
29,000 24,000 34,400 31,600 26, 500
3, 590,366
3, 528, 471
93,200 72, 500 97, 800 99,900 75, 800
1,213,311
1,182,830
28, 500 25,300 33,300 32,200 25,200
1,186,019
31, 700 24, 800 32, 600 31, 700 25,200
1,175, 766
33,000 22, 400 31,900 36,000 25, 400
1,191,036
1,169,875
79,100 55, 900 76, 900 91,300 80, 800 3,192,852
3,182,385
30, 300 21, 600 30,100 31, 800 27,200
1,160, 300
1,158,338
27,900 19,000 26, 800 31, 500 26, 300
1,083, 449
1,080, 578
949,103
20, 900 15, 300 20,000 28,000 27,300
943, 469
3,074,324
3,043,727
74,000
892, 794
19; 500 16,000 15,600 30, 600 25, 400
' 890,092
23,000 13,500 19,700 32,400 24,300
954,570
934,585
31,500
1,226, 960
1,219,050
0
0
0
0
33,700
34,500
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,332,668
1,408,778
1,328,250
1,385 650
$370, 224
614, 769
502, 707
306, 818
169,037
102, 503
31, 359
45, 835
85, 309
83,136
35, 063
25, 528
22, 545
38, 339
3, 072
9,180
26, 087
22, 840
617
12, 705
9,518
41, 002
12, 362
11,174
17, 466
55, 673
11,252
8,811
35, 610
61,895
30, 481
10, 253
21,161
10, 467
1,962
2, 871
5, 634
30,597
2,702
19,985
7,910
4,418
23,128
nonpermit segment is such that for an estimate of 100,000 starts the chances
are 19 out of 20 that a complete enumeration of all nonpermit areas would
result in a total private nonfarm figure between 98,000 and 102,000. For
metropolitan-nonmetropolitan or regional components, the relative error
is somewhat larger.
2 Data by urban and rural-nonfarm classification for periods before January
1954 are available upon request. Annual metropolitan-nonmetropolitan
location data not available before 1950; monthly figures not available before
1953; regional data not available before January 1954.
3 Private construction costs are based on permit valuation, adjusted for
understatement of costs shown on permit applications. Public construction
costs are based on contract values or estimated construction costs for in
dividual projects.
4 Housing peak year.
5 Less than 50 units.
6 Preliminary.
7 Revised.
8 Not yet available.
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 195fi
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